Elden Ring is a Cosmic Horror Masterpiece

[@Kushrada]

I will never forget first discovering Caelid. Like many I found it by accident, opening the trapped chest via the ruins by the lake. I was low lvl and my gear was cobbled together from soldiers, I had no build to speak of and I was trapped in that little hut, unable to leave. The insect creatures killed me effortlessly and killing one was a hefty and risky endeavor. Most engagements became a mad dash pulling more and more into the fight making combat a suicide. I realized the enemies I could kill were victims like myself, trapped in this cave slaving away to their insect overlords. Fighting my way out gave way to the desperation of just escape. Many failed attempts were made but eventually I reached the outside of the cave, to that sky, to that rot. The MASSIVE crawling things spewing clouds of poison, the wandering patrols of marionets dragging meat and limbs of their captives hosts, spilling out of their mobile prison cells. The animals far too large and vicious who turned this hell into their hunting grounds. My immediate thoughts being of what the hell is happening here, the entire game world turned on its head and that droning ambiance of white noise that replaced the somber orchestral of the starting area. It was Yarhar'gul on crack. Now every moment from that moment was spent trying to piece together what the hell that place was and why through out my first playthrough.

[@GrantPowers-d1w]

I really appreciate how passionately you described this, brought me back to my first time discovering Caelid the same way. You're absolutely right that when you're whipped from Limgrave to THAT, your first thought is "Why the hell does this place exist?!"

[@ultramagnus1859]

I remember when I first stepped out of that forsaken mine and saw the world around me. I was talking to my buddy Steve and just said "Oh no, Steve, Steve it's Bloodborne!!!"

[@AlfieHolter420]

I googled how to level fast and went straight to the chapel with gurranq where the militia men who drop like 1k runes and die easily were at. Dragon barrow is still my fave area. The constant rain is so chill and gurranq is probably the most blameless character I'm the entire game he's just a good dog

[@mduckernz]

@@AlfieHolter420Heh, other than the genocide he seemingly kicked off in the Shadow Lands (though, the killing of the civilian population was seemingly done by Messmer, so he gets a pass for that) But, then, Marika is the one that ordered him to do it. So she’s the primary instigator.

[@AlfieHolter420]

@@mduckernz like I said, a good dog 😂. I somehow doubt Miyazaki gives us any revelation about the gloam eyed queen in the DLC. I think the frenzied flame ending was all we are getting for that.

[@brandonbaty2291]

What I love about FromSoftware’s version of cosmic horror, is that the “unknowable” machinations and motivations are still accessible to ponder. They give tons of lore and threads of information so that the “unknowable” events, that would typically be something out of reach for the human understanding, are ALMOST “knowable”. You have a lot of information to parse through that gives you a feeling of nearly being able to unravel the cosmic mysteries of the story. But its always JUST beyond total comprehension. I love it.

[@Halberddent]

I much prefer it to the HP Lovecraft I've read, where the protagonist gets almost close enough to glean some real understanding then either dies or flees. Cooler to have the acquisition of knowledge feel risky, but possible.

[@xenocross6597]

And they accomplish this by making them completely comprehensible but not giving us all the information

[@wr5488]

@Halberddent Bloodborne is my second favorite cosmic horror, but my favorite is Returnal. I thought that game perfectly nailed the Lovecraftian element. Loved the big cosmic eldritch god, it nailed what I felt Bloodborne tried to do. Show a big massive, alien, incomprehensible yet compassionate and intelligent being. Such a phenomenal game. Love Returnal and BB because the big cosmic entities aren’t evil or malicious. Xaos in Returnal is trapped and genuinely helps you once it’s freed. Moon Presence in BB is a carnivore hunting its prey in weird alien methods. Ebrietas is a lost young one that found comfort amongst humans. I think those two are so much better than games where the cosmic eldritch stuff is just unapologetically evil.

[@notebooks6461]

The Primeval Current is a great way of showcasing that We even see what happens to others when they see it, yet never fully grasping it ourselves

[@headecas]

Thats the bait.like the great old one they dangle forbidden knowledge in front of u and tell u u can understand it if u just keep delving deeper and deeper...

[@thmistrapillay1811]

Elden Ring's World and Art-Design feels like the most accurate embodiment of what stories of old poets and mythological tales spoke of and envisioned

[@Ssosmooth69]

That’s something I’ve noticed too. Elden Ring’s world and characters feel like it was based off a real-world mythology.

[@StrangeLeap]

When ER first came out, I was hesitant to play, I didn't think Fromsoft could top Bloodborne, and I didn't want to be disappointed in them. Then I bought and played it and it captured me and now I'm fervently awaiting the dlc. The lore is so fucking good, deep, on point, enrapturing. The characters are stronger as characters than Bloodborne (though bloodbornes characters are not weak) because ER's characters have a larger world to inhabit, larger themes, more varied, and more far reaching. I fucking love it

[@Super911Truther]

Truly it is. The Greeks, Norse, Sumerian/Mesopotamian/Chaldean, Vedic, Egyptian, and the mythologies of the south, central, and north American tribes and many others are not crazy, and seem to explain a much older world that was much more connected to the cosmos then our epoch of humanity is today. This supposed antediluvian epoch that existed some 12,000 years ago was a technological worldwide civilization. They were Techno-Spiritualist, and the megalithic structures were deeply integrated in their every day lives and were directly integrated with the seasons of our earth. I love Fromsoft games, but I also love this subject of ancient civilizations. and I firmly support the notion that humanity has been around much longer then the accepted theories of today. Aliens are another aspect of the subject, for another day I suppose..haha

[@mydrillasanjay5397]

@@StrangeLeap they already topped bloodborne with ds3

[@frogdeity]

@@StrangeLeap They have topped Bloodborne multiple times already...

