Radagon was always Marika | Elden ring lore

[@micdraypr1855]

In alchemy, 2 of the main components needed to refine/purify materials are (wait for it) fire and a crucible

[@EldenLord.]

Technically, if Marika is able to split Radagon from herself, she could "mate" with him the normal way too I guess.

[@davisiotta489]

I always thought that, or maybe it's like the asexual reproduction of some plants and animals where the organism releases the male gametes within itself and fertilizes the female ones

[@thefifthbelfry92]

And who says they didn’t produce offspring using rennalas rune???? Before the ring split?

[@davisiotta489]

seems like an unnecessarily complicated explanation for a question that is probably more practical and simple to answer the same thing​@@thefifthbelfry92

[@G4meplus]

Indeed you are right in a technical way but i wanted to show that if we looked at their union as an alchemical process it would fit perfectly with their offspring. Which is one of the biggest supporting evidence for the theory as a whole. Also explains why their children are cursed.

[@NoName-hj6cs]

Guys you are all reading too much into it .. they are simply saying that radagon was whipped

[@dynamicflashy]

I also think the Tarnished were an insurance policy for Marika. With Radagon seemingly being inadequate, and her demi-god children warring amongst themselves, she wished to once again try to join with a Tarnished warrior to try again like she did with Godfrey. Godfrey himself came back to give it another try. But her current husband and Elden Lord, Radagon, did not want this to happen. He was content with the current state of the Lands Between so he sealed the Erdtree with his vines. If you look at the Elden Ring logo, we can see Radagon's icon in the background. It's separate from the Elden Ring. Therefore, Radagon's new order does not require the Elden Ring to be put together - hence his desire to keep it from being fixed as that would restore Marika and lock him away potentially forever, as Marika would no longer need him with a Tarnished Elden Lord and a new order. On a side note, I think Gideon mistook Radagon's desire for all to continue to suffer into eternity as Marika's will. The irony of the "All-Knowing" not realising he understood Radagon, not Marika.

[@davisiotta489]

I believe that Marika may no longer see salvation in her order and is trying to abandon herself to try to make her lord seek to create a better order with one of her descendants I believe that Marika purposely allowed Ranni to kill Godwyn and herself to excluding the possibility of becoming a vessel for the elden ring and forcing Greater Will to keep Marika as the vessel I believe that Gideon was really following Marika's wishes but he misunderstood the way she wanted this to happen, no one can to become HER Elden lord, the plan was to turn one of the other empyreans into a god like we do Ranni becomes in her ending where she becomes an absent goddess and probably Miquella who was trying to create a new erdtree that this time was more inclusive of the inhabitants das landa between I read that Marika's story is about her refusing death to create a better world but in the end realizing that death is the only way to create a better world

[@G4meplus]

That's an incredible take, i like it.

[@louissnipe6778]

This needs a lore video but I lack confidence to do such a thing.

[@unknownzero67]

Isn't Radagon the one that is trying to repair Elden Ring and Marika is the one who shattered it?

[@dividedbyzero11]

⁠@@unknownzero67yes, but he wants to repair it because it is HIS age. In order for us to repair the Elden ring with a mending rune, we have to usurp him forcefully. Even for the age of fracture ending, in which we repair the Elden ring but leave it unchanged, we still must defeat Radagon. It is not enough for him simply to repair the ring, he must also be Elden Lord for his ego to be sated. But he can’t repair the ring as Elden Lord, both because Marika refuses him, and because he is shattered himself.

[@briannenurse4640]

This is putting a lot of pieces together in a way I hadn't thought of before! Excellent work!!

[@AkosKovacs.Author.Musician]

Pretty easy, though. Since the D twins hace said to be one soul in two body and they are *drumroll* devotees of the Golden Order that, despite it's tendency to spurn all deviations, were surprisingly the only ones who accepted them. Radagon and Marika are one soul split in two bodies.

[@G4meplus]

The D situation is a great comparison.

[@okname5335]

if the D twins are a similar thing to marika then how did they get that way, did they also do the elixir of life stuff, it seems like they might be related to mimic tears somehow which would mean the elden ring elixir of life is related to mimic tears somehow and by extension the numen who became the nox and had mimic tears everywhere, which would fit with marika being able to get the elixir of life because she was also numen

[@Solibrae]

Very good analysis and theory, I think it fits in the lore quite well. It's possible that Umbilical Cord Talisman wasn't included because it would give away too much of this story; perhaps they're planning on adding it into the expansion due to Marika's past being something we'll apparently discover more about within the Land of Shadow!

[@G4meplus]

That's what i thought as well lol, may have spoiled the game from the start. Thanks for the support ❤️

[@billcahill2110]

@@G4mepluswhat about Marika saying you’ve yet to become me, yet to become a God. Might not be word for word but it’s something like that.

[@ivanmihaylov6676]

This might be a red herring but I recently noticed something about the death of mobs. Some disintegrate, but others just ragdoll. The ones that I've seen ragdoll are the omen enemies, like the ones under the capital. Maybe they are not part of this cycle and don't turn to 'salt' upon death, since they are cursed and all?

[@G4meplus]

Yes indeed your observation is on point, we can see that with Morgott the most. He remained as a ragdoll until Godfrey came back and then it seems the Greater will made an exception for him.

[@douglasmidvik5866]

@@G4meplusthat was because we didnt have the rune of death before that

[@G4meplus]

@@douglasmidvik5866 No, every demigod disintegrates even if we still don't have the rune of death except Morgott.

[@okname5335]

soldier of godrick enemies also ragdoll as well as lots of other field mobs and silver tears disintegrate and so does almost every single boss except for rykard who leaves a snake corpse and godrick who leaves only his torso without the grafted parts

[@donovan4222]

Well Omen are said to be cursed so that their souls cannot return to the erdtree

[@redheadsilver8041]

Btw, Marika impaled HER WOMB with destined death. I think this could give some credence to the idea that the Elden Beast was using her to create, as you said, "refined/perfected" vessels for it to possess them. Ranni's words "I will not be controlled by that thing!". Marika stabbing her womb that way may be her act of rebellion against the EB.

[@redheadsilver8041]

Also, the "unwanted child" and the soulless demigods fit in with your theory. Maybe Marika was being used as a tool to repeatedly create the prefect successor. With no success.

