What Happens After a God Dies?

[@fatherceltics2379]

I really like the Warhammer interpretation of this concept. Like if you kill a god you are killing an aspect of the universe so its hard to do and comes with massive consequences.

[@blaster23456]

Might not even be possible to do, since the warp is and isn't a reflection of our reality, you might not actually have done anything by killing a god. If you kill say Khorne for example, you might kill the entity known as Khorne, but perhaps another entity that is basically Khorne but not really might pop up and replace Khorne all together, but you'd never know as Khorne might not have existed in the first place cause you killed him and allowed this other entity to take Khorne's place in the pantheon.

[@disregardthat]

@@blaster23456 that's for the Chaos gods, but in realspace there's also the C'tan, who were so thoroughly defeated that basically all remaining ones are either in hiding or are just fragments of their original selves, although to accomplish this, it took the entire Necron race's combined efforts

[@Ryliath]

​@@disregardthat The C'tan were shattered specifically because shattering does not kill them. Canonically they killed 1 C'tan in a permanent fashion and that lead to the Flayer virus.

[@tomkatt8274]

@@disregardthat gods are cooler when they dont exist because people believe in them.

[@urdadthatleftfouryearsago4835]

Many species have their own gods though! Most of the elder pantheon are dead, but there's still Tau'va and surely many more that humanity doesn't know

[@dogbackwards7658]

"Please don't name a mountain after me" -George Everest, probably.

[@liambaker2057]

Quite True funnily enough

[@ARuiz-eu3hk]

"Please don't name a mountain after me. That's sound pretty cringe and gay." - Oof, definitely George Everest alright.

[@urgarb9718]

@@ARuiz-eu3hk bro somehow created the unfunniest reply ever

[@2009samiy]

This is God as he tells us about himself . Quran . Surah Al-Ikhlas (Sincerity) / In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Say: He is Allah, the One and Only; Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him. Say, “He is Allah, [who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, Nor is there to Him any equivalent.” youtube mary and jesus in the quran and mohmmad in the bible and the Torah and the scientific miracles of the quran and mohmmad in hindu scripture … according the bible that you have (Matthew 4:1) Jesus was tempted (James 1:13) God doesn't get tempted (John 1:29) Jesus was seen (1 John 4:12) No man has ever seen God (Acts 2:22) Jesus was and is a man, sent by God (Numbers 23:19, Hosea11:9) God is not a man (Hebrews 5:8-9) Jesus had to grow and learn (Isaiah 40:28) God doesn't ever need to learn (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) Jesus dies (1 Timothy 1:17) God doesn't die (Hebrews 5:7) Jesus needed salvation (Luke 1:37) God doesn't need salvation (John 4:6) Jesus grew weary (Isaiah 40:28) God Doesn't grow weary (Mark 4:38) Jesus slept (Psalm 121:2-4) God doesn't sleep (John 5:19) Jesus isn't all powerful (Isaiah 45:5-7) God is all powerful (Mark 13:32) Jesus isn't all knowing (Isaiah 46:9) God is all knowing ...................

[@jbryant5253]

I was the 1,000th like on this comment, cool.

[@ktkthakre]

I don't know why I'm attracted to these types of stories. Fallen Gods, Ancient demons, forgotten legends, mythical creatures etc. It's really fascinating how listening and realising something that 'once was' and now its gone, left behind to ruin, the atmosphere around it spoiled by it. It's all so captivating and interesting.

[@hossdelgado626]

And thats the reason Dark Souls is popular. Not cause someone did a challenge run on the hard game with a dk bongo. Cause it makes you wander, to feel, and to weep of what couldve been

[@rognogog5092]

@@hossdelgado626the bongos thing does sound interesting tho

[@MaievWarden]

because it is only human to gasp and look forward to something bigger than them, it is a staple in human history

[@Mirar25]

The fight between Hellboy and the Elemental always sticks with me when I think about this stuff, especially Nuada’s line to him that “if he kills it, the world will never see it’s like again” I sit on that scene and those words a lot

[@be6386]

I think you might like the anime, fate grand order absolute demonic front: Babylonia, it has its own story but by near the end, mother or Tiamat has been awaken and she no longer is the mother goddess she was worshiped, but rather has become a beast of humanity her sin being that of regression, when she died her body was split up, there’s many interpretations of what has become of her body, some say her upper body became the heavens while the lower body became the earth, since it was thought that the underworld was in the same realm as the earth thus two worlds only, some say her boobs became the mountain, her foam became the sea, I really love it especially how despite being a mother of creation and becoming a beast of humanity she just wanted her children to never leave her and it was because of this love that turned her into a monster

[@SergioLeonardoCornejo]

I find stories where the setting has fallen gods extremely fascinating. Especially considering many cultures had one or more gods which lose their lives and they leave something behind. Gods don't need to be biologically immortal.

[@dementissilenti5603]

True. Even in Nordic mythology, the earth itself is the corpse of Ymir, a giant. (And in that mythology, giants are more akin to titans, or precursors of gods, as many of the gods are descendants of giants).

[@SergioLeonardoCornejo]

@@dementissilenti5603 yes. That was mentioned in the video. Another example is Osiris. Part of his body was lost when he revived. That part gave the nile its vitality according to Egyptian mythology.

[@danzoom]

Jesus

[@wanderingvagrant1551]

Rain world

[@PoisonelleMisty4311]

I absolutely agree with you! Stories where fallen gods and mythical beings play a significant role can be incredibly captivating. The concept of gods losing their lives or powers and leaving behind remnants of their existence adds a layer of mystery and intrigue to the narrative. It opens up a world of possibilities and allows for exploration of the impact these fallen gods may have on the world they once governed. In many cultures, gods are often associated with specific aspects of life, such as nature, love, death, or knowledge. When these gods meet their demise or lose their powers, it creates an interesting shift in the balance of the world. The remnants they leave behind, whether it be artifacts, divine abilities, or even the spark of their essence, can become coveted objects or sources of power for mortals or other deities. The fallen gods' legacy also provides an opportunity for exploring themes of mortality, power dynamics, and the consequences of divine actions. It allows us to question the nature of gods and their relationship with the mortal realm. How does the absence of these once-powerful beings affect the world and its inhabitants? What conflicts

[@craz2580]

I think one of most scary tropes are the ones where Gods die... Just the thought of something so powerful being dead is frightening

[@Rhymes-and-Reasons]

whim@@budgiefriend

[@craz2580]

@@budgiefriend i have no idea lol, i tent to avoid that word, i am italian so i have your same problem lol

[@basic6735]

@@budgiefriend Whim

[@basic6735]

I kind of like the idea, like a gods death is just a further up step in the ecosystem that can cause life to flourish. Like a how a dead deer is a meal for thousands of insects and fertile grounds for fungus to grow. It just makes sense to me

[@l-x-10]

In strange aeons even death may die.

[@its_clover2]

i love the delivery on "He's dead." at the beginning of the video.

[@natanoj16]

Agree. It was glorious

[@Dr._is_sleepy]

and the BOTW music later... chills

[@azarshadakumuktir4551]

It reminded me of the DK meme...

[@archdruidbookwalter951]

"She's dead." "OK"

[@estheriel_1423]

I know right! At fist it was comedic, but then I thought about it, a dead GOD. Then I was sad, sympathetic even...

[@entropyOTD]

"Decayed Divinity" would make one hell of a title for a game. Sounds like an RPG where you're trying to save the memory of a dead god and find out how it died. Sounds like it could be very tragic and sad, and also inspiring at the same time.

[@thefarlander2050]

That does sound awesome! Enemies in the game could be savengers picking off the physical remains of the deity, as well ghostly, supernatural ones feeding off the magic and memories that still exist within the god's body. NPCs could be found living around, within, and on top of the god and could be interacted with. Each one could have different cultures based on how they see the god and where their civilization is settled. Different religions being just small pieces to a puzzle that could unlock the entire origins of the god's life.

[@IllogicalCounting]

Larian studios next game.

