The Identity of the Old Monk
The Old Monk (黄衣の翁, "Yellow-garbed Old Man") is probably one of the most cruel and frighteningly insane villains the franchise has ever delivered, and while we know the general outline of his story and goals, his identity remains a mystery. Who is he?
The most immediate reference to his origins is in the dialogue of the Former Noble's Wife. Though she calls him the "depraved husband" of the Queen in the original localization, in the Japanese script she simply calls him a "shabby old man", with no connection to the country's vassal ruler.
"The Queen banished that simply shabby old man. But the old man returned, wrapped in a strange yellow garb, together with the demons."
First off, this points at the Elder himself being Latrian, not just a passersby. As well, for a country that throughout its history has always had a profoundly corrupt government, specially after the First Scourge even under Boletarian authority, it is surprising he was simply exiled and not outright executed. Perhaps he was exiled for just being way too creepy, perhaps he did have some place in the royal court, perhaps both.
Nonetheless, after his return to Latria during the Second Scourge and wearing the Yellow Robe, once he has gained full control of the region, he immediately began to work towards his greatest fantasy: to create a demon of his own, one from scratch; different from the Armor Spider, the Fool's Idol or the Maneater demons, that had very specific subjects and vessels to work off.
Keystone left by the demon "Maneater".
Once in the Ivory Tower, a cage was suspended by chains. People were melded together and balls of meat were created. The current lord of Latria, the no-longer-human old man was probably trying to create a demon by his own hand.
The Elder, as well, has a strange obsession with inflicting pain. The Spiral Rapier (ねじくれたレイピア, Twisted Rapier), wielded by the Stone Gargoyles is, as described, not focused on dealing damage but rather on causing great pain. As well, the Needle of Eternal Agony similarly deals very little damage, but as stated on its description, does a very painful wound on a target and extracts their souls bit by bit.
Curious thrusting sword with a spiral-form groove carved into it.
Weapon of Latria’s stone gargoyles. More than attack power, focuses on inflicting pain and blood loss. The madness of the Yellow-garbed Old Man can be glimpsed.
An enormous reverse-barbed needle with a great curve.
Weapon born of the soul of the demon "Maneater". Stabs the target, catches on skin and flesh, and shaves off souls bit by bit.
Or perhaps for the Maneater, it symbolizes the relationship between the host and the serpent?
And finally, the old man wears a crown of thorns, on one hand evoking that of Jesus Christ and tying back to the entirety of Latria's divine ascension theme, and in the other resembling the Silver Coronet worn by nobles that studied at Latria's magic school Yormedar (ヨルメダール, "Yormedahl"), though twisted to inflict pain on its wearer. He is a sadomasochist.
Silver-crafted circlet.
Ornament bestowed only upon the mages of the prestigious school Yormedahl.
Thanks to a particular enchantment, the MP maximum value is increased.
At first glance, this is all we can get about his identity, yet... there is one other background character in Demon's Souls who strangely parallels and fits with many aspects of the Elder: Geri.
Geri is a character mentioned only in descriptions of multiple items, and always with two key statements: that he is a magical craftsman, and that he is friend to Sage Freke. He is known for the creation of the Augite of Souls, the appropiately named Geri's Stiletto (though more accurately a "Smallsword" in the Japanese script), and various rings with effects, the two most remarkable ones being the rings of Magical Sharpness and Magical Dullness.
A very small thrusting sword. As big as a dagger, it has no blade, and a special magic is applied.
One of the works of Geri, friend of "Pathfinder" Sage Freke, known for magical works of craftsmanship. Seizes MP from the attacked target bit by bit.
What is important about these rings is that, on their seals, they actually depict men in rapier combat stances, with one attacking (Sharpness) and the other ready to parry (Dullness). The fact that these are rapier combat stances gives away the fact that Geri is, much like the Elder, Latrian (after all, rapiers are Latria's signature weapon). Given that Freke is an old man, it is likely that Geri is an old man as well.
