ELDEN RING LORE: The Secrets of Alchemy

[@tropezando]

You mention a large, egg shaped flask and prima materia being necessary for the creation of the philosophers stone... I feel like that is exactly what Miquella was trying to do: use himself as the base elements and his cocoon as the flask to create a way to resist and replace the existing order. And I think he was close, as he was already able to produce unalloyed gold, seemed to partially have formed a rebis with his alter ego of St. Trina, and his form had definitely changed as seen by his longer, gnarled arm emerging from the cocoon.

[@Chessheromusic]

He wasn't just close ... He achieved moving his soul to another body and housing his curse in the halig tree thereby not needing the golden order at all for life. Miquella is the character you're playing as in elden ring. This guy is completely right about alchemy and its place between life n death or shadow and light. Godwyn wasn't chosen as an empyrean BC merika hadn't gone crazy and shattered the elden ring. Then the fingers locked her up and started looming for a replacement. There were not always interested in replacing her ... Not when she accomplished their will. Godwyn does not have a omen curse BC he is the only legitimate heir to godfrey and merika. Merika in wanting to create a more perfect being used Godwyn as her consort. When godfrey created a balanced mixture with being a conquror and masculine. Godwyn created an unbalanced mixture with too much of his mother in him. This is why this younger bros were cursed.

[@Kyred808]

​@@Chessheromusic what?

[@Sinha010]

@@Kyred808 Incest, bro.

[@chrisvega5474]

@@Chessheromusic this makes no sense what so ever. Every single thing you said is so completely opinionated and on top of that the random misogyny? LOL

[@Chessheromusic]

@@chrisvega5474 I’m not sure what you’re saying is wrong considering it’s a theoretical None of it is meant to be taken as truth But be a guideline in exploring the role of alchemy in Elden ring. This is very apparent. What!? What specifically is wrong , I’m positive godwyn is not miquella and Maelenias father But I’m also positive radagon is a mimic Not a mimic tear which creates a 1 to 1 copy of the original He’s a mimic veil which conceals the original being. This explains how radagon could come from marika and be her but not fully her: Also, explains how she had children with herself

[@falgalhutkinsmarzcal3962]

This is a wild tangent, but it is interesting that Godwyn is turning into a giant basilisk at the roots of the Erdtree, and that we set fire to the Erdtree, because the alchemist Albertus Magnus believed that a crucial ingredient for turning silver into gold was, in fact, the ashes of a basilisk. I doubt From intended this interpretation, but it just seems to be an interesting coincidence.

[@MalikCustoms123]

33:30 This line about Miquella being stunted for his youth which in turn stunted his Haligtree is very provocative to me as later on you said what Miquella lacked is the fiery red blood of life tested in the Crucible and this leads me to what Mohg is trying to do with Miquella; prop him up to Godhood by introducing his accursed blood or blood that was tested and shaped in the Crucible. I believe that the silvery white ring Miquella is wearing on his body is the reason for why he wasn't able to ascend through Mogh's methods, if Miquella is capable of creating items that reject or push away the influence of Outer Gods, it stands to reason he'd have an item to do that on his person especially in a case like this.

[@jbvikingbat5595]

Excellent video as always! One thing I have to point out to add onto all this, and something that I am AMAZED I haven't seen more commonly mentioned in the discussion of Elden Ring and alchemy, is the item description of the Flash of Wonderous Physick. Not only is the actual use of the flask very similar to alchemy (mixing elements for desired effect) but the description says at the start "A relic of the physick chemists, priests of the Erdtree," pretty much directly confirming that the priests of the Erdtree are basically alchemists in essence, if not literally. I wish we got to learn more about whoever these physick chemists are because this feels like a tremendously important detail that rarely comes up again. I also wonder how much (if any) influence they might have had on the transition of the Primordial Crucible into the Erdtree...

[@CrunchyVideos]

Could be their work was the “depths of the Golden Order” that Marika searched.

[@jbvikingbat5595]

@@CrunchyVideos Ooh that's entirely possible! You could even argue that by doing so she was, in a sense, trying to understand the formula for perfection (or at least what many assumed was perfection). In terms of their creation/origin Idk how directly intertwined the Erdtree and the Golden Order are (they might be I genuinely don't know) but as far as alchemical relevance goes that seems like a strong correlation!

[@ezrawallet]

Could the perfumers be considered to have a priestly role in any way?

[@solomon9655]

My bet is the statues in the Roundtable depict those very same priests.

[@darkhobo]

It seems plain to me the Alchemists you mention turned into the Perfumers, so we have a direct line to the current day.

[@lynackhilou4865]

Great video , however I wanted to say that the rebis is most probably radagon and marika and not renalla , they're even conjoined and can be considered the highest being of the land ( plus the white queen fits marika much more )

[@arabidllama]

A fascinating video! This metaphor makes the Marika/Radagon fusion make more sense - her "You are yet to become me, thou art yet to become a god" line could be interpreted as her essentially "knowing the recipe" for her/The Greater Will's pursuit of perfection. She's looking at Radagon as an "ingredient" that's not yet ready, that needs to undergo more processing before he is. She can't see the future, but she does have a plan, and it involves sending Radagon off to marry a convenient White Queen for a while... It also makes sense why she'd fuse with a "leal hound" she clearly disagrees with, and who hates his association with fire. He's just the best ingredient she's going to find. If the game really was based on alchemical mythology to such a large extent, it's possible that some of the more nonsensical character motivations may simply be "because that's how the alchemy goes". Sometimes intent like that gets lost in the final draft of a story, but if you know to look for it things fall into place.

