Paladin's Ashes Lore. (This dude is a ♥♥♥♥ing legend.)

[Kyrth]

So the Paladin's Ashes can be found beside the bonfire before the cathedral of the deep, guarded by a fallen knight.

This fallen knight, wields both a Brigand Twindagger & kukri. Both weapons that were used extensively by the warriors of Carthas (more on that later)
These weapons are also described to be associated with criminals & outlaws, implying that these fallen knights are no longer practicing the tenets of chivalry or honour.

In the sewer tunnels leading to Irina's cell, are several corpses carrying items associated with the clerics of the Way Of White. I believe (and this is still related to the paladin's ashes) that these are the bodies of Irina's retinue, who were slain by Aldritch's followers that have recently risen to great power within the area. Note that Aldritch's followers have open displays of breaking wheels & mass executions all throughout the burg.

"Ashes of a worn-out paladin who sought the cathedral of the deep. With this, the shrine handmaid will prepare new items."
"This paladin paid quite the price for his headstrong justice."

That the description of his ashes describes his being "worn-out" may refer to his struggle within the undead burg. And that it also makes a point of him being "Head-strong", could also serve to show that he was particularily zealous in the persecution of these 'Heretics'

For these reasons, i believe that the Paladin's Ashes belonged to one amongst the retinue who survived the attack, abandoned his duty, and sought out vengeance against Aldritch of his own violition.

And this brings us back to the fallen knights, whose armour is black iron, resistant to Fire & Lightning alike.
I believe these Fallen knights are the surviving servants of Londor's sable church. We meet but one of these knights whose identity is confirmed in the lore. Vilhelm.

Vilhelm's armour shares many visual similarities with that of the Fallen knights, and if that is not enough to convince you of their origin then read this.

Lady elfride, one of the three founders of the sable church, fights with a stance that may at first seem unique. It is not. The warriors of Carthas found in the catacombs below(told you) fight with that very same stance, upon comparison it is impossible to deny that they techniques aren't the same. But why?

Well i believe Londor to have been conquered & absorbed by the warriors of carthas, who the lore has stated to have never known defeat. This would explain as to how the order of knights in which the 'fallen knight set' were broken, and who broke them. This would also explain as to why the fallen knight outside the cathedral, wields Kukri against you.

But what is not explained, is as to why this fallen knight is standing before the corpse of our precious Paladin? well, he slew him. Obviously. Of course he wasn't alone in the attempt, and i can easily tell you why.

This Paladin had survived an ambush that had killed more than a handfull of cleric knights, he was hardy. And judging by where we find the corpse of the other Fallen Knight "Crucifixon Woods" we can divulge the fact that his path was fiercely contested. In fact, you can see not far from the fallen, fallen knight, the bodies of a Falconer, a pyromancer and a Sellsword. All merceneries. As for his surviving enemies? we have a bunch of the Undead Burg's folk, patroling the woods with crudely fashioned pikes; We've got a Brigand & troop of crossbowmen & attack dogs waiting just behind him.

This one man, this single Paladin made Aldritch's church so uncomfortable that they hired mercenaries & cutthroats from all-over, just to kill him.
One of said mercenaries lirerally wet himself before dying at this man's hand. (read fallen knight's leggings)
They had half of the Undead Burg charge into the woods, just to kill him.
They armed their clergy with crossbows & deployed attack dogs at their gates, just to kill him.
And in the end, he fought off knights, pyromancers, eastern warriors, militias & all.

Only to die in a ditch at the foot of the Cathedral.

This paladin paid quite a price for his headstrong justice...

[Miromett]

PALADIN LEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOY


(sorry I just had to)

Cool stuff man.

[Kyrth]

Originally posted by Miromett:

PALADIN LEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOY


(sorry I just had to)

Cool stuff man.

O ♥♥♥♥. When i make my vid on this, i'm gonna call him that.

[8Bitking]

Originally posted by Miromett:

PALADIN LEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOY


(sorry I just had to)

Cool stuff man.

>Inb4 this is somehow actually a Leeroy reference

[Scheneighnay]

So... you mean to tell me...
that karla's canonically-♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ set has secretly had competition this whole time?

[Wolfguarde]

Originally posted by Miromett:

PALADIN LEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOY

...with nobody left to train the aggro onto.

[Alice]

I always knew it was him, I just never knew how. Thank you.

