Slave Knight Gael

[Dr. Professor Commander]

So I've read Gael dies during that mid-fight cutscene, and when he rises again it's actually the Dark Soul itself possessing his corpse? So phase 2 and 3 you're literally fighting the Dark Soul? I guess that's a fitting way to end the series if it's true lol

[David Benioff]

I don't know if there's any official interpretation, but my take is that he's corrupted already when you encounter him when the first cutscene plays (the 'hand it over' one) by the dark soul (no clue what it is, but it's some entity for sure lol), and then he either fully stops resisting or taps into the power of the dark soul during the second cutscene to go full red aoe santa claus.

[Dr. Professor Commander]

Originally posted by David Benioff:

I don't know if there's any official interpretation, but my take is that he's corrupted already when you encounter him when the first cutscene plays (the 'hand it over' one) by the dark soul (no clue what it is, but it's some entity for sure lol), and then he either fully stops resisting or taps into the power of the dark soul during the second cutscene to go full red aoe santa claus.

That also works for me lol. He definitely stops resisting or becomes too weak to, I feel like that red smoke spewing from his eyes after he rises suggests something else took over. Sort of like a 1up I guess. I'm still not certain it's Gael when he rises again though, it's like his behavior changes (not just gameplay-wise) and it feels more like you're fighting a husk, and during phase 3 it becomes enraged and lashes out violently but somehow he still feels husk-like. I get Dragonslayer armor or Soul of Cinder vibes from his Phase 2 & 3 segments

[David Benioff]

Originally posted by Doctor Doobie:

Originally posted by David Benioff:

I don't know if there's any official interpretation, but my take is that he's corrupted already when you encounter him when the first cutscene plays (the 'hand it over' one) by the dark soul (no clue what it is, but it's some entity for sure lol), and then he either fully stops resisting or taps into the power of the dark soul during the second cutscene to go full red aoe santa claus.

That also works for me lol. He definitely stops resisting or becomes too weak to, I feel like that red smoke spewing from his eyes after he rises suggests something else took over. Sort of like a 1up I guess. I'm still not certain it's Gael when he rises again though, it's like his behavior changes (not just gameplay-wise) and it feels more like you're fighting a husk, and during phase 3 it becomes enraged and lashes out violently but somehow he still feels husk-like. I get Dragonslayer armor or Soul of Cinder vibes from his Phase 2 & 3 segments

Hmmm I definitely see what you mean: I guess maybe in phase 2/3, something else takes over due to a lack of ability to fight back on Gael's part, and at the end when the fight's over, whatever it is is defeated and that's why when he dies, he sounds like Gael again. Something to think about at least hehe

[Dr. Professor Commander]

Originally posted by David Benioff:

Originally posted by Doctor Doobie:

That also works for me lol. He definitely stops resisting or becomes too weak to, I feel like that red smoke spewing from his eyes after he rises suggests something else took over. Sort of like a 1up I guess. I'm still not certain it's Gael when he rises again though, it's like his behavior changes (not just gameplay-wise) and it feels more like you're fighting a husk, and during phase 3 it becomes enraged and lashes out violently but somehow he still feels husk-like. I get Dragonslayer armor or Soul of Cinder vibes from his Phase 2 & 3 segments

Hmmm I definitely see what you mean: I guess maybe in phase 2/3, something else takes over due to a lack of ability to fight back on Gael's part, and at the end when the fight's over, whatever it is is defeated and that's why when he dies, he sounds like Gael again. Something to think about at least hehe

That got me thinking that maybe he was corrupted the entire time. When he demands your piece of the Dark Soul since humanity is a fragment of it, it's unlike his motive to search for the pigment the painter can use, and seems more like a "being" wants to become whole again, and demands it from you before charging at you. Which would also mean that his corruption is actually the Dark Soul as Gael's sort of puppeteer. It also gives the "For my lady's painting..." line kind of an eerie tone, as if it's a taunt to Gael's failure in resisting it, and to you because you're the last piece of the puzzle for it to become whole. He could still be alive during the whole fight, but more like a prisoner in his own body while it's controlled by another entity.

