Shadow of the Erdtree: Analysis and Speculation

A brief, first-impressions analysis of the Elden Ring DLC trailer.
0:00 - Intro
0:40 - Deathblight
2:13 - Trina's Cave
4:04 - Carians and Gravity
6:03 - New Content
11:52 - Vague Speculations
14:27 - The Crucible
19:42 - Fire and Blood
22:38 - The Impaler
28:53 - Theories
Narrated by Jack Sun: / @actuallyjacksun
Special thanks to:
NecroFriend: Horse fusion in sleep cave, Grave Warden comparison for red dancer, Burial Jars, Fingerprint-Grave death violation idea.
Echoswirl, Jack Sun & Wizard Lizard for additional suggestions / connections.
Cinematics taken with Otis' Photomode Mod: / posts

[@Mostenire]

I'm aware there are a couple of audio issues throughout the video; sorry about that! It's an unfortunate consequence of rushing something to get the video out before hype slows down. It's already a little late anyways, so I didn't really feel like re-rendering a 36 minute 4k video for a couple of audio sputters.

[@Krotas_DeityofConflicts]

9:27 that's not a spell, it's an incantation. But i assume you were using it synonymously.

[@Mostenire]

@@Krotas_DeityofConflicts sorceries and incantations fall under spells.

[@ice_doubt]

​@@Mostenire spells be casted with a seal or staff

[@LandB2015]

No son... No

[@Krotas_DeityofConflicts]

@@Mostenire Spells fall under Sorceroes. Incantations are just that, Incantations.

[@sebastianpascagaza8011]

What if Messmer was sent by Marika to burn down the original erdtree so she could bring up the golden order, and when messmer thought he was going to be rewarded, Marika hid him, like Odin to Hela. And Miquella wants to free his brother and the true beauty of the world.

[@someoneinsomewhere8079]

19:11 I think it's worth noting that Farum Azula lightning is exclusively Red because that's the original color of the Dragons' lightning. Yellow or Gold Lightning comes exclusively from Godwyn and the type of lightning that was taught during the time when the Erdtree and the Dragons were "chill". I think that the most accurate description of the Lion boss is that he's a mockery of the golden lineage, since he kind of looks like Godwyn but is manned by omen like Mohg or Morgott. If this isn't the case, I can see them still having a strong connection to Godfrey, probably some type of ceremonial being from the place where he comes from. (We know this is where Marika came from, but nothing explicitly mentions this couldn't be from where other characters are from as well)

[@supervermillion6729]

The red dancer is a variant of the blue dancer’s that trained malenia

[@GrandGoblin]

I remember a theory that Runebears were the product of Bears consuming dragon hearts because of their draconian pupils and scales under their fur mesh. The bear incantation might be the Wyrm equivalent for runebears seeing that it has the same red smoke that communion incantations have.

[@Falloutlover1011]

Also that they, in the earlier builds, dropped dragon hearts

[@brocklessman]

Or it could have something to do with the crucible with one creature having different traits from other creatures. Like the crucible knights and misbegotten

[@GrandGoblin]

@@brocklessman I doubt it because crucible incantations always have a yellowish light alongside them and Crucible creatures are always very mismatched. The red smoke and head appearing is consistent with all other communion incantations in the game.

[@orenges7034]

@@Falloutlover1011they also have very similar eyes to the dragons too

[@CharlieOnTheBlock]

“With either a lot of faith or intelligence“ I see what you did there. 🗿

[@blegoin2662]

It may be unlikely but when I first saw Messmer he really did look like a Godskin to me. The DLC will explore Marika’s past so I hope we learn more about the apostacy.

[@blakebailey22]

Great catch with the character creation tattoo! One thing to note, is that when Messmer summons those replica sword spears all around him after thrusting fire magic into the ground, those *do* have those downward semi-circles like the one shown in the artwork

[@NecromanticFriend]

Narrator: His name starts with an M and he has red hair, making him... Me: A MANWHORE! Narrator: ...a child of Marika and Radagon. Me: EXACTLY! Great work. You know you are moving up in the world when your sleep deprived ramblings are being featured in a Mosteniere video.

[@Asterati]

Another possible fire giant/ fell god connection is the heavy armored Havel-looking guy! The rivets on his armor and belt have the same 8 circle motif that the eye of the fell god and the divine towers.