[@Nemo12417]

I'd note that madness in Elden Ring is different from madness in Lovecraft. Lovecraftian madness comes from knowing things you shouldn't. Elden Ring takes a more Nietzchean approach, where madness is associated with despair. You first encounter frenzy in a village where everyone is sick and has turned to narcotics (the Eye of Yelough) to bear living. And Hyetta, the prophet of the Frenzied Flame, speaks of people who have suffered and wish they'd never been born. She is contrasted by Melina, who insists that however ruined the world might look, it is still worth preserving. That speech would be laughable in Lovecraft or Bloodborne, but in the more Nietzche inspired Elden Ring, it fits. Miyazaki is a huge fan of Berserk, which took inspiration from Nietzche, by the way.

[@kimlee6643]

Excellent distinction. The leaning into existential pathology we see in ER is extremely unappreciated, if not outright ignored. ER is rather more Nietzschean and Gnostic than Lovecraftian.

[@spookydooky4085]

It’s also important to take into account madness is divided into two different things in elden ring, insanity and frenzied madness

[@wolf388]

You are absolutely right. And Mogh's iconic line "Nihil", is a clear reference to Nietzschean nihilism

[@zanderclark1461]

@@wolf388 Nihil means nothing, or zero. Mohg is counting down to 0, but he's also piercing the body of the formless mother, a being without form or body, a nothing entity.

[@Nikelaos_Khristianos]

Elden Ring - and Berserk - definitely do lean into the more self-destructive elements of horror. But it’s also set against this very Bloodborne style back-drop of watching formerly regal or dignified characters slowly becoming monsters as they’re warped by whatever afflicts them. And this isn’t unique to Elden Ring - it’s been around since Demon’s Souls, the Old King Allant possibly being the best example of this type of horror

[@a.z.pantera5577]

What lends even more to the cosmic horror of the game is the Elden Beast's arena. Innumerable towering trunks that resemble that of the Erdtree. Implying, and all but confirming, that this isn't the only land, or even world, that has an Erdtree. Each trunk is either another world entirely, or is the Erdtree of the parallel dimensions that explain the existence of ghosts, invaders, etc. Further exemplifying that the Greater Will and the other gods are not confined to the reality of our Tarnished. But one in an unknowable number of worlds.

[@ravendelacour1917]

I like how Brett correctly identifies the global economy as an eldritch abomination.

[@anikapt8728]

😂

[@davispeterson1876]

" Every man in a Bank hates what The Bank does, and yet The Bank does it. The Bank is something more than men. Men made it, but they can't control it. The Bank isn't like a man, it breathes profits; it eats the interest on money. If it doesn't get it, it dies the way you die without air. The monster has to have profits all the time. It can't wait. It'll die. When the monster stops growing, it dies"

[@Gamfluent]

All accepts runes, it’s based

[@forwarddiscipline]

Irl or in game?

[@ravendelacour1917]

@@forwarddiscipline IRL

[@oliversearles7218]

I love how much you talk about the greater themes. The lore is great but I feel a lot of people get so caught up in timelines and motivations and kind of miss the greater picture.

[@Alex_Barbosa]

There's not much of a picture without the timeliness and motivations. Just vague aesthetics that don't have much to say.

[@DrowningUpsideDown]

@@Alex_Barbosa both need both - major reflects minor and vice versa. fibonacci type shit.

[@oliverlynch7564]

​@@DrowningUpsideDownSYMBIOSIS AT ITS FINEST

[@zora508]

I love how the whole story happened because a powerful alien shot his "seed" into earth, and people made it their religion

[@thesnatcher3616]

I mean the Fandom still debates on what exactly the Greater Will is cause it can easily just be the arbiter of life and order itself, presiding over all, dominant over the alien outer gods, while the flames of chaos represent destruction. More of a metaphysical sentient agent rather than an actual physical being like the Elden Beast. It's intention was to create the "religion" in the first place as following it means following the concepts of structure and life.

[@hajime5486]

Makes more sense than Judeo-Christian mythology

[@Myhaay]

The elden beast isn't the greater will itself tho, it's the same concept. We didn't kill the greater will, just some of it's agents and the desperation created creature/god that it made to protect the elden ring and erdtree.@@thesnatcher3616

[@Hi-fd4cw]

@@hajime5486How to sound like a total neckbeard in seven words

[@mr.beagle1438]

@@Hi-fd4cwidk man, I think you might just be projection

[@pwnyboy9714]

I will always remember the feeling of intimidation I received after accidentally getting teleported into a mine, encountering Pests, absolutely FIGHTING my way out after at least two hours, and then popping out of the cavern to see... THIS and immediately go "NOPE. FUCK THIS. I'm out." and teleporting out. lol

[@GriboedovAnton]

exactly same thoughts

[@wr5488]

I did that at a crazy low level but slammed my head over and over and over against the enemies until I finally won. There’s like the Falling Star beast as a boss? I remember it would one hit me and my weapon didn’t do enough to show yellow on its healthbar. Took forever.

[@pwnyboy9714]

@@wr5488 I went back to the mine at a later level. I got hoodwinked into the Mine at a very early level, and it was before I had been in other dungeons iirc, so the concept of a boss at the end of each of them wasn't yet ingrained in my mind. All that I remember is successfully bumbling out of the mines after MANY attempts at slaying the Pests, having not encountered the boss room, and looking out at the red Caelid sky and saying "Oh heeeelll no." and teleporting back to one of the friendly areas. lol

[@Painted_Owl]

Yep, same. I think I was between levels 8 and 12. I ventured out of the cave for a good ways and learned quite quickly that Caelid eats low level chumps for breakfast, no matter what angle to approach things from. I got to the Millicent invasion and finally threw in the towel lol

[@Painted_Owl]

@@pwnyboy9714”What the ACtual FUCK” were the words that so viscerally leaped from my tongue. I was not mentally prepared haha

[@zekaizerguy1181]

This is why I foam at the mouth when I see someone claiming that ER's lore is "boring"

[@speedforce117]

People say this??? It has some of the most inspiring lore out there imo.

[@jamalisujang2712]

Those are just discord troons bored out of their life they say the most stupid shit for attention.

