ELDEN RING SHADOW OF THE ERDTREE - DLC Prediction

[@tarnishedarchaeologist]

Interesting ideas.

[@CenteredTarnished]

Wow, I did not expect you to watch. I love your work. Much respect! Thanks for stopping by

[@laglappen3012]

You're already getting famous, deserved

[@ipoopmuffins]

whoa the goat is here

[@steamedhamlet]

The beauty of the game is that it integrates all of these ideas seamlessly. No lore tuber has the full picture. Each holds pieces of the puzzle and it's through coming together and opening up to new ideas that we can start to experience this work of art in a way that changes and enriches our worldview. In short, introspection required ahead. Therefore try rump

[@CenteredTarnished]

Totally agree. I would love to do a collab with these amazing lore hunters and see what we can come up with as one cohesive unit- TOGETHAAAA

[@darinarnold6976]

I swear this game has been one of the most spectacular things to happen in media. People are STILL finding interesting threads to follow, it's amazing

[@modernoverman]

If we never get a book adaptation/novelization, I'll be deeply sad.

[@greystripex999]

Your prediction and theories sound so convincing that I'd almost feel disappointed if the DLC won't turn out the way you describe it. How you explain all these different psychological concepts in relation with the game itself is very intriguing. Stellar work!

[@Entertainment-ev6ob]

Indeed

[@spookytown7963]

YOU WERE SPOT ON, DUDE DLC is representing the shadow of Marika's order, has Miquella serving as the complete self "child" form and completing the Golden Road to a true self. It's insanely impressive how well you used the base game's themes, symbolism, and philosophy to predict how the DLC would contribute

[@metalsludge8205]

yeah i think he's right, GEQ is almost certainly going to be involved with this. Messmer has tons of "blasphemous" iconography, wields a flame that is similar to the red parts of Destined Death. the woman in the painting whom we can presume he's calling "mother" has a hood/veil combo extremely reminiscent of the ones the Godskins wear (only made from cloth, instead of skin). he could even be considered the "shadow" counterpart to Godwyn, since Godwyn was the embodiment of the Golden Order, and Messmer seems to be the embodiment of everything that goes against it (dragon communion, serpents, thorns, etc).

[@spookytown7963]

@@metalsludge8205 oddly enough, Messmer adores grace and light judging by his dialogue, yet his appearance and forms of attack are completely heretical and foreign. He has a lot of snake symbolism, which may just be more "anti erdtree heretic" symbolism, but snakes are synonymous with dishonesty. Maybe he's somewhat of a hypocrite. Loves grace and praises light, yet resides in the darkest place possible, is covered in heretical armor, and even wields shadow magic which bursts into flames that look like the flames of punishment the red cloaked thorny criminals wield in the mountaintops.

[@metalsludge8205]

​​​@@spookytown7963 i think the voice talking about "those who lack the grace of Gold are met with Messmer's flame" (paraphrased) is someone else, it doesn't sound like the voice of (presumably) Messmer asking his mother about sanctioning lordship. "bereft of light" could mean a lot of things, maybe referencing some new element we don't know about yet. and even the Godskins, heretics that they are, have golden irises, so being blasphemous doesn't necessarily preclude having grace

[@CenteredTarnished]

@@spookytown7963 I took that line by Messmer that he is belittling grace/ light and almost mocking the order. Like if we assume everything in Shadow Land is "bereft" of light and relegated to this forsaken place, I can only imagine the distain Messmer will have once he see's us (a tarnished) who became Elden Lord. I think he is saying "You cast us all down her in this shit hole because we didn't live up to your standards, and now you have this tarnished leading the LB, how did this happen? and F*** you". Like if you got denied a job because you didn't have your master's degree, and then you find out the person they hired also didn't have a master's degree, you might be a little angry. Probably thinking "how could you allow someone so dumb without a master's degree to have this position". - in a very sarcastic manner.

[@CenteredTarnished]

@@metalsludge8205 Yeah, my guess is that the GEQ is inside the shadow erdtree, just like Marika was in the LB erdtree. I can only imagine its the GEQ in that painting as well. I think the only reason they would obscure her eyes is because they would be a dead giveaway (purple). The black hair is reason enough to assume it, so if they also showed her purple eyes, the "surprise" would already be over. But that's just my humble opinion :)

[@WretchedRedoran]

Came here to tell you that when I was watching the SOTED trailer and the following speculation and theories surrounding it during the few days after the trailer came out, I just couldn't take my mind off of this video. I feel like you gave me some secret insider knowledge about the dlc lol.

