Elden Ring - I may have some answers

The chair-crypts and their giant skeleton occupants are a big question mark for the most part, but there may be something that actually provides a little leverage to try and interpret what's going on with them.
Song used: Dark Reality - King's Field IV OST

[@ZullietheWitch]

With all the skeletons, I think this safely counts as my Halloween video. While there unfortunately doesn't seem to be a smoking gun answering all the questions about these enigmatic giants, it does feel like a significant step forward to have something outside the Eternal Cities that seems reasonably connected to them. If they've gone from a completely inscrutable mystery to a mostly inscrutable mystery, I think it's a win.

[@vileluca]

The link between Ranni and Godwyn is pretty striking in context.

[@usedcolouringbook8798]

I just figured the skeletons were who the cities were named after.

[@edwardkenworthy7013]

I think the George Martin connection is unlikely as despite him getting credit there's not really much sign of his banal influence on the game.

[@17sbaucum]

God there are so many Dlc opportunities with this game. I hope that Godfreys home the badlands isn't actually the Dlc we are getting. I feel like there are much more interesting areas and lore they can get into

[@alantremonti1381]

Fairly able to be scruted.

[@Xhawk777]

Personally I was just worried one would get up and start attacking

[@ViperidaeIV]

When I first came across the corpse of Godwyn in that giant, open arena, my heart stopped.

[@fugax_vulpes1797]

That would be sick holy hell

[@xBOBOxFebreez]

@@ViperidaeIV yep me too

[@graywantstobtl]

The game glitched when I first encountered one and the head loaded in facing me and it scared the living fuck out of me

[@ParadiseNigh]

@@fugax_vulpes1797 that's literally all I want

[@lixthewitch6718]

I would like to personally thank Zullie for terrifying me with the HUGE skeleton peeking through Ranni's tower window.

[@flopera6117]

I didn't even notice that there😭

[@bbittercoffee]

Thought it was Godwyn's face in a fun way to frame both of them at the same time lmao

[@AndrewTheUltraBoss99]

tbh that looked so funny, I think zullie had fun with that one

[@catsnake9842]

how is that scary

[@aznablerey398]

@@catsnake9842 Legit, skeleton looks like it is enjoying itself and finally gets to be part of the gang despite its size always getting in the way. Hurray for big skelly.

[@three2805]

I'm pretty sure the "Lord of Night" is ment to refer to the player character if you get the Ranni ending. In all it's references throughout the game, it's always presented as someone the nox are looking to find, not someone who already exists. The Lord of Night is the one who will usher in the new age of stars, which is exactly what you do in Ranni's ending.

[@euterpe_exe]

Exactly what I was thinking

[@wh1pla5h]

But then why the subterfuge by Ranni to obtain the Fingerslayer Blade? If the Nox wanted her to become lord, then they would not have sent assassins to attempt to kill her, Iji, and Blaidd

[@hulmhochberg8129]

​@@wh1pla5h mhhm good point! Maybe stupidity? Interpreting vague prophecys is tough. Or revenge since the boss of the black knife dudes is imprisened in on of those round seal thingys? Or we are wrong

[@ohgloriousme]

@@wh1pla5h Could be they figured out that Ranni was planning to remove her Order from the world instead of ruling over it directly like the Golden Order before it. They may have initially helped her believing they would become heralds of the new age and then turned on her upon realizing that they would be left to their own devices just like everyone else. Alternatively, they may have assumed that Ranni would choose one of the Nox as her Lord and became angry when she chose a lowly Tarnished instead. Whatever the case it's pretty plain that they weren't going to get much in return for all their help and so they responded in kind.

[@handocommando4090]

This is wrong for more reasons then I can name

[@midnightlunch3285]

If all of these really are related (Ranni, the Night King, the Nox, and Tibia Mariners), I'd love to see a DLC that really explores all these connections. The idea of a kingdom that defies the status quo that's ultimately banished deep underground seems to be a favorite of From Software's.

[@megaconda07]

Ranni doesn't bring the age of stars though. We do. Alot of the things mentioned the player has some part in, or sets up the situation the player gets involved. Particularly rannis quest line.

[@yunglink992]

@@megaconda07 Well, we help Ranni bring the age of stars. We set the stage, but ultimately she's the one who has the power to bring about the age, we're just helping her.

[@natorious314]

@@yunglink992 Hence why she's somewhat surprised when it's us who puts the ring on her finger. There were many suitors she deemed capable, we were but one of them.

[@yunglink992]

@@natorious314 exactly. Our character isn’t anything special, he’s just one of many tarnished who is actually determined enough to see the events of the game through.

[@keiganm1287]

@@yunglink992 I don't think it's like an ashen one or chosen undead situation though. Where these successes and failures are exclusive to will power since they have infinite tries till they go hollow, the tarnished are guided by grace. It's implied some tarnished can't even see graces and some see less. So as one chosen to basically see all the graces theirs more of a destiny in play.

[@thelaughingrouge]

These giant dead lords are one of the most fascinating things in the game for me.

[@cornthdl]

I agree. Their complete mystery is driving me crazy.

[@Kentaloupe]

I was so hyped to fight one...then the dragonkin soldier spawned. Suffice to say I was disappointed.

[@PushBacon]

Exploring in this game is so rewarding. There a so many uncovered mysteries in this game and the way it all ties together is so fun. I really missed exploring like that in a video game. I had the same facsination when i found theses huge ass skeleton. Nothing was explained, they were just there. Same thing with the temple in lake of rot.

[@chrismonzon452]

@@Kentaloupe suffice to say, Karl's a lot

[@StraightOuttaJarhois]

Same here. From the moment I first saw one, I was awestruck by the size and strangeness of it. I kinda love that they're just not brought up by anyone or anything in the game.

[@Jonhainey]

Lol at the giant tibia mariner skeleton glaring at Ranni through her tower's window. Wonderful shot.

[@darth0tator]

I didn't notice at first and then got really spooked :D

[@floriandolder8111]

What a perv.

