Elden Ring Lore | Duality and Twins

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The World of Elden Ring has an abundance of symbolism revolving around Duality and Twins. Miquella and Malenia. Mogh and Morgott. Silver and Gold. The Moon and the Erdtree. In this lore video we explain the potential relevance of such themes.
Editor: Creators Studio - creatorsstudio.co.uk/
Intro: 0:00
Duality: 3:10
Twins: 11:59
Convergence: 15:44
Balance: 22:34
Subscribe to my second channel: @smoughburgh
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REFERENCES
Last Protagonist - Greattree and Crucible: • Elden Ring Lore ─ The ...
SmoughTown on Ranni: • Elden Ring Lore | Rann...
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Follow me on Twitter: / smoughtown
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Soundtrack is Demon's Souls, Dark Souls, Sekiro, King's Field and Elden Ring
I do not own the rights to Elden Ring, all rights to FromSoftware
#eldenring #eldenringlore #gaming

[@SmoughTown]

Break up with basic browsers. Get Opera GX here: operagx.gg/SmoughTown

[@jstar3382]

sadly no I don't trust the parent company

[@benwil6048]

@@jstar3382who is the parent company? :o

[@ThommyofThenn]

​@@jstar3382who is the parent company? :o

[@EFFLUVIUMWRITING]

these guys are notorious for illegally selling their consumer’s data to unknown groups. please take down this ad now

[@Vanaheimxx]

Sell out

[@whyavacado9876]

Ranni and Godwyn are a shadow of Radagon and Marika. Their half deaths aren’t just a reflection of each other, they invert the union of the Radagon/Marika Rebis. I see Ranni and Godwyn as an Anti-Rebis and it seems to me to be the center of this story.

[@Catandgoose]

Love this

[@cryptofacts4u]

😮😮😮

[@baitbait65]

I think the most important piece that you've left out is the primary drive of the game: runes. Runes are something metaphysical that through our maiden, Melina, are able to turn into physical strength. We get stronger and collect great runes to further gain power and learn that these runes affect the physical world. The Elden Ring itself this collection of runes is housed inside Marika so when Marika shatters the rune and shatters herself in the process. But beings don't just carry runes in the Lands Between, they also have spirit. We see spirits cross into the physical world in many ways: spirit calling bell, lampwood, random ghosts sitting around, etc. The physical, rune, and spirit exist together. Looking at in terms of duality is missing a key piece. We don't just have the sun and the moon, we have the sun, the darkmoon and the full moon. We don't have life and death, we also have those who live in death. We have three sets of three demi-gods.

[@jerryb216]

I wonder if the crucible could also fit in to your interpretation. To me it would compliment the yin-yang symbol having a piece of the opposite inside of itself. The full moon and erdtree could "contain" the dark moon and the crucible within themselves in a way.

[@jasenmoment]

Being a twin has been my only reference point in life, seeing twins and duality represented in new ways in games such as ER is always refreshing

[@TommasoFirmini]

I was also a twin, but I was the only one who survived birth. My name is Italian for Thomas, but it's meaning is also roughly "the male of a set of twins"

[@foster2095]

@@TommasoFirmini you're your own fromsoft boss, that's badass but also that comes with a "wow I'm sorry that you've been written with such a tragic backstory" asterisk*

[@TommasoFirmini]

@@foster2095 fuck it dude, I definitely dont remember, and it was almost 30 years ago so lol

[@valentai_777]

@@TommasoFirminiamazing dad lore fr

[@tyrlant2189]

"My entire identity is that I am a twin"

[@RossAshmore]

Wonderful video as always Geoff! I find it interesting that Miquella and Malenia are the embodiment of opposing forces working together as two separate beings bound as twins, yet Radagon and Marika are opposing forces at odds with each other trapped as one single being.