[@beancandev7818]

* frantically writes notes *

[@zhcultivator]

Awesome idea 💡 👏 👌 👍

[@zhcultivator]

I would like to see this concept explored in Isekai; e.g. the MC could become an archaeologist of sorts documenting the various ancient cultures and forgotten civilizations that rose and (&) fell around and maybe inside a mountain-sized corpse of a dead deity for example.

[@justabrokezombie6252]

*"THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES TO KILLING A GOD !!!"* - Kratos, the killer of gods

[@Reinoiro]

And saying the n word

[@Karlos1234ify]

“How do you know? How do *

[@justabrokezombie6252]

@@Karlos1234ify Watch. Your. Tone. *BOI.*

[@kingruss6824]

@@justabrokezombie6252 family status: “questionable”

[@nathanpfirman625]

Not really. The correct saying would be "THEIR ARE CONSEQUENCES TO BEING HEARD SAYING THE N WORD !!!" If no one hears you then their are no consequences.@@Reinoiro

[@SabrinaBri-f3x]

A quote keeps coming to my mind “The first time I felt my faith waver is when I first saw god bleed”

[@kreischenderdepp113]

Where does it come from?

[@DawsonRomines-he8xi]

Ironically, the Christian faith is built on the very foundation that God bled for the salvation of sinners.

[@kreischenderdepp113]

@@DawsonRomines-he8xi No, his son bled.

[@wuj0-themanthemyththelegen856]

@@kreischenderdepp113 The Triune God of the Bible has existed and reigned from all eternity, and the second Person of the Trinity, the Son, took on human flesh at a particular point in time (Luke 1:35; Hebrews 1:5).

[@timothyfranklin6040]

yeah, if you can find/ remember where this quote comes from, please tell

[@NumeriSuntDeus]

" *We only find them when they're dead* " is a comic centred around death of gods, human nature and the cycle of life. It's a brilliant story and complete on top of that. Do give it a read , might delight you.

[@whiteasian4990]

​@@thotslayer9914look it up it's not hard

[@Powersd451]

Holy crap, that was great. The only criticism is that the ending left me wanting more. It also played into several of the themes mentioned in this video.

[@idontwantahandlethough]

Thanks mate, looks dope :)

[@idontwantahandlethough]

@@Powersd451 imo if the worst criticism you have of something is "I wanted more", that's an exceptionally good sign!

[@zhcultivator]

The Artwork for We Only Find Them When They're Dead looks amazing 👏 🤩 😍 👌 ✨️

[@hellandruby]

As a calamity mod fan, the idea of a god's corpse growing and altering the place around it to reflect the worst parts of the God's personality is a very interesting concept. In calamity lore, when a god's corpse isn't cleaned up properly, the corpse infects the world around it and turns it into an ecosystem fueled by death. In the Crimson's case, the ground turns to flesh, the corpses of the creatures around it morph into new creatures as their organs get repurposed. Eventually everything is red and covered in blood. In the case of the corruption, the infection makes the ground purple and corrupts the creatures.

[@SSebstan]

Yeah this is exactly what I was thinking while watching this

[@formorian5]

Godwyn from Elden Ring. While his size isn't on the scale of these gods, his death is no less influential on the land. His soul dies, but not his body. His corpse is buried in the roots of the Erdtree, and from there, his body continues to grow. He gives rise to the undead, the scourge of deathblight, and in one ending, he becomes the god of death.

[@theangrysuchomimus5163]

In the official Terraria lore the world itself is a diety, though a living one.

[@TheDevourerOfGods]

You can blame Yharim for that.

[@Basilililisk]

​@@TheDevourerOfGods At least he learned from his mistakes... until he kind of let polterghast happen

[@blearyeyedchangeling]

thank you so much for putting in the effort to use captions! Not every channel does and it can be very frustrating!

[@zomgjim]

Subnautica’s Gargantuan Leviathan, in its Entry, says that what can be seen is only a third of what its true size is. In addition, it was only a Juvenile when it died, meaning that it can grow to be much more massive.

[@ASlickNamedPimpback]

You got it mixed up. It wasn't a juvenile. There were other examples of the same creature futher down in the Lost River, which were smaller. They were the ones the PDA said to be juveniles.

[@dereckhernandezrivera3473]

It could be a slightly older juvenile ​@@ASlickNamedPimpback

[@ASlickNamedPimpback]

@@dereckhernandezrivera3473 that's just complete speculation then

[@dereckhernandezrivera3473]

@ASlickNamedPimpback is not exactly due to the fact that they live so far down and don't have a lot of food. Their metabolism slows, so they age slower, which is biologically correct they are incredibly big with their head being almost the size of a sea dragon it could take thousands if not hundreds of thousands of years for it to pass to another stage of life also give are current measurements it could be as big as 1300 feet

[@ASlickNamedPimpback]

@@dereckhernandezrivera3473 Did you even play the game? The PDA literally says "The fossilized remains of an extinct super predator. Its sheer size would have prohibited it from entering such an enclosed space, suggesting the geography of the planet has shifted around it over time. A true apex predator.". And also, it was 1300 meters, not feet. Double also, you're still just speculating.

[@shinyuy]

A good example of this 'Whale Fall' ecosystem that props up around great dead gods could be seen in Monster Hunter World. The Coral Highlands is an entire zone that thrives off of the one below it, The Rotten Vale. This vale, should one look at the map, seems to be the coiled remains of a massive god like creature. As a member of the 5th Fleet exploring the ecosystem and life that has cropped up around the remains of this gargantuan monster is part of your job. We know it arrived to come to this place and die, as many of its kind has before. I just really enjoyed how MHW had created this intertwined environment.

[@immortalreactor2407]

It's actually a "Dalamadur" which is a giant snake. You can fight it in MH4U

[@dloveless3585]

@@immortalreactor2407 Not just a Dalamadur, irrc, a Dalamadur that exceeded the size of the ones fought in MH4.

[@joshmerchant8737]

@@dloveless3585 the mh4u ones are younger ones iirc

[@immortalreactor2407]

@@dloveless3585 yeah someone did the maths and the one in the rotten vale is a mile long

[@Solstice261]

Just a massive Dalamadur, now I hope the next time it appears it's its true size and not the juvenile we fought before

[@Pale_Hen]

Hyper Light Drifter is one of my FAVORITES games of all time and this little moment you talk about it it's magic and simply the best video about the game so far

[@joshuabushman7]

As a climber, really glad you said something about Everest. It drives me insane the things we’ve done to the mountain and the people

[@iceninjaplays3057]

We need to clean it and actually start respecting it and the rest of nature

[@TheKsalad]

​@iceninjaplays3057 We can't, for the same reason we can't retrieve mountain bodies. The effort to get it out would leave more bodies and trash on the mountain

[@reniorjd]

@@iceninjaplays3057The problem is that you can’t. It way too dangerous and very difficult to attempt something like that. That’s also the reason why there are so many corpses littering Everest.

[@ChadDidNothingWrong]

Show me the money

[@TheJtl420]

Thank God we haven't reached the Mariana Trench.

[@wesleycolvin7158]

I'm surprised Shadow of the Colossus isn't on this list. Discovering that you've been killing god level beings tasked with keeping the world safe is an unsettling plot twist.

[@tiacool7978]

Yea, that part shocked me when I first played the game.

[@Beebok_Beebop]

Is that what they do? I love Shadow of the Colossus to death, but I never really understood them. I know the boy is trying to revive a loved one, but I don't understand the Colossus or the shadow man at the end of the game. (The one that betrays you)

[@diabolusabinfernum3461]

@@Beebok_Beebop The shadow man was the one kept imprisoned by the colossi. By killing the colossi his chains were broken.

[@Beebok_Beebop]

@@diabolusabinfernum3461 That makes a lot of sense, thanks. But is there any more insight on the origins of these deities?

[@WallNutBreaker524]

Ah....Shadow of the Colossus, despite not playing it. It was always omnipresent on KZbin many years ago.