[@davidhong1934]

He just wants the WiFi password

[@PLAGUEDOCTORTRUEFORM]

He simp to ranni

[@hulmhochberg8129]

​@@PLAGUEDOCTORTRUEFORM understandable

[@cameronraymond4960]

Something else interesting to note with them is the Ainsel River boss arena itself, which is likely the first place you encounter one of these skeletons. Surrounding the giant skeleton itself is a bunch of petrified bodies all worshiping it. These bodies all have two distinct features: strangely elongated bodies and limbs, and a complete lack of legs. This might imply a potential connection to the first generation Albanaurics, which makes sense given the Albanauric's own ties to the eternal cities. A little less likely, but it might also imply a connection between Phillia in particular and these skeletons. I say less likely because the giant skeletons themselves do not appear to be first generation Albanauric, lacking the elongated limbs associated with them. Still it's heavily implied that they are also artificial, and it's quite possible that they were viewed by the Albanaurics as potential saviors to their plight, a sort of proto-Phillia. There's another creature type they could be though. The claymen were the priest caste of an ancient dynasty. While they don't have missing legs, they do have similar elongated limbs and there's a possibility that the petrified statues are claymen, not Albanaurics. They're also very populous within the Ainsel river itself. With that said, I lean towards them resembling Albanaurics more.

[@colorpg152]

this gives me a idea, the symbol of the moon and the symbol used by the fire-giants is very similar, sword of night and fire, maybe they both worshiped the same, if godwyn was meant to be the night king then night is connected to death, we find ghost-flame users in the nox city which just so happens to have frost the same element the dark moon uses, I'm starting the think the nox may worship death and that death is the night sky and when people die their souls turn into stars, that would also explain why there is a prophecy about the erdtree burning when stars are the ones who command fate, because they decided the fate of the erdtree is to burn, the deathbirds even look as if they have tiny glintstone scraps on then

[@carstan62]

Wait, you just reminded me that the quest to escort the albinauric whose name I forgot ends at a giant albinauric woman.

[@DickyG41]

I had forgotten about Phillia. Isn't she implied to be the future mother of a new generation of Albinaurics, or something along those lines? And don't the Albinaurics originate from the eternal cities? Do we know specifically how they were made? Could they have been "birthed" by these giant skeletons (which appear to have been female)? Which would explain why Albinaurics would be worshipping the one in the Ainsel River. So perhaps Phillia is a smaller and/or younger version of one these Albinauric mothers, which could help explain her size.

[@chiip90]

@@colorpg152 Maybe souls are meant to return to the stars if they aren't first swallowed up by the Erdtree?

[@youtubecommenter2527]

Those are statues. Not bodies.

[@itol2201]

I interpreted "Night King" as just another way of saying their Elden Lord, since it comes directly after the mention of the Age of Stars. Ranni is decidedly female, and is the one to initiate the Age of Stars. Considering that the Elden Lord always seems to be second in power to whatever Empyrean is in charge, it made sense to me that it would be mentioned second. There's also that tidbit that they've tried making a Lord, to no avail, so it tracks that Ranni would tell them that they'd get one when she took the mantle.

[@comradekenobi6908]

You know nothing, Tarnished

[@Lord_Of_Night]

Yeah, the Lord of Night/Night King is probably us, the player Tarnished, in the Age of Stars ending.

[@IndieGinge]

I think this actually points to why the Black Knives and Ranni no longer work together, as the death of Iji and corpses around Blaidd imply a murderous split. If the Night King (assuming this isn't defunct in the final release) is more akin to Godwyn, who regardless may be a success or may even be another failure is what the Nox want as their god or Elden Lord, then Ranni stands in opposition to them, hoping to take the mantle for herself and the Dark Moon. The goals of the Nox have been occluded besides wanting an artificial Lord, the reasons why and means how are only mentioned in part. This makes other theories click better now. Idk, food for thought.

[@NoConsequenc3]

@@IndieGinge Iji burns with the black flame of destined death, the Nox don't use that - the Godslayers do. Those dead black knifes were defending him, not attacking him.

[@marinribaric9749]

@@NoConsequenc3 assuming that the Black Knives doing the bidding for the nox and not outcasts. Iji's corpse could have also been interpretated as the Godskins have joined in with the Black Knives.

[@several9286]

you know it's a good creepy one when this music plays

[@san-zangorn3721]

I love 'dark reality' it's such a beautiful and haunting melody.

[@RoyaltonDrummer922]

I really hate the King's Field music honestly. Way too creepy

[@ythandlename]

I like this and the lightening up New Londo ones. They are very atmospheric and when we are looking at things in a different light (literally) makes it really fascinating and full of wonder.

[@Godskineater]

Such a bop

[@alessandrodebonis4888]

You know Godwyn will be mentioned in some way when you hear this

[@FirstLast-cg2nk]

It's also important to note that the Black Knife Assassins were implied to have ties to Queen Marika, implying that either they were playing a long con, serving the queen and waiting for the moment they'd betray her for the sake of their Night King... or Queen Marika herself was playing the longest con of all, waiting for the moment she would betray the Golden Order. Either way, it hints at an ages-long conspiracy.

[@Terminalsanity]

I think the ties they have with Marika is that they are Numen and that once Marika became the vessel for the Elden beast she became souly focused on establishing the Golden Order and took steps to try and make her rule of it eternal and that eventually did not sit well with the rest of the Numen. I suspect because having been once her contemporaries and equals did not feel obliged to serve Marika as a God and may have felt the sealing of death to preserve her age and rule indefinitely was a grave violation of the natural order and took steps to undermine her efforts to forestall the next age eventually taking part in the night of black knives to serve that end. What interest's me is why The Black Knife assassins came into Conflict with Ranni and why they decided to try and oppose her after the Night of black knives. My guess is that at some point they came to believe that Miquella was the better candidate to be their lord of night after all it is Black Knife Assassins that guard the entrance to the Haligtree where a good chunk of Numen runes can be found.

[@Fairenough642]

That's very interesting seeing as she breaks the ring for well lets face it no good reason, yet radagon tries too fix it? Very strange

[@Himax9]

I think you're on to something. I genuinely believe the entire game's plot was just a scheme by Marika to kill the Greater Will-- and free everyone from it's control.