[@jeffisgay4eva]

Imagine you are miquella, waking up to find out the new elden lord killed your parents and all your siblings.

[@dice5709]

There's a theory of the Tarnished being Miquella/Trina.

[@giladmachluf3663]

Miquella wouldn't be surprised, we know almost for a fact he was involved in the Shattering.

[@tehCostHD]

He would probably say thank you lol

[@nnnnnnnnn8888]

By the logic of souls stories, killing optional bosses is not canon

[@kimlee6643]

Must've been a few months back now you said something to the effect that these ideas would probably crystalize come the DLC, and that, with time, this way of viewing what ER "is about" would take a firmer hold of the interpretative lore landscape. Well, Tarnished Archaeo is in the comments and that has to be a rather auspicious sign! I need to get up to speed on the more recent vids, but this one was already a potent tonic to dispel the "Miquella is Griffith" sentiment that seems to be permeating the DLC lorescape right now, which I find somewhat drab. Many thanks.

[@88heisenberg88]

This video changed the way I view the lore and story of Elden Ring. Very great video and an interesting theory!

[@CenteredTarnished]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@indieisin]

I think it's insane how far ahead of his time Jung really was in his field - especially when he is so frequently brought up because of his connection to Freud, the two were really polar opposites when it came to their theories of Psychology. I see Freud's work as speculative and very much a product of his time - while Jung's work is timeless (especially after Campbell expanded upon it) and extremely insightful. His work on archetypes laid the foundation for Campbell's 'The Hero's Journey' and I am almost certain that Miyazaki is a student of both. I have seen many analysis videos that point out the alchemical rebis, it's connection to Marika/Radagon, and how so many things in the game borrow heavily from alchemy - those connections are almost undeniable. Jung worked within that same frame, I believe he incorporated those ideas into his work on archetypes, which is why your analysis is great - it is yet another piece of the puzzle. It also helps to explain why people find Elden Ring so compelling.

[@OneDrunkWizard]

Man i love your stuff. Elden ring is a masterclass in Alchemy and metaphysics.

[@Eternal_Placidity]

Damn, your interpretation is so unique and fascinating, keep up the good work dude.

[@lordofchaosinc.261]

Once it's said one can't unsee it. The "shadow" of the erdtree might really be some jungian reference. The dev team around Miyazaki knows all the European tropes the West forgot. Putting the entire history of catholicism in the game and analytic psychology. There's just layers on layers.

[@Justin9700]

Man, watching this video was like having so many pieces click together for me. Great work! I think it’s undeniable that the themes you discussed are 100% Miyazaki’s intention. Man, what a creative genius that guy is.

[@ATC43]

This is brilliant. I really hope the greater(will) lore community opens their eyes to the influence of inidividuation on this game's narrative. (I do believe Quelaag has touched in it before, would really love to hear her opinion on your theories) The lands between and Elden Ring are fractured just as Marika's psyche is fractured and each of the demigods are an aspect of that psyche given physical form by a piece of the metaphysical representation of The One Great/Inner Self, i.e. The Elden Ring. "OH Radagon, leal hound of the Golden Order. Though art yet to become me, though art yet to become a God. Let us be shattered, both. Mine other self." Again, brilliant analysis. I can tell you paid attention in writing and psych class. Respect haha

[@CenteredTarnished]

I didn't know Quelaag has talked about it! I'll have to check it out. Do you know which video?

[@ATC43]

@@CenteredTarnished sorry not sure. It was one of her Elden Ring ramble videos from a while back. I remember her mentioning Jung's influence on From games though she didn't go as in depth theory wise as youve done here. You should definitely reach out though!

[@Beanybag2]

Hey, love the psychoanalysis of the underlying imagery in the game cuz I think you got nearly everything spot on. One thing I would would suggest is that in the godlike One Great state that we are born as, without shame or restraint or boundaries, would essentially be the narcissistic psychopathic state all babies are born as. Empathy takes about 6 months to develop, at least, assuming no traumatic disruptions or a lack of emotional attunement and love (resulting in things like NPD and ASPD). Think of Denis from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. He felt godlike and had no real shame or separation from his bodily impulses, his id. So. It's not exactly the ideal state. It's just something that is worth accessing in integration.

