Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Story Breakdown - Full Trailer Analysis, Interview Info, and MORE!

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Story Breakdown - Full Trailer Analysis, Interview Info, and MORE!
In this Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Story Trailer video, we'll be discussing everything we saw and learned in the story trailer and try to explain our thoughts.
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Timestamp:
0:00 - Shadow of the Erdtree Story Trailer Explained
0:28 - Shadow of the Erdtree Story Trailer
3:02 - First Part of the Story Breakdown
5:08 - Siege Part of the Story Breakdown
7:02 - The Outer Gods
8:50 - The Betrayal
10:19 - Final Thoughts
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[@Fextralife]

Be sure to leave a like if you liked the video and Subscribe if you enjoyed our videos! Wiki: eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Elden+Ring+Wiki

[@ramlethalvalentinedestroye1784]

Hey bro you know that part where you're talking about Mesmer and he's not the greatest child or whatever I actually think that's him talking to us the tarnished???

[@bucketophil]

I’m convinced this trailer depicts Marika’s rise to power and the creation of the Erdtree. Messmer conducted her holy war to eliminate the undesirables and those without grace to feed the growth of the Erdtree with their souls. Messmer is continuing to kill on her behalf to keep the Erdtree going. Miquella is disgusted by his heritage and has entered the Erdtree in a non physical form to guide those to rise up against this. Mohg is working with Miquella to protect his physical form until he returns. Makes sense that Miquella guides tarnished in the lands between (as Melina) to take grace to become powerful enough to end this cycle and in the DLC for us once we get there.(as per translated info) Our goal is to take down Messmer so that when we burn the Erdtree at the end it becomes more permanent. You need to take out the roots to really kill a plant.

[@TSpoon823]

I agree with most of this. I do think Mogh is taking advantage of the situation and trying to commune with Miquella and make him Lord of the Formless mother's age with Mogh as consort. Meanwhile, Miquella entered the Haligtree's core to do what he's doing here for the sake of Malenia and the rest of those negatively impacted by the Golden Order and his mother's legacy.

[@GrandGoblin]

Very interesting take on Mohgs relationship. I always had a hunch that Mohg was bewitched by him as an unplanned improvisement of his grand plan.

[@xenogeekmotion7686]

@@GrandGoblin yeah, what if the Formless mother is turns out to be just miquella's trick to bewitch Mogh into helping him

[@user-vg7fw3od7v]

I think its impossible that Mogh is working with Miquella, he kidnapped his physical body to use his powers as an empyrian to form a new dinasty based on a new God (formeless mother), i would say Mogh could be one of the reasons miquella hasn’t succeced. Regarding the rest makes sense that it would be more secure to " take out the roots to really kill a plant". Great analysis!

[@reign1594]

I'm fairly certain that this is supposed to be reminicent of our holy wars and Christianity. We see the search for unalloyed gold. People who speak/are against this religion/goldtree are persecuted, and the authorities have to delude themselves into believing it. Marika was seduced by the serpent and bit the apple, giving birth to messmer, and miquella is here to cleanse it(jesus).

[@FolgenNamp]

Mesmer the Impaler: "it's impaling time"

[@The_Juggernaut03]

Me with Great Stars: "It's bonking time"

[@XSAGA87]

Me with Dark Moon Greatsword: "It's Slashing Time"

[@jazzberrygaming4740]

Me with the Moonveil Katana: "It's Mooning time"

[@shrinkwrapninja]

Mohg when he sees miquella: it's impaling time

[@ranja5962]

Me with blasphemous blade : it's blasphemy time

[@00paincakes00]

I think that in the old trailer Messmer is referring to us, the player, not himself. "Mother, wouldst thou truly lordship sanction, in one so bereft of light? " He's admonishing Marika for elevating the tarnished. I'm willing to bet he'll be saying this out loud to us in his intro cutscene.

[@Lee-km7qq]

It could be his death dialogue.

[@DaOlLuLe]

That quote goes way too hard

[@ViroVV]

It could also be calling out to the formless mother of when he has been invested into in this "Regression"

[@michaelprochilo7945]

He couldn’t really be referring to himself tho, otherwise be lord to his own mum?

[@krashdevaughn5360]

@@ViroVV😭 where did you formless mother folks come from, i wanna know when the theories/connections between these 2 happened

[@DougRobertson]

Messmer is based on the summerian god, Ningishzida, which translates to "lord of the good tree". Messmer "planted" the Erdtree by piling up corpses. That first scene shows Marika entering the Erdtree, which we know has a gold lining around it. The Erdtree roots are always surrounded by corpses. Marika surrounded the Erdtree in gold to veil the fact that it is made entirely of CORPSES. That is the shadow of the Erdtree.

[@shquankinket8068]

You copy and pasted this on another video didn’t you 😂

[@syntax922]

When you look at the wall of bodies, it makes the shape of the doorway that we enter to fight Radagon. You've sold me sir.

[@DougRobertson]

@@shquankinket8068 Gotta spread your theory somehow ;)

[@allimJ]

Ugghhh…I love this symbolic of the shadow being the dark secret of the Erdtree.

[@PraetorRykard666]

Ya dude first thing I thought was that portal was the exact same we use to enter the erdtree

[@HiroThatDude]

We're all patiently waiting for a two hour video from vati 😂😂

[@ihateallthethings2683]

You’re like the 15th person today I’ve seen make this same joke. Let’s find some new ones now eh good lord 😂

[@LyricSnowe]

@@paulypipes3082🙊 gee willikerz

[@ericwalker6477]

He’s the only one I trust lol. I do like all of these different ideas though

[@Vaelithe]

Gotta pull out your 'and so it is' tally sheet

[@brandinicole1372]

He’s definitely the lore master of Elden ring and I have notifications 😂

[@C0ldFlame2682]

The wall of bodies or doorway or whatever reminds me so much of the blasphemous blade covered in bodies. Or even phase two of fighting Rykard where the snake is all split open with bodies popping out of it. Might also be the crucible? That's kind of why the omens and misbegotten are hated is because they're remnants of the crucible. Any way it goes I'm so excited for it!