[@pandamaster8306]

Hollow knight reflects a lot of the themes you covered in this video, it would be nice to see you mention the lore surrounding it if the topic becomes relevant in a future video

[@Museko]

I was looking for a comment about Hollow Knight. I love how in Hollow Knight, a lot of gods are very transformative. The Pale King turns from a Great Wyrm to a lordly king and erects a kingdom before dying. The Radiance lives on in a dream-like realm, transforming moreso in personality and goal. Grimm is merely a vessel for the Nightmare Heart, which finds new vessels constantly to sustain itself. The Void continually births new shadows from itself, all with the potential of becoming a new Lord of Shades.

[@leaf1673]

Dude im so excuted to finish that game- i have most non mindbendingly difficult things done and am gonna start final boss fight tmrw im so excited

[@pedroscoponi4905]

Although the Pale King is the only dead god of the story, and even then, not _really._ "What is death to so great a being? More transformation, methinks." Would've still been a great shout, though

[@stripedrajang3571]

Man, that game is great. I just completed the 4th pantheon, but I'm not sure if I will do the 5th. 😂

[@thecantsleepshow9087]

I was really hoping Godwyn from Elden Ring would be mentioned here. The way they described his death and the way it's affecting the world around his corpse is by far my favorite use of this trope

[@nouhorni3229]

The ambiguity and open-endedness of soulsborne lore makes him hard to analyse here. Like we know he's still 'around' in a sense because we fight Fortissax in his dream. We assume the Erdtree he's buried in repeatedly tries and fails to reincarnate him without a soul, causing his bodies to fester mindlessly. We hear from Fia that he can be reborn into a 'new, illustrious life', but that might have been more of a metaphor for enshrining Life in Death into the Elden Ring. I think we never even saw his legs, he might have always been up to 50% fish. There's just nothing to really draw from this, except that he's basically Baldr from norse mythology. I guess that's a god.

[@recursiveslacker7730]

⁠@@nouhorni3229the piscine traits, at least, draw from the concept of stagnant waters being associated with death and uncleanliness in Japanese Shinto mythology.

[@Beebok_Beebop]

I think maybe Gwyn or a great one from bloodborne would be a better example if you want to look at fromsoft characters. Gwyn is a god that turns into an empty hollow and the world suffers due to his flame dying, although you could argue the world suffers either way (Dark Souls philosophy stuff). And in Bloodoborne you see great ones that you yourself kill. I'm not sure if there are corpses of great ones though

[@rozmarinideas5340]

​@@Beebok_BeebopThere's the corpse of Kos, from which her orphan rises to fight you.

[@Beebok_Beebop]

@@rozmarinideas5340 That’s what it was, i knew there was at least one. Nice catch

[@maximvandepoll3008]

One thing to note about the Titan from the Owl House is that, technically speaking, he's still alive for most of the show's run. His heart still beats while his spirit lingers in the realm between realms, powering the very magic that Luz uses through her glyphs. Once the Titan finally dies, his spirit moves on and the glyphs he powered stopped working. Edit: Holy crap, how in the seven circles of Hell did I get this many likes?!

[@Bluegirl12345]

But King is still around

[@maximvandepoll3008]

@@Bluegirl12345 I meant Papa Titan's glyphs. King's glyphs, while functionally the same, have an entirely different look. If Papa Titan was still alive, people would have access to two different sets of glyphs.

[@avch1209]

If there are people living in that corpse, it means they are like flies.

[@maximvandepoll3008]

@@avch1209 They're actually mostly living on the corpse, not in it. The "underground" area that we've seen only consists of the Titan's veins, which are apparently immune against magic. Any spell fired against the walls of the veins just bounces off. It's likely because Titan's Blood is a powerful source of magic capable of tearing holes in reality that lead to other realms.

[@KabeloSenyolo]

​​@@maximvandepoll3008 l am glad l am not the only owl house fan here that knows how cool papa titan is

[@dany_fg]

you can also include minecraft under this category. you kill what is essentially a deity to a whole race of creature and steal it's egg. then you meet 2 other deities talking about your accomplishment. what remains is an empty dimension, one that has lost it's protector.

[@mouse9831]

I never thought about Everest like this before, as "Mother of the World". Haunting and illuminating, fantastic work

[@thomaswrightson2230]

If you look at the original names of mountains throughout those ranges of mountains, most if not all have some sacred significance. But few stories actually theme themselves around that. One I found unusually interesting is Cursed Mountain, which uses Tibetan folklore in its story. Not the best, but a good effort from a European team.

[@meg2249]

And that it has become a garbage dump due to the selfish hubris of self gratification seeking humans seeking to ‘conquer’ nature is a tragedy…

[@Copper_The_Roam]

@@meg2249 let me recommend replacing the word 'humans' with colonizers. Please stop associating a conquerors mindset with humanity and use the correct term of european colonizers.

[@Ech_The_Sentiant]

I found Five Pebble’s state in the saint campaign during rain world heartbreaking. The once aloof and almighty machine reduced to sitting in his crumbling shell, alone, listening to the same decrepit music pearl as he waits for the dying world to claim him too. He was a pretty big asshole, but it was still moving regardless.

[@prehistoryenthusiast]

pebsi

[@LexYeen]

For a game made of pixels, Rain World is remarkably poignant.

[@chaosco6462]

As Saint, the first journey through Chimmney Canopy to meet an old friend. And then, just. Emptiness.

[@AXAXAXAYt]

You got my hopes up 😂

[@themushroominside6540]

Even then, upon entering the silent construct we see familiar landmarks, bits and pieces of overhang and the exterior, crushing the once sacred remains of the shaded citadel, a once dangerous place, now a warm shelter from the cold. Little of the rot remains, for like a cancer it is doomed to die alongside its host, only the starving and deaf brother long legs remain, weakly crawling among the ruins, desperate for anything to consume though it too shall succumb to the cold.

[@dogsbear6041]

I’m so glad you brought up Chomolungma/Everest because it has long been a frustration of mine. Taking one of the Earth’s most incredible and important natural landmarks and turning it into a tourist hotspot feels so so wrong to me. It reminds me a lot of how people used to be allowed to climb Uluru, and I honestly think it’s time we enact a similar ban on climbing Everest.

[@brookejon3695]

Commodification. The pursuit of profit kills all morals, all ethics, and all empathy.

[@t.wcharles2171]

The problem is that unlike Uluru/Ayer's Rock, there has never been any prohibition on climbing, and the climbers themselves are seen more as guests rather than intruders into Sagarmāthā/Mt. Everest, and are warned to be respectful and wary of the Karmic consequences their actions incur.

[@mylesleggette7520]

That reminds me of those "save the wildlife" types of advertisements you see that talk about tigers/elephants/whales/etc. by saying, "if you let them disappear, you'll never be able to see them again." I've always found it an odd pitch to make, especially for people who also advocate that people do not engage in global travel. Why would talking about things a person will never be able to see anyway motivate them to preserve those things?

[@kadebrockhausen]

I've seen one proposal that banning climbing wouldn't work, as the Sherpa community relies on the climbing. It proposed that they should enact a rule that you have to climb other super tall mountains to be qualified to climb Chomolungma, and that you have to partake in cleanup efforts if you do

[@JarthenGreenmeadow]

@@kadebrockhausen Nepal as well benefits massively from the tourism. Many schools and clinics have been built by tourists. You have to acclimate to the altitude so you spend a few days in several towns as you make your way to base camp.

