Gehrman the First
The weary First Hunter who guards the door between dreams and a waking nightmare.
Gehrman is the First Hunter and the founder of the Hunters' Workshop, a secluded sanctuary in the fog-shrouded city of Yharnam dedicated to slaying beasts born from the Old Blood. Originally a hunter in the physical world prior to his pact with the Moon Presence, he only became the gatekeeper of the newly created Hunter's Dream after this binding event, tasked with guiding those who could no longer handle the horrors they had unleashed.
Lore & Background
His existence is inextricably tied to the Moon Presence, an ancient Great One that placed him under its control. While Gehrman appears as a kindly, if melancholic, old man offering guidance and tools, he secretly desires death above all else. He does not fear waking up; rather, he explicitly begs for release from his eternal servitude, viewing death as the only escape from his endless cycle of training hunters in the dream.
Reader's Guide
Gehrman serves as the primary NPC guide within the Hunter's Dream, offering advice on weapon upgrades and the nature of the beasts. He is initially benevolent, providing essential tools for survival against the infected populace of Yharnam. However, his true purpose becomes clear only after defeating Gehrman in the final confrontation or by awakening from the dream. It is revealed that he has been trapped by the Moon Presence to maintain the cycle of the hunt, preventing the truth from surfacing. Players must choose whether to kill him to break the cycle and face the true ending, or let him fulfill his duty to seal away the nightmare once more. His story highlights themes of eternal servitude and the desperate desire for release from a cursed existence.
Did You Know?
- Gehrman is the only NPC who can be killed in the Hunter's Dream without breaking the game, leading to one of the possible endings.
- While Gehrman wields the Saw Cleaver and Hunter Pistol in the Dream, lore texts describe these as standard hunter tools rather than confirmed personal weapons from the earliest days of the hunt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Gehrman the First?
He was the original founder of the Hunters' Workshop before becoming the eternal gatekeeper of the Hunter's Dream. Bound by a pact with the Moon Presence, he now oversees those who fall into the nightmare realm to fight beasts.
What role does Gehrman play in the Hunter's Dream?
Gehrman serves as a weary guardian who guides hunters through their trials and offers them rest or death within the sanctuary. He manages the flow between the waking world and the dream where the hunt takes place.
Did Gehrman originally use the Saw Cleaver?
While he wields the Saw Cleaver in the Dream, historical records do not confirm these were his personal weapons during the Workshop's founding era. They are considered standard issue tools provided to hunters within this specific realm.
More in Lore & History
Elsewhere in Bloodborne
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced