the fire keeper is of unknown origin. she stays in firelink shrine along with a black smith (andre) and a handmaid. she can level you up and make you stronger, or tell you the burdens of being unkindled. You can be any gender you have to bring her souls to level up you are unkindled . you are the Chosen Undead. Link the first Flame.

This is Gwyn. hes protecting the fading flame, refusing to let you get past, in his mind, you want to extinguish the flame, and he cant let that happen. you just walked into his arena, and hes ready to fight. he is a broken remnant of a once-great god, rather than a sentient opponent.