ELDEN RING | 8 MORE Incredible Discoveries!

[@Ziostorm]

Thanks to Manscaped for sponsoring today's video! Get 20% OFF + Free International Shipping + 2 Free Gifts with my promo code ZIOSTORM at mnscpd.com/ZIOSTORM

[@globnob]

ok

[@monolith_g]

Damn, you did good with the ad break doggy

[@DijonFromage]

That was one smooth transition into an ad. :P

[@duncancradle1002]

In relation to the spear: I think that is, as the color scheme seems to point out, the byproduct of Destined Death. I firmly believe that Maliketh defeated Marika in combat, as his role as her shadowbound beast dictated once her plot came to be known to the Greater Will, and robbed her of her left eye which is currently missing from her semi-petrified body. The same purple, petrified eye he gives to you to aid him in locating deathroots. I'm not surprised by the fact that, once the Grace leaves the Lands Beyween for good, Melina's eyes show the same color as her mother's. Only 4 people in the whole game are labeled as empyreans: Ranni, Malenia, Miquella and Marika. Among them, only the last one is also a QUEEN. We're told that Maliketh defeated at some point a dusk-eyed queen that was once an empyrean chosen by the Fingers. We receive from Maliketh a petrified dusk-colored eye. We find Marika pierced by what appears to be Destined Death and robbed of her left eye. Yes, Marika was once the gloam-eyed queen.

[@grimmtheschoolaroffools2068]

@@duncancradle1002 I have the theory that the spear is a representation of the rune of Radagon, it's remember me a one of the lines that form the crossed simbol of his rune.

[@kvbkvbkvb]

“Ground taco” makes sense that “tako” is Japanese for octopus. So land octopus->ground taco.

[@mikelevels1]

Bruh 👁👄👁

[@anatypicallyhumanperson7200]

Tako tacos sounds delicious

[@horse_dog]

i was about to comment this

[@aMiyafuji]

Groundtako's no takodachi

[@fromsimp2pimp425]

@@anatypicallyhumanperson7200 😋

[@CrunchyVideos]

Regarding Marika’s womb, this theory makes sense considering that her children born with Radagon all represent alternatives to the influence of the GW; Malenia channels a different outer god, Miquella built his own tree outside the GW’s influence, and Melina (debatably the child of Marika and Radagon) is the kindling to burn the Erdtree. Marika seems to have turned against the GW at some point, so if her children with Radagon were pawns in that game it would make sense for the GW to want to prevent any more powerful “heretics” being born.

[@kiberme]

>Melina (debatably the child of Marika and Radagon) I'd say it's a pretty much estabilshed fact at this point. Imo the game itself doesnt hide it very much. Melina literally mentions several times that her mother gave her birth near/in the Erdtree. Considering how much other evidences there are, if someone saying the opposite it should be his job to present convincing interpretation how it can NOT be true.

[@CrunchyVideos]

@@kiberme I agree, it’s the most convincing explanation. It just makes things weird with Ranni.

[@gabymerman9005]

@@kiberme What ties Melina and Ranni with their closed eye ?

[@frizzman1991]

Didn't read this before commenting but yes yes I believe Marika turned when Godwyn was killed. It is my belief that he was her favorite child; him being the purest and also the firstborn. With him gone the future felt hopeless.

[@Miriam_J_]

Idk. Crucifixion was an extremely painful and long way to die. They would hang there for days before dying. To make sure they died faster, they would be stabbed with a sphere exactly where Marika has been impaled. I think it's just a nice real world detail more than anything.

[@benglaser1345]

6:44 Miquella's needle wasn't complete, it had to be used in the heart of the storm beyond time to quell the frenzied flame that rests within you, why would a less powerful and imperfect item like the branch free someone who has been fully consumed by the flame?

[@Ziostorm]

Good point

[@benglaser1345]

@@Ziostorm Thank you very much! fun video, something else I want to note is that hte enemy names for the miners are referring to their weapon's and items. The ones with backpacks (backluggage in the name) can have different burdens, plain rock (Normalstone), glintstone (rarestone), and explosive stones (there's probably another name in the fiels for it). But "Buddy" is throwing me off because it pops up in the fallen hawk soldiers in Nokron and the knights of zamor in the mountaintop of the giants (though we also get "ancient heroes" in altus and an evergaol in the weeping peninsula). I really don't see how these enemies are connected beyond both having frostbite, the hawks are short and goblin-like and use ghostflame, whereas the zamor use ice magic and are more similar in build to the black knife assassins

[@qwormuli77]

Miquella's needle is also a very specific artifact culminating his work to free his sister, instead of just _an_ object of unalloyed gold he widely employed. Different caliber entirely.

[@paladin181]

@@qwormuli77 Also also, we are not yet consumed by the madness of the flame. For better or worse, we still have our faculties after being embraced by the three fingers of the frenzied flame. Those enemies have lost their minds.