[@kamantariq2513]

Hmmm. Anyone else take note gravity magic is based on purple lightning. Rhodan, Fallen star beasts, gravity spells/ weapons all have it. In the spell menue, Eternal Darkness is in the same placement as gravity spells as well as other night sorceries from Selia Drakekin soldiers have blue lighting Purple is a mix of red & blue. Dragons are made of stone like Alabaster lords whos skin resembles stone and manifeast from an Eternal Darkness like mass. both use lightning based spells, albiet in vastly different was. Any ideas Zulie on what we can derive from theese connections?

[@Fairenough642]

@@Himax9 I do hear stuff about getting free from the greater will a lot, yet Im not sure what exactly the greater will is forcing people too do? even the grace and two fingers try too guide the tarnish yet never really do much outside of blaidd betraying ranni, I might be wrong here

[@ASquared544]

What makes Elden Ring particularly interesting to me is how interconnected everything in the world is. Ranni & Fia’s quest are connected intrinsically, with progress in one being required to complete the other. But Ranni and Fia also tie back to Maliketh and the beast quests, which ties into the end of the game. Killing Radahn is also a part of Alexander’s quest, which ties into killing the Fire Giant and Farum Azula. Ranni’s quest is also tied to the Academy, where you will also find part of Yura’s quest. Yura’s quest ties into Mohg and getting the tear needed to resist one of his attacks, as well as the hunting of his disciples. This also ties in with Malenia and her quest, which ties in with Mellicent’s quest of reaching the Haligtree. And of course Ranni’s quest ties into the Lake of Rot, another connection to Malenia and the Scarlet Rot. The whole Bloody Finger quest also ties in with invasions, which is connected to Recusants and the Volcano Manor quest, tying in Rykard. Some of these connections are… looser than others, but I’m sure there are stronger connections between the quests present here. I also forgot, Mohg is also connected to the Frenzied Flame under Leyndell, which is also connected to Deeproot Depths, which is also connected to Siofra River underground and Norton. Everything in Elden Ring feels like it should be connected, and like dog pope said, everything should be able to be conjoined.

[@nightscout9979]

In addition to this being a good setting where everything feels important in general and the world feels alive, it loops into the Golden Order's talk of Causality and Regression.

[@12100samus]

i highly doubt mohg is connected to the frenzied flame because hes with the formless mother (LORD of blood lol), likely just ran out of room to hide him somewhere that makes sense lore-wise. you also forgot to mention the merchants are connected HEAVILY to the frenzied flame and explain why theyre in the lands between.

[@PierreLucSex]

@@12100samus I'd rather say Mohg protects the world (or his dynasty) FROM the frenzied flame.

[@222LoneWolf]

This reminds me of how I've often thought that Elden Ring's world, and your progression through it, feels something like a big knot or a puzzle box. You tinker with one part until you get stuck, then you go pull on another part for a while, and all the while you're still gradually unlocking/unraveling your way towards the center of the puzzle. You think you're completing side quests, but each side quest is actually just one more component in the big combination lock of this world.

[@tarille1043]

Those giant skeletons are super weird. I remember seeing them in the loading screens and was expecting a normal sized skeleton in a normal sized throne. Imagine my surprise when I encountered this 50ft tall skeleton instead...

[@mistamethylbrot2187]

Lucky you, for me it seemed already huge in the loading screen and i am sad they spoiler them this way, along with the walking mausoleums.

[@Gakulon]

The connections drawn in this video are absolutely fascinating and pretty damn compelling. I remember originally thinking they were bosses themselves; they turned out to be a lot more mysterious than I had anticipated

[@marhawkman303]

If we're going the artificial people discussion... maybe they're dead attempts at creating a Night King? the text seems to suggest the position might be vacant, or formerly vacant. I'm surprised Zullie didn't draw the connection to how some of the human-shaped Albinaurics are much larger than ordinary Humans..

[@pokemontas487]

A theory on the Elden Ring ending is that the main character has to become bigger to fit the huge throne shown in the ending. Members of the royal family are ridiculously huge and Marika is a physical embodiment of the greater will. The giants with the face are huge while the ones without it are small. There's a tie between divinity and size. The dead throne guys could just have what qualifies them to have the size characteristic. If a physical connection was necessary, the Nox couldve used the remains of the destroyed moon.

[@Kid_Naps]

I mean, Godwyn being Night King himself makes sense, his size is equal to that of the throned skeletons. Also his connections to Ranni, Nox and Tibia Mariner are obvious. The story is so enticing, I really can't wait to see where the DLC will take us. I honestly don't care if it's related to Miquella or Rykard or whatever, it's going to be a blast one way or another, as long as it expands the universe. Knowing Miyazaki, he either overdeliver, or underdeliver. Hope it's not the latter.

[@pantomathic7367]

I feel like fromsoft dlc never disappoints

[@OGXenos]

Watch there be no DLC lol

[@virtuoso2991]

@@OGXenos almost every souls game had DLC except sekiro and demon souls, 0% chance they dont add DLC to their most popular game ever lmao

[@pacifiedbeaumonte]

Its crazy how full of yourself you are by saying such a crazy blanket statement that has no truth to it just to make yourself seem even keeled but skeptical when you are talking about a dude that has always gone above and beyond to produce things that maybe unthinking turds like you might not always like

[@vincenzobulla113]

They are clearly gamers sitting in their gaming chairs waiting for the DLCs to come out.

[@pj8752]

Never change your choice of music for these Zullie, it just takes you elsewhere I love it

[@Lightice1]

On the GRRM connection, the Night King is an original creation by the TV show's makers with no direct counterpart in Martin's own story or lore. The name's close to Night's King who is Martin's creation, but that person is a historical figure and a more or less normal human, albeit extremely evil one.

[@pantomathic7367]

Forgive me as I haven’t read the books (I plan to but I’m going through fire and blood right now) but isn’t the threat of white walkers still a thing? Has the leader not been revealed in the books?