[@cah137-y4s]

I’m sure other people will probably bring this up, but I did want to share some details of my absolute favorite use of this trope in recent media: Godwyn the Golden from _Elden Ring._ Godwyn was described as being the kindest and most well-loved of Queen Marika’s demigod children; this being a FromSoft game, this naturally meant he was the first to die when shit started going sideways in the backstory. However, because of a ritual done by the person who planned his murder, only Godwyn’s soul died, while his body survived. The result is that Godwyn’s living corpse has mutated into this eldritch mass of cancerous flesh, still growing and twisting despite no longer having a will of its own. And to make matters worse, because Godwyn was buried at the foot of the Erdtree (the magical giant tree whose roots underlay the entire setting of the game), his corpse is now parasitizing the tree and merging with its root system, causing flaws in its reincarnation processes and resulting in the birth of a new kind of undead called “Those Who Live In Death”. It’s honestly fascinating stuff, and hopefully the upcoming DLC will show it in more detail.

[@Beebok_Beebop]

I don't think you can really call him dead. Someone else explained it pretty well, they said "The ambiguity and open-endedness of soulsborne lore makes him hard to analyse here. Like we know he's still 'around' in a sense because we fight Fortissax in his dream. We assume the Erdtree he's buried in repeatedly tries and fails to reincarnate him without a soul, causing his bodies to fester mindlessly. We hear from Fia that he can be reborn into a 'new, illustrious life', but that might have been more of a metaphor for enshrining Life in Death into the Elden Ring. I think we never even saw his legs, he might have always been up to 50% fish. There's just nothing to really draw from this, except that he's basically Baldr from norse mythology. I guess that's a god."

[@Kuhnakarm]

Havria, the goddess of salt, was a weak god, but she was extremely loving and kind. When wartime between the God's came she chose to flee with her people instead of fighting. In such a big and long war there were no end to aggressors and so Havria lost more and more of her domain until she had only one safe haven left. Her people- finally realizing that such a benevolent yet weak god could never protect anyone during a war of the God's -decided that it would be better to give her a quick release instead of letting her give and give until she had nothing left. But a god is still a god no matter how meager they are such as Havria. Upon her death came waves of salt turning _everyone_ but the lucky few who escaped the domain, into salt statues, forever to be frozen in time, entombed.

[@tetsuya7529]

Never expected Genshin

[@cloudscovermyflaws]

@@tetsuya7529to be fair Genshin has a lot of examples of these dead gods. Dragonspine is littered with the remains of Rhinedottir’s monstrous dragon. One of Inazuma’s islands is cleaved in two because of a battle with a snake god whose corpse still remains on the island. Both corpses poison the land. The corrupted beasts of the Sumeru desert consumed a God’s remains. The original Hydro Archon lives on as a pool of water hidden in the desert. Azhdaha is buried under an ancient tree. Osial is entombed beneath the waves, trapped by Morax’s mountainous spears. Mondstadt’s storm spire is encased in a huge wind barrier left behind by the now dead god that used to rule that land. Dead gods are everywhere in Genshin.

[@BookedWindow]

Tbh i expected Genshin Because the sheer number of dead gods in it and the effects they had on everything around them

[@justabrokezombie6252]

Kinda disappointed that the video didn't mention Genshin and how it is filled with dead gods, but glad to find this comment.

[@w花b]

Ugh

[@TheUglyGoblin]

Really loving your videos! I only discovered you recently :o I have a world that I’ve built where a fallen god of sound, fell and created a dark ravine where a toxic jungle began to grow, and enormous mountains of coral formed around it. It was so nice to hear someone who’s kinda on the same wavelength of me when it comes to fallen gods. This was such a great way to start my morning :3 thank you

[@Diamond_Squid]

While not inherently a god, I think the Kraken from Pirates of the Caribbean really fits in with once knowing it to then watching it’s corpse rot. Especially with the point of view of Jack and Barbossa with “the world use to be a bigger place” convo. Sure it tried to kill them, technically succeeding, but with the complete swap in power difference all that’s left is a feeling of melancholy really We saw what the great deity was capable of, and just as fast as it appeared we saw it helpless. Decaying, beached on an island at the orders of Becket. The second pirates film ended with these gods controlling the seas to trapped to the will of man, and when discarded uncared for by all but our crew for the third.

[@JRexRegis]

that "the world used to be a bigger place" has even deeper implications, based on the way that ancient chart in the third? movie could show the way to locations that cannot be normally reached, and the implication that it is only still working because its naval pathways haven't been fully mapped. Almost as though the magic of the sea only exists when unknown, that unveiling its mystery also removes the sorcery inherent to the ocean, turning it from a wild, unpredictable place into a well-known terrain.

[@researcherchameleon4602]

I like the inclusion of “Nowhere” in the MCU, not only because of the dead god trope, but the fact that the comics tell its story, of how Null created the first symbiote for the soul purpose of defeating celestials, and even using the skull as a forge to make his living sword stronger, banging and burning it, instilling the weaknesses of all future symbiotes, not a physical weakness, but a psychological one

[@Mahlak_Mriuani_Anatman]

Remember seeing that on a short

[@greenhydra10]

That explains a lot about symbiotes.

[@samw6414]

“i’ve come” 0:02

[@h0rn3d_h1st0r1an]

He’s come

[@DtSpringleaf]

Face to face 😏

[@Smkpt42]

Me too

[@FANOFPORTAL2]

Stop😂

[@netherhobbit]

He came

[@m.s.5370]

On the subject of Studio Ghibli: Princess Mononoke touches on this too in the climax with the deer god, although it gets kind of a special treatment due to being the literal embodiment of both life and death, of course. Rather than just decaying after death like most beings would, the deer god actively becomes a threat not just to the characters, but also the environment, turning into some kind of semi-conscious entity of enormous size that sucks the life out of any living organism by touch. In life, it used to be a guardian and protector of a great forest, but in death, all it can do is kill and destroy in order to get its head back. There's a sense of dread and helplessness as you watch it wipe out hundreds of trees, each of which likely took lifetimes to grow, within mere minutes, only exceeded perhaps by one fact: The Kodama, spirits of nature and inhabitants of the trees previously shown to be slightly creepy but also kind of child-like and definitely harmless, are raining down as a swell of corpses, their last wails of terror and anguish briefly echoing through the soon-to-be remains of the once mighty forest. Nature in Ghibli films has always been a core theme (alongside war and flight), and this portrayal of how vulnerable it is, that despite the fact that we tend to think of it as greater, or scarier, or maybe just simply more powerful than us, it can be just as susceptible to harm as any of us. I think that's why that scene will ALWAYS strike a chord with me.

[@kamilareeder1493]

❤❤❤I thought this too! Many Native American people don't view death as the end but as violent fission 😮 and transformation into a new form. Many of our gods are well , fragile in their physical form 👀🤷‍♂️☝️🕊 mans' failure to value them or selfishly possess them, always results in this violent fission and great tragedy. Even when the great spirit of the forst got back its head, it never went back to what it was before. Its body fell apart and gave birth to the new forest. 😮😮

[@kira-dk2mx]

It's also a great reminder of how Nature is always in its "fuck around and find out" phase. You want to know what happens when you upset the balance of nature. Go ahead and try, just be prepared for the destruction that'll engulf you.

[@davidawakim5473]

Also reminded me of Nausicaä, my favorite Ghibli film both with the titan revered as a god for it's apparent submission to humans, and the Ohms, a deity far stronger yet feared and which every attempt to kill only enrages further, until concession of the very life we fear to protect is given.

[@leosuber9475]

(Spoilers for Rain World) Five Pebbles from Rain World is probably the epitome of all of this. In the first few campaigns in Downpour he is seen as a selfish jerk whose hubris caused his own slow death. He causes the rain the characterizes the entire game to try to keep himself alive, not caring that it can kill any exposed creatures. But eventually you get to know him and pity him throughout the other campaigns, where he even goes so far as to sacrifice himself to save Looks to the Moon, the other deity that he killed to try to save himself. After Five Pebbles eventually collapses (as seen in Saint's campaign), the rest of the surrounding area becomes a frigid wasteland because the leftover heat from the rain wasn't around to heat the area up. But when you find his fallen corpse, it has become a home to other creatures. Even in death, he still inadvertently protects the wildlife from the cold outside. Every other region of the game is like this as well during Saint's campaign. Everywhere is completely transformed by Five Pebbles' collapse, showing just how much of an impact his death had on every ecosystem you find throughout the game.