[@Ryxem34]

@@redheadsilver8041 Her favorite child is Godwyn , who died with destined death and make her lock in the Elden Tree. So i don't think that's her who stab her womb. ( That was Ranni , she said it, do her quest )

[@scragglie]

this also aligns with the theory of marika being a deathbed companion from the land of shadow. its all lining up guys... i think the alchemist may have hit the nail on the head here. this makes too much sense to NOT be true at this point.

[@scarvello]

Good theory but there’s a chance that she wasn’t the only one being used to birth children for the greater will and someone or someTHING could’ve impaled her. We still don’t know the complete journey Marika took to become a “god”. I think there’s a huge piece missing in the process that will leave us shocked once it’s discovered.

[@donovan4222]

This makes sense with the DLC as it’s stated that “divinity is a prison” and you must sacrifice pretty much everything about yourself to attain godhood

[@BudravenOG]

Prefectly fits with your previous Egyptian assessment. The pale blonde hair of Marika is the moon, the eye of Horus: healing and wisdom. The fire red hair of Radagon is the sun, the eye of Ra: power and destruction.

[@core-nix1885]

Great video but I think there is more to Marika/Radagon than just the "Rebis" idea. The original "unity of opposites" is known as the *Logos* ( or *Word* ), which is Heraclitus' term for the order of the universe. The Logos is the Law that governs all worldly laws - the first and the last Word. (Note that Jesus is biblically refered to as the "Word made Flesh" or "Logos Incarnate". In Dark Souls, for example, the *brand* of the Undead was a reference to the *Logos* Black Dragon Kalameet was a reference to Kalimat (Arabic for Words)1 (note also the Titanite Slab in his boss room) Dark Souls 2 had Hollows that were covered in words as a kind of easter egg. In Elden Ring, the Elden Ring is the Ultimate Rune/Word, representing the Logos Marika/Radagon embody this Rune by acting as a unity of opposites - they fortify the rune together; "she" deconstructs it and "he" rebuilds it.

[@michaelgibson3479]

I think millicent is the answer to what Radagon is. a splintered aspect of themselves that would otherwise hold them back, she wonders if this is what she is and if its what allowed melenia to bloom. This ability could be empyrean exclusive and what makes them so. St Trina is an aspect splintered off from miquella and Melina is a splintered aspect of ranni.

[@michaelgibson3479]

Oh, and to further this. Mohg and morgott can only create lesser aspects of themselves.

[@davisiotta489]

the creation of Morgott and Mogh's illusions may be an incomplete version of those of the Empyreans, they are only capable of creating separate bodies but not of separating aspects of themselves

[@davisiotta489]

It would be interesting to know what a possible aspect of the Gloam eyed queen could be

[@davisiotta489]

Also, I also agree that Melina could be a possible part of Ranni or the original Empyrean that Messmer is actually an aspect of

[@michaelgibson3479]

The main reason I say she is apart of ranni is because Melina talks of being burned and bodiless and the only other person we know is burned is ranni's body atop her tower.

[@msarilyn7677]

And yet Marika was always Radagon too...

[@sleepinggiant3353]

from all elden ring lores on KZbin u made the best sense , how they r the same & why is it significant & why the ring was shuttered , no answer ever for this expept here

[@PeacefulSerb]

This guy is onto something 👍 great job. Love your accent it's a breath of fresh air, good for narration

[@G4meplus]

Thanks a lot my friend, really appreciated ❤️

[@royalcalment]

Maybe Destined Death is the Prima Materia and thus she wanting to get rid of it to achieve immortality

[@K8theKind]

Bloody masterpiece!! You’re soooo good at this!!!! What I wouldn’t give to just INTERVIEW YOU! 😂🤣💜 Thank you so much for being so freaking good at this😊 You stand out and shine in a community of so many other incredibly talented and clever people. Utterly exceptional! Favourites!!💜💜💜💜💜

[@G4meplus]

Thanks a lot my friend, your comments always put a smile on my face ❤️

[@spiritrek_2049]

Your research is insane! 👍👀FromSoftware didn't expect that a page of an art book would give away the plot. 🤣

[@G4meplus]

Lol thanks my friend, tbh i am certain they did put that photo there on purpose.

[@Purpleseudefishcakes]

Your videos are amazing. I hope your channel blows up!

[@G4meplus]

Thanks a lot my friend ❤️

[@watertommyz]

The secret is worded "Radagon is Marika," not was, will be, and or joined. They're the same being.

[@G4meplus]

Yeah that's what i am saying.

[@Deadgye]

"O Radagon, leal hound of the Golden Order. Thou'rt yet to become me. Thou'rt yet to become a god. Let us be shattered, both. Mine other self." - Marika, Echoes, Queen's Bedchamber

[@billyshakespeare1696]

“Radagon is Marika” doesn’t mean “Marika is also Radagon.”

[@HeevaEgo]

⁠@@billyshakespeare1696 yup. The wording specifically suggests that Radagon’s whole existence was to be Marika, whereas Marika herself had her own history and battles and hardship completely separate to Radagon’s character They were always together, but it was Marika who would always take charge. Marika was the dominant force until Golden Order Fundamentalism, when Marika began her doubts

[@ETBrooD]

The idea that they were always one is very interesting and should be investigated. But there's also evidence to the contrary, such as Marika being born a Numen, and all Numen are female. Radagon being male implies that he and Marika were at some point 'conjoined' ("all things can be conjoined" as per Miriel when given a prayerbook), a process that could plausibly merge two separate bodies to form one new body.

[@teddyhh9947]

Great video! In terms of circular symbols the point is to retain as much magnetic power as possible instead of it quickly emptying and ebbing away like straighter lines will do. You can especially notice this in the occult "celestial language". The letters there have a much stronger aura than normal letters since the power isnt ebbing out fast

[@korytoombs886]

Me not knowing who Merika or Radagon or the Elden Ring is until watching videos, after beating the game. So, that's who those guys were.

[@doofusrick5998]

Great Video, your channel is on the come up I can feel it

[@G4meplus]

Thanks a lot man ❤️

[@purpleguy3000]

To further add to the theory, I believe Godwyn is Marika's first attempt at having a child with Radagon and was always her intention (as a nod to Joffrey from GoT I imagine) with Messmer Godwyn's twin. Godwyn and Messmer however both lacked duality so she believed it a failure and sets about purifying Radagon to try again. When Miquella is born with duality Marika has her successor, until Miquella finds out the true nature of the golden order and abandons her leading to Marika shattering the Elden Ring.