[@CthulhuTheory]

Yeah, except I don’t buy it. Its established that radagon IS Marika, and in order to justify the fusion you have to first separate the two when there’s never been an actual established separation, and given the secret was known early enough to bury it in front of everyone in plain sight. The much more likely explanation for Marika’s line is that Radagon is merely a manifestation of the Elden Beast exerting it’s will over Marika to ensure the greater will’s will is followed. That she he is an alter ego born of her union with the ring, and spends time vying for control over the body. This is effectively demonstrated to us in the final battle when Marika is found, but her body is replaced by Radagon next to the hammer and anvil used to shatter the ring. It’s also demonstrated after you defeat radagon as her body lay a broken vessel and the Elden beast leaks out then transports you to a different plane, and once you return after defeating it you find her back on her knees, kneeling and prostrate waiting for your decision on how to end things. Watch the clip showing her shattering the ring and him trying to mend it, and consider those events were happening at the same time. In the end, She broke the ring, but he wrested control over her, sealed himself in her in the tree, and crucified her for her sins while she waits for the seeds of her sacrifice to grow and bear fruit that will end the age of the greater will for good.

[@vettebodee]

@@CthulhuTheory It's not a different plane lmao, that's just what's at the bottom of the Erdtree.

[@atticratz6128]

Great idea - I’m reminded of the line from Radagon’s Icon: “As the husband of Rennala of Caria, the red-haired Radagon studied sorcery, and as the husband of Queen Marika, he studied incantations. Thus did the hero aspire to be complete.”

[@Gogomogo-Ogomogog]

@@CthulhuTheorynah

[@CthulhuTheory]

@@Gogomogo-Ogomogog ... nah?

[@cosmonautblues5999]

The point on creating a sort of perfect demigod "heir" was pretty interesting to me in relation to GRRM's involvement in the writing of Elden Ring. I can't say I know how much he actually contributed to the themes or overall plot but having read ASOIAF and a couple others of his novels the idea of heredity and creating a sort of powerful or pure offspring is very common. This is particularly interesting in regards to ASOIAF in which many characters aim to maintain a pure bloodline or (more important to the ideas in the video) to create through the union of specific individuals particularly powerful offspring with special abilities. What's striking is that in those cases as well we often end up seeing these powerful offspring characters also being born with genetic defects, hereditary diseases, or a general sickliness. Maybe those themes meshed well with the alchemical symbology that Elden Ring is so steeped in but who knows. For all we know GRRM may have just made every major character have his initials and dipped once he had his check.

[@CrunchyVideos]

Very interesting, I need to read ASOIAF because it seems like there’s a lot of parallels.

[@dutchielander2478]

Ever since i started the game i had a feeling Alchemy had a huge role to play in the story with the whole "Radagon is Marika" thing and the creation of the Albinaurics and making perfect beings/demigods, Miquella and Marika being like the rebis, etc. I've been interested in alchemy for years and read a lot about it, so maybe i subconsiously red between the lines of the lands between and pieced some things together, but i could never put it into words like you do in the video. Fascinating! Great job figuring this out.

[@CrunchyVideos]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it

[@AndrewThePoet]

This is probably the most well made video alongside Smough. You two really answers a lot of questions with real life mythology.

[@soarel325]

Yet again you are consistently the best ER video creator when it comes to lore. A lot of people have done videos on all the references to alchemy in the game but yours goes above and beyond. Great job! Incidentally, I’m pretty sure Miquella is explicitly confirmed to be alive by Ofnir after you kill Mohg? He’s still appearing as St. Trina in people’s dreams so his physical body is just in a coma (presumably because it’s in that beef jerky pupa stage of his metamorphosis) Very good Eliade plug btw, his writings on the topics of religion and esotericism are very insightful and in my view wrongfully ignored by many nowadays due to the unsavory associations he had in his youth.

[@CrunchyVideos]

Thank you! And I just checked- you’re correct, Gideon says that Miquella is “slumbering” within the cocoon.

[@rubieannabelle9348]

A thought I had regarding the way fire is viewed in Elden Ring - there are some parallels with the role of fire in real world forest ecologies. In many forest ecosystems, wildfires are a natural and somewhat regular occurrence that are essential to the health of the forest, and allow for the proper succession and diversity of trees and understory plants. However, at least in North America, our model of forest management is very concerned with controlling and suppressing fire under any circumstances (though this has started to change gradually in some areas). The result is unusually dense forests with massive buildup of kindling and very little space between trees. These conditions lead to incredibly destructive wildfires that can’t be controlled due to the amount of fuel and density of the forests. I see the disappearance of death in the Lands Between as reminiscent of this state - a naturally occurring cycle of death and rebirth is suppressed and hindered. When we look at the Flame of Frenzy, this is the equivalent of the uncontrollable wildfires that occur after long periods of fire suppression. Everything is burned to the ground, in a way that to me, feels less like an ideological hatred and destruction of the Erdtree and current order, but more like a force of nature. Tarnished Archaeologist talks a bit about this general idea of fire in one of their videos on the Erdtree, but I think there’s more room to explore the concept.

[@VincentvanFlow]

This really brings to light the intense coincidence of naming my first character, a spellblade, "Rebus." I love it lol. I chose the Ranni ending and it is very suiting.