[@Writh811]

Awesome video!! I wanna say in advance, sorry for the wall. Marika's Spear: I use to think the Spear was made of Destined Death "stuff" but after watching some videos of Quelagg's I'm of a different opinion. In her videos Quelagg discussed how even the concept of Gold changed in the Lands Between from era to era. Primal Gold, was actually more reddish in tint. This Reddish version of Gold is actually what the Crucible Knight's armor is made of. The Spear piercing Marika resemebles Primal Gold rather than bright red and black Destined Death. If it is primal gold it just raises more questions than answers but maybe they will be the right ones. Eveligne: I know many folks attribute Eveligne to the former name of the Snake. I think it is the name of his sword. I've never really seen the name Eveligne before but it looks like Evelyne which can mean desired child. He produces the sword from himself, it is covered in "FAMILYYYY" As a sword it is a symbol of power. So yeah his Blasemphous sword produced from himself and the snake covered in the substance of family is his desired child, "Power covered in consumed power." Aside from Eveligne I find this dialogue most interesting because it gives the greater impression that the Carian kids didn't like Outer Gods at all and could potentially frame how we think of Radahn when we consider him halting the stars. Bewitching Branch: The Bewitching Branch may have been a step on the road to figuring out how to expell the presence of Outer Gods. It was not a success in that cause and to be touched by the Frenzied Flame is to be infected by an outer being. Farum Azula: I disagree with this theory because the Farum Great Bridge is taking you from Caelid to Farum Azula, which has you going form north to south. I think the more reasonable location for Farum Azula is northwest of the Beast Sanctum. Align the center of the Farum Azula vortex over the Whirl Pool northwest of the Beast Sanctum. While in place, I theorize that the land of Farum Azula filled the gap between the Mountain and Caelid which made the Isolated Divine tower not so isolated. This also made the water level of the inland sea higher in the past, allowing it to feed the river canal that Highroad Cave and the Murkwater locations are (not filling the canal but it was probably deeper than our character could walk) this likely fed the Lake of Agheel, making it not walkable and probably gave the lake a larger foot print on its southern cost. Meanwhile in Caelid also probably made a river that ran through the canyon that houses the Deep Siofra Well(again not filling the canyon just putting deeper water on the canyon bed). The canyon looks like it would have dumped out into a pond on the norther portion of Aeonia, just north of the Street of Sages before it became a battle field. I do agree that Radahn's desert doesn't make much geological sense with its placement though. But that is a completely different wall of text. Thanks to anyone who reads this all and responds. Again sorry for the wall.

[@PanzerIVAE]

The spear is also somewhat Christian symbology with the Lance of Longinus. Also Eburion probably roots from Esperanto's Eburo which is Ivory which matches the whitish color of the Haligtree.

[@dont-touch-mepg1392]

1 thing about the queen though I think everyone keeps missing is this. Is the queen on a rune arc that is so small and weak that even we can smash it with just 1 hand and even at level 1 if we wanted but the queen couldnt? Or is it the top part of the great rune (elden rune can't remember the name of all of them together atm but look at all the runes together on the game cover and u see it at the top) that we never see. Cause there r great runes we can't get. Like the one that closes off the the tree with thorns. The criss cross pattern. I think it's that.

[@drake5437]

Was just about to say this because this is also what I first thought of when I saw it because of all the other Christian symbolism. Glad I read your comment!

[@qwormuli77]

@@dont-touch-mepg1392 The upswept T is literally Marika's great rune and the crosshatch pattern is Radagon's. You can see them all over the game, but namely on their scar- and soreseals.

[@kiberme]

@@drake5437 there is actually not much (if any) Christian symbolism in ER. You'd be suprised how much of Christian iconography is derivative to predating Hellenistic/Middle-Eastern sects and (what's more important here) Northern mythology. For example, Lance of Longinus resemblance that was brought up I think is the most evident case of that: it was actually Odin who was pinned with the spear to the Yggrdasil, as Elder Edda puts it, "as a sacrifice to himself" to aquire the knowledge of runes. You can easily see how much corresponding motives there are in case of Northern myth and how one-dimensional and plain it looks if we think of it as a Christian iconography reference.

[@risshizentsukuyomi]

@@kiberme the Elder Edda was written circa 1270 CE (its contents speculated to have been gathered around 800 BCE to 1100 CE), whereas the scriptures that mostly fill the New Testament were already existing since the Council of Nicaea at 325 CE (at first, the soldier was unnamed in the gospel of John, but was named Longinus in the apocryphal gospel of Nicodemus, which was estimated to be written between the 4th and 5th century CE.) Now, the first contact between the Northmen and Christianity is mostly believed to have started at the raid on Lindisfarne monastery in 793 CE. Looking at these dates, it's possible that the opposite happened - Christian mythos bled into Norse myth, much like how Hellenic, Roman, and Middle-Eastern myth got blended onto Christianity

[@joshuagarcia-gray3455]

The spear piercing Marika looks like amber starlight. The thing Seluvis tries to use to turn Ranni into a puppet.

[@TheAtreiden]

Ebur means "Ivory" or "of Ivory" in latin, which arguably could make Eburion the land/place of ivory, a poetic name for a white land/city etc. Matches with what Albus says

[@weebto]

"Albus" also means "white". Chalk buttresses are notoriously white as well, so everything adds up nicely!

[@drdank9013]

"Eburio" means "ivory coast" in Esperanto.

[@ethanholden6299]

I had thought that the “spear” piercing Marika was representative of - or just was - Radagon, seeing as how it’s the same red as his hair, and how he is also playing a part in imprisoning her. Maybe it’s symbolic of how Radagon was entirely a tool for the Greater Will, being used to pierce her just like we are in the grab attack?

[@gilliardmarrow1312]

I had the same idea too. As far as I know the spear vanishes once Radagon changes over so it made sense to me.

[@qwormuli77]

The reddish shade isn't really that solid evidence for that IMHO, as all of the effects and influence (including his attacks) are in the same golden color as all the other greater will he worships, instead of the red hair he has from his giant heritage he deeply hates. A shard of the rune of death and a shard of amber are both much more credible theories from all we know, but with the huge holes in ER lore, who knows?

[@Psychx_]

Miquella's needle only works in the center of the storm beyond time, so the bewitching branches not affecting the frenzied merchants may very well be a deliberate design choice. It fits From Software for sure.