[@SmoughTown]

Cheers as always Ross! Appreciate you being here

[@Neo_Theo]

Duality in Elden Ring also comes in the form of dual-identities: Godfrey/Horah Loux, Renna/Ranni, Gurranq/Maliketh, /Gloam-eyed queen, even yet again for some of the twins: Miquella/St. Trina and Margitt/Morgott. There is a deception behind one form that is only known to those most intimate, yet a validity to both personas, unlike someone like Yura who seems taken over by Shabriri. One must know both names to truly understand that entity, although they do tend to regress toward or converge into their original self as we, the player, push them along in their story.

[@moka8601]

Soemthing i havent seen people mention yet is Master's and teachers in elden ring Between ranni and "the old witch that taught her to fear the moon" , Radahnn and the alabaster lord's that taught him gravity magic and the Blind swordsman who sealed away the outer god of rot (And i assume trained Malenia) , there is a lot of mention about teacher's and mentor's

[@Orobolus_Outline]

Both teachers and mentors, and parents and children. Hewg and Rodericka, Gowry and Millicent, Tanith and Zoryas, Iji and Ranni/Blaidd, Lionel and Fia... there's a lot.

[@Zyvelteas]

Alright, what's our scholarly executioner cooking up this time?

[@maxthepaladin2147]

Do you smell what the Smough is cooking?

[@bobbywalker2980]

Hes opening a can of candy all over your apple ass before he cooks his famous double 🍒 pie

[@psycojosho]

(Before watching the video) I've been thinking about twins in ER for a while now too. It seems that they're always 'cursed' or 'incomplete' in some way, as though a single birth bringing forth two lives is itself contrary to nature. Or at least it's contrary to the logic of the current Golden Order.

[@foster2095]

I love that how if you're of the thought that there's a (not directly connected) through line between all the Miazaki Fromsoft games, Ranni in her ending's speech could basically be saying: "yeah it's Armored Core VI time now."

[@LadyAsmodeus]

speaking of dualities, when you look at the family tree in elden ring, Morgott and Mohg and then Malenia and Miquella being mentioned as opposites ( Malenia being the physical strength and Miquella is the mind and intelligence ) but the same can be said about the siblings Ranni and Radahn, where Ranni representing the mind - soul, while Radahn being the body - strength - hence why he is fighting agains Malenia, the other representation of body and strength ( also they are half-siblings, if you think about it ) - and then you can analyse the family tree further, how there is always a third sibling in the family who is not fitting into these opposing concepts ( Godwyn, Melena and Rykard )

[@ATC43]

On the 3rd sibling topic, each of those also does something that is seen as "outside" the purview of the Golden Order. Melina's sole purpose for existence is to burn the Erdtree, an action seen as heretical. Godwyn befriend the warring Dragons only they just happen to be okay with this because the Dragons are seen as ancestral followers of Order(previous holders of the ER). And then ultimately becomes the poster child for those who live in death which completely calls into question the Golden Order's Fundamentals. Rykard is labeled blasphemous for feeding himself to a serpent, no doubt seen as an unnatural binding of two beings. Ironic considering the God(s) of the Golden Order and D's acceptance. I love that From plays with the rules of 3s in this way, while also allowing it to not interfere with the more forward facing theme of duality. Great callout by you!

[@M.A.R.S.]

I saw a post about this idea- "Shadow of the Erdtree" could be about a literal shadow, like Blaidd and Maliketh, of the Erdtree itself

[@foster2095]

What if Miq and Mel are more connected than we think; maybe St. Trina is a rebus that already exists in their shared dream states ("I dreamt for so long", Miq having the st Trina torch and cut content) so they're following in their parent's steps, it's more than them dedicating themselves to helping eachother, by solving eachothers ailments they would attain a perfectly combined form as one whole (Mel blooms 3 times to become the true rot god, we leave her in the bud form on her third bloom. We leave Miq in a similar cocooned state, but we see him in the DLC's promo. Both have been set up to finish their story at the pivotal moment of their old flesh being slayed before they're born anew, if they can actually make the final step I believe we'll find out in the DLC) And I really hope they do! All that's left is to deal with what could happen if they don't make the step: awesome boss battles with the reincarnated rot god and the Formless Mother~

[@trippyzero8612]

Here's a semi serious and humorous thing to point out. Melania and Miquella were born crippled in a way. Their parents are, well, related. That is to say Miquella and Melania are in a way the product of inbreeding. This leads often to physical ailments. It's a funny suggestion then that they should, uh, combine to fix what ails them.

[@zackysac]

2 Smoughtown videos AND AC6? We eatin good this week

[@SmoughTown]

Thanks my friend!

[@Mordred41407]

I just noticed that the statue of Malenia and Miquella together creates the Greek letter omega. It ultimately means “great end,” which I suppose in this context (if it is indeed an intentional inclusion in the game and not me just seeing things) could mean a lot of things; possibly the end of the search for perfect order.

[@ATC43]

Omg that is a brilliant observation. You should really share that somewhere.

[@Mordred41407]

Well I’m hoping Smough sees it. He’ll be better at getting the word out than me.

[@c.a.m1387]

I love this video as it highlights what may be the core theme of Elden Ring. I also think I may have another important duality to highlight. At the church of the minor Erd tree, we see an Erd tree that is both much older than the golden saplings post-shattering, and much younger than the big minor Erd trees around which were built ancient catacombs. Between the fact golden seeds were though to be impossible, Melina's dialogue at this point of grace, and the golden order seal being found here, we know that this is what prompted Marika to want to understand the Golden Order. It was the birthplace of Fundamentalism, and perhaps where Radagon was thought up. You are also given the Outer Order gesture at this location upon hearing Marika's echoes. Where it gets interesting is that you get the Inner Order gesture when you interact with D's brother in Nokstella. D is a being of two bodies and one soul, a fact embraced by the Golden Order. Marika and Radagon on the other hand are two souls with one body. Another dualism that is clearly also in line with the Golden Order.

[@jstar3382]

Dualities in elden ring differ a lot from Dark Souls and are closer to the ones in Bloodborne since both sides of the "duality" are nuch closer to being the same. Look at beasthood vs frenzy. When you think about it, they are extremely close to the same thing. Both are a loss of humanity to an outside force. The Frenzied flame and Fundamentalism are really similar too since both strive for regression, just to different degrees. Things in Dark Souls were different, but intertwined.

[@mrfreddorenton]

As someone who still plays ps3, you can bring this further back to demon's souls, where magic and miracles both come from The Old One. If you do some side quest stuff, you can even get the talisman of beasts which can cast both at the same time.

[@ZonicCeasor]

I always think of Death’s song “Together As One” when the duality concept came to my attention in ER. While the song is literally about conjoined twins, the thematics of the song match up well with the “two bodies one soul” theme of ER quite well. Would recommend a listen for anyone who hasn’t had the chance to.

[@joelhughes9615]

I think naming conventions of twins is really interesting. Mohg/Morgott, Miquella/Malenia, Devin/Darian. I think it implies a twinned relationship between Marika and Melina. The names very nearly sound like the names Marika gives to Miquella and Malenia. Maybe she hoped those twins would be a reflection or functional replacement of the twinned relationship she once had. Marika might even be seeking a replacement herself for the twin she is missing. Her rejection of Godfrey might be because it was an imperfect union, despite his being grafted to raise him up to be worthy. Her selection of Radagon and their becoming more closely one I think makes sense for someone who is spending their time actively trying to substitute new relationships for the one she has divorced from. In a way Marika's marriages are a type of attempt at spiritual grafting.

[@faendralostrego5246]

Following the thought process of marika and melina being twinned, would radagons be ranni?

[@pigzy9807]

On Marikia and Melinia. I think it is similar to Radagon, Rennala, Rykard Rahdan and Ranni. Godfrey, Godwyn, Godrick. Melina is the sister of the twins Melinia and Miquella. She, like them is born cursed, burn and bodiless. She has the smouldering butterfly, Miquella the nascent butterfly and Malinia the Aeonian Butterfly

[@faendralostrego5246]

@@pigzy9807 I would have to disagree with the scorched butterfly being Melina's. It would have to be Ranni's as she also is burned and bodiless as well as the only other Empyrean like the twins. The only way Melina could relate is if she were Ranni's twin in a mirror imaged fashion of Marika and Radagon. Maybe they are now both burned and bodiless because Ranni wanted to split away from Melina.