[@STOPSYPHER]

@@speedforce117 the only people I find saying that, are people that can’t even type a coherent sentence & lack the attention span to actually listen to the lore

[@shquankinket8068]

Many of the concepts and politics are quite basic. But then the outer gods and the concept of the Elden ring itself are so abstract and mysterious that any basic plot lines can be forgiven

[@Wyrdist]

@@shquankinket8068 not that I’m disagreeing with you or anything, but what concepts and politics are you referring to

[@saintsolatus]

A small thing that I love about the design of the The Elden Beast is that the structures inside it's body look shocking close to images of the supercluster that Earth is located in called "Laniakea". As if the planet that hold The Lands Between is not even a single branch of The Greater Will, but it is just a single speck in it's dominion, a horrifyingly chilling thought and makes our besting of The Elden Beast ever more of a monumental feat. The fact a single design detail could restructure our entire understanding of the cosmology of Elden Ring is so cool and I'm sorry for being such a nerd

[@zegamingcuber857]

It may in someways be meant to mimic that but I believe it is also meant to mimic a nervous system

[@Puddspanker]

Well the elden beast is off the stars. And all the stars in it's entirety is laniakea, so in that interpretation, you are correct. But this is why fromsoft are master lore weavers. Everything is so vague and out of sight, that whenever a person stumbles upon some of the hidden lore. It's able to be dissected and put together in different ways. Everyone will have different opinions.

[@zegamingcuber857]

@@Puddspanker Laniakea isn't literally all the stars, Lanikea is not the entire universe

[@TSAdu]

Bud, all superclusters look like this not just ours. It's a reference to superclusters as a whole not laniakea

[@sion8626]

Didn't know I needed a FatBrett analysis video on Elden ring's cosmic horror themes but I am so here for it.

[@shinkicker404]

One thing I love about the Elden Beast is how it is a reference to the Laniakea Supercluster, in concept that makes the Elden Beast beyond massive. All those little stars are actually galaxies, so close together they looks like veins or bones or threads (that and all of its attacks are stellar phenomena). Even had a thought about what the water in the arena was too back when the game first came out but can't remember now for the life of me. I like to think that the final battle is basically a Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann galactic slugfest. As a side note when it changes the arena it reminds me of the Beasts that Eris summons in Sinbad (cool scene with how they peel out of the night sky). Annoying as it may be too fight, the Elden Beast is probably my favourite design for a boss in a Souls game.

[@obsidiandawn9824]

MORE DRILLS. Lol

[@Amizrael]

"I plan to make a whole series of video essays on Elden Ring..." Yessssssssssss.... But don't stop there, please. Do all of the Soulsbourne. The marriage of your content with one of my favorite video game developers is a match made in heaven.

[@thcookieh]

Don't forget also Lies of P, they have a great future

[@redmm_9315]

Something I just realized about Miquella is that he is in total control of himself. Unlike his mother, sister, and cousin, he has no outer god backing/ controlling him. All other empyreans have done what their outer god has wanted in some form. Miquella can do whatever he wants. And that potential is terrifying. To think, Miquella could be aiming higher than a god is not so unbelievable.

[@jaydenlobbe7911]

It's almost like he's similar to Griffith from Berserk

[@kytwb4252]

I have to see the interaction when he finds out you killed his sister, or maybe if you do the dlc first before fighting Melania, you could tell her about his whereabouts.

[@theonetrueshibe9567]

Ranni is in total control as well.

[@luminousazure]

It's interesting that he's also eternally young on top of it, playing on the idea of children having infinite potential

[@lactofermentation]

Not exactly. Miquella is as cursed as Malenia, just with abundance instead of decay. He wants everything to be able to flourish. _Everything_. He has infinite potential for kindness, cruelty, depravity, manipulation, gentleness...every possible trait. And he can control your mind. It's why Malenia thinks he's the single most terrifying Empyrean. I hope we'll find out what cursed him.

[@Moss_and_Such]

I’m glad you took the time to appreciate the Elden Beast design. It’s a frustrating boss but it’s presentation is insane.

[@aldrichunfaithful3589]

im a soulsborne/elden ring lore nerd, and can i just say that your ability to grasp the themes of the story is pretty insane for someone who doesn't spend their whole life researching the facts like the lore channels. also fun fact whenever im making a comment about some cosmic horror element in a game i always reference you lol

[@BigPanda096]

Brett is built different. He can figure things iut from environmental and design details that you wouldnt think you could. Watching him do his research streams and his play videos you see just how much of a mega mind the dude is casually figuring things out some people need explicit lines to find.

[@aldrichunfaithful3589]

@@BigPanda096 yeah he's genuinely a genius, it's his ability to analyse details and get into the head of the writers that really impresses me. his video isn't perfect, i noticed a lot of facts he got slightly wrong, but the themes are all spot on which is the crucial part. a lot of people who analyse books, games or movies fail to consider the most important thing in literature which is the writers' intentions, and brett is always great at that

[@TheScratcherStudios]

I wish the international fromsoft community had a loremaster who is fluent in jpn as well. because of the well known problems with fromsoft translations. I started all the way back with epicnamebro and demons souls but we havent had a dedicated lore master who looks at the source as well for many years

[@kimlee6643]

@@TheScratcherStudios I think you've accidentally described Lokey. He wrote Abyssal Archive and Demonic Archive. While definitely not some sort of master figure, he has committed to parse through JP and EN versions of these games simultaneously, giving him this really unusual capacity to bridge a purported historicity of these titles. I have never seen anyone speak about DS and BB lore the way Lokey does. It's rather impressive to behold.

[@TheScratcherStudios]

@@kimlee6643 Thank you! I was unaware of Lokey and will devour his wisdom thanks to you. I've once stumbled upon a kanji nerd who is a prof. at a jpn uni, who found the dichotomy of the soulsborne translation interesting and made yt vids because of that. sadly only made 2-3 videos. His channel was new as well, he is no "youtuber" and I can't find him anymore

[@FlutterSwag]

Its like "War of the Worlds" when the alien mechs spew red gunk everywhere

[@flamingmanure]

in a way, elden ring does cosmic horror gods more faithfully than bb does. just like lovecrafts books, you never get to meet or even see the outer gods, some of the gods even have "messengers" of sorts, kinda like the fingers/finger maidens, you sure as hell dont get to kill them and become an outer god yourself. some characters from HPs books do get to "meet" some of the cosmic beings though, but that BARELY counts and they are done masterfully. out of the 10,000+ pages he wrote, maybe 50 pages max describe meeting a cosmic being. this isnt a dig at bb though, both went for different designs that are more suited to their respective games themes.

