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Royal Wood

Royal Wood is a Location in Dark Souls. It is accessible via Oolacile Sanctuary, and leads to Oolacile Township. 

Information

The Royal Wood is a lush and mysterious forest reminiscent of the Darkroot Garden in Lordran. This area, part of the Artorias of The Abyss DLC, serves as the battlefield for epic encounters and key events. The forest is home to guardians, stone knights, and ancient secrets tied to the kingdom of Oolacile.

Area Bosses

Knight Artorias
  • Location: Found at the end of the Royal Wood.
  • Description: A tragic and corrupted figure, Artorias once stood as one of Gwyn's Four Knights. He has fallen to The Abyss, and players must face him in a pivotal boss battle.
  • Details: See "Knight Artorias" for full combat strategies and lore.
Black Dragon Kalameet
  • Location: The valley below the Royal Wood.
  • Description: Kalameet is a fearsome optional boss, not directly tied to the main DLC storyline but one of the most challenging encounters in the game.
  • Details: See "Black Dragon Kalameet" for full strategies and assistance from Hawkeye Gough.

Enemies

Wooden Guardians:
    • Resemble walking trees and are often seen trimming branches.
    • Some are passive until provoked (e.g., near the Gold Coin).
Stone Knights:
    • Durable enemies capable of powerful attacks.
    • Found patrolling the forest in several locations.

Merchants

Marvelous Chester
  • Location: Found on a side path near the entrance to the arena where Artorias resides.
  • Description: A sinister figure with a long hat and unsettling laughter, Chester sells items but at exorbitant prices. His inventory is not particularly unique.
  • Merchandise:
  • Notes: His cryptic demeanor and sharp tongue make him one of the DLC’s more enigmatic characters.
  • Further Information: See "Marvelous Chester."
Hawkeye Gough
    • Location: Found imprisoned in the upper levels overlooking Artorias’ arena.
    • Description: Gough, one of Gwyn's Four Knights, is a master archer who crafts Gough’s Great Arrows. He aids in the battle against Kalameet if the player speaks to him with the Crest Key.
    • Merchandise:
      • Gough’s Great Arrows
      • Carved Wooden Heads (two types)
    • Further Information: See "Hawkeye Gough."

NPCs

Lord’s Blade Ciaran
  • Location: Appears near Artorias’ grave after he is defeated.
  • Description: One of Gwyn's Four Knights, Ciaran mourns Artorias and asks for his soul. In return, she offers the Gold Tracer and Silver Tracer weapons.
  • Questline:
    • If you give her Artorias’ Soul, she will leave after some time.
    • If you refuse, she will remain until she is attacked or ignored for a significant duration.
  • Further Information: See "Lord’s Blade Ciaran."

Items

Armor
    • Helm: Found near the second bridge; beware of the nearby drop.
    • Armor: Located near Gough’s Great Arrows above the second bridge.
    • Gauntlets: At the shortcut area, where Alvina once appeared in Darkroot Garden.
    • Boots: Found along the walls of the flower field.
Consumables
    • High Knight's Soul: Near the hidden elevator leading to Artorias.
    • Brave Warrior’s Soul: Two in Kalameet’s valley.
    • Hero’s Soul: Found in the deepest part of the valley.
Upgrade Materials
    • Blue Titanite Slab: Found near a bushy patch that resembles where the Enchanted Ember would be in Darkroot Garden.
    • Titanite Slab: In Kalameet’s valley, below the waterfall.
Unique Items
    • Gough’s Great Arrows: Scattered along cliffs near Kalameet’s area.
    • Gold Coin: Near the passive Wooden Guardian trimming branches.

Walkthrough

Path to Artorias

  1. Progress through the lush woods, battling Guardian Knights and Stone Soldiers.
  2. Activate the elevator near the arena to unlock a shortcut.
  3. Defeat Knight Artorias in a challenging duel.

Path to Kalameet

  1. Head to the valley below the Royal Wood after speaking with Gough.
  2. If the player has the Crest Key, Gough will shoot down Kalameet, making the dragon fight accessible.

Shortcuts

Activate the elevator near Artorias’ arena to link the upper and lower parts of the Royal Wood for quicker traversal.

Soul Farming

Notes

  • The area shares many visual and thematic connections with the Darkroot Garden, emphasizing the timeless decay of Oolacile.
  • Many of the enemies are challenging and hit hard. Defensive builds or ranged strategies are recommended.

Trivia

  • The Royal Wood is thought to represent the Darkroot Garden in its earlier form, long before it succumbed to The Abyss.
  • Alvina, a companion to Artorias, is not seen in the DLC but her presence is subtly hinted at through the forest's design.
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