[@AlbertusSalvatierra]

I would honestly love to see an extensive take of how Elden Ring connects to alchemy, Celtic mythology, Norse mythology - as well as whatever it might’ve taken inspiration from

[@Ziostorm]

I’ve got several of these on the channel :) have to go back a bit tho

[@salvador2065]

I think Max Derrat has also some videos on that

[@ASmartNameForMe]

Those are all pretty weird ways of saying berserk but ok

[@michaelbarker6732]

look at Quelaag’s channel

[@ryanleatigaga7596]

Personally, I thought the red Albinarics were affected by Mogh in some way. Omen horns look more gnarled and tree-like while their horns look like cartoony devil horns. The rabid dogs and giant crows also have growths from the blood lakes. And there are a lot of red Albinaurics within that lake as well.

[@qwormuli77]

Remember that Mohg himself is an omen and in general the horns can be found pretty much everywhere with the influence of Mohg/Formless Mother, like the Dynasty Purebloods, mutants and the said turned albinaurics. IMO this further lends credence to the yet unspecified connection between the Formless Mother and the Omen curse.

[@khandimahn9687]

Horns take time to grow. Plus the red Albinaurics not born with the curse. So it makes sense that their horns are small.

[@Jonathan-ob7oy]

9:42 This is the first time I've seen a mausoleum jump in the air like that, I have 450 hours in the game.

[@benglaser1345]

I just realized what the spear impaling Marika reminds me of, it's in the same position and angle as the spear in Hoarah Loux in the opening cinematic

[@Shizn0id]

it's an unshattered amber starlight comet the greater will more than likely stuck in her to subdue her.

[@ethanholden6299]

@@Shizn0id Oh that’s a really good take! I had assumed it was Radagon as he’s sort of a tool for the GW. The amber starlight thing is really interesting though as it’s mentioned to be able to subdue gods, and it would make sense that the Elden Beast would have some laying around if they possibly came from the same place.

[@nightscout9979]

Hoarah Loux was just stabbed straight in the torso and vertically slashed apart, with the sword left slightly lax in his body. The Marika spear is at a steep diagonal angle and runs more from her upper left back to her lower right abdomen.

[@henryh7140]

Thanks for continuing to make these videos, Zio! I'd connect the spear piercing Marika's abdomen (love the womb theory!) with Amber Starlight, said to arrest the fates of the gods. The rune arc Marika is suspended upon is said to be "the lower arc of the Elden Ring", "the basin in which its blessings pool." Whereas Marika was once, like Atlas or the stem of a chalice, the support of the Elden Ring's basin and the (willing?) vessel for its blessings, its order, she is now forcibly pinned in that position by the Elden Beast.

[@googoodry1899]

Regarding Farum Azula and Radahn's arena... If we look at the Elden Ring concept art for the map, we can see what looks like a circular city/cluster of structures. I think it definitely lends credence to the idea that Farum Azula might've originally been in Caelid in an early concept. Also Miquella's Haligtree location on the concept map seems much more cutoff from the world than in the final game. It really makes you wonder what the game would've looked like if they stuck to those original concepts, but I'm MORE than happy with the final version of the world in-game.

[@CrowsofAcheron]

The ruins in the Wailing Dunes are the same columns and platforms you find in other areas, Limgrave, Liurnia, etc. My guess is these were built by the giants because there are similar columns all around the giants forge. Farum Azula has a very unique architectural style which we don't find much in the Lands Between.

[@julioalves9670]

About the Rykard/Mohg cut dialogue i was pretty confident that if we were to get DLC the most likely link would be Miquella and interacting with he's hand in Mohg's boss arena but i wonder if we're gonna get DLC related to Rykard where we interacting with his head that was left in his arena! Really interesting as always great video Zio

[@luna7157]

6:38 Since you have to use Miquella's Needle in a place where time doesn't reach (Placidusax arena), Bewitching Branch shouldn't work on Frenzied Flame enemies anywhere except there. (And because there were no frenzied enemies planned for Faram Azula, there is no reason to code such an area-based distinction for them.)

[@aukelauwers1733]

That Manscape transition was smooth af

[@NatheerTheExample]

Thanks for using my info Anyway something I wanted to point out was regarding the theory that Radahns arena and that area of Dragonbarrow used to be Farum Azula. In the Dragonbarrow cave the end boss is a Farum Azula beastman Duo which could add further weight to the theory

[@Ziostorm]

Great point too

[@skinless5136]

There’s beastman in limgrave and a farum azula related tailsmans are spread across the whole world (the haligtree and atlus to name 2 areas)

[@qwormuli77]

@@skinless5136 Limgrave is next to Caelid and is the area full of fallen ruins and rubble from Farum Azula, so if a place other than Caelid would have beastmen in it, it would be Limgrave.

[@NatheerTheExample]

@@qwormuli77 not to mention if there was two it might imply they were left behind. The one in limgrave could just be a stray as we know Farum Azula traveled after liftoff. Not to mention considering it’s a floating city something could easily fall off

[@BathingInAcheron]

Ground Taco is officially the best monster name ever created

[@connorstoltzfoos584]

The branch is not getting rid of the frenzied flame is very much consistent with the Laura, the only reason unalloyed Gold is able to ward off the effects, is because the tarnished has to use it in a point to beyond time in the placi arena

[@rafsandomierz5313]

Queen Merika had more Children than Morgott, Mogh, Godwyn,Miquella,Malenia etc. there is Melina's dialouge pointing that out, those children of Marika who weren't known were sacrificed, they lie down at the altars of walking mausoleums.

[@Divine-Leroy]

My theory is that the red spear is Radagon. After Marika turns into Radagon the spear is gone. And Radagon is know for his red hair the same color as the spear.