[@MicgregerConya]

What if Mesmer is supposed to be a Devil figure, Hear me out, Even though Lucifer is the opposite of God, He still follows God in a way, The Devil is there to punish Sinners like God wanted, The punishment for disobeying the Gold Order or committing blasphemy could have been going to the Land of Shadow, Even though Lucifer is the King of Sinners, He punishes them, Mesmer could be the same, Thanks for coming to my T.E.D talk. I made another comment explaining this better in the replies, it’s not far down if you want the clearer theory.

[@Mostenire]

The biblical devil does not punish sinners; he is the subject of the most torment.

[@MicgregerConya]

@@Mostenire it was the best comparison I could think of

[@TheApollo90]

@@Mostenire …What if what you just said elevated this theory though. We don’t know how truly punished Mesmer is yet.

[@arya.n.8252]

As non Cristian the devil confused me, he is opposed to God yet punished people in hell for disobeying God. Marika is Radagon also remind me of the Trinity

[@Mostenire]

@@arya.n.8252 The devil does not punish people in hell. He's the subject of the furthest punishment.

[@sethrose1632]

Well done! Really enjoyed your theories and video

[@ThiagoCRocha-fh6lg]

OH shit! The image of Mesmer in the Throne. The Snake coils around the Spear making "Miquella's Rune" at 33:45!

[@JoeFanik]

The idea that Miquella could be the final boss even after Mesmer is terrifying yet exciting

[@ThiagoCRocha-fh6lg]

@@JoeFanik YES! I mean, the guy is not a fighter so we have to possibilities for the fight: 1) He achieves godhood and becomes Radagon 2.0 witch is hell. or 2) He being the Spirit Summoner of game, could invoke Godwyn from the fucking grave and that is literally Hell 2.0!!!

[@GenghisTron]

I think when messmer says Mother, he's talking to th3 formless mother, and by bereft of light he means, you are unlike mohg the ILLUMINARY, I think that his eye can see grace.

[@sosoflow6506]

This video is literally so well done 👏🏻

[@rajkopihac9302]

Watched all of your videos and subscribed last night. Love your content!

[@zemakomakis69]

great quality def deserves more recognition

[@bobmouth]

Great video!

[@markiefoo]

Oh god one thing just came to my mind when you mention Messmer is mid transformation, imagine that after we defeat him we can meet him again afterwards but as a dragon

[@dorkmoonblade4315]

I think there might be room for one more thing in the DLC that you did not mention: Helphen's Steeple item description. It seems pretty safe to say that Death will continue to be a major theme of the DLC, considering Miquella's connections to Godwyn, and well, Helphen's Steeple and the Deathbirds obviously refer to other former ways of practicing death rituals. SotE could possibly be the spirit world that is mentioned.

[@GOLDICU]

great video I loved it!

[@stevemichael652]

Thank you for being one of the very few people that actually talked more about the game play side of the trailer instead of boring the entire fanbase to death with lore garbage.

[@0bskureference]

Maybe mesmer is misbegotten, similar to how the omen twins are children of marika who are associated with the crucible

[@Brendonherring522]

Really liked this vid, keep it up!

[@usedcolouringbook8798]

8:57 In my opinion it's a consumable; you can see the empty weapon scabbard as the weapon is being hidden during the consumable's animation.

[@zackdoom]

I imagine we’ll learn Marika and Radagon met in the lands of shadow during war and settled with marriage to end it and giving the lands eventually to their child, mesmer

[@Agentlefox]

If it is actually a true other erdtree, it would make sense given the dragons' connection to some sort of erdtree at aome point. Maybe it was the burning of that erdtree that led to the dragons' attack on Leyndell.

[@stevenjohnson3212]

Great video bro subbed

[@jessicab4991]

At 27:43 the spell messmer uses creates the spears with the symbol you mentioned in the cover.. and they look just like the spears sticking out of the giants in the mountaintops... So the spear hes holding in the trailer doesnt match the cover photo, but the spell spears do... Just pointing that out lol. Someone prolly already did but its okay 😊 edited for typos cause youtube sucks now. Lol

[@ZugzugZugzugson]

sounds like you are onto something there. assuming Messmer were never allowed into the lands between, it is very likely that Marika adopted Messmer's weapon art (the spear spell) and used a version of it which was on steroids when she exterminated the giants.... why Marika? well i have trouble thinking of any other figure that could wield such powerful magic. if Messmer was allowed into the lands between at some point in time, it could be a direct work of his, as well. but i'm going to assume he was never allowed in.

