Dark Souls III is set in the kingdom of Lothric, where the First Flame, which sustains the Age of Fire, is fading. To prevent the coming Age of Dark, a champion must link the fire by sacrificing themselves to rekindle it. Prince Lothric, who was chosen for this task, refuses to do so. In response, a bell tolls and awakens the Lords of Cinder, previous champions who linked the fire in earlier ages. Most of them abandon their thrones at Firelink Shrine, leaving only Ludleth of Courland behind.
The player character, known as the Ashen One, is an Unkindled: an undead warrior who previously failed to link the fire. The Ashen One is resurrected and tasked with returning the Lords of Cinder to their thrones. They defeat the Abyss Watchers, a legion of warriors sworn to fight the Abyss; Yhorm the Giant, a ruler who once linked the fire for his people; Aldrich, a cleric who became a Lord of Cinder after devouring others; and Prince Lothric, who is protected by his elder brother Lorian.
After the Ashen One returns the Lords' cinders to their thrones, they travel to the Kiln of the First Flame. There, they defeat the Soul of Cinder, a manifestation of those who previously linked the fire. Depending on the player's actions, the Ashen One may rekindle the First Flame, allow it to fade, or claim its power for themselves.
