Elden Ring Lore | Hidden Stories

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The Lands Between are a vast and fascinating place; lore is everywhere, smaller scale stories told indirectly that add depth to this world. In this video we will examine some of these 'hidden' tales and what they can tell us.
Editor: Creators Studio - creatorsstudio.co.uk/
Intro: 0:00
Moonlight Altar: 1:12
Glintstone Keys: 21:52
Seethewater Cave: 31:25
Fire Monk Beast Trainers: 39:16
Demi-Human Diplomacy: 44:02
Misbegotten Crusader: 51:22
This is an extremely expansive video that covers the following subjects: Raya Lucaria, The Carians, The Misbegotten, Glintstone, Glintstone Key, Thops, Caelid Dogs, Giant Crows, Misbegotten Crusader, The Golden Order Greatsword, Mt Gelmir, The Fire Monks, Fort Laedd, Seethewater Cave, Moonlight Altar, The Cathedral of Manus Celes, Demi-Humans, Kenneth Haight, Limgrave, Leyndell, Demi-Human Queen Maggie, Azur, The Consecrated Snowfield and much more!
Shout out to Lokey for their insights and translations.
Lokey Abyssal Archive: www.abyssalarchive.com/
Subscribe to my second channel: @smoughburgh
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REFERENCES
Ziostorm video on Manus Celes: • The WEIRDEST Location ...
Tarnished Archaeologist on Eternal Empire: • Uncovering the Archaeo...
Honored Madman Crow video: • A Giant Crow Deep Dive...
SmoughTown Fire Monks and Giants: • Elden Ring Lore | The ...
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CREDITS
Thumbnail art by Sami: / 00osamio00
Thumbnail layout by BrightSparkIV: / brightsparkiv
Please subscribe for more future Elden Ring Lore content!
Follow me on Twitter: / smoughtown
Images used from Fextralife Wiki: eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com
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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]

Get Surfshark VPN at surfshark.deals/smough - Enter promo code SMOUGH for 83% off and three extra months for free! Thank you everyone for watching my latest lore video. Let me know your thoughts below!

[@makenaiyomi1083]

I think Latenna used Surfshark to hide her IP from Gideon. That's why he couldn't find her.

[@SmoughTown]

@Champion of Ald Thank you so much my friend. No plans to stop any time soon

[@thempror8915]

Hi Smoughtown, there is something that I have been wondering about and I hope you'll be able to shed some light into it. I'll try to explain my thoughts as clearly as I can, but English is not my native language so I do apoligize for any mistakes I have made. The thing I was wondering about is: When Godwyn the golden died, Marika shattered the Elden ring and give a rune to each one of her children (correct me if im wrong plz). That led to a war and somewhere during this time (before or after the war is unclear for me yet) there was an alliance formed by Morgot. In his cutscene he starts listing all the names for the thrones in his bossarena, including Ranni's! But not Godwyn! This suggest that this alliance was made after the shattering. But Ranni had still a seat on this council? How? She suppossedly killed off her own flesh so how did she still have a seat on this council? Or does this mean that this alliance that was formed came before the death of Godwyn? But if that's the case why isnt he listed aswell by Morgott? Or could it be that Morgot didnt form this alliance but Godwyn did? And after Ranni killed herself and godwyn Morgott just took over? But that would make the wholetime line wrong no? Why would this alliance need to be formed? It had to be made after Marika got imprisoned, which suggest that it had to come after Godwyn's death, which again would lead to why Ranni still having a seat on this council? If u can shed some light onto this, would be much appreciated. Thx in advance.

[@Raphoovvv]

​@The Mpror One thing to keep in mind is that Moghwyn was also not mentioned. I think you could be right that Godwyn founded the alliance and that the Omen brothers were left out. A sword monument mentions the alliance too: "A sovereign alliance rots from within". The alliance was most likely formed shortly after the Shattering and therefore after Godwyn's death. Morgott specifically calls out all of the names he mentioned as "wilful traitors" implying they all betrayed the golden order or took a shot at the throne. I don't know why Ranni has a seat. Perhaps she didn't attend the alliance at all? Or maybe she did attend, which implies that despite her 'treason' she was still welcome in the Sovereign alliance. Ranni is certainly shrewd enough to recognize participating in an alliance like this has political merit.

[@thempror8915]

@@Raphoovvv Ty for your answer. The fact that Mogh isnt mentionned in this alliance is not suprising. As it seems he formed a connection with the formless mother quite early on. Hopefully Smoughtown will be able to shed some light on the Ranni mystery. As the fact that Godwyn wouldve died, wouldve been huge news. The same can be said about Ranni. The news of her death would be widespread, so it would make no sense for her having a seat on this council. Another thing to keep in mind is when Ranni first introduces herself, she says she is the witch Renna, so she's clearly been hiding (probably all this time) to make everyone believe she is in fact dead.

[@trice286]

My favorite little lore piece is Elemer's lore. Dude comes out of nowhere, with no affiliation to any lord or god, starts kicking everyone's ass, escapes death, and wields telekinetic powers not seen by anyone else.

[@cozmic7978]

Elemer could be a fan of Malenia… a cold blood killer sitting in front of that portrayal, such bizzard he didn’t break any thing in that room was Maghrrie

[@trice286]

@@cozmic7978 He absolutely is not. He executed the entire Marais family who were allies to Malenia and were obsessed with her. Elemer simply uses Shaded castle as his base.

[@quazymoodo8452]

We actually know Elemer came from Eochaid, a "lesser, long-vanished domain". Based on the environmental storytelling of the Gaol Cave (where we find not only the Regalia of Eochaid but also Wazikashi of the Land of Reeds, the metaphor for his pre-Lands Between rampage was conceptually a gaol, and he was able to escape out the back of Caelid into Limgrave (which are converging lands likely both in time and space [based on the Law of Convergence spell]-- he could have taken over House Marais long ago and also within the same time and space as fleeing Eochaid... he might also be the Bell-Bearing Hunter of all locations, but only his version is named. His quest for bell-bearings would continue the symbols of the storyline we see in the Painted World DLC in DS3, with the destruction of the church bell to prevent others from ringing it, which leads to the downfall of the Painted World.)

[@noamias4897]

What a gigachad

[@TheActualMrLink]

Not to mention the sword he uses was supposed to be used to execute him! Reminds me a lot of Ganondorf in Twilight Princess.

[@silenthero2795]

I think the funniest hidden story is about the Longtail Cat Talisman, a talisman that reduces fall damage. Most players already know this but for the sake of the story, you found this talisman at the bottom of the spinning wheel in Raya Lucaria. As for most items in the game, it usually has a corpse which the item originally belongs to. It implies that this unfortunate guy fell to his death, like most players in this area, while clutching a talisman believing it would save him - but apparently not.

[@chaosdungpie6873]

10/10 🤌

[@whyamihere3153]

This is actually a subtle hint that the talisman doesn’t do a god damn thing to save you from falls

[@OwenHooper-mv4fm]

Yeah, that was his point.

[@royalwhites7686]

Every. Single. Item. Corpse "Well, it didn't help HIM"

[@jamiemckelvie342]

The cat it’s based on is also Radahn’s cat, dude just liked animals

[@Mitcham28]

My favorite short story is the one of Cleanrot Knight Finlay, who single-handedly carried a comatose Malenia from the newly ruined Caelid, all the way back to Elphael. So loyal to her that she guarded and watched over Malenia until her death, with Malenia never knowing. Think about how insane that journey has to be. This was on the tail end of the Shattering, so all the demigods were still running around. Finlay had to navigate Limgrave, sneak through Stormveil, venture Liurnia and reach the grand lift, venture Altus Plataeu and sneak through Leyndell, survive the Mountaintops to reach the other grand lift, survive the snowfields and Ordina, before finally making it to the Haligtree. Even then she still had to get Malenia into the city and then into hiding. And Finlay did all of this while protecting Malenia, likely suffering of wounds and her own scarlet rot. It's perhaps the most impressive feat anyone outside of the demigods and tarnished has ever done. Finlay is just an absolutely badass.

[@silenthero2795]

The worse part is that Malenia has bloomed meaning Finlay was basically holding a very radioactive woman and still managed to return her all the way to the Haligtree. No wonder it was a called an "unimaginable act of heroism". Even though Finlay died, so strong was her devotion that she became a Spirit Ash, honored by the denizens of the Haligtree.

[@mrman5566]

cringe as fek bro

[@geordiejones5618]

She's gotta be the single strongest non demigod. Only other person I can think who might be able to go toe to toe with her is Vyke.