[@mikejames7070]

Great video

[@Cuda-the-Dog]

I really like the way lords of the fallen did the ranged combat. Maybe these daggers are similar. I would love to see that system implemented in future Fromsoft games.

[@DarthGoss]

very cool video, well done

[@KogasaTatara514]

I haven't seen a single other person take note of it, but the twinblade with wing ash of war is the same twinblade used by the knight enemy in the martial arts showcase, take note of the rune-like markings on it in both shots. Since the player isn't holding a seal when using it, the knight doesn't seem crucible-related, and the weapon is used in the animation, I'm inclined to believe it's an equippable ash of war.

[@Jari_Kir]

8:20 on a side note, you can see another one of these "Fraction Knights" (DLC-equivallent to Redmane Knights, Leyendell Knights etc.) in the Screenshot featuring the giant Wickerman-like enemy. They peacefully ride along, on a horse with unique armor. That basically confirms, that they are "Fraction Knights" onstead of a miniboss. But the most interesting part is that they weild a heavy looking hammer weapon that's just incredible. I can't await the DLC!!!

[@ZugzugZugzugson]

4:25 i'd like to interject here really quick and point out that gravity isn't the only "element" that has a purpleish color theme going on for it. Sleep, also have a pinkish-purpleish hue to distinguish it and since this DLC focuses mainly on Miquella and St. Trina lore, i think it is more likely to be related to sleep than gravity... as a matter of fact, if you look closer at the footage, the hue does seem to be more pinkish than purple.

[@brandonamito7686]

I think Mesmer was born with some defect of sort and was stripped of the golden order like he said and went and practiced and studied these different arts to now go back and claim what he was stripped of

[@BrassPetals3Voices]

The swamp horse/rider is interesting. The skeleton’s feet are missing. I wonder if this will turn out to be the remains of Radahn and Leonard being puppeted by that worm like thing inside of it? The skeleton is about the size I’d expect for Radahn once stripped of the power of his rune (and head!). The Lion dancer at the top wearing the head have the teeth, facial proportions, hands and bite/lunge/slam attacks of the Demi-Human Queens. The three Queens are Gilika, Maggie and Margot. Note the G and M naming convention. Like other ‘Grace-less’ entities I believe they will turn out to be part of this plot. Can’t wait to find out either way!

[@FishBoneD14]

That would explain why radhan has to die before dlc

[@bluebird2217]

That rider reminds of the nuckelavee from celtic mythology.

[@altarf2582]

A lot of really great insights here! The Omen city and masked fire giant worshippers I did not realise at all. I want to clear up something about Messmer though, it's impossible that he's a sibling of Miquella and Malenia, at least in age - the dead Fire Giants in Flame Peak are impaled by bloodthorns and giant spears that bear a striking, though not exact, resemblance to Messmer's spear. That seems quite overt, and we can chalk the spear difference to Messmer's usage of different spears and the fact they probably didn't have the spear's exact design mapped out yet. Miq and Mal were born long after the War of the Giants concluded, so him being their direct sibling doesn't line up. I think Messmer is actually Marika's first or second born, born in the Land of Shadow, either younger or older sibing to Melina/Gloam-Eyed Queen in a very Nameless King fashion. Him being erased from history and fighting in the war without recognition adds to that similiarity. Radagon fought in the war of the giants so we know he was alive back then, and there's no reason Marika couldn't have had a child before Godfrey in that case. Plus, if he is the oldest, then a bunch of his design elements make sense - he's not copying Rykard, Mohg, etc, they are copying his legacy after he was banished to the Land of Shadow. It would also explain how he was able to get his hands on Giantsflame before the Mountaintops were sealed off.

[@StCrimson667]

I really like the idea of the skeletal cave creature being a mimic tear! Perhaps some early or highly advanced form? Maybe the prototype of all mimic tears! My theory for the Land of Shadows is that, basically, it's the Lands Between in the past or, rather, is the Lands Between as it once was, like a divergent timeline almost. The Land of Shadows is the world before the rise of the Erdtree and the Golden Order and which the Lands Between basically displaced, taking over the space that the Land of Shadows used to occupy and subverting it, leaving it nothing more than a shadow (eh!) that is now slowly beginning to return to its original place as the Erdtree dies out and the Golden Order crumbles, hence why things seemingly from the Land of Shadows are beginning to bleed into the Lands Between. Essentially, the Land of Shadows is like a pit left after excavating rock to build a city overtop and previously everything that existed outside of the Golden Order, the Crucible, the Giants, Death, etc. were all cast down into this pit. Messmer is essentially Marika's private executioner, someone she placed there to make sure that nothing from the Land of Shadows managed to get out, but also to make sure he was out of the way because he and Melina are twins, Melina being the kindling to burn and kill the Erdtree with Messmer being the flame and so casting him into the Land of Shadows kept the two separated. I also think I know Messmer's Rune! Remember the depiction of the Elden Ring in Malaketh's boss room? How the Ring had all those roots coming from it? I think those roots are Messmer's Rune and it's called the Rune of Shadows! The roots do very greatly resemble the shadowy tendrils that swirl around Messmer before he summons his fire, I wonder whether the Rune gives him more power or if maybe it's supposed to restraint him, keep him trapped in the Land of Shadows or even putting a limit on his power so he can never threaten the Erdtree as he once could have.