In addition, consider the fact we find Geri's creations all over the world, and the Elder had been exiled from Latria for a few years prior to the Second Scourge. The Elder's goals of creating a demon, magical life, can be considered a further step, if not the highest goal, of magical craftsmanship (something that Geri was known for) too.
We can glimpse an obsession of Geri with pain as well: much like the Spiral Rapier and the Needle of Eternal Agony, Geri's Stiletto deals very low damage, and its effect is restoring the wielder's MP with each successfully landed hit. In other words, it is a weapon that soothes the wielder's mind by inflicting pain upon others; and Geri most certainly isn't right in the head if he created such armament.
If all of this wasn't enough, the connecting point between Geri and the Elder in Yellow is Freke. After all, we are always reminded that Geri is friend to Freke. Now, by what can be inferred by Freke's Apprentice wearing the Silver Coronet and wielding the Silver Catalyst, the Visionary has been a tutor at Yormedar; before leaving to teach the masses. In his Japanese dialogue, Freke's Apprentice states that his master had "systematized" sorcery, and given that Latria was already devouted to magical study since before Freke arrived, it means Freke has developed a way to teach commoners about sorcery: by all appearances, Yormedar is a school for nobility, yet we can choose a commoner magician as one of our backgrounds as well as one from nobility.
"Lord Freke has systematized the magics of the Soul Arts. Truly a magnificent sage, to accomplish this as a mere person."
In any case, Freke is mentioned in the introduction as one of the people who ventured into the Deep Fog, which means that he had departed Latria (and Boletaria as a whole) some time before the Second Scourge began, and became internationally famous.
There is more.
Freke wields four spells: Poison Cloud, Warding, and most importantly, Soul Ray and Homing Soul Arrow. Soul Ray (ソウルの光, "Soul Light"), derived from the soul of the doll in the Queen's image, demonstrates that Freke had a close connection with the Queen of Latria, he was in good acquaintance with her; and strangely, he also has Homing Soul Arrow (浮遊するソウルの矢, "Floating Soul Arrow")... a spell derived from the Elder's demon soul.
During the Second Scourge, the Elder has been imprisoning and torturing both nobility and civilians of Latria, as well as anyone that came by. But Freke? When he tried to face the Archdemon, he was defeated, and here's the thing: he was locked in a special cell, with a Special Key kept by one of the Elder's servants, and without any torture. He, of all people, was given a special and comparatively "friendly" treatment from such evil and insane old man, seemingly out of nowhere.
Freke, a former high-ranking saint, is one to hold grudges, specially against those who he feels had done him any sort of wrong, yet... for some reason he doesn't hold any grudge towards the Elder, the very man who defeated him and imprisoned him. Instead, he tells us to simply be cautious about him; and the very first thing he does when we free him is give us his copy of Geri's Stiletto, like getting rid of something that'd remind him of his old friend.
"Past that prison I was defeated by the yellow-garbed old man, and became a prisoner. Be cautious. That old man manipulates souls. He puts dark souls to work via madness and obsession."
But, what could've prompted Freke to leave his spot as a tutor in Yormedar where he could easily study further magic? The exile of the Elder, Geri. It was likely this what prompted Freke to see Latrians as arrogant elitists (leading him to systematize the study of magic for commoners to learn), and abandon the school. Probably, Freke advocated for his friend, but in the end the Queen did exile him; perhaps deciding to do so instead of outright executing him because of her close acquaintance with Freke.
Years after, Freke returned to Latria captivated by the energized Soul Arts, and there he found his old friend, Geri, wearing a yellow robe and casting powerful magic. Freke was inevitably defeated and, thanks to the little bit of sanity that remained inside Geri's head, was given a special treatment among prisoners.
Geri is the Old Monk.
Thank you for reading; and as proof of me being the first one to come up with it:
":00000 HOLD UP, WHAT IF, WHAT IF GERI IS THE OLD MONK????"
This is dated June 6th, 2024; which is when I came up with it and then shared it with a close friend.
Special thanks to Jon_dArc for accurate JP text translations.