[@athelise]

I was thinking about the same thing! Seeing that Messmer has both snakes and fire is a lil uncanny, too

[@McSenkel]

There must be some sort of connection between the two.

[@Romona-fz6xr]

This trailer bleeds Berserk, God I love you miyazaki. Kentaro miuras inspiration birthed into this man so profoundly Especially The scene of the bodies, the golden light with marika in the middle, it invokes this scene in berserk where Griffith's vision of a castle on the distance is shown to him by one of the god hands As he stumbles on a mountain of bodies to reach it

[@hameed]

This is a bot

[@FragTheLT]

Plot twist, Mohg has been a good guy this whole time

[@ericjensen7580]

Mogh did nothing wrong.

[@miceatah9359]

nope

[@wittyvonskitsum]

4:17 She’s literally looking at the Lands Between. It’s right in our faces lol

[@milehighmadness]

“I think this is some other place” lmao

[@paulypipes3082]

​​@@milehighmadness lmao your right. that's why I take all these youtubers that have to rush and make breakdown lore videos with a grain of salt. I useto watchem now I just wait till I play.

[@joesaiditstrue]

he said it's the lands between🤷🏻‍♂️

[@nejiefelipe]

One thing is certain after this trailer, all piromancers will struggle on the dlc fighting mesmer army fire resistance... and the glimpse on all 7 new npc's there at the end looked really cool.

[@Paradox484]

I'm holding out hope that those aren't NPCs, it's a foreshadowing of Seamless Coop-type integration. It's an insanely popular mood with millions of downloads, very few files, and very easy installation. Given the demand, he might just give the people what they want. Hopefully. 😢

[@user-ss1os6ek1x]

Idk, Mohg dies to a blood build. Ya know.

[@Khoditsky]

Thats the beauty of Faith builds, Faith has all the answers. Lightning, stone, holy...

[@kmsharley75]

​@@Khoditsky *faith/strength ftw

[@miceatah9359]

its fromsoft them wielding fire doesnt mean they have higher resistance but might very well have lower resistance

[@swashbucklingstephen4775]

a neat fun little detail is that in the shot where presumably st. Trina is falling their silhouette is shaped like a nascent butterfly

[@briang7794]

I feel like we're gonna find out a really dark secret about Marika and potentially be the most evil character in Elden Ring. It's possible she could have change in the current timeline but there are many times she has betrayed people and/or use them for her own benefit. We even hear hewg say how she is terrifying so yeah.

[@user-ss1os6ek1x]

I mean, she already commits genocide repeatedly, hides her children in the sewers and betrayed Renalla terribly in the lore we already know. Idk how much darker her secrets can get.

[@swashbucklingstephen4775]

marika the silly did another oopsie

[@Troo-Thirts]

Also, that may be why she took the form of radagon. She is probably wanted in both realms due to all the atrocities she committed. So it could be just a disguise to hide her identity 🤷‍♂️

[@athelise]

And Gideon's item descriptions say so too, when he got a glimpse into her mind he was like, "oh sh*t this b*&^h is crazy"

[@Lloyd00]

Actually i think Mesmer was questioning Marika if she would actually allow Our character (a tarnished) to become elden lord since we had no grace

[@brandinicole1372]

Like Mesmer was saying: Really mother a tarnished WTF 🤨

[@miceatah9359]

we have grace tho we literally rest at stes of graces wich also lead us

[@RampidWarthogStudios]

I say it's likely the lion dancer is omen. Also I think it's interesting that the dlc references omens quite a bit. Maybe the mother of truth contacting Mohg has something to do with the land of shadow and omen

[@borisdragosani7584]

yeah the Lion Dancers and the omen have the same feet. Don't ask me how i figured that out

[@RampidWarthogStudios]

@@borisdragosani7584 I think I know 😏

[@TJuice1986]

The vibe of this trailer felt so different from Elden Ring’s base game. I literally get goosebumps every time I watch it! Miyazaki is a God!

[@shquankinket8068]

That song when Mesmer is hanging off his spear looking at his victims is probably going to be my new favorite ost. It’s almost guaranteed to be mesmers boss music and I can’t wait to hear the rest of it for his phase transition

[@ChiraqGoblin]

Imagine Elden Ring 2

[@pandemicplayseverything8268]

Miyazaki is not a God, he is a human.

[@TJuice1986]

@@pandemicplayseverything8268 definitely a God in the gaming industry! 🙌🏻

[@hakuhyo174]

3:50 I think what she pulls out is the essence of Greater Will (godhead in Abrahamic religions) that came as a star and later forged into the Elden Ring. The description of Elden Star reads: “It is said that long ago, the Greater Will sent a golden star bearing a beast into the Lands Between, which would later become the Elden Ring.” This happened before Golden Order was founded. During the age of crucible, and the DLC land of shadow where crucible era culture originates, this essence of Greater Will was used as the heat source of the crucible, metaphorical speaking, and the crucible was the old Golden Tree. Side note I also think this is the moment Radagon was actually born. I always thought Radagon as Elden Beast’s influence of Marika (recall final boss scene). This explains why Marika’s figure was feminine when walking up the stair of corpses but became masculine when holding up the essence of Greater Will.

[@Sternertime]

I loved when Messmer said "this is about to get messy"

[@murderycatdoll1380]

🤣🤣🤣 That would be actually Epic lol

[@kylepinion]

The idea that Mesmer and Godwyn could be twins out of wedlock is a compelling argument that sort of heightens the intrigue around the latter's assassination. Though I'm not sure why she'd need to keep it a secret, given Marika just seems to do whatever she wants for the most part.

