STORY Trailer LORE Breakdown | Shadow of the Erdtree

[@SmoughTown]

Thank you so much for checking out my Trailer breakdown video Let me know your thoughts below.

[@TheMagnitude]

This is the video I was waiting for, can’t wait to hear your thoughts!!

[@GuardianM25]

Great video, though i have a wild idea for you - Marika is the gloam-eyed queen, before she became a God she made a plot to seduce and slay them, having at least one child (mesmer) before taking their place. She gained godhood and golden eyes, made the illusionary erdtree and cast the real great tree into shadow, taking the power of the crucible to feed the erdtree (and the elden beast)

[@Ivan-iz9hs]

ur theory slaps

[@CDio-vr3bx]

What if the affair and betrayal has sonething to do with the Numen. Perhaps at some point Marika sacrificed a lot of the numen which is why we can only see their runes and descendents

[@VVabsa]

Ok, I just went a few seconds in the vid but going off the previous DLC video. Could Mesmer be a child of Marika and Godfrey? Morgot and Mogh also begin with a M and both have something wrong with their blood. Perhaps Mesmer was the lucky one not to be born an Omen?

[@MelancholicAwesomnes]

I really love that there are people who can make a 45 min video from a 3 minute trailer. I really love this community!

[@jorge2060shake]

The lore is just that deep. One of the reasons fromsoftware games are great!

[@dawson3776]

A 3 minute trailer with a lot packed in it. The trailer shows but never tells. Yes there's narration, but it's clear its suppose to supplement what's shown and not just telling you what's going on.

[@Thiccron]

Came here to say this Thats why i love this channel

[@jamesrevere2992]

@@dawson3776what trailer has ever outright ”told” you whats going on?

[@MelancholicAwesomnes]

@@dawson3776 This wasn't a criticism, if you take it that way. I plan on watching Sinclaire Lore, Last Protagnosit, Crunchy, Ratatsokr, Tarnished Archaelogost and Queelag when she gets her channel back. I love the ER lore community especially because it's not centered on one big person

[@titaniumteddybear]

It's actually not the Dragon Dance it's the Lion Dance. The Lion Dance uses 2 people. The Dragon Dance uses any number of people from 3 upwards. Given how the number 2 is so important in the lore this choice to make it the Lion Dance feels deliberate.

[@SmoughTown]

Great detail! Cheers!

[@tarleya]

After your theory then it is a dragon dancer...mimicking the lion. After they lost in battle to Messmer, all 3 of the dancers were impaled on Messmers lances, cloaks still attached. They were placed in the middle of the to mock the downfall of the old culture/religion.

[@erebus3383]

Alright idiot, if the number 2 is so important then name 10 examples of the number 2 in elden ring.

[@octopusoup]

Good to see someone clarify this here. The Lion Dance and Dragon Dance are entirely separate and distinct from each other. They're both festive in nature, but the Lion Dance is often acrobatic in with the dancers entirely enshrouded to obscure the human aspect. The Dragon Dance has the dancers exposed, carrying a long dragon puppet on long poles imitating the movement of a serpent weaving through the air.

[@CarelessVagabond]

I appreciate you, my boy! Cheers!

[@martonszentkiralyi2251]

I know its easy to say now, but once you figure out minor erdtrees are watered by blood and corpses, Miquella watered the Haligtree with his own blood, it becomes very clear these trees need flesh and blood to thrive. These trees once looked pretty to me, now they come off as monstrous abominations

[@SmoughTown]

agreed - seemingly increasingly that this is the case

[@Travar1410]

Also, our erdtree looks like a projection to me. Like it's not there. Take away the gold tint and it doesn't look like bark. It looks white like a ghost (until you go inside of it to fight radagon, then you can see bark on the walls) . So many weird things going on. But instantly after radagon, your in a place where your now in 4 or 5 inches of water, and "former? Erdtrees" all around.

[@germanstormtrooper2298]

​@@Travar1410becouse it really isnt there go to the Cliffs after stormveil castle and look at the Erdtree it looks like a ghost you can see through it

[@KNIGHTMAREMANIAC]

The burial rituals of the gold order make a lot more sense now. That being said I don't think they're "abominations" anymore than Merika creating children with herself is.

