Darkstalker Kaathe

Description

Like Kingseeker Frampt, Kaathe is a primordial serpent, but his intentions are very different from those of Frampt. He is the leader of the Darkwraiths and wants to see the Furtive Pygmy's plan come to fruition by recruiting undeads with the Darksign so that they can become the new Dark Lord, heralding the Age of Dark. It is implied that he is the one who manipulated the people of Oolacile to awaken Manus, and offered the art of lifedrain to the Kings of New Londo, making him indirectly responsible for both Oolacile's and New Londo's destruction.

Location

The Abyss

Kaathe can be found near The Abyss bonfire after you have defeated The Four Kings, provided that you haven't yet placed the Lordvessel on the Firelink Altar. He also appears if you have not yet retrieved the Lordvessel.

Use

• Allows you to join the Darkwraith Covenant and upgrade your Covenant level, but only if you talk to him in The Abyss.

• Sells Cracked Red Eye Orbs if you're a member of the Darkwraith Covenant, but only if you talk to him in The Abyss.

• Warps you to Firelink Altar and vice-versa. Use the "Warp" option in his dialogue options.

Notes

• If you have already placed the Lordvessel, Kaathe won't appear after you kill The Four Kings. If you had already met Kaathe, the next time you speak to him he will scold you and leave for the rest of the playthrough.

• Likewise, if you have sided with Kaathe by placing the Lordvessel for him, Kingseeker Frampt will be upset. Upon your next talk with Frampt, he'll disappear for the rest of your playthrough, so you'll also lose the possibility to sell items and divide shards.

Note: Kaathe will not provide this service.

• Attacking Kaathe/siding with Frampt doesn't break up the Darkwraith covenant, although you can't upgrade the covenant's rank or buy Cracked Red Eye Orb from him anymore.

Getting Kaathe's services without upsetting Frampt

1. Beat The Four Kings.
2. Rest at The Abyss bonfire.
3. Talk to Kaathe until he transports you to the Firelink Altar.
4. Do not place the Lordvessel in the altar. Instead, warp back to The Abyss bonfire by using Homeward or Homeward Bone.
5. Talk to Kaathe, he'll offer you "the art of Lifedrain" (i.e., Darkwraith covenant).

Now you can upgrade the covenant level and buy Cracked Red Eye Orbs from him. After you're done, you can talk to Frampt and put the Lordvessel for Frampt. However, Kaathe will be upset and will leave for the rest of the playthrough.

Note: You can also get Kaathe's services prior to having the Lordvessel.

Dialogue

All dialogue text is © From Software Inc.

Video: Darkstalker Kaathe's Dialogues pt.1, Darkstalker Kaathe's Dialogues pt.2

• First time speaking
  Greetings Undead Warrior
  I am the Primordial Serpent Darkstalker Kaathe
  I can guide thee, and illuminate the truth.
  Undead Warrior, conqueror of the Four Kings, is this not your wish?
  To know the truth of men, and the Undead?
  • Answer "Yes"
    A wise choice, Undead warrior.
    Prove you must, that the truth becomes you.
    Seek Anor Londo.
    And claim Gwyn's heirloom, the Lordvessel.
    Now go, Undead warrior.
    Show the world that the truth becomes you.
  • Answer "No"
    …
    … Very well.
    Warriors as yourself are few. I will be patient.
    But I cannot wait forever…

• Speak to him after you answered "No"
  What is it?
  Perhaps you have changed your mind?

• Speak to him at The Abyss after he brought you to Firelink Shrine
  Ahh…
  If you wish, I shall grant the art of Lifedrain,
  the legendary power of the Dark Lord.
  It can preserve your humanity while Undead,
  and cast off the shackles placed upon your brethren.

• Using "Talk" option in The Abyss before you put the Lordvessel for Kaathe
  Undead warrior.
  To speak now is premature.
  It begins with your retrieval of the Lordvessel.

• Speak to him with the Lordvessel in your inventory, before putting the Lordvessel in the altar
  Hmm… You are astonishing.
  The truth I shall share without sentiment.
  After the advent of fire, the ancient lords found the three souls.
  But your progenitor found a fourth, unique soul.
  The Dark Soul.
  Your ancestor claimed the Dark Soul and waited for Fire to subside.
  And soon, the flames did fade, and only Dark remained.
  Thus began the age of men, the Age of Dark.
  However…
  Lord Gwyn trembled at the Dark.
  Clinging to his Age of Fire, and in dire fear of humans,
  and the Dark Lord who would one day be born amongst them,
  Lord Gwyn resisted the course of nature.
  By sacrificing himself to link the fire, and commanding his children to shepherd the humans,
  Gwyn has blurred your past, to prevent the birth of the Dark Lord.
  I am the primordial serpent.
  I seek to right the wrongs of the past to discover our true Lord.
  But the other serpent, Frampt, lost his sense, and befriended Lord Gwyn.
  Undead warrior, we stand at the crossroad.
  Only I know the truth about your fate.
  You must destroy the fading Lord Gwyn, who has coddled Fire and resisted nature,
  and become the Fourth Lord, so that you may usher in the Age of Dark!
  • Answer "Yes"
    Very well
    I shall now guide you to Gwyn's Prison
    Be still. Entrust thine flesh to me.
  • Answer "No"
    Fool… You could not be the Dark Lord.
    Enough of this… and farewell to you.
    I shall return to the Abyss, and await the true Lord of Men.

• After being transported to Firelink Altar
  This is Gwyn's prison.
  Now, place the Lordvessel upon the altar.

• Speak to him in Firelink Altar before putting the Lordvessel
  What is it? Place the Lordvessel upon the altar.

• Speak to him in Firelink Altar after putting the Lordvessel
  Very well.
  Once the vessel is filled with souls, the gate to Gwyn shall open.
  Seek Gravelord Nito, the Witch of Izalith, and the traitor Seath the Scaleless.
  Fill this vessel with their souls.
  Then, the gate will open… so that you may kill Gwyn.
  …
  Are you ready?
  Then, let us return to the Abyss. Entrust thine flesh to me.

• Greeting after placing the Lordvessel
  What is it?
  I'm your guardian.
  Go on, state your wish.

• When leaving
  Farewell.

• Using "Talk" option after placing the Lordvessel on the altar
  They failed me, every last one of them.
  They were strong, but saw not the truth.
  I am certain that you will prove different.

• When attacked without made hostile
  • Hmg!
  • Hrg!
  • Agh!
  • Stop! Enough! Fool!

• When attacked and made hostile or after placing the Lordvessel for Frampt
  Fool… You could not be the Dark Lord.
  Enough of this… and farewell to you.
  I shall return to the Abyss, and await the true Lord of Men.

Voiced by: Peter Marinker