Now, the most common, and easiest to piece together theory about Drangliec is that it's simply a new kingdom sitting overtop of the bones of Lordran. And with so many things pointing to cyclical events, why wouldn't it make sense? But as I've looked around, I'm starting to think that Lordran and Drangliec are completely separate landmasses. And here's why.

For starters, let's talk about one of the earliest places you travel to in the game. Heide's Tower of Flame. The architecture is extremely reminiscent of Anor Londo, and Oreinstien, Gywnevere's sworn guard can be found there, even further pushing along the roots that the ruins of Hiede's kingdom had roots in Lordran. Names change over time and are forgotten, so in all likelyhood, Heide was actually Flaan, the God of Flame. But here's the catch. Back in Lordran, when everything began to crumble, a lot of the gods fled, including Flaan and Gwynevere. This is the first key thing to note. THEY FLED. They didn't just pack their bags and set up shop somewhere in Lordran or the area nearby. They flat out fled.

The second important thing to note now comes from the first Dark Souls. In the first Dark Souls, there was always a separation between Men, and Giants, or in some cases, the Lords as they were known. The Lords, as we know now, bear many similarities to Humankind, save for the extent of their power, size, and abilities. But the Giants, we know little about. And in the first Dark Souls, we only ever truly met a stark handful. Hawkeye Gough and the blacksmith in Anor Londo, and the Giants working the contraptions of Sen's Fortress. All are massive in size, sport dark, greyish skin, and have their heads completely covered, obscuring their faces. So what does this mean for Dark Souls II? Frankly, I believe the Giants we encounter are from Lordran descent, albiet somewhat changed over the great millenia. And now I will explain why.

The Vangarians were once known for being terrors of the Sea, until Vendrick put them down a notch and set them to work for him. Most of all, they were noted for traveling far beyond the reaches of Drangliec and bringing "strange, inhuman" creatures back with them from a strange land across the sea. Most notably, the twisted Sentinel that guards the boat in no Man's Wharf, and the strange, black twisted creatures that hide in the shadows. Most noticably, these inhumanly long armed creatures bear a strong resemblance to Humans whose Humanity went wild in Oolacile, and even drop human clothing on rare occasions. Again, these creatures could be the remnents of the Abyss taking it's toll on Lordran. And, clearly, it's been noted that the Abyss is fractured now, and not as powerful as it once was, existing on broken fragments across the globe. Perhaps, after the thousand year stretch of the rekindling of the first flame, the darkness receded in Lordran, and the remaining Giants reclaimed their homeland, albeit, not unscarred and changed by the Abyss, while the reincarnations of the Lords found purchase on a new home, very much like their long dead predaccesors at Heide's ruins.

And, scattered throughout the game are many various items that hint at this, such as the lingering dragon crest ring. It's original owner was Griggs of Vinhiem, coming from the kingdom of Vinhiem. But the ring found a new home in Lordran as Griggs traveled. But regardless the description remains vague. There is one last thing to point out however. Brightstone cove houses a peculiar blacksmith by the name of Ornifex, and she often states that her people were taught long ago by a great pale beast. Many believe that this is Seathe, but as far as things are concerned, Seathe never had dealings with Ornifex's people. But another pale beast, regarded as an abomination, did. And that was Priscilla. Even more so, her exact whereabouts are never truly known. She may have been trapped in a painting, but what if the great Ariamus didn't trap her in a painting, but instead sent her through a portal to a land, far, far away from Lordran, enough that the isolation itself would act as a prison?

So on a final note, all things considered, we know that when Vendrick crossed the sea at the behest of a stranger, a woman from across the sea herself, warning him about the coming giants, now clearly known as a ploy by Nashandra, Vendrick came back with the ability to create golems. And, most noticeably in the past, the Lords were capable of building such constructs, such as the Iron Golem. I propose that when Vendrick crossed the sea, he stole this ability from where it natively came from, Lordran. And the Giants, having resurfaced since the Abyss had faltered and weakened, with wills of steel that they have always had in ages past, to face down the eternal dragons alongside the lords, came across the sea to reclaim what was theirs, and perhaps, face old beings they had once called allies so long ago.