Mystery Structure Above Lothric

[Playerjjjj]

Here's something interesting I haven't heard anyone talking about: from Archdragon Peak, it's possible to see the highest towers of Lothric Castle. Not a big deal, right? But during my last playthrough I noticed something else: a massive stone fortress on a mountain peak even higher than Lothric Castle. It's a bit hard to see, but if you zoom in, you can make out towers and what might be a gate.

So my question is simple: what the heck is it? I can't think of any locations in DkS 3 that fit the bill; pretty much everything besides Archdragon Peak is below Lothric Castle. The Kiln of the First Flame's location isn't really known, but the mystery fortress looks nothing like the jumble of ruins at the Kiln. What could it be? It almost looks like Lordran, but we already know Anor Londo is down in the Boreal Valley, so that can't be it.

If you want to see for yourself, head to Archdragon Peak. There are several places where it's visible, but from the first bonfire, climb the rock formation with the lightning gem on top of it and look toward the sun. It'll be to the left of Lothric Castle.

Would love to hear people's thoughts!

[Spitalett]

Screenshots please

[Playerjjjj]

http://images.akamai.steamusercontent.com/ugc/88219606963815530/E4F1F0D47E8DCCDB362EE2EFECE4C6E1F05662C3/

[AlmightyDunkle]

Possibly Anor Londo as you can see Archdragon from the Pontiff arena.

[♫Doctor Diddlerino♫]

That's doesn't look like anything from the sceenshot.

[Skeleton]

When you arrive at Archdragon Peak, you are specifically in the past. What you are seeing is Lothric Castle, AND Anor Londo. From the Pontiff's bonfire/at the platform-arena, you can see Archdragon Peak in the distance.

[♫Doctor Diddlerino♫]

Originally posted by Kawaii Fire Keeper:

When you arrive at Archdragon Peak, you are specifically in the past. What you are seeing is Lothric Castle, AND Anor Londo. From the Pontiff's bonfire/at the platform-arena, you can see Archdragon Peak in the distance.

Dunno about that. If it takes place in the past there are a lot of things that don't add up.

[[CoS] Eternalsteelfan]

Originally posted by Playerjjjj:

http://images.akamai.steamusercontent.com/ugc/88219606963815530/E4F1F0D47E8DCCDB362EE2EFECE4C6E1F05662C3/

Left is Lothric, Right is Anor Lando

[Skeleton]

Originally posted by ♫Frear♫:

Originally posted by Kawaii Fire Keeper:

When you arrive at Archdragon Peak, you are specifically in the past. What you are seeing is Lothric Castle, AND Anor Londo. From the Pontiff's bonfire/at the platform-arena, you can see Archdragon Peak in the distance.

Dunno about that. If it takes place in the past there are a lot of things that don't add up.

Not really, it actually makes more sense than the developers stating AotA took place 300 years before the events of DkS1 (HAHAHAHA! OH WOW!). To get into the metaphysics, you ruminate upon that sweet, sweet stone-dragon booty. Then your mind is transported through time, (during a time where the Flame had begun to fade/Darksign re-emerged but had not fully weakened) and space (haven't heard of this stupid-bit of convolution before, have we?). Ending up at Archdragon Peak. That's why it appears to be mere ruins in the "present", whilst being less busted in the past. The Nameless King doesn't exist within the present, because we defeated him in the past. Similar to the Untended Graves with Champion Gundyr being in the past, etc... This is definitely nothing new for the series, and it is at least handled a little better this time around (pointing to the mess that was AotA's timeline in DkS1).

[♫Doctor Diddlerino♫]

Originally posted by Kawaii Fire Keeper:

Originally posted by ♫Frear♫:

Dunno about that. If it takes place in the past there are a lot of things that don't add up.

Not really, it actually makes more sense than the developers stating AotA took place 300 years before the events of DkS1 (HAHAHAHA! OH WOW!). To get into the metaphysics, you ruminate upon that sweet, sweet stone-dragon booty. Then your mind is transported through time, (during a time where the Flame had begun to fade/Darksign re-emerged but had not fully weakened) and space (haven't heard of this stupid-bit of convolution before, have we?). Ending up at Archdragon Peak. That's why it appears to be mere ruins in the "present", whilst being less busted in the past. The Nameless King doesn't exist within the present, because we defeated him in the past. Similar to the Untended Graves with Champion Gundyr being in the past, etc... This is definitely nothing new for the series, and it is at least handled a little better this time around (pointing to the mess that was AotA's timeline in DkS1).

