Elden Ring Lore - Brother Corhyn, the Hypocrite

[@fib900]

The Virgin Coryn: prefers blind devotion and won’t accept a different way. The Ever Brilliant Chad Goldmask: believes that with faith should come true introspection and confronting the flaws in the system.

[@ClovenOnes]

@@seratoxin3825 A more accurate term is that faith is belief in something, blind devotion or not it's all faith

[@anathema2513]

Fai only vs Fai-Int in a nutshell.

[@GearShotgun]

It is okay if I refer to him as “The ever brilliant chad-mask” instead?

[@fib900]

@@GearShotgun yeah, probably a better title

[@the.author.0813]

@@seratoxin3825 he was in fact, not right initially

[@johngamer453]

Something about seeing coryhn crying while gold mask T poses next to him is so funny

[@square-table-gaming]

Power Stance

[@RavenGamingOverLord]

Lmao

[@brad5204]

I knew he was a hypocrite the moment I gave him the two fingers prayerbook and he went “tHiS iS hErEsy!!!”

[@thewhitejawa]

I find it funny that Cohryn doesn't even know why the tree's burning, despite him whining about it at the guy who did it.

[@lavastage1132]

The way I see it, Corhyn WAS chosen by grace because of his refusal to let go of his prophecies, rejecting the blind dogma of the Golden Order in pursuit of what he saw as the truth, much like how Goldmask rejected the perfection of the Golden Order in pursuit of the truth. However, instead of interpreting his guidance as a reward for his iron will in pursuit of the truth, he instead interpreted it as a reward for his faith in the Order, which is quite literally the opposite of why he was graced in the first place. Heck, his blind zealotry is likely why his guidance was eventually lost. Its a bit of an ironic tragedy, really.

[@deztacular]

Brother coryhn's journey and end is both interesting and tragic, I was surprised at the end how he rejects the idea of the elden ring being flawed and then dies holding onto his beliefs.

[@square-table-gaming]

He'd rather die thinking he was right than live knowing he misplaced his faith

[@Pikachu-qr4yb]

@@square-table-gaming well at least my Faith (stats) were not misplaced cause he taught me some dope spellls

[@Ohmagawdjr]

Does he die? I was under the impression that he just goes away.

[@square-table-gaming]

@@Ohmagawdjr he ded

[@ninjahattori7576]

man ws a living embodiment of a once great kingdom refusing to let go, core recipe of fromsoft

[@kutsmacksolucas]

The man with blindfolds simply refused to see the truth even in front of him

[@pokemontas487]

The Greater Will does in fact have a written and communicable language. The cover on the Two Fingers' Prayerbook isn't just circles. They're circles that are made in an unbroken script with dissimilar characters. It's extremely similar to the One Ring script from the Lord of the Rings. The rules of The Golden Order could have possibly been written by the Greater Wills physical Two Fingers, interpreted, and written down. Goldmask is using the same language to speak back to the Greater Will. He's using his finger to sign it. That's what Corhyn is recording. The issue with that is that Goldmask doesn't have a physical second person in his conversation. Since he's clearly communicating, he has to have some kind of direct connection to the Greater Will. If Goldmask is directly communicating with the Greater Will, the second issue that arises is the speed of communication. The Roundtable Fingermaiden remarks that the Greater Will could take thousands of years to communicate its message. Goldmask is somehow directly plugged into the Greater Will. His existence is either so interesting to the Greater Will, so at one with the Golden Order, or some other idea that he's bypassing all known methods of communication. I posted this idea to the Elden Ring subreddit months ago but it never got any attention. I tweeted at you with pics and the minor explanation that relates to them.

[@square-table-gaming]

Thank you for reaching out on this! Definitely keeping it in our back pocket for a future dive into Goldmask and you can expect a shout out for helping us on this path.

[@lordanonimmo7699]

I think the simplest solution is that he isnt communicating with the greater will,bit with the erdtree itself or elden beast.

[@coatofarms4439]

The Fingermaiden says it could take The Greater Will thousands of years until it communicates with her/Two Fingers again as it was presumably consoling itself on what to do in regards to the sudden rise of the Tarnished and Queen Marika’s betrayal. The Greater Will could very well be communicating to Goldmask in a similar way as he would with her but directly thanks to Goldmask’s intellectual capabilities. Goldmask’s intelligence seems to be on a different realm as our own, direct communication with The Greater Will could very well be possible for him.

[@ythandlename]

I think the fact that Goldmask is the only being that can communicate with the Greater Will and doing a better job than the RTH's Two Fingers, is understated and significant.

[@YTDariuS-my6dg]

@@seratoxin3825 I mean, a big advantage these games have is the near infinite possibilities for theorycrafting and making shit up. It sounds reasonable enough to me, doesn't go against my own theories, and, off the top of my head, doesn't go against anything stated in the game. Not to mention, I personally believe that item descriptions are a form of unreliable narrator, since they also tend to reference common beliefs and such, not just straight up facts.

