Lore & ConnectionsBloodborne Wiki » World » Story » Lore & Connections |
Source ❘ Edit ❘ Sitemap ❘ License page revision: 44, last edited: 01 July 2017 |
The Story of Yharnam [DLC Official Guide] |
| In this very special section we will be presenting the overarching story of Bloodborne and The Old Hunters. We do not want to speculate or to spoil the many discussions about the game's cryptic storyline - the depth of the lore and its many possible interpretations are at the heart of the game and are what bring its fans together. So we will piece together the story by arranging all of the relevant text and dialog found within the game, citing each and every line's source as we go - a mammoth | task, and an invaluable resource that we hope will fuel further discussion. When you read the texts that we've managed to assemble you can look for further connections and draw your own conclusions. What you'll find here are all of the things the game makes certain - but who knows what you'll find in the countless, barely-suggested hints that fill the references used to create this text. |
Byrgenwerth Lore [DLC Official Guide] |
|
Byrgenwerth is an old place of learning (1) that now lies abandoned. In its day, Byrgenwerth was home to scholars, and the school was headed by Provost Willem. The students learned of history and archeology (2). One day, the scholars of Byrgenwerth had an encounter with the eldritch Truth (3) in the tombs below Yharnam (4). This encounter led to an inquiry into the cosmos from within the old labyrinth (5). Master Willem and his students began to study about the Great Ones, beings who may be called "gods (6)." Expeditions were sent into the labyrinth, but some of the investigators went mad upon encountering the eldritch Truth (7). Medicine made from blood was developed at Byrgenwerth to stave off madness, but its use led to a dependence on blood ministration (8). Provost Willem had an epiphany - humans need more eyes to become like the Great Ones (6). He even sought a Third Umbilical Cord to line his brain with eyes (9). Disillusioned by the limits of human intellect (10), Willem valued knowledge (11) and wished to elevate his thoughts to that of a Great One (9). The scholars of Byrgenwerth also played a role in the Kos incident.The skulls of locals in the fishing village were forcibly searched for internal eyes (12). Even now, the accursed villagers mill about in the Nightmare while muttering their hatred of Byrgenwerth (13).The corpse of Kos was also found to be filled with small, inhuman parasites (14). |
Laurence and Willem had a disagreement, and Laurence left Byrgenwerth (15). Laurence went on to become the first vicar of the Healing Church (16), and the scholars of the Church continue the work began at Byrgenwerth (17). Willem had admonished Laurence to "fear the old blood" as Laurence took his leave. (15); this cautionary adage is still handed down among the vicars who head the Healing Church (18). Runesmith Caryll is another famous student of Byrgenwerth; Caryll focused on transcribing the words of the Great Ones as runes (19). Unlike the path taken by the Healing Church, this method of transcending humanity does not rely on blood (19). Though the school is now long-abandoned and access is restricted by the Healing Church (20), Master Willem can still be found there overlooking the lake that hides Vacuous Rom (21).
|
Byrgenwerth References |
|
|
Healing Church Lore [DLC Official Guide] |
|
The Healing Church has its roots in Byrgenwerth (1). Researchers there encountered a remnant of the eldritch Truth and began exploring the labyrinths below Yharnam (2). Investigations led to further encounters with the eldritch Truth (3), Great Ones that might be described as gods (4). Humans, however, were incapable of understanding the wisdom of the Great Ones, and some of the investigators went mad (3). Master Willem concluded that the only choice for humans to match the greatness of the Great Ones was to seek more eyes (4/5); he went so far as to seek the Third Umbilical Cord of an infant Great One in order to line his brain with eyes (5). He did not believe in the usage of direct blood ministration, and admonished Laurence to "Fear the Old Blood (6)." Laurence did not accept Willem's opinion (6), and his departure led to the foundation of a Healing Church (7); indeed, Laurence became the first vicar of the church (7). The Healing Church is known as the source of blood healing (8). They performed experimental treatments on patients in their research hall to cultivate worthy blood (9). The Church chooses nuns for their merits as vessels of blood and grooms them to become Blood Saints (10). The efficacy of this blood as a treatment for disease is a source of power for the Church, as it lends legitimacy to their teachings (10). Deep within the Grand Cathedral of the Healing Church is a holy medium (11) — the source of eldritch blood. In reality, this is the left-behind Great One, Ebrietas. Blood ministration is the pursuit of communion (12); in other words, the Church is seeking to refine blood to be like that of the Great Ones. To that end, the Church often sends tomb prospectors to explore the labyrinth, but most go mad (13). Within the higher ranks of the Healing Church, there are two main groups: the School of Mensis and the Choir (14). The formation of the Choir began with investigations in the labyrinth (2). Its roots lie in the Orphanage near the Grand Cathedral (15). The Orphanage was a place of scholarship and experimentation, and the Choir arose from these activities (15). The Choir members are both the highest ranking clerics of the Church and scholars who continue the research began at Byrgenwerth (16). Members of the Choir cover their eyes to indicate their debt to the teachings of Master Willem (17). The Choir claims that the land of Isz lies in contact