[@ALaz502]

​@@germanstormtrooper2298thats a graphic glitch. Zullie covered it.

[@Idea_of_Lustre]

The white-robed 'Miquellan Knight' got her own concept image on Twitter just an hour ago, with the flavor text "Will you walk with us?" So she is almost certainly the narrator, and has celestial fashion to boot.

[@alanthe2]

That art work is incredible as well. I think it’s wheat embroidered into her cloak but for a moment I thought it was centipedes!

[@magicalhermitcrab5912]

This "us" combined with the group shot at the end of the trailer makes me think she's leading this badass fellowship. I almost want a second hub to contrast Roundtable Hold where they're all assembled, but they'll probably be scattered throughout the DLC. Either way, I REALLY want her armor.

[@BoyLikeUSucks]

​​@@magicalhermitcrab5912They are Miquella's version of Band of the Hawk 😉

[@fall5923]

New maiden 😂

[@depalodor]

@@BoyLikeUSucks I wouldn't recommend you to get too high off your own supply of Miquella = Griffith theory here. Just because they are a group of people doesn't mean that they are THAT group of people.

[@lahawnduh]

Seeing Marika between those mounds of corpses evoked such an unsettling but thrilling feeling

[@OldHunterCassie]

Omg it gave me ptsd 😂 especially her walking across the fleshy ground

[@iboofer]

@@OldHunterCassie Really makes you understand why she cared so little about her kids. Death was already passe to her thousands of years ago. What's a few more corpses added to the pile?

[@reign1594]

She likely sent them to or expected their deaths. She knew they would fight post shattering, and the knight of the black knives was likely planned by her. It's impossible that she cared about Godwyn enough to destroy the elden ring in a fit of rage over his death. The rage is likely directed at the fact that it was him who was killed. ​We see a Black Knife Assassin outside of marikas bedchamber, we know she wanted out of the golden order. We know he wished for both her and radagon to be shattered together. Perhaps, just maybe, she was intented to die that night. This is backed up a little by Ranni also having some association with the assassins. @iboofer

[@reign1594]

Perhaps she was blasphemous all along? Her bracelet looks like a snake and she emerges from an entirely red room with the grace of gold in her hand. Red is the colour of blasphemy, her son is closely associated with flame, snakes, dragons. All things that oppose the erdtree. This makes sense if you believe that this part of the story is inspired by Christianity. Queen Marika(Eve), was led astray(possibly by her own ADAM). ​@@iboofer

[@sethd.8381]

Reminded me of my ex.

[@iboofer]

As Vendrick once said: "....and the brighter the flame, the deeper the shadow."

[@andrewbowen2837]

Dark Souls 2 2

[@jxdinglol]

Kendrick: "The blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice." Vendrick: "The brighter the flame, the deeper the shadow."

[@iboofer]

@@jxdinglol Guess now we know why he married a Child of Dark. 😏

[@jxdinglol]

@@iboofer they just different dawg 🥴

[@Dbonesburneraccount]

Idk who they get to make these cinematic trailers but their team really deserves an award because this looks like a sequel announcement😭

[@Kinnan011]

Is it just me or did anyone else first think that the "pillars" of people she's standing between and that opening look like it's the shape of the opening at the base of the erdtree. My immediate thought was that she's inside the erdtree. Similar to how the inside of the tree when we fight her is much more spacious and even has a skybox, we see two distinctive skys.

[@diamondarmy5546]

My exact thoughts

[@itzamedio5427]

TOGETHA we shall devour this very trailerrrhhhhggnn...

[@odinsbs9469]

Familyyyyyyyyyy

[@lakshgarg8858]

​@@odinsbs9469 uhmmm verrry welllll

[@Ian.420]

NNNNMMMMMMMMMNNNGGMGYUHGMMMM VERRYYY WELLLL

[@origav]

Loved the analysis! I wonder if that was the reason that Godwyn's death drove Merika to the brink. The Erdtree requires constant sacrifice and once it was possible to "live in death" instead of returning to the Erdtree then there weren't enough bodies to sacrifice to maintain Merika's power. So she shatters the ring, drives the demigods to a constant state of war with a stalemate and her order can be preserved. That's why Gideon says that we are meant to keep fighting, because the death is what powers the order

[@one_eyeddd473]

Oh wow

[@FSVR54]

Thousands of people who way overanalyze everything and some random dude on youtube drops probably the best explanation for Elden Ring in a succinct paragraph

[@fourdayz1414]

Dude you can’t just come out here and give us the answers that’s cheating Now I’m wondering, what does this mean for the Erdtree when you choose the Age of Dusk ending. Does the tree turn grey because it’s being starved?

