u/throwin9thisoneaway

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This is an alternate viewpoint from the conventionally held theory that Seath fathered Priscilla and (somehow) Gwyndolin. I am assuming Priscilla is Velka's daughter, fathered by Gwyn, which if you disagree with, that's completely understandable.

Thematically, I believe this is appropriate as Seath is something of an alchemist seeking to artificially manufacture life, and the prospect of the natural generation of life seems like it doesn't really fit with him.

It presumes Gwyndolin is Gwyn's son, and it takes into consideration the fact that the first born son of Gwyn has an extreme affinity for Dragons

This theory depends mostly upon a read of environmental details, as should be evident from the image. Yes, I'm aware of the spelling mistake, no I will not be changing it, as I think it adds to the MS paint aesthetic.

This theory would also explain why humans would be capable of partial (and potential total) transformation into Dragons

Theme of Degeneration

In mythology, it is a recurring theme to think of the past generations as greater than the current ones. A great example comes from the Iliad, where characters speak about Heracles with great respect, as someone more heroic, more powerful, and more godlike than those around in their modern time, and in the recounting of the Iliad, characters such as Achilles would be treated the same by the Greek listeners. A degeneration of man has occurred, we are now shorter, weaker, less godlike.

This theory meshes well with those notions, and explains why someone like Gwyn could go Hollow, despite being a god, as the gods are not substantially different from the humans, just bigger, stronger, and more powerful.

Pygmy Admixture?

One potential reason why the godlike beings of the older age could be shrinking in size is the proliferation of the Pygmy race

Could the Dark Soul be stripping away the more Dragon-like aspects of the inhabitants of Lordran? Does becoming a Dragon divest someone of their portion of the Dark Soul.

Conclusion

I'm throwing darts at a board, what are your thoughts?

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The Darksign as a Witch's Necromancy

Undead characters are moving cadavers, visually there's little difference between them, Hollows, and corpses on the ground. There is, however, a tangled network of roots propagating directly over their heart. In Dark Souls 3, this tangle of roots has started to grow into entire trees. Even corpses which we would otherwise consider truly dead are supporting the growth of literal trees.

Typically, the Witches of Dark Souls are associated with fire, but thematically, is wood all that different from fire? Forget the actual physics of the real world, and consider a metaphysical connection between wood, and the fire that burns it, one might say that wood is just a solidified form of fire, waiting for some ignition to release the fire it contains within it. The visual similarities of Chaos flames, and the tangle of an undead's roots are easy to see. This thematic connection seems like it is taken seriously in universe, Lost Izalith, a city covered in lava, is likewise covered in a tangle of tree roots. And at its core, the Witch of Izalith has transformed herself into a giant tangled tree, not too dissimilar to the trees that hollows eventually grow into becoming.

Back to the darksign, the symbol itself is clearly that of a fire burning around in a ring, so suggesting the darksign itself is a Pyromancy (I understand the technical term Pyromancy doesn't come around until Salaman), as opposed to a sorcery or miracle. The tangle of roots can be interpreted as a life-giving magical spell, keeping an otherwise dead body from truly dying. This would also align with things the Witches were getting up to, namely adding a parasitic life to a host. It seems to me that the darksign is a form of necromancy, a parasitic life burning up the dark soul within man to feed a parasitic life force that keeps the cursed human from truly dying.

EDIT: I completely forgot the biggest smoking gun for the link between Necromancy and Pyromancy, literal Necromancers in the catacombs that attack you using Pyromancy!

Gwyn, up to no good, but how?

But this isn't the only thing the darksign does, the undeath it afflicts on a being is not the purpose of it. Through the deaths and rebirth, the souls and humanity of those cursed gets drained away from the undead, it is a curse that turns them into fuel. Not an absurd statement, as bonfires themselves are fueled by the bones of the undead, and bits of humanity added to it.

The darksign is operating as a means of burning humanity, keeping darkness at bay, and empowering the other figures of the age, namely Gwyn. Nito and his Way of White Church literally has women going around spreading the darksign (as seen in the opening cinematic), Paladins weaponized by it, and hunts that cut down the undead they created.

But again, the darksign is a Pyromancy, not a Miracle. It has to do with Life, not Light or Death. How could Gwyn or Nito manage to craft it? Well, THEY couldn't, but a Witch could. So how does Gwyn manage to take advantage of it?

Is there anything that could unite the realms of Izaleth, and Anor Londo under a political alliance that would bring both of them together untied against the Dragons, that could also get Gwyn access to powerful life-giving Pyromancies? Yeah, a marriage.