with the cosmos, and that allows the Great Ones to function on transcendental planes (18). The Great Isz Chalice was the first holy chalice brought back to the surface since the days of Byrgenwerth, and it allowed the Choir to have audience with Ebrietas (19). They believe that the cosmos are just above their heads (20), and so, they search for astral signs with the left behind Great One, Ebrietas (16). They once used phantasms to attempt to make contact with the outer reaches of the cosmos, but failed to do so (21 ). The Choir eventually split from the Healing Church (14). The other major division within the Healing Church is the School of Mensis (14). The School of Mensis founded Yahar'gul, the Unseen Village (22). The "hunters" of Yahar'gul are in reality mere kidnappers (22). The Church also has special "hunters" pretending to be beggars on the street (23). No one is safe; even the nuns of the Healing Church find themselves to be targets of Mensis' hunt (24/10). |
The Healing Church has a storied history with many legendary figures. Among the most impactful was the first Church Hunter, Ludwig (36). Ludwig's Healing Church workshop began to deviate from Gehrman's techniques to prepare for battles with more terrifying beasts (37). Laurence, the first vicar of the Church, became the first Cleric Beast (7); perhaps Ludwig sought the means to defeat future Cleric Beasts? In his endeavors, Ludwig was guided by a shining light (38), the Holy Moonlight Sword (39). Unfortunately, he was eventually claimed by the Hunter's Nightmare and became a horrifying beast (40). Despite his sad fate, the Holy Blades, possessors of the Radiant Sword Hunter Badge, have inherited his will, and they exist as the remnant of his ancient line of heroes (41). Another of the first Healing Church hunters was a man named Simon (42). Unlike most hunters, he disliked guns, and the Church workshop created a bow specifically for him (42). Many of his comrades scoffed at Simon's preference (42). Indeed, throughout the ages, there have been many unique weapons -some favored, and some not. Tonitrus is one such weapon. It was created by Archibald, who is known as an infamous eccentric from the Healing Church workshop (43). The hunters of his day did not really take to the use of Tonitrus (43). On the other hand, he also invented Bolt Paper, which is widely used by many hunters (44). Archibald was fascinated by the sparks of the undead darkbeasts and dedicated his life to their reproduction (45); curiously, his methodology was very similar to that of Byrgenwerth (45). Not all of the notable figures associated with the Church were quite so scientific. The Martyr Logarius and his band of Executioners believed in their righteous destiny and operated a secretive, fanatical workshop steeped in mysticism (46). Logarius' Executioners adored hand-to-hand combat (47) and used large wheels to slaughter the Vilebloods of Cainhurst (48). The Executioners' clothing, and the Holy Shawl in particular, became the basis for all Church attire (49). Logarius thought that the Vilebloods of Cainhurst were fiendish creatures and that their blood threatens the purity of the Church's communion (50). He led his band of Executioners to Cainhurst, but they were unable to destroy the ruler of the Vilebloods (51). According to Executioner Alfred, "Logarius became a blessed anchor, guarding us from evil (51)." Logarius donned the Crown of Illusions to prevent anyone from discovering the secret of the Vilebloods (52). The Healing Church has many secrets and works quite hard to keep them. The Healing Church assassin Brador killed a former compatriot who became a cleric beast (53). Ever since that day, he has worn his ally's scalp as a hat and secluded himself beneath the Cathedral in the Hunter's Nightmare. The Church gave him a soundless bell. Those who can hear the bell are those who know the Church's secrets. They are marked for death, and Brador will pursue them eternally. Brador believes that he can be purified if he is able to expel the tainted blood from his body (53). |
|
The School of Mensis is performing a ritual that requires a special newborn (25). This ritual is hidden by the spider of Byrgenwerth, Vacuous Rom (26). Micolash, the host of the Nightmare of Mensis, knows of Rom. Indeed, he wishes for Kos to grand eyes to Mensis as she did for Rom (27). Kos, however, is dead (28/29). Mensis was granted audience with Mergo thanks to a Third Cord, but the encounter resulted in the stillbirth of their brains (30). Instead of Kos, the Great One that is beckoned by a baby's cry atop the Nightmare Mensis is Mergo's Wet Nurse (31); in place of Mergo's actual mother, the Wet Nurse is the one who gives sustenance. The Great Ones that inhabit the nightmare are sympathetic in nature and often answer when called upon (32). The Great Ones are not, however, all benevolent; some are quite rotten and evil (33). Mensis retrieved an immense brain from within the Nightmare, but it was filled with evil eyes on the inside (33). Great Ones can impact human thoughts and actions without the humans' knowledge, as evidenced by the "inadvertent" worshippers of Oedon (34). In the end, it is difficult to say to what extent the dark rituals of Mensis are performed by their own will and to what extent it is the influence of a Great One. The same can be said of their desire to summon the long-dead Kos. It is only known that one result of their ghastly rituals was The One Reborn (35). |
Among the secrets guarded by Brador is the Church's research on human subjects. High ministers of the Healing Church have concocted odd medicines that numb the brain for use in their strange experiments (55). In the early days of the Healing Church, cerebral patients would imbibe water; within, the brain fluid would writhe and churn — the initial makings of internal eyes (56).