I reference Ornstein's armor, which you find in Archdragon peak, for one example.

"In the dragonless age (Any point after they were defeated), this knight, who long guarded the ruined cathedral (AKA the room we fight him in in DS1), left the land in search of the Nameless King."

That speaks volumes in and of itself. You could argue that it just mentions that he guarded the ruined cathedral as a reference, but that doesn't make any sense given that we find his armor at Archdragon peak. It seems to me that we didn't really kill Ornstein (Which would mean that killing Smough first in the boss fight is canon) and that he survived, then went soul-searching after hearing of the Nameless King. Turned by his words, Ornstein gave up the mantle of Dragonslayer and left behind his armor and spear.

Either situation is odd, but consider that not everything we killed in DS1 died. Gwynevere was an optional boss but he canonically lived only to be eaten by Aldrich.

Of course, given how DarkSouls lore works, I doubt we'll ever really know the answer, but consider that the only way to get Ornstein's armor in DS1 was to buy it from the weapons dealer, which means that it was only a replica.

I'd also like to mention that the Nameless King is somewhat implied to be Gwyn's firstborn, or at least it makes sense. He trained Ornstein, so Ornstein setting off to find him is reasonable enough.

[lpnlizard27]

Originally posted by Playerjjjj:

http://images.akamai.steamusercontent.com/ugc/88219606963815530/E4F1F0D47E8DCCDB362EE2EFECE4C6E1F05662C3/

Its probably just a low resolution mock up of Lothric Castle.

In your image you can see the spires of Anor Londo in the lower right.


In this image taken just outside the Pontiff's room you can see a similar outline, albeit much more detailed.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=851484544

[gackie]

Originally posted by ♫Frear♫:

Originally posted by Kawaii Fire Keeper:

Not really, it actually makes more sense than the developers stating AotA took place 300 years before the events of DkS1 (HAHAHAHA! OH WOW!). To get into the metaphysics, you ruminate upon that sweet, sweet stone-dragon booty. Then your mind is transported through time, (during a time where the Flame had begun to fade/Darksign re-emerged but had not fully weakened) and space (haven't heard of this stupid-bit of convolution before, have we?). Ending up at Archdragon Peak. That's why it appears to be mere ruins in the "present", whilst being less busted in the past. The Nameless King doesn't exist within the present, because we defeated him in the past. Similar to the Untended Graves with Champion Gundyr being in the past, etc... This is definitely nothing new for the series, and it is at least handled a little better this time around (pointing to the mess that was AotA's timeline in DkS1).

I reference Ornstein's armor, which you find in Archdragon peak, for one example.

"In the dragonless age (Any point after they were defeated), this knight, who long guarded the ruined cathedral (AKA the room we fight him in in DS1), left the land in search of the Nameless King."

That speaks volumes in and of itself. You could argue that it just mentions that he guarded the ruined cathedral as a reference, but that doesn't make any sense given that we find his armor at Archdragon peak. It seems to me that we didn't really kill Ornstein (Which would mean that killing Smough first in the boss fight is canon) and that he survived, then went soul-searching after hearing of the Nameless King. Turned by his words, Ornstein gave up the mantle of Dragonslayer and left behind his armor and spear.

Either situation is odd, but consider that not everything we killed in DS1 died. Gwynevere was an optional boss but he canonically lived only to be eaten by Aldrich.

Of course, given how DarkSouls lore works, I doubt we'll ever really know the answer, but consider that the only way to get Ornstein's armor in DS1 was to buy it from the weapons dealer, which means that it was only a replica.

I'd also like to mention that the Nameless King is somewhat implied to be Gwyn's firstborn, or at least it makes sense. He trained Ornstein, so Ornstein setting off to find him is reasonable enough.

