I started a post yesterday about my favorite NPCs in FromSoft games and then started wandering to other topics, as is my wont. The number one favorite NPC in Dark Souls is Solaire. I am comfortable with saying that it’s by a country mile. The only other one who comes even close would be the Onion Knight.
Solaire is a jolly man who deliberately went hollow so he could chase after his windmill, er, his sun. For many years, he was head-canonized as the first born of Gwyn. That was definitively shot down in the third game, which severely split the community. Half the community were pissed that Solaire was done like that. He was the first born! How very dare FromSoft?!?
The other half, and I wvill fully admit that I am one of them, were awed by the way FromSoft wrapped up that hanging storyline. They dropped enough breadcrumbs for you to see what they were doing, but I will fully admit that I did not put it together until I saw a video on it (probably VaatiVidya). But having the Nameless King turn out to be Gwyn’s first-born was a stroke of genius.
Tying it back to Ornstein…. *chef’s kiss* It was amazing. I loved it (even though that fight kicked my ass in my first playthrough), and I applauded FromSoft for making it not be Solaire. I have nothing against Solaire, really, but I have nothing for him, either. He’s just there. I am no stranger to tilting at the windmills, but I have no patience for it in other people, either.
It’s very clear that he’s–no. I’m not going down that road in this post as I’ve done it before and will probably do it again. Suffice to say that he is not my favorite NPC list, and we’ll leave it at that.
So. Who are on my list? This is in no particluar order other than my favorite favorites are at the top.
1. Eileen the Crow (Bloodborne). She is my everything, and I would do anything for her. I will fight other hunters by her side. I will fight other hunters when she cannot. And I will sit by her, grieving, as she dies. I don’t think I’ve ever fought her, but I would have a hard time doing that. The actor who voices her is black, which I greatly appreciate.
2. Yuria of Londor (Dark Souls III). She is of the dark, and she wants you to be her lord. She wants you to usurp the flame and take it for yourself. There is a very elaborate questline involving Anri that is satisfying to do, but hard to do it naturally on your first playthrough. This is my favorite ending of all the games, and I choose it every time I play DS III.