[@Ninjachickenfingers]

I like that golden (child)/ shadow (child) theory that maybe Godwyn and Mesmer are twins

[@hakuhyo174]

6:50 I don’t think Mesmer’s father is Godfrey. The keyword is “affair”which hints that Marika was with someone else at the time and the only person fit this criteria is Godfrey. Recall Godfrey led crucible knight in an age where crucible is still considered as divine. So Godfrey must met Marika before the Mesmer’s purge took place bc that’s the turning point for crucible to become shunned. Mesmer is probably the child between Marika and someone we haven’t met yet - the impaled “monk” and the one depicted in the painting. Speaking of that someone who we haven’t met, I think he’s also the father of Mohg and Morgott (twins) as well and lore saying they’re children of Godfrey is a mislead because there was a need to conceal twin’s true father because not only all of their names starts with “M” (established pattern as Radagon/Marika and Rennala’s children all starts with “R”) but also Mohg and Morgott are Omens, which is said from crucible culture and the land of shadow is where crucible culture originated. So the timeline be like 1. Marika and Godfrey come together and have Godfrey (first born and name starts with “G”) 2. Marika have an “affair” with someone who starts with “M” and gives birth to Mesmer (sry Godfrey my man) 3. Marika bear twins Morgott and Mohg of the same “M” person 4. Something happens (related to Godskin & GEQ) and Marika becomes a god and leaves the Land of Shadow (trailer) while still being pregnant 5. Mesmer led purge happens in the Land of Shadow 6. Marika gives birth to Morgott and Mohg in the Land Between but conceals father’s true identity bc they just had a war and purge This feels like something GRRM would write 😒

[@felipefortaleza8280]

Morgott and Mogh are Godfrey's children. Remember the cutscene before Godfrey's fight, how he embraces the body of his dead son.

[@hakuhyo174]

@@felipefortaleza8280 I know but what if Godfrey didn’t know? Recall that Marika casted away Godfrey after all her enemies fell - it feels like Marika was using and actually hated Godfrey the entire time. Also the Night of the Black Knives have strong hinting that Marika was involved… Godwyn was the perfect demigod they could hoped for, but it makes sense if Marika actually hated Godfrey.

[@KodFrostwrath]

First, I respect so much you clarifying that this is *YOUR theory* in the thumb. Now, i'll watch and comment more later xD

[@atcamp92]

“I could be way the fuck off” lmao your theories sound good to me!

[@nateschmidt4173]

My crackpot no basis theory is that messmers snakes are actually the severed heads of placidusax. Since dragons are know to shapeshift in this world. Maybe each head has its own concious and the 2 or 3 betrayed their other selves and separated from the body. and messmer is the son of marika and placidusaxs heads cuz gods are weird

[@kamiyay]

I really get the vibe that Mesmer is related to dragon communion somehow, just from his looks. Also the start of his flame spell in the trailer really looks like he's using the Dragon Communion Seal (pause at 6:03 in this video). Dragon communion is also considered blasphemy by the Golden Order, which would make me believe that he is at odds with Marika (or maybe was using it to help do her bidding, then she shunned him like she did the tarnished after they outlived their usefulness). Maybe he's also related to Rykard in some way somehow with all the serpent imagery as well.

[@kylethompson3259]

Do more of these videos. Great job!

[@Locksley963]

Thank you for sharing this

[@chrisStep619]

In my interpretation, Marika was seduced by the greater will, being induced to betray the current order to begin her golden lineage. Something like "Conspire with me to bring my influence upon this world, and you will be rewarded with power as you represent me", the first scene of the trailer illustrated something of this act. Maybe it's a vibe, "the serpent tempted Eve, she commits a sin and changes the course of everything" The "current order" would be "...the crucible of primordial life", an amalgamation "where all life was once blended together", the source of life, of power, would be the primordial divine of that world. Even gold is related, as said in Ordovis's Greatsword "imbued with an ancient HOLY ESSENCE. Its red tint exemplifies the nature of PRIMORDIAL GOLD..." I believe that in a way the Crucible was the authority of the ancient world, which must have his own order, ruled by beasts, Omens, priests, a world where he was the divine. In fact, aspects of the crucible, such as feathers and horns, "...was considered a signifier of the divine in ancient times, but is now increasingly disdained as an impurity as civilization has advanced". All this sacred and political power was usurped and resliced. The greater will is the new authority, the Elden Ring imposes a new Order, Marika is a goddess, and Erdtree was born feeding directly from the crucible. No wonder Aspects of the Crucible are considered "...ancient Erdtree incantations", and described as "...a manifestation of the Erdtree's primal vital energies - an Aspects of the primordial crucible". It's almost an overthrow on a cosmic level, with entities instead of kings, G.R.R.Martin with a pinch of Lovecraft I think something very important in this whole plot happened in the shadowland, and that's why it was hidden, this past was erased from history and the new era begins outside of there, in the Lands Between. Everything that refers to this ancient power is hidden, persecuted, killed or usurped because there is something hidden there. And when Mikela looks into the past and finds this stain, he/she discovers something important to be resolved, something more relevant than the flesh, the power or the destiny of becoming a god, so all of this is abandoned in favor of a new mission. And we are part of it.

[@joels5150]

I’d surmise from this video and other bits of previously disclosed lore; when Marika takes the golden strands, and we see her holding them up, that this is the moment she effectively created the Golden Order and separated what is now the Realm of Shadow from the Lands Between. I think this betrayal led to Marika becoming an Empyrean, and started this ‘unseen war’ which occurs after the Shadow realm comes to be, such that Mesmer’s victory and slaughtering of Marika’s foes is unknown to everyone else in the Lands Between. I guess we’ll have our answers in scarcely a month’s time 👍

[@mrpoto8764]

The death rune and gloam eyed queen would have to play into whatever we see here in that case, as there are multiple references to the golden order being created when the rune of death was sealed away

[@xWolfmanx13]

The place where Marika is holding those strands up looks like boss door to radagon fighy

[@PhuongHoang-cj9jz]

Tbh the man that got killed by the army seems like the old dude in the painting. He's the only one in the panel which signifies his importance, especially when we saw the woman in the same painting right afterwards. I think he's the king of the castle, and the woman might be the queen or his daughter. Both seem like main bosses along with the lion and Messer.