[@Shmethan]

This sounds so cool! Is rain world lore mostly in game or are there outside materials that this stuff comes from?

[@shadowfire04]

@@Shmethan mostly in game, though it's typically pretty well hidden and difficult to find (a decent chunk of it is essentially self-made fetch quests that involve you bringing colored pearls to an iterator to decipher). the downpour dlc thoroughly expands the story in a much more obvious way though, by having multiple campaigns dedicated to the before and after of the main storyline.

[@joshingyou8470]

You articulated this amorphous, reverential feeling I've always held for the idea of dead gods, and to a lesser extent, of ruins in general -- how something much larger built these grand structures, or dwelt in these now rotten bones. That something is gone, and yet it leaves behind a presence, affecting change, persisting even as what remains of it crumbles into dust. I love this video. In one fell swoop you have become one my favourite creators. Thank you.

[@jermany8019]

- The Owl House? - Breath of the Wild? - Subnautica? - God of War? I think I found my treasure trove of videos

[@kyoukoxizumi642]

❤❤❤

[@KingBobXVI]

The man has impeccable taste, I have to admit.

[@masterslasher6102]

@@KingBobXVIFr

[@firehazard0942]

Ong

[@2yoyoyo1Unplugged]

Xenoblade? If you haven’t played it, PLAY IT

[@godzillacc5]

Bionicle did this, where basically the entirety of the story takes place within the comatose body of the universe's god mata nui, or rather, the universe itself is the body of mata nui

[@Asexual_Individual]

Actually, the story takes place both within and on top of Mata Nui's body. When he crashes into a planet's ocean, his body is so huge that his face remains at the surface and an island forms on top of it, which then becomes the setting for the first few arcs of the story, and then it gets evacuated and destroyed when the characters reawaken Mata Nui. Which is an interesting approach to things, while Metro Nui (inside the robot) was the true home of the Bionicle, they had made the island their home, but in order to reawaken their god they had to let the island they made their home be destroyed. It's a bit of a heart breaking scene in the forth movie (provided you knew the context, which I did not have on first viewing and that the movie did not provide). The forth movie also introduces the idea that Mata Nui is not the only robot god out there, as when the civilisations living on a different planet literally come together by moving their cities together, it's discovered that they made their cities within the chopped up remains of a giant robot like Mata Nui's true body.

[@CaptainCuttlefish74]

@@Asexual_Individual If I recall correctly, the giant robot on Bara Magna is actually a prototype for Mata Nui that the great beings couldn't get working properly. Mata Nui himself ends up using it in the final battle as a substitute body when his original body, possessed by Teridax, lands on Bara Magna to kill him.

[@SamuelNewstead]

A gods status and power is determined not by direct actions, but by its influence on the world, even after death.

[@venobladebionicles6228]

I'm surprised that bionicle wasn't mentioned here. For years, we were kept in the dark. But one day, we were shown the truth. Everything we knew was put into perspective. Mata Nui was dying, the god of an entire universe of free thinking machines. And he was revived, and everything was revealed. Everything we saw took place inside a universe within a giant robot, a robot that houses a great spirit.

[@silverstar1726]

alas, the one that i was hoping would be in here was not either.

[@Bionickpunk]

Its interesting, cause Bionicle definitely inspired Horizon, and that game is mentioned, while Bionicle isnt.

[@casualbird7671]

I am so glad you used The Titan from Owl House in your thumbnail and also mentioned it. I am very surprised you didn't mention Rainworld in this given you've covered the game before, when the entire world's setting is shaped by dying and dead gods that you directly explore and interact with

[@meznight]

wait, there are more people who like rain world and the owl house!!!! those are the best things ever!!!!

[@2009samiy]

This is God as he tells us about himself . Quran . Surah Al-Ikhlas (Sincerity) / In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Say: He is Allah, the One and Only; Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him. Say, “He is Allah, [who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, Nor is there to Him any equivalent.” youtube mary and jesus in the quran and mohmmad in the bible and the Torah and the scientific miracles of the quran and mohmmad in hindu scripture … according the bible that you have (Matthew 4:1) Jesus was tempted (James 1:13) God doesn't get tempted (John 1:29) Jesus was seen (1 John 4:12) No man has ever seen God (Acts 2:22) Jesus was and is a man, sent by God (Numbers 23:19, Hosea11:9) God is not a man (Hebrews 5:8-9) Jesus had to grow and learn (Isaiah 40:28) God doesn't ever need to learn (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) Jesus dies (1 Timothy 1:17) God doesn't die (Hebrews 5:7) Jesus needed salvation (Luke 1:37) God doesn't need salvation (John 4:6) Jesus grew weary (Isaiah 40:28) God Doesn't grow weary (Mark 4:38) Jesus slept (Psalm 121:2-4) God doesn't sleep (John 5:19) Jesus isn't all powerful (Isaiah 45:5-7) God is all powerful (Mark 13:32) Jesus isn't all knowing (Isaiah 46:9) God is all knowing ...................

[@aninfinitereal]

"oh, thats a dead god." *THERE IS A DEAD GOD LYING MOTIONLESS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MARIANA TRENCH!*

[@silvianworker]

This concept is something you can also see in the Lego Bionicle series of films, games, and story telling with the characters living inside the remains of Mata Nui's fallen giant form. It shows the beneficial aspects of the "death" of a god. The body provides shelter and things needed to survive, even if you find out later, the god fell violently. If I remember correctly, there is also a Transforms story arc where Unicron's fall form buried on Earth is poisoning things around with it's creation of areas of dark energon.

[@richardsorgo8600]

There was also the Prototype robot who became home to the Agori and Glatorian tribes after it's explosion.

[@thetommytrontommyrose6497]

He really should discuss Bionicle on this channel someday. And maybe also Transformers.

[@TheTsarofKLV]

I think what amazes me with the lore of Bionicle, is that when various characters including the Toa, after a cataclysmic event that changed the state of their universe by Makuta, they all tried to fulfill their destiny by protecting the universe and its inhabitants that they live on, by preventing the forces of evil from taking over the Matoran Universe, not only to keeping their god alive with the Mask of Life. Also, in throughout Bionicle's run, there too was an alternate scenario when Matoro failed to revive their god Mata Nui, and almost all of the inhabitants of the Matoran Universe eventually migrated to the island of Mata Nui, and learned to settle their differences, out of survival...

[@kawaranai9743]

Dark Energon is Unicron's blood, the way Energon is Primus'.

[@darealshinji]

Weren't the Transformers created by a mechanical deity that later transformed into Cybertron, their home world?

[@owenparris7490]

Okay, as a fan of the channel and the Owl House, I lost it when I saw the thumbnail! I'm so happy that the show, and specifically its worldbuilding, is getting more attention.

[@coffeecrashed]

same my dude

[@strawberryscentedchlorofor9935]

I thought I was trippin

[@Osh.the.Moth.]

i agree!!!!!

[@Amityz72323]

exactly i was so taken aback when i saw this

[@DefBliMut]

seeing the titans skeleton be a city and the acid of its stomach being the reason for the boiling water giving its name is such good building.

[@marioneames_]

this video is/has some really poignant & powerful poetry. thanks so much for your work

[@purplehaze2358]

Because I am personally obligated to reference Bionicle at least once a day: One of my personal favorite examples of a god dying in fiction is the coma, eventual death, and revival of Mata Nui from Bionicle.

[@Bionickpunk]

Cant really talk about Titanic Dead Gods in media without mentioning the Great Spirit Robots of Bionicle, both the Prototype robot and Mata Nui.