[@willwin4744]

You have made by far my favorite lore videos as you take a step back and look greatly into the symbolism, not only does it result in some of the most logical theories but ties into a more basic philosophical discussion

[@aydincastro1924]

Holy shit dude that conclusion was absolutely amazing it all came together so wonderfully.

[@idlemindedmage6925]

I watched your "unhinged" alchemy video with Ratatoskyr when it came out and have been following you since. This piece seems to be your Magnus Opus itself, perfectly crystallizing the thoughts you have evidently been thinking on for some time. This was absolutely phenomenal, and I'll be passing it around to all the Elden Ring fans I know. We can't say much for certain about Elden Ring, but I think you have very strong supporting evidence for your theories and think this is one of the best and most comprehensive distillations of the lore I've seen so far. Fantastic job. Thank you.

[@samf.s.7731]

It draws from other GRRM works as well. Specifically when it comes to the speculation on what happened and in particular "why" it happened.

[@holtrain81]

Best lore video so far...across all of youtube

[@lovesiriusblack]

Blow away by all this information, thank you for your hard work! It was a pleasure seeing it

[@portalmanHUN]

Thank you for the book recommendations at the end. Alchemy is the newest rabbithole I fell into and I was just looking for books to read.

[@CrunchyVideos]

Links to free PDFs of all three in the video description.

[@portalmanHUN]

@@CrunchyVideos Wow thank you so much.

[@dynactin8908]

Very awesome video! Really got me thinking about the importance of fire despite its purposeful absence. One interesting fact that is related to this discussion is that the root word of elden (eld), is defined as "old" in English, but in Saxon it's "fire". Seems a very GRRM thing to integrate, as it implies that fire was once a primal aspect of the Elden Ring, and its removal is associated with a rewriting of the language to erase the existence of fire altogether. Perhaps the appearance of so many different fires is a direct result of the Shattering, and going further, the Outer Gods are missing elements of the true flame that would restore the Elden Ring. Anyway keep up the great content! Liked and subbed.

[@ATC43]

I really like this interpretation. It makes even more sense when you consider what the Crucible stands for in Elden Ring and what it is in real life. The top arch of The Elden Ring LOOKS just like the lip of a crucible pouring out molten metal. From the Crucible and fire comes the Elden Ring.

[@CrunchyVideos]

I’m not so familiar with GRRM, but as I understand it, there’s the intimation in ASOIAF that all the different gods are actually the same god of death. I think something similar may be going on with the different fires and outer gods in Elden Ring- maybe there’s just two gods; a masculine Will (Yang) which wants Order in the form of the cycle of life and death, and a feminine formless Mother (Yin) of Chaos (Frenzy). Maybe they both came from one monad (The One Great).

[@Sleeper_6875]

Amazing video, truly some of the best elden ring lore coverage on here and from a well researched and interesting perspective

[@alblank1316]

This is the video I have been waiting for! Super interesting and thought provoking. It's funny that even though you spoke on this for nearly 40 minutes, I feel it's still just scratching the surface. There are so many avenues to go down within the broad spectrum of alchemic influences seen in Elden Ring that each time you mentioned or explained something new about a principle of alchemy it was like a new rabbit hole to fall down. Great stuff man I hope you keep it up!

[@Sleeper_6875]

It would be really interesting for you to explore the albinaurics sometime if you want to, they’re related to every almost every demigod in some way from experimenting on them to providing a haven for them that it’s fascinating but I can’t quite crack the code, somethings up there

[@idlemindedmage6925]

Would love to hear more about this on long form fashion. Great idea!

[@self_harem2125]

I have a nebulous sort of subconscious understanding of alchemy. I was really into the occult and supernatural, mythology, and religion as a kid. I could read but not necessarily understand "complicated things" which were either alchemy and occult, or computer and video game related. The effort you must have put into connecting all these points to these concepts consciously is very appreciated! So many of these concepts I've concluded similar notions from (in alchemy and elden ring), and I find this to be so validating. Not to be cringe, but I think that like Miyazaki I had this sort of bated-breaths, eyes squinting, hand on chin understanding of some fundamental concepts presented in occultism and alchemy at a young age but with no explicit points of reference or direction it felt hard to "commit" to that "understanding" and let it inform my world view. It felt very intuitive for me to watch those same lore videos you have, and assume I'm projecting these notions onto them. I love this video so much, it almost feels scary how in past days I've said and thought so many similar things (regarding Elden Ring lore, but as an allegory for contemporary versions of "ancient" influences.) These games are like refinements and restatements of the same "subject" but with the understanding that comes with time, experience, paradigm shifts, and how "birth" and "death" can both create meaning and obscure nearly evident truths ever so slightly. I really appreciated the section the most where you made the distinction between the rudimentary chemistry of the first "alchemists" before their codified texts were elevated to esoteric levels. In a way I feel almost as if that esoteric flair and vibe is part of our own "elden ring" that keeps our own status quo perpetuating as we potentially homogenize and degenerate (putrefaction) ---- unless a new generation of tarnished arise who can appreciate the state of things and have the "vitality" to reinvigorate them. In a way feels like DS is FromSoft's guidance of grace for those who can see it?? If we can grow from this series in a very special way - maybe those "chosen" "tarnished" can "review" and "reframe" their own "runes" with this as catalyst. I think this all sounds vaguely schizotypal, but when discussing archetypes and symbolism... Related to a long running lineage of Potentially misconstrued individually intimate intimations I think that's where it starts to feel like the brain talking about itself in a raw way (imo because we are looking closely enough that our passive immersion feels threatened bc like - well we all kinda subconsciously perpetuate this "system" for our own "well being". Imo.) Kind of like observing your own personal biases in your religion might "instinctively" prompt one of us to justify or explain themselves in any direction. However they do it and act about it maybe isn't the point though. By looking at those biases it starts to feel like there is indeed a system of beliefs that serves an agenda in every "order". Elden Ring feels both like a power fantasy that can placate - in a world like this, and potentially provide a space and juncture at which an individual can choose to interpret their own ideas with "heavy handed" almost cartoon like caricatures of real life prejudices and precepts from the producer's and team's perspective.