[@Lightice1]

@@pantomathic7367 The books' focus has been off the White Walkers for a long time. Their motivations or origin hasn't been revealed at all. If they have a leader in the books, it hasn't been revealed yet. Some people have speculated that the Great Other, the dark counterpart to the Lord of Light that Melisandre sometimes mentions exists and is the creator of the White Walkers, but that hasn't been verified anywhere. And if it is true then it's unlikely that it has a physical form or that it could be directly fought against.

[@clairevoyantarachnea]

No leader of the White Walkers has been revealed in the books. It's possible that GRRM may introduce the Night King in the later books, but he generally doesn't tend to write load-bearing villains (i.e. evil leaders whose deaths will immediately resolve all the problems and cause all of their minions/associated threats to disappear), so it's generally considered extremely unlikely that the Night King will show up in the books.

[@Wylkus42]

I wonder if Jon Snow will come back to life as the Night King

[@jtnachos16]

@@clairevoyantarachnea He absolutely does write load bearing villains. He just writes them in a way where the opportunity to stop what they put in motion is past before the active story begins. Tywin, Clegane, the mad king prior to the rebellion. All of them were, at some point, load-bearing villains whose removal would have DRASTICALLY altered the way things play out, and stopped most their schemes dead in the water. But George likes starting the active story past that point, where the characters taking action are not PREVENTING anything, but instead REACTING to past events and their fallout. It doesn't change the structure of events to be less reliant on certain villains acting villainously in order to steer the story and create a continued opposition.

[@mihirlavande]

The skeletons on chairs also could be a reference to Charon, the ferryman of the river Styx who guides souls to the underworld, the Siofra and Ainsel rivers being under the world and originating from the Nameless Eternal City which houses the corpse of Godwin, who only died in soul and not body.

[@youtubecommenter2527]

Those rivers do not originate from the Leyndell Eternal City.

[@cazvan1]

@@youtubecommenter2527 The rivers originate from Deeproot Depths.

[@standingdoor7077]

The Messengers from BloodBorne look fluid in construction. Like a wave on land. They obviously pull you through the dreams when you die in BB. They also look reverent towards the big skeleton as if they were a God or the lamps that help them travel through worlds. The rivers themselves are difficult to use as evidence only because the Lands Between build on top of ruins of old civilizations. Possibly destroying or reshaping the original water ways. But it is still underground water so it works anyway.

[@Ludacrisgaronio]

Siofra and Ainsel could be the name of the two skeletons,maybe ancient lords of the eternal city

[@Legion640]

Finding that connection between the throne skeletons, the Tibia Mariners and the large skeletons comparable in size to the ones on the thrones is a fantastic find. It adds so much more context to the Mariners. Perhaps an old spirit of those giant, long dead lords, able to summon the older, larger manifestations of themselves as an attack.

[@realkingofantarctica]

The surprise of expecting the giant, lifeless husk to get up and start attacking you, but instead getting something entirely different yet equally terrifying is something I always like with videogame bosses. You expect something to be a Monk Maz Koshia, but it ends up being a Duke's Dear Freja.

[@arcky4137]

The surprise of expecting the giant, lifeless husk to get up and start attacking you, But instead getting a reused boss.

[@sterlingmuse5808]

Every time something like that happens, it reminds me of Balor in Castlevania Aria of Sorrow. It loads up the fight and you get the traditional Giant Bat appearance for the game, but then a giant hand reaches in from the background and crushes it and then you fight the owner of that hand instead.

[@StarvingGecko]

@@arcky4137 To its credit, it has a unique second phase and such.

[@malum9478]

@@sterlingmuse5808 aria of sorrow goat castlevania and it ain't even close

[@PierceArner]

It's also worth noting that the Golem's Halberd states that it's made of black stone (notably the main color of the stone architecture in the Eternal Cities and Walking Mausoleums), and that it was crafted by a civilization now gone to ruin. There are some good links in there as well. All across The Lands Between, there are ruins of massive bridges and archways that are crumbling. The ones in Caelid where Radahn wanders are black and also those same color stones appear directly below in the area where the Sending Gate from the north drops you to reach where Mohg & Miquella are. We find Golems on and around the Divine Bridge, below these archways in the Mountaintop of the Giants, but also the ones in Caelid are the only ones that utilize magic weaponry with the archers guarding the path to the Great Jar, and the one at the cliffs in Radahn's area having a magic Halberd and unique attack. This brings to the fact that Radahn was guardian Sellia - the only location with a Chair Crypt above ground. On top of this Battlemage Hugues came from Sellia and the Haima Sorcerer at the Road of Iniquity Side Path is notably FAR taller than a regular human. The final link helps give more context to Ranni's role as not only was her brother Radahn guardian Sellia, but the sorcery Carian Retaliation is actually a Sellian Sorcery if you look at the sigil used when casting the spell. This makes sense as Sellians were Sorcerers trained to assassinate their own kind, which is what Caria had to prepare for with the Raya Lucarian Academy turning against them. Whether than lineage extends to why Rennala and the Albinauric Mother in the north are larger than human, and if they're linked to the Giants' own history and lineage isn't clear, but there are plenty more contextual implications about that being the society that fell to ruin - especially with the large number of broken automatons and puppets by Liurnia Highway North linking beings like the Golems and Imps to that same type of artificial life connected to Glintstone-powered beings rather than organic ones.

[@mhiggs8001]

That was a nice little write up, thanks for sharing that!

[@chillworksdev4145]

Incredible anaylsis!

[@soarel325]

Aren't most of the bridge and arch ruins from Farum Azula?

