A series known for its obtuse story, Dark Souls doesn't just tell its players what's going on. Instead, it gives them the tools to discover the truth for themselves and fit together the rich backstory of the game's world piece by piece. Through item descriptions and environmental storytelling, and years' worth of research, Dark Souls fans have finally unraveled the mysteries of Lordran.
As is the case with every From Software game, the first point of interest for fans are Dark Souls' bosses. While Dark Souls' main bosses have deep connections to the origin of the world and have directly impacted the environments players are walking through, most of the game's optional bosses are viewed more as side characters. That being said, the lore of the optional bosses is still just as compelling.
Taurus Demon
Created when the Witch of Izalith disastrously attempted to create her own First Flame, the Taurus Demon is considered a lesser demon, being one of the weakest of his kind. Being located in the Undead Burg, the Taurus Demon is quite far from its home of Izalith.
Though the exact reason for its appearance in the Undead Burg isn't known, it has been speculated that the Taurus Demon was sent on some mission by the Bed of Chaos to take back the Burg from its human settlers, but has gone hollow in the process. This could explain the appearance of a Black Knight stationed near the Demon's fog gateway, as these warriors fought the Demons years prior at the request of Gwyn.
Capra Demon
Created in the same disaster as the Taurus Demon, the Capra Demon can be found in the lower area of the Undead Burg. His presence here could hint that he accompanied the Taurus Demon, or could imply that he was sent to rescue the Taurus Demon from his eventual hollowing.
Stray Demon
Residing underneath the entrance to the Undead Asylum, the Stray Demon will only engage the Chosen Undead upon their return to the Asylum, after the building's guard, the Asylum Demon, has been killed. As there is no way out of the arena he fights in, it is likely that the Stray Demon was a prisoner in this Asylum, with his name perhaps suggesting that he betrayed his kind in some way.
Gaping Dragon
The Gaping Dragon is one of the last of its kind, being a very distant relative of the ancient Everlasting Dragons that once inhabited the planet alone. With the appearance of the First Flame, and the rise of Humanity, the Dragons were all but wiped out, decimated by Gwyn's lightning, the Witch of Izalith's fire, and Nito's plagues.
Though the Gaping Dragon is a descendant of the original Dragons, it has become transformed, now resembling very little of what it once was. With the rise of Humanity, the Gaping Dragon would succumb to its greed and new feelings of desire, eventually transforming it into an abomination, perhaps tainted by the powers of the Abyss.
Moonlight Butterfly
The Moonlight Butterfly was one of Seath the Scaleless' first creations. Imbued with the powers of Crystal magic, the Moonlight Butterfly can be found in Darkroot Garden, floating above the ancient ruins. It's widely believed that the Moonlight Butterfly was sent by Seath to patrol the Garden in an attempt to keep Havel the Rock inside his tower cell, which can be found nearby.
Expressing a deep hatred for Seath and his brutal practices in the name of research, Havel began to grow more and more distrustful of magic and those who wield it. As Seath was pivotal in the war against Dragons, betraying his own kind, Gwyn protected him, despite the Dragon flaunting his new-found power in vile ways.
Havel, once one of Gywn's most trusted knights, turned his back on the Lord of Cinder and founded the Occult, a group created to hunt untrustworthy magic users. But before Havel could enact his plan to march on the Duke's Archives and kill Seath, Gywn imprisoned the knight, leaving him to go hollow.
Dark Sun Gwyndolin
The youngest of Gwyn's children, Gwyndolin is now the only god left in Anor Londo. Though born male, Gwyndolin was raised female by their parents. With Gwyn leaving to sacrifice himself atop the First Flame in an attempt to prolong the Age of Fire, and Gwynevere leaving Anor Londo to marry the Flame God Flann, Gwyndolin is left alone to protect Anor Londo against would-be invaders.
When the Chosen Undead arrives in Anor Londo, Gwyndolin uses conjuration magic to produce illusions of their sister, Gwynevere, and the other protectors and knights of the main palace. Gwyndolin's new purpose in this world is to execute those who have sinned against Humanity, using the Blade of the Darkmoon Covenant to enforce their ways.
Crossbreed Priscilla
As her name would suggest, Priscilla is a crossbreed of an unknown being, probably a god or other powerful humanoid, and a Dragon. Considered an abomination by society, and feared by Gwyn and the other gods due to her powers of Life-Hunt, Priscilla was cast into the Painted World of Ariamis. Although the gods believed that Priscilla was trapped in the painting, she can in fact escape, but chooses to stay in this pocket world as she deems it as peaceful.
Demon Firesage
Originally one of Izalith's most talented pyromancers, being beaten out by only the Witch of Izalith and her daughters, the Firesage was among the first to be transformed into a Demon, soon followed by the rest of Izalith's inhabitants. Now, the Demon Firesage guards one of the entrances to the Demon Ruins, where Izalith once stood.
Centipede Demon
Before being transformed into a grotesque monster, Ceaseless Discharge was once a child of the Witch of Izalith who suffered from sores that seeped with lava. To help ease his pain, his sisters, the Daughters of Chaos, gave him an Orange Charred Ring that would raise his resistance to fire. One day, the boy dropped this ring into lava, the reaction eventually creating the Centipede Demon.
Dark Souls Remastered is available now on PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.