[@MangoMan77]

W Smoughtown vid. Duality, perfectly balanced as all things should be.

[@SmoughTown]

Thanks bud

[@TheDoomsdayzoner]

The name, the fact that he has a twin, the fact that he hunts Undead - D might be a reference to the Vampire Hunter D.

[@TheHogfatherInvades]

The duality of all twins!

[@andrewshmelyov]

Also we have Milicente and Thops. Both are cannot proceed without player's help due to the completely opposite challenges. Broken body and broken soul.

[@VolleyR1055]

Smough the GOAT! Praise the sun another video

[@SmoughTown]

Thanks for being here bud!

[@BonelessBehavior]

Man, never stop making videos, I always look forward to have something to sleep to/vibe/game to

[@SmoughTown]

Thank you my friend. 100% will not be stopping, appreciate the kind words

[@BonelessBehavior]

@@SmoughTown ❤️

[@LKC6]

I've always been very interested in the duality of FromSoft games, but Elden Ring is the one that really sent me down the rabbit hole😂great video! Keep it up!

[@SmoughTown]

Thank you my friend! I will do!

[@jstar3382]

Alright smough I'll be back in like 20 minutes im still in class. Get ready for some questions

[@SmoughTown]

Thanks bud, enjoy class

[@jstar3382]

​@@SmoughTownok go time

[@kamikazekiwi]

you know an elden ring vid is good when alchemy is involved in the analysis

[@SmoughTown]

Agreed!

[@vuavu]

Agree with most of this, but I feel it's pretty reductive to relegate morgott to simply being a victim of gaslighting with no agency. Maybe he really did find something to love

[@aydenbonnet9630]

Agreed, but moreoso believe it was simply for the sake of brevity, and keeping on the subject considering the Omen Twins weren't the main topic of discussion, as Smough goes into Morgotts character with much more depth in his own video. I also agree, and don't personally believe Morgott is simply a placated victim. I don't think he hates himself, but specifically his Omen blood. While he believes himself to be cursed, It doesn't seem like he actually blames himself for it. The curse is something to be ashamed due to its very nature in his perspective, but he doesn't let the curse define him, or strip him of his agency. Had he not been repelled by Radagon, it seems very likely Morgott would have at least attempted to claim the Throne, and Elden Ring for himself, which hardly befits the behavior of someone who loathes themselves to a fundamental degree. If he truly hated himself as much as some people seem to suggest it doesn't seem like he would find himself worthy, or trust in himself to act as King, or Elden Lord.

[@fasteddy9789]

Much love Brothers and Sisters

[@SmoughTown]

much love back

[@battlericky17]

25:35 this quote goes crazy. You knocked it out of the park here

[@redpandarampage2191]

Super interesting. These themes are the kind of thing most people (even lore fans) might not pick up on, and yet because these themes exist in real life in every culture, you're also subconsciously aware of it somehow.

[@AzizSketches]

thank you for talking about such a beautiful subject. Duality is what makes from software games so interesting They have a deep lore and one of the best aspects to me and portrayed so well in Dark Souls.

[@SmoughTown]

My pleasure my friend, thank you so much for the kind words and support

[@battlericky17]

Didnt expect this! On my day off too! Im chillin to this

[@SmoughTown]

Hell yeah Ricky! Have a great day off and enjoy

[@calyx_datura]

This is so so so good! Elden Ring’s lore is comprised of so many separate but interconnecting strands that make it very difficult to stay focused on the larger tapestry and not get distracted by the intricacies of its design. This is the best attempt yet at putting all those little lore bits back together and articulating the one unifying theme in Elden Ring.

