The questline for obtaining the Soul Great Bells can have two possible outcomes:
a. Dark Lord Ending: By acquiring all four Soul Great Bells and meeting the requirements, you can access the Kiln of the First Flame. This leads to a battle with the Gwyn, Lord of Cinder, and concludes the game.
b. Linking the Fire/Age of Dark Ending: Alternatively, if you defeat Gwyn and choose to link the First Flame, it results in the Age of Fire continuing. Oppositely, choosing not to link the Flame leads to the Age of Dark. Either option signals the end of the storyline and the game.
2. Lore Significance
The Soul Great Bells hold significant lore implications within the "Dark Souls" universe:
a. Ringing the Bells: Ringing each of the bells unlocks certain areas or encounters:
- The Bell of Awakening unlocks the path leading to the Undead Parish, where you face the Taurus Demon.
- The Bell of Opening opens the gate to Blighttown.
- The Bell of Conviction reveals the entrance to the Depths.
- The Bell of Rousing allows access to the Great Belfry and a powerful boss fight.
b. Gwyn, Lord of Cinder: Acquiring all four bells becomes crucial if you want to face Gwyn in the Kiln of the First Flame and decide the ultimate fate of the world by linking or not linking the First Flame.
c. Deeper Lore: The history of the bells, the significance of the ringing, and the consequences of the players' actions are woven into the broader lore of the game.