[@ZuhayrSIslam]

Excellent analysis sir

[@G4meplus]

Thanks a lot my friend.

[@dirtyturkey00]

Every time I watch your videos and say this is crazy but they just make so much sense how you do that

[@diandrea4]

Great Video ❤ Elden Ring Lore is next Level, I’m still trying to understand Bloodborne.

[@kindasus3749]

Marika, literally: "IM HIM"

[@bump_versino]

if malenia is the blackening stage, and miquella is the whitening, would it make sense that maybe another unrevealed child represents the yellow stage? (melina?) messmer might represent the final reddening stage?

[@G4meplus]

Any alchemical process requires strong heating, this made me think of Melina and Messmer. Yet we don't have much info at this point but i believe the DLC will tell us.

[@Breadandbananas]

@@G4meplus makes me think that the final stage of reddening is why we find Miquella’s body(?) at Mohg’s palace. The red is blood

[@SniperPrecision]

Marika took some shrooms and we are stuck in her trip

[@ahhotep1833]

Many, if not all content providers have missed the Alchemy aspects in this game with regard to it's lore. Well done!! You have more the earned my sub! Will share your vids as well Keep the awesome content coming!!

[@ichik4]

Dude, your channel is perfect, you cover the lore properly and deeply, congratulations

[@Jesus-jq5zw]

It would be crazy if Radagon was the true first empyrean all along and marika was his counterpart whom took control , turning twisting what the golden order was meant to be Can you imagine that?

[@Dastardly_Duo]

I was just about to post this. Like he created a female counterpart to take the part as Goddess while he watched his empire rise. And that's why he tried so hard to fix the ER, even taking over their body to stop the Tarnished. Also notice how Radagon's rune is a crosshatch in the background, keeping all the runes together

[@Jesus-jq5zw]

@@Dastardly_Duo it would be a crazy reveal

[@thesis_gaia7960]

Marika being radagon, a being with 2 sex, and miquella described as a boy/girl, also st.trina.

[@xexon67]

Marika is like Professor X who has a twin who died in the womb. Professor X has a twin, her name Cassandra Nova, and same as Marika maybe Radagon is a twin Brother who died in the womb?

[@BigV24]

the research that goes in to these theories are impressive. very compelling.

[@dingdong6563]

Personally, i think that Marika and Radagon were different people at one point. But the hornsent chopped her and another up(Radagon) and stuffed then in a pot in the attempt to make a god. They succeeded, and Marika and Radagon are now TOGETHER(SERPENT KING MOMENT).

[@zackdoom]

I cant wait to see miquellas hair turn red 👀

[@roso614]

Probably the best explanation of Marika and radagon. Great video

[@gabriellecollier8127]

I made a video about this topic on my Black-Eyed Anne channel, titled "Radagon is His Own Man." Basically, in the beginning there was a dual-sex being, and the female was severed from the male to become an Empyrean (since Empyreans can only be women). The male was essentially refuse, but Marika wanted to use him still.

[@drybrvsh]

finally! this was the lore vid i have been looking for! great work

[@jorgeluna6577]

The alchemical elements in the lore of Elden Ring are too many to ignore "The Albunaric" and this blows my mind ring now. It's an amazing video. I hope the DLC bring us a resolution or at least a clear perspective.

[@GodChaos333]

This does a good job explaining Melania and Miquella in the alchemical process. But then there is Messmer. Which kinda thows this off. Thats my only criticism

[@G4meplus]

We don't know what's the deal with Messmer yet tbh, so we will need to wait. But a big part of any alchemical process is heat which seems connected to Melina and maybe Messmer, so we will see.

[@GodChaos333]

@@G4meplus I hope you touch back on this topic post dlc. After we know as much about it as we can

[@davisiotta489]

​@@G4meplusI think that what went wrong in Marika's alchemical process is precisely Messmer I believe that he represents the last process but Marika did it out of order because she needed Messmer for her ascension to godhood, Messmer is the last process that Miquella needs and it probably represents the replacement of the old process with its result (Miquella replacing Marika as god) so I believe that Miquella went to the shadow lands specifically in search of Messmer, he is the finisher of ages that concludes the entire process Messmer burns the previous tree for the new one to be planted, Miquella probably seeks the power of Messmer's flames to finish the entire process

[@harvesterofsubs5561]

I have a crackpot theory: What if the requirement to be an empyrean is to have a double identity? Marika is Radagon, Miquella is St.Trina, Ranni has two faces and the Gloam-Eyed Queen is (probably) Melina. Pretty damning evidence if u ask me [ik Melania’s an empyrean, maybe she has a secret double identity too?]

[@davisiotta489]

I think the nature of Empyreans' duality is more a consequence of being Empyreans than the cause of you being one. The Empyrean's birth seems linked to their divine blood and existing in duality is the result

[@johnnyringo35]

Melenia has two already......Melania and the goddess of rot.....

[@davisiotta489]

@@johnnyringo35 this doesn't exactly fit what seems to be the rule, the goddess of scarlet rot is literally just Malenia after attaining godhood, it's not exactly an alter ego or anything like that, not to mention that compared to what might be the case for the other empyreans this would be extremely boring for a possible other part of Malenia, Milicent seems to fit in much better and more satisfyingly

[@cosseybomb]

​@@davisiotta489ehh I'm not so sure I feel like her godform isnt necessarily herself but a higher form brought forth by the outer god of rot

[@davisiotta489]

@@cosseybomb I don't know about you but this sounds like reaching godhood to me

[@eldenringpvpenthusiast1710]

I was a stormcaller church, and fully expected there to be some relic of Godwyn there, but its a statue of Radagon. Up the same hill is a stone sword monument mentioning the routing of the ancient dragons, Godwyn the golden fights to his last, earning the respect of dread Fortisaax. This almost sounds like he died in the fight, but then there is a description that the dragon cult formed as Godwyn defeated Fortisaax and befriended his fallen foe. But also the moment Godwyn dies is the night of black knives, no mention of dragons I could find, was the night during the dragon war?. Back at the stormcaller church you'll find a sacred tear, which mentions regenerative properties, a circle of gravel stone, which are said to be dragon scales, and behind 2 assassin like npc's is a chest hiding behind with them, containing dragonbolt blessing. This incantation mentions those who can use it are thought to be loved by dragons and few can survive the ordeal. But if you keep the gravel in the circle instead of picking it up and picturing the stone as the body, the sacred tear as a regenerative core, lay down in the spot or t-pose in the spot after casting the incantation on yourself, I think you'd be recreating how Radagon appeared. Sculpted in the shape of someone, with a sacred tear or golden soul at its center, and cast lightning on like Frankenstein, but remember how I expected a relic of Godwyn considering the areas theme? They look very similar besides hair color, but the statues actually have gold hair. I could be reading too far, but the person who created the story of Frankenstein was named Mari Shelly Wollstonecraft Godwin for a time, and she may have made the story during the year with no summer, which I think was a volcano eruption preceded by an eclipse, that kept the world dark for a while, but I might be jumbling some information though