[@noahhaller4540]

I had forgotten about the throne and the Nox duo fight under it in Sellia, along with sellian sorcery including "Night Maiden's Mist". There are definitely some closer associations between Sellia and the Nox, and so many interrelations between sorcerers and everyone else in general. As for the size of humans, being human in ER is a very vague thing. Being practically anything is very transient in general, as the lack of death is shown to progress regular humans into tall, gaunt, and weak nobles, foot soldiers, and guardsman. In the Leyndel hold, bodies holding belongings of people in our hold become the inhuman gaunt forms. Characters like Goldmask are human as well. Characters like Morgott, Godrick, Radahn, Renalla, and most demigods, have swelled to giant sizes, but when you defeat Godrick and Morgott, they both shrink into shriveled forms that bear practically no resemblance to their original form. Notably there are other creatures swelled to impossible sizes, such as the Rune Bear, which is likely huge because of its possession of a large amount of runes. Runes are effectively the code/metadata of the Lands Between, and possessing them allows you to alter your own strengths and manipulate the world, and thus become raw power. So I think the relative size of characters doesn't bear much importance, as its clearly manipulated by possession of runes, and its a shtick of games to make bosses and important characters huge to make them stand out, even when it doesnt make sense lorewise.

[@tonygardner5101]

Nice write up, but the ruins scattered around the lands between are definitely from crumbling farum azula. And so are the golems - the reason you find some of them half health is because they fell from the fucking sky.

[@fingerdancer1721]

Gotta say, I'm always impressed at the lengths you go to find answers or theorize these kinds of things, and also at the fact that you still find new things to talk about with the game no longer being fresh on everyone's minds. Another banger.

[@LoudWaffle]

The Night King in GRRM's books is very different from the antagonist in the show; he's a historical human figure, an old Night's Watch Captain who seems to have taken an Other (white walker) as his bride and possibly made sacrifices to them. As for the giant skeletons, I have taken to thinking of them as an attempt at creating an artificial god, which the Nox were known to be trying to do (with the mimic tears).

[@georgepayne2687]

I thought that the "Lord of Night" was connected to Ranni's ending, and we sort of assumed that role in it along with Ranni. However, now that I think about it, the ending for Fia is called the "Age of Duskborn," which implies some connection to the night. That, combined with Ranni's obvious connection to the Rune of Death, makes this an even more interesting mystery.

[@JMoore-vo7ii]

Mm, as much as I want to agree, dusk isn't technically night time yet. It is that which directly precedes the night. Taken into account with the symbology of the eclipse and Godwyn's ties to Miquella, I would say that the "dusk" in duskborn is concerned with that intermediary period between day and night. After all, an eclipse similarly blurs the line between sunlight and no sunlight

[@georgepayne2687]

@@JMoore-vo7ii that intermediary period likely is representative of "living within death," like how an eclipse is a night during the day, etc. I personally doubt that Godwyn is the Lord of Night, but I do think there's some deep-running connection between Death and the Nox, considering Godwyn is in an eternal city. Additionally, I think that all sorceries stem from star power at some level, which is why you have the "sorceries" of the Blood Star that are based solely on faith. The Death sorceries thus imply some connection between stars and Those Who Live in Death, which makes sense as stars contain "residual life," and primal glintstone can contain a person's consciousness (a living death of sorts).

[@IsaiahX7-13]

@@georgepayne2687 The Eclipsed Sun is stated to be the protective star of the soulless demigods, to keep Destined Death at bay, and is what Miquella wanted to use to revive Godwyn, so this might be the star connected to Those Who Live in Death and would explain why Godwyn's ending is called "Age of the Duskborn", as I don't believe he is the Lord of Night either.

[@JMoore-vo7ii]

@@IsaiahX7-13 very interesting analysis. The idea that the power/constitution of the stars and the primeval current comes from the residual life within them raises a lot of questions about the processes of death and the disposing of the dead. Particularly the relationship between erdtree burial, removing destined death, the flow of the stars, and Godwyn/TWLID. What I'm getting at is that perhaps the process of life and death in the lands between (the interstice/middle realm) functions in tandem with the life and death of the stars. Godwyn and TWLID being tied to an age essentially stuck between life and death is indicative of the stagnation in the stars/primeval current. I might not be making any sense, so hopefully you can get an idea of what I'm talking about

[@IsaiahX7-13]

@@JMoore-vo7ii I mean, I'm pretty sure the Starlight Shards in the game suggest that not just the Carian royal family, but all people in the Lands Between have their fate tied to the stars in one way or another. So, what you're saying does make some sense if I get what you mean.

[@innegativeion]

ASoIF nerd here, just want to point out some extra trivia on the potential Game of Thrones reference front - The 'Night King' is an HBO show exclusive character not written by George, but "よるの" in Elden Ring can also be translated as Night's as in Night's King, with the possessive, which *is* a figure from George's books, specifically a mythological pseudo historical figure who took a mysterious ice witch to wife.

[@DaShikuXI]

That seems to very much parallel the game then, considering that you marry Ranni.

[@maxderrat]

Bloody excellent work. Those skeletons have been a continuous source of confusion for me.

[@pillpilferer]

Sinclair Lore nailed it, in my opinion. They pointed out that those giants are the only things wearing gold down there and, as we do not see any evidence of there ever being a 2 fingers (Ranni has us get the "fingerslayer blade", but that could just be her name for it, not the name it went by in the underground cities), perhaps those giants were the vassals of the greater will back then. It's possible the giants were always dead, considering the obsession with death held by all the underground cities, and perhaps they spoke to the Nox on behalf of the Greater Will or communicated in some other way. P.s. go watch Sinclair Lore Elden Ring content!! I learned more about the hidden lore.of Elden Ring in one of their videos than I have from nearly all other content on KZbin.

[@arlom5132]

Consider the possibility that these giants are the mothers of the albinaurics

[@pillpilferer]

@@arlom5132 how so? What makes you think that's a possibility?

[@jakeberry3318]

I love how you uncover the secrets of this game, its like you’re uncovering some ancient archaeology that hasn’t been figured out yet

[@kiberme]

I'm currently co-oping Elden Ring with a friend (for whom it's his 1st FS game, 10\10 experience, would recommend). Needless to say that for him game seems massively overwhelming and there is not much attention span left for the lore. BUT. One time he just blatantly asked me about exclusevely lore background was "Who are those giant skeletons?". I agree, this image is so powerful.

