Defeating and laying to rest the Lords of Cinder is the Ashen One's prime directive in Dark Souls 3. The Abyss Walkers, Yhorm the Giant, Aldrich the Devourer of Gods, and the Twin Princes Lothric and Lorian are renowned for their might in the lore. They have great power, but they also have great secrets.
The entire Dark Souls series is very cryptic when it comes to revealing any information about the various stories and characters one meets during their adventures in this punishing world. Some of these hidden bits of information can enlighten one about the lesser-known details regarding the four main bosses.
10 The Abyss Watchers Share A Single Soul
The greatest portion of the Undead Legion, those who partook in the blood of the wolf, are physically different individuals, but they are closer than just comrades. These warriors enhanced their bodies, but in the process did more. They enhanced their very being to be more like the mighty Abysswalker Artorias, though since each individual consumed the same source, their souls were linked. It is not the embered man defeated by the Ashen One who has the Soul of the Blood of the Wolf, but all of them. This last one of burning passion was just the weakest link who allowed it to be taken.
9 Yhorm The Giant Was A War Hero
Mighty Yhorm the Giant, ruler of the Profaned Capital, was a lord more than in title alone. He was loved by his people before they succumbed to the evil of the Profaned Flame. Long ago, Yhorm fought as a one-man vanguard in many conflicts, taking the brunt of enemy brutality in order to protect his people. At some point, he even lost someone very dear to him and renounced his shield because of it. Yet, he kept fighting — all the way up until it was time to sacrifice himself to the First Flame for what he thought was the greater good.
8 Aldrich Linked The Fire Before He Was A Bloated Mass
It is well known that Aldrich, Devourer of Gods, likes to eat people. Gods, men, even children, he is not picky. Before he was a disgusting and amorphous being of sludge, he was a cleric of great might. He was so strong that he was the ideal candidate to link the fire, and so was urged to do so by whoever he served at the time. Though much time has passed since then and he has become more monster than man, therefore when he awakens from his slumber he does not bother to return to his throne, but instead opts to seek a fresh meal.
7 Prince Lothric Is An Even Bigger Wimp Than One Thinks
Lorian, the eldest, is clearly the brawn of this duo, though that is not what makes the younger of the prince brothers a weakling. When the time arrived for the fink to be linked, it was Lothric's duty to do so.
It is not known why he was chosen instead of his mighty warrior of a brother, but Lothric outright refused the task. He instead chose to hold himself up in his room, like a spoiled brat, and condemn the world to its fate. This made the land of Lothric weak enough to be invaded, proving even more that the royalty of this land are jokes.
6 Ludleth Is An Exile
One often forgets that Ludleth of Courland is a Lord of Cinder because he is not a boss. Though, this does not mean he lacks strength, for the weak do not possess the ability to link the fire. At some point, it is mentioned that he was cast out from his native land for practicing transposition, which is apparently a taboo. It is possible that Ludleth used the conversion of souls into weapons to give himself increased power — enough to make the journey to link the fire.
5 The Abyss Watchers Were Only A Part Of The Undead Legion
Many tend to use the terms "Abyss Watchers" and "Undead Legion" interchangeably, but this is inaccurate. The Abyss Watchers made up the bulk of the groups fighting force and were the only ones to consume the blood of the wolf, though there were others. There was also a group known as the "Followers" whose duty it was to slay Abyss Watchers who began to be corrupted by The Abyss.
4 Yhorm Refused To Link The Flame Again Because He Was Resentful
When Yhorm first linked the fire, he did so because he thought it would protect his people. His sacrifice was meant to keep them safe, but he awoke to find that this was not true. In the opening cutscene of the game, as he exits his colossal coffin, he howls in agony at having been awoken to such a dreadful existence.
Seeing no reason to bother linking the flame once more now that all he loved was gone, Yhorm went to sit in the desolate throneroom of the Profane Capital where he could think on the dark of times past.
3 Gwyndolin Is Still Alive When The Player Fights Aldrich
Due to the music and the sound effects, it can be hard to hear much else during the fight, but if one stops just before the fog door that leads to battling Aldrich, they can hear what sounds like voices. One, a deep, rough gurgling, and the other a set of soft moans. This could very well be Aldrich taunting Gwyndolin as he consumes the god.
2 Lorian Was Crippled In His Fight With The Demon Prince
There was a lot of speculation about the elder prince's crippled state until The Ringed City DLC came out, which allowed the player to learn that Lorian once battled, and slew, the Demon Prince. This is likely where Lorian's fire-related blade powers come from, possibly having taken some of the demon's power after their duel. Furthermore, it's unlikely much else could injure a great swordsman like Lorian to the point of losing some functionality of his legs. An epic fight with one of the most powerful demons to ever exist seems like it could be a possible cause.
1 The Bearer Of The Curse Never Linked The Fire
The Soul of Cinder, the final boss of the game, is noticeably an amalgamation of various fighting styles. Even their armor combines aspects of a few renowned individuals. The Chosen Undead, the player's persona from the first Dark Souls, is referenced due to the Soul of Cinder's armor having a semblance to the Elite Knight set usually used for the player in game-related promotional art. The armor also has some aspects resembling Yhorm's chest piece and others who have a connection to linking the fire. But the easily recognized Faraam set depicted on the Bearer of the Curse, the player's stand-in from Dark Souls 2, is not referenced at all. Because of this, it is possible that the Bearer's canon ending is to let darkness reign.