[@jacobbenjamin2664]

Cant wait to binge this at work tonight and find out if me and Smough think the same way about Twins 🤔🤗

[@SmoughTown]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@VVabsa]

It's Smoughtime!

[@teddyhh9947]

Thought id just mention that Miquella wasnt only concerned with the infestation of his sister, but also the sickness of his brother Godwyn, as well as his own sickness/curse. Curing/healing seems to have been his assigned field in general. A better way to put it may be that he was a god of healing through rebirth. Regarding Godwyn it is, According to big religions in the real world, common knowledge that you wont reincarnate before at least some of your body has decomposed as the body (probably the pineal gland) functions as an anchor to the soul. Godwyns body being alive but unanimated would keep Godwyns consciousness in an unfortunate state, neither able to do anything, nor move on.

[@young5395]

Let's go another video to get me focused on my work. Love your videos man. I played the game 3 timea but this lore just keeps me invested in the game.

[@SmoughTown]

Thanks bud, it means the world to hear that. Hope your works goes well!

[@michaelblevins1651]

The idea that it’s two bodies and one soul is shared in Jujustu Kaisen in which the twins are two separate people but one soul and the only way one can reach their potential is of the other dies

[@user-pj3dp3ed3o]

I think there's a duality that exists in elden ring that's not been discussed much in spite of it's almost universality and strangeness, the duality of body and soul. We have beings that exist without souls, souls that exist without bodies, beings who exist as DISTINCT bodies and souls simultaneously, souls that can be moved around, bodies that can function without souls, it's such an important aspect of the universe, will likely play a large part of the dlc, and nobody discusses it ever!

[@BaalFridge]

Finally! The greatest lore item in the game is featured again! It's been a solid 3 or 4 ER videos without mention of it, and I was getting worried ngl.

[@marystone860]

I really appreciate the more contemplative perpective to Elden RIng's lore! I'm not the only one who thinks this way! 😇

[@hhowdy]

12:47 LMAO that one omen walking in negative ass bit rate 💀💀💀

[@thatguywesmaranan]

this guy... this smoughtown guy... churning out top-tier lore content at an amazing rate...

[@SmoughTown]

🥺

[@thatguywesmaranan]

@@SmoughTown i play your videos on my hospital shifts... they help me focus when i perform biopsies/autopsies, so i am immensely grateful for you and your work... 🙇🏾‍♂️🙇🏾‍♂️🙇🏾‍♂️

[@SmoughTown]

@@thatguywesmaranan Wow that's absolutely incredible to hear my friend! Im so humbled they are meaningful to you and your work. Thank you so much

[@Michael-dy7zp]

Also makes total sense why the DLC is called shadow of the Erdtree.

[@sireoblivious9028]

Absolutely brilliant, quality, content. thank you for what you do. Always look forward to see what you have in store.

[@SmoughTown]

Your support means the world to me! You have no idea

[@davidbrack4144]

I've always wondered if St Trina is Miquella's 'Radagon'. Maybe it is a requirement or result of nearing godhood that the aspect of another outer god is taken on or can be absorbed. It could make sense that twins can effectively cause this to happen between them as each one could be affected by a different outer god and their shared genetics causes a link (Morgott blood magic ability). Perhaps Miquella was trying to take on the aspect of St Trina to squeeze Malenia out of the loop somehow and sort of allow him to take on two aspects to ascend and disqualify her from being an Empyrean and have the rot abandon her (probably due to the fact it looks like only descendants of the current god are eligible). This might also point at the 'born of a single god' requirement simply allowing genetic room for another outer god to get in there as the other half of the equation. This could explain Mogh targeting Miquella and effectively failing if he's both linked to rot through Malenia and possibly setting up a Trina aspect. I could see a pretty grim world where the two fingers are effectively outer god matchmakers who facilitate infecting Empyreans with the aspect of outer gods, and the most powerful combo ascends and replaces the current god like some system of forced evolution, and what we see from all the key players is them either trying to break or take advantage of that cycle in their own way. This is a lot of speculation but it could kind of explain absorbing an aspect of the Fell God and forming Radagon as being the last step Marika needed to ascend (I know Godfrey was Elden Lord but does it state anywhere that he was before the giants were stomped?).