[@temuulenchoi]

Elden Beast grab attack starts with one big spear, similar to Marikas, followed by shorter spears

[@eldenanchor8179]

I've always thought that the "spear" is actually a piece of Radagon's elden rune. The color and placement (if you look at Marika's crucifixion as the elden ring symbol) matches.

[@wenhaowang1170]

One possible theory I saw regarding the spear is that Marika wanted to kill Elden beast using the destined death. The wound on her belly also shows up on the same spot on the belly of the Elden beast (the place players do the critical attacks). After the failure of killing the Elden beast, she was presumably punished by the beast with its grad attack.

[@qwormuli77]

Or it was some sort of sympathetic damage due to their connection. Either way, that's a really good catch.

[@Cold_Zero_The_Wise]

Funny isn't it rykard wanted to overthrow the erdtree, ranni succeeds in on ending and usurped it with the age of the dark moon, the elden beast came to the lands between as a falling star and radhan locked the stars in place preventing any from falling

[@Yul_B_Awright]

7:58 it is not taco like the mexican meal xD it is tako, because tako is octopus in japanese :D so groundtako = groundoctopus

[@odinwarlock2436]

Eveline was probably the original name of Tanith. Maybe these lines were meant to be overheard by the player while Rykard is talking to Tanith.

[@jackreacher7495]

I thought the spear inside Marika was Radagon himself. That's why it disappears when he emerges. I'm of the opinion that Marika was a silver tear created by the eternal cities (one thing that makes me believe this is the fingerslayer blade, made from the "body of a champion" like the elden beast's sword, which is Marika/Radagon). So, I'm also of the belief that Radagon was a part of Marika who broke off during the war against the giants. Ergo, they don't have a solid human form, as we can clearly see

[@kinguchiha6212]

Rykard definitely has the best voice acting in the whole game you can just feel the blasphemy in his vocals

[@Nerazmus]

Miyazaki: "So I want you to sound like a face fused to the neck of a giant snake." Simon Gregor: "Say no more."

[@danielhakushi]

I usually don't like Product Placement, but i must say: "Well played, Sir, well played".

[@nicknamelessking9616]

The spear piercing Marika is a reference not only to Longinus's spear mentioned in the Gospel, but is a reference to Gungnir, Odin's spear in norse mythology: in order to attain wisdom Odin had to drink water from a magical fountain, but it was accessible only by the souls of the dead, so Odin hung himself to Yggdrasil, the "world tree" in norse mythology, and pierced himself with his own spear in order to bring himself on the brink of death, so that his soul could temporairly leave his body, he gave his eye to Mimir, who guarded the fountain, and after that Odin was alive and had attained wisdom, so i think that the purpose of Marika's hanging is bringing her the closest possible to death without killing her, because the Elden Ring still needs her as a host

[@AtticusFink]

It popped into my head the last time I played Elden ring, that perhaps Crumbling Farum Azula was originally in Caelid, specifically near the Beastial Sanctum. The bridge leading to the Sanctum is called the Farum Greatbridge, and it would draw a line between Gurranq and Maliketh (seeing how he somehow exists in those two places at once) as well as the similiar achitecture and the presence of Azula Beastmen in the Sanctum. This might be stretching, but how some people suspect the vast empty region in the middle of the Lands Between was caused by a falling star, that impact caused Farum Azula to become untethered. We see how the earth disturbed from the falling star following Radahn's defeat hovers above the cater; if the force was great enough or the falling star large enough, it would put Farum Azula right around the impact sight. I had initially thought that the distinctiveness of the Sanctum's architecture was more from Malenia going nuclear and wiping everything out, but with the Divine Tower, Sellia (for the most part), Redmane Castle, and the forts still standing (especially Redmane, as that would've been the epicenter of Malenia's bloom) that couldn't be the explanation. I hadn't heard anyone else posit something similar before, until this about Farum being from Radahn's arena.

[@josetolentino3965]

There's a better way to quickly bring down the mausoleums. The sacred relic sword's weapon art travel far enough to clean 2 of its legs at once, if aimed properly

[@darq7000]

But you can get Greyoll much earlier in the game.

[@gir2195]

I am so mad at how CLEAN that transition was into the ad read. Bravo, you mastermind.

[@Ziostorm]

Thank you :)

[@Mookle123]

About The Marikas spear: I think that the color of the "special red grace" seen in the consecrated snow field could be worth considering in connection with the red color of the spear, as opposed to the Elden beasts gold spears. There seems to be another force capable of projecting its will into the realm of death, and manifesting its own sort of grace. I don't know if it is a God or not.

[@qwormuli77]

Red gold is the material symbol of the crucible of life, which is one I've theorized along the fell god, which resides in the mountains.

[@Dan_ModernDayViking]

The name Eburion is quite puzzling, indeed. It sounds Greek but I don't recognise the name. It does raise one thing of note when referring to white chalk cliffs however. As the setting is heavily influenced by the English isles, it's interesting to note there are many white cliffs in the southern shoreline of the island, most notably in Dover. Which inspired a famous poem by Matthew Arnold by the name Dover Beach. Lines like " Love, let us be true to one another... For we are as on a darkling plain, where ignorant armies clash by night" refer to the lement of an author who sees the beauty of the cliffs but worries that faith in God is dying. It balances the beauty with also referring to how armies in great wars could destroy the beauty of these lands. The idea is that morality and that which makes people good and trusting of each other is put to the ultimate test, and he feels weary that a place of beauty could have such a brutal and dark history when everyone sees darkness in each other. But it also gives a glimmer of hope that people will still be "true to one another" despite humanity seeing the death of god, as it was also written on the author's honeymoon with his wife on a trip to see the cliffs of Dover beach. He supposes that faith should be put in people instead of gods if we are to make the world a truly good place to be in. Interesting correlation, I would say.