[@CenteredTarnished]

Well said. I guess I mean that it’s not that we won’t feel those feelings but rather will confront them with love and acceptance rather than fracture them off from ourselves- like you are saying; integrate them

[@OFCRKAY]

Amazing video. Loved the background music, loved the theory! Super interesting

[@oup6009]

It is interesting that the Frenzied Flame ending implies everything is returning to a crucible-like state and is the only ending where Melina is still alive. This aligns with your timeline of the Shadow reuniting with the Self/Crucible. Maybe she will be the boss after the Elden Beast in this ending somehow. Like you burn yourself at the mountaintops and then cure yourself of the Frenzied Flame with Miquella's needle at Farum Azula? She does say she will kill you, after all.

[@CenteredTarnished]

I have grappled with this thought as well but have strayed from it as the ending where you revert to the “crucible”. I only say that because there seems to be a difference between the crucible and what happens in the FF ending. The crucible is the realm where both the conscious and unconscious realms co-exist. It’s prior to the emergence of the ego-conscious but not the absence of it…… if that makes sense. It’s like a mother’s womb with baby where the 2 are coexisting within one. However, the FF ending is more akin to the complete annihilation of the ego-consciousness with ONLY the shadowy unconscious present. It’s possible this ending will take us to the DLC? Or this is just a glimpse into the Shadow of the Erdtree where only the shadows remain. Anyways, in psychology, when someone only has access to their unconscious it is associated with psychosis like psychopath or sociopath - basically someone who lacks basic human emotions. I think Melina, being the Self, is aware of this outcome and knows the only thing that will remain is death if the FF ending happens. Although we are in the process of awakening a new and improved consciousness and ego- you still need one to operate as a functioning human.

[@FFNOJG]

​@CenteredTarnished I think since in your view of things you have ego, and shadow side separated. in the FF ending.... you only burn the forward facing side that anyone can see, and the side anyone is actually aware of... that is why once it is over.... well the very Vengeful shadow side remains...

[@InvasionEnjoyer]

I can't believe more people aren't watching these videos

[@ruideng5722]

i feel like this would go way above most peoples' heads. A lot of the themes touched upon in these videos require some sort of life experience that is reflected in philosophy. A lot of video game players just do not have that yet.

[@FoopahDestroyer]

I mean there is a law of regression spell and casualty in the game. I feel like you could definitely be onto something here. Very unique outlook great video 👍👍

[@josephk.2554]

Your approach to Elden Ring world as psychic landscape reminds me of how a tumblr blog, syzygyzip (wink wink), completely changed my perspective on Souls games after coming at Dark Souls 3 lore with similar interests. I hightly recommend you check it out if you haven't already. An essay on archdragon peak is particularly interesting and shows some of the striking parallels with Farum Azula if maybe not as a wholly personnal space as you present it, with Marika and all. More video like yours will always be a pleasure to watch as they proposed a reinvegorating perspective on the lore. (and it fits so much the material given anyways. Come on, "Yharnam", "Lothric". The lands could have been called Marika, it would have made barely any waves and they knew it). As for the dlc, I absolutely support the importance of the gloam--eyed queen. The real difficulty is to asses how much this DLC will do and if they have intend for sequels. Potential is there but the prospect to give a definitive sense of closure to the player's action within the process of individuation, with a last hand given ultimately pass to Miquella seems so potent, I do hope they roll with it. I'm quite uncertain if GEQ will be the final fight though. I found the "Moghwyn" line from the lord of blood's appearent demise to be an almost intriguing omen. One interesting thing is that I would differenciate GEQ from the lucifer or satan in her. Mostly because the great adversary seems to be The Lord of Blood as one of his key characteristic is that he seems ignorant of the meaning behind (if only) the old dynasty ruins he has invested yet he celebrates. He is pro-active. If anything, the caelid battlefield residing above seems the jest of his choice. Yet I can't help but see the luciferian quality of GEQ and even Melina (my favorite line from her being that she has "long observed the Lands Between", the cardinal sin warning and such). In short, I would see her as a Lady Maria of sort: a lock to the necessary knowledge, pointing at the great adverssary that threatens to overtake her or rather an amalgame crystalising what creeps inside. Anyway, exciting times and props for your work.

[@CenteredTarnished]

Interesting stuff here. I like the idea that Melina may be wanting to further suppress the GEQ rather than trying to release her in the DLC. This would show Marika is still unable to face her shadow but that doesn’t seem to fit with the DLC picture. That seems to show a healer - presumably Miquella- on his way to heal this side of Marika. Can’t wait to see what the DLC gives us.

