Information is all around us, whether in a tangible or transient form, it engulfs us with its sheer volume. But with all this information surrounding us, how much, if any, is directed at us? What happens when something not intended for us reaches our ears? What choices do we make when a window to a world we don’t belong in is opened? Dark Souls 3 presents us with that exact situation, and asks us to make a choice.

Common & Unique Interactions

Small talk tends to consist of shallow meaningless jabber ranging from weather to television and anything “safe” in between. Nothing profound is typically learned and these exchanges happen regardless of the people involved. You most likely experience this almost every day. However, once you begin interacting more deeply with a specific person, it allows the conversation to be more tailored as 2 people establish a rapport. This progression happens with the NPCs you meet in Dark Souls 3, as you begin with the superficial and progress to the profound the further through the world you progress. The relationships take time to blossom, and sometimes can even be hijacked.

Irina, Eygon, and “You”

The interaction between Irina, Eygon, and you unfolds in quite a manner one does not expect. We learn that Irina is a sensitive blind Nun from Carim, who was brought up to be a Firekeeper but for some reason was unable to complete her charge. She was unable to embrace the darkness, forever being agitated by the dark, like biting insects akin to the worms in our hearts. She needs the physical reassurance that she is not alone. Over time, you and her bond as you give her Braille Tomes and she reads them to you, teaching you miracles. But, not everything in life is bright; the dark is all around us. If we give Irina a dark miracle tome and we learn a dark miracle, she will become more frightened by the dark than usual.

We learn that Eygon is a knight that attends to one maiden, who is Irina. He is quite the foil to Irina, a bit crass and insensitive to everyone and everything. In fact, he is a confounding knight, belittling Irina when he can, yet also making sure she is okay as he checks in with her throughout the game. It is not until we make Irina teach us dark miracles does Eygon steps in and shows his true colors. He abducts her from Firelink Shrine and takes her to just after the Iudex Gundyr bonfire. You and him engage in a fight to the death over Irina while he berates you for not keeping her safe, which is an ironic culmination of your relationship with him. An arduous fight results in you defeating Eygon and showing Irina that you are there for her with another gentle touch. After that, both of you go to Firelink Shrine but Irina seems a bit off from here on.

Back at Firelink Shrine, we meet with Irina only to have her ask for a touch, but it seems like our touch goes unnoticed…that is, until we wear Morne’s gauntlets. You, the player, after slaying Eygon, can now purchase them from the Hand Maiden in Firelink shrine. And so, we come back to Irina with Morne’s gauntlets and we give her one last touch. Irina believes you are a knight and not yourself, thus she says something to us that was not meant for us to know:

“Oh, you again, touch me, one last time.
And kill me, as you promised you would.”

How would you react with this information that was not intended for you? Would you pretend to be a knight of Carim and make good on his promise? Would you refrain from taking her life on the grounds of justice and good? Nevertheless, you set this in action. You cannot just refrain from doing anything, can you?

“Ohh…A Knight of Carim…
…is always true to his word…”

Dark Souls 3 imposes the choice upon you, thrusting you as a bystander into a conversation you were never a part of. It is interesting to note the the subtle differences when people talk, share, and interact with one another, depending on who they are talking to and the pertinent situation. You are the Champion of Ash that Irina praised highly, yet you knew nothing of this pact with Eygon. These subtle tragedies are something you as the player character find yourself in throughout the game. People have held on to hope, with a frail belief in each other that stretches until it begins to resemble resentment. Whether we seek it or not, as the player, we become a hub for all manner of whispers, gossip, and revelations. We become a convergence ourselves, mirroring the transitory lands themselves.

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