[@alearnedman]

​@Geordie Jones Godfrey isn't really a Demigod, so I'd say he's the strongest.

[@lemsillygus]

@@alearnedman finlay no diffs godrick

[@dantoki6371]

The three female statues at the moonlight altar, next to the Red Wolf, could reperesent the three moons that the game mentions. The one that guided Rennala, Ranni's Dark Moon, and the Black Moon of Nokstella. About the three sisters, Iji specificly mentions that Ranni is the one who calls it Renna's Rise. This implies Iji doesn't know why she is calling it that, wich makes sense if it is named after her secret mentor, the Snow Witch, whose garb we find it in there.

[@SmoughTown]

Yeh great shout actually!

[@AuthoressPluto]

Hey you read my mind! literally just finished a similar comment about the three sister statues myself wish I had found yours fist so I could save myself the trouble because you worded it much better than I did

[@AC-hj9tv]

Renna makes me rise. Naw mean? 😎

[@rel1ik347]

My favorite little story is the one of the sister jellyfish spirits that go to the stars together. It makes me both sad and happy at the same time.

[@suicidalelf1632]

When I was able to reunite them by accident I was way too happy. I just summoned her to see if it would trigger anything

[@LAK_770]

You can even find their gravestones down the side of the cliff, bunch of roided-out bats guarding it but it's a really nice touch

[@nightshadehelis9821]

The jellyfish spirits are children too.

[@gollygeewillickers]

One thing I love about the lands between is all the tiny stories you come across. They're so easily missed and looked over. Like at the shaded castle you can loot the usual corpse draped halfway over the castle rampart, but if you look down below theres a poison zombie on the ground reaching up towards the corpse with both hands, as if it was his friend or something.. and theres the last few leyndell troops you can find from the siege on mount gelmir, their eyes burning with madness after holding their position on that burning hill for so long. There's so many more npcs I've found in places that seem odd, as if theres a story behind them being there. Another interesting one is the rotten duelist standing on the cliff edge in the snow lands, seemingly looking outwards at the haligtree. I wonder what the story is there...

[@SmoughTown]

Couldn't agree more - I've always loved these little 'scenes' shown in FromSoftware games and I am really happy I get to talk about it in a video!

[@hiddenshadow2105]

Leyndell soldiers eating their dead on Mt. Gelmir and not even noticing you (it is a little bit away from madness-hill-ones) is one of the most haunting scenes I saw in the game. No cosmic horror or gross gods can even compare.

[@grundlehunter69]

​@@hiddenshadow2105 for real tho. It's not so far removed or fantastical like so many other lore elements. Just a raw depiction of humanity sunken to the lowest levels of depravity due to sheer desperation. It was definitely one of those moments where I was reminded that once upon a time most of these enemies I'm fighting in game were nothing more than victims of circumstance, pawns in a game far far beyond their comprehension.

[@JayBe443]

I started looking at the game as if made from a lense of a movie director, every “scene” having importance or meaning behind it. A lot going on in the lands between, from the land and walls, & creatures all.

[@NotableNine591]

The rotten soldier probably went for the rotussy and is now contemplating whether it was worth it.

[@tkri]

I'm really glad you brought up the glintstone key and meeting place map, cause I feel like very few people have looked into this. But the story goes even deeper than you gave here, I think. The sorcerer body we get the key from isn't just a corpse; it's a puppet. It is in the same "dormant puppet" pose that we can see on the bodies in Selivus' basement, Pidia's hideaway, and Selivus himself when he is killed (if he is really dead). This just adds a whole new layer to things, I think. Was this a sorcerer who'd simply transferred his soul into a puppet body before, or was someone else entirely piloting this body from afar? Perhaps as a sort of servant or slave to make these black market key sales while they remained behind the academy walls. Or, perhaps the original plan for the man with the meeting place map is that this body was going to be his. He would put his soul into it, and now not only have access, but a disguise or new persona that already has a crown.

[@Nimno74]

Or is it just another death pose shared with deactivated puppets? It may even be that way to be intentionally ambiguous, just to keep us guessing, and second guessing.

[@LordGrizzly89]

This would also make sense why the dragon didn't eat the corpse. I mean he is described as a devourer of sorcerers, yet the corpse seems untouched.

[@jtillman8251]

One thing to add about the dogs in Caelid is that the ones near the isolated merchant's shack appear to be herding sheep for the merchant.

[@robertocioffi2523]

Really??

[@jtillman8251]

@@robertocioffi2523 I'm making a leap of intuition to say they're doing it FOR the merchant, but they are stationed with flocks of sheep really nearby him.

[@robertocioffi2523]

@@jtillman8251 that's interesting

[@LilAnonomus]

I had the biggest "oh sh*t" feeling when you made me realize that Kenneth wasn't being attacked by the demihumans and defended by Godrick's soldiers, but rather the other way around with Kenneth being defended BY the demihumans FROM Godrick's soldiers. It really exemplifies how Fromsoft almost never shows you the completed picture but almost always gives you enough pieces of the story to work out for yourself what happened. This is all stuff that I saw when I played the game, but never pieced together.

[@SarlesimpMikaelOre]

Ranni found out about a rat giving keys next to the academy and sent fido to deal with it. Such a power move.

[@AnnaBeatriz-ed5bn]

From now on I'll always refer to that dragon as Fido

[@guiltygearalonecompl]

Smarag, sic balls

[@vincenthendrikx1521]

​@@AnnaBeatriz-ed5bnFido, Flintstone Dragon

[@ponchowizard5182]

The moonlight alter is one of the more beautiful environments in the game. It's definitely a great setting for a wedding/honeymoon. The number of turtles there is pretty suggestive considering the cut item description for turtle meat. I also found it interesting that there are those bell wraith enemies up on the altar. I think the Snowy Crone might have a connection with them. The four arms and the bell just don't seem like a coincidence.

[@tevenpowell8023]

Side Theory on the Fire Monks near Gelmir: Magma Sorcerery. It's a fire-adjacent power, right? The Monks could have viewed Rykard's use of Magma Sorcerery as, fittingly, Blasphemous. They could have sent the Monks over to Fort Laidd as a direct assualt or something.

[@Shmethan]

I like that! I feel like there's lots of lore around all the different fire incantations having like a source of the fire, like the fell god or madness or the formless mother or the rune of death. But then I haven't fully been able to parse what explains the magma sorceries. I think they're described as hexes from an ancient cult. But just the fact that they're sorceries is so odd, how do they do that? Maybe it's as if there were another school of raya lucaria, except instead of studying comets and the moon and the stars, it is sourced from the study of the core of the planet?

[@tevenpowell8023]

@@Shmethan Well Magma is heavily connected to the idea of Biblical Corruption in Elden Ring, for what little we get of it. In the description for the Gelmir's Fury spell it says: "The arrogance of attempting to harness it is solely that of men and Serpents" Labeling the use of Magma as an overreach of power, and directly connecting it to Serpents. And the only use of Magma outside of Gelmir is of course, the Magma Wyrms. People who arrogantly sought the power of Dragons. "A Grave Transgression for which they were cursed to crawl the earth upon their bellies" Again an overreach of power, and cursed to assume a Serpentine form. It's trying to harness a power beyond mortal capacity, much like how the Primeval Sorcereries are described. Which is why I think it's a Sorcerery and not an Incarnation.

[@thelaughingz838]

It’s really unique when you can tell almost every enemy placement and setting is on purpose, an ever-looming mystery that the player can solve by taking the time and really study clues from item descriptions and the area itself. Legitimately can’t think of a single game that does it like From Soft

[@colossaltitan3546]

I think the only npc placement I can't really think of an explanation for is that one random Leyndell knight in Liurnia who drops the dragon cult prayer book. There's basically no reason for him to be there at all that I can think of.

[@Razhork]

42:05 "Every single one of these large dog enemies that you found on the Mountaintops of the Giants do have a collar around their necks." That's true if you don't count Flame Peak as part of the Mountaintops. All dogs found at Flame Peak have no collar nor red eyes. In fact, the dog you see from afar at 41:34 is one of the collar-less dogs. I don't think it debunks the idea of Flame Monks having tamed the ones found nearby the fort. As an aside, the dog near Gowry's shack is also the only dog in the entire game which uniquely has a scarlet rot breath attack.