[@KuraSourTakanHour]

Corhyn is one of the best voiced characters in the game, especially as he speaks in distress about goldmask

[@not_a_bt.wavformat2909]

That is true but you have to see the kalé cut quest is voiced god damn it’s amazing

[@river7874]

@@not_a_bt.wavformat2909 I reeeeeeaaaally hope they add his quest back in. I don't understand why they removed it, as it was so damn good and would have fit perfectly with the Frenzied Flame ending.

[@xLionsxxSmithyx]

That's not True, GoldMask is the best voiced character.

[@Br0kenMask]

"noo master please don't stop! I was so close meh meh meh!"

[@Egorator]

​@@Br0kenMask now say this out of context

[@greathorn]

Corhyn: “I’m going to find Goldmask and learn from him, he’s a true follower of the Golden Order! Goldmask: “We don’t understand everything there is to know about the Greater Will, it’s not perfect and there’s room for new truths to be applied. Corhyn: 😡

[@ironmaster8925]

He seemed so respectful that it's unfortunate to learn the truth about him.

[@dr.vegapunk5853]

really? because from software have a thing for putting this type of character on their games to be hypocrite or just go mad at the end of their quest, upon learning the truth of their order or belief

[@liot54]

Always found it incredibly ironic that Corhyn teaches you Flame Sling, an incantation representing cardinal sin against the Golden Order…

[@gabrielrussell5531]

Goldmask's ending to me is the one that best fits with the themes of the series: When you fail figure out what you did wrong and try again to get things right.

[@Oryyyt]

An ideal ending. But I still think Ranni's ending was more fitting because of the dark, sinister nature of not just the golden order but the greater will itself.

[@Zenoferrum]

@@Oryyyt forget ideals, embrace chaos and become the based lord.

[@Prince_Mammon]

Or just burn it all

[@dislikebutton9571]

@@Zenoferrum chaos is a cringe, childish tantrum ending. "life is bad sometimes so lets end everything!"

[@Zenoferrum]

@@dislikebutton9571 you're looking at ideals again! I wanna burn everything so I WILL burn everything! Can't have ideals if I burn them all

[@GenoKiller7]

I think this one is tragically beautiful. In this brutal world this quest required no violence. Just watching and waiting

[@matiasluukkanen7718]

Goldmask realized you could circumvent Fingers entirely as mediators and tries to commune through his "gesture-language" with the Greater Will directly. He realizes that flaws of the world are flaws inherent in egoistical human gods, (Marika, demigods, etc) and then produces rune that excludes gods and need for them entirely, allowing people directly commune with the Greater Will. Fingers are essentially holding unto broken system, Marika's betrayal revealing how frail that system really is. Those that hold that Fingers are infallible, fall to worship the religious system instead of Greater Will. In Corhyn's questline, his faith is revealed to be centered around Erdtree and Fingers. Even though they are just relatively meagre works and vassals of the Greater Will. Erdtree has slowly turned into object of faith itself, unlike let's say Moon, Rot God, or Formless Mother who are directly worshipped by their supplicants.

[@otamatonefan853]

Cohryn does call the two fingers' incant tomes "heresy", so i don't think he was centreing his faith on them, just the tree and GW. Also, idk your evidence for Goldmask's "fixed faith". Plus, how do we know GW isn't egotistical too like with most human gods? From the words that the finger readers say when they get hit and disappear (up to 3 times before looping), GW seems to WANT people to blindly believe it's words as fact, and to intimidate those who disobey.

[@ythandlename]

That blind fanaticism is one of the major problems in the land. It leads to discrimination and purges that had gone on for too long. Ironically enough, Corhyn represents a system where the faithful will pursue a self destructive crusade against all beings that are not affiliated with the GO. This had caused an endless amount of wars and even their most fanatic would bend to forbidden arts such as weaponized perfume, artificial monstrosities like the gargoyles and even heresy, ironic that the fanatics would commit heresy to get rid of who they deem as heretical.

[@efaristi9737]

Humm Marika and her children are flawed, sure, but why believe that the Golden order is imperfect because of them and the Fingers and not because of the Greater Will? He's literally at the origin of it and it's the Fingers language who is interpreted, the Fingers can communicate with the Greater Will directly so i believe there's little chance they misunderstand what it want.

[@inserisciunnome]

@@efaristi9737 Its a fairly popular theory that the Greater Will Doesn't care about the Golden Order specifically, and in fact Is fine with ANY Order, even Dung Eater's or, possibly, Ranni's. Granted, there are some assumptions made, but the lore Is so full of Holes and questions without answers that Will hopefully be answered in the DLC That i can forgive some assumptions.