[@baldheimlich]

"onto eternity" - Gideon Ofnir

[@Mario-SunshineGalaxy64]

Miquella would rather water the Haligtree with his own blood instead of sacrificing countless lives and people *still* think he’s Griffith. He doesn’t even have his body or “terrifying” powers anymore but that hasn’t stopped people from yapping on about how he’s the true villain of the game. I’m convinced that Miquella could start a soup kitchen, run an orphanage, and donate all his runes to help save endangered turtles and he’d still be accused of being a ruthless manipulator, because Marika forbid that not everything in the game be a Berserk reference.

[@ripvanwinkle3432]

We don't know anything about Miquella. Every demigod has tried to kill us though. Only a few weeks and we'll see what happens

[@vsGoliath96]

Not everything is a Berserk reference? What is this heresy!

[@SevoraLF]

This will be an interesting comment to come back to in a month

[@anonfinally1692]

Oh no Miquella has charmed you

[@ellisvan]

Miquella's Soup Kitchen, in partnership with Boggart's Prawnshop?

[@darrenfields7361]

You know Marika wiping out a omen worshiping society and then having her first two children Morgot and Mohg born as omens sounds like a connection

[@varsoonhks3211]

It's almost like she's cursed by her conquests or something Like if she were to become a guy called Radagon, she might even have red hair because of her genocide of the giants

[@thecosmicnewtofsol91]

Definitely a bad omen you could say

[@gogauze]

It really does sound like she was cursed by the vestiges of each group she murdered en masse.

[@elididde3377]

Since messmer seems to be the child of radagon and marika, he would either have been her first child, or the omen twins would have been born before the war in the land of shadow

[@QuestionableObject]

@@elididde3377 My theory is that Mesmer is her first child (of the ones we know of so far) who became a demigod after-the-fact like how Radagon's children were allevated to that status when he returned to Marika, his father is probably someone from this crucible society possibly someone connected to the fire giants and to serpents, though his serpent appendages could be a result of the crucible's influence on the land before Marika usurped it. The crucible still existed after the purge in the shadowed lands as the crucible knights still worshipped it and Godfrey's armies drew upon its power. It could even be that the erdtree's shadow is the remains of the great tree that was felled and then became the crucible from which the erdtree was nurtured. Hell a real curveball could be that Mesmer is *adopted* but still has the title, status and power of demi-godhood just cause being adopted is totally cool and valid lmao. He could have been an outcast because of his powers over fire and the threat that posed to the great tree only to be comforted, cared for and gaslit into Marika's perfect little arsonist. That would explain the sheer merciless cruelty he inflicts on the inhabitants of this city.

[@user-cs9sy6zc2i]

An omen purge in history would make the treatment of omen under the Golden Order make sense. Also- Omen births could trigger a fear of sacrificed omens being reborn out of the tree, which may diminish its power or perhaps some might retain memories of their previous sacrifice. Marika would want to nip that in the bud.

[@varsoonhks3211]

Remembrances are hewn into the tree.

[@blastfiendsunite420]

Nice pun

[@FaeQueenCory]

The lion dancer having a face that is the same as Sarosh, including his crown... I think the lion dancers, especially with the lightning and deathroot vomit, makes me certain that this genocided people were the people of Sarosh and ultimately the main kingdom of the Gloameyed Queen and Placidusax.

[@SmoughTown]

Yeh amazing observation!

[@iboofer]

I think a stronger case is the similarity between the lion dancers and the lion omen we see in the base game. Their horns are mostly stumps, like they've been cut off, but they are probably the inspiration for the lion dancers. It seems more likely to me that Serosh was king/lord of the Beastmen, probably defeated in combat by Godfrey but taken on as a sort of vassal and behavior check for the latter's bloodlust.