[@SmoughTown]

Yeh good point! As you say I guess we apply my theory only to the ones around the fort itself then! Thank you

[@abigcupofwater]

I've killed Gowry's dog so many times

[@loftwingheropon2743]

Could be that the other collarless dogs on the mountaintops are runaways, or perhaps the children of runaways, so the dogs could still all be from Caelid.

[@joshuakim5240]

Cut content had a burnt maiden explain that the Redmanes and Fire Monks were working together via a deal, where the monks provided the Redmanes with flame arts but the Redmanes' end of the deal wasn't explained. It's possible that, originally, the deal was the capture of the Aeonian wildlife that the Fire Monks took a liking to (ie, the dogzillas), and the Redmanes have a lot of ambush spots attacking the dogzillas to capture and deliver them to import to the Fire Monks. Depending on how long this deal has been in place, it would make sense for the imported dogzillas to breed and multiply in their new home, with a few wild ones running around while many are still domesticated. Really wish that the Fire Monks' fascination with foreign animals was expanded upon because it's hilarious to think that these gruff, burnt, thorn-laden badasses are just finding weird animals whenever they travel away from home that they impulsively just adopt and take home later. They do seem to really like the Gelmir fire slugs and it would be adorable to see a prelate giving a dogzilla belly rubs.

[@Razhork]

@@joshuakim5240 I'd love to have a source on said cut content, because I know about Bernahl's burnt maiden cut NPC and her dialogue, but that is completely unrelated to the Fire Monks and Redmane and focuses on her wanting to become kindling for Bernahl so he can burn the Erdtree. Akin to how Melina can act as kindling to burn the Erdtree and is otheriwse known as the Kindling Maiden. The burnt maiden would try and infuse herself with the lingering flames used in Caelid to ward off the Scarlet Rot, but would ultimately fail and die. I'm not sure if it's the same maiden we're talking about, but it kinda sounds like it. I also personally don't think the dogs and crows are imported. I get the impression they're native to both Caelid and the Mountaintops since both are the only areas in the game where we find the mega giant corpses strewn about. There's not enough lore about any of this for me to really dig into sadly. I wish we knew more about the mega giant corpses.

[@makenaiyomi1083]

Wow, the story behind the Glintstone key deal was great. I actually never questioned the corpse with the key, let alone read the item description. I really like these little stories that show how careful the game was made. Also I always thought the 3 sisters referred to Renalla and her possible sisters, since I think the story would've made it clear if Renalla had more children than the three we know. Then she left her rise and Ranni renamed them after her and her master.

[@young5395]

Ah tarnished. We meet again at the round table to hear the delectable tales from SmoughTown. Let us join each other in deciphering this glorious world of Elden Ring.

[@SmoughTown]

I love it when we all gather round the table to discuss lore

[@JohnnyAppleFiend]

@@SmoughTownI love that emote!

[@theroaringfelix8758]

Glad we meet again brother!

[@comeonman3938]

I’m not gay

[@comeonman3938]

I’m gay

[@evilmac9623]

I have often wondered if Radagon was a misbegotten warrior that Marika used the rune of rebirth to transform into a man. The same rune that he gave to Rennalla. There are only two factions with red hair in the game, the giants and the misbegotten. Radagon kind of fights like a misbegotten crusader as well, with spin attacks and foot stomps.

[@confucius9445]

While that's an extremely good idea, item descriptions do point out that radagon *specifically* hated his red hair for it's association to the giants. So (very unlikely) he could be a giant instead 😂

[@bonkology4165]

@@confucius9445 what’s up with the emoji. Seems like you’re a “um actually 🤓🤓🤓” the op made an interesting point. And fromsoft has thrown softballs in the past

[@jankbunky4279]

Radagon, Godfrey, the Cruscible knights and the leonine misbegotten all are warriors that are related to beasts, one way or another. They all feel related in their own ways.

[@JohnMargherita69420]

@freedomofspeechenjoyer5443I don’t know if you can read but op actually said misbegotten AND giants

[@Joescotterpuss]

The misbegotten crusader in the Mountaintops of the Giants drops that holy sword with direct connections to Radagon as well.

[@ghosttimm420]

I think it would be awesome to explore a version of the Lands Between before the wars, a time before the land was broken. Just imagine all of the bridges and buildings were still intact, the cities and villages full of life. I'd like to see Liurnia before the land started to cave in and flood or, Caelid before Malenia nuked it with scarlet rot.

[@noamias4897]

The T-Rex doggos before they were T-rexes

[@WilliamPertzer]

That's what George RR Martin was told to write. I'd give so much to see his original writings the game is based off of.

[@tripjones2178]

I think this is the case for most of the dark souls games. It makes you wonder what these areas were like before these apocalyptic events. It really sparks the imagination.

[@TheActualMrLink]

I’m most interested in seeing Caelid pre-rot.

[@slipdog7832]

An hour long elden ring documentary is exactly what i needed with Dark and Darker playtest ending, and the ER DLC still not having a date in sight. props to your team.

[@SmoughTown]

Thanks my friend, I hope you enjoy

[@jogglenoggle9579]

I think Ranni's Two Fingers may be different (although it doesnt explain why they're blue, but maybe thats because they've lost blood) is because she was first choice to replace Marika. Despite both being Empyreon, maybe the afflictions of Miquella and Malenia pushed Ranni higher up the chain.

[@Iffem]

Ranni's also older than the twins

[@TheActualMrLink]

Well c l e a r l y Ranni’s Two Fingers are blue because she strangled them.

[@rxblessed]

I think one piece of speculation I have is that the Mountaintops and Caelid were once connected. The giant dogs and crows, the giant skeletons only appearing in those two places, the empty space where Malenia’s divine tower is connected to, and an explanation for how Finlay could’ve carried Malenia back from the battle of Aeonia. With the difference in elevation for the lake in the center of TLB and the greater ocean, could it be there was a land bridge, or something similar to the Bering Strait (or Arm of Dorne for ASOIAF fans)? There’s a lot that could refute it, but I like to think there was once an alternate route to the mountaintops. It just wouldn’t make as much sense for a lot of these characters who hate Leyndell to be able to just waltz through, especially with how Morgott has a seal to the Forbidden Lands!

[@TrueSkyblueClouds]

We do find a sword monument in east liurnia that says malenia marched through there, though - so it does seem like malenia's army at least went via liurnia on the way to caelid

[@rxblessed]

@@TrueSkyblueClouds yeah, but I figured they had an “outpost” in the Shaded Castle, marched from there, and Finlay retreated through Caelid/Mountaintops since it would be too treacherous to escape through Limgrave, Liurnia, Altus, Leyndell AND the Forbidden Lands

[@gladiusexe3870]

The lands between are so incredibly interesting and I really wonder if there are any other lands in that world with their own complicated stories. What I REALLY want to know is what the lake of rot is doing to the planet as a whole because if we’ve learned anything it’s that the scarlet rot is no joke.

[@nineleafclover1477]

The corpse holding the glintstone key looks like they're in the puppet pose. Curious pose to be in considering the dragon and all, but could possibly hint at some sort of infiltration into the school to create a puppet in order to grant access to the knowledge and treasures within

[@samf.s.7731]

Did someone say Seluvis?

[@dalakhsarothal9624]

I think there is something amiss in your Moonlight Altar theory. You say that it was Carian land and that it was abandoned and replaced with Caria Manor when the land broke and isolated the plateau. You also say that Ranni lived there and since she's Radagon's daughter it implies that the Caria Manor was built only after the Liurnian Wars and the alliance between Radagon and Rennala. In that case, if Radagon and Rennala presided over the construction of Caria Manor together (presumably since they would have been married at that time) then why is there no trace of Golden Order influence at all in Caria Manor ? Wouldn't Radagon leave his mark in the newly built home of his family ? I think the moonlight ruins are meant to be older than Ranni, it's hard to say as the demigods are very long lived but Tarnished Archeologist makes some points to that end. I can't explain the position of the fingers under the cathedral but I agree with you in that the meteoric fall theory doesn't make much sense. Just my two cents.

[@grimerlin]

Actually, there's one element of Golden Order influence in Caria Manor: the tree symbol engraved on top of the entrance walls, suggesting that the manor was built under the influence of the Erdtree.

[@lorddaniel20061]

Thank you for the Mt. Gelmir bit. A week ago I was seriously searching for a lore video or article that exactly explains what's going on over there. First time I reach there, the environmental story it told was just fascinating and I decided I had to know more.