[@efaristi9737]

@@inserisciunnome I thought Marika based her order on the Fingers will? Why would she go over such lentgh to destroy the Golden Order if it was entirely her idea and not imposed by someone else? I know she kinda lost her mind after Godwyn death but she did plotted the destruction of her order well before that... Or did she scheme her succession? It's so confusing. I mean, if you do mend the elden Ring, you become Marika consort and continue the age of the golden order, except if you choose the path of Frenzied Flame or of Stars but thoses paths are not connected to the Greater Will.

[@thetinygraydog3134]

I think it would have been cool it he got a different ending if you managed to give him every prayer book. That when he read about so many different faiths to teach you their incantations, he began to have his eyes opened to the truth. Just an idea I had.

[@whatever3912-h7e]

It's interesting that he thinks that every prayerbook except for the Golden Order one is heresy. While it makes sense for Fire Monk ones and Godskin incantations (and even Dragon Cult to some extent, although the Gravel Stone Seal description says it didn't contradict the Golden Order and was accepted in the Capital), why does he say the same about Two Fingers incantations? Aren't they direct servants of the Greater Will? While calling Assassin Prayerbook heresy might have some merits (as in, it might be "necessary evil" accepted by the Two Fingers), Two Fingers prayerbook is not really heretical. And Corhyn teaches many Two Fingers incantations by default.

[@commanderty94]

He is like a man who only believes in Pepperoni Pizza. When presented with pineapple pizza, he denies its intersectionality as a pizza, and casts it aside as being a calzone.

[@kavinh10]

@@commanderty94 then he found out his master thought anchovies was the ultimate pizza and got mindbroken

[@evagand]

@@commanderty94 this metaphor is perfect, 10/10

[@randomname6069]

@@commanderty94 holy shit that’s a good comparison. A hilarious one aswell lol

[@michaelringel273]

@@commanderty94 just wanted to say this is one of the funniest comments I’ve seen in a hot minute. Thank you good sir, and my the golden order shine on you

[@MeesterMAAAAN]

Corhyn will refuse the tonic if offered. The option changes the questline but the item remains in your inventory. He does not take the tonic.

[@ronwisegamgee]

When you talk to him after you defeat Maliketh, his dialogue suggests that he took it, similar to giving Rya the Potion of Forgetfulness. It's probably a developer oversight, similar to how Mohg was originally supposed to be a recurring nameless mini-boss before being repurposed as the person who kidnaps Miquella.

[@ZettontheGOAT]

I offer him the tonic, i thought it was the only way i could continue the quest because he seem to rejected it, kinda regret it then. I fully support Goldmask in this, he was one of the only person i trusted besides Ranni, he saw the flaw in the Golden Order and seek not only to repair it, but Perfected it, i know by agreeing with him i still put the Greater Will on the seat of power but at least his Golden Order would be better than what Marika, Godfrey and Radagon led. We saw what the Golden Order did to the Omen, Demi Humans, Misbegotten and everyone that's considered as "Heretics" by the Greater Will. And Goldmask probably saw the truth in that, and understand that the Golden Order possessed flaw that needs correction, at least that's what i understand, and Corhyn should've been grateful for what Goldmask did, kinda sad to know that he rejected the truth right before his eyes, he was one of the character i considered as an ally. Knowing his quest ended like this if i didn't give him the tonic kinda broke me

[@portalmanHUN]

The Greater Will does not give a shit. The intro cinematic tells you the GW abandoned the Lands Between. And by slaying the Elden Beast you truly sever it's connection.

[@ZettontheGOAT]

@@portalmanHUN not so Greater Will after all 🤣

[@spottedslash4256]

"Goldmask in this, he was one of the only person i trusted besides Ranni" Man, thats some polar opposites to trust. XD

[@ZettontheGOAT]

@@spottedslash4256 Compared to Fia and Dung Eater, they're probably saner 😩

[@TK-7193]

now this goes without saying, but you forgot to mention miriel in your group of friends that you trust.

[@Tony_TK]

Turns out the guy who spends all his free time t-poising at a tree was just insane

[@square-table-gaming]

Idk man, only if you believe corhyn, and that guys a dick

[@potassium3948]

Hello cohryn

[@ForestX77]

T-posing is how you assert dominance and Goldmask asserted so much dominance he became a rune that fixes a entire religion.

[@jackp492]

@@ForestX77 worked for Jesus right?

[@Arc77crA]

@@jackp492 underrated comment

[@SgtBuffagor]

I think it's kind of a harsh judgment to pass on the man. He was given a lot to swallow. Greater men than him might have choked too.

[@TV-oj8uh]

Thats right

[@notsans9995]

He's a worthless fool and I smited him with Marika's hammer on my second playthrough.

[@dr.vegapunk5853]

how so? someone said the current system is flaw and need to be rectify and he just wont accept it at all like the video said he wanted someone to validate his belief

[@SgtBuffagor]

@@dr.vegapunk5853 Well, he's just now learning this about the -only- thing he's believed in his entire life. He hasn't had the benefit you and I have had of being exposed to the possibility that anything else is true. It's like living in a shut up house with your parents and no TV, and learning, "Hey, the sky isn't blue, it's green".