[@Kimoxdo]

what even is mata nui@@Bionickpunk

[@xc809]

​@@Kimoxdo Robot planet God

[@mladenbahoric3049]

a humanoid robot so large he dwarfs planets in comparison wars are fought inside just his chest and head cavity as other places are too far apart to even be important@@Kimoxdo

[@Delta-oy8wm]

Yeah, Bionicle was a staple of my childhood and even now, I still remember it alongside having some made in a box in my garage. It was fascinating hearing the stories of Mata Nui, the Makuta and the climatic battle between Makuta Teridax and Mata Nui himself. Something that I find rather interesting is the fact that Mata Nui's comatose form serves as a refuge for the Matoran after Teridax puts him into a slumber and the twist regarding the Bohrok and how they factor into the story later down the road. God, I miss it to this day and hoping that something along the lines of it returns. Hell, even a remaster of Bionicle Heroes would be good to see.

[@greenstonegecko]

fun fact: george everest, which Mt. Everest is named after, never even saw the mountain in his lifetime.

[@KrazyKaiser]

That I did not know. Surprising since he did spend a significant amount of his life in that region of the world.

[@dannahbanana11235]

His name was also apparently pronounced "eve-rest" and not "ever-rest"

[@danielwilms5072]

I havent seen many videos that you made but this. This is the best I habe seen by far

[@Sasukeheart2]

Fallen gods are such a widely used trope but never analyzed like this before. Thank you for this video it really changed my perspective.

[@WarlordEnthusiast]

I always liked the idea that gods exist purely because we believe in them and their "Death" is simply because people stop believing they exist. It separates them as not simply being powerful biological beings, but concepts. Concepts are essentially immortal for as long as that concept is believed in. So a gods death represents the death of humanities belief in something, whether that be compassion, hatred or even death itself. It also makes killing a god something remotely feasible. The sandman comics encapsulate this perfectly.

[@JacklynBurn]

I have yet to read Sandman, but I like Neil Gaiman's other take on this same concept which I HAVE read; American Gods. It differs in that they are both concepts AND people, and that their deaths and the loss of their worship are separate. Wednesday's worshipers have all long left him, but he still clings to life with the power he has. Mad Sweeney dies, but that doesn't stop the worship of Celtic figures like him, and through a few Gods and men sharing a drink over and with his corpse, he's able to have one last night of life after his death. Gods are inevitably entwined with people, and yet so very distinct from them; they both exist and cease to completely without notice and we never know how it impacts us while subconsciously knowing the entire time.

[@NightMeteor21]

Seeing this comment instantly reminds me of persona 5 and how the god of control is only as powerful as the masses make him. He was able to combine two separate worlds into one and as easily as he could do that he also has the power to erase anybody by simply blocking them from the masses cognition the only reason he is taken down is because the same masses that grant him strength also give his killers the phantom thieves that same strength (also with the help of another God that comes to play since one is over extending its power) its all very interesting.

[@TheSilentPr0tag0nist]

Don't know if anyone here will get this, but this is exactly why "Technoblade never dies!"

[@deusvult4084]

This is kinda how the Warhammer gods are as well. They're as powerful as their domains, with their power waxing and waning depending on worldly events.

[@soupeverywhere9565]

Pretty sure Percy Jackson adopts this concept, so cool

[@duskdweeb1368]

For Lovecraft, a god can never die, only changed in strange ways

[@TheDakkaman]

Though it’s not dying, there’s a similar instance for Torak, god of evil in the Belgariad: in the first war of that world he tried to break the planet out of spite using an omnipotent magical orb, which only partially did what he wanted before smacking him one for trying it. What resulted is described in one of the prequel novels in roughly these terms: - Mortals are expected to take some bumps and injuries along the way in life. - Because of this, mortals have the ability to heal, to restore us to roughly functional status. - *Gods aren’t supposed to be capable of being hurt according to that world’s physics* - *Because of this, gods don’t have the ability to heal. At all.* So Torak gets an omnipotent MacGuffin’s magical fiery backhand to half his body and spends the rest of his physical existence smoldering and covered in unhealable burn tissue because the physics of that world don’t apply to burning godflesh because, again, *that shouldn’t have been possible*. Nothing can ever put out the fire, and no medicine or magic can heal the wounds.

[@zap4th368]

That’s fascinating. And it does make a bit of sense. An injured god to similar to a dead one in a sense. It’s just less intense.

[@Kirk9019]

One of my favourite series. I remember my copy of Belgarath the Sorcerer legitimately falling apart from how much I read it, and I was distraught. My favourite teacher helped me to repair the book, and it's still on my shelf today in its custom bindings. Thanks John ❤

[@Beryllahawk]

My mother adored that series and I never read it... dang, Eddings is dark.

[@duffman18]

Yeah that's always been my favourite fantasy book series. I re-read all of it so many times as a kid. I need to read it again.

[@TheDakkaman]

@Beryllahawk For what it's worth the rest of the series is much closer to Tolkien-esque in tone, that particular moment is exceptionally dark to emphasize how horrifying it is. Like a teletubbies character getting Tarantino'd.

[@martyrodgers1808]

With Every video you get better, this one was stirring, heartfelt and haunting. Thank you.

[@savageantelope3306]

I really like how you brought up the real life Everest case, never knew it's original name until today and always wondered about that, and there's so many examples of places like that for indigenous and local people that get disrespected by outside sources, it's a great perspective more people should think abt, thank u

[@safebox36]

It's worth noting that in Tears of the Kingdom, who the giant skeletons are was retconned / elaborated on a bit more. During a quest to help Loone (who was previously guarding a shrine orb in Breath of the Wild) bear witness to the skeletons, one of them has the skeleton of a child next to it. I think it's the skeleton that players have associated with the Wind Fish from Link's Awakening. But it implies that, despite their status as spirits, they were possibly just very long-lived and hardy giants. Few of their kind, but not the sole of their kind. Which ties in to the idea you mentioned earlier in the video about the facade of godhood placed upon another being by those of lesser stature. Also I'd say the Goddess Statue in the Forgotten Temple, implied to be the same one from Skyward Sword, is more fitting than the one in the Temple of Time on the Great Plateau. The Temple of Time and the Great Plateau itself are still remembered, clearly visible from a few parts of Hyrule. But the Forgotten Temple is...well, Forgotten. It's infested with Sheikah Guardians and at the bottom of a ravine that's hard to get into and out of for most people. Quite possibly the oldest building in Hyrule forgotten about, guarded by an unfaltering enemy, and left to decay over tens of thousands of years.

[@UndeadSlayer5]

Glad that whale isn’t the one from skyward sword

[@safebox36]

@@UndeadSlayer5 the one from Skyward Sword is along the northern coast near Goron City

[@UndeadSlayer5]

@@safebox36 oh nevermind …. ☹️

[@steelcladCompliant]

This makes me realize how much I must have missed out on by playing BotW while having played no other Zelda games at all. I assumed there must be some references to previous titles, but apparently there were a lot more than I assumed, and are completely unexplained. These whale skeletons and massive ruins just made me go "huh, cool". For some reason I accepted there was nothing more to them

[@onlysmiles4949]

The thing I love about Uraya in XC3 is that while traversing through it, if you're paying attention you'll notice that part of your journey takes you through the ruins of a city you visit in 2 (specifically, one important landmark) So not only are you walking through the remnants of a god, you're also walking through the remnants of the civilization that revered it

[@Plethoria074]

The cliffs of morytha in the second had the same vibe as uraya in xb3

[@M4-Z3-R0]

Wish we got to explore more ruins from XC1 and 2, I wanted to explore the Nopans home again from XC1

[@brainshell2933]

You can also hear part of the inner bionis theme!

[@2yoyoyo1Unplugged]

@@M4-Z3-R0i mean you walk through Theosir palace from Tantal in Future Redeemed.