[@dirmusloner7963]

Also, in the trailer we hear two characters speaking to us maybe, a male voice say "I this forsaken land blood must be spilled, blood of your fellows the Erdtree faithful" and in a second dialogue maybe a female voice say "They were never saints, they just happened to be at the losing side of a war" keep that in mind

[@LewdGyrations]

One thing Ive noticed about Miquella near the end of the trailer is that he doesn't look like a child or rather he doesnt have the proportions of a child. Im astounded that no one has noticed that. Most imagery of miquella depicts him as a very young child but in the original picture we got of miquella riding the horse, he doesn't seem as child-like as the imagery presents through out the game and even less so near the end of the trailer. He seems more or less adult like in his brief appearance. And another thing to note, why is his face never shown? I was never really interested in Elden Rings lore but Ive become very interested after the teasing of the DLC.

[@Mostenire]

I personally think that Mohg's blood somehow helped Miquella age.

[@LewdGyrations]

@@Mostenire Possibly, I think that its a detail that most people have overlooked that may hold some value.

[@MissOtaku18]

I actually think the monster that you referred to as inspired by the Kelpie, is actually inspired by the nuckelavee! They are said to be undead, skinless horses with a human merged along the back of the horse. I think this fits much better than the Kelpie theory.

[@beansnrice321]

I always had a hunch that torrent was a Kelpie and it's neat seeing someone else talk about them.

[@digisalamander2726]

I wonder since we used miquella to enter the dlc and Mohg in his intro leaves miquella’s body. I wonder Mohg has been going to the lands of Shadows and has been working with Mezmer ( maybe miquella and Mezmer are the same person like how marika and Radagon are.) so it could be in the lands between Mohg is helping Mezmer return to our world ( maybe when Mohg “Married” Miquella, he in fact he married Mezmer.)

[@kaibrunnenG]

The one eye closed and one eye open symbolises that they sacrificed a part of themselves in order to gain something greater in return. Kinda like Odin. Mohg also have one eye with his left eye gouged out and Malenia lost both eyes. Also I think Ranni and Melina are capable of entering the Land Between and maybe the Shadow Realm

[@thetsarofall8666]

Personally the bear spell seems more dragon communion related than crucible. If you look at zullie's video's on the runebears, you'll find theres a good amount of evidence suggesting they are becoming dragons, presumably from eating dragon corpses.

[@dirmusloner7963]

23:13 and now to the spotlight kid Messmer. Keep in mind that in Chinese and Japanese tradition DRAGONS HAS NO WINGS and the depicted more like Serpents floating in the air, also keep in mind that DRAGONS ARE CONSIDERED SERPENTS . Now to the appearance of the spotlight kid 1. His pale skin resembles to CLEAN ROT KNIGHTS OF MALENIA 2. HIS STRECHED ARMS AND LEGS RESSEMBLES THE GODSKIN APOSTOTLE 3. The flame if you look closely is taking form of a literally pitch black shadow before taking a CRIMSON RED COLOUR. 4. His opened eye resembles identically the eyes of DRAGON COMMUNION. 5. In lands between there is a dungeon called impaler 6. The attack of spears in the ground that are being summoned while Messmer hits his spear tk the ground try to hit the tarnished, is also IDENTICAL TO THE DEATH RITE BIRD attack, and we know that in the age before the Erdtree death rite birds and godskins are related to Gloam eyed queen

[@falgalhutkinsmarzcal3962]

Miquella rid himself of his original corporeal flesh, something that Marika may have done. I think he will create a new godhood body from the sap, as Marika likely did. This is why the Amber Egg can rebirth life into another form: because it is fossilized sap and was used by Marika to change herself. After all, she is not so ugly as the Nox class character creation option seems to be.