[@valentai_777]

This is a theme I’ve noticed since I first started playing and it’s nice to see some more dedicated videos for it‼️ I’ve been dreaming of more discussion on this topic.

[@zoufordham]

woo smoughtown upload :D keep it up bro !!

[@SmoughTown]

Thanks so much my friend!

[@jstar3382]

1:50 ok you beat me to it I was about to comment this

[@kaptainkirk4358]

A very nice video as always one question I've always had is why isn't miqullea affected by the rot curse since he's always been around his sister and its said that by being around her long enough u'll basically catch the rot sickness

[@ratenthusiast4000]

I'm so glad you talked about the alchemical references in Elden Ring. I've been telling my friends about it since I've played the game, but they all look at me like I'm some insane Hermetic goober. Now I can point to this video in a frenzy and go "SEE!! I WAS RIGHT!!"

[@SmoughTown]

Haha no problem!

[@MJ-xm1gs]

Dude i wish i could go back and relearn all the lore from your videos all over again for the first time leaning the lore to this game was one of the most interesting things ill never be able to feel so intentive and wanting to no more again great job!!!

[@EA_Kar]

thought Morgott was a rather standard japanese story sort of hero. The twins also have a cain & abel vibe, lesson being on resentment with one brother feeding it and choosing malice while deceitfully calling it just or fair. Also Jobe's story. The omen are tortured in the sleep by this taint right? Morgott displays self-mastery and is strong enough to overcome the pain as well as the suffering, Mohg is strong enough to overcome the pain but gives into the suffering and drags others down with him (even a potential bringer of an age into which the omen could supposedly be reborn into), other omen persist in their circumstances as NPCs that the story doesn't have time for do.

[@c0dex306]

Never enough when it comes to your channel, I love the info, touches of humor and all over vibes. Sincere thanks for all of the content m8!

[@SmoughTown]

My pleasure my friend! Thank you so much for the kind words and support

[@DanielGarcia-rx3kt]

Fantastic video! Here are some thoughts the video inspired: Golden Order Incantations, as you said, aren't necessarily either Incantations nor Sorceries but they do make use of both stats related to those magics in some way. The Incantations that do Holy Damage or heal Deathblight require a Seal plus an equal parts of Faith/Intelligence stats and the laws of causality and regression each require being cast by a Seal yet require only Intelligence as its stat to be cast. Compare how rigidly balanced these Golden Order Fundamentalist Incantations are versus how differently distributed everything else is for hybrid spells such as Dragon Communion Incantations (Seal + Faith/Arcane, Faith being the higher stat), death sorceries (Staff + Intelligence/Faith, Intelligence higher), and so on. It's interesting to see the requirements of a magic that was created in a strive for completion versus the characteristics of the more naturally formed, primordial, hybrid magics. Thank you for all the great content you make!

[@ThommyofThenn]

I love how Marika's hands seem to be bound by the Ring itself. The Golden energy must be tight and probably burning hot

[@Aceius]

Woah brother slow down, I've only had time to watch the last video like 4 times

[@SmoughTown]

🤣 Dont worry! Break this weekend!

[@titaniumteddybear]

I wonder if St Trina was a mini-me for Miquella like Margit is to Morgott.

[@jstar3382]

Doubt it. More like a Radagon to his Marika

[@GabrielCarusetta]

TWO VIDEOS IN 2 DAYS, feeling very grateful lately

[@joeymendez1442]

No one: Absolutely no one: SmoughTown: *The Albinauric Bloodclot*

[@SmoughTown]

ALWAYS

[@GreatlyLovable]

A theory I've been workshopping for a while is that maybe Radagon was his own entity before becoming Elden Lord and consort to Marika and then merged with Marika as part of their union to allow Marika to be powerful enough to forge the elden ring as she saw fit. Radagon was previously married to Queen Renalla and I always thought it would be an odd deception to keep the fact they are parts of the same being hidden away for so long.