[@SmoughTown]

My pleasure 🙏

[@rasenpapi5653]

We also literally find Ranni's dark moon(spell form) on the moonlight altar in Chelona's rise. given the era in which moonlight altar wouldve been active, and finding a spell presumably made/developed by Ranni in this area, i think it may be possible that Chelona is the snow witch Ranni encountered and learnt from. The reason this rise isn't so damaged and is still semi-well kept might be because it was built much later than the other structures, and is far away from the rest of the buildings so it wouldn't be as close to the falling stars. Also its distance would make sense if it was a guest house. Guest houses on estates are usually on the out-skirts or distant from the main houses so if Chelona was welcomed as a teacher and helped Ranni develop her dark-moon spell it would make sense why she has her own tower on the out-skirts of the moonlight altar with the spell in it. And once the 3 sisters were old enough (or maybe the surviving sister(s)) they got their own towers for study built behind Caria manor. Ranni's being the biggest given she was an empyrean and got special treatment. Or the other 2 sisters mightve died and had the tower(s) built in memory which would explain the size difference. But if i had to guess the sister for seluvius's rise mightve died much earlier or had been disgraced if ranni was willing to give up her tower to someone else

[@General_Chadahn]

Started a brand new playthrough a few days ago to prepare for the dlc. Thank you so much for these, it's incredible how much you cover each video considering the consistency. I always listen to these while I play ER. Much love from Australia 🦘

[@SmoughTown]

I really hope you enjoy your new playthrough my friend! Thank you for the kind words and support - love back from Scotland

[@supremeclamitas5053]

Ayyy fellow Aussie. We should sleep.

[@Ajbolt89]

Hope you're still checking in occasionally! So much in the lands between and finally the trailer tomorrow!

[@General_Chadahn]

@@Ajbolt89 I still watch Smough don't worry, I'm loving his Ds1 videos and so hype for the trailer 🔥

[@kaztheunbreakable]

I don't think the three sisters HAVE to be BLOOD sisters. I belive Renna is short for Rennala, and the third is for the snow witch now long gone. Sisters in arms, more-like. Sisters of the Full Moons.

[@BaalFridge]

The Souls lore community is the single best thing to come out of social media and no one can change my mind

[@SmoughTown]

Totally agree - love this community

[@rionshikder813]

The Alter of Manus Celest can possibly be a hybrid translation. 'Manus' is related to sanskrit for 'Humans' or 'Beings' and 'Celest' simply meaning celestial. Together this could mean that this alter may have been built in honor of celestial beings, who I assume were inhabitants of the moonlight alter prior to the events of elden ring. Or it could mean that Ranni herself is the celestial being (empyrean).

[@samf.s.7731]

I thought it was actually built to be the place where Godwyn and Ranni were supposed to be married off, officially reuniting the Carian Royalty and The Golden Lineage into one house... Ranni was not having it though, she doesn't wish to marry into the house that was responsible for the fall of her kingdom, her mom's suffering, and her father abandoning her as a child (Presumably).

[@Sitri444]

There are a couple more small moments of environmental storytelling that I like in the game. One is in Castle Mourne after you drop down from the Behind the Castle sight of grace. When you talk to the spirit there it says something about how it doesn't want to be eaten by the Misbegotten. All around this little area you see Misbegotten curled up into balls and various slime enemies. I think the little story being told here is that the Misbegotten have eaten a large number of humans and are turning into slimes as a result, similar to Aldrich and his followers back in Dark Souls 3, and likely the slime enemies you encounter in the Depths in Dark Souls 1 as well. It's funny to think that back in Dark Souls 1 it wasn't really clear what the lore was behind these slime enemies in the Depths, but it became pretty clear with the release of Dark Souls 3, especially when you take into consideration the Butchers and the meat they're preparing in the Depths. Another moment is in Liurnia in the valley where you see the forces of (presumably) the Cuckoo Knights fighting against the puppets of Caria. Off to the side, you encounter a bunch of puppet spirit enemies with an Academy wizard firing down spells at you from up above on a tower. Next to the wizard you see a corpse with a Carian staff you can pick up. Since only Caria, and not the Academy, seems to employ puppet enemies, I assume this means the Academy wizard killed the Carian wizard and took control of the puppets.

[@caucheka]

Another theory I heard about the sword is that it could have been gifted to miquella originally, and then miquella could have bequeathed it to the crusader

[@Conzort_1]

I had the same theory.

[@alfalldoot6715]

Same lol

[@LexIconLS]

Tarnished Archeologist has some really interesting stuff to say about the Misbegotten in the Snowfield and in Elphael that I tend to agree with. I can't remember exactly every point he makes, but he suggests the crusader and the other Misbegotten are there attacking Elphael because they may see the creation of a new great tree as heresy, even if they're rejected by the Golden Order, as they would have worshipped the Crucible, which the Erdtree grew out of. They're also found praying at the feet of statues from what TA calls the "Saint and Tree" stratum, the civilization conquered by Godfrey and Marika and the previous rulers of Leyndell, so clearly the Misbegotten still revere the Erdtree to some degree.

[@monkeyboosness6781]

I would love more mini-long form videos like this, discussing 2-4 topics at length. Since alot of these are speculation using hints given to us, it makes sense individually there's not a whole lot to cover, but a decent amount to discuss. One thing i love about your videos is the persuasive script style, You're not afraid to show opposing theories even if you don't agree, and i appreciate that as it opens up more discussion. Keep up the good work, I'm a huge fan of all your videos.

[@JZBeasty]

Personally, I don’t think the sorcerers and the Demihumans were after Lusat’s power but were perhaps allied with him, standing watch to prevent others from intruding on his study of the stars or something like that.

[@pieoverlord]

Ever notice how Raya Lucaria's seal were clearly developed in tandem with Radagon? The Raya Lucaria symbol combined with his lattice rune, the latter of which is combined with thorns to seal the Erdtree. Neat bit of subtle foreshadowing and tells us that Radagon was a pretty darn good sorcerer. Regarding Fort Llaidd; I don't think the Fire Monks attacked because of Adan. There's a ghost there that seems to have hidden the Flame Scorpion Charm and is part of Volcano Manor. I think the monks came for the charm, seeing how fire is their purview, but were unable to find it and so set up camp. Although, maybe it is related and Adan was part of Volcano Manor - and the Manor had begun investigating the flame of ruin for their plans against the Erdtree.

[@TankorSmash]

This was a fun dive, I'd definitely love to see a collection of stories like this around the game. Thanks for uploading!

[@SmoughTown]

Thank you my friend!

[@SauronGorthaur01]

I really enjoyed this one, hoping to get more "little bits" of Lore! Only thing Ive found weird is you saying the demi humans in Fort Haight dont attack us. Ive just tested it and they do indeed attack me.

[@SmoughTown]

Might be a Mandela effect on my part haha!

[@SauronGorthaur01]

@@SmoughTown I mean I kinda wish they would be friendly it makes more sense.

[@kaingates]

​@@SauronGorthaur01 aren't they rebelling against the golden order hierarchy? In my mind it makes so much more sense for them to go rabbid after someone chosen by the *god of the golden order*

[@SauronGorthaur01]

@@kaingates I thought the point was that Kenneth Haight actually communicated with them and is now on friendly terms with them, and this communication is deemed 'okay' by the golden order (as Kenneth says). Obviously not all Demi-Humans should be friendly but those in Fort Haight could definitely be friendly I think.

[@kieransinclair3071]

In terms of the giant size of animals in Caelid (including Radahn), I think the strong implication is that as the Scarlet Rot grows inside you, it makes you expand until you burst like popcorn. This explains Radahn, Greyoll, the crows and dogs, and the absolutely massive skulls, which presumably were giants who then got even bigger before they popped. It's also a concept that was used in Bloodborne, where Miyazaki said: "The stronger the shackle keeping that urge to transform in place is, the larger the recoil once that shackle is finally broken. The results cause you to transform into a larger creature, or a more twisted one."

[@TGWhitta]

Radahn was a giant before fighting Melania. And there are no giants of any kind anywhere in the Haligtree. Cool theory but it doesn't pan out

[@aranthur]

Great video, my dude! I'm sure it's been mentioned already, but just in case let's not forget that the Lunar Estate is also now occupied by wraith callers. Four armed, blue skinned, bell-ringing figures like the snowy crone Ranni's doll form is based on

[@SmoughTown]

Thank you my friend! Yeah I really need to talk about the Wraith Callers one day

[@simonealcazar816]

8:29 Not impossible but unlikely to be where Rennala found her moon. The Great Hood found at a bridge in the Mountain Tops of the Giants says, “Yes, surely this is the moon that young Rennala gazed upon." It would be more likely she found her at the mountain tops instead. Especially since Astrologers has studied up there and have two rises as well. It still can be where Ranni found her moon so it not a outright dismal of the theory. What do you think?