[@GILGAMESH069]

One thing I don't understand is we know marika was in war against the giants yet the first church of marika is in the mountain tops not altus plateau, maybe they weren't always at war until some incident happened like the attack of gransax on lyndell?

[@petro1864]

After she vanquished the giants she made the church. They actually stayed there for a bit before departing to the capitol.

[@pustuleofyelough]

Unalloyed Gold is said to halt the influence but not stop it… the only reason we were able to reject the Flame was because of two factors… ONE, we had the Complete needle, finished from touching the husk of the Aeonia bloom… TWO, we must travel to the edge of time to use the needle… as we cannot use it anywhere else… it’s only effective in a specific place… that is why I believe you cannot sway those touched by frenzy… they have been consumed… and there’s nothing left the sway..

[@edwinpritom6336]

It could be the other way around for Marika and the impalement. Imagine it like this; when the GW tried to take control of Marika and Radagon, Marika could have used a little essence of Destined Death upon herself to ensure that the GW would not use her or any future lineage of her bloodline for its own use. Not only that, it is the exact scar where we do the most damage when we face the Elden Beast and ultimately kill it, which should not be possible. To some essence, Marika used Destined Death upon the Elden Beast, a Godly being, making it mortal and vulnerable to Death and allowing us to kill it forever more, getting the GW off our backs in the Lands Between. Marika could have planned this with Ranni and the Queen of the Black Flame to ensure they create/build up a warrior strong enough to beat the Elden Beast, to which she set her plans in motion, as the story followed till the end.

[@sethbracken]

Ok, that transition and ad read was one of the best ever.

[@gedewahyu.p]

Watching this video made me saw the Albinaurics as a situational enemy to the Haligtree faction; just a theory. They are the ones who helped Mogh to kidnap Miquella, while Mogh only has the Sanguine Nobles and the Bloody Fingers in Mohgwyn faction. Perhaps as much in their despair, they wanted to get to Miquella so much that they followed him all the way to Mohgwyn castle. In the process, they got persuaded by the Mohgwyn faction to consume the bloodflame, some of them turning themselves into the red Albinaurics - that is also the basis of why they declined Loretta's offer to make the Haligtree their home. You'll understand because it's a bit strange that you end the Albinaurics questline in the Apostate Derelict instead. The Consecrated Snowfield, not the Haligtree, is the promised land of the Albinaurics. Both Albus & Latenna stated it as "the Land of the Haligtree". So in this quest line, the evergaol here is clearly serving as a secret method to open the portal to the Haligtree. After all, we're fighting Latenna's kin in order to arrive at the Haligtree. That's because arriving at the Haligtree is needed to complete Gideon's questline, an antagonist to the Albinaurics. Given that, and that Gideon are against both the Bloody Fingers and the Albinaurics, now we can understand the background motive why he'd pursue the secret medallion. He wanted to make sure that Miquella is safe (see his dialogue by the end of his quest) by gaining access to the Haligtree ("find the Albinauric woman") and finding the Lord of Blood. Going through this manner, he did a bloody genocide in which made Nepheli doubt the justice of his stepfather. After helping Nepheli going through her melancholy, Gideon will also thank you, not that he ditched her that easy. To add, he dismissed Ensha easily not because he planned to kill the player later, as claimed by some of the theories, but simply because Ensha too hastily thought that the player sides with the Albinaurics by possessing half of the secret medal. If you follow his questline, you're helping two factions whom are hostile towards each other in one go (it's still sad there's no NPC summon in Castle Sol's boss fight, whom is still related to Miquella). In his questline, you'll find that the Lord of Blood was allowed passage by the Albinaurics, as the master of the Snowfields, so he can kidnap Miquella. Their communication efforts can be found in Mohgwyn's area where there are some red Albinaurics, and of course in Liurnia you can find a Church of Blood where some Albinaurics can chill peacefully around it. You can also find the portal to Mohgwyn's Palace is guarded by a Sanguine Noble and some Albinaurics in the Consecrated Snowfield. With the hostility of the Bloody Fingers, which doesn't end even if you already gained the Bloody Finger item from Varre, it's easy to see that the Mohgwyn faction, including the Sanguine Nobles, are your own antagonists. With that as Mohgwyn's agenda, it's actually fine to side with Gideon, finishing through his questline. Regarding the lore of Latenna's questline, to me she's supposed to be the one who stops the alliance between Mohgwyn dynasty and the Albinaurics. She's trying to make Philia receive the birthing droplet. This way, the Albinaurics will not become artificial beings anymore, but become creatures capable of birthing. That way, perhaps, the third generation Albinaurics will be able receive the Erdtree's grace and stop aligning themselves with the Mohgwyn dynasty. There's no direct correlation between Latenna's questline with Miquella, except that the Consecrated Snowfield was named as "the land of the Haligtree". This is different from Loretta's lore where she determined that the Haligtree was their best chance for the Albinaurics eventual salvation. For that, she even got the absurd rumor that she's an Albinauric herself. Back to both Albus & Latenna's statements, they stated that their home was at the land of the Haligtree, not the Haligtree itself, different from the Royal Knight's set's flavor texts. If it's the Haligtree, then we're not supposed to fight Albinaurics in Ordina Evergaol, because the player becomes their allies in lifting Latenna to the Haligtree, which is aligned to Loretta's determination. Also, even if we bring Latenna to the Haligtree, we still had to fight Loretta in order to reach Elphael. To this end, it's safe to say that the Albinaurics declined her offer, who is not actually an Albinauric. On the other hand, by the time we arrived, if it's the safe haven that Loretta wanted the Albinaurics to get, Miquella was already in Mohgwyn Palace. To conclude, the Albinaurics are in a bad position which forces them to take a side between the Roundtable Hold / the Golden Order and the Bloody Fingers. Being artificial creatures, they don't have the blessing of grace, which must be received from any gods. Mohgwyn Palace aligned themselves with the Formless Mother so the Albinaurics actually able to receive some sort of blessing, making them now creatures of grace. But in order to avoid the same genocide done by the Golden Order, Albus and Latenna decided that they have to deliver the birthing droplet to Philia. They were offered safe haven by Loretta, but it was declined that we can't find any single Albinauric around the Haligtree. They did harm to the Golden Order by aiding Mohg in kidnapping Miquella, but it was before Philia received the birthing droplet. In this story, the Tarnished is the only one who can help the Albinaurics, and along the way they can help the Golden Order as well to find Miquella. But the Tarnished can't help the Albinaurics already in Mohgwyn dynasty, as they still face hostility from both the Bloody Fingers and the Sanguine Nobles. Even then, the Albinaurics can still return to the Conscrated Snowfield with Philia received the birthing droplet. The Formless Mother's influence will still domiante the Albinaurics and with that there won't be total salvation to the Albinaurics, except to have the reign of the Lord of Blood end.