[@dr.vegapunk5853]

@@SgtBuffagor and upon me learning and seeing the sky is blue and not green i would thought that my parent lie and think later what else did they lie about and move forward not crumble and break because a system is flaw

[@chaoschris8194]

Regression seems to be a theme with this entire questline.

[@sorenkarna2619]

Leave it to a souls character to go crazy at the end of this long quest....

[@Gardenofsen]

I love how you still get the option to learn incantations from him when he's frekaing out. Just "Yeah yeah. Who cares about your existental crisis. Teach me incantations."

[@mrpitman2428]

I think Coryhn is supposed to represent the followers of Christ who, upon seeing Jesus' death, no longer believed in Him. If the Erdtree is supposed to be a manifestation of the Greater Will (elden ring's substitution for God) than it fits pretty well. Just my interpretation.

[@dbearded130]

But even when it burns and you fight him he still cried out for the blessing of the golden order so I don't think he ever loses his faith. His faith in Goldmask, sure, but the order itself he was blindly faithful till the end.

[@mrpitman2428]

@@dbearded130 well yeah, the Jews who followed Christ would likely have kept their faith in God, and lost their faith in Jesus because He died. (even if they were to hear of His resurrection). Many of the Pharisees and Jews believed the Messiah would come as a conquerer or warrior like King David, and conquer the romans. Many such Jews were disappointed when the Messiah was killed by the Romans and so refused to believe He was the Messiah. like so, Coryhn kept his faith in the Golden Order and refused to believe any different account of its doings than those he previously believed. It's not completely airtight, and thought it's probably wrong, it's just my theory. I definitely think there's a parallel to early Christianity to be found in Coryhn, though.

[@humorm4152]

@@dbearded130 Let's just say Goldmask and us give the update just like how Jesus did from Abrahamic laws to Christianity some can't move on, they still believe in one true god but with diffrent interpretation. Coryn can't move on from old teachings.

[@hornetguy9063]

@@mrpitman2428 solid. It is kind of funny that we, as Christians, often take umbrage at the idea of fundamentalists always being viewed in a bad light, because we take it as a slight on ourselves. But really, it could be an allegory to many religions. We just use pseudo-Christian wordage and garments on the character because it identifies him the most to a western audience. It could also just not be a critique or allegory on the real world at all. Most of Elden Ring exists as a fantasy with little to no parallels to our world.

[@Iorund]

Another little lore tidbit comes from the fact that one of the first incantations he teaches you is Catch Flame. In the description of the incantation it reads: "The flame of ruin is anathema to the Erdtree. But prophets sometimes glimpse it within the faith all the same. Sadly when this occurs their sole reward is banishment." This ties into the description of his robes. He foresaw that the Erdtree would burn and was exiled for it.

[@radioaftermaththeband]

He spends his time with his head stuck in a wheel, he is not a smart man...

[@m.s6832]

Funny thing I gave him the two fingers prayer book just to see what he would say despite having the spells, and he called the work of the two fingers heresy

[@m.s6832]

I just saw someone else talked about this Whoops

[@AsterioMetaverse]

The incantation - rejection, is basically Cohryn.

[@Shad0wmoses]

gold mask turns around to cohryn after hearing his cries and says "what are you looking at me for? idk anything about no greater will. im just spamming the gesture button"

[@billj.8690]

I like how you smoked his boots while you were narrating about how he was zealot and a hypocrite... that was a nice touch.

[@Reverandfatdave]

I think we're forgetting the most important part of the C man's quest: it's where you get the T-pose.

[@Despondencymusic]

I believe Rainbow's song Stargazer is a fitting story to compliment our dear brother's journey. High noon, oh I'd sell my soul for water Nine years worth of breakin' my back There's no sun in the shadow of the wizard See how he glides, why he's lighter than air Oh I see his face! Where is your star? Is it far, is it far, is it far? When do we leave? I believe, yes, I believe In the heat and the rain With whips and chains To see him fly So many die We build a tower of stone With our flesh and bone Just to see him fly But don't know why Now where do we go? Hot wind, moving fast across the desert We feel that our time has arrived The world spins, while we put his dream together A tower of stone to take him straight to the sky Oh I see his face! Where is your star? Is it far, is it far, is it far? When do we leave? Hey, I believe, I believe In the heat and the rain With whips and chains Just to see him fly Too many die We build a tower of stone With our flesh and bone To see him fly But we don't know why Ooh, now where do we go All eyes see the figure of the wizard As he climbs to the top of the world No sound, as he falls instead of rising Time standing still, then there's blood on the sand Oh I see his face! Where was your star? Was it far, was it far When did we leave? We believed, we believed, we believed In heat and rain With the whips and chains To see him fly So many died We built a tower of stone With our flesh and bone To see him fly But why In all the rain With all the chains Did so many die Just to see him fly Look at my flesh and bone Now, look, look, look, look, Look at his tower of stone I see a rainbow rising Look there, on the horizon And I'm coming home, I'm coming home, I'm coming home Time is standing still He gave back my will Ooh ooh ooh ooh Going home I'm going home My eyes are bleeding And my heart is leaving here But it's not home But it's not home Ooh Take me back He gave me back my will Ooh ooh ooh ooh Going home I'm going home My eyes are bleeding And my heart is leaving here But it's not home But it's not home Ooh Take me back, take me back Back to my home ooh, ooh, ooh