[@Chris-qn8bm]

Your videos are of such high quality, thank you for producing them. The information in them is so important beyond just the game's universe.

[@joshalexander750]

I feel like I just got hit on the head with a thesaurus

[@jmssun]

Many Japanese creators are such great students of psychology and philosophy… incredible educational system

[@sinenomine3449]

You actually anticipated the tower of suppression, inspiring

[@Ontos99]

It is such a coincidence that I'll upload my own Shadow of the Erdtree analysis tomorrow evening. Haha. I can't wait to see what you've cooked here. Happy you are back!

[@CenteredTarnished]

hahaha i'll have to check out yours tomorrow! This is what I have been working on with my very limited free time. More to come!

[@K8theKind]

I cannot wait!!

[@Soulute367]

This is exactly what I was thinking just not in a vid form.

[@K8theKind]

Fascinating! I love your takes!

[@oup6009]

A lot of people hate "esoteric" type theories about Elden Ring but I feel like they forget that GRRM wrote the core of this world and he literally cannot stop writing "esoteric" symbolism into his stories. Thinking about the game as a way of mending Marika's fractured psyche is really interesting! Marika needs to face her Shadow that she suppressed/killed early on in her life so that she could keep Control and Order. If Marika was involved in the Night of black knives, it is interesting how killing the most "Golden" of her offspring and burying him at the roots would eventually lead her to facing her shadow.

[@OneDrunkWizard]

People hate what they don't understand

[@taylorreid5347]

If demigods are only partially divine, this is another point in your favor. Ideas from a God, pieces of a God.

[@JackisaMimic]

I loved this video, this is a great analysis of Elden Ring! I can't wait to watch more of your videos, but can you clarify something for me? Do you think this is literally inside Marika's mind, like this is a literal dream world? Or do you think this is all a metaphorically happening in the game. If its literal I think that doesn't really fit well, for the story that is, that would mean the suffering and destruction of the world is non-existent and only felt by one person (which I guess is true too if you say that Marika represents the player, only be reading a story does a characters suffering become real). But if you mean that Marika psychological journey is causing reverberations through our the world and the characters and events in game are supposed to represent that change and turmoil, I think that is excellent. Trying to figure out what Marika is supposed to represent would be a very worthwhile endeavor, I think! I only say that because your insight is wonderful and really exciting, this is a very high level of literary analysis, and I don't want your ideas to be disregarded just because the game isn't "literally taking place in a dream", because whether your right or not on the setting of the game doesn't really matter. The quality of your ideas do.

[@CenteredTarnished]

Hello! Thanks for the comment. As for your question, I’m not sure there is a difference in the 2 other than one’s interpretation and preference. In one scenario, Marika is a God and the consequences of her actions affect the whole world- she shatters a metaphysical thing from inside her body causing the Shattering War leading to fragmentation on the outside. On the other hand, Marika is the subject of this psychological endeavor making her the God of her own Inner World. Where the events are the same, just the setting is different. Inception really fits the idea best. While they are in the mind of the subject, the physical world can shift and change. People are acting as if it’s a real world; walking around, getting groceries, acting as fillers BUT the things that “haunt” the subject still linger. In inception it’s Leo’s wife and she pops up everywhere. In ER it’s death and it pops up everywhere. So to answer your question, I don’t see them as being separate things- I think it’s up for each individual to decide what fits best with their interpretation - just as Miyazaki wanted. One las thing I will say is that- even though I’ve had a few lore videos now- this is still just the tip of the iceberg. Most of the concepts and events are still to be made into videos which may help explain things further. Clear as mud! Haha

[@JackisaMimic]

@@CenteredTarnished I’m here for it! I’m not sure what your perspective is on how the Demigods received their Great Runes but based on how siblings have similar shapes, and Morgotts rune says his proves he’s part of the Golden Lineage, it seems that they are bestowed their Great Runes at birth. They’re all Marika’s children, and if we look at the Elden Ring as an extension of her, then with each child she is giving up a different “aspect” or part of herself. I think this idea is not too dissimilar to yours about Death and the GEQ being a “shadow” of Marika’s psyche. This is really great analysis, and a really fun perspective to view the game from. It’s so easy to extrapolate it further and draw parallels to things like generational trauma where as Marika’s unresolved issues are inherited by her children. Glad you’ve got more videos on the way!