[@Ryxem34]

I join u , for me Godwyn is another shape of Marika/Radagon. Look how Radagon scar look alike Godwyn scar when he died. Thanks for these location , i will go look at these when i come back home 😍

[@eldenringpvpenthusiast1710]

@@Ryxem34 I have to admit, I think there was a lore bandwagon that assumed Godwyn was Marika's son and I didn't have a reason to challenge it. I know some people don't like outside references. But the creator of the story Frankenstein has real life and story created themes that fit Marika's. In this sense Marika would have created Radagon while Being Radagon the entire time. The you have yet to become me thing, when Radagon forms the Golden Order, law of regression is one of its fundamentals. This might allow Radagon reverse himself into Marika, where before, Marika was undying because the tree blessed the lands, but when Godwyn got killed, which may have been part her, it messed the erdtree up and Marika needed to find a new way to live forever

[@timmy2bliccs]

2:30 that's treyarch logo. Now I have to look for zombies Easter eggs in elden ring. Dammit 😂

[@DenoftheDrake]

My pet theory is that Mesmer is to Miquella what Radagon is to Marika. I don't think it's "Miquella's" hand poking out of that egg. It's Mesmer's. Where do I get this from? Idk bro it came to me in a dream.

[@OFCRKAY]

Man I’d really love for the last two stages to be linked to Melina and Mesmer. Just a quick Wikipedia search: Psychologist Carl Jung is credited with interpreting the alchemical process as analogous to modern-day psychoanalysis. In the Jungian archetypal schema, nigredo is the Shadow; albedo refers to the anima and animus (contrasexual soul images); citrinitas is the wise old man (or woman) archetype; and rubedo is the Self archetype which has achieved wholeness. Not sure I can make the connection without understanding the alchemy or the psychology more at this point. Will have to do more digging.

[@OFCRKAY]

@centeredtarnished what do you think about the possible connection between Marika/Radagons children and the alchemical stages AND Carl Jung’s stuff? A quick google search showed that he connected the four stages with his four archetypes that you’re always talking about.

[@G4meplus]

I will check carl jung but any alchemical process requires excessive heating and that made me think about Melina/Messmer. Unfortunately we wouldn't know until the DLC tho.

[@dorit887]

Wow!! Amazing Interpretation of the story through spiritual themes. Your elden ring vids are fantastic, thank you

[@G4meplus]

Thanks a lot my friend, really appreciated ❤️

[@redheadsilver8041]

So Marika wanted to create the "perfect empyrean" so that it is paired with the "perfect consort" aka us? But, that didn't go her way and so, she enacted the shattering finally but "in defeat"? Her plan failed and she accepted to be content with only her chosen tarnished(tarnished lord prophecy) returning and taking the reigns, even at the cost of all of her children, including Miquella? Basically, her project was incomplete and she accepted it as such, but in sorrow?

[@Banana-senpai]

I think the inspiration for the gods and their relationships and connections is not only inspired by Indo-European pantheons but also in gnosticism and its concept of emanation

[@eddyh5]

Wow dude... This video actually explains so much about the lore its crazy...

[@mlkywy]

i really like this theory and i think there are some great takeaways, especially from the concept of rebis and the marika/radagon relationship in general. i also believe they were always one, or that radagon was always a part of marika that she split off, but i wonder if the alchemical process of perfecting their offspring holds up if miquella is the older of the twins? in the japanese, malenia refers to miquella as her older brother, so that throws the order of the steps for me - same with messmer, if he's confirmed to be the offspring of marika and radagon

[@G4meplus]

I always thought Malenia was the older one hence the very protective attitude, I didn't know of the Japanese text difference regarding that tho. Will check it out.

[@gothxm]

i always thought radagon's "first appearance" in the lirunian wars was just the first publicly declared appearance. i imagine his first appearance must've either been really painful and confusing or just as planned and it happened long ago. i also think miquella was definitely st. trina. the story trailer almost confirms it. it's also possible miyazaki extrapolated many ideas from alchemy and other sources and they dont all necessarily have to fit together perfectly. great video, not because i fully agree but because it inspires greater discussion. I applaud you man. thanks for giving my brain a whirl, i appreciate it.

[@stefanjackson1127]

I agree. I've been saying about the Alchemical Wedding for a while, I believe Miquella left the Lands Between to merge in the same way with Messmer.

[@radicalgear391]

Radagon gets his red hair from a giant’s curse. In elden ring we see clearly that the body and soul are two separate components of an individual. If marika and radagon only had one soul, surely the curse would be shared. Instead we see two souls inhabiting one body. Radagon has his own will and soul. At some point he was an individual.

[@WheatDos]

He was never a separate individual, Radagon and Marika are like the D twins. Only instead of 2 bodies and 1 soul it's 2 souls and 1 body.

[@radicalgear391]

@@WheatDos too many things contradict that Dialogue and item descriptions suggest he was a champion who was fused with marika sometime before he was sent to marry Rennala “You have yet to become me, you have yet to become a god.” Doesn’t sound like something you say to someone who has always been part of you

[@WheatDos]

@@radicalgear391 Both in Fight Club and JoJo there are characters that are split personalities and refer to each other basically in the same way.

[@WheatDos]

@@radicalgear391 Both in Fight Club and JoJo there are characters that are split personalities and refer to each other basically in the same way.

[@radicalgear391]

@@WheatDos that’s a poor argument. Send an item that says they were always one or kick rocks tbh. This isn’t a case of split personality, it’s a case of two individuals sharing one body. The giant’s braid basically confirms this.