[@TheFeralFerret]

Another great video! While I agree with many of your observations on the moonlight altar, I also really like Tarnished Archaeologist's theory about the cathedral dating from a time when the two and three fingers were joined into a true hand of god. In any case, it's cool that there are so many plausible theories for the lore.

[@SmoughTown]

Thanks my friend!

[@jeffjefferson2853]

I love that theory. I think the Carians descend from the lineage that once held the Elden Ring, thus the architectural similarities. The old ruler's supreme deity's emissaries were the Celestial Hand, which were essentially the 2 and 3 fingers before they split. The Numens and the Eternal Cities joined forces, killed the ruling god in the Greattree, used her corpse to create what would come to be known as the Fingerslayer Blade, and literally cut the One Great in half. One half won out and became the Greater Will, and the other half became the Flame of Frenzy. This is also probably when the Greattree fell, either as a direct result or because the Fire Giants were also part of the conspiracy. Then the Crucible Tree rises from the Greattree stump, the Misbegotten are born, Marika and Godfrey team up and graft a Minor Erdtree onto the Crucible Tree and so on

[@themadgamer1217]

Here’s a question though - what about the bloodhound knight that was right on the inside of the Raya Lucaria entrance where we can find the simple map leading to the glintstone key? After you go through the barrier with the key, turn immediately around and walk down the path covered in foliage (a few wolves are in there, as well), pass up a merchant (interestingly enough that gives you the warrior set (connection to Malenia) and St. Trina’s Arrows (connection to Miquella)), and you’ll see a corpse with an item on it right at the door - that item being Celestial Dew. However, right above that corpse, laying in wait to ambush whoever comes for that item, is a bloodhound knight decked out in armor wearing Leyndellian colors (a faded yellow cape with decor on it that looks like the banners on the Altus Plateau). I believe this is a great bit of environmental storytelling, being that it’s telling a story of someone sending that knight to potentially assassinate someone who is seeking forgiveness for past sins. Perhaps Ranni? Maybe even Rykard? I know there’s no indication of this kind of counter-plot against the plotters, but this is just what I think.

[@riskybiscuits688]

I love this idea so much. There are so many little odds and ends throughout the Lands Between that are hard to comprehend. Maybe a Part 2 video at some point?

[@SmoughTown]

Definitely, I love these little environmental stories

[@riskybiscuits688]

@@SmoughTown yeah, stuff like the oracle envoys and Elemer of the Briar would be interesting

[@nayelmadanat4343]

I absolutely LOVED this lore video! when I first became interested in FromSoft games it was the lore that pulled me in. I know the more main points of the lore are probably more popular to discuss and make for better views an whatnot, but I personally find the little "mini-lore" stories that are kinda hidden around the game just really add so much more depth to the main lore bringing everything together full circle. I think that FromSoft never really just places characters or items randomly I feel like they are always there for a reason, big or small. Anyways EXCELLENT work as always!! I hope that you will be able to make more of these "Lost Tales" lore videos in the future, cuz I for one find these absolutely amazingly essential to bring FromSofts lore and storytelling full circle. THANK YOU SMOUGH!!!

[@zenz0ha472]

Honestly it does make sense that Moonlight Altar was the first place Rennala met her moon, and I believe it’s where Ranni met hers too! The “Moonfolk” were never mentioned other than the Carians, yet the super ancient ruins of the old Lunar Estate, Manus Celes and the Moonfolk Ruins exist regardless of any other history that we may know of, other than the old Astrologers. It had to have been the first real Carian Manor, because nobody else besides Rennala’s ancestors could have owned it being a purely Lunar sanctuary.

[@jschemel3921]

I really enjoyed this video aswell. Such a lore rich, yet unexplained game, that I'm sure not even Miyazaki has planned everything out as far and complex as the lore hunters have speculated. Letting the players discover and deduce the lore that hasn't been given concrete proof

[@SmoughTown]

Thanks so much, it is great to hear that - I was nervous about this one because it is slightly different

[@EvolvedDinosaur]

42:31 Excuse me, but in my first playthrough this dog literally ate Gowry. I was too underleveled to deal with the enemies, so I was running past them. I saw the guy in the shack, and ran past the pooch aggroing it in the process. It chased me and then did a little side hop, getting caught behind the building in the process. It then did a single chomp attack, killing Gowry through the wall in one hit. I was still able to talk to him too, even though there was no body left. It was hilarious, and I still have the video saved on my PS5

[@misterspiggins]

The Misbegotten warrior in red mane is really interesting to me as well. I may be overlooking something, but I can’t think of any other locations in Caelid that have misbegotten in them. And yet, the one we fight also has a Legendary Armament greatsword with ties to an important figure. It has gravity magic which can easily connect it to Radahn. I’ve heard it theorized that the Crusader may in some way have the sword because it’s tied to Radagon through the red hair that both of them have. That would also be a solid reason for Radahn’s forces to seemingly include the warrior. He has or had the same red hair, presumably. It doesn’t fight the Crucible knight, so they seem to be on the same side. Maybe some of what I said is wrong, so I apologize since i’m typing this at work & cant fact check. Just some interesting thoughts I had.

[@havi2000]

I don’t know if youve mentioned this in any video but the point about manus celus got me thinking. The divine towers definitely precede the golden order due to the presence of the saint statue designs, the “older” tree relief (whether you believe it to be an old depiction of the erdtree or as a depiction of an earlier tree; it is shown around other architecture that dates back before the golden order) ,and other architectural differences. Each divine tower has the corpse of a two fingers atop. We know that empyreans are given two fingers. We also know from the gloam eyed queen lore bits that marika was not the only empyrean of her time. Perhaps the divine towers are basically enormous tombstones for empyreans and their two fingers, and the two fingers we meet at roundtable hold was Marika’s own. This would also explain why the gloam eyed queen’s signature weapon is at the base of one such divine tower.

[@Actiondanny]

I've long been entertaining a mini-theory that the Revenants we see in-game now are descendant (or corruptions or what have you) of what were one the Moon-Folk. For one thing, quite a lot of them pop up out of the ground when you approach the Moonfolk Ruins, as if they're protecting it. But the crux of my theory is the fact they have four arms, which was a choice Ranni seems to have consciously made for her doll form. The description of the Snow Witch states that Ranni modeled her blue, four-armed body after the Snowy Crone that taught her sorceries. This certainly implies that the Snowy Crone had four-arms, which severely limits the options of what race she may have been. The Royal Revenants have more than four arms, but the smaller Revenants, that mainly attack by ringing bells, seem to have just four arms and two legs, like Ranni. Using a slightly-altered enemy model as a friendly NPC isn't unheard of - like with Boc, or Hewg - so it's possible that the Snow Witch was just one of those revenants. But the fact that they are harmed by healing spells implies that the Revenants we see in-game now are somehow corrupted, shunned by the laws that govern the world. I think that the witch who taught Ranni cold sorceries was Moon-Folk, a race of blue-skinned, four-armed, intelligent humanoids who inhabited the Moonlight Altar even before the Carians arrived. However, something happened to them, or was done to them, causing most of the Moon-Folk to be killed, and those who remained to be cursed to an existence similar to, but distinct from Those Who Live in Death.

[@twilitblade]

This is the video i needed today, Thank you for making these videos. I watch lore videos for all sorts of games, and I think your Eldin Ring videos are some of the best lore videos I've seen, consistently. Really enjoyable and informative. Keep doing what you do.

[@superdoombro]

Love the video! A note about the two fingers under Manus celeste. I assumed they were the missing two fingers from the divine tower that we find Rannis body at. To me, they seem to have been relocated under the cathedral and abandoned until Ranni got the means to kill them. If not, why is that the only tower missing its two fingers? Seems like its too big a detail to be a coincidence.

[@superdoombro]

@@SmoughTown._ Oh dude, did you get hacked?