[@CenteredTarnished]

@@JackisaMimic yeah, Great Runes and really all runes seem to come directly from Marika's consciousness. Great Runes make up the ER which literally sits within Marika - so at the very least they each come directly from her somehow. I suggest that they are psychological complexes or personas that dwell within Marika. Like bundles of emotions that we access in certain times. When they are untied, it's a balance of a total personality, when they are separate, they act as possessions - totally controlling the holder's psyche. Like we each have the ability to experience the emotion of hate and rage, but if that's all you could experience it would deform your physical and psychic make up. Like Mohg.

[@Soundofspace55]

I love this take on the new DLC

[@WretchedRedoran]

This is a beautiful theory

[@EJaDav]

When I heard the description of the individuation i immediately thought of it representing the major parts of the Greater Will in Elden Ring Self being the greater will Animus being Radagon Shadow being Maliketh And lastly the Ego/Persona could be the Elden Beast or even Marika herself.

[@mentalwig420]

Coming back here later. There's some strong hits and strong misses. It's more like she's taking her ever young self, then trying to start again with different rules this time, knowing everything she already knows. Her young self is just going to force everybody to be happy and to love her.

[@VERDICTInsanity]

Great video, interesting ideas that u bring forward. I had the idea that this dlc will have something to do with Godwyns death. Maybe when Godwyn died it opened up a new dimension which has a death erd tree. Similar ideas were used in dark souls 3 where the world is in a painting separate from the over world.

[@MicroHardware]

Hellllll yeah I’m glad I spin the Bend bro is touching on things never before by another tarnished and bringing it all full circle I’m going to rewatch all of the videos then share on Reddit this needs to be viewed and discussed consumed and farted everywhere whifff - I put that on babydoll Ranni lol

[@miirshroom]

A good case for Miquella's original plan being structured around the Junginan process of individuation. It is still my general belief that the DLC will not go all according to plan for Miquella. As in, he is actively trying to force individuation in a specific direction with the end result of creating a new false persona to replace the former. It would be nice to see more of Melina/Trina. One or both of them may even be the avatar that the One Great uses in the Shadow of the Erdtree. But also Ranni is likely already the new avatar of the One Great in the base game Lands Between. There are many hints after examining her known abilities, relationships to her retainers in the context of animus stages, and role as narrator of the game trailer where she monologues as if indtroducing the prologue of a play and then breaks the 4th wall and addresses the prospective player directly.

[@CenteredTarnished]

I like this a lot. So are you saying that the stages of Animus for Ranni are Blaidd, Selivus, then Iji? And that in the base game, it’s Ranni who succeeds first in this process? It’s possible that Ranni’s ending is the portal to the Shadow……. She does bring Marika and talk about 1,000 years of basically nihilism

[@miirshroom]

@@CenteredTarnished Blaidd --> Iji --> Seluvis I think, based on how this matches the flow of history from Beastmen of Farum Azula --> trolls serving the Fell God --> Rise of the Carian Queen Rennala. And their positions in the tower when first greeted there by Ranni. Dariwill is a wildcard though - could have been between Iji and Seluvis in which case Blaidd would be solely a shadow and not in dual roles. I believe that Ranni building a portal to space has a similar meta meaning to the painter who painted a new world in the Dark Souls 3 DLC. FromSoft has exhausted the well of esotericism, mysticism, alchemy etc over the past 10 years of games, and once AC6 and the Elden Ring DLC are wrapped up they are planning their next games around a new allegorical framework for storytelling.

[@EldenLord.]

Whats the background music in the beginning? Sounds almost like a variation of Moonlit Melody from Bloodborne.

[@WunstarSymbiosis]

Miquella is Mycelia, Helphen's Steeple is Hyphae's Shelter which are Trees, Hyphae (Mycelium threads/fingers) comes from Hephaestus who is a god of fire and our gods of fire are water, plants, and fungi

[@void.sawyer]

"Its like when im good at the game i feel like im good at life"

[@StudioOOMZ]

that was heavy duty 🙏🏼

[@enriquealvarez4702]

Im still waiting to meet the red one in elden ring dlc.

[@ezraiilezraiili6767]

The land of shadow is the land of other possibilities for the new zodiac age. Shadowland will have 72 warriors. The shadow land is the shadow of the lower, middle and upper worlds. We have to wait for good things

[@dirtblockandfriends]

Really interesting!