[@iacobio6628]

I hope we have multiple encounters with Messmer. We don’t get many characters who we encounter first as a threat that can’t be outright killed like Margit or genichiro. Mesmer would be cool addition to those guys!

[@orenges7034]

Genichiro is hands down the best example of this. Idk if Gerhman or Gael counts too

[@normanbestboi9117]

I hope you see this, no ones pointing it out- the ELDEN BEAST ring attack actually looks like it has the very top of the veils

[@KG-jd6ok]

The most obvious connection between death and the Crucible is that the Crucible symbolized the prior "complete" state of the Elden Ring, prior to Marika removing Destined Death from it & creating the Golden Order, becoming a god, and transforming the Crucible into the Erdtree (the precise sequence of these events is unclear).

[@ThiagoCRocha-fh6lg]

With all this talk about Mesmer being a Demigod working for the Golden Order and not Against it I wonder if He is like a "Hades" or a "Satan" figure in this world. Ruling over the things that have been casted out but being crucial to the order of things

[@terrorisk007]

Nobody never seen the painting of sorcerers in carrian manor of three sorcerers ...seleen and renalda and the third one looks like the one in the dlc

[@bruno.castro1]

If I have to go through a deathblight swamp I’m gonna walk into the sea

[@miguelangelcote9168]

Yes, the thing has grown inside the impaled man. Also Messmer most likely did it because he's the impaler. Is either that or is something related to a tree. Maybe he was supposed to rest at the roots of the shadow tree, since he's looks like a royal (kinda like non-omen Morgoth) but that process was interrupted and that's why he's undead. Maybe is more significant, part of a ritual of sorts. He might he a previous ruler that's punished, not unlike Marika. I don't expect him to be a boss, I think this cutscene belongs to somebody else

[@thegloameyedking]

Since Trina’s lily is a trinity, then who’s the 3rd? Miquella, st. Trina &… messmer? Maybe messmer committed a sin against the erd tree & so Marika cut him off from his other 2 personas & locked him away. Maybe Miquella’s tree didn’t work because he’s missing part of himself, & so he’s gone to reunite the trinity

[@Mostenire]

There are only two lilies, Trina's Lily and Miquella's Lily.

[@thegloameyedking]

@@Mostenire the Lillie’s have 3 branches

[@jhamler1]

It's entirely possible that George Martin and Miyazaki just made shit up as they went along and PURPOSEFULLY left things infernally vague in order to encourage the kind of speculation and interpretation that has made Elden Ring more than a story/game but a cottage industry for content creating people like Mostenire and many many others.

[@highbrednxtus]

Just occured to me that maybe the Land of Shadow acts the same as the Dreg Heap from Dark Souls 3. Maybe it is made up of places from the lands between that uses to exist in the same realm? I know its supposed to be its own area and not related to time travel (like previous dark souls titles), but the altus plateau area as well as the raya lucaria type area make me think this. Regardless, definitely think The Land of Shadow locations will have some connection to nearby areas and landmarks on the other map "levels" EDIT: Unrelated, but that Lion figure seems like it has worm faces beneath. The smoke doesn't have the parasites like usual, but this is in a separate realm. Interesting that they have feet like Morgott, hinting that they are actually Omen. Can't wait to dive into the DLC EDIT2: i had seen a comment on another video where someone suggested that the dialouge that plays over Messmer scene in the trailer isnt Messmer speaking, but Miquella. I could see FromSoft trying to mislead us

[@FoxBatinaHat]

4:48 The first thing I thought was:Pope of the Cuckoo Knight

[@deplorible753]

Maybe the shadow tree is the true Erdtree. Maybe the lands between is a stage set up by Marika and the shadow is the stage without the spotlight or backstage.

[@ArcadeHigh]

Idk if anyone mentioned this yet but the spear / weapon he holds on the front cover art is the same spears that fire up from the ground when he does his slam / flame attack. Look closely and pause the video when it shows up 27:08

[@nathanrenga4599]

That boar knight is like dragon tree sentinal in main game

[@zackdoom]

Ive been thinking as well The land of shadow The lands between I wonder what the third land would be if not reeds

[@ice_doubt]

Hopefully they add a weapon type where you just use a rock or pot and just swing ut around

[@joshuapannell8131]

Rune bears have some crossover with dragon communion

[@venrossx]

wait the boar even have radahn swords sigil or whatever in its helmet or head piece

[@DaniTheBunni]

Very cool, Mostenire!