[@noamias4897]

Great video as always and a good idea to explore some smaller stories that add to the overall worldbuilding of The Lands Between. It's interesting how the gods of an age are overshadowed by their consort or Elden Lord. I mean how big of a difference does it make if we become Marika's Elden Lord? She should still control us like she did Godfrey and (sort of) Radagon. Which is why I think Ranni's ending is the best. I think it would be interesting if we could become other people's consorts such as Miquella and Malenia, not just Marika or Ranni's

[@alfalldoot6715]

My theory on the Misbegotten Crusader is that it was Miquella who gave it to him, likely as some reward. The Consecrated Snowfield is Miquella's territory and we know Miquella was fairly close to his dad from the various ring incantations so its possible that Radagon gave it to him at some point but because of Miquella's curse he wasn't exactly able to wield it. So in turn he bequeathed it to one of his strongest misbegotten warriors, it would be a nice contrast to all the other misbegotten warriors who probably stole theirs. Perhaps this misbegotten fled back to the snowfield after Miquella's disappearance or simply decided to stay there in order to harbor more of his species. On the topic of Radagon, I noticed that the seals at 22:51 have not just the normal Carian seal on it but also what appears to be Radagon's symbol that also appears on his sore/scar seal. The same seal guarding the academy also appear guarding Lusat in the Selia Hideaway. Is it possible that it was Radagon who developed this sealing technique? As further repentance for his war against Raya Lucaria so it's never damaged by war again. It was also probably Radagon sealed the erdtree after the shattering (the same elden symbol appears on the thorns just minus the carian crest of course) so that just adds further credence to the idea.

[@loch1694]

This is honestly my favorite video of yours. I wholeheartedly agree that these little environmental stories are so fun and interesting (not to say the overarching videos you do aren’t great, most things have just been talked about a lot already). Thanks for your amazing content!

[@SmoughTown]

That’s so awesome to hear my friend! Thank you so much - i was nervous about this video tbh

[@errantvice7335]

The Albinauric Bloodclot is a larger than life item, when will it be getting it’s own dedicated video? It’s tale must be told, it cannot remain hidden lest the night go on forever!

[@SmoughTown]

It's gonna get it's own merch line! Magnets, posters, mugs! The Whole deal

[@errantvice7335]

@@SmoughTown GLORIOUS! PRAISE THE SILVER BLOOD!

[@alfalldoot6715]

@@SmoughTown YES

[@greenhydra10]

We are born of the bloodclot, made Albinaurics by the bloodclot, undone by the bloodclot.

[@SmoughTown]

@@greenhydra10 amen

[@pop8226]

I've been getting really into the niche lore of ER like this while I'm doing a new build so I really loved this vid! great work as always :) one thing you said about liurnia crumbling reminded me, did liurnia's lake rise? I wondered this on my first playthrough reading item descriptions but I could be remembering wrong. but it reminded me that the moon's gravitational pull controls the tides, and you putting it into a timeline makes me wonder if it coincided with rennala meeting her moon for the first time. idk if lakes have tides like the sea lol but I've always wondered if there's something there lore-wise

[@Mameoth]

About the three female statues at the moonlight altar: seeing as Rennala has four cribs above her in the library she is imprisoned in, which are definitely for her three children plus the unborn fourth kept suspended in the amber egg, I think the statues, and the towers were made for Rennala and two sisters of hers. One of which would be Renna.

[@PhlightYagami]

@smoughtown I just watched one of your Bloodborne videos for the first time and it's amazing to see your growth from then to now. You sound so much more confident, the production value is much higher, and your storytelling has improved a ton. That's not to say those aren't great videos, but it's clear you've been working hard for years and it's paying off in dividends. Thanks for keeping it up and being the best Elden Ring Lore creator!

[@SmoughTown]

That’s so kind to hear my friend! Yeah it’s been a long road and I’m just really grateful to have support like yours

[@marcarbeit6409]

It’s 4/20 and I’ve got a Smoughtown video to watch when I get off of work 🙌🏻

[@SmoughTown]

Enjoy my friend!

[@Impossibear]

I could be mistaken but I'm fairly certain Iji implies that Rena's Rise is not the true name of the tower and that Ranni chooses to call it that.

[@SmoughTown]

Great point Kevin

[@Impossibear]

@@SmoughTown Part of me wants to believe that Miquella and Melania are actually Carian princesses. There are just some things that don't sit well with me like the collection of Miquella's lilies in the Carian Manor guarded by a red wolf of Radagon or how Loretta made drastic modifications to her armor but for what ever reason kept the blue cape which is a symbol of her loyalty to the Carian Royal Family.

[@BLAM5980]

@@Impossibear Miquella is male.

[@Impossibear]

@@BLAM5980 That is debatable. There are multiple things to imply that Miquella is either female or at the very least hermaphroditic. Personally I'm more partial to the idea that Miquella is a true hermaphrodite and possesses a womb, regardless of his external sexual organ.

[@briggy4359]

​@@Impossibear ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[@mrwinemaker]

I think SmoughTown might understand the lore and stories of Elden Ring more than FromSoft and GRRM

[@SmoughTown]

You humble me! Thank you so much

[@poopybaby9794]

Surprised you talked about the giant dogs. They stood out to me because they freaked me out, probably being the scariest common enemy I've encountered in any game I've played so far. I think my first encounter with one was with the one outside of Gowry's shack, which I remember chased me into hiding there and killed the man himself trying to get me.

[@wollins7244]

I was actually talking to my buddy about this earlier today, but what would you think if the Misbegotten Crusader was sent by Radagon/Golden Order to the Haligtree to dispatch of the rising, competing order? I can’t recall if it was you or TA who discussed that the Misbegottens might be at the Haligtree to fight and destroy it because the Haligtree becoming the new sacred tree indicates that the Crucible will truly never return, the Crucible which they were likely born from. I think that it could have interesting implications and the Crusader could have truly just gotten lost in the blizzard and wound up in the Cave of the Forlorn. This is at least what I like to think occurred and best explains why this poor lad ended up stranded in this cave

[@alfalldoot6715]

But the haligtree was made after the shattering

[@Flora-of_The-Moon]

The fact that the misbegotten crusader is basically the Gael to Radagons Gwyn makes me wish that the fight against was more epic in some or other way.

[@alfalldoot6715]

What do you mean by this?

[@strisk2388]

Some of the best video's to sit and knit, and crochet to. I literally just hit play on the playlist and listen and watch (occasionally, but mostly listen to).

[@SmoughTown]

That’s so awesome 🙏really glad you enjoy the content that way

[@Elfosor]

Superb video! Very interesting. One thing though about the Two Fingers at Moon-Altar Cathedral; I don't think it was there since the beginning, but more likely put there by Ranni, to hide it, AFTER the Night of the Black Knives and thus her coup: 1. Every Divine towers has her two fingers that are linked with their respectives most powerfull demi-god (with the exception of the twins, since its basicely the same person) BUT the Divine tower of Liurnia where we find Ranni's body (identified thanks to the red hairs and the death mark), that tower is missing her two fingers ! I think from that we can established that the divine tower of Liurnia was of Ranni, since she's from that region, and that we find her body there, hence the missing two fingers that should ve been at the tower but is not, is owned by Ranni and was therefore moved somewhere else. 2. This specific two fingers at the moonlight altar cathedral, is obviously dead, but most importantly, is wearing the Death brand mark, the same as we found on Ranni's body and on Godwyn's body. The blue color reminds the color of a corpse without any blood left inside, blood that is soaking the soil when we arrive at the scene. The murdering is obviously done by Ranni since she stated that she wanted to be cut off from that whole Great Order/two fingers/.. scheme. So it would makes sense that she killed HER two fingers, the one that was at the Divine tower of Liurnia. One thing we can't know for sure though is WHEN did she kill it: During that fatefull night with her body? and then she moved the two fingers to masks her actions. OR did she kill it long after, when she finally can, with the help of a certain tarnished; I mean think about it, she sends us on a mission to find a blade called... "Fingerslayer" ...! Supposedly, she can't indeed kill the Two fingers right away because she's missing a particular artefact, and thus she hides the two fingers first, to prevent an action/retalation from the Golden order: She hides it somewhere safe, of her knowing and ONLY her knowing; guard by a dragon of her own familly, and only accessible from a tunnel sealed by Carian Magic (and Astel), so yeah perfectly safe we can say; and thus she can wait for the perfect occasion or the perfect time, to finally kill her Two Fingers, the only remaining link between her and the Greater will. And so when we arrive at cathedral, we see the ranni's puppet with the killed Two Fingers, soaking in his own blood (which is important, since otherwise we would have seen the blood on the tower and not there), carrying the death brand on him, we could indeed established that the murder just happened ! When you think about it, it makes sense and everything connects the dots: Killing Radhan that is holding her fate, finding the fingerslayer blade that will help her to definitely remove her from the golden order scheme, Ranni teleporting away after we find the blade, and when we arrive at the Moonlight altar cathedral we find the ranni's puppet standing just onto the freshly killed Two Fingers ! Anyway, that is my speculation :) sorry for long post (and bad english) Long live elden ring and all the lore videos, like this one outhere ! And thank YOU for making that much work for us humble viewers, so we can understand that game better. Peace!