[@2yoyoyo1Unplugged]

And LIVED IN IT

[@kaelanm.6322]

The mention of xenoblade brought me so much joy. The titans having made the wolrd and the death of gods being a core theme for the liberation of humanity is something I love so much. The titans revered but also seen in normalcy as their world begins to decay. How a man who is revered to be a god is someone who fell due to his own hubris in crisis and the fear that is all too natural became the gods that governed over the next games. In xenoblade 3 the titans corpses being something no one pays any mind to but there is a recognition and sadness from Nia and Rex. I have so many thoughts regarding Xenoblade with it being my favourite franchise ever. It truly makes my day to ever see if mentioned. The corpses of titans always having an effect on those two as the dying titans brought them to where they are. How they treat the dead titans in the games as well. The Torna titan being a grave reminder of what was lost and what calamity it brought. It being a symbol of the aegis's power. Named after a shieled but a weapon of unfathomable power. I also love your idea and approach of what gods can be. Like with the mountain the world tree, elysium and the land of morytha all were gods in their own right. We see remants of what they were. And a nothing of what they seem. The gods of xenoblade byproducts of humanity and simple dream. I cannot get enough of it.

[@Argom42]

Ymir became the realm of mortals when he was killed. His body becoming various parts of the realm: his flesh the soil, teeth and bones- rocks and mountains, his blood became the seas and rivers and oceans. Very cool stuff.

[@degolaskoma8607]

I thought he became like five of the nine realms

[@Argom42]

@degolaskoma8607 the story is pretty complex nowadays but from the source materials as far as I can remember, it was just Midgård

[@degolaskoma8607]

@@Argom42 ok thanks

[@ExtremeMadnessX]

Also inspired Attack on Titan.

[@krzysztofczarnecki8238]

He is very similar in that regard to the goddess Tiamat in Babylonian mythology, depicted either in humanoid or serpentine, dragon-like form depending on whom you ask. She was killed and dismembered by the god Marduk, and different parts of her body were used to create different parts of the world.

[@CODENAMEDERPY]

I LOVE that you included Nausicaa in this video. Many people disregard the older Ghibli films.

[@KrazyKaiser]

Nasusicaa is my personal favorite.

[@zvafdvasfavjhf]

Nausicaa must be showed in primary school or at least at some point in school within the curriculum of a new lesson based on climate and environmental issues. Also my personal favorite

[@SinHurr]

Those people are bitches

[@gregoryvn3]

Nausicaa was my first and still most favorite Ghibli film! I agree it should be universal required viewing!

[@yvaincallipso84]

Nothing lasts forever. In the end, even gods die when their name is breathed for the last time.

[@99snake99]

I cannot put into words how happy it makes me seeing series like TOH and Xenoblade Chronicles in these videos. I feel like Curious Archive is branching out with their topics and I'm here for all of it.

[@t.s.4453]

love the drop at the start of the video when the "he's dead" sounds comical at first, but quickly becomes sad when you understand that's it's not a joke and he's like, dead fr

[@draks7340]

That one strikes a cord in me. All of your videos are amazing, but this one is special. I love it!

[@DearHumanity48]

This was beautiful! The pensiveness and the juxtaposed bitter-sweetness of the death of something sacred with the hopefulness of new life you managed to capture not just in subject but the video itself. Thanks so much for this!

[@JoeM-]

3:54 you might be tired but your work speaks for itself... amazing vid

[@classlessacts3535]

I’m loving the inclusion of a Love Death and Robots story, because I love many of those stories

[@JustGrowingUp84]

The metal skeletons of shipwrecks on the ocean floor can also serve as the foundation for a coral reef, and thus form a harbor for life. At the same time, they are also polluting the environment around them. Considering that many were powerful warships in "life", this certainly feels like a real-world example of a dead god.

[@oktalley99]

the story of hyper light drifter and the story behind it makes it one of my favorite games of all time, it's music and it's visuals are huge inspirations to all of my creative ventures

[@Cadychan]

Your videos keep making me cry! Never stop doing what you're doing (until you feel it's time, of course)!

[@sherbertgerbert.]

Hyper Light Drifter is my favorite game, and I always get excited when someone else talks about it. I had a hunch that you'd mention it when I saw this video's title and thumbnail. Even if you didn't end up talking about HLD, I was already committed to watching the video all the way through because your thoughtful commentary and accompanying music and visuals had my heart welling and my eyes tearing up. Thank you.

[@FungalBunghole]

So sad what happened with the second game, first was so good

[@AndrewMcColl]

I like the Māori take on 'gods-body-forms-the-world. In their mythology, the primal couple (Ranginui and Papatūānuku) are the sky father and earth mother respectively. They live locked together, their children trapped between them in perpetual darkness. Eventually, the children agree to separate their parents, allowing them to all live in the light. Eventually, the gods are parted, with Rangi effectively banished to the sky. Neither god dies, and we know this because Rangi's tears of sadness remind us every time it rains. There's a lot more to the story, but it's still an interesting take on the traditional format.

[@Red_velvet81]

Seeing five pebbles in his state made me cry i couldn't ascend him

[@cat_or_not]

Wouldn't it be the right thing to do tho? He gets his thoughts back after ascending.

[@averycheesypotato]

Naussica was a great film, very underrated. But Princess Mononoke also dealt with the concept of the death of gods. Lesser beast gods, and the god of life & death itself. Surprised you did not mention it- but the references you did make were good choices, so don’t take this as a complaint!

[@misterionorman9764]

Wow I got this video recommended out of the blue and I must say, what an experience From start to finish, the script, the way you talk, the subtle music, everything combined into a really good video

[@chuck08113]

I don’t know how to say this, as I believe I’m neither saddened nor overjoyed, but I was moved to tears over the beauty of this wonderfully articulated work. This profound sense of scale, the proverbial phoenix from the ashes, and the references across media from gargantuan whale falls to indie films to video games to real world mythology. Dead and dying gods is such an important topic/analogy, helping people to see the effects they have on the world and not just how the world effects them. Respect and reverence for the world for others and the lives the lead.

[@filmwitch]

A few comments have already mentioned Genshin but I haven't seen anyone mention the Salt Goddess Havria yet, which is such a shame because of how striking the fallout was. Because of her gentle nature, she was killed by her own people as an act of mercy during a war between the gods. However, her killers and all those unable to escape her domain were turned to salt, resembling the ashen casts of Pompeii. All that was left of Havria herself was a pile of salt. It's genuinely one of the most unsettling locations in the game and it's a total shame that it was only accessible once.

[@darkdruidsvale]

100% i would LOVE to be able to wander into there again if for no other reason that the creepy and unsettling atmosphere

[@LiterallyZeus1]

So basically she's at her most powerfull at the moment of her death

[@Hawk7886]

Making it available only once is such a waste. Live service games are a cancer.

[@anidiot4801]

It’s also a total shame that it’s in Genshin Impact, I keep hearing some cool shit about it, and I even played up until the mountain with the giant skeleton in the beginning area (Mondstat, I think?) but due to how grindy the game is (plus no kickass robots to play as) I just can’t get into it.

[@StonedHunter]

@@LiterallyZeus1 more like she was always that powerful but was so gentle and kind that people misunderstood her as weak

[@MissMisnomer_]

There is literally no other channel doing what you do man. You've perfected this melancholic yet hopeful tone about the most niche and interesting concepts that always leave me feeling to thoughtful after I'm done watching

[@lebean1291]

"you want to know why I can't love a mortal back? Because you WILL betray me." And I wept.

[@kika-pon6128]

cringe

[@kriffapher]

yeah ngl that's pretty lame

[@timothyfranklin6040]

is this a quote from something?

[@Dinonerd4545]

This is one of my favourites of your videos, it’s so cool how you pull together a whole bunch of media to talk about deep and philosophical questions!

[@LexYeen]

That intro, the moment where you cut the music and let the ambient game sounds be the only thing behind your VO... oh, that's _art._

[@midnightbard3935]

Whoa, this has been an adventure. I loved all the references, even though I never heard of most of them, the somber yet at the same time fascinating and somehow hopeful atmosphere. This was an amazing topic executed beautifully, thank you. It's pieces like this that inspire me so much in my own work.