[@vyke8895]

Awesome video!

[@zackdoom]

Why does nobody think the sleeping lady IS st trina? Long hair is there and there could be a third eye (another outer god influence) Miquella is st trina Maybe but could be a red herring, maybe a follower of miquella who taught or got taught by trina

[@Jasonmakesvideo]

that lava tube thing looks like it has an Archimedes screw running inside it which moves liquids verticallyif that's what it actually is, what do u think their using the lava for? my guess is reviving the crucible and the lava(flame) is functioning as a neo-primordial soup. just speculating lol....i know how nuts i sound

[@calebgraham3334]

Yeah, right! I was hoping to read more from you lol

[@thomasbriscoe2357]

Its clearly deathbird wings in the armor at 6:32

[@paapa300]

At 5:52 you can also see a symbol very similar to one on Radahn's swords etched into the boar's helmet. With all the electricity also shown in the encounter it makes even more sense that the symbol depicts magnetism rather than only gravity.

[@TheBadger3804]

The horse enemy at the beginning of the video could also be based on the Nuckelavee, a demon in Welsh folklore that comes from the sea and brings famine

[@dirmusloner7963]

18:08 now we come to the boss of the legendary dungeon in my opinion the lion boss, if we a strict the human teeth the head resembles almost identically to a GOLDEN LION. In the base game you know where we found golden lions encraved in the decoration? 1. STORMVEIL CASTLE and 2. (Hold here) FORTIFIED MANOR (AKA FIRST EVER ROUNDTABLE HOLD) We found encraved lions that resemble GOLDEN LION outside the fortified manor and also in the throne room. Here is the rhetorical question, do we know a character in this game that somehow is related to a lion? Of course we do Godfrey (aka Hoara Loux) and his companion given to him a GOLDEN LION SEROSH, a lion with a wound in his face and a crown in his head Serosh the lord of Beasts think about it.

[@GOLDICU]

I may be wrong but didnt the people of leyndell have a war against dragons? Maybe that explains why theres ash seen throught the area

[@alxsytb]

imo, notably both of radagon and marikas children so far have been cursed, and their curses so far seem very ironic in their cruelty, so messmer being similarily cursed would only make sense. i believe his curse is that he was born inherently heretical, regardless of what he chooses to be. born with imagery of fire and snakes in spite of not choosing a path against the erdtree. it would further make sense, given how then each of the three rebus-kids curses would be represented in their respective butterflies. the aonian butterfly for malenia, cursed to rot away physically and mentally despite her natural talent in battle, the nascent butterfly for miquella, cursed with eternal childhood despite his wisdom and intelligence, and the smoldering butterfly for messmer, cursed with heretical imagery despite his loyalty(?).

[@_n0x34]

5:51 you can see the gravity magic sigil ingraved into the boar's helmet peice.

[@Saefx1]

Good video

[@s0nnasauras630]

9:17 reminds me of guts in his berserk armor activated. Especially with the cross bow. The creator of berserk passed this year I wouldn't be surprised if they reference it quite a bit

[@jackolimb6145]

I think you're confused, Akira Toriyama died this year. He's the creator of Dragon Ball. Kentaro Miura created Berzerk and he died May 2021.

[@cbunny6671]

I noticed at 12:50 theres actually a fan spinning inside that thing. And it doesn't seem to be magical, it seems like an actual mechanical fan. Something you might use to funnel air into a furnace, like bellows. I think that's REALLY important, because there is no other part of the game that has things that plainly mechanical. So either, this is miquella's workshop, or it's a land where mechnical things are allowed to flourish. The only compariable mechnical things are the volcano manor birdge, and the big cart things that shoot fire and are impossible to fight. (they're apparently meant to scare people because they look like firegiants). But even then, those things are made of wood, or are just pulleys. They look like they use simple mechanics. Humanities earliest form of "technology" was fire. And you could argue any form of MODERN technology, is just fire heating up water. Maybe the true sin of Marika, is preventing truly intelligent technology. Inteligence in this game basically functions as faith in the stars, and Arcane functions as faith in outer gods. And both still require magic. Then again in the intro cinematic, we see them using balistas and trebuchets, so possibly its not that simple.

[@Mostenire]

I do think it's interesting that it's one of the few mechanical bits we see! Personally I like your furnace suggestion - I think it may be related to Messmer and where we find him - though I'm not too certain on Marika preventing technology from developing. Might be a little too much of a stretch to me. Good ideas though!