[@neduncanny8685]

Maybe it will be a duo fight like Ariandel

[@DavidSantos-th8ec]

It will be incredible to be able to explore every corner of this new map and try out several new builds with the help of your videos. Goty is back.

[@2BSemperGumby]

You mention the lion dancers might be omens underneath. They definitely have an array of horns poking through their robes. Great analysis overall!

[@perpetualscream1]

I get major Moses and parting of the Red Sea vibes, during the scene with who supposedly is Marika holding whatever that golden thread is.

[@wpb5876]

The Badlands being in the Land of Shadow, or the Land of Shadow being the Badlands (just another name) where Godfrey is from is a really interesting theory!

[@badseed12052]

I believe Marika pulled out Miquella's Needle and that Marika is also holding onto the Threads of the Golden Order threading the Lands Between to the Lands of Shadow. Marika is either trying to literally close the barrier off(sewing it close) or more likely than not is trying to sow the Golden Order into the Lands of Shadow, because with the description of Miquella's Needle being used to stop the Frenzied Flame it could possibly also be used to stop the Flames from the Land of Shadow. Could be connected to why Mohg's Palace is enflamed etc.

[@Boss_Fight_Wiki_muki_twitch]

Marika looks androgynous, like she's mid transformation into Radagon

[@Siepher83]

One thing I saw that makes me speculate is that it looks like the graces in the Land of Shadow are replaced by what's insinuated to be Miquela's "symbol". Looks like a Great Rune and also somewhat like the Ripple Crescent Halberd. Maybe they are actually depicting the events of whomever massacred the undesirables like the misbegotten. If there was a time when they were looked at as special as it says in many item descriptions, surely it's not out of the realm of possibility that Mesmer happily took them out in the name of Marika. Also, other's have noted, the doorway of bodies Marika is standing in looks exactly like the entrance to the final boss room.

[@danielwheels9529]

I love it when vesmer says “skibidi, don’t mog me. I’ll edge you to”

[@Breadandbananas]

You know, after seeing the body at the bottom of Stormveil with those empty eye sockets, it looks very similar to whatever the container that’s having threads pulled out of 🤔

[@carlosdamasio349]

If you look at the impaled bodies during the city burning, at 1:49 they also have the same horns as the crucible and the omen

[@dbfzato-1327]

the dung eater spread the omen curse, i think its got something to do with the erdtree taking the place of the sun, the one great

[@TripEnigma]

If I had to guess. I think messmers flame/ seal is a leech life type of fire. Black flame but with health regen to caster. Just a Theory

[@dompomp]

Oooweee that would be super cool I’ll take all the health regen I can get lol

[@Es97Coqui]

A flame similar to the blasphemous blade.

[@Foolishambitionsrested]

Since we know that the golden rune shaped post things aren't a new grace, I have an idea as to what they actually might be. From the Helphen's Steeple item description: "Greatsword patterned after the black steeple of the Helphen, the lampwood which guides the dead of the spirit world. The lamplight is similar to grace in appearance, only it is said that it can only be seen by those who met their death in battle." We know that the Tarnished died in battle alongside Godfrey so it only makes sense that we should be able to see them, they are similar to grace in appearance, and I believe that the "Lampwood" in the item description is the name of the shadow tree given by the culture of the shadow lands before Marika's arrival. the golden "sap" dripping from the boughs appears to generate light and could be the source of these lamplights. All this only works if you believe the Shadowlands are the spirit realm mentioned in the item description however so this is a bit of a stretch. I also have an idea that somehow the "bodies" on the Blasphemous blade are somehow connected to the imagery shown at the beginning of the trailer with Marika holding the golden strands up, they look incredibly similar so I think they could have been created in similar ways.

[@r3al1tych3ck4]

Just noticed the thing Marika wears as her neckless 3:33 is the same thing sipping from the Tree. I my current belief is that Mesmer is the baby she takes the golden hair from. Maybe GEQ is a snake or a spider (Briar gauntlets) as snake is on the screen when Messmer says mother. Hermaphrodite like Dragonlord Placidusax. Maybe that long black thing behind her feet she is carrying is snake skin. Messmer was gonna be an elden lord but got betrayed - physically disconnected from the golden tree... And the rest is history :) Than Radagon is born from the baptism at the baptismal church but unclean (from crucible era) has to go through Rennala charade and be recleaned by celestial dew... Godfrey does his thing...

[@drevsgames1172]

The music is fantastic

[@nathanjones1008]

That's not a fleshy sack she pulls her hand from,its a body with a cloak..I thinks it's Miquella and she's taking strands of gold maybe his hair then cresting something after where she holds the strands in the air..just an idea?

[@DrewWhoSwitch]

I was always intrigued by the title of Lands Between and surmised at some point we would understand the full meaning of it in time. Was sort of hoping that we would be exploring this with a return to the lore style of Dark Souls, where the birth of Gold also was the birth of Shadow. But I think my hopes of this are sort of dashed with the trailers and their potential meaning. Interested to see if there really is more explaining and exploring the god skin faction here, and how they played into the creation of the world we are awoken in to! Seems like the land of shadow once existed alongside or parallel to the lands between, but is now veiled and requires some real hard work to get access to.

[@aikan7457]

Interested to see how Rykard and Tanith's questline is wrapped-up

[@tristanward9937]

Why would they have anything to do with a land only two people know about?

[@aikan7457]

@@tristanward9937 their quest seems unfinished. And there are plenty of aesthetics in this trailer that are in their ballpark

[@tristanward9937]

@@aikan7457 sure but it ain't happening in the DLC.

[@dlwf11111]

Their story is literally wrapped up

[@SlightlyThrowed420]

This trailer bleeds Berserk, God I love you miyazaki. Kentaro miuras inspiration birthed into this man so profoundly Especially The scene of the bodies, the golden light with marika in the middle, it invokes this scene in berserk where Griffith's vision of a castle on the distance is shown to him by one of the god hands As he stumbles on a mountain of bodies to reach it.

[@OutlawJoZWales]

I immediately thought of the formless mother when i saw Marika reach into the cloth. Just remember how mohg describes reaching into the formless mother.