[@DemMedHornene]

I love your videos. Your ability to draw out the hidden stories from games and movies and such always just fills me with such inspiration

[@pinpmchornswagle]

Monster hunter : World The map 'Rotten Vale' is a massive boneyard of flesh, acid and rot where all monsters would go to die. The entire map is the corpse of an Eldar dragon from a previous game. The largest monster in the franchise. "The Mountain God Of The Old World, The Endless Serpent King Dragon" now just the drawing of the map and barely even mentioned in the game. Just an easter egg for the fans

[@perigrin6]

I was wondering if this comment existed. Monster Hunter did a great job with that ecosystem/map.

[@OCMOOO]

I love how Rotten Vale isn't viewed as a "corrupted or evil" place Though a far cry from other ecosystems, it still supports life

[@ashenwatches3996]

And the rotten vale itself supports one of the most beautiful maps in the series, the coral highlands, showing yet another example of life springing from the death of a god. In fact, there are actually a lot of dead gods in Monster Hunter. Corpses of giant monsters show up all over the place, such as the shen gaoren corpse in the lower reaches of the jurassic frontier. Even the guiding lands in world, which is an island off the coast of the new world, is believed to be the corpse of a zorah magdaros, a living mountain whose death has become the foundation for a brand new ecosystem.

[@Protoplanetary]

Elder Dragons are very cool, they are literal manifestations of nature's wrath. An Elder Dragon will permanently change an ecosystem, whether through its living destruction or the mass amounts of energy it releases when it dies. There's a reason Zorah dying would have been apocalyptic for the New World's ecosystem, that's essentially an ecological nuke. Much of Monster Hunter World feels less about killing a god and more like mitigating the tragedy of its death.

[@15ShadowDude]

This one was SO. GOOD. All of your videos touch something central inside me, but you truly cooked with this one.

[@oxfordrosie1]

You should absolutely do a video on Scavengers Reign! One of the most visually stunning things I have ever watched and full of unique speculative biology

[@richardsorgo8600]

Bionicle's famous for having a 6 million ft tall being (Mata Nui) and the first arc being set upon his unconscious face. However there was another being before him, that exploded and left his body parts all across the land. The warlike Skrall lived inside its head, with its mouth being the centre of a ring, whilst the other Glatorian and Agori tribes lived within the other body parts.

[@ilnoediavolon]

Out of all your videos, this is by far my favorite. I've watched it five times already, and I don't think I'm going to stop watching it anytime soon.

[@hrpang]

I think my favorite "Dead God" trope has to be in the Banner Saga. In the game, it's well established that the gods of the world are real beings and they are all dead. The effects of the divine being dead can be felt throughout the game. The most prominent is perhaps the Varl. The Varl themselves are created individually by their god, and they are unable to procreate because of that. So when he died, the Varl are suddenly very well aware that they have limited numbers and never to welcome a new member. It made them incredibly proud of their heritage, but too proud sometimes. I won't spoil what impact in has in the game's story, cause it's such an amazing game.

[@shcdemolisher]

That game has been sitting on my wishlist for too long. I need to play it.

[@Ash-----]

This reminds me of egyption mummies and tombs. Papyrus as a plant is almost extinct in egypt except for one family growing and farming it to make paper.

[@RinkuStars]

God, I love your perspective on life and the human condition. I’ve been binging some of your videos, and how you perceive media, and the deeper meanings that explore humanism speaks so deeply to me that I can’t even explain it. A topic like this is so foreign in modern progressive society, yet it’s interesting to see how deeply it is ingrained into us as humans that it still makes its way into our media. Those ancient myths of gods still enamor us because it gives perspective into how we interact with the world around us. I wish you talked a little more about real life gods because the insights into Everest gave me actual chills. Anyways I just love how you explain things in your videos- plus your editing is very immersive

[@heebiejeebiesofthehighestorder]

I'm so happy to see The Owl House mentioned, such a great show! Really deep video, very much enjoyed it!

[@chase_h.01]

It goes untalked about often but i love Enderal's take on the gods being dead. In the world, they werent really gods but super powerful wizards. The game covers a lot about the church covering up that fact to maintain status quo

[@SketchyGameDev]

Every video from this channel has been so enjoyable. This is exactly the kind of meditative content I need while writing my own stories. Keep up the good work! 👍

[@davyjones3755]

I feel like its similar to a whale fall,only instead of just nutrients,it also lets any scavengers get a ton of magic

[@snakechu]

As a fan of the Xenoblade Chronicles series, your wall of text gave me a hell of a chuckle but it's also not wrong. I would personally love if you do more Xenoblade stuff, but I 100% understand the commitment to all three 100+ hour games lol Thinking about it, in my own story that I am working on, the world is also a result of a fallen deity that no one even remembers. But go deep enough into the caverns below, and you may just find the remains of the corpse.

[@c.l.elliott7704]

This video was phenomenally beautiful, a genuine joy to watch.

[@RinkuSenpai]

My favourite game, Skies of Arcadia, has a lot of giant gods that you take down. These are generally the final fights of each area that you go to, and are awakened by the bad guys to take you down or do damage to nearby settlements. But the first one you ever meet is actually a giant whale that destroys your ship at the start of the game. It has legends told about it but you never know if it was one of these gods that you defeat, until you go to this god's area and find out that it has been alive for thousands of years, just flying around and surviving where all of the other gods were put to sleep by the previous civilisation. The scene that follows is a heart wrenching scene where the whale dies from being stabbed by a giant harpoon, it's long life ending from something as simple as a fisherman. This video reminds me of that scene and it always brings a tear to my eye because the whale is the only one of these gods which is not hostile to anyone, but it was killed by something so simple.

[@qwertydavid8070]

Curious Archive just keep getting better and better. I've said it once and I'll say it again; I adore your video-essay type content. I love it when you dig really deep into these sorts of concepts and give so many of your interpretations. But what I love the most is that the subjects of these deep dives are almost always videogames. You treat videogames as a proper art form, equal to film or music. You illustrate how videogames can explore these sorts of deep and existential concepts in the same way any other art form can. It's a small thing, but I appreciate it a lot. Videos like these really help legitimize videogames as respectable forms of art. If I were an english teacher, I would totally show your stuff to my class. They're that good. Keep up the great content!!

[@jontheartist5918]

You just summoned an entire fandom with that thumbnail. Incredibly disappointed to see no Owl House.

[@cyborgbob1017]

You missed the most interesting part of the Owl House: Not only is the civilization built off of a fallen Titan(who were worshipped as gods); but the whole WORLD is also littered with fallen corpses. Furthermore, their power that flowed through their veins was sooo potent; that it’s actually where the magic from the story comes from, beings that emerged from the titans ashes evolved to absorb and harness its magical energy, centuries, perhaps millennia later!

[@thearkmecha4637]

God I love the owl house so much

[@superdolphin440]

It's my favourite piece of media

[@TheGeckoNinja]

well damn now i gotta check out this show lol

[@_kaleido]

@@TheGeckoNinja it’s really good, sadly got cut short by Disney but it still has a satisfying enough ending

[@Tarnished-bn5gq]

Deicide always is an interesting concept, as the very act of killing something that is supposed to be immortal goes absolutely hard, and it also has such an immense effect on a world/setting due to how ingrained into the very functions of said world and setting that character is. Killing a god is killing an aspect of existence, so of course shit will hit the fan if that happens one way or another. The assassination of Godwyn, The Golden for instance set off a chain of events that ruined everything, and which also led to the assassinations of the remnants of the Golden Order later on in Elden Ring.

[@jujuoof174]

Beautiful video, loved listening to what you had to say.

[@SebastienGendron-uk4po]

Nice thumbnail. Owl House fan I see. I always liked the setting of the boiling isles being built on the remains of the fallen titan, it's both beautiful how life sprang from its death yet still haunting when you consider what killed it in the first place.

[@davidxu6606]

The titans played god, they were extremely powerful, only to be all Smited by more powerful beings

[@Janoha17]

@@davidxu6606 The Archivists could not smite the Titans, they had their own worshipers murder the Titans' children and attack them while wearing their pelts and skulls. And the Archivists did so because Titans were immune to their powers.