|
Healing Church Lore References |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hunters Lore [DLC Official Guide] |
|
Gehrman was the First Hunter (1) and an acquaintance of Laurence (2) and Willem (3). He fought beasts with speed and agility, and his style became the basis for later hunters (4). His weapon is forged from siderite, a rare mineral which is said to have fallen from the heavens (1).The only other hunter known to use a siderite weapon is Eileen the Crow (5). The first hunters were Gehrman's apprentices (6). These hunters were practitioners of the art of Quickening (7), and among them was the Lady Hunter Maria, who admired Gehrman greatly (6). Gehrman has a peculiar mania, and Maria was specifically unaware of this (6). Interestingly, the Doll's clothing is described as a product of borderline mania, and the Doll has a special dialogue when Maria is defeated by the player (9). A precursor to an umbilical cord from an infant Great One led to the encounter with the pale moon (10). The pale moon called out to the hunters and created the Hunter's Dream as it sought a surrogate child (10). Hunters who dream need not fear death (11/12).Today, old Gehrman's purpose is to remain in the Hunter's Dream (13), where he is waiting for Laurence to accomplish some task (2). He seems unaware of Laurence's fate (14). Gehrman's fitful murmurs betray that he is not necessarily in the Dream by his own will (3). Gehrman generally serves only as an adviser to hunters (13), but on some nights, he joins the hunt himself (15). He sees it as a dirge of farewell, and wishes only that his prey will not awaken to further nightmares (1). In his day, Gehrman made use of a special bell discovered in the underground labyrinth to call hunters from other worlds (16). He also advises hunters to seek out the Holy Chalices and to engage in communion - the consumption of blood (17). Hunters sustained by the dream imbibe the blood of their victims (18). Hunters are healed and strengthened by blood (18), but it is also intoxicating (19).The hunters of hunters, such as Eileen, seek out and eliminate those who have become addled by blood (20). Hunters who go drunk with blood are said to be taken by the Nightmare, destined to hunt forever (21); the hunters of hunters seek to prevent this so that their former compatriots might find rest in a hunter's dream (22). In the old days, hunters were much more common (23). Old Hunters tended to believe in superstitions, such as the idea that certain metals would ward off the blood of beasts (24) or that beast blood would creep up their right legs (25). One day, the hunters vanished from Yharnam (26). All that remained were rumors of the hunters' sin; drunk with blood they all passed on to the Nightmare (26). |
That's the legend, at least. In truth, some of the Old Hunters, such as Djura, still stalk the streets of Yharnam. Djura was a hunter who had contact with the Powder Kegs (27). It is said that the state of Old Yharnam drove him to renounce his hunter's vows (27); in reality, he understood that the beasts of Yharnam are actually humans taken by the scourge (28). A sickness known as "ashen blood" ravaged Old Yharnam, and that epidemic triggered the spread of the beastly scourge (29). A collapsed, mushy pupil is an indicator of the onset of the scourge (21). Djura and his companions have seen their share of tragedy; the youngest of his three companions was taken by the Nightmare (30), while another still remains faithfully by his side in Old Yharnam to help him protect the beastly residents. Gehrman tells new hunters tales of Ludwig and the Healing Church Workshop (31). The techniques of hunters began at that point to deviate from Gehrman's original style (32). Ludwig was the first Healing Church hunter (32), and recruited Yharnamites to serve as hunters (33).There have been numerous Healing Church hunters through the years, many of them clerics -unfortunately, clerics transform into the most hideous beasts (34). The Healing Church workshop's deviations from Gehrman's methods were made to help hunters hunt such beasts (35).