[@LoveHinaDude]

The spear through Marika, to me, has always looked like it was piercing the Elden Ring within her body. Im not too sure what that could mean or even why. Maybe it had something to do with how she pulled the Elden Ring out and smashed it, or how Radagon tried to put it back?

[@wjr4700]

I always assumed the spear was from Radagon, considering his symbol and backdrop to his statues. Also the thorns barring entrance to the Erdtree.

[@minijimi4954]

About Marika being impaled we do know that shadowbound beasts are able to be controlled by the Two Fingers, as shown with Blaidd, so Maliketh might have had something similar happen.

[@jessecorel1910]

Rykard mentioning an 'Eveligne' is actually noteworthy as its in name strikingly similar to Avelyn and Evelyn. Avelyn and Evelyn are a crossbow and a gun found in darksouls1,2,3, and bloodborne and are kind of similar to the moonlight greatsword in regard that they're found troughout several different games. Maybe in earlier stages of development rykard wielded a crossbow instead of a sword? Or maybe Eveligne is a weapon we'll see in future dlc?

[@draksonking955]

I think it is of note to mind fact needle was made specifically to cure influence of outer gods, bewitching branches we don't know their exact reason to be made but we know their effect. It's also of note where you can even use the needle, as can't use it to cure yourself anywhere, but only at Placidusax's boss fight arena between time.

[@younggoat7900]

The theory regarding Farum Azula’s original location contextualizes so much. Especially because due to the presence of tree roots and deathroot growing within Farum Azula we know that it had to at one point been connected to land as the deathroot grows from the tree roots connected to Godwyn’s corpse.

[@praisethesun7161]

The ad segway was pretty epic. Thank you for all your hard work.

[@Brntcake]

That manscaped ad was the CLEANEST segway I've seen. I hope you got good money for that masterpiece 😂

[@matthewbixler2728]

I took it as the spear was left in her by Maliketh. We learn from Ranni’s quest line that shadow bound beasts can be manipulated by the greater will. Maliketh also says that Marika betrayed him. I took this as Marika shattering the Elden Ring is the betrayal spoken, and the greater will made Maliketh go against his will and subdue Marika, leaving the spear in so she can’t do anymore damage. It wasn’t a killing blow, but something to keep her docile.

[@snipercomrade3059]

That sponsor transition was really good, I didn't expect manscaped making a surprise like that lmao. Great video btw :D

[@haavelnanes]

That is the best manscaped shill I've ever heard! Thank you for the content and brightening my day.

[@lazerbeamer9]

This is one of my favorite channels for Elden Ring lore, if only for the metroid bg music alone

[@pyricmacguffin]

Regarding the Bewitching Branch: it bears an incantation of unalloyed gold rather than being made of it directly. We know that, in addition to their purity, Miquella is universally desired, much like pure gold itself. Perhaps the incantation calls upon that aspect of unalloyed gold, rather than the purification?

[@lordofgangstas]

7:59 Tako is Japanese for octopus, that’s it lol

[@Rageikari]

The theory about Marika's womb is really interesting and makes a lot of sense (especially if Marika could actually produce children by herself, without even Radagon) but I also believe this is another reference to Christianity with the Lance of Loginus(the holy lance that pierced Jesus' side). The interesting part about that is, Loginus in some of the tellings of the story was said to be blind and then Jesus' blood gave him sight. I have NO CLUE what that could mean but given the amount of blind characters in the game I feel like there could be something there. Maybe. God this game is gonna make me go insane Another thought I had it that arguably destined death was meant to sit at the bottom of the elden ring (if you compare the one in Faram azula to the one everywhere else) and I'd say that the spear sits right about where destined death is meant to be. Maybe this is the greater will trying to patch up the hole that it left behind? Again, pure speculation but that is like 90% of what I do/what we as a community have left to do LOL

[@kisukoev]

I think the Miquella branch not working on the frenzied enemies isn't an oversight, but a really accurate detail, since yes, you need Miquella's needle to get rid of the frenzied flame, but you can't just use it anywhere, you need to use it in Placidusax's arena, since it's a place beyond time, meaning that by using it there it's like you used it before being taken by the frenzy, so to use the branch on a frenzied enemy and have it work, you'd need to get said enemy to placidusax's arena, but it's basically impossible to do so without cheat engine, so I doubt they programmed it, not to mention the branch is waaaaaay less powerful than the needle

[@mikeymoughtin6573]

something to consider about marika's crucifixion, is 2 points we don't seem to talk about. the first being that crucifixions are public executions, meant to send a message, meant to be seen. and the second being that, despite the impenetrable thorns blocking our way in, not only does someone like ofnir know about it, there's churches depicting it everywhere. so i wonder if people used to be able to go in and see. also jesus was executed by the romans, but on behalf of the jewish leadership. this metaphor isn't perfect, but you point out that the eldenbeast can crucify you with a grab attack, but they use holy spears, not the same colour as the one stabbing marika. so, i think she was crucified on behalf of the eldenbeast, but not exactly BY the eldenbeast

[@SweD5425]

6:30 The answer to that question is in Miquella's Needle. The needle only has power to quell the Frenzy Flame while in Farum Azula because it's still incomplete.