[@DaneMurdock]

Honestly, I am curious if Radagon has ever been split from Marika. I can't seem to find anything that indicates that they've ever been separated. I think I largely agree with everything you've put in this video except for the assertion that Radagon split from Marika to marry Rennala. Not that it isn't possible from what the DLC showed us, just that there isn't really anything stating it, and it relies on the assumption. I do like to toy with the theory that Radagon might have been a separate person long before Marika reached godhood if you go by the more fringe theory that Marika is a successful Jar Saint. There's a possibility that someone was actually in there with her and became an alter ego. As fun as that one is for me, I don't think it is likely though.

[@ETBrooD]

You're making an interesting case for your theory. I have plenty of doubts, but it's worth looking into it. We can always learn something from well-crafted theories, regardless of whether they turn out to be true or false.

[@G4meplus]

True my friend, we are just trying to piece things together for fun we don't really know. Hopefully we can get more facts in the DLC.

[@AzazelHash281]

Miyazaki has been playing in our faces this whole time

[@theforgottenscribe]

Genuinely, i think people would have an easier time understanding the duality of, and individual presentation of, Marika and Radagon if they studied the real life practice and phenomenon of gods being equated to each other, gods being merged, and the concept of dual & trinistic gods who are simultaneously one distinct god and two or three distinct gods. Marika and Radagon are simultaneous one person and two separate people with distinct histories. They simultaneously were always one and became one. Even the fact they had two children afflicted with curses supports the notion of them being, functionally, twin beings. Miquella and Malenia represent and embody two very real side effects of incestuous reproduction. We dont really need to understand the 'how' of Marika and Radagon's existence, just that they simply are simultaneously one person and two people. They can inhabit one body, and they can divide themselves into two people. Radagon does not have to be anything other than the male aspect of Marika and vice versa for this to result in afflicted offspring, even, as there is very real precedent in mythology for a god attempting to create a child without a partner being born with some affliction or disability. And considering that GRR Martin had a hand in Elden Ring's creation, i dont see it being far fetched that we are to read Malenia and Miquella as being born with afflictions because Radagon and Marika are the same person despite being two people. Especially as, ultimately, Marika and Radagons children with their other spouses also happens to parallel real life beliefs: a royal or god 'sullies' their bloodline by consorting with someone outside their station or their own blood: i.e. the omen twins being born to Godfrey and Marika. Yes, they seemingly had a 'perfect' child, but they also had 'cursed' children (children born outside what is considered normal in this case). Radagon, in turn, represents the fact that two rulers would have unsullied children, with those children again representing the belief that having kids outside the immediate bloodline somehow dirties the bloodline: all of Radagon and Rennala's children were born healthy, but Ranni and Rykard both were unloyal to Radagon-Marika, despite Radagon-Marika being their parent. And this doesnt even necessarily need to exist separately from the interpretation of Marika-Radagon representing alchemy in a way (and it wouldnt be the first time alchemy was tied to gods by a Japanese dev team). If anything, that just kinda furthers my point, but does deviate from your interpretation of Marika as the 'pure' one. She views herself as pure, yes, but shes also the one who married a lowly, unruly warrior who could only be a lord by being supporessed by a literal lion, who kept her 'disgraced' children alive if hidden away, and who ultimately turned her back on the way of life she created in the first place while Radagon married a royal, had normal children, and ultimately did his best to mend what Marika broke. They represent the concept of oposing forces keeping the balance of things, just as much as they represent real world beliefs and reflect reality and can be interpreted as the philosopher's stone. And if anything, the Golden Order having such strong christianity parallels furthers this, as the Trinity consisting of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are simultaneously three separate entities and a singular one. God is simultaneously Jesus and Jesus' father, Jesus is simultaneously God's only son and is God, and the Holy Spirit is simultaneously that which enacts God's Will on earth and is God. The fact there is no clear cut parallel between the Trinity and Marika, the Elden Beast, and Radagon only furthers this. Marika is simultaneously acting as the Greater Will in the Lands Between by dictating the land and religion, and simply the enforcer of the Golden Order's rule. Radagon is simultaneously Marika's constort, Marika herself, and Marika's enforcer. The Elden Beast is simultaneously the Golden Order personified, and the enactor of the Greater Will's desires in the Land Between. It is no coincidence that Marika-Radagon contains the Golden Order's physical representation as part of themself. You are right that they were always one, but that doesnt mean it is wrong to view Radagon as 'younger' or 'newer' than Marika because we dont know for how long she has been trinastic rather than dualistic. We dont know when she merged with the Order, though it was presumably how she became the God within the Lands Between, and we don't know when she and Radagon became distinct of one another as people or even when she began to be dualistic. Sure, she couldve always had Radagon-or Radagon could be a 'side effect' of becoming the God within the Lands Between, envoy of the Greater Will.

[@yeahr1ghty]

Good stuff. Radagon can still be her mimic and have been old enough to father Messmer. This has been my working theory for a while, he is a lifelong project of hers that she only perfected and combined with well after her ascension. There is that Melina dialogue in Queens Bedchamber where Marika says to Radagon "thou'art yet to become me, thou'art yet to become a god". To me that pretty clearly signals they were not always one and the same being, it was a process where they eventually combined. In Asimis cut quest the player goes through a process combining different materials to perfect their own mimic. All in an effort to become a "perfect whole". This was likely mirroring the process Marika went through. Asimi even calls the Eternal City their home. The game goes out of its way to connect Marika to the Numen, and make it clear the Numen are obsessed with creating mimic tears and artificial life. So Marika working on a mimic tear in her younger days among the Numen, it seems pretty plausible. Besides the strong connections between the Numen and mimic tears, the two main mimic tear items say "perhaps one of their kind will one day be Lord" and "their purpose is to become a Lord" If he was her mimic, the need for the gender swap magic would still have been necessary. So this lore work you are doing is still great even if we disagree on one part. Almost everything you said still applies even like the rebus, sulfur and mercury stuff. In fact I've been calling the process of Radagons creation an alchemical one for a while, so this vid was honestly great for my Radagon is a mimic tear theory.

[@Deadgye]

14:15 The Japanese text here is unfortunately a bit different: 唯一人の神の子供 It was translated as children of a single god, but that doesn't really jive because in relies on interpreting 唯 separately from 一人, but ただ by itself is usually written using kana alone. Also it would be somewhat weird to say 一人の神 when the game seems to make an effort not to refer to Marika with 人. It's much more likely that it should be interpreted as 唯一 separate from 人の神, meaning they are children of the only/sole god (of humans/man/people). There is unfortunately still a vagueness, so we can't rule out the official translation being correct. It'll be interesting to see how this all plays out. Way back when I had a theory that Marika rebirthed part of her soul to create Radagon. I could never accept the possibility that Radagon was merely a random champion, since his marriage ended a war and turned it into an alliance.