[@Ironbattlemace]

Ever brilliant Golden Mask: T-poses the Golden Order to a perfection, with only hes brilliant mind, refuses to elaborate. Sister Crywimp: *Screeching*

[@yutogiovanna]

Funny for a guy so devoted to this "perfect" Golden Order one of the things in his base inventory are fire incantations which is heavily repugnant to the Order so he was already running from the truth

[@thorveim1174]

all i remember of that guy: "ThAt is a wORk of HEresY!" I swear I felt like I was visiting an inquisitor every time I gave him a book

[@yourbestie3233]

was a life-saver. Thanks a lot.

[@ZugzugZugzugson]

something funny about Corhyn asking you to "look at it. the culmination of perfection, burning, before our very eyes!" bro isn't even aware of how blind he is.

[@aaronwinrock8164]

You know what they say of reeds that don't bend in the wind, And so poor Corhyn snapped :/

[@CX0EX]

I swear you somehow make me appreciate the characters more every lore vid, you must be doing something right lmao. btw did you already breakdown what exactly are the ravenmount assassins? much love!

[@RhythmViolence2]

Corhyn and Goldmask is like that "babe youre not making sense" meme 😂.

[@JacketA]

Your lore videos are the best Elden Ring lore videos out there with SmoughTown 💯 keep up the great work guys

[@square-table-gaming]

Thank you!

[@toucomtou]

Maybe Corhyn didn't exactly think himself better than others, but desperately clinged to his faith because that was what brought him the guidance of grace.

[@victoryoso4955]

Its normal, he has dedicated his life to a belief proven as false, and he knows the truth too when the tree burns. Spite for his wasted years for a lie, maybe, thats why he fights at the end...

[@square-table-gaming]

I wish that fight initiated on its own. It only happens if you attack him

[@mohammad1.45]

Thumbnail goes hard man

[@square-table-gaming]

Our artist Pat Gee always goes hard

[@ignitiondrive9115]

Hey STG, I was hoping you could answer a request to look into the lore of Eleonora, her history with Yura, and the Drake Knights. I find it odd that Eloenora doesn't have the tattoo most other npc invaders have on her forehead. Thanks!

[@square-table-gaming]

Definitely worth investigating. We're going to stick to spooky enemies for October but we'll add these to the top of our list.

[@biocraft8979]

I will never forgive Corhyn for deeming the spell buck's I gave him heretical and gives me only one spell he owes me an extra incantation.

[@justintaub768]

these are great videos. great speculation, well produced. your voice is very calm and I like the down tempo atmosphere, almost as if these tales are being told over a chilly winter night huddled around a fire. my one criticism is that sometimes the audio levels are inconsistent video to video. i work in audio so maybe only i notice that. otherwise keep it up!

[@jacobfreeman5444]

I think Corhyn makes it obviously why he ultimately fails. He isn't an intellectual. He is a believer. His faith and passion is strong but his mind is sadly plodding and rigid. He can't comprehend how the golden order might be otherwise than perfect. This deficiency is precisely why Cornyn ultimately betrays his principles by refusing to behold truth. He said it himself that his mind is far too mediocre. He just hoped the truth was something that he could understand by standing in the reflected glory of others. This, unfortunately, was true. But his less than agile mind balked at these revolutionary thoughts and ultimately turned on itself. Corhyn can be seen as a cautionary tale. A mind not prepared for a burden will ultimately falter and betray itself. His hypocrisy is not fully his own fault. If he had someone who nurtured his mind properly he probably could have made the leap of faith. But all he had was himself. Goldmask cared not at all for his scribe. Maybe didn't even realize the young man was there at all and so did nothing to ease Corhyn into the understanding he needed. So I cannot blame Corhyn for finding refuge in zealotry when he only had himself to rely on in understanding truths far beyond him.

[@WhoDaF0ok1sThatGuy]

Loves this analysis, he’s one of my favorites for his kindness but him being a hypocrite is all too true!

[@mightytaco123]

Especially since brother corhhyn has is wearing a blindfold

[@vocalcalibration8033]

I think you're being a little harsh on buddy boy here. People of the lands between are brought to believe in the golden order above all else, assured since childhood that it means the very best for them and their friends and family. That kind of entrenched belief is difficult to shake off, and for Corhyn reality hit him with a great deal of force all at once. Not helped by the fact Gold mask didn't really seem to give a shit about Corhyns presence and thus was unlikely to ease him into a better understanding of the world. Perhaps in a less tumultuous time Corhyn could have had the opportunity to adapt, but given the state we find the lands between in he simply had no such luxury.