[@Gatchu137]

​@@iboofer I agree, it does expressly call Serosh a "lord of beasts," and the lion guardians are always found in either Stormveil or the fortresses, which would have been structures built during Hoarah Loux's original rule before Marika. It makes the most sense that Serosh ruled over the lion guardians, before being conquered. However, Hoarah Loux's culture DID see omens as a blessing, and would have had ties to the lions. I think the lion dancers probably relate to the civilization that Hoarah Loux ruled over, before Marika overthrew it.

[@dillydallyyyy]

I hate to break it to you, but Sarosh looks significantly different to the lion dancer. There are hardly any similarities other than the name Lion. The lion dancer hardly looks like a lion as well which is odd

[@dillydallyyyy]

Sarosh's crown is also made of some sort of metal as well, and looks nothing like the lion dancer's "crown". Lion dancer's is made of horns.

[@PowerYoutuberViewer]

Something I haven’t seen mentioned about Mesmer’s design is that the twin snakes coming from his shoulder’s parallel Zahhak, a Tyrant conqueror from the Shahnameh, the national epic of Persia. In Zoroastrian mythology Zahhak is sometimes depicted as having draconic features or just a dragon. I think this definitely lends credence to the dragon communion theories and could open up a lot of possibilities for speculation about the nature of his flames considering fire is typically sacred in Zoroastrianism.

[@Chrisbun1]

You mention the 'candle stick'-like coat of arms. There's a Candle shield, with the quote "Thought to represent a surreptitious prophecy of cardinal sin, the lit candle-tree design was forbidden."

[@SmoughTown]

Great spot!

[@rebar4846]

In my opinion it is pretty clear, that there's a huge fucking part of the land missing from the Lands Between. Just look at the middle of the map that's now filled with water. Look at the cliffs of Liurnia and Altus, the way so many structures crumble into the sea, including Leyndell. Consider the fact that there's a huge waterfall next to the tower where you awaken Malenia's rune. The water falls into the ocean. When I first saw the map of the world before the game came out, it seemed to me like something huge hit the Lands Between and made a gigantic crater in the middle. I feel like that's the spot where the Land of the Shadow used to reside. The city there, destroyed by Messmer IS Leyndell. Or rather the part of it that's now gone from the Lands Between.

[@toddbrimstone]

The duality.... does Marika only give birth to twins, one golden and one shadow? Morgott and Mohg, Miquella and Melania, Godwyn and... Messmer..?

[@chrispysaid]

It's literally called the Lands Between, and we see the "gateway" into this golden land BETWEEN the two pillars of corpses

[@kbomnirow6143]

Blood sacrifices makes sense, especially when you think about Miquella essentially doing the same. Sacrificing himself for the haligtree rather than his people sacrificing themselves. It’s as if these sacred trees are parasites

[@vaclavsoukup7302]

Could also be a reference to a relatively unknown piece of lore from ASOIAF: weirwoods, magical white trees with blood-red leaves, were once worshipped by people leaving human intestines wrapped in their boughs.

[@alienengine107harrison7]

Imagine how much nutrients a tree of that size would require to stay alive. There is no way that thing is sustained on regular soil alone.

[@teekay851]

@@alienengine107harrison7 ..its a magical kingdom

[@Henbot]

Well the blood sacrifice thing is literally in ASOIAF which was also written by GRRM but the other interesting things is that if it is blood fuel then no wonder the Haligtree didn’t grow because Miquella blood was cursed with eternal youth

[@kbomnirow6143]

@@Henbot Oh wow, I didn’t think about that. The tree is missing leaves right?

[@matheussantos9367]

The Shadow Land society being an Oman/Crucible society makes so much sense, not only due to what was shown so far, but also looking at how modern Erdtree society treats Omen creatures, as cursed, dropped in sewers and such. Definitely seems like Marika and the Golden Order want to "erase" the omen and crucible from existance, very likely due to them being a reminder of what Marika did to become a God.