[@onewheeledcar6030]

I always thought these were like the mothers of the albinaurics, seeing as phillia* is also gigantic and all the weird stone corpses or statues or whatever they are as possibly being failed albinarics seeing as they are different sizes and seem malleable, similar to the albinaurics. *edit - not latenna

[@pablobarrios7681]

Maybe they have the the original genes or they are the references that the creator of the albinaurics used in their creation.

[@Just_B0red]

OOO I like this idea, would also explain how albanurics summon the giant skeletons to murder you at the start of Moghwyns palace.

[@AndrewTheUltraBoss99]

*phillia, not latenna

[@onewheeledcar6030]

@@AndrewTheUltraBoss99 yeah mb

[@AliasTheFuchs47]

The Symbol on the gigantic Thrones is the Same as on blue Silver set of the albinauric archers and Phillia!

[@GrimmerPl]

I just want to say that this song was a perfect match. One day I must to listen to all King's Field OSTs because who knows how many gems are there.

[@magimon91834]

It's also important to note how connected the questlines of the death faction and of ranni are

[@AaronCorr]

I don't know why but the giant skeleton peeking through Ranni's window was really funny to me. Is it just being a creep, does it need to borrow some milk, or is it just checking in to know how Ranni is feeling?

[@kokorochacarero8003]

He's just trying to reach her about her tower's extended warranty

[@senorkaktusz5940]

There is one question that still remains: who are those seemingly burned bodies in the Dragonkin Soldier of Nokstella arena, and what happened to them?

[@Mr.Nahe.Dortmund]

@BearSeek Berserker The dragon kin soldier?

[@senorkaktusz5940]

@BearSeek Berserker Don't know, the Silver Tears are made of liquid metal, so that can't burn like that, can they?

[@grannps]

there are similar huge mounds of the little bodies in Siofra Aqueduct, near where you fight the crucible knights outside of Valiant Gargoyles the aqueduct is full of Fallen Hawks soldiers too, and they look like and are proportioned like them, so I think it’s related to those little fellas

[@senorkaktusz5940]

@@grannps Oh, wow, now that you're saying, I remember Than your theory might be the trace to walk on I hope you're reading this, Zulie the Witch😂

[@1colonelsanders]

What do you mean one question? There's like a million

[@maximusthedude8305]

These guys certainly are a very weird and confusing entity in Elden Ring. I'd never thought of the tibia marina connection before at all, but they do have similar kind of clothing and the giant skeleton summons do look a lot like them as well. One thing I have wondered though, is whether the giants of the eternal cities are related to the giants in Caelid. We know that the city of Sellia in Caelid seems to be made by the Nox or their descendants, since the Sellain architecture and and spells are mostly based on the Nox. We can also fight a couple of Nox themselves, and in that arena there is also one of the giant thrones, but without a body on top of it. However, there ARE giant bodies scattered all throughout Caelid that are also pretty much unexplained in the lore. These giants are absolutely huge, some with skulls almost the size of cliff faces, but I believe they actually vary in size greatly, just the like corpses of the fire giants. Interestingly, they don't seem to be the same as the fire giants due to their proportions; the fire giants have quite small heads for the size of the bodies, however the skeletons in Caelid (and the ones summoned by the mariners) seem to have pretty human proportions between the skeleton torso and the skull - much like the ones on the thrones. That suggests these giants may be a separate race altogether, much like the trolls seem to be separate to the fire giants. Perhaps a few journeyed underground with the Nox for some reason, or perhaps they came from the underground originally, who knows. But either way I do think these big skeletons in Nokron and Nokstella are related to the giant figures we see the remains of in Caelid; at least, they fit the bill better than anything else in the game.

[@dstarr3]

God, I love this song. This and Passage for a Monk, two absolute greats in VGM history that the King's Field Franchise gave us

[@DoctorSess]

What is the name of this song please?

[@jojomicheldu59]

​@@DoctorSess Dark reality from King's Field 4

[@DoctorSess]

@@jojomicheldu59 thank you!

[@HollyriousYT]

Your music choices are always flawless, Zullie.

[@HollyriousYT]

you're so right, past me!

[@eldenring_area]

Thx alot man!!!

[@oopsallluke]

loved the music choice and staging of characters in this

[@ADHDDistracts]

You know it's gonna be a banger of a video when you hear Dark Reality

[@RickyFairside]

I don't really comment on KZbin clips all that much but I think this needs to be said. Your interpretation, ability to piece together lore, the simplicity, yet intricate way you create your videos is fascinating to watch Zullie. I really need to dive into more of your videos because everything about it is just top notch. I could watch lore all day long. But your videos are in a league of their own. Seriously.. as much as I've played Elden Ring and pay attention to the lore, I would have never made this connection between the Mariners, Godwyn, Ranni, and the Nox. Sublime work.

[@jake5081]

There's something I found that I think you'd be interested in looking into Zullie. When I fought Melania the other day I noticed in the cutscene that there's a giant head above where miquella was cradled. After the fight I got a better look and realized there was a full blown torso with arms up there, but cut off right at the base of the spine where the hips would have been. Then it donned on me that Miquella in Moghs Palace is infact sitting inside I giant hip bone. Now I seem to recall some item or spell in game mentioning that miquella was trying to use the Haligtree to grow himself a fully grown body to overcome his curse, but I didnt expect it to be a actual giant that he'd be piloting. Any chance you could look into this more? I dont quite have the skill you do for this sort of thing.

[@seelcudoom1]

im not sure if the giant is his new body, but its possible it was linked to his rebirth, if he was to be reborn it would make sense he would need a new mother to be born from,perhaps the nox wish to assist in his ascent? since he wants to create a world where all are welcome that would naturally include the exiles like the nox, while ranni seems to be the empyrean most associated with them miqellas the one whos ascent would probably most benefit them , and the albinaurics, a creation derived from the nox, had half the medallion needed to get to the haligtree worth remembering is Miquella is St Trina and thus associated with sleep, fitting for a would be lord of night, or possibly since the lord of night is apparently suppose to exist alongside rather then replace the elden lord St Trina was actually Miquellas counterpart

[@Fairenough642]

Its definitely interesting, could have been forming with the tree, could have been making a body, could have been making it for his sister so she can save herself from the rot? It does look feminine, hes in a egg and such so maybe the body was his "mom" birthing him? Many many theories most likely for dlc

[@Radgerayden-ist]

It's pretty well known if you watch other lore KZbinrs, not sure zullie specifically ever talked about it though

[@seelcudoom1]

@@Fairenough642 its possible its an avatar of whatever outer god cursed him with eternal youth, only to have that child stolen by the god of blood which well, old gods including one associated with dreams(and Flora if the tree thing miquellas motifs are anything to go by) and a formless god of blood desiring a surrogate child, now why does that sound familiar....