[@eyaskhateeb9449]

Duuuudee WTF.that was soooo goood. that explains everything.first Messmer was born of radagon and marika in the shadow land he wasn’t what she wanted (perfect emperyean).then marika hid it with messmer trying to find someone other than radagon. Godfrey, then had a worst product (omens). So she realized that her only solution is to refine radagon.🔥🔥😳😳

[@looots1320]

I think people are over thinking about how Miyazaki wrote the story, but I think the main reason is just that GRRM made multiple family branches as like how he wrote GoT The Golden order was Lannisters and The moon are the Starks (wolves symbol of night) I think Marika never wanted to be the vessel like Ranni, the two fingers forced her to be one and Radagon was the fruit of the rebellious state, marrying Rennala having children etc, but the issue is Radagon sensed that Marika is becoming unstable so he needed to come back to the capital.

[@Halfgnomen]

Great vid but I believe that they aren't stone but petrified/fossilized wood. It would explain his weakness to fire.

[@lukejams]

i think marika did what donkey from shrek did (f'd a dragon)

[@G4meplus]

Was thinking about that a couple of days ago lol, we will see in the DLC.

[@Invisob]

Radagon being Marika was shown in the intro when they’re shattering the ring. They switch places as they’re striking the iron.

[@Drahcir361]

Ahhh omg i've been trying to piece together the line in the trailer "they were never saints. They just happen to be on the loosing side of a war." And I think the realization that Marika lost control of the shadowlands implies that she and her army were the loosing side.

[@falgalhutkinsmarzcal3962]

Would the Nigredo stage not have been Godwyn's death and his subsequent ascendance as the Prince of Death? Perhaps Godwyn's death was ritualistic for the sake of the alchemical process, but Ranni ruined the process through her intervention. Subsequently, Malenia is more akin to Rubedo because her Scarlet Rot "melts down" and "rebirths" life, the Rubedo stage being a stage of Rebirth within the Prima Materia. Otherwise, would the Rot not be labeled "Black Rot" rather than Scarlet? I have always thought of Scarlet Rot as a new fireless Crucible for a New Age. Malenia, however, fails to transcend her own ego (her pride, such as in her fight with Radahn) and, so, denies the Prima Materia of a new age. It sure seems like something (Ranni) went wrong in the Alchemical process and the "Shattering" was the failure of a science experiment to create the Kwisatz Haderach.

[@phanlee4621]

well, I think Radagon did something more sinister to Renala, All the Carian royal member have legs problem too: Renala crawling when she not floating, Rani corpse missing her feeds, even in a doll form was damage too, Randal ( the story only tell scarlet rot eat his wrist ("his wrist are long gone") not feets), Rycard (join a serpent kings as family, some how even snake can have legs, but clearly he can't walk properly ), Miriel- the turtle pope ( his behind legs was gone, can't move) The albinauric gen1 have leg at the beginning, but some thing cause them to slowly vanish ( talk to the last albinauric in Albinauric village) I think it's a curse from Marika- Radagon, just like a dragon's curse (magma wyrm sword), snake's curse: crawling in the ground with there belly They steal the "artificial human" technology from Carian Royal to give birth to Minquela and Malenia because they can't do the "ritual of making human" like the normal man and women do.

[@williamfryer8460]

You should treat all cut content as cannon. Maybe not in DS, but Elden Ring is already specifically written to completion with a full history written by GRRM. Anything they cut from the game isn’t something that just doesn’t exist in the Lands Between, it’s just a piece of the worldbuilding and history by that they couldn’t fit into the game for one reason or another. But all of Elden Ring is already specifically defined so nothing anything Fromsoftware did or didn’t put into the game changes the actual lore or history in any way shape or form. It only ever specifically affects the story of your character and your character only.

[@Dowskarok728]

I always thought Radagon and Merica were twin siblings who art yet to become one and later merged. And that Ranni and Godwyn were secretly twin siblings, that’s why it had to be him on the night of the black knives

[@monsterstoner]

I really like this theory good job dude

[@Djgom3312djshw]

"A serpent never dies"

[@BenefitCounterbench]

Marika's pose imitates her Great Rune, the opposite of Rune of Death, and it's the top part of the Elden Ring. It's also visible on her Scarseal and Soreseal Talismans.

[@G4meplus]

Yes it's a female hanging from an arc.

[@adamkorzon2972]

They were joined when Radagon was with rennala because selvius had worn the mask not to tell they were both the same.It was the whole point of his mask modelled with the cross hatch over the mouth.

[@tj_noelz]

This is such a great observation man. Makes me wonder...what if Radagon IS the original being and Marika is the illusion or should I say the "acceptable" vessel for the elden ring

[@tj_noelz]

Also maybe Radagon had to leave Renalla in order to keep up the illusion and not get caught in the lie by the golden order

[@tj_noelz]

That's why all the children have red hair since that is the original gene 😅

[@phantomleaves]

Great video! I agree with everything you put forward except the very end where you theorize that Marika shattered the Elden Ring because Radagon wasn't perfect. It seems to me that she did shatter the ring out of grief over the death of her favorite child Godwyn. I believe that Radagon had effectively usurped her position of power, possibly at the end of the liurnian wars, though possibly even before that, and the scheming of Radagon eventually caused the death of Godwyn. Her shattering the ring was her last ditch effort to thwart the plans of her other self. The two fingers state that she was imprisoned within the Erdtree for shattering the ER, and it is Radagon's seal that keeps her imprisoned. Perhaps Godwyn wasn't chosen to be an Empyrean because Radagon was jealous of Godfrey and wanted the next Elden God to also come from himself? This lends credence to my theory that Radagon/Marika is the Greater Will, or at least an aspect of it, as supposedly the Two fingers relay the messages of the Greater Will(according to Enia I believe?). Marika's ultimate motive in summoning the Tarnished was for us to finally put down Radagon for good, as evidenced by her instructing Hewg to "forge a weapon to slay a god," and it explains why Radagon immediately assumes control of their body to kill us. He views his Golden Order to be perfect and cannot let his power go. Even if we restore the fractured ER, we have to kill Radagon to get to it, so it cannot be him who wants us to repair it in any way. Thats just my take though, I am hopeful that with the DLC expanding on Marika's rise to godhood and the land of shadow being the place where she first entered the Lands Between, we will learn more about how they became the Rebis. Anyways, I 100% agree that Radagon has always been Marika.