[@CrunchyVideos]

I think when it comes to esoterica, whether it’s alchemy or religious mysteries or the occult or the Dao, a lot of people have the same exact experience- that these symbols and poetry and abstractions codify deep truth that they knew intuitively forever, but could never express. That’s why Miyazaki (a certified sociologist) creates games that naturally inspire an almost cult-like community around them.

[@self_harem2125]

@@CrunchyVideos I do beg to differ in the notion that we could understand them intuitively but never express. I think that's a flavor of that esoteric notion that diverts from "truth" and disperses responsibility in a subtle way. The "truth" being the nature of the veil or lens we choose to view things through consciously or otherwise. In a very real sense I think we are expressing them over and over with everything we do as sort of learned reaction from that point of origin... But we aren't born knowing that imo! It's learned too by socialization n stuff, like a dance. The point of origin being "real life" not as we see it but as it is, and imo we "choose" to dance around it and look for deeper meaning because - well, what would you do differently? (Lol) Even with infinite time, the truth remains the truth. The cult like community you talk about is definitely an expression IMO of the current state of direction less ness sort of inherent to recent generations again, imo. I think that's evolved from some deep seated intimate and individual intimations from people a long time ago being contemporaneously misconstrued, but with love and exaltation. IMO. So like we want to find out what "we mean" by "all of this" to find an "orientation" Kind of why I mentioned the producer's and team's perspectives bc there's bias everywhere! I definitely appreciate the reply!

[@beansnrice321]

Great video! It's obvious how much all of the souls born games have been based on classic myth and literature and it's always fun to see how they tie in. Elden Ring seems to be the most broad in scope and overt in it's metaphor and iconography. I'm sure you've already seen him but I have a hunch you'd really enjoy "The Tarnished Archaeologist," he has some amazing videos about some of the anthropology that Elden Ring has been clearly based on. He included a neat exploration of the statues of an individual who may have created the original erd tree and shows how one of the tablets he has is a perfect match to an old map of the known world, from the point of view of Babylon. Another video of his examines the graves of Farum Azula and how they were inspired by the Varna necropolis, one of the oldest and most prolific excavation of unalloyed gold, of all time. Apparently there was even a big show of the gold in Japan, in the 70s or 80s and the show was named, "The world's oldest gold." One might wonder how much of an impression that may have had on a young Myazaki.

[@paulroche7588]

This video was incredible! You have an amazing way of articulating information that makes it both informative and captivatingly entertaining, absolutely loved it

[@Something_vaguely_funny]

Genuinely the most well informed, In depth and engaging Elden Ring lore channel period. Love Vati but he doesn’t have shit on Crunchy.

[@xxEffortlessxx]

Awesome video! Very easily up there with all of the content creators you mentioned. Can't wait for more of your thoughts on From's titles.

[@Roborosky15]

Man you deserve so much more subscribers, this was fucking fantastic, so interesting and eye opening, thank you for your content, cant wait for more videos specially when a DLC is coming, you make Elden Ring seem even more fascinating

[@CrunchyVideos]

Thank you!

[@AbelMusa]

At last, a lore channel that doesn't sound like a depressed wimp. Also this is probably the most important video when it comes to understanding the lore of Elden Ring.

[@CrunchyVideos]

Thank you haha

[@embargovenom9948]

That last bit was a huge tease. I want to hear your theories on all those connections at the end.

[@deriqdgraves]

Dootbois in Haligtree and Leyndell look like the Pelican Flask too and only appear in places with those who are a god (Marika/Radagon) and who would be or are worthy to be (Miquella)

[@VioletScorpion]

Whelp, I’m on the alchemy train. Great video and good idea to give the alchemy synopsis up front. Helped all the ideas come together

[@MadDannyWest]

Finally a theory that makes the most sense, thank you crunchy! please continue to keep talking about these symbols!

[@eaglespiritt]

Finally found it! this is vid we needed. Someone who reads between the lines and understands symbolism.

[@AOMt.]

Another awesome video… I love this stuff. I’ve been curious about alchemy and Hermeticism for a while now though I am still barely a novice. I knew just enough to see the influence in ER (duality, correspondence, the Rebis, and even maybe even archetypes which are a whole thing), and my fascination with the ER world and lore must have exponentially increased thereafter. Thanks for the resources and for the clear and succinct summary of alchemical history and symbols. Your disclaimers were also appreciated.💪🏼 I’ve got the Sex in ER video on my watch later list… looking forward to it!

[@bilalblue8688]

Love the video! I really wish we had more information on the Marika/Radagon pairing. I am of the mind that Marika was Radagon when they married Rennala as the turtle pope has that speech about the statue with Radagons secret being built before/during the marriage to the Carians.