[@NoConsequenc3]

@@Fairenough642 the body rebirthing him is likely St.Trina Source: My ass

[@josephkim007]

I always wondered about those huge skeletons on the thrones there. I appreciate also how you give multiple explanations and multiple possibilities. Thank you always for these videos! Please keep them coming!

[@Squeegi01]

I have been rewatching these videos for some reason and man they are awesome! You go into so much depth! It's really amazing! I hope you're enjoying your much deserved break, Zullie!

[@christopherglace]

Since the Albinauric have some relationship with the Nox, I think the mummy may be related to the giant Albinauric woman of which we encounter one in the Consecrated Snowfield's Apostate Derelict during Latenna's questline.

[@SilverSeraphym]

Awesome, this is one I've been waiting for. This is good stuff. Something I'd like to point out, it says the Nox wanted to "forge" a lord, which could have two meanings. It could mean create, like forging a sword. But it could also mean to make an illegitimate copy of, as in forging a signature. I wonder if that language was used on purpose to imply a connection between the Nox and Death, as if they found him underground when they were banished and wanted to use him somehow to get their revenge. Perhaps that's what got them banished in the first place, maybe the Fingerslayer is made from him, and these giants were the early explorers/leaders that led the charge for going against the fingers, hence their central locations to the cities.

[@zacharysimmons4115]

"Uhh, Ranni? There's a..." "I know. Don't look at it. It'll probably go away if we just ignore it."

[@sirfullofhimself]

The music choice makes these videos 1000x better than they already are!

[@LtCdrXander]

Is there any explanation for the weird alien looking guys dotted around the eternal cities and the Dragonkin Soldier of Nokstella arena? The statue-like things in groups that appear to be screaming?

[@jacobfreeman5444]

Part nod to bloodborne and part a finger pointing to what seems to be the religion of the nox. The nox seem to revere the dead and act as the guardians for them. Which may be why the nox are opposed to the golden order. The Golden Order is deathless with an end to life coming when the erd tree decides it is your time and summons your soul to itself. So this would be seen as a perversion of the cycle of life and death to them. Beyond that I do not know.

[@lysandermakhno5778]

I’m of the opinion that they’re failed mimics. I wonder if the object data has any sort of reference.

[@LtCdrXander]

@@lysandermakhno5778 that makes sense. With there being so many other things surrounding the Nox that are being talked about, I feel like no one has taken notice of these mysterious little dudes. Like you said, seeing their object data would be very interesting

[@LtCdrXander]

@@jacobfreeman5444 interesting. Maybe those husks are the dead Nox that the living Nox and silver tears watch over. Maybe since they're blasphemous to the Golden Order, the Erdtree does not accept their souls when they die

[@devinguy]

This is one of the things I love about Fromsoft games: people try to distinguish a disparity between game-lore and development stuff (like internal AI names) but a lot of the time, we have to dig deeper into the code to try to find out connections in the lore.

[@xymos7807]

Or maybe there was intention to connect them, hence the details in the code, but ultimately were scrapped due to time constraints. I wish I had the time to learn how to dive into this stuff.

[@ASNS117Zero]

@@xymos7807 Or they were deliberately left open ended, and we're all just grasping at connections that aren't there. That's part of the fun of these kind of games, sometimes the only connection is the one our pattern seeking brains find.

[@fulladelnay1747]

Your videos are informative, relaxing and relatively easy to watch, i love it!

[@eoghan8788]

Love whenever you use this specific Kings Field song for videos

[@darinchiasson]

More boatman lore is always welcome, that fella is a gem

[@deadworld953]

Love your videos! It's always so gratifying to see others who are as into the lore (or even more so) than I am.

[@Kuriso2]

Loved the theories in this video, very well made.

[@LobsterBisque13]

I always just assumed they were high lord wolnir’s distant cousin low thane rinlow 😂

[@diggi0307]

it‘s always fascinating how there are no mentions in item descriptions about the giant skeletons yet Zullie finds somehow a way to link them to other things. really enjoying his/her work and effort 🙏🏼

[@jjj5413]

You're the best. Your videos are still as great as ever. Thanks for all the work you put into these 😁

[@supersongi]

I love this song you chose for this video as well

[@highjumpkick999]

That skeleton peeking into Ranni's window reminded me of a nightmare I had. It was very similar to the depicted situation; just a huge creature looking into my house. It doesn't do anything except follow me around and wait until I come out so he can eat me. Just the pressure of it staring down my every move still gives me cold sweat until today.

[@derpywoodoo]

Some of those giant spectral skeletons spawn in a large graveyard in the snowfields, and on the path towards Mohg's palace. Maybe more connections?

[@ethanwashington6789]

Those skeletons in the graveyard are summoned by a hidden mariner, because they stop spawning when the mariner is killed. As for the skeletons in mohg's palace, they are summoned by albinaurics. As we know from latenna's questline, albinaurics are born from fillia, the giant albinauric in the church of the consecrated snowfields. Maybe fillia is similar to the giant eternal city skeletons, and mohg's albinaurics are just channeling her power?

[@Lucky-Seven_]

I love your channel so much. you are single handedly inspiring my next playthrough.

[@Kaiserredbeard]

Hey Zullie, ive seen your posts since darksouls 2 and i really apriciate your work youve done over the jears. And i just wanted to say, thank you very much. It is such a joy to me to see a new video with obscure details and eerie music. Happy haloween.