[@kimlee6643]

Some blind dude powered-up by a blue fairy doing dance dance revolution with a single curvy sword beat and sealed a supposed god though. Just saying. It's not at all clear what the rules are.

[@mangalink25]

Well you do see the Fell God of Ruin (or at least its eye) in the Fire Giant but yeah you never really get to fight or kill them.

[@AlfieHolter420]

The new beginnings ending was so sick tho you have to admit. And the moon presence fight was really fun. Not overly difficult but not too easy either

[@AlfieHolter420]

@@mangalink25 the fell God definitely does manifest in the fire giant. Although he also is manifest through the flame. Marika couldn't put it out

[@mangalink25]

@@AlfieHolter420 Yes, I know this.

[@metalwoundnsdr8254]

"That is not dead which can eternal lie, And with strange aeons even death may die."

[@RachelNicholsChair]

Can you make "Soldier of Godrick - A deconstruction of villainy." Next? I love your stuff.

[@beancandev7818]

I mean, I wouldn't be against him doing something like that.

[@johnlipscomb6501]

Soldier of God, Rick - A deconstruction of the most powerful fictional villain to ever exist?

[@ranti_gamer2989]

​@@johnlipscomb6501 he is not a villian he's misunderstood hero

[@kalo_vera]

That would be a great April Fool's joke

[@UmbraMilla]

21:24 I’m not sure if this was mentioned in a previous comment, but the sword IS Radagon. You can see it in the way the hand guard is designed. One is noticeably shorter than the other, reflecting Radagon’s own arm partially worn away. This also adds another twist to the horror. The Elden Beast sees others as merely pawns in its ultimate goal of spreading its will, like you mentioned. Marika would realize this and, even after stealing away the Run of Death, would try to break the Ring following the death of Godwyn, but Radagon would find himself more under the sway of the Beast and fight with themselves in order to reforge it. I could be partially wrong in this, having not played the game and only watch lore videos, so feel free to correct me.

[@WASDLeftClick]

The texture of the sword almost looks like skin and flesh…

[@burningtime617]

It was mentioned.

[@shenloken2]

I liken Caelid to a Heironymus Bosch painting. It’s scarlet wasteland and fetid swamp regions really do capture what I imagine Hell looks like!

[@bombthing]

And its even scarier knowing that it was once a totally normal place before Malenia bloomed there. It was still red, but no rot swamps, giant mutated dogs and crows, etc

[@disgrunty]

See now with the mention of paintings, I'm thinking of the recent painting of Prince Charles. A part of me wonders if the artist is a fan of Elden Ring and is commenting on how rotten the monarchy is.

[@colorfulsouls4050]

i'm from the future, the DLC is gunna be eye candy for you

[@GeraltOfArabia]

whos the final boss

[@Echo_ohc3]

@@GeraltOfArabia Gloam eyed queen but the boss just before her is the godskin trio

[@dolphinpower1107]

​@@Echo_ohc3who is the third of the trio?

[@scarsch1286]

@@dolphinpower1107Malenia(phase three) in the skin of your player character.

[@dolphinpower1107]

@@scarsch1286 nice to hear Miyazaki's vision is coming to fruition.

[@blackskullknight9062]

Since The DLC is around the corner, we should consider who is the true final boss because Messmer might give off the appearance of a tyrant with Snakes and black flames similar to Rykhard and Mogh. But given the trailers have heroic themes and Miquella still being treated as the most heroic of the gods, we should prepare for the worst.

[@nickytheanimal2413]

Probably whatever the greater will is

[@pillarmenn1936]

@@nickytheanimal2413 I doubt we'd be fighting the GW before the Elden Beast. More likely that Miquella might have his own Outer God host or he sics Godwyn's corpse on us.

[@connorswanson]

Maybe there is an outer god of “peace”. Influence of others for the sake of peace, sleep is a peaceful separation from the violence of reality. EVERYTHING in Elden Ring is influenced by some outside force. No way Miquella is not the same

[@its.martin1125]

You cooked

[@Graysett]

5:12, this story applies pretty well to how Glintstone works. People rarely talk about how Glintstone is a corruptive force.

[@lactofermentation]

Yup. Also haven't seen many people mention the pun right there in the "Carrion" dynasty, feeding on the dead remains of the stars to fuel its power.

[@mikaelm5367]

Miquella was right. The Golden Needle works. FromSoft tells us You can defy the gods with strength of spirit and strength of arm. This statement will surely age well with the coming DLC. Also I can appreciate a certain gradient in the nature of the Outer Gods. Some of them seem *alike in spirit*

[@aldrichunfaithful3589]

miquella and the swordsman were technically able to help, but im not sure that's how the story was intended to come across. the blind swordsman couldn't defeat the god of rot, and despite inventing a godly device to cure her miquella didn't actually cure anything, it was just a way to limit how much damage it did. we can seemingly use the needle to overcome the frenzied flame, but we don't actually heal the burns so maybe it's the same story and we just kept the flame in check so that we could heal the elden ring safely, and once we take it out we're frenzy on toast. the only way that anyone can truly reject the outer gods is by doing whatever ranni did in her ending, and in true fromsoft fashion in order to reach that happy ending ranni had to murder her brother and contribute to many others being assassinated. if you ask me from were actually trying to tell a story about resisting the gods through strength of spirit and arms in bloodborne, the hunter is a total badass and i think their motivations are really underexplored in the lore community. they're just an ordinary person who probably went through some sh*t, got tired of having no control over their life, so they went on a trip to hell on earth to battle beasts and gods to become a great one, gained full control of their own life, and casually saved the world in the process

[@mikaelm5367]

@@aldrichunfaithful3589 I don't agree with this interpretation at all. In Dark Souls, the Gods are revealed to be mortal liars. They can be beaten, and they can be killed. In Bloodborne, the gods literally control the nature of the reality we inhabit, and yet they can be hunted like beasts by our very ordinary protagonists. They can be *eaten*, and they can be killed, to fuel our Apotheosis. In Sekiro the gods are sick and weak. I think the idea that the writers would have *accidentally* shown that the influence of the Outer Gods can be resisted is absurd given both the themes fromsoft has explored in the past and the information provided in the game itself, like the fact that two of the endings involve successfully doing just that (Ranni's reducing their influence while GoldMask's pushes them away entirely).