[@CrunchyVideos]

I’ll have to check, but I don’t think Miriel says explicitly when the statue was built. He says Radagon was summoned, but he doesn’t say he was summoned from Caria.

[@mTealeaf]

Yeeah, this video is amazing. Definitely deserves a ton of recognition. Very well put together. 10/10.

[@trashgordon5942]

I love how it seems with every new fromsoft game we get at least 1 new lore diver. I particularly am enjoying your use and knowledge of history and relating it these wonderful games, Cheers mate

[@GELV294]

That’s a funny profile picture for your channel, considering the topic of this video

[@nineleafclover1477]

Great video! I know this was primarily focused on Elden Ring, but the discussions of fire vs water and their roles in alchemy really add a lot to the lore of Dark Souls 1-3. We all know those games beat players over the head with the importance of Fire, but Water rarely gets the same attention, though it is just as important and prevalent in those worlds

[@CrunchyVideos]

Yes, many of these concepts can shed light on the previous games, like the roles of gold and silver in Latria from Demon’s Souls. Sometime I might make some videos on the previous series.

[@RWAY-hm8gj]

This is the kind of schizo lore theorizing the community needs. If you're dipping into esoteric traditions, I'd love to see a reading on the Frenzied Flame, Gnosticism/Neoplatonism, and the reduction of complex emanations back to a singular form. Frenzied Flame ending always gets a bad rep as edgy or nihilistic, but I've always read it as "I hate the Demiuge" more than anything. Miyazaki loves his themes of Samsara and dualism, but there's always an undercurrent of escaping the cycle of material ages brought about by some original sin.

[@recursiveslacker7730]

When I read “I hate the demiurge” I imagined a leontecepheline serpent in a UN helmet insisting that a trollface eat his corn syrup. I’ve been looking at too many memes.

[@global-sequence]

This is a fantastic video that has an incredibly potent overview of alchemy. Great job!

[@SaintJames14]

I consider myself gnostic so I'm usually hyperaware when people mess up these concepts but man you did an incredibly good job with this video. Well done 👏 Everything you said was on point and poignant.

[@Purple.mind...Honored.one.]

1:42 A conservative estimate of how long alchemy has been around dates back to ancient Egypt, And there's evidence that ancient Sumeria Understood some of its practices as well.

[@CrunchyVideos]

True, there are various alchemical traditions (the Chinese tradition is very old too). I specified I was talking about the Western alchemical tradition in the intro, which really dates back to Zosimus and the preceding chrysopoeists (other traditions have more dissimilar goals and ideas.)

[@samf.s.7731]

Just wanna say that the Edward Elric chanel pic is just epic 🤣👍

[@aldosalas2722]

Amazing video, really a new way of looking at the entire game. Thank you for all your work. Can't wait for more

[@themadgamer1217]

Me, on the outside: “It’s so amazing how the writers of these games interweave these schools of thought and ancient practices into their games’ cultures and lore.” Me, on the inside: “Friggin chemistry nerds makin my head hurt with subject matter from the only class I got a C in…” 🤣 Great vid, your explanations were very clear actually, and I loved learning about this - if only mainstream school taught us this stuff through video games. But no, Prof. Miyazaki is having to prompt us, and we’re having to piece it apart and present it (in a very good format, by the by).

[@House_of_Green]

This is why I love this game. It’s connections to reality keep my mind pondering

[@bekay7663]

Awesome video, loved the history of alchemy

[@free6lackpanther682]

Shout out to the snack covenant lol!!!

[@nsfshdfgj]

this video was gas

[@Prowz4ssin]

Just like the philosopher stone, a perfect order will never be achieved by something as imperfect as humans.

[@EredinLore]

Finally getting round to this. Umbasa.

[@VultureXV]

Elden Ring is basically the rise of Christianity in Europe as told by Pliny the Elder, Hermes Trismigestus, Agrippa, and Paracelsus.

[@jessedarren1511]

Radagon is the animus, the male energy in a psyche. And Merika is the anima, the female energy in the psyche.

[@chingchief2721]

love your video

[@1stRateSerrvice]

Watching this has made me realize that the humans who become Dark Lords and those that support the Dark in the Dark Souls games need the First Flame to stay alive just as much as those that want the Flame to stay alive.

[@petrocvet]

excellent work! subscribed!

[@atticratz6128]

I’ve been feeling completely lost as far as what actually happens in Elden Ring recently. We’re at the point where there is so much information and so many theories of the why, what, and how of what’s happening in the game that haven’t felt quite right. THIS is it, THIS is what Elden Ring is about. Great analysis, great video! Radagon and Marika may be literally one body unlike Radagon and Rennala, but there’s a verse from Genesis in the Bible that the alchemists of a Judeo-Christian culture (and FromSoft) may have been aware of. “Therefore a man shall leave his mother and father and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” This is certainly in reference to intercourse, but also implies that the marriage bond is deeper than just intercourse. Anyways, food for thought.

[@jamessikes5369]

I like your analytical videos. I totally subscribed because of this...frankly I like you more than vaati just by watching 2 of your videos 😊

[@CrunchyVideos]

Thank you!