[@G4meplus]

There is a littile misunderstanding, i didn't say that's why she shattered the elden ring i said it was the final nail to the coffin. You are right it's a lore fact that there is a lot of events that caused Marika to shatter the Elden ring, the most important is Godwyn death which is said to have been the catalyst that lead to the shattering. Thanks for the comment and the support my friend ❤️

[@phantomleaves]

@@G4meplus Ah my misunderstanding then!

[@cosseybomb]

Ive personally always believed they were always one

[@imdefinitelynotjesus]

Here me out, what if all of the "children" of Marika are actually defeated old gods of the lands between reborn into her order with her at the top. It would explain why Melina would have a twin bird claw tattoo closing one eye and Melania has the old rot god sealed in her. They are both old gods of the lands between that have been re-tooled to fit in her order. With all that said I believe Radagon was either a Fire giant or missbegotten Leonine due to lore implications ie the big one red hair. This leads me to believe that it was possibly Radagon in a form before we know now is directly responsible for somehow using information from the eternal city of Nokron to start rebirthing members into the golden order as beings that "fit the mold" along with himself in his search for godhood. It would explain why he was so secretive at the academy, as well as having arcane knowledge to use the golden needle in the first place. It could be the reason why Ranni is so distrusting of the order in seeing how far her father might have gone at the school but I'm just speculating their. I also believe this is why the omens exist as they are either a first attempt at rebirth or a direct relation due to the forced union of a would be warrior into a lord through the suppressing of his warrior battle urge. ( this is a whole diff theory but essentially its possible that the struggle of Serosh being bound to Godfrey somehow we will say "polluted" the well. thus causing omens to be born from his lets say constantly battled urge being tamed by a symbiosis relationship with Serosh's and Godfrey's union to Marika. I also Think this is why she sent him and the tarnished away as well as hid signs of the omens wile also labeling the crucible age as now "unworthy". again this is a completely diff theory with maybe some connection to what I said above.) All in all love the video and I can't wait to see more.

[@GhostWriter-Gohan]

I smell smoke,

[@luizg.784]

Technically even tho Ranni isnt powerful like Miquela, she and Marika(probably) joined forces to kill godwyn. And to enter the shadowland we will had to have defeat Radahn, that means the stars need to follow their course and we need to open Nokron. Nokron that have connections with Ranni and the flow of stars themselves. Seems like Marika, Ranni and Miquela were the major players in this game of thrones

[@kamantariq2513]

Maragon(Marika × Radagon) seemingly has stone skin. It is cracked, broken and somehow still functions. The black smoke composing Maragons left arm is the same smoke that bares the Elden beast. It leeks out at end of phase 1. Maragon is almost complete. The whole body needed to be this black smoke. The "beast" needed to be tamed or restrained like the Farum beastmen or a reverse of Godrey/ Sharosh. Only then while they be perfect. A body made a black intangible smoke that will never break, never die, a black smoke housing the elden ring. Just like the shadow dudes in hero graves. Complete immune to anything but light. As in the very light Miquela weilds. Maragon needs to absord Miquela to become a perfect being.

[@Klauspetergrandel]

Great video man like for real i would never come up with something like this keep up the content! I would just like to know when messmer was born and what his role in the whole story is

[@G4meplus]

Thanks a lot my friend, glad you liked it. We would surely go over that topic when the DLC is released.

[@dreamfield92]

is it just me or marika's golden bracelets in her concept art look like two little snakes? The tri-loop shaped fabric behind Marika does also resemble the main parts of the Elden Ring. I wonder if this then is merely a coincidence, or maybe the concept of elden ring itself already has the role of a disguising veil at its heart. Great Analysis! Also great to finally find out the reversal ring in this game. Maybe they cut the content to keep the DLC story more of a mystery.

[@SirAshford]

Personally, Radagon and Miquella are the most interesting in terms of their lore. Any lore related to them and Golden Order Fundamentalism is always appreciated!

[@TheMuzca]

While I don't agree with everything in you theory, and I think that there are some stretches here and there, I admire your thought process and ideas. I have only one question. Where do Godwin and the night of black knifes, and the supposedly participation of Marika, fit in the alchemical correlation?

[@G4meplus]

This is just an attempt to explain some of the lore so yeah i could be wrong. About Godwyn he is the son of Godfrey so he doesn't fall under the process and tbh i am not sure Marika had a part in the night of the black knives. Just didn't click with me.

[@K8theKind]

The alchemical aspects of this video remind me sooo much of Elden Tales’ work!!! You should give him a watch!!! He’s among my favourites along with you, Kitetales, Jackisamimic, A Human Justicar and Moxie!!! Oh and don’t forget Centered Tarnished and Tarnished Archaeologist lol there are so many good creators out here!!

[@G4meplus]

I will check him out.

[@adamsirin7249]

Wth the shape behind Marika's statue simply shows the shape 0f the middle section of the elden ring, in the same way that the 'trellis' behind Radagon's statue symbolises Radagon's rune as seen on the scarseal.

[@G4meplus]

Naah, doesn't look like it at all. If you put them side by side you would notice there is a lot of missing circles if it's meant to be the Elden ring and the Elden ring isn't entwined like the shape behind Marika. Plus it's not symmetrical like the Elden ring.

[@adamsirin7249]

@@G4meplus wow what kinda denial is that. It swirls like that, literally to look like the elden ring. Ofc it wouldn't look EXACTLY like it.

[@Ripdric]

Aint watched yet but title has me intrigued. Since seeing messmer i have felt that we will likely learn radagon is marika. As in has always been, like with primordial rose gold, Radagon came first. That it was him that took the shadowlands and created his golden order with golden fair 'marika' as its head. or that at the very least he was always half of the coming god, the war like champion who waged the forgotten war that brought about the golden order.

[@G4meplus]

Interesting take.

