by Acarnatia Fri Sep 13, 2013 7:52 pm
That's not accuate, either; see the Protogenoi. Gaia is herself the granddaughter of a much older being.
In the Greek mythos, the first beings were one of (depending on the particular version)
Chronos/Aeon, (different from Kronus, the sky) the god of time. Unlike the Olympions and most gods, he was not merely a supernatural being with power over time; he was time, just as Gaia literally is the Earth.
Chaos, 'the gaping hole/void' was essentially space. It was touched by Chronos and basically made the world. Sometimes is poetically refered to as female.
Ananke, Fate incarnate. She is Chronos' consort. Depending on the version, she may have existed before or after Chaos.
Chaos, touched by Chronos, gave birth to a female, Night, and a male, Darkness. They in turn begat a daughter, Day, and a son, Aether, who in turn gave created several other protogenoi, including the Sea, Sky, Earth, (Gaia) Tartarus (a hellish void with ever-raging storms) and so on. Gaia then gave birth to the Titans and later Olympians, giving the pantheon most people are familiar with.
The mythos of the two games would also clash if they took place in the same universe. One has lore that blatantly refers to a monotheistic god and widespread (if not universal) religion and magic that has only recently beome widespread, whereas the other is blatantly polytheistic and magic has existed in public sight since the dawning of both humans and gods. The histories of both games have absolutes that cannot be accurate in conjunction with the other. Therefore, I think the games really are set in different worlds, rather than merely being in the same universe unofficially.
Back on topic to the original post;
Only one of the four beings who found a Lord's soul is a god. Nearly all of that one's family are called gods/esses. Therefore, the gods are that one's family, not those with Lords Souls. The Lords souls are something else. (and, I believe, something more powerful and primordial than most gods) I think the gods are basically a race, just like humans and giants, just as the Izalithians are different. Nito's ilk are the dead of the other races.
Essentially, there are actually six major races in Dark Souls:
Nito, and his collection of the dead of other races, are the children of the concept of Death.
The Witch of Izalith and family are the children of the idea of Chaos.
Gwyn's (extended) family are called 'gods' and are the race of Fire. (posing as Light)
And the Furtive Pygmies descendants are the humans, the offspring of the Dark.
Giants may be the children of Stone, or may not be the children of an element/idea.
Dragons, the living incarnations of the colorless, grey fog, or Twilight/Shadow.