[@2to3whiteguys]

We see Godfrey all grey at the time we meet him, maybe they’ll reveal him as being red haired too, saying he’s Mesmers dad. Or Mesmer could be Godwyns other half. But I think he’s going to be a brother of Radagon and Marika, like Maliketh.

[@evilmac9623]

I had this feeling for a while but I think Godwynn the Golden and Messmer are twins. Think about it, of the other children we know about, Merika had them as twins. Mogh with Margit and Malenia and Miquella. Godwynn is the one breaking the pattern. Since were talking craziness, I think Messmer sent the black knives to kill his mothers golden child. Working with Rycard and Ranni in the lands between.

[@tristanward9937]

I don't see it. He probably predates all his siblings.

[@brandinicole1372]

@@tristanward9937messmer appears to be the very first of Marika’s children and Godwin was way after those events when Godfrey was Elden lord. The only possible twin would have been Melina as she said “I was born at the foot of the erdtree”

[@simr1277]

Not a comment on lore but ....the thought of fighting someone even more difficult than Malenia, sends shivers down my spine....😢🎉

[@vexmyth0clast]

I think the item that Merika is holding is indeed Miquela’s rune or part of it. That rune might be the key to Mesmer’s realm and it’s probably what’s keeping him locked away 🤷 just my thoughts

[@brandonsalisbury7182]

The time frame has me the most curios! It’s clear enough what the first half of the trailer is saying but I’m still very confused to if Miquella has ulterior motives or really is a good hearted Demi god who is against what all Marika did to birth her godhood! Either way this expansion is going to be incredible & decent in size!

[@eyesofthebeast]

He's definitely a good guy who found out about Marika's heinous acts to rise to godhood and went against it. That's why Miquella stripped himself of his destiny, he was disgusted by it. He and Ranni most likely created this plan so that they defeat Marika and put an end to it all. I also think St. Trina WAS supposed to be what radagon is to Marika. Orrr perhaps, what Marika is to radagon. We know that Marika is evil but who's to say Radagon isn't her base form and not Marika? It's clearly radagon who's opening up the rift, that's why he's shirtless with no side boob in sight.

[@brandonsalisbury7182]

@@eyesofthebeast Cool insight! I’ll be honest I’m not the most lore intelligent fan but I consider myself averagely knowledgeable only because I love taking my time and reading/listening to all bits of info that can be found! What’s your thoughts on Messmer’s age because many consider him to be the Marika’s offspring but if he is then would that make him the first considering the trailer makes it appear that the war he raged on was around the time she’s holding the golden strands in trailer? Then again maybe the trailer only made it look like that? I can’t wait to find out more honestly and also I just realized that some fans speculate the civilians that Messmer’s army killed are the crucibles and if so that kinda makes sense why the tarnished in the trailer is using the crucible wings so most likely they’ll be a few more to collect in game!

[@eyesofthebeast]

@@brandonsalisbury7182 Messmer is a mystery, everyone keeps saying he's marikas child because of the "mother" line, but something is starting to make me think he may either be her brother or twin. Another theory I have is that Messmer IS Melina. We always thought Melina was helping us get to the erd tree to become Elden lord, but what if she was really guiding us to free Marika? We defeated Radagon and the Elden beast, so it's possible we freed her from the very threats that locked her away.

[@brandonsalisbury7182]

@@eyesofthebeast Dude that’s actually a very cool point him being a brother or at least related because I’ve seen a lot of crazy theories (obviously you know it gets with these games which is part of the charm) but his age is a question I asked myself in the gameplay trailer but after this one your right it’s possible he may even be older then her! His whole serpent deal makes you wonder why snakes, his darker flame magic! I definitely can’t wait plus Messmer may not even be the final boss of the story as we all know Fromsoft most definitely put hidden possibly optional bosses around the map!

[@eyesofthebeast]

@@brandonsalisbury7182 thanks! and yeah I think he's as old as Marika is. alive before the erd tree was created. but then again we don't see them in the same frame and fromsoft always plays tricks in their trailers lmao.

[@2to3whiteguys]

It would be cool if the DLC entrance was the Radagon arena in the erdtree, with another door in the back. You come out of the shadowy erdtree.

[@OSOForjasCA]

Zombie: "Send more police officers..." Miyazaki: "Send more funy theories..."

[@CrossmanShaun]

I have a feeling that Mesmer is somehow an aspect of Miquella, just like marika and radagon are essentially the same. Maybe it’s hereditary. All other red haired characters are offspring of radagon so it would make sense. maybe Miquella and Mesmer are golden / shadow variants of the same person? I think Miquella needs to combine with / defeat his Mesmer aspect so he can become full emperyon and mohg is helping with that?

[@WettBreadd]

Haven’t seen anyone mention this but, I think the corpse on the steps that is pinned full of spears is Godfrey, he’s shown in the intro to the base game to be killed in the same way, it’s might be way off but it’s an interesting take I think

[@johncrondis4563]

I thought the godwyn for gold and mesmer for shadow thing too. I even clicked in to how the corpse of godwyn and the similar corpse below stormveil have a similarity to odskin clothe and the womb like thing in the trailer. I also clicked into the fact that godwyn rhymes with godskin.

[@SMLL-crow]

In the trailer when nessmer impales the omen beast/dragon the bodies underneath are impaled on individual spikes

[@mackegbert7307]

If that theory is correct, that would ultimately mean that Godwyn the Golden and Mezmer were twins. One of gold(light), one of shadow, different in body alone. Which would explain why the black knives were instructed to kill Godwyn's soul and leave his body to maintain the veil that seperates the Lands Between(Lands of Godwyn), and the lands of Shadow(of Mezmer).