After all the fight wouldn't happen if he collected the dried blood so his own would suffice. He'd likely have just let you kill him to take his blood to the painter if it were still "Gael".

[ironvader6]

big if true

[Dr. Professor Commander]

Originally posted by ironvader6:

big if true

It definitely would be! Apparently Gael's use of the white corona also suggests he's been around since the beginning. For one not to go hollow after all that time only to be corrupted by the Dark Soul itself is wild to think about. Not only are you fighting probably the current oldest living being in the DS series as the final boss (since he's basically murdered everything else at that point in his corruption), but he's also empowered and corrupted by the Dark Soul during the fight.

Also did anyone notice the dev messages set by Gael throughout the Dreg heap glow with the same red smoke during his final phases of his boss fight? There are also bits of his cape laying around throughout the Dreg Heap and Ringed city, as well as hanging on the two bonfires that get you to the Dreg Heap

[Kyoki]

Originally posted by Doctor Doobie:

Originally posted by ironvader6:

big if true

It definitely would be! Apparently Gael's use of the white corona also suggests he's been around since the beginning. For one not to go hollow after all that time only to be corrupted by the Dark Soul itself is wild to think about. Not only are you fighting probably the current oldest living being in the DS series as the final boss (since he's basically murdered everything else at that point in his corruption), but he's also empowered and corrupted by the Dark Soul during the fight.

Also did anyone notice the dev messages set by Gael throughout the Dreg heap glow with the same red smoke during his final phases of his boss fight? There are also bits of his cape laying around throughout the Dreg Heap and Ringed city, as well as hanging on the two bonfires that get you to the Dreg Heap

The reason for the pieces of his cloak and the phantom messages is because Gael is infact leading you to him - it's why he helped you in Ashes of Alandriel aswell as a summon in the Friede fight. As for his being corrupted by the Dark Soul... If i understand correctly - as long as you have a goal in this world - you won't go hollow. Gaels goal was obtaining the Dark Soul, so a new painting can be made. When you meet him in the boss fight - he is consumed by his quest, full of madness, but still trying to get to his goal. Phase 2 & 3 meanwhile is indeed the Dark Soul itself. But not because it corrupted Gael. Once you make Gael bleed, and he sees his blood... he realizes that his quest is over. He got the pigment - he made the blood of the Dark Soul liquid again. Since his goal is reached (With you being his back-up plan), he goes hollow. And the Dark Soul takes over. It's partly why the Hollowslayer sword starts doing extra damage to him in phases 2 and 3. Dark Soul didn't corrupt him. he went mad for his purpose. It simply took over once he went hollow.

Or atleast that is my interpretation with the given facts. Since Dark soul is not actually some corrupt or evil entity. It's humanity.

The Dark Soul - and the age of dark are not evil. It's the repression of humanity and it's suffering that creates evil - that is the Abyss. Since the abyss is basically the hatred, pain and suffering of humanity manifesting due to the broken cycle. The curse that gwyn and the old gods put upon humans.

[Dr. Professor Commander]

Originally posted by Kyoki:

The Dark Soul - and the age of dark are not evil. It's the repression of humanity and it's suffering that creates evil - that is the Abyss. Since the abyss is basically the hatred, pain and suffering of humanity manifesting due to the broken cycle. The curse that gwyn and the old gods put upon humans.

That makes sense since the WKGS and FGS don't do any bonus dmg like they do to Midir. Speaking of which, I recently learned Dragons aren't supposed to have souls in DkS, but you get one from him. Based on what you said I feel like he consumed enough abyssal things that it manifested it's own soul on top of just corrupting him like a cancer.

Man, the Ringed City has such cool lore imo. I recently read a reddit post suggesting The Ringed City is the actual remains of Londor.