[@CausalityUsurper]

I'm not sure if others came up with the same theory as me, but this is my understanding of the lore here... Let me know if you think I'm onto something here! To begin, the spear was forged by Hewg, and used post-crucifixion/imprisonment by Vyke to kill Queen Marika, failing in the task. I believe this because of a number of facts. One being the dialogue between the two characters Hewg and Roderika during their progression in the story, that it's 100% confirmed that Queen Marika is the one responsible for the curse/enslavement to the roundtable placed on Hewg specifically to forge a God-killing weapon. We all already know that maxing out a weapon through upgrading gives the trophy/acheivement "God-slaying weapon". The second is a more speculative tie-in from lore details on the Fingerprint Armor, stating that Vyke was the closest to ever become Elden Lord before we come along, along with the coincidence that he is distinctively a spear wielder. Upon failing to kill Marika's vessel in order to claim the title of Elden Lord and her/Radagon/Elden Beast's rune pieces, the greater will "locked the gates" so to speak with the Erd-tree thorns. The thorns blocking the way seem like a detail that was only discovered/already known by you and Morgott, exclusivley and respectfully, once you get there; as it doesn't seem very well known before these two instances, not even by Gideon. So, being beside himself and losing a way to access/attempt, once-again, to kill Marika in order to attain the title. Shabriri in a previous incarnation, or perhaps some other influence of the Outer God of Frenzy tempted/nudged Vyke to seek out the Three Fingers under the promise or impression that he would be able to burn the Erd-tree open and attain the power to become Elden Lord. However, due to either being an unfit enough vessel... Or not having a Three Finger's variation of a Finger Maiden to guide him to present himself naked, (which is a requirement to be marked properly by the three fingers, you literally cannot as the player character enter without taking off all your gear, which also explains the state of Vyke's armor), caused him to succumb to the madness of frenzy instead of transcending to the state of being a proper vessel as the Lord of Frenzy. I know the first part is almost 100% correct, the Vyke stuff is more wishy-washy but has become my head canon because I haven't heard anything that sounds like as good of a puzzle piece to fit this place of the topic imo. Then again it's probably just confirmation bias toward my own idea surfacing. Anyways, let me know what you all think! If you guys got something else thats better please lmk. Or if u agree that I'm onto something hit me with that like! Love you all in this community! Souls and Soulslike out of FromSoft have been my favorite games ever as an avid gamer and lore junky for the past 13 years or so. I'm always down to deep dive into this shit so just gimme the sauce if you guys got other ideas about it! I would love to discuss with any and all of you about it. No being shitty! Let's all keep it chill fellas. EDIT: I was just thinking more about it and the destined death glow makes even more sense to me now because Queen Marika putting Hewg to the task would have had willing access to the remnants of the rune through her shadow Maliketh. I don't think Maliketh would've willingly allowed the Elden Beast the same thing especially if he knew about the Elden Beast at all, which I don't think he necessarily did as his dialogue suggests he didn't know what the player Tarnished would want to kill with the Rune of Death unleashed. But he would unquestioningly allow Marika access to it without a second thought. Leading me even further into suspecting that the Elden Beast didn't spear Marika itself, is that his Crucifixion/spear barrage attack doesn't use anything but spears of holy light. Another interesting bit I discovered in-game has nothing to do with the previous topic... But when u visit the moonlight altar plateau before burning the Erdtree, u see a moon on the left with bands of moonlight shining down across the area... the Erdtree dominating the skyscape.... and Ranni's Dark Moon hidden slightly to the right of the Erdtree. Upon completing the game with Ranni's ending. Her Darkmoon disappears or merges with the other moon, which now COMPLETELY DOMINATES the skyscape with it's brightness and bands of bright moonlight.... AS WELL the burning Erd-tree becomes almost COMPLETELY transparent and ghost-like. This being the obvious in-game metaphor for the influence of the Darkmoon and Age of Stars growing to dominate the Lands Between and waning prowess of the Greater-Will manifest in the skyscape for the area.

[@DeathxStrike18]

Remember the Unalloyed Needle had to be used outside of time, this is likely has to do with the fact chaos cannot be controlled within the flow of time as it will just continue to spread.

[@Lebowski_Jeffrey]

Perfect add placement. Mixing with the footage. I loved that.

[@Calex55KH]

It might be that Marika inflicted destined death on herself by some means. It's clear throughout she's essentially trying to orchestrate her own death from what we can learn from Hewgs prayers.