[@Ontos99]

Very dense and solid explanations. My only worry in this prediction is that if GEQ IS the final boss (which you view as Melina), then where exactly would the timeline intersect? If we assume Godwyn has infested the shadow of the Erdtree already in the DLC with his deathroot, the timeline would be a bit weird. Finally, it would be interesting that if we defeat GEQ in this DLC, how would the base game be affected as Melina is our maiden. I do agree with you that this is 100% death and the final boss will consequently be death themed but I have a bit of a differing opinion who or what the final boss of the DLC will be. I'll share more tomorrow evening! This was a great video! I can see a lot of effort went into it. I hope you get to 1000 subs soon!

[@CenteredTarnished]

Thanks buddy! So I believe the DLC will take place in a totally different “realm” than the base game. It’s like the Upside Down in Stranger Things. Its effects can seep into the “real” world but it doesn’t abide by its rules. In other words, this DLC realm always existed. As soon as Marika divided herself and created a Shadow, this world was created as a sort of pocket dimension. It had its own time, its own God, etc. Now, when one represses their shadow for too long, it will manifest itself in your consciousness. This is what we see with Godwyn and deathroot - the Shadow seeping into the LB. So, I don’t think the DLC will take place in the LB (like we know it ) in the past or future, but rather a totally separate mirror dimension. I don’t think Melina and the GEQ are the same so to say. More like Melina is the vessel for the GEQ’s qualities - difficult to explain. But as long as the GEQ/ Shadow is repressed and not integrated into the Self/Melina, she can’t access this part. In the FF ending, the reason the GEQ is present is because that’s all that’s left. We burned down and destroyed the consciousness and all that is left is the Shadow. You can see this because Melina’s golden eye is dead and all that remains is the GEQ. Not good. This would be akin to someone who is a psychopath or sociopath where they lack a conscious and thus can do terrible things. My guess is once we defeat the GEQ and she is integrated, Melina will have one golden eye (ego), one purple eye (shadow) and strawberry blonde hair (MarRad)- full access to these fractured parts

[@GodEmperorDragon]

I find it a bit odd that the Gloam-Eyed Queen is the final adversary - the Shadow that needs to be integrated - seeing as in the lore she was already said to be defeated by Maliketh, and as an Empyrean she is still subject to the Outer Gods. The entities more analogous to the Shadow seem to be the Outer Gods (not including the Greater Will) and this especially makes sense if we consider: 1) that historically the Golden Order was surrounded by enemies that embodied different aspects of the Outer Gods; such as the Fell God for the Giants and the Three Fingers for the Frenzied Flame 2) Miquella's story is oriented around him looking past the differences between the subjects of the Greater Will and the Outer Gods, and instead looking at the Gods themselves - the primordial forces that influence their subjects across time - to find a way to ward them off or suppress them. Similar to Buddha or Jesus. 3) During it's infancy, while it was the One Great, the Greater Will separated itself from the Three Fingers, becoming the Two Fingers resulting in "fractures and births". 4) Miquella almost embodying the Inner God, only to be stopped by the avatar of an Outer God while he is in transformation is indicative of a Shadow aspect that wasn't yet harmonized/integrated, and the resulting ego possession indicated by the decrepit adult vessel depiction in the Mausoleum. 5) This is also shown in Malenia not willing to be defeated, and using her sealed Scarlet Rot powers to stalemate Radahn to protect her pride as a warrior. In that moment she betrays the Haligtree Order, herself and Miquella. At the end of Millicent's questline she says "I'd rather rot into nothingness as I am" then be a host of the Scarlet Rot. She is the "dignity Malenia tossed away when she used the Scarlet Aeonia against Radahn". The needle we then give to Malenia in the remaining Aeonia at the end of her fight becomes the needle able to stave off the Outer Gods, and even purify the Tarnished if they take on the Frenzied Flame. 5) The DLC will most likely be a venture back in time, as indicated by Miquella riding on Torrent instead of the Tarnished, with the objective of sealing/harmonizing with the Outer Gods and making the Greater Will complete.

