Dark Souls II

Dark Souls II is a Japanese action role-playing video game set in an open world environment, developed for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 by From Software.

Introduction

• Perhaps you've seen it, maybe in a dream. A murky, forgotten land. A place where souls may mend your ailing mind. You will lose everything, once branded. The symbol of the curse. An augur of darkness. Your past, your future, your very light. None will have meaning and you won't even care. By then you'll be something other than human. A thing that feeds on souls. A hollow.
• Long ago, in a walled off land, far to the north, a great king built a great kingdom. I believe they called it Drangleic. Perhaps you're familiar. No, how could you be. But one day, you will stand before its decrepit gate. Without really knowing why...
• Like a moth drawn to a flame, your wings will burn in anguish. Time after time. For that is your fate. The fate of the cursed.

The elderly Fire Keeper, guiding the Bearer of the Curse to Drangleic

Emerald Herald

• Bearer of the curse

Seek souls, larger more powerful souls

Seek the king, for that is the only way

Lest this land swallow you whole,

As it has so many others.

The Emerald Herald, upon interacting with her to level up.

• This ring is the symbol of the King.

Use it to gain passage, through the King's Gate...

...and venture to the far east.

Bearer of the curse, if you are to be the next monarch,

then, one day, you will walk those grounds...

...without really knowing why.

The Emerald Herald in the Undead Crypt

Vendrick

• One day, fire will fade, and Dark will become a curse.

Men will be free from death, left to wander eternally.

Dark will again be ours, and in our true shape, we can bury the false legends of yore.

Only... is this our only choice?

Seeker of fire, coveter of the throne...

Seek strength. The rest will follow.

Vendrick, upon seeing the the Bearer of the Curse with all three crowns and granting them Vendrick's Blessing, rendering them immune to the Undead Curse.

Aldia, Scholar of the First Sin

• Life is brilliant. Beautiful.

It enchants us, to the point of obsession.

Some are true to their purpose, though they are but shells, flesh and mind.

One man lost his own body, but lingered on, as a head.

Others chase the charms of love, however elusive.

What is it that drives you?

Aldia, questioning the Bearer of the Curse at a Primal Bonfire.

Once, the Lord of Light banished Dark, and all that stemmed from humanity.

And men assumed a fleeting form.

These are the roots of our world.

Men are props on the stage of life, and no matter how tender, how exquisite...

A lie will remain a lie!

Young Hollow, knowing this, do you still desire peace?

Aldia, explaining the nature of the "original sin": Gwyn, Lord of Sunlight, choosing to artificially prolong his Age of Fire with the Darksign, sealing away humanity's darkness.

• Many monarchs have come and gone.

One drowned in poison, another succumbed to flame.

Still another slumbers in a realm of ice.

Not one of them stood here, as you do now.

You, conqueror of adversities.

Give us your answer.

Aldia, preparing to manifest himself as the final boss.

• I lost everything, but remained here, patiently.

The throne will certainly receive you.

But the question remains...

What do you want, truly?

Light? Dark? Or something else entirely...

Aldia, upon defeat, questioning again whether the Bearer of the Curse wishes to link the Fire or walk away.

• There is no path.

Beyond the scope of light, beyond the reach of Dark...

...what could possibly await us?

And yet, we seek it, insatiably...

Such is our fate.

Aldia, should the Bearer of the Curse choose to abandon the Throne of Want and let the First Flame die.