[@jogglenoggle9579]

What if the 'gods' referred to with the godskins were the numen. If they are seldom born and long lived they certainly would seem godlike to lesser beings. They hunted and skinned them WITH Marika who wanted to use the corpses to gestate her tree. As their end of the deal, they could keep the skins. However, maybe at the last moment Marika betrays the Gloam Eyed Queen, her fellow empyreon, not wanting any competition for her fledgling order - hence the betrayal mentioned at the start of the trailer (of both/either the GEQ or Numen). This would also explain why presumably once-Numen cities are now entirely populated by Nox instead.

[@felipefortaleza8280]

But the Nox are just descendants of Numens

[@jamiecrofts6823]

Nah

[@jeambeam3173]

Those species aren't gods. Likely the gods the Godskins have killed atleast in the Lands Between not Shadow are the Ancestors of Godrick the Grafted

[@Travar1410]

I think the "betrayal", is just that woman had a relationship, and then betrayed her companion. For her own selfish reasons.

[@AesirUnlimited]

Numen are based on the Númenórean’s from Lord of the Rings. They were long lived, tall, and stronger than normal humans. Yet they were still mortal, and fell to the corruption that comes from a desire to become gods. I doubt George R.R Martin named the Numen after them just because he liked the name. They’re definitely supposed to be similar in terms of their mortal nature being at odds with their desire to ascend to divinity. That may explain what Marika did in the shadowlands. The war may have been what would’ve happened in LOTR if the Númenórean’s were never stopped by Eru Illuvatar from invading Valinor to become gods.

[@HeraldingHistorian]

I’m wondering if the Land of Shadow is like the primordial place in this world, like whole realm is the Crucible. Everything gains power from this place, even Marika with the creation of the Erdtree, she just choose to bask it in shadow and shun its creatures, the omen and misbegotten.

[@The_Dreadbug]

I think the corpse she pulls the fabric from is the gloam eyed queen. It could be the strands that the gloam eyed queen would use to weave the godskin swaddling clothes, giving them the power of birth. This is probably what she used in some kind of infusion/ritual to give the Erdtree the power to rebirth life anew. So basically she is stealing the power of birth from the corpse. Also I believe the gloam eyed queen was the God to Placidusax and the dragons. It would give some explanation of why her sword is in the bottom of the tower in dragons borrow in Calid.

[@tool4132]

It would explain why Melina would be "burned and bodiless."

[@alfredoca687]

this feel extremely solid and reasonable

[@The_Dreadbug]

@@alfredoca687 Thanks.

[@The_Dreadbug]

​@@tool4132I didn't even think of that. Great point.

[@mohgceoofblood8235]

There is a one tiny thing missing, Maliketh. He was the one who killed GEQ if I remember correctly and he is nowhere seen in this trailer. (And before Marika, Maliketh served the Ancient Dragons, so he was under Placcidusax command at this point) Also it is stated GEQ was an emyprean , not a God, i Think the Title of a Queen was put to her to make Marika less legitimate contender - common strategy in medival times

[@WookieJangoFoxtrot]

I want to point out what it seems a lot of people are missing. Marika is shown pulling the gold thread from a single body yes, but then when she holds the gold thread above her, we can trace multiple threads to multiple different bodies on the walls beside her. So I am pretty confident, she is not pulling from just one person/body, but from many, then connecting them. Similar to the ending of Loki s2, how he holds multiple threads together to create a new world/time.

[@DavidKalinex]

The comprehensive analysis I was expecting, no crazy stuff, just straight up in-game references. Thank you!

[@SmoughTown]

Thanks David! Pleased you enjoyed!

[@zach5754]

The way Mesmer summons his weapons reminds me a lot of Hela, the Norse goddess of death from Thor Ragnarok. In Norse mythology, Odin exiled Hel to Niflheim and gave her power over the souls of the deceased who travel the road of the dead. Kinda interesting.

[@titaniumteddybear]

If anyone is confused about the difference between Dragon Cult and Communion it's actually simple. The Dragon Cult worshipped dragons; like a cult. The Dragon Communion ate dragon hearts; like communion wafers.

[@SmoughTown]

yummy

[@patriciapandacoon7162]

another way of looking at it is that the Dragon Cult idolizes the dragons and those who partake in Communion envy them. One appreciates at a distance and the other wishes to absorb.

[@Lila_S.]

