Mild-Mannered Pate

Overview

Pate is a morally-ambiguous adventurer the player encounters early on in Dark Souls II. He often provides advice and assistance, however his demeanour portrays him as something of a rogue. His recurring assistance throughout the game intentionally clashes against his sly and suspicious nature, forcing players to question his true motives.

Dark Souls II

Pate is first encountered early on in the Forest of Giants. Here he warns the player of an ensuing trap beyond the gate he is sitting besides, and tells of a fellow traveller whom disappeared upon entering within. This anonymous traveller also dropped his ring, to which Pate then collected in the hopes of allegedly returning it to him.

Should the player head through the area, survive the ambushes, and make their way back to Pate, he will congratulate the player for their success and gift them a White Soap Stone -- which is used for online cooperative gameplay. Shortly after when the player comes upon The Last Giant boss, if the player is human they may then be able to summon Pate for assistance as an NPC ally.

Pate is next encountered in Earthen Peak, where he'll notify the player of some treasure close-by, however he himself states he ''doesn't have the guts'' to collect it. Should the player thusly collect it themselves and return to Pate, he will once again congratulate the player for managing to successfully collect the loot. He will also share his awareness of someone that is trying to kill him; Pate professes to have no idea why this person would want him killed.

The person in question is Creighton, whom the player may also encounter twice throughout their travels. Creighton claims that Pate isn't as mild-mannered as his name suggests, and in fact betrayed Creighton. Creighton is thusly trying to hunt Pate down for his supposed betrayal, and warns the player of Pate's unscrupulous and two-faced antics. He also mentions of a ''mysterious ring'' Pate has equipped, which refers back to the ring Pate previously stated he 'collected' from another traveller

Ultimately, Pate will finally be encountered in Brightstone Cove, where he'll be engaged in battle with Creighton. He asks for the player's assistance, though the player now actually has a choice between who to kill. Should they help kill Creighton, Pate will thank the player and reward him/her with a key to his abode down below.

Inside the house are two chests, however one of which will reside a bomb -- one that is triggered to blow shortly upon opening the chest. Once it goes off, Pate will comment from above ''That'll leave a scar...'' and is never encountered again.

Trivia

• Pate is notable for wearing the Heavy Leather set from the original Dark Souls, which is most recognizable as the starting armor set for the Soldier class. However here each piece is simply titled 'Pate's Helm', 'Pate's Armor' and ect.
• If Pate survives the encounter against The Last Giant boss battle, he will gift the player his armor set, as well as his spear and shield--both of which are plainly titled Pate's Spear and Pate's Shield--upon meeting him again in Earthen Peak. Though like all NPCs, killing him is another method for attaining his gear by way of Melentia, who will sell his gear upon his death.
• His dialogue while battling Creighton suggests the two were once friends.
• Should players kill Pate instead, Creighton will similarly give players a key to the same room with the chest containing the bomb. Once opened, Creighton will even sarcastically utter the same piece of dialogue ''That'll leave a scar...''. The contents of the chests are the same regardless of who the player chooses to kill.
• While not quite as detrimental to the player, Pate is often unofficially regarded as Dark Souls II's equivalent to Patches the Hyena, on the account of his overly friendly but also suspicious demeanor, and for his use of similarly wielding a spear & greatshield.
• Pate's ''mysterious ring'' is a Ring of Thorns; it will deal some damage back unto an attacking enemy should they be close enough. Pate will drop it upon his death.