A narrative theme appears: cycles. Kingdoms rise and fall. A flame is lit and fades. The undead curse brings everyone down to ash.. but new lands rise out of it again (this bit was not explained very well).
I'm 99% sure now that Dark Souls II is set long after Dark Souls I - maybe many of these 'cycles' later. The one depicted in the first game might have been the first, or second depending on how you count it; but not even Anor Londo could stop the ebbing of the Fire they lit and now nobody remembers Lords. Or not in so many words.
