Pthumerians
Ancient underground worshippers whose cosmic faith locked in a tragic end.
Long before Yharnam rose, the Pthumerians thrived in vast underground cities called Pthumeru. Hunters chasing the Old Ones' truth only find scattered relics and reanimated corpses deep below ground. This ancient people's intense devotion to cosmic entities drove them toward a final collapse, twisting their civilization into the monsters now haunting these labyrinths.
Quick Facts
- Origin
- Ancient Subterranean Civilization
- Location
- The Pthumeru (Beneath Yharnam)
- Status
- Fallen; Reanimated in Labyrinths
- Worshipers of
- The Great Ones
- Key remnants
- Statues
- Bones
- Ruins
- Connection
- Influenced modern Yharnamite bloodlines
Lore & Background
Long before the Healing Church established its dominion over Yharnam, the Pthumerians carved out a civilization deep beneath the earth. They were tall and pale beings who sought communion with the Great Ones, believing that such contact would elevate their existence beyond mortal limits. Their cities, now silent ruins filled with crypts and ancient machinery, speak to a culture obsessed with ritual and cosmic worship. However, this pursuit came at a terrible cost, as the influence of these entities twisted their biology and sanity over generations.
The remnants of their society are exclusively encountered in the underground Labyrinth areas beneath Yharnam, accessible primarily through the Chalice Dungeons. Here, hunters face warriors and matriarchs who were once Pthumerian nobility, now reanimated by the lingering power of the Great Ones. It is crucial to distinguish these subterranean ruins from the surface district of Old Yharnam; while both are ancient and cursed, the specific Pthumerian enemies, their unique architecture, and any statues depicting them are found only within the depths, never in the streets above.
Their fate serves as a grim cautionary tale within the lore: that seeking forbidden knowledge from cosmic beings inevitably leads to decay and monstrosity.
Reader's Guide
The Pthumerians represent an ancient lineage of beings who inhabited the deep underground cities beneath Yharnam long before the modern era. Though their civilization has crumbled into ruin, their influence persists through the artifacts hunters uncover in the Research Hall and the Nightmare realms. Their primary goal was communion with the Great Ones, a pursuit that ultimately corrupted their bloodlines and led to their demise. Members of this race are now mostly found as reanimated corpses or transformed abominations within the Nightmare of the Hunt.
In the broader conflict, they serve as a warning of what happens when humanity seeks too closely with cosmic entities. The Healing Church may have built upon Pthumerian ruins, suggesting a dark continuity between the ancient worshippers and modern blood-ministry practices. Hunters encounter them primarily in the form of spectral warriors or the tragic Queen figure. Understanding their history is key to unraveling the mysteries of the Old Blood and the origins of the beast plague that plagues Yharnam today.
Did You Know?
- The Labyrinths where these ancient horrors reside were fully explored via the Old Hunters DLC, rather than being part of the base game's initial exploration.
- Their civilization predated the founding of the Healing Church by many centuries, indicating an older lineage of cosmic worship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the Pthumerians?
The Pthumerians were an ancient civilization that thrived in vast underground cities long before Yharnam was ever built. They are now known primarily through their scattered ruins and reanimated corpses found deep beneath the earth.
What did the Pthumerians worship?
This society devoted itself entirely to cosmic entities known as the Great Ones, seeking communion with these alien powers above all else. Their intense reverence for these beings ultimately defined their culture and led to their demise.
How did the Pthumerian civilization end?
Their devotion to the cosmos sealed their tragic fate, causing them to fall into madness and decay long before modern hunters arrived. Today, they exist only as reanimated horrors stalking the labyrinthine depths of their former cities.
Where can players find evidence of the Pthumerians?
Hunters encounter their legacy in the subterranean labyrinths beneath Yharnam, where they must navigate crumbling ruins filled with statues and bones. These areas reveal the scale of their once-great civilization through scattered relics and hostile reanimated remains.
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