[@danieljohnson3320]

I'm thinking about how excited I am to play elden ring again

[@korlenperry7534]

@Fextralife love this theory. Could it be some weird thing where messmer and godwyn are opposites or twins. Look at that nose and face compared to messmer 9:24

[@way2real364]

Marika is holding the FIRST Rune Arc, or maybe the Original Elden Ring at the entrance of the Lands Between. The Rune Arc is a fragment of the Elden Ring. Queen Marika the Eternal is the current ruler of the Lands Between, and the one who shattered the Elden Ring. She has many powerful Demigod offspring, who seek the Elden Ring's remaining power. We do not know exactly who Messmer is. This appears to take place before Elden Ring's Time line... because again, we see Marika at the entrance to the Lands between holding the Elden Ring/Rune Arc. There are many aspects of this DLC, that which we do not know. It's best we wait until the DLC drops, play it and, as we progress, the story should reveal itself. My opinion, Messmer is related to Mohg, could be his brother, because Messmer deals FIRE damage as well, and since his FIRE consumed the living, Mohg deals both FIRE and BLOOD... Blood Flame damage.

[@botmushin8878]

It's the old world before the golden order, before the erdtree so it's possible that the "shadow" tree is the old crucible tree that existed before the erdtree took it over.. this would also make sense with the lore of death.

[@user-wo8hm9yf5c]

The lion dancer enemies have multiple smaller people stacked on top of each other puppetering the costume or puppet thing

[@TAZMASTA40]

My guess is Marrika ussurped the order that was present and created her own. She used messmer to do it and then erased him from history once her goal was met. The gold hairs marika pulls from the corpse im betting is the pregnant woman we saw in the painting from the last trailer. I cant wait to know the actual story in the dlc 😅

[@Maes777]

Something I never see talked about in all of the Elden Ring lore videos concerning Miquella is the bewitching branch and its description. With the DLC coming out and focusing on Miquella’s backstory, that last line of the item’s description has always made me curious.. did anyone follow him willingly?

[@richlacerra6668]

I’m surprised that nobody has mentioned the Forbidden lands when it comes to the land of shadow. It’s the only place that has “Red Grace” kind of what Messmers spells look like

[@sabichaokujo3307]

that realm looks like a primordial erdtree interior, could be the crucible. maybe after all the sacrifices, the crucible became the erdtree and the flesh walls became thorn

[@TinMan445]

One thing I know for sure. My blasphemous blade build is gonna be pretty weak in this dlc😂 hopefully their are some cool faith+str weapons in the dlc

[@andrew-rn9ui]

I haven't been this stoked for a DLC like ever I don't think 😂 Maybe back in halo 3 times when sandbox came out snd all the new forge maps like the Halo on Halo race map in the sky n shit like that

[@Sp00kyMuld3er]

Does anyone else see the substance/threads/etc. Marika(?) pulls out in the beginning of the trailer being reminiscent of the actual veil we see cloaking the "shadow" tree? Particularly in the shot where they are holding it above their head, almost pulling it down. Sort of shutting the door on their way out.

[@kittentacticalwarfare1140]

Marika done gone full Godhand, eclipse and all to become a good with all those gory steps and pillars.

[@GreyTales405]

What if the city is the last dwellers of the crucible? An thats why the inhabitants have horns like that and thats why there is a dragon dancer to celebrate the crucible. Its interesting to think about

[@scoontaquex3388]

Ok I think I've got it figured out. Marika has constructed the Erdtree using the combination of sacrificial bodies imbued with the threads of power from a god. It looks like Messmer is doing all the killing, but I think it's a red herring - he likes to impale, and none of the bodies in the pile are impaled. Who do we know likes discarded bodies? Gael. He's still looking for the Dark Soul. Official crossover confirmed. This, then, confirms what we're seeing at the start. Who have we seen before grabbing a glowing thing in a cave? The Furtive Pygmy. If Radagon/Marika can be 2 in 1, why can't they be 3 in 1? Radagon is Marika is the Furtive Pygmy. The age of fire has ended so it/they have had to find a new source of power to create their new age. Finally, we get an answer to what the "Lands Between" are: Elden Ring is the game between Dark Souls and the next game Miyazaki is making that are all fully interconnected in every way. Dark Souls 5 confirmed.

[@elitecamelarcher3914]

Here’s an idea: I might be wrong, but what if Messmer is Marika’s brother, not her child, both born from the gloam eyed queen who we only hear about. Maybe to escape her family’s tyranny in the land of shadow, Marika overthrew her mother to leave that realm and rule in her own world: the lands between…? Just a theory

[@mhiggs8001]

0:40 the thing in this angle makes me think it’s an top down shot of the head and eye which she seems to be pulling the thread hair stuff from. Also, the figure proportions here could also work for a man. wouldn’t it be a hell of a twist to see that Radagon came first, not Marika. In other words Radagon and Marika were always one being, he just spent a lot of time in Marikas form, but he is the original not Marika.

[@BrandonTulsieram]

I think messmer maybe realized that the golden order wasn’t so great and tried to wipe them out? Or there was some sort of betrayal maybe committed by Marika herself that we never knew about, I remember in the first trailer there’s a voice line that says “they were never saints, just on the losing side of the war”. Maybe the golden order and lineage is not so great and holy as we think, can’t wait to play!!!

[@pablodelpon7900]

