Delving into the Identity of Dark Souls‘ Enigmatic Protagonists

As a veteran of the famously challenging yet captivating Dark Souls series, one question I‘m often asked by newcomers and fans alike is: what is the actual name of the main character you play as? Like much of the lore in these cryptic yet rich games, the answer has intriguing layers.

The Hero Known as The "Chosen Undead"

Across the Souls series, the protagonist we step into the shoes of is most commonly referred to as The Chosen Undead. This moniker is fitting for the heroic personality-less avatar we guide through the fantasy ruins and raging demons that await us in this haunting adventure.

As the Chosen Undead, we are destined to make key choices that will impact the fate of the dying world of Lordran and beyond. It‘s a classic trope – the fallen hero rising once more to save the realm – but given intricate, fresh life across the span of the Dark Souls trilogy.

We never learn much of who The Chosen Undead might have been before arriving in the Northern Undead Asylum. But through item descriptions and environmental clues, players have pieced together theories that our hero could have been an warrior of elite status, sentencing to life in the Asylum for defying the gods themselves.

But no matter their origins, the Chosen Undead‘s greatest moments are undoubtedly still ahead of them as we players guide them in their quest. Their destiny calls, but ultimately it is the choices we make that see them through.

Digging Into the Untold Backstories

The table above helps capture how – unlike characters like Solaire of Astora or Siegmeyer of Catarina – the Dark Souls player avatars are never granted proper names within the games‘ canon. They are instead referred to by descriptive titles reflecting their role in reversing the curse of undeath plaguing the realms.

• The Chosen Undead‘s moniker links them to an ancient prophecy proclaiming a certain Undead shall be chosen to leave their Asylum confinement and seek fate.

• Dark Souls 2‘s The Bearer of the Curse has, like others before them, elected to travel to Drangleic in hopes of removing the scourge of Undeath and The Darksign they bear.

• In contrast, the Ashen One of Dark Souls 3 has already failed to link the fire and now returns to Lothric as an Unkindled, last hopes to put an end to the Age of Dark.

While never confirmed outright, popular theories posit that all three protagonists could in fact be one and the same "hero" resurrected or reborn across centuries as the Flame and the curse continues its cyclical struggle. The presence of callbacks like The Kiln of the First Flame supports connections, though ambiguity remains.

So What Are Their True Names?

As these scarred heroes toil towards uncertain fates life after life, player imagination fills in backstories where canon leaves gaps. And for many, that includes bestowing our protagonist with personal names beyond mystical titles like The Chosen Undead.

During character creation sequences, we are in fact able to customize our hero‘s name along with their appearance. And left blank, a surprise hidden canon name is entered automatically as confirmed by Director Hidetaka Miyazaki:

"The Chosen Undead‘s canon name is ‘Frank Deadlinger‘. During character creation it‘s possible to name your character anything, but if you leave the slot unfilled it actually inserts a default name."

So while our heroes may have escaped the hollowing that strips names and identity, Frank Deadlinger seems to await them if players do not choose! An oddly whimsical name perhaps, but it grants our hollowed shell of a character a touch more humanity.

The Epic Journeys Continue

While the canon remains intentionally fragmented regarding whether The Chosen Undead goes on to bear further curses and titles, the action, emotions, and memories these games imprint upon us players are crystal clear.

Whoever they were before, with whatever names they bore, the heroes we guide light the darkest paths and confront the ultimate evils. At bonfires we will rest. Against colossal foes we will battle. And through the fallen kingdoms of past cycles we will march ever onward, our destinies intertwined with these Chosen heroes.

Our shared journeys remind us that even names hold fleeting meaning next to purpose. And the purpose burned into every Dark Souls protagonist is nothing short of monumental – no matter the details encircling their enigmatic origins or identities.