[@valentinvas6454]

It looks like an Archimedes screw that was also a real thing some 2000 years ago. They used it to pump water from lower places to higher ones.

[@NickCombs]

It does make me wonder what they need the lava for higher up. Maybe we'll have a whole dungeon with contraptions powered by the stuff.

[@Agentlefox]

I mean the shadowlands were burned wholesale by Mesmer, and lava would be very effective

[@cbunny6671]

@@AgentlefoxIt depends on how long its been burnt like this. It has to have been before the shattering, but after the second liurnia war.

[@Jasonmakesvideo]

WOW! THAT IS HIGH MONK! good eye my man! i subbed. i hope u mention the chinese lion having 6 toes! no one mentions or notices that and you know who else has 6 digits? children of the forest from ASOIAF....hmmmm

[@Mostenire]

I’m sadly not familiar with ASOIAF - I’ll get round to reading it eventually lol! Any idea what the significance of 6 toes is?

[@williamkeys8310]

Only thing you missed is the snakes are already part of his body in one of the stills you can see The higher One coming out of or going through the side of his torso

[@PCFrenziedFlame]

Dude your voice sounds like those guys who tell horror stories on yt. it fits the dlc very well lol, or fits from what I think it is, dark and scary?

[@claywilson5402]

I'm getting a big Hades vibe from Mesmer - I think he was charged with leading the rejects to keep them in line

[@spartanaman44]

What if Messmer and Melina are twins like Miquella and Malenia, and what if in a reference to alchemy they all combine into the alchemical rebus?

[@notbateman4298]

Doesnt he address someone as mother ? I always assumed it was marika

[@Jari_Kir]

I really hope the giant Firepot will be a weapon on it's own. I can imagine a moveset similar to Logarius Wheel in Bloodborne, and it would just be hilarious. And the heavily armored NPC in the trailer carries such a big pot around with himself, so maybe they are a weapon of the same class as the trowing daggers? I sure hope so! Also, I am not sure how interesting giant pot consumables would be. Would there be any actual value in giang sleeping pots for example? I imagine every pot except for elemental damage pots would just be outclassed by their smaller counterparts.

[@joels5150]

The giant thrown ball could wind up being equivalent to the throwing knife version of Ballista Bolts/Golem Bow Arrows 🤷‍♀️

[@DravenDriver20]

Soooooo many similarities and references to dark souls and DS3.

[@seamusdempster]

The tree in the trailer (two trees, one wrapped around another as if it were suffocating it) are almost definitely the erdtree (being wrapped) and the haligtree (wrapping). My personal interpretation is that this is very strong visual symbolism that depicts pretty much exactly what the DLC will be about and how it serves as a true ending for the entire story of Elden Ring given what we know about the overarching lore of the base game and rough ideas of the DLC. The suppression of the crucible is representative of lack of balance. This is very much about balance, very ying yang type of themes. While the lands between under Marika is governed by purity, gold, light, perfection - the balance has fallen out and the two trees cannot coexist while the Land of Shadow is veiled and the Erdtree is presented as the one true order. This is why the two trees appear to be suffocated, scarred, and burned, with sap leaking out and the Haligtree half appearing to be weighing down and choking the Erdtree half. This is also why Miquella's Haligtree (lands between version) was doomed to fail - because the balance was out - this is also why he set out to the land of shadow, to restore the balance. After all the key principles of the greater will are things like totality, regression, convergence, represented also by Radagon/Marika dichotomy. The lifting of the veil by Miquella will restore balance and this is what we see in the final shot - the two trees still wrapped, but this time they appear like they're cradling each other, like they're in each other's arms and also sort of "falling together" as they appear to crumble and the wound is mended. The solution to the irony and flaw of the golden order and the repression of the crucible is acceptance, and only then can the dark and light coexist - visually symbolized by the two trees (one straight, tall and ordered like the principles of the Erdtree / golden order, and one warped and organic like the principles of the Crucible). Miquella is the means by which the shattering and the entire overarching plot of Elden Ring are resolved. There's my nerd rant just wanted to get it out there

[@MoreLoreThenThereSeems]

Sometimes what you need at the end of the day is honest good old fashion well founded wild speculation

[@Adebagsgoals11]

I want marika to be the actual final boss of the dlc ti further push the idea that radagon is the embodiment or the guard being controlled by her.