[@Laesis]

Hearing him speak like that at the end, I regret not having killed him myself.

[@muratakcan1299]

It just shows the interaction between faith and... fear.

[@xRickAstleyx]

the golden order is just as single-mindeldy destructive as the frenzied flame. theyre both sides of the same coin, and used to be two halves of a more balanced whole. i wihs i knew what caused the separation

[@donniebell7887]

Everbased goldmask is the GOAT.

[@cyrusmuller6502]

I think it’s important the ever brilliant gold mask houses fundamentalist ideals while corhyn sticks to erdtree faith this allows the ever brilliant gold mask to ever brilliantly see the flaws and cracks in the order

[@fatty1040]

Honestly Gold Mask dying to Brother Coryhns is an ironic twist. One who sought to safeguard the world from Outer Gods still wont be saved from the fickleness of Man Death and war will still be just as common afterwards.

[@square-table-gaming]

I think it may have been intentional. He may have needed to die to finish his mending rune

[@fatty1040]

@@square-table-gaming I can see that as well, But Coryhns dialogue is highly suggestive and add that with his mental state, the burning of the erdtree, and his Master Goldmask basically confirming it *needed* to be burned in order for the rune to mend the ring. He definitely had no copium to drink to handle all that and would've reacted.

[@Winterfang]

The thing about Brother Cohryn is that he is a prophet. Which means one day saw the Erdtree burning and awoke the powers of the fire Giant. For that he was probably imprisoned and tortured by the golden order until he was rehabilitated. So he is forcing himself to believe that the erdtree is perfect and inmortal and will neve be burned. But deep down he is scared his vision wasn't mere dream but what will inevitably happen.

[@E1_DE3]

Oh wow, he actually does have white hair. I thought he was just bald this whole time. A+ Deep Lore.

[@MistaCUNextTuesday]

I offered Coryhn the tonic and he never took it. He said "would that I could'. Seeing the golden order as imperfect truly broke him, but he couldn't bring himself to forget the truth. He died with his ideals in his chest. RIP Corhyn.

[@square-table-gaming]

Interesting. If you give him the tonic you should be able to find him after farum azula asking where goldmask went

[@MistaCUNextTuesday]

@@square-table-gaming For sure, but he never takes the tonic. He just laughs and says the he would that he could. His belief never allowed him to accept goldmasks interpretation of the golden order, so he dies with his faith in his heart.

[@MistaCUNextTuesday]

He scolds goldmask before he dies as well. Casting him out as a heretic which is false. Goldmask was a fundamentalist, truly devoted to the golden order. It's just that the golden order was an imperfect lie that the people of the lands between followed. The golden order caused the downfall of the greater will's influence in the lands between, I think. The greater will didn't care about it, as long as it's adherents followed its commands. It's followers went sideways, creating an unnecessary, fanatical religion. It didn't care about their dumb religion!

[@Ohmagawdjr]

@@MistaCUNextTuesday if you talk to Corhyn at the bridge after burning the tree his dialog suggests that he in fact takes the tonic. It stays in your inventory probably due to a bug.

[@spottedslash4256]

Cohryn believed in Dogma (Traditionalism). He didn't Believe in the Faith or in this case the (Truth). So he dismissed Goldmask as Crazy, easier to Cope with. The Goldmask ending was my personal Ending in Elden Ring. Goldmask was the only one that didn't have a faction, wasn't trying to seduce or manipulate you into following there path for there benefit. He just Follow his own path, and if you wanted to figure the mystery of The Golden Order was your personal choice. He wasn't trying to Betray or usurp the Order. He was trying to fix it.

[@TheLyricalCleric]

The truth about Radagon = Marika can only be revealed by an incantation that requires great intelligence, but no faith. You have to go beyond faith to understand the golden order, and golden order fundamentalist incantations require the union of faith and intelligence. Much like the true revelation of R = M requires seeing destruction and creation not as opposites, but as a unified whole. A ring.

[@those-who-live-in-death]

Law of regression. A ring, a cycle

[@VoidBlack7873]

I feel like he represents the fanatical belief in a system

[@erayerdogan9449]

90% of humanity is Cohryn.

[@square-table-gaming]

Let's hope not

[@randomguy_069]

Our Tarnished is not some random guy or gal. They are most probably Demi Gods, children of Marika who lost their grace and died. In the start of the game we hear wind chant and stomping of the bell bearer mountains which signalled grace reaching to us. It is very likely that a child of Marika was revived or at least we were connected to them. Maybe a grave robber who managed to steal something and get attention of Grace.