[@drewdabrew4745]

This is dummy fire lore bro sheeeeesh

[@drewdabrew4745]

W Zherka

[@markilleen4027]

has a lot of Irish/celtic mythology, to

[@colt4505]

Crunchy my guy we don't come to you so that we can go do the research we come to you because you have done it and you have a very good way of putting it into words and making it understandable as well as relating it to Elden ring. Don't take that page from Miyazaki, please. The entire reason I was drawn to you as I'm sure many others were is because you weren't afraid to speculate and you weren't afraid to say things that weren't concrete. Just because you're not some master scholar of alchemy doesn't mean you don't have a valuable voice and insight.

[@CrunchyVideos]

Haha fair enough. To be honest the reason I didn’t talk about those things at the end is because I don’t have much to say about them and they didn’t seem to tie into a bigger picture. Maybe I’ll talk about them in a stream at some point.

[@connorsmith1005]

"Greek Mythology" Immediately shows Roman Mythology. Off to a good start.

[@CrunchyVideos]

Oops

[@parasoulsus]

Excellent research, and reminds me a lot of my own. I think it would be very difficult for someone to handwave away the deep inspirations here. That said, my interpretation differs slightly, and I want to bring up one point of confusion. The Red Lion does not always represent the philosophers' stone in traditional alchemy. It would normally be red sulphur (and paired with the green lion).

[@idlemindedmage6925]

Radahn being associated with Red Sulphur makes more sense than being associated with the Philosopher's Stone, right?

[@K8theKind]

You forgot the lavender fire of sleep and the blue fire of caria

[@Chessheromusic]

Great video and exact on except for some minor tweaks to improve our understanding. You're analysis of alchemy is exactly true and from this analysis I can show where there are some misconceptions bc of "the fly in the ointment" . If you put godfrey on the balance spectrum he fits very well with merika. He is fire and masculinity incarnate. He is ferocity and needs merika to balance his being. Their union created Godwyn who is cursefree and for all intensive purposes the most perfect being to date. Why mohg and mogg are cursed has more to do with merikas ego and wanting to refine the mixture. If her union with godfrey gave her Godwyn, then with even more god , he union with Godwyn should create a more perfect being. The problem is this mixture is unbalanced having too much of merika creating twins cursed with the same affliction . merika 50 - godfrey 50 = Godwyn water/fire then there's a problem with Godwyn 50 water-50 fire + merika being 100 water = 75 water/ 25 fire. Later she tries to correct this using herself and radagon but this is super unbalanced as well with 100 merika balanced to split to each twin only getting half of the being of merika. One child male one female... One golf hair of merika one red hair of radagon... Their curses are immutable as well, miquella represents the vitality youth and abundance of life and melania , decay rot and constantly dying after we are born. This curse damn it be fixed the same way the ring can't be fixed. Miquella must leave his empyrean body to be reborn- that body will never be fixed and miquella will never go back to body which grows like godwyns soul was body

[@Nhblubird]

Angel's Egg ost jumpscare

[@Arda-dq4rt]

Getting those books you recommended thank you for this!! I sent you a message on twitter regarding some of my ideas on the lore I wanted to share with you. I'd be happy if you answer.

[@FireBurner101]

Damn good video

[@billyshakespeare1696]

I believe Miquella would have been successful had he not been kidnapped away by Mohg. No?

[@connorsmith1005]

I mean, a scholar is just a fancy name for Lore Junkie, let's be real.

[@Chessheromusic]

Whoa whoa whoa whoever said that the halig tree was supposed to be an erd tree. The halig tree was created to house miquellas curse which it now does He didn't fail

[@CrunchyVideos]

Haligtree Knight Armor Armor worn by knights sworn the Haligtree. Its left breast is emblazoned with the crest of the Haligtree. Though watered with Miquella's own blood since it was a sapling, the Haligtree ultimately failed to grow into an Erdtree.

[@Chessheromusic]

@@CrunchyVideos yes but this is what was thought or assumed about miquella was doing... Miquella never said he was trying to create an erd tree. Ok what would the purpose of another erd tree be? You have an event What happened without context Yes miquella grew the halig tree but why Yes melania fought redahn but why Melania showed zero aspiration for becoming elden lord So why did she risk her life fighting someone so much more powerful then her? Fromsoft forces you to actively try to understand Melania only saw miquella as being worthy of elden lord. This fight predates before ranni knows that redahn needs to be killed So before ranni sends you n blaidd miquella had already set in motion that this needed to happen. What will even blow your mind more is there is a ton of evidience that suggests that torrents recognizes his master at the beginning of the game- if you were wondering whose soul was going into the player characters body- it was miquella The envoys also rejoice as the lord to lead them to a new age has entered llyendell. So not only did miquella perfect the albinaurics as they consider the halig tree their home - there is a black knife asassin helping guard the halig tree. So miquella was part of rannis infamous plan. Ranni was not the being learning about moving souls it was miquella. Ranni was a dry run that didn't fully work BC they learned that rannis curse followed her soul. Miquella was also working to give Godwyn a true death as well as trying to save his sister, which I think he does. The confusing part is only torrent recognizes him. Melania is actually waiting for you to return and become elden lord If you research w his idea in mind there is a ton of evidience suggesting you're miquella

[@Chessheromusic]