[@wr5488]

In Bloodborne the Hunter is a puppet until the finale. Like our whole purpose is find and kill the baby Great One and absorb its blood so we in turn can be feasted on by the Moon. I think our only true action is when we use the Cords and break free of the Moon’s control then slaughter the panicked beast. Less of a hero, more a slave. Also I don’t think we ever save the world, world was never in danger. Yharnam was horribly affected because of Blood Ministrations and the Moon’s presence. Without the healing blood being in everyone the Moon’s presence wouldn’t mutate everyone horribly. Or at least not to that degree. “Every Great One loses its child and longs for a surrogate”… well not anymore! We slay (in the good ending) the baby eater. I think we protect future generations of higher dimensional creatures from being hunted and eaten by the Moon. imo it’s not like a grand ‘you save the world’, it’s ‘simply’ killing a higher dimensional predator that had been causing immense problems for the local area. Great One young are slaughtered and eaten. Yharnam is (unintentionally) turned into a killing field from its presence. Characters like Gerhman and the player are forced to butcher and kill in order to seek out the newborn Great One the Moon wants to eat. --------- It’s like… you feed a bear you give the bear reason to return and it causes problems. Well, infusing everyone in town with tasty Great One blood, having local humans/pthumerians occasionally giving birth to new Great Ones, and making superhumanly strong hunters the Moon can control… the town of Yharnam was basically suuuuuper accommodating to the Moon Presence, it created the perfect hunting ground. Moon showed up pre Orphan and made Gerhman hunt it, and I think it had been hunting in Yharnam ever since. (That being said… I think when Moon drinks our echoes it turns us into a vegetable. Gerhman got drank back at after Orphan presumably. There’s been outbreaks like old Yharnam slaughter and Yharaghul since then. So… had Gerhman been ‘killing’ other puppets of the Moon (the submit ending where you wake up) to spare them from being the Moon’s next Gerhman? )

[@drlemon7729]

The point is that it can only delay the inevitable

[@thesnatcher3616]

​@aldrichunfaithful3589 Ranni didn't neccesarily destroy or "get rid" of the Greater Will entirely since the laws of life and death still will exist. She simply decentralized the prevalence of the Elden Ring. Lessening its influence but still keeping the parts necessary for her goals to be met. The only ending that completely destroys order and authority is the Frenzied flame ending as nothing is left to even control or influence for both the gods and the now nonexistant lifeforms.

[@itsDolphincat]

Came for Elden Ring in title, left with existential crisis wondering if my dog is plotting against me and is some outer god sent to test me. 10/10 video would recommend.

[@annaclarallb]

GRRM has so many references to cosmic horror in ASOIAF, but before he wrote it, he wrote many sci-fi stories that explored the same stuff. I knew from day one that FromSoft and GRRM working together would result in a masterpiece.

[@KvapuJanjalia]

1:45 it is possible in DLC, where you will meet friendly pests.

[@WASDLeftClick]

Hmm, both Astel and the Elden Beast have membranous, flexible, almost dragonfly type wings too. Reminds me of the kind of wings the Elder Things were described as having by Lovecraft, which they used for flying through the depths of space on the currents of some sort of ether type material that suffuses the void(Lovecraft wrote well before space travel was possible). Come to think of it the language is very similar to descriptions of the Primeval Current in Elden Ring.

[@wanton-strumpet]

You're an incredible writer - this was an awesome vid essay. Having watched more than like 538475 lore vids, you tied up all the concepts relevant to the concept of cosmic horror in such a beautiful and compassionate way. Please do more 🎉

[@mautbaazigar8844]

Came herre after the DLC, dude you predictions about Miqella were spot on! An NPC even says the exact words you said!! Kudos!

[@TerryB01]

Elden Ring has so much lore to it. That's part of its appeal.

[@saadlakho5888]

Indeed, though bloodborne will always be no. 1

[@SapeeX]

@@saadlakho5888 Still trying to avoid any spoilers or footage of bloodborne, hoping that one day it will be released on pc

[@stonedtrooper6969]

This is up there with Vaati's lore videos, awesome watch.

[@ADHDingus]

I find it really cool how if he says he might make a video in the future, it usually pops up in the end, I love this KZbinr man!

[@MrAllimath]

Oh my didn't expect you to make a video on Elden Ring! Very excited to see you branching out to so many games and genres. Keep up the good work ^^

[@greyworld6242]

We are definitely getting one hell of a Miquella video after the DLC comes out and I can’t wait for it!

[@kimlee6643]

We will get 50 of those, actually. The lore community is guaranteed to explode.

[@greyworld6242]

@@kimlee6643 yep!

[@Darien_England]

Gosh I love your breakdowns, your view on themes, characters and world are definitely very well put together. I don't watch all of them, but the ones I do absolutely astound me.

[@valkordarkmoor9108]

Ah another cosmic horror video essayist. This will make a fine addition to my collection.

[@EJaDav]

Just when my brain is rotting away from boredom at my last day of work this shift you come and drop this banger, thank you for getting me through the rest of this work day 🖤

[@blakebennett3987]

I personally favor the idea that the greater will is a step above outer gods. The outer gods are more properly “outside gods.” As in outside the golden order. I think its telling that they are largely connected to things excluded from the order. Rot, bloodshed, death rites, and ruin all tie to Deaths removal, while Chaos is excluded by the order in general.

[@connoc5078]

It's not that it's a step above, it's that it got there before the other gods and/or just gained the strongest foothold in the lands between.

