The lore ofDark Soulsis often described as obtuse, dense, and ergodic, but would best be noted as being incredibly dark. While this is the case for the world of Lordran as a whole, theGrimdark notes ofDark Soulsare best expressed in the tragic motivations and fates of characters like Crossbreed Priscilla. In the case of Priscilla specifically, this tragedy is one that is almost entirely in the player’s hands.
There are a few parts of Crossbreed Priscilla’s story that make her uniquely dark, even among the plethora of depressing stories found throughoutDark Souls. However, the most important is the fact that she has been forced to reside in the Painted World of Ariamis as a result of being born from a forbidden parring between one of Gwyn’s own children and the dragon, Seath the Scaleless.
Crossbreed Priscilla’s Painted World Doesn’t Want Any Trouble
Priscilla and Her Followers Were Abandoned to Rot
Players can find Crossbreed Priscilla hidden away in the Painted World of Ariamis, a location that is described as a type of prison, used byDark Souls' big bad, Gwyn, to hide away those who were considered unworthy to live in Lordran. This mostly includes a handful of Hollows, whose transgressions against Gwyn are mostly unexplained, but also includes oddities like albinos, toxic rats, and crow demons. Considering how unique many of these enemies are, the Painted World implies that this is where Gwyn leaves his mistaken creations, which include his own granddaughter in the case of Priscilla.
The sin of Priscilla’s birth in particular is spelled out specifically by her being dubbed a Crossbreed, a moniker that even holds a sting to it in the real world. So, take the real-world prejudice and racism inherent in someone being branded a Crossbreed, then multiply it by theGrimdark Fantasy setting ofDark Souls, and Priscilla being left to rot in the Painted World already sets the stage for a depressing lore. Then the player appears, ready to make things even worse for everyone who has been condemned to the Painted World, Priscilla certainly included.
Through all the darkness that sets up Priscilla, the most tragic part of her story comes when players decide that they want to fight her, usually because she’s one of the various fights on the list of bosses. Simply arriving atDark Souls' Painted Worldis a feat on its own, requiring players to find the Peculiar Doll by revisiting the Undead Asylum before even approaching the painting found in Anor Londo. Then, when actually facing Priscilla for the first time, she tells the player how to leave without fighting, and then begs for the Chosen Undead not to harm the denizens of the Painted World.
This all means that when the player finally makes the decision to fight Crossbreed Priscilla, it is because they have jumped through a number of hoops in order to find a woman abandoned by her family and decided to attack without narrative reason. Whether the incentive on the player’s side is simply to see what morechallengesDark Soulshas to offer, or to unlock one of the several unique weapons gained from fighting Priscilla, it is the result of a choice unlike any other boss encounter. So, not only does Priscilla have the most tragic backstory, being condemned to this rotting prison for simply having been born, but her ultimate fate is brought by a Chosen Undead who kills her for the sake of little more than gathering a little extra strength. Whether it is to consume her soul for levels, or to rip weapons off of Priscilla’s body, the player’s actions are selfish and indefensible.