[@Italianchef26]

I knew it. The Tibia Mariner, the best boss in the game, also has the best connections and implications with the game's story and lore.

[@AlastorAltruistGaming]

See, this is also funny, because the Albinaurics in the Lord of Blood’s palace summon giant skeletons when you get to the stairs leading to the next cave, so this is also led to believe that the Nox, the Mariners, the Albinaurics AND the Formless Mother are all tied in some way, even though this would make no sense.

[@xXLunatikxXlul]

Very good observation!

[@casey8153]

You continue to just bring more life to this universe Zullie, keep it up and thank you!

[@ManYetNo1]

never get tired of this ost. interesting vid as always zullie

[@cameron818]

So what about the giant skeletons that are half buried in Caelid? I always assumed the giant skeletons everywhere were just the remains of the Giants.

[@aifos5171]

They seem made of stone to me, what if they are just gigantic sculptures?

[@JustKelso1993]

@@aifos5171 They look like they are made out of the same junk as the giant dying/dead dragons to me.

[@davidmejia5740]

I was under the impression that the "Night King" is just the player doing Ranni's ending, because they always seem to be the sort of "middle man" in the endings. The Elden Lord is the consort to an Elden God (Marika), the Lord of Frenzied Flame is an intermediary to presumably an outer god of chaos, so it's possible that the Night King is basically something along those lines after Ranni ushers in the Age of Stars with you as her consort.

[@nathanwilens5611]

This. You, the player, become the night king when you marry Ranni. I think.

[@comradekenobi6908]

@@nathanwilens5611 will we be able to go south, breach the wall and conquer the land of the livin- oh wait wrong franchise

[@drteeth362]

another great video Zullie! music choice is always superb

[@taintedbunny11]

Amazing screenshots as usual. I was also curious about those giants and the giant skeletal spirits but never made that connection. Great work as always.

[@chefvortivask1952]

While the Night King is a character only appearing in the Game of Thrones TV show that doesn't exist in GRRM's books, there may be a relation to a similarly character called the "*Night's* King". The Night's King was a Lord Commander of the Night's Watch (which was created to guard the realms of men against malicious icy beings called Others or White Walkers as they're known in the show) that fell in love with a mysterious "corpse queen", theorised by some to be an Other. The Night's King "gave his soul" to her and the two ruled in a far northern castle for some years comitting grave atrocities and sacrifices to the Others before being cast down. This did remind me briefly of Fia being known as a "Deathbed Companion" to Godwyn but I'm not very familiar with Elden Ring's lore to say if there's a massive connection here.

[@SmileytheSmile]

The lore behind them is that the developers wanted the game to be more spooky, so logically, they made some skeletons bigger.

[@MordantCrow]

I really enjoy your videos, and you always make such excellent music choices!

[@LacesLawless]

Your videos are so amazing, and by god your constant use of the King's Field: Ancient City music led me to start a fresh playthrough of that game. Thank you

[@Bigsweatyballs]

Sad they’re not bosses

[@SmokeAnPlay]

Yet

[@tylorjohnsman6197]

Thank you for introducing me to the haunting Kings Field OST tracks, really.

[@huntergraham9502]

Zullie, just want you to know you’re videos bring me great joy and I happily await everything you bring to us

[@devildante9]

First time I saw the skeleton I freaked the fuck out, such a creepy concept

[@Levinswords]

interestingly, i don’t THINK we get a title for our Lordship upon the Age of Stars ending, meaning the Night King or Lord of Night could absolutely be the player character in the event that they complete the Age of Stars ending, which heavily requires you to go through Nokron and Nokstella, meaning the Lord of Stars would journey to the forgotten cities, and then would come the Age of Stars.

[@WithADanceNumber]

thank u for these beautiful videos zullie, i lvoe the style of text and scenery, its peaceful and enticing.

[@jamesmcqe9287]

Love your videos and especially your soundtrack taste. Happy Halloween!

[@aswifte5743]

Always wonder what these spooky bois were ever since I saw them in the loading screen

[@_ipsissimus_]

Big Feet for papa miyazaki

[@coast2coast-295]

That King's Field track... beautiful and morbid nostalgia. "Are you searching for the darkness, too?"

[@Sleepingdruid37]

Love the thought process!

[@Jbarahona10]

Been waiting for something about this and those "solified corpses" on top of Nokstella rooftoops. Great job as Always Zullie!!!

[@kitsunick5696]

Ty Zullie for bringing me a bit of "lore happiness" every time you upload

[@shinrazero]

I love your videos so much. Thank you

[@dynomight3855]

The nox have always fascinated me both their gear and the lore and connections to certain events, I hope in the up coming dlc we could get further clues about this "night king" and possible encounters with Godwyn the Prince of Death?

[@Oryyyt]

Lovely treat! Thanks Zullie 🤘 Happy Halloween!

[@EmberSynth]

This is very interesting, I appreciate this video a lot, Zullie. The giant skeletons in the eternal cities were the thing in Elden Ring that captivated me the most. I was so unnerved by them but also extremely curious as to what tf they were.

[@candl286]

Thanks for the video on what is the most intriguing puzzle in Elden Ring for me

[@tristanrow4951]

IDk why but the moment with the huge skeleton just peeking in through Ranni's window just sent me

[@hajimazorko]

Zullie you are the best, love all your videos, with each new you, our little witch, find something new and interesting for us in these mysteries worlds, low bow to u❤️🖤

[@jeanmouloude]

I love your use of king’s field OSTs :) it makes your videos more etherial

[@rodrigoVgaspar]

Such amazing lore, goddamn! Awesome video

[@shaydilane2172]

Hey Zullie! Found your channel a few weeks ago and have been combing through your content ever since! I really love your videos, they’re always so immersive and fun and the music is great! It’s also really cool seeing these different theories and speculations, and you always do a good job of editing your videos and giving a great visual to accompany your points. Awesome work, and Happy Halloween!

[@vcuteverything]

I remember the first time seeing one of these and was in awe. It was amazing and mysterious that I wanted to know so much more.

[@ambivnce]

i love this track so much