Hii fextra!! The body parts are super similar to the body parts we can see in the blasphemous blade, perhaps she killed that outer god (maybe a serpent god) creating a blasphemy, and she was cursed, (imagine that god was one of the gods of the numen realm, with another name). As she did that sin, she took something from that heresy, maybe a "key" to open the realities and looking for something better for her, she separated the realms, running away. Those who protected the old god took revenge on her, becoming the future black knives, who followed Marika through that portal because of her heresy, to kill her. She could complete the escape and she ran away into "the lands between". The name is strange...in between what? Shadow realm and outer world, where she could be finnaly free. The second part of the video we saw fire. Fire was also something related to the sins and maybe the serpent god, maybe could used it too. (As we've seen with rykard and blasphemous flames). In Marika's war against the giants she cursed them (perhaps cause it reminds her of the old gods she killed to obtain freedom and she realised they were using different characters in the lands between as vessels to kill her? ) Speaking about vessels and outer gods..we have seen an omen in the trailer. Perhaps it was "moghwyn"?. As that outer god (the mother of the truth) is also from another dimension, perhaps it is for the shadow realm and it used mogh as his future vessel in the lands between once Marika died and that outer god had enough power to go into the lands between? However, the death of mogh was the beginning of the dynasty, as he didn't know mogh was "the key" to connect that realm, that's why he says that phrase before he dies against us, perhaps the mother of the truth enlightened him before he died and then he thought we will continue with his "dynasty". What I have as a theory is that perhaps marika did something unholy getting married with a "Godwin 2.0 in that numen realm. That old god didn't approve of that, and she was cursed. She get pregnant and then the outer god was worried, reason why it threw a curse agains her. She had the omen "moghwyn" as a cursed child and Mesmer as sons (the chosen one). Then Marika took revenge and she fought that outer god in the realm. She won but she did something unholy, so she as she knew run she will die because of that heresy. She moved into the lands between and there she wanted to escape too, but she failed. She thought that Godfrey could be the one that will give her the key to escape but she had mogh and morgot (omens, part of the curse) and Godwin (the chosen one,) the black knives knew that, the new chosen ine has arrived and then they crested the strategy to kill him with ranni's help, as the outer of ranni wants to go to the "moon realm or ethereal realm" were Marika wanted to go, but failed.dont forget the black knifes they were numens, as Marika. Perhaps they knew Marika's plan of freedom. Maybe Mesmer, as Marika ran away, was chosen as Marika to be a vessel by that god in the shadow realm. Maybe the serpent god (the one that I think Marika killed) "We can't kill the snake" rykard said it) so perhaps in a state of rage that outer god used him. He was Marika's son.. Then, Mesmer, the new vessel, destroyed all that was related to Marika in the "shadow" realm, in the name of that god, looking for a way to cross to the lands between. Maybe tanith, (she is a foreigner) is related to the realm shadow, we have seen a character that is similar in the trailer, and perhaps it has some connection with it, as she is "married" with rykard, the snake. Maybe rykard was the vessel of that god in the lands between, as Mesmer is, in the shadow realm thanks to the snake that mesmer created and tanith gave to rykard. Also we have the ouroboros, the snake that will destroy everything (and we have weapons that have the same shape thanks to the picture they put in recently). Maybe rykard, decimating the demi gods will allow Mesmer to reign using something to open a portal towards the shadow realm, or to the "lands between " where he will be the new outer god and ruler. As rykard snake function was done, the "serpent" will return to it's master, Mesmer, killing rykard and ending the old demi gods in the lands between and beginning a new era as an eternal circle. As Marika the eternal, but this time with mesmer. Soooorry for the text, I'm not an expert in lore but yesterday I had that idea.. perhaps you will read it, fextra! Keep up the good work and don't hesitate to comment, (with respect, please..)it should be nice to read more crazy theories 😂

[@IggyTthunders]

Given the arched doorway in the beginning has the same composition and profile as the blasphemous blade, i think Marika seduced and bettayed the Serpent. The same Serpent that aspires, in the base game, to burn the Erd Tree and devour the demigods; reference the portaits of a burning erd tree in mt.gelmir, the house key that features a serpent constricting a tree, the fire magic in mt gelmir, the gladiators with the much-maligned snakes on their helmets, and the lore's cyclical nature, the ironic parallels in its characters. One child of Marika'a was born from Marika's seduction of the Serpent and became a Justiciar of the Golden Order, the other child, a Justiciar for the Golden Order, was seduced by the Serpent. The Tarnished are part of the Crucible era that forms the genocidal empire, the Golden Order, then banished so the Order can purge the remnants of the former orthodoxy, and then they become the cannon fodder for the Order's canonical reformation. The Order that didn't want them to exist. As for Mogh and Morgott, they're omens of the Crucible, signs that the root stock the Erd Tree was grafted to-- during the Great Tree era -- were reimerging. Like the biblical text, and medieval Christianity and Judaism, the story is replete with plant metaphors, like the Grafted Scions, Radagon's trellis-like seal protecting the Erd Tree, the omens, the tapestry seen in the first section of Lyndell you encounter after fighting the Dragon Tree Sentinel, etc. Ref. Tarnished Archaeologist The omen twins are canonically the issues of Marika's union with Godfrey; she's not part of the Crucible. She's a Numen, a separate people not of this world, long-lived and seldom born. Godfrey's name isn't even Godfrey, it's Hourah Loux. He took up the name officially with his crown as Elden Lord; that's in the canon. He doesn't resume his old name until he's banished as the first Tarnished, and he resumes the name Godfrey when he vies for the crown again. This detail is pretty damn consistent. Godwynn's name is likely a second name, adopted officially, too -- (which happens with royalty, Prince Albert, the Duke of York, was coronated as King George the sixth during WW2) -- Godwynn assumed the name godwynn bc of its meaning "god friend" in Anglo Saxon. It was Golden Order PR, in keeping with medeival royal tradition, as well as Catholic tradition wherein the pope assumes a beutific new name with their rank, like "Pious" or "Benedict". The assumption of a new name also obfuscates the truth, that godwynn isn't Godfrey's son; which could explain why we never see Godfrey canonically express ANY sentiments toward Godwynn. We never see him in the Deep Root Depths; he doesn't try to revive Godwynn; he never even mentions him. No, it's only Morgott that Godfrey mourns. Most likely, Godfrey's banishment was a direct punishment for conceiving the Omen Twins at all. It would explain WHY Godfrey would stomach his own children being tossed into the shunning grounds to begin with-- he didn't have a choice! He was banished when they were born. I think Godwynn, in keeping with the common through line with Marika, is a twin to Mesmer and likely has a birth name that starts with 'M'. We know Godfrey's name is secondary, it tracks that Godwynn's is as well.

[@pablodelpon7900]

Such a good theory 😮

[@IggyTthunders]

​​@@pablodelpon7900 I mean, it's all speculation. It makes sense that Godwynn is conspicuously called Godwynn, just like Godfrey is officially called Godfrey, but Morgott and Mogh aren't given beautific names that begin with 'God'. Hilariously, Godfrey's name means "the peace of God", on paper, but if you read it his name out loud it sounds like "Godfray", as in "fray" like a fight. I think it's a snarky poke at the hypocritical nature of Hourah Loux's career as, essentially, a barbarian theocrat.