Velka

The Painted Realm is in Anor Londo, in Gwynevere's cathedral. Gwyn has children, yet their mother is unaccounted for, not mentioned by anyone anywhere. The Crow Yatagarasu, in Japanese mythology, is a Divine Messenger, and a symbol of the sun. Velka, then, has serious association with the sun in this regard. I think it is reasonable to assume that Velka was Gwyn's wife.

Further, I think it is reasonable to say that Velka was a daughter of the Witch of Izalith, married to Gwyn to form a political alliance. As far as daughters in the game, if we say that the body Ceaseless Discharge guards is a fake left by Quelaana, then there is one daughter of the Witch of Izalith unaccounted for. You may ask why Velka is the goddess of sin, instead of something Pyromancy related, but by joining Gwyn at Anor Londo, she would be leaving her old life behind to join Gwyn's dynasty.

Miyazaki is a fan of Western Mythology, and would be familiar with Japanese Mythology, the duel association between Crows (a crow/raven distinction is pedantic and unserious) and both the Sun and Witches would make perfect sense as a blend of the two traditions.

The Way of White, and Gwyn's Sin

Back to the way of White, we can see how their order operates. Knowledgeable and cynical male Clerics, such as Petrus, are actively exploiting magical women. The male figures possess catalysts that don't require faith, whereas the magical darksign-spreading women that they exploit absolutely require great faith.

The Way of White was propped up by the gods of the world, an institution they use to keep the status quo. I would suggest this organization reflects the way they operate as well. I believe that just as the Way of White exploits women to spread the darksign, Gwyn exploited Velka to create the darksign. Gwyn is the kind of person to do whatever it takes to achieve his goal, and I believe the Way of White reflects this ruthless behavior.

Being the victim of Gwyn would also thematically tie Velka in with the idea of sin, particularly the sin of the gods, and with her opposition and active hand in opposing Gwyn's domain. She remains involved in the fight against Gwyn until the time of ds3, because she has a personal stake in whats going on. The linking of the flame, the extension of the Age of Fire, and the spread of the darksign isn't just some thing happening in the world around her, this is HER story, and she wants to right what was wronged.

For purposes of brevity, the First Born Son, (i.e. Gwyn's son) will be referred to as FBS or the FBS. I will also presume the FBS is the same person as the Nameless King.

I also presume that much of what Hawkshaw theorizes about the plot against the gods is true, and I credit him with a lot of the assumptions I'm working with.

The Nature of the Departure of the FBS

The FBS leaves Lordran after Gwyn links the Flame. Following his departure, his statues are destroyed and his shrines dismantled, yet his followers remain active. His cult is suppressed, not abandoned. Moreover, the FBS himself continues to watch over his followers, implying he never truly abandoned Lordran.

This does not look like a peaceful departure. It suggests the FBS was removed by a force strong enough to defeat him and politically powerful enough to erase him from history.

Gwyn's departure

The war with the dragons and demons has recently ended. Humanity has been brought into Gwyn’s order, and the Four Kings effectively serve as powerful administrators of the human world.

Gwyn departs to link the Flame. He understands the danger involved, having already seen the Witch of Izalith fail at a similar undertaking. Presumably hoping to survive the process, Gwyn splits his soul beforehand so the linking will not completely consume him.

Crucially, Gwyn does not entrust his son with his soul.

Instead, he distributes fragments of his power among Seath, the Four Kings, and even the Four Knights, something stated by Ornstein’s ds1 soul description.

Ornstein

The DS3 Leo Ring states that Ornstein was the FBS’s first knight, likely meaning his foremost or most trusted knight. Ornstein and the FBS share strong thematic links: lightning-infused spears and dragon hunting. Their relationship likely predates Ornstein’s induction into Gwyn’s Four Knights.

The Four Knights appear to have been assembled gradually, with various candidates accepted or rejected over time. Ornstein likely established his own reputation before Gwyn elevated him.

So what happens when Gwyn names Ornstein one of his personal knights, grants him a ring, and gives Ornstein, rather than his own son, a fragment of his soul? It looks less like a reward and more like a political maneuver. Gwyn is attempting to redirect Ornstein’s loyalty away from the FBS and toward himself.

Gough

Gough is the leader of the Dragonslayers, possesses a unique medallion from Gwyn himself, maintains ties with the giants, and is arguably the strongest of the Four Knights. Above all, he is fiercely loyal to Gwyn. Even after Gwyn is long gone, when he talks to the chosen undead he wishes them Lord Gwyn's blessing.

If Gwyn’s soul fragments are meant to stabilize the kingdom during his absence, then Gwyn’s loyalists become critically important, and Gough is fiercely loyal, and certainly the army of giants and Anor Londo would have his back.