Your lore videos are so comprehensive and detailed and in my honest opinion, currently unmatched. One thing I noticed and actually had to go back to look is that Messmer's face (kind of pointed nose) is very similar to Godwyn's- as much as we see it- when narrator, Ranni, is talking about the night of Black Knives (him lying with the Cursemark of Death carved in his back). So, it made me think that perhaps there was another set of twins, that perhaps the birth of Gold and Shadow is maybe more literal than we thought...

[@SmoughTown]

Thank you so much - really appreciate the support. Great observation re Godwyn - defo would line up more closely timelinewise; as it seems Messmer must have been one of Marika's earliest children.

[@Lila_S.]

@@SmoughTown Yes, and the First Church of Marika is established in the Mountaintops of the Giants. To be honest, when I first saw the opening gory scene with Marika, I thought that weird flesh cavity she puts her arm in was actually the Fell God on Giant's chest because that thing disturbed me just about the same as the opening of this trailer. It's crazy, but who knows? She's slain a deity there and perhaps the seduction and the betrayal were part of it.. It would explain Messmer's red hair. Obviously, I can't stop thinking about this trailer and its implications. :D

[@lebronjames06rules]

Great theory but I have a somewhat convincing rebuttal. The other twins have names that start with the same letter, so I doubt Godwin & Messmer are twins. Besides, Messmer being the son of Godfrey seems weird to me in a way I can’t reconcile lol. But, as I write this, I was thinking about the impaled giants in the Mountaintops. Obviously those are the same spears from the story trailer that Messmer uses to impale the Lion Dancers. And who else do we know led that was pivotal in war against the giants? Godfrey.

[@_please_dont_]

Godwyn also is more golden whereas Mesmer is radagons red, twins but different paternaties, same womb same time

[@gunnarschlichting9886]

@@lebronjames06rules I've seen a theory that Messmer is a child of Radagon and the Gloam-Eyed Queen, thereby explaining both hi red hair/name (Radagon) and his fire powers (GEQ connection with Destined Death). We already know Marika has used this strategy once (Radagon and Rennala).

[@DozleZabi]

Maybe what we thought about the timeline is all wrong? And the godskin apostasy happened prior to Marika becoming a God? We know the gloam eyed queen was an empyrean, maybe she and Marika fought to become the new God and Marika won? Maybe she felt bad about this and created Melina after the fact

[@SmoughTown]

100% possible - defo was worth a mention

[@Dioptase26]

This trailer made Leyndell attacking volcano manor make so much more sense, Rykard was mimicking the and possibly mocking the ritual Marika used to separate the lands

[@kasp7674]

At the five minute mark. Considering that we have no evidence of the godskins killing any gods during Marika's age, I think we can safely assume, that the godhunts happened prior to Marika becoming a God. Maybe there were plenty of gods prior to the Erdtree. Also the Gloam Eyed Queen has the moniker "Godslayer", which suggests she did kill gods.

[@PunchingBaeg]

My first thought with the visual of Marika making the Erdtree was how it reminded me of Rykard's Blasphemous Blade, then with Mesmer having a snake and your comments on his snaking flame it has me curious if theres something more with Messmer, Marika and Rykard. Or if i've forgotten too much lore.

[@freshhands9461]

Marika seduced the Snake God and bore Messmer to him. Or it seduced her, or both. Later, they had some falling out, and now the Snake is considered a traitor.

[@TheHi-NoteFunClub-BeatsByMike]

The ultimate spoiler regarding the name of the "Wicker Man" enemies would be "Fire Giants". Just spit balling.

[@stellataylor7436]

The bloody location with the bodies at the beginning makes me think about Rykard. Sorta like how he has those hands emerging from his sword and his… self

[@Varre922]