[@athelise]

My guess was the seduction was the Greater Will, as an outer god, seducing Marika when she was still an Empyrean, and when she ascends to her golden godhood, the act of doing so made the land of shadows, well, shadowed. And we know Marika eventually betrayed the Greater Will by shattering the Ring, and set in motion things to kill it (Hewg's vow and creating the Tarnished), so we can guess the Greater Will's promises to her must have fallen flat somewhere, hence the betrayal. In any case, I think maybe the Greater Will's enemy, which could be another an outer god, controls the Land of Shadow, and Miquella is seeking that outer god to so he can ascend to full godhood on his own terms, and not Mohg's. I gotta say though I really like this interpretation of Godwyn not even being Godfrey's child, and Messmer is his twin. It would be just like Marika to pop out on her own to secure a non-Omen bloodline. It would line up with Marika eventually just mating with herself considering Messmer is clearly a psychopath.

[@Donokyothelast]

Some familiarity my man youve been on it for months with the short lores 😂

[@briana9444]

😂 Facts.

[@PraetorRykard666]

I like your idea except I think Messmer is clearly a son of Radagon because he has his Red hair. I think it's safe to assume he has something to do with the Fell God/Fire Giants

[@aikan7457]

I'm pretty sure Mohg kidnapped Miquella, which could mean that Miquella didn't willingly go to the land of shadow

[@daveknightgael1209]

His obsession with Miquella never made sense to me until I read the bewitching branch item description: "The Empyrean Miquella is loved by many people. Indeed, he has learned very well how to compel such affection"

[@gamensch2629]

I'm pretty sure Messmer is a descendant of Radagon, because of his red hair, Fromsoftware is pretty constant regarding this sort of stuff

[@swamashijudbedolofritt4448]

Huh. Mesmier being godwyn twin? This is interesting indeed. So psyched for SOE dlc 😮😮.

[@ZugzugZugzugson]

why is everyone assuming Messmer is Marika's son? when Messmer refers to his "mother" in that other trailer, he could be referring to the gloam eyed queen or someone completely unknown. i dunno, him being Marika's offspring seems "too easy".. so easy, it makes me believe that's not the case.

[@decayingruin]

If I am the summarize my theory it would be "Every soul has its dark" unironically. Referring to Marika having Radagon as her dark side.

[@cyoda3147]

if you look at the waopons of mesmer and mohg the have kind of the same design the blad part of the waopons start with gold and the piercing part of both of them is black.

[@TasioPawa]

Messmer is Marika's brother. In the painting with the old man, and young Marika the other side is blurred, there goes young Messmer

[@eyesofthebeast]

I actually think it's something opposite. If Marika isn't the gloam eyed queen herself, I think she may be related to her, could probably be her mother. And I think that's who the women in the photo is, the gloam eyed queen not Marika.

[@shquankinket8068]

I don’t think marika is being depicted there. She came to the land of shadow on ships I feel like to the culture here she’ll be considered an invader not someone to be idolized

[@eyesofthebeast]

@@shquankinket8068 no where in the lore does it ever say she arrived by ship

[@miceatah9359]

@@eyesofthebeast shes numen so not native to the lands between so she had to come by boat/ship

[@thotslayer9493]

miyazaki literally said he’s marika son pay attention npc

[@tjc20]

FromSoft gave us enough clues: Messmer is not the son of Marika. He is the son of (M)elina and Radagon. I suspect Melina is the Gloam-Eyed Queen, who was seduced and betrayed by Radagon; Marika used Radagon's form to accomplish this. Listen to Messmer's words: "Mother...wouldst thou truly lordship sanction, in one so bereft of light?" Messmer is speaking to his mother, the Gloam-Eyed Queen. It was Melina who sent us on the path to become Elden Lord (she lordship-sanctioned the Tarnished) - not Marika. It also explains why he has red hair - he is the offspring of Radagon, and was abandoned in the Shadow of the Eritrea. Melina is the one who sent the Tarnished on a mission to eliminate Marika's other children. We are removing all of Messmer's siblings/competition. It makes sense now why, after being betrayed by Marika, Melina would find a Tarnished to take out her lineage.

[@andrew-rn9ui]

Ayo that first scene 😂 I should call her 😢 😂😂😂 JKJK

[@mrjournal4607]

Just a random theory, maybe Radagon was the god in the lands of shadow, the reason messmer has red hair and the reason he almost had no backstory where he came from in ER

[@nathanplumb3782]

I have always wondered why Maricka banished Godfrey after he expended his usefulness. I just chalked it up to her being a machavelian psychopath. She’s kind of struck me as a Hillary Clinton type character of the Lands Between, only much more successful and far easier on the eyes.

[@Lucardini]

Mesmer is the god of flowing capes in the wind

[@thebedroomkingdom6388]

What if the lands between is between the realm of shadow and some other realm, with Marika sending messmer to conquer this land in secret as he is an unknown child.

[@Ghoulsha89]

Marica is seen pulling golden strands of possibly hair out of a flesh body which is theorised to be a pregnant ladies stomach, Mesmer could have been her child and raised by marica which explains his unusual Bodie. I think maybe marica had killed this ladie and used her power to created her order, maybe that by taking those hairs she gained power, I don’t know if they would actually do something like this but maybe marika wasn’t always an empyrean and had maybe gained her power by finding a way to steal people of their destiny and use their power for herself. We also see marica hold these golden Stan’s up when it looks like she is creating her golden order in the lands between and all the dead bodies around her that are shaped like a doorway, this also looks like what blasphemy looks like in elden rings main game with rhycard and the blasphemous blade, marika could have these rules of blasphemy in the golden order to prevent other empyreans to follow her path and become gods to start the new order. But that’s a cool theory I thought of and it could have potential.