[@genericcatgirl]

Cover art goes hard (as always)

[@BigHatLoganGaming]

8:16 hold on.... he doesn't take the tonic. he thanks you but refuses it

[@square-table-gaming]

The implication is that he does since if you offer it then you later find him confused and looking for goldmask as if he forgot what was going on. The fact that it doesn't leave your inventory is likely a developer oversight.

[@BigHatLoganGaming]

@@square-table-gaming he does outright refuse it in his voice lines, and even after offering it to him I never saw him in farum azula, only by goldmasks corpse

[@square-table-gaming]

@@BigHatLoganGaming the line he speaks is "It will make me forget, you say? So that I can push aside these frightful thoughts... Ha... ha ha... Would that I could... Would that I could..." And we didn't say he's in crumbling farum azula, we say that you find him after crumbling farum azula, where he says, "Master... where did you go? I'm right here. Please, show me. Your finger. Your rhythms, and calculus... Let me document the motions... Master... Master... Where did you go?" There's no reason for these two outcomes to be so vastly different aside from Corhyn deciding to take the tonic.

[@BigHatLoganGaming]

@@square-table-gaming my mistake, I had misunderstood what you said about azula. I have to chalk the lost corhyn up to him having actually lost goldmask, not aware of his passing, rather than the tonic tbh

[@square-table-gaming]

@@BigHatLoganGaming that's fair, but why does he only lose him if we offer the tonic?

[@gotriceandshrimp]

I think he only shows up at the Ashen Capital if you don't give him the tonic. If you offer him the potion he'll refuse and you'll find him left behind on the same bridge asking where Goldmask went. That's how it played out for my run. I also don't think he ever takes the tonic because it seems Goldmask simply just leaves him for the same reasons your mention; he's was more interested in upholding the status quo than rebuilding a better Golden Order. I'm not sure Corhyn would have consented to either the creation of Goldmask's new rune or his death without some pushback so he was left behind. Although I do like the implications of not giving him the tonic; that Corhyn might have murdered Goldmask.

[@whywright2663]

Rather surprised that his quest doesn't have different endings depending on given to him tomes like it is for ds3 Irina of carim...

[@puzzleheaded6195]

C U R S E M Y M E D I O C R E M I N D

[@Rationalstart]

Very well done.

[@turntapeover5749]

Funny you end on saying his story is one of regression as the trigger for it is us using law of regression.

[@theodorsebastian4272]

Corhyn greatest error of all is to put faith in the man Goldmask and elevate him to too great a height,If Golden order is supposed to be perfect then it doesn’t matter what Goldmask say or think.Corhyn failure ultimately comedown to him lacking proper faith in the Golden order.

[@DocSunshine]

Anyone ever learn why all the doors in the capital are waxed sealed

[@square-table-gaming]

Corpse wax sealed, and there are theories but nothing concrete

[@DocSunshine]

@@square-table-gaming oh interesting. My initial thoughts were a plague or disease that spread after the battle we saw in the cutscene, but then I thought maybe people sealing themselves in as safety against the incoming army if they broke through the walls.

[@sampaio]

Great video again

[@TutorialGameplay4U]

I do agree with some things but also disagree with small aspects of the video. His storyline is interesting but I don't necessarily believe he was a person that wanted to live in ignorance as much as him just not being able to accept or comprehensive the truth. In the elden ring world this is basically like their beliefs and it makes it far more believable in my opinion. I mean imagine a mere normal person being told the entire truth of the world and how everything happened that contradicts all beliefs of modern day and even ur own... that would be a lot to take in for anyone. He learned the truth that nobody really knew... besides few of the higher level gods in the lore

[@ebonygyro8736]

"That is a work of heresy. Its incantations bear no lineage from the Erdtree." -🤓

[@geraltgrey-mane695]

Great video!!! :)

[@square-table-gaming]

Thank you!

[@XxSimon2]

In my run he died at some point somehow

[@goldenboar420]

When a wise man points at the moon; the fool looks at his finger.

[@38Jim]

Do me a solid and turn down the in game music while recording clips for your videos. Aside from that, love you, love your vids.

[@square-table-gaming]

Good call

[@lukejohnson1698]

I actually kinda liked him; he was one of the few kind NPCs

[@grungusbulungus]

Ka is a wheel baby.

[@mai_tq]

Corhyn should go to the places I have been....it will help him understand how everything is messed up....................to the point that I'm beginning to believe that I might be one of the antagonists in this whole story...........................

[@vagranthippopotamus2738]

This book is heresy! ...Okay, I'll teach you, but I'm not happy about it

[@xItachii]

What happens if you give him the tonic of forgetfulness?

[@square-table-gaming]

Interestingly the tonic does not leave your inventory, but you find him lost and confused in the ruined capital asking where Goldmask is. We believe the tonic not leaving your inventory is unintentional, because Corhyn comes across as not remembering he had any misgivings about Goldmask.

