Life & Death in Lordran: A "Dark Souls" Quiz

Answer: Because you are undead

The narration during the intro cinematic states that some humans carry the 'Darksign', a circular brand in the flesh which identifies an Undead. Fearful of these continually reincarnating creatures, the Lords decree that all Undead must be locked away in the Undead Asylum, 'to await the end of the world. Such is your fate.'

Answer: You must ring more than one bell

The man sitting next to the bonfire you arrive at tells you that the 'Fate of the Undead' legend omits the fact that there are TWO Bells of Awakening. He also tells you where they are. Helpful as that is, he immediately tells you to just give up like he has.

Answer: One

Petrus is the only one who manages to make it out of the Catacombs without your help. He betrayed his companions and left them to die in the darkness. You can save Rhea, but her story always ends badly. Either Petrus murders her anyway, or if you kill Petrus before this happens she is kidnapped, goes Hollow and becomes an enemy later in the game.

Answer: By consuming Humanity

The Warrior at Firelink Shrine tells you that you can gather humanity from enemies or murder another human for theirs, saying 'I'd never do it.'
Knight Lautrec, however, implies that you shouldn't feel bad about murdering others for their humanity, asking 'Who do you suppose would make the best use of it?'

Answer: To prevent the darkness from spreading

The Abyss, a realm of complete blackness, was threatening to overtake the city and spread to the rest of Lordran. After the Abyss devoured the Four Kings of New Londo, the red-robed 'Sealers' made the decision to sacrifice all of the civilians to contain it. Ingward, the only remaining Sealer, gives you the key that lets you jump into the Abyss to fight the Four Kings.

Answer: Simple adventure

Siegmeyer never explains any ultimate goal for his travels, simply referring to himself as a lifelong adventurer. His daughter Sieglinde is searching for her father throughout the game and comes across him, as a Hollow, in Ash Lake. She is found crying over Siegmeyer's corpse after having killed him in self-defence.

Answer: Dark Sun Gwyndolin

Gwyndolin is Gwyn's youngest child and defeating him provides his own soul. The Four Kings of New Londo were granted fragments of Gwyn's soul in recognition of their foresight, and Seath the Scaleless was granted a fragment and the title of Duke for betraying the other dragons in their war against the Gods.

Answer: Your real destiny is to become the Lord of Darkness

Darkstalker Kaathe claims that Frampt has lost his way and is working against the wishes of the other serpents. After defeating Gwyn, you can burn yourself as fuel to relight the First Flame and continue the Age of Fire, or walk out of the room and become the Dark Lord. Of course, many players are unsure if either of the serpents are telling the truth.

Answer: Knight Solaire

Fan-favourite Solaire is travelling in Lordran in search of 'his very own Sun' and describes the Sun as being like a 'magnificent father'. He is also a member of the 'Warriors of Sunlight' covenant, leading many players to theorise that he is the Lord of Sunlight's first child.
All records of Gwyn's first son were wiped from the history books, and his status as a deity rescinded after he did something 'foolish'.

Answer: Titanite Demon

The lightning-hurling headless living statues drop 'Demon Titanite', whose description reads: "When the nameless blacksmith deity passed, from several slabs, great beasts arose." The first Titanite Demon encountered in the game is located in the room next to the blacksmith Andre of Astora, leading some to believe he was harvesting materials from it.