[@CenteredTarnished]

Hmmm, I agree with most of what you are saying but I think you are lacking the fundamental understanding of the Shadow. The Shadow "defeats/ seals away" aspects of your personality we don't want to get out. Thus, Maliketh "defeats" the GEQ but by no means is she gone, just imprisoned. We know this because when we defeat Maliketh, her essence is released and culminates in the FF ending showing that she is still very much alive and present. Defeating and never seeing again are 2 very different things in Elden RIng. Outer Gods have nothing to do with the Shadow but do have a lot to do with the concept of the Self aka Inner God. Once we lose this sense of Self as seen by Malenia surrendering her Self to the Rot in order to meet Radahn's measure. The Rot isn't her shadow/ opposite but rather an influence on her that completely controls her. Miquella is definitely interested in warding off Outer Gods and thus desiring the Inner God to flourish - again nothing to do with the Shadow but rather the culmination of the Self which is why he is so important and will be our guide. He is a healer and the Outer Gods are like mental illnesses that he can ward off. Remember, our Inner God/ Self is the totality of all the aspects of our psyche - Miquella is not that. He is very much on one side of the spectrum while Malenia is on the other. Now, together, they could resemble a sense of Self and unity but separate they are opposites. The DLC could be back in time. Probably when Marika first created her shadow back in her younger days and undoing it. But I still don't see what that has to do with this theory? This Shadow Realm is always existing - not linear. So we could be accessing it literally at any point.

[@GodEmperorDragon]

@@CenteredTarnished Thank you for your detailed response. When Melina is the kindling for the burning of the Erdtree she doesn't appear again if the FF ending is taken from that point. The pitfall of Vyke was being unwilling to let go of his maiden, and Shabriri guilted him into becoming a fallen hero. Melina's role in a Jungian psychology context is overcoming the grief of departure of a loved one in order become the Self in the present; not turning against existence itself like the Frenzied Flame represents - a lamentation of the illusion of separation - and actualizing the belief existence is fundamentally good -- which resembles something like Christ or Buddha, or simply a Hero overcoming the temptation to turn against existence with the death of a mentor/loved one, taking the lessons they represented to heart and integrating them toward the highest good. If we're asking ourselves the question of why she appears as the Gloam-Eyed Queen in the Frenzied Flame ending at all, then I believe the answer is that in choosing to forcibly preserve Melina in the physical plane, we lost the spiritual battle, and the very thing we tried to cling to turns against us because we fell for the illusion and got corrupted from the actions emerging from the misconception, and they become the balancing force correcting those actions. Why is this then not the overarching Shadow? This is similar to how the Greater Will turned against Marika when she removed the Rune of Death from the Elden Ring. The Gloam-Eyed Queen was still an Empyrean to the Greater Will, and likewise Melina still is. The moment we turn against creating a proper Order of some form Melina becomes the balancing force correcting the chaos as a divine assassin, and likewise if we're on the path to creating a proper Order Melina opens the way forward playing the role of Maiden (ego possession = death of psyche, ego integration = life of psyche). If we consider that Melina's mother is Marika, and that Melina was at one point the Gloam-Eyed Queen but this aspect became inactive, symbolized by her Gloam-Eye being closed and only opening at an FF ending, with the aforementioned points included, means that she has been integrated when the path to sustainable Order has been taken during the current events of the game, once the Tarnished has transcended the illusions that elicit grief. Outer Gods are the Shadow as ego possession occurs when they're embodied and not integrated. When the Greater Will (consciousness) cast aside it's other aspects forcibly, it resulted in them showing up as antagonistic forces that threatened to overtake them in the Lands Between to return them to the wholeness of the One Great, or to transfer creation privileges over to another aspect. The role of an Empyrean, or demi-god loyal to the Greater Will (consciousness) is to find a way to harmonize these aspects. Marika initially tried force with her reign with Godfrey, warring against the Giants to attempt to put out the flame that could burn the Erdtree; eventually realizing the flame cannot be put out, only contained. It's a similar to the Frenzied Flame, which was brought forth by a curse from people who were buried alive after transgressing, or the Omen princes Morgott and Mohg who were to be imprisoned forever underground. Similar to how people bury past regrets, beliefs and parts of who they are within their Shadow which cannot be extinguished, only for it to rise up with a "vengeance" when the attempt is made to sever themselves from their aspects instead of harmonize. The very reason there was an opportunity for an Outer God, an unintegrated aspect of the Greater Will, to enthrall a part of oneself, is because that aspect wasn't acknowledged by the Greater Will (consciousness) and was repressed. The role of Miquella is one where they pierce the veil of separation that has plagued the Golden Order for millennia and "make all flourish, whether graceful or malign", healing and harmonizing all aspects. Why are his Unalloyed Gold Needles effective in warding off the aspects that tempt ego possession? Because they contain within them the unadulterated Self that doesn't exclude or attempt to revise that which it always was - the gold of the primordial Crucible where all life sprung forth. Why are the needles greatest effects in the "center of the storm beyond time" in Farum Azula? Because time helps perpetuate the illusion of separation with the outward expansion of space and gradual dispersal of all that emerged from it - until it is at last transcended in the consciousness, to perceive the interconnectedness of all things. It is my belief that Miquella will guide us to "defeat" and harmonize these aspects, allowing us to at last become the Self once the light of consciousness covers the whole.