[@Jaden-Ring]

I speculate the dlc will cover duality more and have the black tree we've seen in the teaser image be the erdtree's counter In the spirit world. Maybe the Helphin which is in the state it's in due to fewer or no souls entering the after life with how death has changed in the lands between. Just my guess tho.

[@kamuymamushi5877]

miquella and malenia mohg and morgot marika and radagon cersei and jamie whoaa....

[@mattb6616]

blessed. this is the second-biggest theme in elden ring after Color. you should do a follow-up on this, it is in literally EVERY part of the game

[@BaldingClamydia]

Crecganford is a really good channel that deals with mythology and tracking it's roots, commonalities and all that. He's done a video about divine twins. There's a really interesting story about twin Aztec gods, but I might be pulling that story from a channel called "Ancient Americas." That one deals with overall culture and archaeology, not just myths xD

[@AsherrTheRed]

only 26 mins Smough I am saddened by this short length

[@pigzy9807]

Great video, one of my favourite topics. I think before Marikias Golden Order the world functioned in a complementary state of duality, under the cycle of the death bird. I agree the sun is represented by the Erdtree but it was not always that way. Before the Erdtree, the sun was praised (sun realm shield) while the moon was also revered but the two were not in direct conflict. Once the Erdtree is born and Destine Death is sealed, everything is in opposition to it. The Golden Order does not sit in balance like the sun, it conquers it's opposite forces. In the beginning it is healthy enough to integrate some opposite ideals but grows inflexible and can only prune and banish. The double helix (shown in Farum Azula) is gone from the Elden Ring. Fire is kept away and become heresy. Other cultures are put to the sword. The followers of silver and the moon, who may once have lived within the wall of Lyndell, are banished underground. The dragons are brought to heel. Even the stars are locked in place, cementing the stagnation of fate. Radagon takes the path of self actualisation, seeking to be complete only within himself. While Marikia begins to realise something is wrong with her Order, perhaps from the beginning, at the birth of her omen twins. The Erdtree no long gives sap, her armies are stuck in a stale mate, life stagnates. Once Godywn is slain, Marikia is pushed to the brink. Not just from the grief of her sons demise but she sees the the flaw in her order, exposed by the resulting Death Root. Her Order requires the death that was plucked from it upon it's creation. Balance is trying to creep it's way back in but only takes on mutated forms. Various factions attempt to fix or supplant the Order but ultimately Marikia leaves the fate of Order to the tarnished to be reshaped as we see fit, so long as Destine Death is returned.

[@LightningfistCal]

I absolutely love your Elden Ring lore videos- particularly since they’re extremely helpful for a story I’m writing- but I swear you could make a drinking game for every time the Albinauric Blood Clot is mentioned in a video. 😂

[@marcinolszewski2260]

Shoutout to Crunchy who has been on the topic of duality in ER for a year

[@jacksonbenincosa3759]

I like how on the 'Convergance' slide you have Radagon just shitcanning a random Tarnished😂😂😂

[@solidpython4964]

rip that one omen lagging in the background

[@jacobferrera1777]

I just about screamed at my work when i saw this posted. 😭 thank you ❤

[@psycojosho]

(After watching the video) A lot of very thought-provoking ideas that I hadn't considered before here. You also forgot to mention the Twin Maiden Husks, but that's not surprising since they're pretty forgettable, and don't really fit into the themes you were talking about.

[@SmoughTown]

Thanks bud - yeah you are right, I think when i revisit it on my greater themes video, i'll go over 'visual' examples of pairing found in the world.

[@matteobogdan297]

Absolutely beautiful vid as always

[@MagnoSauce]

I'd like to see a video about an aspect of duality that seems underdiscussed, which is "remote control" or puppetry. Well, Pidia is discussed a lot but there are cases like Gowry where the nature of the control left a lot more vague.