@@CrunchyVideos there are a lot of clues in the beginning of the game that suggests that the player/ character is not just a unrenowned tarnished. Melina says "one of his kind will certainly seek the elden ring, even if it opposes the golden order" This is a huge contradiction bc the golden order marika and the fingers want the tarnished to seek the elden ring. The fingers in the roundtable tell you to take everything from the demigods. They encourage you as a tarnished to seek the elden ring. Gideon confirms to you that marika wants the tarnished to strive to be elden lord forver. Its bc the tarnished will try forever and not succeed. So its not possible , that melina was speaking of just you being tarnished as the reason it goes against the golden order.. So who would the golden order or marika ne worried about??? Uhhh the demigods as they have a chance of succeeding Torrent is the clue to who the demigod soul in this unrenowned (not tied to a lord or war or battle or land) its torrents former master miquella This is why Melania accepts you are being worthy of being elden lord BC she only saw miquella as worthy And why the envoys who proclaim the new lord are at the halig tree and llenydell There are tons of clues as they really can't be found supporting any other demi god or empyrean There is torrent

[@chasecampbell6496]

After the dlc drops can you explore this topic again

[@Miraihi]

The themes of Alchemy and Christian mysticism are so underused in western fantasy. It seems like at this point it's pretty much only Japanese creators who use them.

[@SolomanFalin]

Anybody know why this video is “Hidden” when I add it to my Watch Later playlist? Not the first time that’s happened to me, and I’m curious to know if anyone knows the reason

[@OmegaUberDeathbot]

...So it's Dark Souls? Elden Ring is just Dark Souls with extra steps?

[@CrunchyVideos]

always has been

[@OmegaUberDeathbot]

@@CrunchyVideos My life is a lie?

[@dontnerfmebro8052]

Prima materia.... the base material of all things, represented by the color black.... carbon??

[@chadthundercock3440]

No prima materia is the most basic material of everything more subtle than any particle

[@HenryGreenEngine3]

Your microphone is very quiet. I need the volume at max to hear you clearly.

[@CrunchyVideos]

Noted. Audio balance always changes when I compile. I’ll double check and bump the levels up next time.

[@aliaqarahimi5410]

👏👏👏

[@colt4505]

Any way to turn up your voice or adjust volume?

[@CrunchyVideos]

Sorry, the levels always change when I compile for some reason. I’ll bump them up next time- thanks for the feedback 🙏

[@CthulhuTheory]

“The Numen, a race of which only the women are known…” Ummmm. Did someone forget about Horah Loux? Godfrey? Penultimate boss fight in the game?

[@CrunchyVideos]

Where does it say or imply that Hoarah Loux is a Numen?

[@egoalter1276]

I believe it is a bit disingenous to say the mystical interpretation of alchemis is a 19th century pop culture fad. Hermetic tradition has always included a good dose of philosophy, and has had its roots in phylosophy rather than any material sciecne.

[@CrunchyVideos]

It’s a matter of emphasis. Western alchemy began as practical chrysopoeia and was expanded to a more generalized proto-chemistry around the 15th century. It was always couched in mystical symbols as a way to hide the secret techniques, and it was ensconced in a culture where a mystical or religious worldview was commonplace. But it was predominantly a practical science until fascination with the occult revived it as a kind of psychological allegory in the 19th century, where the mystical flavor became the primary focus instead of the practical science.

[@idknemore525]

Ziostorm is pretty toxic tbh.

[@CrunchyVideos]

Why do you think that?

[@armandaneshjoo]

The white queen is Marika, not Renala. Marika, Godfrey, Godwin, and Godrick have white hair, not golden hair. The golden color we see is the grace of the Erdtree, Elden ring and the greater will. In the game, whenever grace leaves something golden, it is revealed to be white. White queen + red king = Rebis = Marika + Radagon

[@darkhobo]

Hey Crunchy. It's everyone's least favorite Nox Mirror Helm wearing, Elden Ring Conspiracy Theorist again! Malenia is also a hermaphrodite, or rather, I think they are both sexless. I'm just saying, I watched Malenia turn into the Rot Goddess like, what a zillion times by now? Not to be crude or gross, but she has neither breasts or a vulva. Plus the spontaneous daughters... Gotta be a Hermaphrodite. Shes able to self impregnate! And I believe Miquella has descendents too in the Maris Family, so he likely can too. Im just saying. They are "He and She" purley by convention. They could have easily gone by the other sex and no one would blink. Anyway. FANTASTIC video as always.

[@lynackhilou4865]

Lacking the details in her breast and crotch is first and foremost a ratings thing , they wouldn't want the game to get a mature rating and maybe be banned in certain regions , it could also be explained by the rot that has consumed her body . As for the birth , i've seen a video recently stating that births in the lands between may not be like our standard births , evidence for this is melina saying ( when talking about boc ) : " does being born of a mother means he behaves in this manner " implying births from mothers are not common or atleast the standard way which can be related to people being reborn from the erdtree itself and no one really dying , so in this sense births are more like spawning rather than going through pregnancy , which means malenia bloomed and the daughters spawned from the buds of her flower , and even when it comes to radagon and marika , I doubt it was self impregnation as they had different bodies . Although I think you're onto something with the malenia and miquella being " sexless " , I don't think they're actually sexless in the traditional sense but the fact that they're twins and the circumstances of their birth could've affected this aspect especially with miquella being saint trina as well

[@darkhobo]

