Executioner Smough (処刑者スモウ) is a character and boss in Dark Souls and a mentioned character in Dark Souls III.
Lore[]
Dark Souls[]
The grotesque armor of Smough.
Smough was the royal executioner of Anor Londo in service of the Gods[1], wielding a massive hammer and wearing a grotesque armor. He desired to be a part of Gwyn's Knights but he was rejected despite his immense power[2]. This was because not only he took pleasure in his brutal work that made him eerily gleeful[3] but because he also ground the bones of his victims into his own feed to absorb them[2] while his own hammer became capable of restoring health with attacks thanks to the continued use in his work[4].
At some point after Gwyn linked the First Flame and Gwyn's firstborn son was dethroned and exiled [5] nearly all of the deities abandoned Anor Londo together and moved to an unknown location[6] but Smough remained in the forsaken city alongisde Dragon Slayer Ornstein[7] to guard the cathedral where Gwynevere resided[1].
Together, these two powerful warriors would become the last ritual challenge for the potential Chosen Undead[8]. In fact, the Undead who tried to follow in Gwyn's footsteps to sacrifice themselves to the Flame would have to be tested even before obtaining the Lordvessel and seeking powerful souls. Ringing the Bells of Awakening represents only the first of these challenges[9], and success means gaining access to Sen's Fortress to be tested further. The Undead who manage to overcome the tests and dangers of the fortress and defeat the Iron Golem[10] would manage to access the city of the gods. Once they managed to enter the cathedral of Anor Londo to try to obtain the Lordvessel they would still be challenged by Smough and Ornstein, to ensure that only the strongest of the strongest Undead could have an audience with Gwynevere[11].
The massive hammer of Smough.
However, after centuries of waiting for the Chosen Undead without success, Ornstein grew tired of his duty and left the cathedral in search of the Nameless King,[12]. Consequently the last remaining guard was Smough who continued to hold his post and protect "Gwynevere". As a reward for his loyalty Gwyndolin[13] finally granted him the title of "knight"[14] even if he was the last one left in Anor Londo after all others had abandoned it. As the cathedral's sole guardian[15]. Smough thus met his end when a worthy Undead reached Anor Londo and defeated him, gaining an audience with "Gwynevere" and the Lordvessel with which to begin their search for powerful souls.
Smough's ritual hammer was preserved as an relic by Gwyndolin[16] and protected in his manor when Irithyll of the Boreal Valley rose from the ruins of Anor Londo[17].
Trivia[]
- Concept art of Smough's armor depicts a rather muscular man wearing it. Whether this depiction is of Smough himself, or a male Chosen Undead wearing his armor, is unknown.
- The armor is described as being able to be worn by humans "but not without great difficulty". This may imply that some aspects of the armor are adapted to Smough's body.
- When worn by the player, the visor in Smough's helm is shown located at the neck of the helm, and a small wooden construction holds the upper part of the helm in place.
- Whether Smough also wears the helm like this or not is unknown.
- During the boss fight, if the player defeats Ornstein first, Ornstein's hand moves briefly before Smough crushes him with his hammer, implying that he was still alive. Additionally, Smough can be heard laughing after crushing Ornstein.
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Smough's Set description.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Smough's Hammer description.
- ↑ Soul of Smough description.
- ↑ Smough's Hammer#Characteristics
- ↑ Soul of the Nameless King and Lightning Storm and Golden Crown and Ring of the Sun's Firstborn description.
- ↑ Ring of the Sun Princess and Darkmoon Seance Ring description.
- ↑ Ornstein's Set description.
- ↑ Kingseeker Frampt dialogue.
- ↑ Bells of Awakening#Plot
- ↑ Core of an Iron Golem description.
- ↑ Darkmoon Knightess dialogue.
- ↑ Dragonslayer Set description.
- ↑ Gwyndolin as the last deity of the royal family left in Anor Londo is the only one who could have granted the title of "knight" to Smough at that time.
- ↑ Smough's Set (Dark Souls III) description.
- ↑ Smough's Great Hammer description.
- ↑ Silver Knight Shield (Dark Souls III) description.
- ↑ Smough's Great Hammer#Availability