|
Hunters Lore References |
|
|
|
|
Yharnamites Lore [DLC Official Guide] |
|
Modern day Yharnam is a city of madness (1); it is said to be a cursed city (2) of intoxicating blood (3) and wild beasts. The populace tends to be quite intolerant of outsiders (4/5/6/7). The "pebble"-filled streets (8) are home to some very odd characters indeed, not the least of whom is Father Gascoigne. Gascoigne is a hunter who wears a dingy Holy Shawl (9) and a wide-brimmed hat; he was once a member of the Healing Church, but he eventually parted ways with the church (for reasons unknown) (9). In the past, Gascoigne was a partner to Old Hunter Henryk (10). He is also a husband to Viola (11/12) and the father of two young girls (12/13). He acts as an executioner to the beasts of Yharnam (14). Father Gascoigne's story is a tragic tale. His wife's corpse can be found at Oedon Tomb near where Gascoigne is chopping up corpses (6). Gascoigne's garments are tainted by a pungent beastly stench that eats away at him (16). The blood has gotten to him (17). He has been struggling to distinguish beasts from humans (18/19), though a special song that he shared with his wife can help him remember (20). As Eileen observes, though, he is falling apart (21), and he eventually becomes a beast himself. Perhaps awareness of his own inner beast is what led him to see normal humans as beasts. But his story grows darker still. With both he and his wife dead, the hunters of Yharnam are left with a very difficult choice regarding his orphaned daughters. Informing the younger daughter of her mother's death drives her into despair, but withholding that information and instructing her to seek shelter at Oedon Chapel results in her gory demise (22). Hunters who send her to losefka's Clinic leave her at the mercy of the fake doctor's devious experiments (23). If the hunters ignore her plight, she eventually wanders off into the night alone. Later in the night, her older sister professes to be searching for her (13). If a hunter returns the younger sister's ribbon as proof of her demise (24), the older sister at first seems distraught but can already be heard admiring the ribbon as the hunter walks away (25). The blood moon has a powerful effect on humans; it blurs the very line between man and beast (26). Madness abounds in the late hours of the hunt.br/> Gascoigne's former partner, Old Hunter Henryk, is still stalking the streets of Yharnam, as well. Eileen warns hunters to stay away from Henryk, as he is one of the blood-drunk hunters that she is tracking (27). Henryk's partnership with Father Gascoigne helped him to survive and lead a long life (10), but he has outlived both Gascoigne and Viola. In Oedon Chapel, another odd character can be found — the Chapel Samaritan. The Chapel Samaritan has a very odd and suspicious way of speaking but really wants to help people and make friends (28/29). The incense of Oedon Chapel wards off beasts, though it also masks the smell of approaching hunters (30/31). This incense allows for Oedon Chapel to function as sanctuary for Yharnam's refugees. |
Arianna, lady of the night, is one such refugee. She finds herself running low on incense before the night is over, and asks hurters to find a safe place for her (32). In Oedon Chapel, she offers her blood as thanks (33). Her blood is very similar to blood forbidden by the old Healing Church (34), and her clothing is reminiscent of the nobles of Cainhurst (35). Arianna is distrusted by some other Yharnamites (36). Her blood does seem to be quite special; it is possible for her to give birth to a kin baby under the blood moon (37). Adella, nun of the Healing Church, is another refugee that can be directed to take shelter in Oedon Chapel. Pious lady that she is, she respects members of the Healing Church (38/39). She appears to have quite a jealous streak (40), however, as she will kill Arianna if hunters prefer Arianna's blood to her own (41). Arianna, Adella, and the other refugees of Yharnam can alternatively take refuge in Iosefka's clinic.There are however, two different people claiming to be "Iosefka." In the afternoon, the real Iosefka is in her clinic and will provide hunters with carefully refined blood (42/43). After the hunt has reached Cathedral Ward, though, she is replaced by an imposter. In addition to having different voices, the two can be distinguished by their armaments; the original Iosefka does not carry weapons, but the fake does (44). The fake Iosefka is performing human experiments; she seems to believe that she is successfully preventing humans from falling to the beastly scourge (45/46). She claims that humans must find a way to surpass our own stupidity (47). This is quite similar to the desire of Micolash, who wishes for eyes from Kos to be cleansed of beastly idiocy (48). Indeed, as her experiments progress, it seems that she does begin to develop inner eyes (49/50). When she dies, she leaves a Cord of the Eye, as well.
|
Yharnamites Lore References |
. |
|
|
|
|
|