[Azkeden]

Damn great post dude

[Generic]

This got me hyyyyped, great post! Now I wanna go explore ♥♥♥♥ and connect the dots as well.

[Scheneighnay]

Originally posted by The real Helpful Potato:

This got me hyyyyped, great post! Now I wanna go explore ♥♥♥♥ and connect the dots as well.

personally I'm trying to connect more dots pertaining to Rosaria. Like what a dead mangrub is doing below the bridge into Irythill.

[Kyrth]

Originally posted by Scheneighnay:

Originally posted by The real Helpful Potato:

This got me hyyyyped, great post! Now I wanna go explore ♥♥♥♥ and connect the dots as well.

personally I'm trying to connect more dots pertaining to Rosaria. Like what a dead mangrub is doing below the bridge into Irythill.

I can help you with that. Take a good long look at Yorshka's spear.
Note how it doesn't look like your typical irythillian weapon.

Forged entirely of brass.

Bloodstained red cloth-wraps.

Innumerable messy runes, covering its head.

The tip's shape resembling a metal stake, just like the ones that nail rosasria's slugmen to her walls.

Also note that Sirris claims to be a knight of the sunless realms, with all associated cultural gimmicks convieniently displayed. Yet Yorshka states that the Darkmoon knights are no more.

Note that Sulyvahn usurped the faith of Irythill.

Have fun trying to piece this one together.

[Kyrth]

Originally posted by KreielWolf:

Damn great post dude

Originally posted by Chimera:

I always knew it was him, I just never knew how. Thank you.

Originally posted by The real Helpful Potato:

This got me hyyyyped, great post! Now I wanna go explore ♥♥♥♥ and connect the dots as well.

FeelsGoodMan

[Scheneighnay]

Originally posted by Catatonic_Analytic:

Originally posted by Scheneighnay:

personally I'm trying to connect more dots pertaining to Rosaria. Like what a dead mangrub is doing below the bridge into Irythill.

I can help you with that. Take a good long look at Yorshka's spear.
Note how it doesn't look like your typical irythillian weapon.

Forged entirely of brass.

Bloodstained red cloth-wraps.

Innumerable messy runes, covering its head.

The tip's shape resembling a metal stake, just like the ones that nail rosasria's slugmen to her walls.

Also note that Sirris claims to be a knight of the sunless realms, with all associated cultural gimmicks convieniently displayed. Yet Yorshka states that the Darkmoon knights are no more.

Note that Sulyvahn usurped the faith of Irythill.

Have fun trying to piece this one together.

Fingers also get "forked tounges" for killing blues, but the question is still how and why that mangrub got there.

[Kyrth]

Originally posted by Scheneighnay:

Originally posted by Catatonic_Analytic:

I can help you with that. Take a good long look at Yorshka's spear.
Note how it doesn't look like your typical irythillian weapon.

Forged entirely of brass.

Bloodstained red cloth-wraps.

Innumerable messy runes, covering its head.

The tip's shape resembling a metal stake, just like the ones that nail rosasria's slugmen to her walls.

Also note that Sirris claims to be a knight of the sunless realms, with all associated cultural gimmicks convieniently displayed. Yet Yorshka states that the Darkmoon knights are no more.

Note that Sulyvahn usurped the faith of Irythill.

Have fun trying to piece this one together.

Fingers also get "forked tounges" for killing blues, but the question is still how and why that mangrub got there.

I personally think Sullyvahn has turned the Darkmoons against the gods. Again, he did usurp their faith, and wields a ceremonial weapon that mimics & exagerates the properties of a weapon blessed by Gwyndolin's miracle, 'Darkmoon Blade'.

Rosaria would in this case, see the Darkmoons as servents of Sullyvahn. Which would explain both the forked tongues, and Sirris's own hatred of 'Fingers'.

And i think the dead mangrub is hinting towards Rosaria trying to find out about what happened to her family in Irythill. It carries a miracle of healing which, in the lore, Heralds spread as a bread breaker for non-believers. So perhaps that could serve as evidence to concrete its objective being humanitarian. A "Please let me know if she's alright." kind of deal.

Yorshka's Spear saps FP, which is referred too in the Simple Gem's description as a stat correlating to willpower & psychological capability. It is probable that Aldritch sabotaged Yorshka before Sullyvahn locked Gwyndolin away, by sending her this cursed weapon under the pretense of being close family, so that she is too weak to resist when the time comes. Yorshka does appear to be close to emancipated.