[@maddogsgaming7567]

yo, i love that u talked about the misbegotten crusader. he is so underrated and i like his implications

[@echidnaburger02]

I've noticed many of the flowers around the lands between are color coded depending on what themes happen to be nearby, i.e. blue flowers around Liurnia and gold flowers around Marika and Radagon statues. I've been wondering if we could glean some new information about the history of certain places depending on what types of flowers can be found around the area. For example, there are white flowers all around Manus Celes, which seems to confirm in my mind that Rennala and Radagon were probably married there.

[@jstar3382]

Weren't they married in Church of Vows, given that it's called the church of vows? "Radagon proclaimed his love for Rennala" and all that

[@dalakhsarothal9624]

You also almost alway find Arteria Leaf on the sites of ambushes.

[@jstar3382]

@@dalakhsarothal9624 that could be a game design point tbf, or it could signify that enemies are waiting around something valuable to ambush you.

[@theFreddyFighter]

I hope if Smoughtown does a second video on smaller stories that he’ll include why there’s so many dead finger maidens outside marikas chambers oh and the freaking black knifes assassin

[@vinceangelomanese7001]

Hey Smough! Your theory on the Leonine Crusader Misbegotten compelled me to remember a video by Kite Tales about how the Misbegotten are related to Radagon through the Crucible. I just thought the connections were really intriguing, so I wanted to know what you would think about that. Always love your vids when they drop. Keep up the good work!

[@coreyrachar9694]

The misbegotten crusader is what I find most interesting. The misbegotten are already vaguely related to radagon via crucible shenanigans and the red hair of the warriors but the crusader having this sword is very strange. I have to do another playthrough because I don't remember all the info or where exactly it comes from but I've had the idea in my head for awhile now that the misbegotten are just dudes that became misbegotten via some event. There is a bit about that ship that got left behind full of tarnished (possibly the boat near radahn?) and I've always felt like some event must have happened afterwards which changed them. Possibly being too close to the erdtree/shattering of the elden ring? Right? because if the elden ring is the embodiment of Order than shattering it would somewhat revert back the the chaotic crucible era. Maybe Marika wanted to send the tarnished away so she could smash the ring without messing them all up via random erdtree/crucible powers released/caused from the shattering? I have so many questions and theories but I'm too lazy to catalogue all the items and dialogue and stuff. I've done it for previous games and it's quite a bit of work and Elden Ring is a gigantic game....

[@coreyrachar9694]

forgot to make my actual point which was that that particular misbegotten crusader could have been some kind of paladin or general serving radagon or something that got changed by the crucible/whatever crucible related event and just always had that sword with him. Even still this would be a pretty mundane answer to a super provocative mystery and it feels like we're still missing something.

[@x.kitsune]

Love all your content! At 1st I was just jumping around to the videos I was more interested in.. but I've gone back and listened to everything in order so I would know any references you talk about from prior videos. Thank you so much for making all of these! I can't get enough of them! Just a suggestion, but I would love to see a video on Godrick The Grafted next! 🥰

[@Morrov]

Regarding the Cathedral of Manus Celes, Tarnished Archeologist has a fantastic video about it with some really interesting and compelling theories, I can't recommend it enough. It's in the video about the "Finger Schism".

[@QuestionableObject]

I think the reason the firemonks took over the fort is because they were looking for the flame scorpion charm. Its otherwise one hell of a coincidence that we find the *flame* charm in the one fort the fire monks have wrecked

[@SmoughTown]

I agree and I did consider this, especially since the ghost seems to think he needs to hide it...but why would they raid a whole fort just for this one charm?

[@QuestionableObject]

@@SmoughTown Well they are religious zealots. I feel like that's reason enough. Otherwise I feel like its the same reason that they set up full on camps in Liurnia and the likes because they intend to stick around during their hunts for flame related nick-nacks.

[@loftwingheropon2743]

@@SmoughTown such charms could be seen as sacred perhaps? Or maybe the fire monks are just really obsessive collectors.

[@yarro7428]

I'm currently doing a modded playthrough, and I had a weird moment of "why haven't I heard anyone talk about this before?" when I got to Three Sisters. During my first playthrough, I remember being curious about who the 3 sisters were, but got distracted with doing Ranni's quest and never looked into it further. But now, with the dlc trailer out, and the new Carian looking character, I would like to suggest that this new person, Rennala, and Renna are the three sisters.

[@AuthoressPluto]

My personal theory for the three sister statues is that they represent the three different moons in game the black moon from our memory stones, the full moon of Rennala and the dark moon of Ranni. Same with the three towers and that Ranni's rise and Renna's rise as well as Selluvis rise were simply named that because well Ranni loved her mentor and Selluvis is full of himself. What they could have been called before I have no idea but that's the connection I always made. Elden Ring and the Souls game... man so many attention to details I love it! all the stories told give it so much life.

[@beardedbovel]

There are 2 details that I felt was overlooked among these hidden stories: 1. Chelona's Rise. On my first playthrough I assumed this was the name of a dead Carian. I have since learned that Chelona is very similar to Chelone, a Greek term for tortoise, but also the name of a mountain nymph that didn't want to leave her home to attend Zeus wedding and was therefore forced to carry her home on her back - the first tortoise/turtle. It makes sense for the presence nearby tortoises, but can it hold a deeper meaning and connection to Ranni? (Forced to carry a burden etc.) 2. Hermit Village. The corpses at this location isn't just any generic corpses, but specifically dancers from Dominula and I've yet to find any ther location where you can find these enemies/corpses. Why did they have a village up there? Tied to the presence of Godskins in Volcano Manor?

[@wolfiemuse]

I’m totally willing to buy that the Moonlight Altar is where Rennala met her moon, but not Ranni. Isn’t there an item description that suggests the snowy crone is the one who showed her the dark moon, in secret? edit: nope I’m wrong lol, snowy crone seemed to teach her about it but Rennala introduced her

[@SmoughTown]

She taught her the mysteries of it - but Rennala was the one who led Ranni 'by the hand' to first meet the moon. Ranni's Dark Moon reads: This moon was encountered by a young Ranni, led by the hand of her mother, Rennala. What she beheld was cold, dark, and veiled in occult mystery.

[@wolfiemuse]

@@SmoughTown ohhh okay I totally misremembered that then. Welp!

[@ranchsauce3232]

Bravo Geoff bravo! Took me a little while to get around to watching this one but goddamn man you are just so prolific, proving time and time again why you’re the best bloody channel on KZbin. This video was so fascinating and well produced, I really especially loved the last one about the crusader I reckon you’re absolutely bang on, makes so much sense how he’s named differently and that the other ones couldn’t wield the weapons as they didn’t meet the requirements. Just bloody awesome man every video you’ve put out in the last few months has just been stellar, this style of video really suits Elden Ring very well too and I am sure we’d be happy if you made more of it! Anyways hope life is well mate, much love take care of yourself ❤

[@hailwidis9543]

My night routine is getting on my bed, putting my phone against my spare pillow and watch hours long of your content. Thx for always putting out top notch content! May the golden order shine through you😊

[@SmoughTown]

That’s so nice to hear my friend 🙏thank you so much and may the Golden Order shine through you too

[@edwarddexter8618]

Looking forward to this. Been on a binge watching your videos today🤣 I appreciate your dedication on making these videos

[@SmoughTown]

That's awesome Edward! Really pleased you've been enjoying the content. My pleasure, thank you so much for the support

[@edwarddexter8618]

@SmoughTown Another fantastic video. Honestly I find it amazing how you put all this together. Made me enjoy the game so much more, as I'm stupid putting things together 🤣 Top work and I look forward to the next one. Thank you for the content.

[@spottypongo7591]

For the misbegotten crusader. I think it's also a possibility that they were sent to the haligtree to either stop miquella from enacting his long term plan or possibly to stop mohg from capturing them in an attempt to thwart his plan as well. Radagon was the one trying to keep and repair the golden order as far as we know right? So it makes sense that he would send a trusted and capable crusader and his men to handle it especially if he knew the elden ring was in danger and had to stay behind to protect it in an effort to stop the shattering

[@alfalldoot6715]

But the haligtree was made after the shattering

[@megasakimusic1137]

One of my favorite lore videos from you! Can't wait until Hidden Stories II!

