How does one become "Undead?"

[Yeaman]

So I heard Solaire tell me that he became Undead to pursue his sun/mission and I have always wondered how that happens. I have looked at lore videos on youtube but this has never been explained. I'm guessing no one really knows but I wanted to ask just in case it is expained somewhere and I just missed it.

[Crombell]

As far as I can understand, the "dark sign" just started appearing on humans randomly when the flame started to fade. Having the dark signs signals being undead, so people don't actually have to die in order to turn.

EDIT: I'd like to point out that Solaire said "Now that I've become undead", meaning it wasn't necessarily something he could do on purpose.

[Yeaman]

This is the bit of dialogue where he mentions becoming undead,

Speak to him (Solaire) at the shrine (no covenant needed)

Hmm! Ah, oh… hello there.
Forgive me, I was just pondering… about my poor fortune.
I did not find my own sun, not in Anor Londo, nor in Twilight Blighttown.
Where else might my sun be? Lost Izalith, or the Tomb of the Gravelord… ?
But I cannot give up. I became Undead to pursue this!
But when I peer at the Sun up above, it occurs to me…
What if I am seen as a laughing stock, as a blind fool without reason?
Well, I suppose they wouldn't be far off!
Hah hah hah!

Got this from the Dark Souls Wiki

[Crombell]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Yeaman:

This is the bit of dialogue where he mentions becoming undead,

Speak to him (Solaire) at the shrine (no covenant needed)

Hmm! Ah, oh… hello there.
Forgive me, I was just pondering… about my poor fortune.
I did not find my own sun, not in Anor Londo, nor in Twilight Blighttown.
Where else might my sun be? Lost Izalith, or the Tomb of the Gravelord… ?
But I cannot give up. I became Undead to pursue this!
But when I peer at the Sun up above, it occurs to me…
What if I am seen as a laughing stock, as a blind fool without reason?
Well, I suppose they wouldn't be far off!
Hah hah hah!

Got this from the Dark Souls Wiki

Oh, I didn't know he said that. I thought you were referring to the first time you talk to him and he says:

.Ah, hello! You don't look Hollow, far from it!
I am Solaire of Astora, an adherent of the Lord of Sunlight.
Now that I am Undead, I have come to this great land, the birthplace of Lord Gwyn, to seek my very own sun!
… Do you find that strange? Well, you should!
No need to hide your reaction. I get that look all the time!
Hah hah hah!

Sorta got the dialogue wrong, but the meaning is the same. Anyhow, I'm not really sure if anyone ever mentions becoming undead as something you can intentionally do. It's intriguing though.

[Yeaman]

Yeah that's why I was curious. If it weren't for that section of Solaire's dialogue, I would have assumed what you stated before. I do agree with your statement that humans cannot decide if they will/won't become undead. So maybe that says something about Solaire? If there is no evidence that humans can become undead by choice, does that mean Solaire was not a human before he became undead.? I just thought of this, but it might be evidence supporting the theory that Solaire is the son of Gwyn. Maybe the gods have the power to curse themselves (maybe because the rumers were true and they indeed created the curse).

All of this is conjecture of course, but what do you think?

[Rye Tart]

Having a dark sign is basically being linked to a bonfire, so i guess you can just... "link" yourself to it and become undead. It's just a guess though.

[Crombell]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Yeaman:

Yeah that's why I was curious. If it weren't for that section of Solaire's dialogue, I would have assumed what you stated before. I do agree with your statement that humans cannot decide if they will/won't become undead. So maybe that says something about Solaire? If there is no evidence that humans can become undead by choice, does that mean Solaire was not a human before he became undead.? I just thought of this, but it might be evidence supporting the theory that Solaire is the son of Gwyn. Maybe the gods have the power to curse themselves (maybe because the rumers were true and they indeed created the curse).

All of this is conjecture of course, but what do you think?

I think Solaire wasn't meant to be the son of Gwyn, as that was Andre's role until they decided to exclude that from the final game. One can of course theorize, but there aren't enough hints to solidly state anything.

There might be some way of turning undead intentionally though. Nobody ever said there wasn't, and Solaire's dialogue clearly states that he somehow did it.

[Crombell]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από sexyboot:

Having a dark sign is basically being linked to a bonfire, so i guess you can just... "link" yourself to it and become undead. It's just a guess though.

This might be possible. It's doable for a human to enter Lordran, as demonstrated by Sieglinde, the only living human in the game.