[@mrcat-qz7kv]

Bro cooked 🍳 😮

[@Maitreyalovesyou]

Right on 👍👍

[@G4meplus]

Thanks ❤️

[@sleepinggiant3353]

This is some crazy stuff , like & subscribed

[@G4meplus]

Thanks a lot, welcome onboard ❤️

[@cincameron]

I strongly believe Radagon was not Marika and only became part of her when nearing the shattering of the Elden Ring in an attempt to become God i.e. his vision of "completion". It would explain Marika's desire for Hewg to forge a weapon to slay a God if she felt she was losing the inner battle to Radagon, and why she shattered the Elden Ring and tried to claim another Elden Lord. I don't even believe Marika was turned into a Saint via jar nonsense. It seems to me she instead slaughtered the tower folk and used them to summon a greater spiritual power since we know she could commune with spirits. She's likely called forth the Elden Beast upon offering a great sacrifice (remember, after the Ancient Dragons, we have no clue what happened to the Elden Ring. It could've been banished or simply left until Marika's Two Fingers convinced her to ascend to godhood). As for the entwined umbilical cord talisman, I believe this can rather support the idea that Marika was deceiving the Hornsent/Crucible Knights/Godfrey into doing her bidding by conquering the Lands Between and slaying any threats to her order before suddenly showing her hand and casting the army out and splitting off the realm of shadow before slaughtering the Hornsent using Messmer. As for what Radagon is, it is impossible to know, but I actually love the idea that he was the only champion born from the Warrior Jars. His red hair could have come from the corpse of a fire giant that was placed inside of him, and the abnormalities between his and Marika's children would be the abnormalities of his mixed body fusing with her Shaman physiology. This, and the knowledge he would've acquired from his time learning Astrology and history via Rennala could have given him the idea to merge with Marika and even the Elden Ring once that is done. I believe Marika's affair with Radagon happened before the 1st Liurnian War--when conceiving Messmer, and before the 2nd Liurnian War--when conceiving Melina. Because of her disloyalty to the Hornsent who raised her to Godhood, they cursed her with Omen Children, resulting in Morgott and Mohg. Obviously Marika wouldn't have taken kindly to this and thus plotted to banish Godfrey and his Warriors so no one could stop her from slaughtering the Hornsent. Rellana and those who didn't agree with Rennala's marriage with Radagon left before the Realm of Shadow was removed, and this is when I think Radagon decided to rejoin Marika and enable her acts of revenge. As for the statue in Leyndell, this could be explained as Radagon's desire to shed his current identity and become Marika. We know he hated his red hair and the only child we know that got his attention was Miquella--the only blond, lol. At the end of the day, Radagon waited for Marika to show weakness (likely when Godwyn was assassinated by her own Numen friends and she punished them by burying the Eternal Cities--that's my head-canon anyways) and began to assimilate with her. This would have triggered Marika to enlist Hewg's aid and plotting to undermine Radagon... She likely told her children to find purpose at this point and later shattered the Elden Ring as a final attempt to stall/stop Radagon's ascension... Well technically the last attempt would've been her giving the Tarnished their guidance of grace again. Marika tried to escape the fate her Shaman/Numen brethren faced, but ended up being subjugated by Radagon--and if he's a Jar himself, that'd be so ironic. Side-note: When Marika said she would give Godfrey and the Tarnished their Grace again, I believe she had the twisted idea to have them return to see their civilization and families slaughtered... A sick act of revenge.

[@BiggusDingus43]

#moughtown has been saying they're the same for as long as the game and I'm glad there's more evidence to back it up! cool video!

[@K8theKind]

I would love for you to discuss your thoughts with Kitetales and Jackisamimic as they attempt to formulate their timeline of the entire history of the lands between!!! Reach out to them! I’ll let them know you’re coming!

[@wazza117ify]

Think you bring some really good and interesting points, I'm bit inclined to think that Marika and Radagon are a bit like Miquella and Saint Trina... Different existences

[@hhowdy]

I’ve always subscribed to the theory that Radagon is a conscious living great rune the criss cross cheese grater pattern behind the Elden Ring and his statue’s are his great rune. Than he became Marika when she became vessel for the Elden Ring.

[@randywilliams6248]

Its going to be fun to see which one of you lore guys is correct or close to being correct, if we even find out. Damn you Miyazaki!

[@G4meplus]

True lol. So excited to find out the lore of the DLC and fill those empty gaps. We will surely have fun.

[@van_tigranyan]

I always wondered why Marika is depicted as crucified, weren't these statues created before the shattering? The statues are spread across the lands mostly in churches, so I assumed they were created before the shattering. Why is she crucified then?

[@been_rly_n2_paragliding_lately]

Bro... you nailed it.

[@christopherchilton-smith6482]

14:20 I think you're on to something but your theory lacks an explanation for why Radagon hated his red hair. It really seems like the lore is suggesting that Radagon is something like the God of the crucible and possibly more ancient than Merika. Maybe Radagon is actually the God of life (as some have speculated Merika to be). I think life was being infected by the Fell God during Radagon's crucible regime. I think Radagon has been trying to purify life since at least the days of the crucible and maybe even before that. If Radagon is the God of life and the crucible, maybe he's really the one with all the secrets. Maybe he created the Numen so as to have the right ingredients to start this alchemical process of purifying and perfecting life. In short, I think maybe Radagon separated Merika from himself rather than the other way around and everything they do is to try and establish a lasting order of life unadulterated by outer gods, which is why this is also Miquella's goal.

[@G4meplus]

I kind of disagree with Radagon being the one that split off Marika because of what we know of the DLC. Marika is the one that ascended to Godhood according to what we know but ofc there is always room for surprises and we will know for sure soon. About his despise for red hair i believe it's simply because it looks like the giants who are hated by the golden order.

[@christopherchilton-smith6482]

@@G4meplus It would be nice to know if and when themes of red have nothing to do with Radagon, as of right now it really seems like everything red is related to both him and this supposed "Fell God" of the giants. Like the knights of the cuckoo given their name and partially red garb would seem to suggest they may have switched one of Rennala's children with Ranni (I'd bet the child's name was Renna). Hopefully the dlc will clear some of this up. Also given how secretive Radagon is it wouldn't surprise me if it turns out he's always been a god hiding in plain sight or that if he was the one who separated Merika from himself that it may not have just been her but that when doing this act of separating and recombing that the initial division didn't create only Merika but the entire Numan race. Merika may have just been a more potent concentration of the separated substance that needed to be raised to Godhood before recombining. Idk 🤷🏾