[@FyerBear]

I think that the outer gods and the greater will are the same type of beings, but the rhetoric of calling the others "outer" is perfect propaganda to make the greater will seem like the supreme being and reinforces the rule of the golden order

[@connoc5078]

@@FyerBear That's exactly correct. There is nothing separating the greater will from the other godly beings and in-game it is reinforced many times that it is the same.

[@Kommunismus]

33:30 The "ball thing" is something the Academy of Raya Lucaria already practices. Sellen herself constructed them by forcing other mages into them, which got her banished in the first place. She just made the mistake of assuming a grieving distraught Queen Renalla was someone she could kill in an act of rebellion, but a mentally deranged Queen Renalla who fought Radagon and the armies of the Erdtree to a stalemate is still more than enough for one rebellious mage.

[@jonathancastillo6433]

Renalla rebirths her into a grave School mass? That’s terrifying

[@AngelofGrace96]

Wow. This explained cosmic horror to me in a way I've never been able to understand it before. Thank you! I'm very excited to see more of your thoughts on Elden ring, and I'd really love to see what you think of Bloodbourne some time.

[@aroguebard]

You were right about Miquella

[@bethfinne3260]

Really really enjoy your videos! This one was especially good. Personal tidbit - I've always seen Malenia's "scarlet flame/bloom" as a massive pollen or spore explosion.

[@djblue056]

This is one of the best and most well written videos I’ve seen. Glad I’m subscribed. What I find interesting is that video game lore has completely eclipsed lore from “most” tv shows and movies. If anything in America. Most of what they do now are sequels, prequels, spinoffs, and lots of reboots. Video games nowadays are so much more rich with stories and lore and characters. It’s fascinating to see.

[@louiejackson2312]

awesome vid! i always believed that the more cosmic or unseen horrors of all fromsoft games are the most fleshed out and compelling in the entire media industry

[@KINGOFTHESPARKS755]

I always liked the idea of the blind swordsman showing malenia a sword style akin to flowing water, because what does stagnant water do? It rots. It decays. But if you keep the water flowing and moving, it remains pure. The same principle possibly applies to malenia's curse

[@mackdontpayforstrange3207]

Firstly thank you for this essay sir. Been playing these games since the original Demon's Souls and the God like beings with ambiguous motivations has always been one of the greatest portions of From's storytelling to me.

[@cllaay]

This was a great breakdown of an angle i havent heard on elden ring! Appreciate the dedication to taking games seriously.

[@Unalloyed_craft]

Oh my god you mentioned my favourite lovecraft story the colours from space:D

[@corrinflakes9659]

My Mom thought Caelid looked beautiful. Then I remembered “oh yeah she is Catholic but she sure loves heavy metal.” Made sense.

[@danielferrieri7434]

Limgrave: Peaceful Weeping Peninsula: Cool Stormveil: Strong Lurnia of the Lakes: Wet Raya Lucaria: Intelligent Caelid: Scary Mountaintops of the Giants: Cold Mt. Gelmir: Hot Leyndell: Unstoppable Crumbling Farum Azula: Disastrous

[@liquidreality472]

Mt. Gelmir?

[@johnnyt6456]

​@@liquidreality472 hot

[@mrkhakis4231]

Hotel: Trivago

[@rickyhuxedurp5440]

@@liquidreality472 depraved?

[@bombthing]

​@@liquidreality472He didnt forget Mt. Gelmir, he said it was hot. If this comment was asking what Mt. Gelmir is, it's the top left of the map where Rykard and Volcano Manor is

[@trevorl.4332]

First time discovering this channel and I’m really glad that I did. I’m looking forward to delving into more of the content that this intelligent and concise KZbinr has to offer.

[@mackdontpayforstrange3207]

That Forbidden Knowledge video you mentioned sounds fun.

[@BasicallyBaconSandvichIV]

I'm really glad you're doing a video on a soulsborne game, because whenever I listen to sealed grounds from skyward sword, I associate it equally between your videos and the soulsborne videos of Zullie the Witch. Also, intriguing title, considering Bloodborne exists (I haven't seen the video yet, so I assume it'll be covered).

[@Charsept]

This recontextualization is so eye-opening. The story makes so more sense from this perspective.

[@daviouscram2101]

Player: "What happened here?" Lore: " We gave a woman power." Player: " ah shit."

[@wsm1227]

Listening to this after shadow of the erdtree and I'm impressed by how accurately you identified Miquella's arch! Congratulations!

[@batialite5080]

Discovered this video by random, and I'm glad i did! The moment you mentioned The Color out of Space I knew I was in for a good time

[@zydeox1221]

I think caelid is beautiful in a very twisted way. I remember being kind of horrified by how hostile everything looked even the non aggressive life forms. Almost alien.

[@hybridsolly]

My favorite video essay creator makes a video over one of my favorite games? I'd be lying if i said this didn't make my day

[@brianhanson7118]

Awesome to see you have plans for covering more Elden Ring!

[@pedroparamodelvalle6751]

If i recall Sellen is not turned into a ball or glintstone from her understanding of the primeaval sorceries but because she tried to challenge Renala and lost. Probably she saw fitting for her to become a graven mage ball as she was so fond of doing

[@youngrootv]

Yeah that’s correct, Renala transformed her. When it comes to Renala, Sellen fucked around and found out.

[@dr.calibrations7984]

Could she though? We ran into her house and beat her ass so hard Ranni had to step in. I could see Ranni doing something but isn't the point of Rennala is that her fight is all gone?

[@youngrootv]

@@dr.calibrations7984 just look at it this way, a zombie is still a zombie and can still bite your face off even if it has no mind or consciousness. Plus, Rennala is still one of the strongest magic users in the entire verse that we know of and one of her abilities is being able to completely transform someone’s entire make up into something else, so Sellen really thought she was gonna do something lol.

[@connoc5078]

That's not correct, no. It wouldn't make sense for Renalla to coincidentally turn sellen into a graven mass when that was part of sellen's goal all along and required so much preparation.