@@lynackhilou4865 what? Why is everyone so determined to say That Malenia is NOT androgynous. She so very clearly is. They could have kept her clothes on. They took them off for a reason... To show us there is nothing there. To show us she has a MANS body. Its practically Radagons body. Lol "they had to take her tits" no. They didnt. Come on man You assumed that she rotted away.. But we see exactly what part of her is covered with Unalloyed gold mesh. And her chest isnt.. Her legs are. Her arms are. Her chest is not. Im telling you they both fit a theme of being both Male and Female. I mean look at her. Shes got a damn adams apple. She is butch as all hell. Look at them arms! She could out bench me for sure! She is made to be masculine, Miquella is made to be Feminine. Whats so hard to buy about this lol. It literally fits with the theme of the video to a T. Asexual reproduction is a fact in the lands between. Malenia has her daughters. Miquella likely birthed House Maris... And welp. They are all Tree People, like Marika is. Im almost certain I popularized the Marika is an Ent theory in a Reddit thread about Morgott months ago now. Which is the basis of asexual reproduction in the lands between. Idk what video youre talking about (if its the new "Elden Ring Archeologist" video youre talking I event seen it yet well, but I talked to him and we realized we are both on the same page with alot of this game. Wait for his video on Castle Redmane not being Radhans castle ;)

[@Fizzyphukoff]

You can say Christian mythology, it's OK lol.

[@blumiu2426]

Popular culture, particularly Japanese games are saturated with occultism and references to alchemy. We see it in a number of FromSoft's games, Xenogears, Xenosaga (three characters are themed and called the three stages of Philosopher Stone process) SMT, Persona and Silent Hill. I'm sure people can think of many other instances they've seen duality or themes that sound similar as stated, you find many pagan religions and occult practices all sharing commonalities. We only commonly see the "balance must be maintained" scenario which has led into relativism grey morality. You'd think people would complain given how predominate it is in most media.

[@blumiu2426]

I've never seen symbolism of three used like that in Christianity. You will hear the term 'godhead' or 'holy trinity', but there is no symbol for it unless a sect has gone into spiritualism. No symbols are meant to be used in actuality, given the human tendency to worship images and symbols created.

[@CrunchyVideos]

There are many different sects of Christianity. Some of them are stricter about iconography than others.

[@blumiu2426]

@@CrunchyVideos I don't think it was a matter of being strict, it was the influence of pagan traditions that seeped in. Even in OT they constantly dealt with it and Roman Catholicism was formed with paganism baked in (some say stolen, yet it was done to accommodate those that didn't want to give up their beliefs yet wear moniker of Christianity), that passed down as tradition to Protestantism. The emergence of spiritualism in the West led to certain sects emerging short-lived, but definitely were more occult in nature than Christian as there are antithetical elements alongside what forbids. Christianity is polar to most if not all aside moral teachings, but the pagan teachings that did make it in most denominations was the thread that made it possible for those particular sects to emerge and come up with some very different takes (Gnosticism and Rosicrucianism come to mind).

[@justincurll1110]

I find the humility in this video refreshing: I am not an expert or an alchemist. Compared to Max Derrat, who called his review of Full Metal Alchemist 'An actual alchemist reviews Full Metal Alchemist'.

[@JustZhekai]

😂

[@ABurntMuffin]

excellently made, you sir have earned a sub, PLEASE KEEP MAKING LONG FORM CONTENT, DO NOT GO QUIETLY INTO THAT SWEET KZbin SHORTS NIGHT. RAGE. But like over the course of a well researched 30+ minute video.

[@CrunchyVideos]

Aye sir o7

[@joeprado3614]

One of the best Elden Ring lore videos so far. Excited to rewatch this infinitely.

[@Rain..._]

oh fuck yeah, fuck yes, oh fuck, yeah baby yeah. new cronchy

[@marcfishbein2283]

For more information on alchemy and its meaning I strongly recommend reading "Psychology and Alchemy" by Carl Jung. I think his work can function as a bridge of sorts between alchemical symbolism/history and the motives/actions of the characters of Elden Ring. I would love to hear your thoughts on this. If you enjoyed doing the research you did for this video I believe you would enjoy reading Jung's work on alchemy. Elden Ring is one of the few games that I believe history will remember as high art and your work is highly valuable in helping us all build an understanding of it. Here is alchemy's other main motto, "Obscurum per obscurius, Ignotum per ignotius"

[@CrunchyVideos]

I actually had a section on Jung before I edited it out- originally the first part of the video was close to a half-hour. Definitely an influence in that Kentaro Miura was heavily influenced by Jung, and in turn he heavily influenced Miyazaki.

[@marystone860]

One of the most enjoyable videos to date! Coming from someone who has studied the occult for decades now, you got a lot, spot on! If you REALLY want to read up on this subject matter, I recommend the book: The Tree of Life by Israel Regardie! I found out this book to be on of the best in this area! You went SO in depth, I enjoyed it a lot!

[@CrunchyVideos]

I’ve been considering doing something on kabbalah and the path of the flaming sword- there’s a lot more occult influences to explore. More reading for me 😔

[@LeifMaelstrom]

Incredible video. I really enjoyed all of this. I love that at the end, like a lot of the Souls games, it's all about children, childbirth, and death. Edit: Sudden thought. The Tarnished returned to the system after it had completed several alchemical steps. Tarnish is an impurity. Why would she reintroduce an impurity to the system? Tarnish is also not just an impurity of every metal. Copper oxidized is a patina. Iron rusts. Silver tarnishes. Does it mean anything? I have no idea. (Places gold foil hat on head.)

[@hhowdy]

Nice Video I really liked this one :)

[@wolandisdead]

Absolutely fascinating!!

[@rainbowkrampus]

Won't somebody please think of the Bose-Einstein Condensate!?

[@CrunchyVideos]

I thought about mentioning the others but I figured it would be more concise to stick to the classical states