[@mentalwig420]

I honestly think that the brother that kills Fia should have wanted to help her since he was silver and his brother was gold or vice versa. They are gold & silver but they both follow the golden order.

[@TommasoFirmini]

Would you consider doing a video on hewg? Even something shorter like this, ive always been intrested in his story

[@darquanjr]

Damn those ending lines are great with the DLC coming up. For Malenia and Miquella to be so bright to gether there has to be a shadow child counterpart somewhere…

[@melkerbotin7098]

Amazing video as always!

[@stirringlemur]

Enjoyed the slightly shorter video format. A good topic that shows part of what makes the games so great. The choice to pick your own favourite and the freedom to choose both... As long as your willing to grind 40 extra lvls.

[@user-qk4kg7xw8o]

Amazing Video! :)

[@minerman60101]

A short one, but a great one. D was always one of the stranger things in this game, and witt this context the twins make a bit more sense.

[@darksgamer5712]

Man you are a genius 👏🏼👏🏼💯 keep it up brother

[@SmoughTown]

You humble me my friend. Hope you have agreat day

[@darksgamer5712]

@@SmoughTown You too Legend 🙏🏼🤍

[@MoreLoreThenThereSeems]

Only 26 minutes for this?? let’s see what you can do

[@SmoughTown]

Hahah yeh - defo warrants a longer look in my future Themes video

[@keziahavila4827]

​@@SmoughTownsomething tells me with how many themes this game has that that video is gonna be on some wendigoon conspiracy iceberg vibes and be 10 hours long Can't wait tbh

[@SmoughTown]

@@keziahavila4827 genuinely will be that meme of the conspiracy board

[@coroarc8423]

You are by far the best loretuber and always have been. Nice one!

[@AstralLaVista]

I think the duality within elden ring reflects the most basic doctrine of alchemy, as above so below

[@sicada66]

Not totally sure if D is also a nod to the classic "vampire hunter D" but it would make sense as it's in line with the concept of duality, a character who is both human and vampire.

[@cheftroyardee7982]

A killer of vampires whom hounds his own hated kin, while having to reconcile with their shared blood. A hunter of the dead whom chases a blight on his perfect golden world view, while paradoxically admitting the existence of the flaw. Vampire Hunter D, born of two bloodlines, belonging to neither. Devin and Darian, born of two bodies, separate but inseparable. Neither would exist without their quarry, the very thing they hunt. D would never have been born, and the Golden Order Hunters would never have an absolute evil to contend with, to give reason for its existence. I definitely think one inspired the other. This is all not even mentioning the fact Vampire Hunter D ALSO has an identical twin brother, that they're both from groups called "Hunters," chase creatures classically known as undead, and that even their physical appearances (pale, beautiful) or personalities (solemn, righteous) resemble each other. I mean come on. How likely is it that a character who hunts the dead and has the name "D" would not be inspired by Kikuchi?

[@jaxdakid5598]

thank you smough/geoff your videos continue to be so beautifully crafted. all love.

[@Labyrinth____]

Twins, Basil...Twins 👀

[@sebasminault5576]

Fantastic eye opening video!

[@SmoughTown]

Really glad you enjoyed it bud!

[@krishnansubramoni7801]

6 months after this video and now we have "Shadow" of the Erdtree DLC confirmed. And I can't wait to see these concepts expanded upon, and hopefully more Miquella.

[@pg9193]

thank you for constantly reminding me how little I know about this game/ALL Fromsoftware games this is a compliment of the highest order, my friend. keep the quality content going, you're one the the top

[@greyworld6242]

Damn this was a good video. Also it was pretty short. But still good.

[@NerdOracle]

Oh this one has the potential to be very very insightful

[@yimwee2401]

4:47 there are nearly an infinite amount of these to be honest. Protons electrons, north south magnetic poles, acidic basic, herbivore carnivore just to name a few off the top of my head.

[@samuelkrisik842]

Love the thumbnail Smough :))

[@alwaysask]

Great video!

[@strawhatrore2072]

Love this!