[@zullasgt372]

I'm Lithuanian and it was nice to hear about Egle, she become queen of serpents when she married one, his name in tale is Zilvinas

[@Callahm21]

i genuinely think the spear in Marina’s womb is from Maliketh himself, her shadow. as we all know, shadows are given by the Greater Will and whenever the shadow’s master is about to betray the greater will, it will automatically attack its master (just like Ranni and Blaidd, Iji explains this when he captures Blaidd in the evergaol). that’s my thoughts and i actually saw it on a youtube video for elden ring lore, can’t remember from who exactly, probably agt jake, vaati vadi or so

[@SixBeark]

The spear is from a 2 fingers shadow assassin version of her shadow, it's the same color as the weird fake Blith's attacks you fight for Ranni's quest it's just hard to noticed because usually everyone insta gibs that enemy I think

[@Syaniiti]

The needle only works in the center of the storm to block the flame of frenzy so if it did work everywhere on enemies that would be a problem, since it doesn't work on enemies that's consistent.

[@nightscout9979]

The first spear in the Elden Beast's grab attack hits from the same angle that the spear lodged in Marika is found. This initial spear is also larger than the subsequent spears, and when compared to the player, it's on the same scale as the one piercing Marika. As such, it's likely just another lingering punishment from the Elden Beast. The red color might represent Radagon, fused with the spear, becoming an actual "thorn" in Marika's side.

[@joshualara4223]

I really wish Queen Marika would seal off destined debt, so I don't gotta deal with all these student loans

[@Spellfork]

Okay, credit when credit's due. That was a sick segway into the sponsor message. I did not expect that and it was short and sweet to boot

[@burritovolante1293]

Im so Happy to see your Channel Shining zio , we really came a long way waiting for this game to come out . I Remember the firts vids about the game's lore theories and i get emotional .

[@SuperKingofthings]

I’ve been hit by that grab attack a few times if you spam buttons to break out of it you take no damage even tho the animation played out .

[@zergbergerdelemon9634]

The spear seems like a very on the nose reference to the lance of longinus (also called spear of destiny). It was used to stab jesus in exactly the same spot, a practice done during crucifixion. They would stab the person exactly like that and see if they reacted to make sure they were dead.

[@petro1864]

Marikas goal was to kill the god she served. I believe she kept a shard of death and tried to kill herself and the elden beast in a last ditch effort. The elden beast has damage in the same spot.

[@Ziostorm]

That’s a great idea

[@BigBossDP]

Hadn't really noticed that the massive arrows in the capital outskirts release some sort of incense in the battle against Godrick. Always wondered why they had that massive cage thing on top of them. Maybe the work of perfumers?

[@nikolajjensen4453]

Something I find interesting is that the first church of Marika is located in the mountaintops of the giants, implying that it is the original one. But wasn’t the giants against Marika and the golden order?

[@joshuaarnett762]

It was probably built to celebrate victory over the giants

[@rafsandomierz5313]

The church got build probably after war with Giants, since Giants were defeated the Mountain was controlled by Golden order.

[@justchris123]

That transition to the ad was flawless 👏

[@Tunez-xz9wu]

I like how smooth you inserted your sponsor with the slick head comment. Lol

[@mightymaz966]

I love that in your videos you put Metroid Prime OST. *Chefs Kiss*

[@EredinLore]

Praise the Sponsor!

[@kawaiizombiegal]

actually the unalloyed gold stops rot, miquella's needle item is a ferther enhanced one used against frenzy end and can only be used in farum azula in a space beyond time.

[@amendersc1650]

the albanouric has two places they are excepted in: the haligtree (obviously), and possibly mohg palace since he doesn't seem to mind them here

[@atlas1215]

Great video as usual Ziostorm, but I've gotta say, the transition to the sponsor was perfect.

[@sethleoric2598]

Ngl i thought the spear in Marika's side was just a funny Elden Ring version of "The Spear Of Longinus" which pierced the side of Christ during his crucifixion.

[@simonmould869]

That Manscaped segue was amazing...Bravo!

[@PeeBeeJays]

That is one of the best transitions into a sponsorship ad I’ve ever seen lol

[@nolongerhuman13]

Seamless commercial insert. Also genius !

[@dezerogue5396]

Love these videos and please don't be discouraged from doing them, love your content and your commentary is always on point perfect 👌 also that was the most perfect transition into a promo I've ever seen 😆

[@DrownedLamp]

"If only I could have gazed upon it, even once; the great buttress..." Ohh Albus u dawg. Wait, google define butress...aww.

[@mayhemivory5730]

while the elden beast does indeed pierce the player with rays of light during its grab attack, do note that those are golden; and that they look similar to the ones it rains down while flying. more importantly, the elden beast has a wound on its stomach in much the same place, also colored in a red tint. this also happens to be its weakspot, and the location where you repost it; and its directly in front of the elden ring visible inside of it. i always figured that she was pieces by destined death because destined death was supposed to happen once the first demigod died. i think the reason she has destined death sealed, and the giants forge hidden, is essentially to stop this inevitable fate from happening. now yes, the trailers arent part of the game; but i believe one of them said that marika despaired because godwyn died. to me that always seemed like it was a sign of things that should’ve been impossible (because death was sealed) being kicked into motion.

[@dharmdevil]

The spear was to destroy the elden ring which resides in Marika's/Radagon's abdomen which you can later see when it glows as Radagon rises up. The damage is later seen on the elden beast itself on its abdominal area.

[@darkbringr88]

The snake being named Eberion could be a nod to Oberyn, father of the sand snakes of Dorne, from Game of Thrones. Just a reach but GRR was involved with both…

[@Apexskyborn]

I wanna just take a second to talk about that transition into a ad 10/10 loll

[@jpo7259]

You nailed that manscaped ad dude. Nicely done

[@wilkamania]

I usually try to skip past the sponsorship portions of videos, but damn if the one you had on this one wasn't one of the funniest pitches I've heard

[@randomsandwichian]

That sudden sugue into manscaping Albanaurics lol

[@gir2195]

The dragon breath spells work well for the mausoleums, too. I’ve been using the scarlet rot breath to bring them down.