Once Ornstein said "♥♥♥♥ this", he went in search of his friend and master (The Nameless King), then Gwyndolin created an illusion of him to sit and guard the Lordvessel with the real Smough. We never find the real Ornstein, as 1 he is an illusion, and in 2 he is a fanboy. In DS3, he appears to be a Dragon, possibly and probably the one we see the Nameless King riding.

[Playerjjjj]

Originally posted by lpnlizard27:

Originally posted by Playerjjjj:

http://images.akamai.steamusercontent.com/ugc/88219606963815530/E4F1F0D47E8DCCDB362EE2EFECE4C6E1F05662C3/

Its probably just a low resolution mock up of Lothric Castle.

In your image you can see the spires of Anor Londo in the lower right.


In this image taken just outside the Pontiff's room you can see a similar outline, albeit much more detailed.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=851484544

Ahhhh, I see! You're right; the spires on the right are the top of Anor Londo, not Lothric Castle. I didn't realize they were so visible. And yeah, the mystery structure is Lothric Castle, then. Thanks. This does make me wonder something else, though: is Anor Londo ever visible from the Castle? Like, say, from the Grand Archive's roof? Something else to look for in my next playthrough, I guess.

[Windzor]

Originally posted by Playerjjjj:

is Anor Londo ever visible from the Castle? Like, say, from the Grand Archive's roof? Something else to look for in my next playthrough, I guess.

It isn't visible from the Archives, or anywhere else in the upper castle, but it is visible from Vordt's balcony where you "raise the banner" to get to the Undead Settlement. It's also very clearly visible from the Undead Settlement, from the Greatbow Giant's tower. http://imgur.com/xrsNXjn

[RJ Ramrod]

I know this is a relatively-old thread (which I found while trying to figure out where Archdragon Peak is supposed to be in relation to the friendly tower giant, because I see it) but I saw this and wanted to clarify:

Originally posted by ♫Frear♫:

I reference Ornstein's armor, which you find in Archdragon peak, for one example.

"In the dragonless age (Any point after they were defeated), this knight, who long guarded the ruined cathedral (AKA the room we fight him in in DS1), left the land in search of the Nameless King."

Originally posted by Hat Skeleton!:

Once Ornstein said "♥♥♥♥ this", he went in search of his friend and master (The Nameless King), then Gwyndolin created an illusion of him to sit and guard the Lordvessel with the real Smough. We never find the real Ornstein, as 1 he is an illusion, and in 2 he is a fanboy. In DS3, he appears to be a Dragon, possibly and probably the one we see the Nameless King riding.

I don't know that DS2's Old Dragonslayer is a fanboy--it seems to me like it's actually Ornstein

The description of Ornstein's armor in DS3 references "the ruined cathedral," which sounds a lot less like the building in which the Chosen Undead fight's Gwyndolin's illusory Ornstein, and a lot more like the flooded ruins in which the Bearer of the Curse fights the Old Dragonslayer

[alicerinz]

Originally posted by Lexavian:

I know this is a relatively-old thread (which I found while trying to figure out where Archdragon Peak is supposed to be in relation to the friendly tower giant, because I see it) but I saw this and wanted to clarify:

Originally posted by ♫Frear♫:

I reference Ornstein's armor, which you find in Archdragon peak, for one example.

"In the dragonless age (Any point after they were defeated), this knight, who long guarded the ruined cathedral (AKA the room we fight him in in DS1), left the land in search of the Nameless King."

Originally posted by Hat Skeleton!:

Once Ornstein said "♥♥♥♥ this", he went in search of his friend and master (The Nameless King), then Gwyndolin created an illusion of him to sit and guard the Lordvessel with the real Smough. We never find the real Ornstein, as 1 he is an illusion, and in 2 he is a fanboy. In DS3, he appears to be a Dragon, possibly and probably the one we see the Nameless King riding.

I don't know that DS2's Old Dragonslayer is a fanboy--it seems to me like it's actually Ornstein

The description of Ornstein's armor in DS3 references "the ruined cathedral," which sounds a lot less like the building in which the Chosen Undead fight's Gwyndolin's illusory Ornstein, and a lot more like the flooded ruins in which the Bearer of the Curse fights the Old Dragonslayer

Outright false.Read Aldritch Faitfulls description