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Ensemble Dark Horse Wiki
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Ornstein & Smough

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"Mature Content Warning!"
The information provided in this article is not suitable for children as most of what's discussed revolves around mature topics. Feel free to view this page, however if you are 18 years or older or if you don't mind graphic material

"Major Spoilers Ahead!"
This Article Contains Spoilers - WARNING: Before her death, Maria wanted to inform you that the article you're about to read contains spoilers. Turn back now and read a different article if you have not watched/played/read the following works yet.

Dragonslayer Ornstein & Executioner Smough were the major antagonists in Dark Souls. The former was one of the comrades of Wolf Knight Artorias as well as one of the four knights of Gwyn, while the latter being an executioner in Anor Londo who was seeking an approval of Gwyn, Lord of Cinder. Though they were assigned to guard Gwynevere's chamber, Ornstein and Smough don’t get along with each other.

What Makes Them Ensemble Dark Horses?[]

  • In General, they were known by the players as "Skill Gate Bosses" that being one of the hardest & well-known mandatory boss(es). If you kill one, the other became stronger in cutscene depending on whom you kill first while you get the rewards depending on whom you kill last.
    • However, they were actually illusions in DS1's Anor Londo. Their actual fates were revealed in Dark Souls 3.
  • While assigned to guard the cathedral of Anor Londo, they both don't get along with each other, making them Fromsoftware's answer to SNK's Iori Yagami and Kyo Kusanagi.

Specific to Ornstein[]

  • He secretly has a mysterious mentor that was erased from the historical existence by Gwyn. Dark Souls 3 implied that Ornstein's mentor was Gwyn's firstborn, known as The Nameless King.
    • It's also implied that Ornstein has gone into Archdragon Peak to find his master. Making Ornstein being canonically the last living of Four Knights of Gwyn in Dark Souls.
  • He was also one of the four knights, as well as one of the comrades of Knight Artorias.
  • Though Ornstein's abhors Smough's cannibalism and hidden sadism, he pays respect for his deceased comrade, showing his noble knight side, despite not get along with each other, since Smough's loyalty is genuine, should you defeat Smough first.

Specific to Smough[]

  • Compared to Ornstein, Smough was an unscrupulous executioner while being a loyal to Gwyn, he's a blood-knight with hidden sadism, which Ornstein was repulsed about. if you defeat Ornstein first, Smough crushes him to gain power in the cutscene.
  • It was foretold that Smough was still looking for Gwyn's approval to be a knight. He eventually succeeded by the time of Dark Souls 3 and was canonically killed by the lord of cinder, Aldrich, Devourer of Gods, with the help of Pontiff Sulyvahn in Sulyvahn-Aldrich campaign to Anor Londo.
    • Surprisingly, Smough's allegiance to Gwyndolin was very genuine despite having a bad reputation for being a mad blood-knight executioner. When Ornstein left Anor Londo to find his master, Smough chooses to stay in service of Gwyndolin for Anor Lond. In which, his fate was eventually sealed during Sulyvahn-Aldrich campaign in Anor Londo.

Trivia[]

  • Ornstein is named after the composer and pianist Leo Ornstein, in which explains the lion-themed motif of his helmet.
  • Smough's name, which pronounced "Smo", is derived from a Japanese wrestling sport named Sumo, which is performed by stout men.
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