Gwyn's Political Strategy

Why split up his soul at all?

If Gwyn successfully links the Flame and returns alive, he would not want any single individual holding enough concentrated power to threaten him. If the FBS received Gwyn's soul, or even a portion of it, he could potentially overthrow the existing order. Even if Gwyn did nothing, the FBS, a war veteran and hero who would be next in line for the throne, could conceivably displace Gwyn.

The fear of a son supplanting his father is a classic mythological theme, especially within divine dynasties. To plan against this, Gwyn splits his power between multiple powers, keeping it away from his son without compromising the status quo.

Seath is politically isolated, and the Four Kings are mere administrators. But Gwyn has the loyalty of the Black Knights, along with the Four Knights, especially Gough. With their help, Gwyn would overpower them individually even if they hold a portion of his power.

Gwyn deliberately creates a balance of power designed to prevent his son from succeeding him uncontested.

The Plot is Hatched

Gwyn leaves to link the Flame and never returns.

The FBS becomes king in name, but Gwyn’s political order remains intact through the web of loyalties and power-sharing Gwyn established beforehand. The FBS inherits the throne, but does not become the patriarch of the pantheon.

At this point, the FBS begins conspiring with Velka.

I believe Velka is Gwyn’s wife and that Gwyn exploited her, just as he exploited those around him. Velka’s obsession with sin begins with Gwyn’s “first sin”: extending the Age of Fire at the expense of humanity. If you disagree, I will not elaborate at this moment.

The FBS, denied both his father’s soul and his rightful inheritance, conspires with his mother to overthrow Gwyn’s established order and claim his place as ruler of a new age.

I also believe Gwyndolin is involved. Key items tied to the conspiracy are hidden behind illusionary walls, suggesting access to illusion magic far beyond what Havel alone could plausibly wield.

The Plot Expands

Havel joins the conspiracy. As a bishop of the Way of White, he would have ample reason to despise Seath, who is abducting maidens from the Way of White for his experiments.

By joining the conspiracy, Havel brings miracle-users and religious influence into the movement. Havel may once have been loyal to Gwyn’s order, but Gwyn is gone now.

The undead also align themselves with the Everlasting Dragon hidden in Ash Lake. This makes sense: the undead would resent Gwyn’s curse and seek a form of immortality through dragons that could free them from the affects of the undead curse before they go hollow.

The FBS himself eventually allies with dragons, as confirmed in ds3. I believe this alliance predates the conspiracy itself, though the exact reason remains unclear.

Still, it ties the FBS even more deeply to the anti-Gwyn coalition.

The Plot Fails

The conspiracy begins its attack underground, targeting Nito’s domain. This threatens one of the pillars of Gwyn’s order and allows the conspirators to seize the Rite of Kindling.

The FBS would need the Rite, if only to deny it to his enemies.

But the conspiracy is betrayed. Why and how isn't the focus right now.

One longstanding clue is the placement of Black Knights throughout Lordran. Many stand guard near corpses or locations associated with the conspiracy. But there is an odd man out, a Black Knight standing atop the tower near the Undead Parish.

Why guard that location?

If the FBS was part of the conspiracy, the answer becomes obvious: the Black Knight is guarding the FBS’s shrine.

Below ground, the conspiracy collapses. Above ground, Gwyn’s loyalists mobilize against the FBS. Seath and the Four Knights move to preserve the existing order.

With the element of surprise lost, the FBS cannot win.

The Four Knights, especially Gough, may have refused to kill Gwyn’s son out of loyalty or respect. Instead, they force him into exile.

Before departing, the FBS leaves Sunlight Blade at Gwyn’s tomb.

Velka is likewise declared a rogue deity and driven into hiding, though she continues operating within Lordran indirectly.

Erasure of the FBS

After the failed rebellion, the FBS is systematically erased from history.

Only Gwyn’s loyalists would possess the political and cultural power necessary to suppress the memory of Anor Londo’s rightful king. Seath or Nito alone could never accomplish this.

The FBS’s statues are destroyed, his shrines dismantled, and his legacy buried. Yet traces remain: hidden followers, surviving miracles, and the FBS himself quietly watching over Lordran from afar.

Timeline Concerns

Disparity itself emerges from the First Flame, including the flow of time.

Throughout the series, time is repeatedly associated with light. Filianore’s egg, for example, demonstrates that light and time are deeply connected.

As Gwyn’s Flame fades, time itself begins to distort and compress. Large spans of history lose their coherence. Centuries blur together. This is effectively how Solaire describes how time in Lordran. So if you think this seems like it happened too far in the past to make sense, I would suggest that the flow of time is convoluted.