[@etinarcadiaego7424]

​@connoc5078 yeah, in fact Renalla is hiding from Sellen. Sellen did it to herself

[@milesphilippe8377]

This was an incredibly good video essay; bravo! It's so cool to see people looking at video game stories with the same sincerity, respect, and seriousness as other mediums of story-telling.

[@OK25000]

For anyone who enjoys cosmic horror storytelling, the song of ice and fire books are there ready for you, go take a look at Asshai By The Shaodws. The similarities between Westeros & Essos to the Lands Between are staggering. George Martin & Miyazaki are a match made in heaven

[@fantefancior]

Fantastic video! I appreciate your perspective and this deep dive into the lore of Elden Ring.

[@irongiant3443]

Man he nailed Miquella horror

[@halifaxsteppenwulf7980]

What’s craziest with the SOTE revelations is that the Greater Will isn’t malevolent at all, just negligent. It showed up and handed off the Elden Ring and gave Marika a pat on the back and said “have fun champ!”

[@TheScratcherStudios]

Please look up the mistranslations of the Age of Stars ending as it is wildly important to understand, because the translations are so bad they having nothing at all to do with the OG text.

[@normanbestboi9117]

I think they do it on purpose so we create different understandings

[@TheScratcherStudios]

@@normanbestboi9117 No. this makes no sense. imagine a translation firm getting a script and then changing it on a whim. The horrible translation of the age of stars ending is a well known issue. it's not a matter of using 1 synonym over another so the meaning changes the nuance slightly. it really is hard to tell wtf kinda drugs the translator was on or what kind of dog ate the script and shat it out that way.

[@datzfatz2368]

@@TheScratcherStudios while i agree with you in principle, i think saying its "horrible" is a bit exaggerated. Its misleading yeah, but the orignal meaning is still in there and can be understood if you are somewhat familliar with Storytelling. I for one understood the true Meaning of the Ending on my first playthrough, despite the mistranslations, i just thought it was kinda strangely worded and made me not 100% sure if i got it right. And then when i heard about the mistranslation i just thought "ah, thats why it was kinda weird. Good to know i was right anyway tho^^"

[@TheScratcherStudios]

@@datzfatz2368 look up frontlinejp age of stars mistranslation. there is no way to just figure out what was really meant with your excellent, superior story telling wisdom, when the translation directly contradicting the OG script but more often than not, the translator did not understand what the subject was and therefore attributed the incorrect intel to the wrong things, completely changing all of it.

[@datzfatz2368]

@@TheScratcherStudios no, im not gonna look that up, because ive already seen that. And there is a way, i got the meaning of the Age of the Stars ending on my own the first time through. You can choose not believe me if you want, but its the truth. And i dont understand your hostile reaction if im being honest. I didnt claim to have any "storytelling wisdom", just a general gist of how Fromsoft likes to tell their stuff since i have a lot of hours in their games and have consumed a lot of media over my life. Nothing more. And i preficed with my agreement to your position that the mistranslation is a very big issue and that it led a lot of people to the wrong conclusion, just not everyone, like me for example. If i had to narrow it down, the main reason i came to the correct conclusion was probably that the more sinister and cold meaning the mistranslation implies contradicted Rannis apaprent caring and altruistic character and her past actions, so i just went with what my intuition told me i guess^^

[@machomandalf2893]

This is an excellent video man, great job

[@Synchro-tq1mo]

The colour of space was probably the inspiration to the movie Annihilation

[@flazay_da]

Nah that would be the Area x trilogy

[@Synchro-tq1mo]

@@flazay_da old movie ?

[@positivecontacts]

Nice writing FattBrett, I enjoy all your souls analysis and your text and subtext summaries are always really clear and well intuited.

[@smsandel]

Excellent analysis. Elden ring seems to be shaping into the legendary phenomenon that lord of the rings was and in a way still is and it’s precisely thanks to it’s depth of lore and mystery and thanks to creative minds like yourself for bringing so much more meaning to it.

[@Timebomb_19]

I think previous fromsoft games have much better lore compared to Elden Rings.

[@loomingmoon4682]

@@Timebomb_19 nah

[@Timebomb_19]

@@loomingmoon4682 why do you think Elden Rings is the best?

[@loomingmoon4682]

@@Timebomb_19 I didn't say it was the best, I just think it's definitely not outmatched by the other From games' lore

[@Timebomb_19]

@@loomingmoon4682 okay so where would you put it? Second best? Third? I think it’s probably better than Sekiro’s and dark souls 2’s lore but that’s it. I even prefer AC6’s story and context over Elden rings

[@mojoshi131]

Amazing analysis, I had all these thoughts swirling in my head already but to have them put into words so succinctly was really satisfying!

[@moonvenerable7897]

It reminds me of Lord of The Mysteries a Chinese Webnovel i highly recommend.

[@nathanallison3172]

Been watching through your videos and just came to a realization. The land is between our constantly in flux, it began with an age of beasts which then progressed to an age of men under the direction of the golden order. But once the golden order was happy with where things stood, it tried to make them permanent. The golden order tried to stop change after a certain point. But a constant theme in Fromsoft games is that once something stops, it stagnates. So, once the golden order tried to stop things at the height of its power; it invited stagnation and therefore rot. Thus at the height of its power, the goddess of the golden order gives birth to a rotten demigod. And there is nothing that the golden order can do to cure that rot, because the rot is a direct consequence of the golden order trying to hold things in perfection.

[@foxyshabazz]

It's nice to watch a video about a From Software game that isn't 60% reading out item descriptions and dictionary definitions of basic English words.

[@TheLostCrusader.]

They called me crazy when I said Elden Ring was the true Cosmic Horror game From did. Now I'm happy seeing I'm not the only one who saw this.

[@byeahhhhh]

the god of the ancient dragons was also the greater will, it just abandoned them for humanity

[@Cryptexi]

We’re not sure about that now.

[@ausi6758]

​@@Cryptexi There is a statue of the Elden Ring in Farum Azula, which is a symbol of the greater will.

