So the Dark Wood Grain Ring lets you do ninja flips and lets you act as if you have <25% equip load as long as you're under <50%. A lot of people seem to use it for PvP, which I am starting to get into, but above all it is cool and I want it.

So I check the Dark Souls wiki and it says it is dropped by Shiva's bodyguard. I have looked around both the forest and the spot Shiva hangs out in Blighttown and I have not seen any bodyguard. He is apparently a ninja.. is he just hard to spot? Does he appear if I attack Shiva? Is the information wrong? Halp.

I can't say about where he might be in Darkroot Garden (probably hanging out somewhere nearby Shiva) but I found him in Blighttown right behind the wall Shiva is leaning on. You don't need to attack Shiva for him to appear. He is kind of hard to see since he's slightly invisible like the guys in the forest. Shiva will become hostile if you kill his bodyguard but it might be possible to run away from him. Either way it is considered breaking the covenant if you kill him, so you'll get kicked out of the Forest Hunters.

he is hard to spot because he is wearing a fog ring. he is behind shiva and is very close to the edge of a cliff. it is very easy to kick him off accidentally (or on purpose). if this happens, quit and reload your game and the ring will be there. as will shiva, who will try to put his sword in your ass.

Cool, got the ring, thanks.