[@Istira1]

I don’t think there is any real linking to rykard. There is a shield in elden ring with snakes (similar to messmers two headed snake) and snakes have been linked to blasphemy (alongside blood flame and dragon communion, which he presents in the trailer) - perhaps he is the reason why snakes are seen as blasphemous

[@Darkheart00]

The sigil on the ‘Duelling shield’, the tarnished is using at the end of the trailer, is actually the exact same sigil on the right-side of Rykard’s ‘Taker’s Cameo’ talisman

[@zokisan9554]

as the Marika-Radagon two-for-one mystery bothers me the most, two things you brought up sent me spiraling down as follows, 🌞 the shut eyes are representing the left - right brain hemisphere dance / thot vs speech, visual image vs literal matérialisation. 🌚 cKnights use gravity magic in Shadow-lands vs lightning in Lands-between --- this made me think of another in-game mirror to which element is dominant in what Lands part, will have to ponder this further. the Carian royalty gives me strong masc vibes so am fantasizing that Shadow-Lands will play will a lot of counters/binaries relative to Lands-between. as for element Water, in terms of combat spells and hex we get to play around with Fire, Lightning, Air/blueFrequency and Earth via gravity, but we don't get anything using clear water except for Ice. We got toxic swamps and such but only the lobster snipers inflicted "water" damage. As we are literally and figuratively entrapped by water as border between the land plates. am someone with a deep spiritual longing and yearning for truth while Miyazaki tries to educate me that it's always ideology in all-ways 👼🏼💅🏼 can't wait for the DLC.

[@kraigcoleman2418]

Alright so my hottake here.. miquella is manipulative as helllllllllll so much so he has learned to use everything even peoples love for hims as a weapon. We see with bewitching branches and the haligtrees exploading knights... Even malenia says the He us the most fearsome and she proceeds to use us like a dirty mop.... I feel like this whole story had been miquella using us to acsend fully and then break free and that the actual final boss of the dlc is going to be an adult god miquella... Or a resutected godwyn and we are being used further to give him the true death miquella has always wanted to give him.. Side note... Fromsoft has only shown us the final boss of a dlc trailer once for like half a second with gale to my knowledge

[@dirmusloner7963]

33:34 about Miquella there is a poem tabt is uploaded to the oficial site of the game in its last verse we read "It was to this land that Miquella departed. Divesting himself of his flesh, his strength, his lineage. Of all things Golden. And now Miquella awaits the return of his promised Lord." Let's try to analyze that, so in order for Miquella to set foot in the land of Shadow, he had to divest (meaning leave behind) his flesh (that means he did the exact same thing like Ranni) his strength (no needles) HIS LINEAGE (that is a major bomb that means that the Miquella we find in the land of shadow has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO with the Miquella we know that was an Empyryan, chosen to ascend God hood) and all things golden (Second major bomb, that means that Miquella not only left behind him his lineage, that means that the Miquella we find in the land of shadow is TOTALLY OPPOSITE tk the Golden Order) And that Miquella in the land of shadow awaits his promised lord.

[@zignyak4286]

13:44 The outfit of a woman with sabers is very reminiscent of the folk clothing of nomads. Such as gypsies. It is possible that this could be related to the nomadic traders from the main game. 🤔

[@thomaskuiper9156]

Flight...in a soul's game? 😂absurd oh but how fun it would be. Imagine flying from limgrave to altus.

[@eerbrev]

I can't believe that you're the first creator I've been watching who's FINALLY mentioned the Chinese lion dance. I've been shouting that shit the whole time! THANK YOU. Other people made it clear that it's people underneath, but no mention of that tradition, which, idunno, I wonder if it's because it's a different culture that a Japanese company is drawing on? It's certainly somewhat new (or at least, as far as I've seen in lore vids) for them to be drawing from China.

[@Mostenire]

I'm literally chinese and it took someone else mentioning it for me to make the connection, lmao.

[@eerbrev]

@@MostenireReally? It was one of the first things I noticed about the trailer. Maybe that's just like, part of the images of chinatowns on TV where I grew up?

[@Mostenire]

@@eerbrev It's mainly because I took a while to realize it wasn't just a lion in the first place!

[@Wifgargfhaurh]

Oh fuck, we really are getting a death blight swamp.

[@ZugzugZugzugson]

yeah people used to make jokes about that... o how the turn tables.

[@normanbestboi9117]

So, what we thinkin his great rune gonna do?

[@dirmusloner7963]

2:32 my thoughts about the sleeping person in the swamp for some reason that person resembles almost identically to varee