[@BlacklistedSoup]

@@ausi6758yes the ancient dragons likely still had relations with the Greater Will but that wasn’t Placidusax’s God

[@Meatmeballs-arecool.]

I would not say abandoned, as the god fled, and it has not, to my knowledge, personally crowned a god.

[@ausi6758]

@@BlacklistedSoup His God probably served the Greater Will anyways

[@FullMetalWhovian81]

"Strange color or presence." Me: "UNLIKE ANY SEEN ON EARTH."

[@AndJusticeForMe]

Growing up in the Lands Between, we had a saying…you may not always see the fingers, but you will certainly feel them.

[@etinarcadiaego7424]

Finger, but hole.

[@zmangkrd5312]

39:40 stood out to me the most, you were so correct on Miquella.

[@xspartan346x]

should have waited for the dlc to make this because the cosmic shit got way more ramped up this time. Everyones being fucked with by something out there.

[@bazs7722]

Elden Beast finally getting some well-deserved love earned my subscription. Great video!

[@grim-vale]

This aged quite well

[@StitchingSword]

You have a better understanding of the game than anyone else, people always get caught up in timelines and events etc. But if they simply explored and thought about the greater themes, so much would be revealed to them! Please please explore the other souls games after Elden ring, would KILL to hear your thoughts on them

[@nilesrodriguez4343]

Has anyone else noticed the Elden Beast boss battle is the same as where you find the ancestral infant head? I always found that interesting

[@Timebomb_19]

What the fuck is the ancestral infant

[@overdosed3002]

​@@Timebomb_19 kzbin.info/www/bejne/an3JpKmlm91reJIsi=1P16pZqhUduzxYGp

[@dippking4638]

No its not.

[@IntrusiveThot420]

I'm not sure if you'll see this, but I personally think most signs of marika's story point to her wanting to break the chains of the Greater Will and assume direct control of the Elden Ring, thereby replacing cosmic gods as the dictator of reality in the Lands Between. The thorns on the Erd Tree, which are the same lattice seen behind many statues of Marika and Radagon, are designed to force Tarnished who make it through Leyndel to destroy the tree (which has already probably been burned to ash before, at least once), and thereby bring down the Elden Beast (by pissing it off), where it can be destroyed. I'm not sure if burning the tree decreases the Greater Will's influence or something, but as long as the roots that the Erd Tree was grafted on to stay alive (those of the original Great Tree from back in the Crucible and earlier days), the life-giving tree that Marika started as a priestess of will come back eventually. Anyway, she was probably hoping not to die in the process of slaying the Greater Will's main control mechanism over the Lands Between, and to rule as a proper, independent, immortal god herself, given her obsession with the Rune of Death's removal from the ring, revamping of the process of birth and death, and safeguarding of Destined Death, but alas, she probably didn't have as good of a dodge roll as the Tarnished of No Reknown. I love her character as portrayed pre-DLC, which for anyone reading this in posterity, is when this comment was written. The sheer iron guts to try to upend incomprehensible gods for the sake of creating a more prosperous world and challenge the cosmos themselves is absolute peak JRPG "kill god with the power of friendship" hot blooded anime bullshit and I love it. Marika is easily one of my favorite characters in the game, and the way she represents humanity's constant struggle to control those forces you mentioned in this video (international politics, economics, climate, etc) resonates greatly with me.

[@ML8443]

A cosmic horror masterpiece hidden behind an endless random boss whack a mole

[@aflockofconnivingmagpies3490]

I have a theory for the whole Marika & Radagon thing. Given the game's constant symbology of grafting tress, 2 things becoming 1 and whatnot what I think has happened with those two is much like how you'd graft a branch to a tree I think Marika actually possesses radagon's body on some level I mean the line of "you have yet to become me" seems to suggest that they were previously 2 separate entities that became one. This arrangement worked out fine until the shattering in which they came into conflict and began to fight with each other for control over their now shared body, I think however Radagon in the end won as he had the backing of the elden beast itself (or maybe he was possessed directly by the elden beast) but before that Marika recalled the tarnished in the hopes that one would fell Radagon and become her new, host her new "elden lord". As to how Marika even has the power to do this, I'm uncertain but I think this possible ability to take over the bodies of others is what has earned her the title of the eternal, whatever she has done she has inextricably tied her soul and her will up in the influence the greater will has over the lands between. That's what I think is going on there at least.

[@wrath7646]

Funny how a medieval game can be labeled “cosmic horror”

[@kole2984]

I mean with beings like the Greater Will, The Two and Three Fingers, I can see why 😂

[@alejandromomota6934]

The whole outer gods thing

[@flamingmanure]

funny how uneducated bloodborne fanboys that never read lovecraft think cosmic horror is exclusive to the gothic era and aesthetic.

[@YetiCoolBrother]

If you've been a Fromsoft fan from the beginning it actually shouldn't be funny or surprising at all. ER is the culmination of all the previous games, you've got the gods & what not from Dark Souls, the Lovecraftian aliens from Bloodborne, & the Samurai aesthetics from Sekiro. ER is the game Miyazaki had been trying to make all along.

[@noeraldinkabam]

Horror and cosmic are not new. They both were here before medieval times.

[@WobblesandBean]

I've always said this. Malenia's rot is not a curse, it is her godhood. The fungus she spreads is not a harbinger of death and decay, it is simply another form of life.

[@TheSgtLolrus]

Babe babe get over here, a new fatbrett cosmic horror vid just dropped

[@ENALDOm]

Damn,people be waiting to make these comments 😅

[@janek303]

This really hit a special nerve. Totally outstanding job, and I am very impressed by it. Thank you so much.

[@susdino]

Vaatividya colab when???

[@charliebott2498]

This was brilliant, a very insightful breakdown of the games core themes

[@Gaming04-o7u]

5:35 the T-rex dog in the back moving at 5 fps

[@Rowan_076]

Been a big fan of this channel for a while! Never played Elden Ring, but after watching this I'm considering picking it up next paycheck to experience the story for myself!

[@BiggieNoodles]

Dlc has shown the kindred of rot can communicate with human and can change alignment