[@AlriikRidesAgain]

... So, Marika is THE ONLY God of the Golden Order, yes? She's made of stone. Dragons are made of stone, and can take human form. But they are also Gold and belief in them doesn't work against the Order. There is a Dragon Elden Lord that is missing his god. I keep saying this but people think I'm crazy. But Placidusax was either Marika's first Godfrey or Marika's first Radagon. She -IS- behind the missing heads, I know it, either BEING them as she was the other to Radagon, or leading Godfrey and his Crucible Knights against Placcy. I just need to find the missing thread that proves it.

[@emptyvessel3054]

Placidusax is a poser. You heard it here first.....

[@AlriikRidesAgain]

@@emptyvessel3054 I mean, there's more substance to Godfrey being a poser. "First Elden Lord" my ass.

[@emptyvessel3054]

@@AlriikRidesAgain No argument there. But godfrey served hos purpose, unlike a certain dragon lord. I think placi failed in his purpose which is why we have godfrey in the first place.

[@TheLastComa]

Think you made a slight mistake. You don't find him in Azula...you find him in the burned Capital

[@square-table-gaming]

In our video we say that you find him after making your way through Farum Azula. After completing that area you are teleported to the Ashen Capital

[@TheLastComa]

@@square-table-gaming ah gotcha, you are technically correct. The *best kind* of correct.

[@square-table-gaming]

@@TheLastComa love that quote

[@dmitc01]

I don't agree that he is a hypocrite. He holds to his faith for better or worst.

[@square-table-gaming]

We believe it's hypocritical to claim to be searching for the truth and then outright reject it.

[@dmitc01]

@@square-table-gaming in term of a scholar your point is valid, but in terms of a believer he is valid in not wavering in his belief.

[@square-table-gaming]

@@dmitc01 totally agree, however Corhyn can't have it both ways.

[@dmitc01]

@@square-table-gaming fair enough. I'll call him a cleric and not a scholar. Seems like semantic gymnastics but I thing there is enough of a difference, subtle as it may be to pull it off.

[@odago13]

Probably an intentional choice of words on your part. But it is interesting that Coryn ends up as a representation of the Law of Regression. Maybe I'm reading into it a bit but Goldmask in my opinion, is representative the Law of Causality. Thoughts?

[@square-table-gaming]

I believe Corhyn would not represent the law of regression. The spell tells us "Regression is the pull of meaning; that all things yearn eternally to converge." Corhyn outright rejects meaning and doesn't want convergence between other ideas and the Golden Order, he seeks only to preserve the order. I think you could argue he stands against regression.

[@akechijubeimitsuhide]

I wonder if he killed Goldmask...

[@square-table-gaming]

I think the rune of order IS goldmask

[@kawailook]

Long time sub here ✋🏾✋🏾✋🏾

[@square-table-gaming]

Thanks for stopping by!

[@kawailook]

@@square-table-gaming thou art welcome

[@athrunfadzil530]

i love your armour set

[@square-table-gaming]

Thank you! It's Blaidd's armor altered to remove the cape and the noble hood

[@robertsoto5713]

Can U do a video on the all knowing sir Gideon.

[@Extra0404]

Does anyone else think he pushed goldmask?

[@nbmoleminer5051]

Agreed what a fool.

[@Mistercodmobilefan8378]

So cohryn believes that the golden order's beliefs are strange or? And yess more elden ring lore and I always like listening to these elden ring lore videos

[@square-table-gaming]

Corhyn believes the golden order is infallible and goldmask sees the need for a new rune to mend the Elden ring which would change the golden order. Also, don't worry, elden lore isn't going anywhere! I was really burnt out and we ended up skipping a week but we're back on track to put out a new episode every Saturday

[@thaqiftalip2771]

Have you tried explaining the Runes?

[@MrBozuu]

The subtle and not so subtle nods to Abrahamic religion used to flavor the religious themes in Elden Ring are palpable. I can see how Goldmask is essentially written the same role as John the Baptist, or a Messiah/prophet ushering in a new age of law, order and teachings. Goldmask is in direct communion with The Greater Will, the ultimate being behind the now imperfect Golden Order, akin to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in John the Baptist's time. Cohryn is used as a character role akin to corrupted Pharisees, priests, or other holymen. Many other Vassals such as the demi gods fill this same role. Corhyn embodies the issues of blind zealotry to antiquated, dangerous, but still ORIGINAL set of laws. Much like the corrupted holymen, Corhyn weaponized the very order created by The Greater Will (God) against the one appointed by God to usher in a more perfect and updated order relevent to the timeline we play in The Lands Between. Goldmask's rune essentially eliminating the need of vassals to maintain a better variant of the Golden Order nods to the significance of no longer needing Priests and High Priests with the old established means of communion with God. In the end, Goldmask was implied slain by Corhyn, who remained blind, loyal and complacent to the religious system with all its horrors and atrocities done in its name instead of setting aside his confirmation biases. Corhyn is the wolf in sheeps clothing, one of many betrayers and backstabbers of the round table.