[@feircy]

This was the first game that took me back to that original dark souls 1 feeling of stumbling across crazy things and not knowing what to expect. Wandering around the world and finding caria manors giant hands way to early, hell i didn't even go to leyndell until i went by accident after stumbling through fia's quest.

[@MegaJRod99]

God I love this game. I think I've clocked in over 1000 hours (no exaggeration) and it feels like I've barely been able to skim the surface of the lore. Oh well, that's what watching Smough Town is for!

[@SmoughTown]

I also feel like i've barely scratched the surface - the symbology and implicit storytellying is a wonder in this game

[@AsherrTheRed]

can we just talk about the fact that the lake of rott is directly below Raya Lucaria, and that to get to moonlight alter u have to pass through it o_0

[@SmoughTown]

Yeh that was on the list! Maybe next time I do one of these

[@AsherrTheRed]

@@SmoughTown I will wait with eager anticipation then

[@funwithfrank7522]

I've been waiting for this, thank you mate. Be nice too see a different format, shaking it up a bit :) remember when you posted asking what you should do next. Couldn't wait now I don't have too:)

[@quazymoodo8452]

Check out Ricard's Rapier from the other Fromsoft games (and specifically DS1): "His story is written in a monomyth" [a single story-- often the Hero's Journey] Check out the Memory of Grace item in ER: "It is merely a cycle." Ricard and his Rapier became Rykard, the Lord of Blasphemy, and he fed himself to the world serpent, a classic mythological symbol of a cycle, which is likely to have an effect on the cosmic laws of Elden Ring (e.g., how gravity has changed) But the most honest character in the game to explain this story to you isn't Rykard or Marika, but Patches. The story of the game is the Patch Cycle, and he tells you, "It's a bit ad hoc, but I'm sure you'll find something." This is because the loose-ended narratives can actually be pieced together into a frame story using tactics of poetic emphasis (e.g., using the same item descriptions or colors and themes between otherwise unrelated items; also description errors that inform us that the narrator, despite being *mostly accurate*, has only a measurable lack of credibility-- we can also assume this because the narrator self-actualizes in the Divine Fortification spell ["Heed Me"], and (theoretically) in items like the Golden Epitath where quotes are used in Miquella's own words. Items also have gameplay errors like the Fullmoon Crossbow, or have irregular effects relating to the properties of jumping out of existence [see Bloodhound Fang's Bloodhound Finesse]) I must emphasize, the game explicitly is goading you towards reading between the lines (items and character dialogue) to consider the text using ad hoc analysis. As the grace mimic item says: "unrefined guidance will lead to truer encounters." Which not only have a diagetic meaning via the nature of grace in-game, but it is fundamental to the metaltextual reading of the story as well-- many of the real-world mythologies that the game's art and character arcs are based on hero's story cycles from around the world , which transubstantiates between the nature of a single story and a cycle simultaneously, becoming the origin of the company's style of cosmic horror. One example I'll throw out there is the Greek deity Palaemon the Honey-Eater, the Dungeater, and the item description for the gold-tinged excrement. Have fun!

[@quazymoodo8452]

As for the divinity, I would speculate there are 4 sisters, 3 of which are materially recognized in the presence of the world that we know of: One of the cycles is of the Empyreans-- we know 3 are potential candidates to be next in the cycle-- Malenia, Miquella, and Ranni-- but I suspect the fourth is actually what is known as a Triple Goddess-- in this case, I would say Marika, the Gloam-Eyed Queen, and the Tarnished; the metaphysics for why I would argue this are tricky to explain, but consider the "outside of time" aspect for Farum Azula, and what the counterbalance "outside of space" might be (I would theorize inside the Erdtree.) The opening cinematic claims Marika is "no where to be found" in the immediate events before we, a Tarnished of *No Renown*, arrive from the Long March. Even Sir Gideon Ofnir the All-Knowing does not "remember" the last time this happened. Our being comes from the fact that we have been reincarnated (and can consistently reincarnate at the Stake of Marika/Sites of Grace), so there is a fundamental reason for us being on this journey-- and why Melina, who was born of the Erdtree who holds Marika's purpose and words in her memory, commits heresy by offering to be our maiden. It's like the lunar cycle, but it comes in sets of 4-- Malenia (goddess of rot in full bloom), Miquella (Divinity at the moment of death), Ranni + Melina (the burned and bodiless gaining the aid of a gods-killing fates-turning Tarnished), and Marika (God-Queen in non-existence). They are the sides of a 4-faced cycle, with one side always being a "St. Trina" (the reason for this being that whichever face is most "present"/"forward-looking" would find it unnerving to see the 3 faces on the back of their head-- this is the nature of the divinity of the moon, and archetypically deals with the plural divine queerness of stars as opposed to the feminine moon/masculine sun duality-- the liminality between the Sun and Moon is an eclipse, which relates to intersexuality and mythological concepts such as the Rebis (also why the Full Moon heterodoxy was accepted as a powerful form of study at Raya Lucaria, which mostly studies stars/meteors/comets-- and the Erdtree Sun [Radagon]). Who the "3 Sisters" is of Liurnia is a very different question from all of this other text, however. I think it is likely the four lunar deities-- Renna, Rennala, Ranni, and Raya (you), with Raya being the name of the Moon goddess during the previous era of the eclipsing moon, opposite of the player. The moonlight altar version of this might be "moon/sun/dark moon" or "moon/sun/dark moon/stars" or even "moon/sun/moon/earth (you)" (the 3 eclipses, seen the through eyes of the Tarnished). The unknowability of the 3 faces is the trick to examining the eldritch cosmic puzzle, but it definitely establishes a standard for how loose of a story thread it is designed to be.

[@windie7718]

16:30 I’m fairly certain Sellen is one of the 3 sisters & daughter of Rennala: she’s known to be exceptionally talented, and loved by the academy up to a grave choice she made. It’s stated she killed another member of the academy which I believe to be Renna. This would explain how a daughter of the queen would be excommunicated and possibly explain the connection between Seluvis and Sellen or why Seluvis seemingly has the body of Sellen in his basement: perhaps this body is that of Renna. If Seluvis is tied to Sellen killing Renna it could also explain why Ranni is so intent on offing him after she acquired the fingerslaying blade: he may have goaded one of her sisters to kill the other under the guise of primeval discovery, but in reality he was just a creep who was a little too interested in the royal line. Conversely Ranni herself could’ve had a hand in this as well given she has no qualms with slaying family & friends for her goals. God I love how open the lore is🫶

[@daniell1483]

Great video. I especially like the idea that the Misbegotten crusader is actually a follower of Radogan/the Golden Order. It is like an echo of Morgott, an Omen who upholds the Order that rejects him. Just instead of an Omen, we have a Misbegotten. Perhaps Radogan and this Misbegotten were companions of old?

[@jpkmester]

My theory is that the Misbegotten Warriors are the same to Radagon as the Crucible Knights were to Godfrey. Basically the "Elite" soldiers of their army, before the age of Golden Order. There's just way too many connections between Crucible Knights and Misbegotten Warriors: -they both use and share a very recognizable attack (the step forward and double circural sword swing); -they both possess (one physically, the other in a spirit form) iconic aspects of the Crucible (tails & wings). -they also fight side-by-side in one occasion in Redmane Castle, where it's unsuprising they would both be accepted since Godfrey was Radahn's idol, and Radagon was his father. -they are both hated and chased away by the Golden Order... -...even tho both can be found in various places of the Capital. I don't think it is unreasonable to imagine that Radagon's army, at the peak of his territorial agressions, contained both Misbegotten Warriors and his mighty red wolves.

[@SmoughTown]

Yeh I can 100% buy that

[@jam4387]

I love the work you put into these! keep it up

[@SmoughTown]

Thank you my friend! Makes it all worth it

[@blakebailey22]

The thumbnail for this video might be my favorite one yet

[@gersong.4075]

Need a part 2 of this!

[@TommasoFirmini]

30 seconds in and I already know it'll be a BANGER

[@SmoughTown]

Hell yeah!

[@alantremonti1381]

"The usual longform content" brooo this was an hour long. XD I'm definitely not complaining though.

[@SmoughTown]

Hahaha true! Felt shorter for sure

[@CapePlaysGames]

One story so want to know is that of Anastasia, Tarnished Eater. The spots she appears seem so random, especially in the Consecrated Snowfields.