[@AntiSocialismo50]

I Wonder if moghwyn will be a boss in this game.

[@aTcAPEX]

Hey man good video make sure to look into solt out your audio when you can but yeh keep up dude

[@deadtotheworld]

it's okay to criticize philosophers.

[@ShadmehR_23]

Of course it is! they always wanted to make things better.. and confirmation doesn't help in that way! but a creative criticism? This helps a lot!

[@soundninja0]

great theories but we all know the DLC will just be Malenia duo in a small dungeon cave

[@The.marauders]

Who else is excited for the elden ring DLC 👇

[@whathitwonder4037]

... Is it sacrafice or sacrifice?

[@nomercy8989]

This made my head spin.

[@gewzer]

this is a very good video

[@Saefx1]

Omg Very Great I'm hyped 😂❤

[@vBloodCry]

What’s the background music??

[@danielvouz]

amazing!

[@glowindark64]

Could the erdtree from the dlc be the roots of the other erd tree?

[@-thebatman-]

Why it sound like u recorded this taking into a tin can?

[@septdre]

It’s not ever getting released now though

[@lDoxology]

Awesome theory

[@adamkorzon2972]

In short Marika wanted to be a God,but found out she was not.A God is in full control they are the creator and the one who binds the recipe for life itself.These people in this land have no idea there is outer space with other created worlds.They only know of the badlands and the other places Fia and miss glovewart upgrader.They are from other lands and somehow knew they wanted people to be grafted and went there to have it done to them.Where is that place?And fias world?How could you proclaim to be a God when you are ignorant of how large the universe is?Or be able to be in all places at the same time?

[@jatelitherius9842]

I feel like this video might miss the mark a bit. Something feels off or missing in the analysis. I have the benefit of hindsight with the trailer, but trying to ignore that, i feel like the characterization of the setting as a chaotic place (mirroring the order of the lands between), or even of the self as the one great, are wrong in some way. The integrated self is still conscious right? Able to distinguish A from -A? But the one great is pre distinction, i feel, or without it. Idk? It might just be a total death of the self, like actual death, the end of (Marika’s) life, or the thing that pre-dated it.

[@r.jonneryjoker-..5208]

Interesting 🧐🧐

[@levovit]

Did you forgot to change description?

[@andersondeneka1471]

Love it

[@geert574]

from games have no story bro its always same: cycle ends, start new one that isnt really better than the last by killing some bosses and yapping to npcs something something bygone age of dragons and war with giants 😆 this is gonna be it again for their next 10 titles

[@TelevisionNetwork]

You misspelled sacrifice

[@CenteredTarnished]

lol yeah, my spelling is awful. I desperately need a proof reader

[@juliusunreal]

bombaclat

[@mohammad.mmarashi9113]

Disclamier

[@apuffin9545]

PLEASE get a better mic bro

[@stevemichael652]

How about we focus on the release date first? Btw , no one gives a shit about lore except dorks who summon and have no respect for the engagement of the combat.

[@CenteredTarnished]

I hope you find what you're looking for

[@stevemichael652]

I already did, dork.

[@Justin9700]

This is such a bizarre thing to comment. If you don’t care about lore, why are you even here? It’s fine to not care of the lore and themes of Elden Ring, but why do you have to come and shit on other peoples’ interests? You seem like a deeply unhappy person.

[@AntiSocialismo50]

You overthink too much

[@CenteredTarnished]

I'll take that as a complement! Thinking is one of my favorite hobbies :)

[@Justin9700]

Maybe you don’t think enough? Everything in this video makes perfect sense.

[@AntiSocialismo50]

@@Justin9700 I thought some dlc predictions and not a szicho essay

[@bbyponk]

you dont think