When I hear the words "seduction, betrayal, affair." I don't think it necessarily a s**ual affair like many in the community are currently thinking but refers to more so a general political scandal or treason. In fact when I hear those words, I immediately think that Marika ate from the tree of knowledge, that is she committed original sin (The Elden Ring version of it). What Marika original sin is? I don't know really, but I wager Marika wasn't ever meant to be the God Queen of the World. You see, I highly doubt that Messmer is actually on the side of Marika or the very least isn't anymore by the time we play the DLC. This is simply due to the fact that many of the things he's associated are considered treacherous or blasphemous (Snakes, fire, etc) and also the fact that he's completely erased from history? The idea that it's because Marika didn't want people to know about the purge of the crucible people doesn't really make much sense when you realize that she seemingly had no qualms with showcasing her brutal massacre of the fire giants. Why was this any different? As for the Lands of Shadow being disconnected, I think that means it's literally disconnected from the Lands Between, that is it would exist along side Limgrave, Caelid, Altus, etc if it weren't for Marika. I also think this means the Crucible city we see isn't necessarily an inversion of Leyndell but more a city that existed alongside it like the Eternal Cities at some point. I would also like to point out that when the shot of the Shadow Tree during Messmer war is shown, there doesn't seem to be a veil like we see in the next shots of the Shadow Tree/all the promotional material, only the rays of light coming from the tree itself. Meaning that the Land of Shadow could have been still very much apart of the Lands Between at this point in the timeline. So to my final hypothesis Messmer existed at one point in the lands between, and participated in the purge of the Fire Giants. I believe this to be the case for several reasons. In the gameplay trailer, we can clearly see Fire Giants in the Wicker Man which means that they must have existed during the war against the Fire Giants. This would also support my idea of the Lands of Shadow once being a functioning part of the Lands Between alongside the other regions as how and why would Marika transport Giant heads to somewhere that she veiled away. Also the the Fire Giants are impaled in a manner very similar to how we see the crucible people impaled. In addition, Messmer having red hair could be punishment from the Fire Giants similar to Radagon (At least to my understanding). All of this is to say that Messmer was very much apart of the Lands Between at some point, and probably fought along side Godfrey, and Marika in their wars to establish the Golden Order. However I think when Messmer learned of Marika "Original sin.", he was so disgusted and ashamed of her that he betrayed her. Messmer was likely raised to believe that the Golden Order was fine and dandy and all who opposed it were evil and needed to be culled. Then when he learned of the Sin that birth the order, he basically had a crisis of faith and that complied with the fact that he likely committed many atrocities in the name of the Order, it would be completely understandable why he betrayed the order. Now this is obviously speculation, based on limited information and my own deductive reasoning. I'll probably get proven wrong when the DLC comes out in a mouth but this is my personal interpretation of what's going on in these trailers.

[@Travar1410]

Much love! I as well think, just because they are saying it's "disconnected" from the main land, doesn't mean anything to me, except just that. It's physically not attached.. like islands aren't in real life. Another place "disconnected" from the lands between is farum azula. It's literally disconnected from the lands between, but also occupying the same universe. You can even physically see farum azula from afar, after you discover it.

[@been_rly_n2_paragliding_lately]

It's not necessarily the crucible massacre itself that Marika wants to hide. She doesn't want to reveal the truth about the origins of the erdtree and the fact that her order was (and still is) built on a lie.

[@Varre922]

@@been_rly_n2_paragliding_lately Marika probably wasn't worried about that initially, otherwise she would have immediately veiled the Land of Shadow as soon as she ascended (Which she almost certainly didn't given the fact the fire giants in the Wickermen golems) Messmer betraying her probably is what caused her to freak out and she basically made the Land of Shadows a prison for Messmer.

[@alexcollins71090]

Thank you for your perspective, especially about Messmer's red hair!! It was bothering me haha but makes a bit more sense now thanks to you. Hopefully we'll get more answers in the DLC.

[@FearedFire]

I love that elden John is the preferred name of the tree beard guy. Thank you quelaag!!

[@Pelagion98]

One think that should be considered is this trailer's chronological place. The video makes it seem as if both the war and the scenes with Marika happen at the same time. But given that Messmer has red hair, and his name starts with an M, he should be the son of Radagon and Marika. He does look somewhat strange and deformed, so what if his appearance is the product of another dysgenic curse? What if the slaughter we see is a more recent event in which Messmer was sent to the Shadowlands to crack down on whatever was happening down there?

[@osaasd8018]

The whole shadow realm and shadow war concepts remind me of this particular quote from Warhammer 40k, where the Emperor of Mankind explains the reason for the Dark Angels legion existence to the Primarch (leader) Lion El'Johnson of the Dark Angels, when the Primarch in question asks why the other legions are sent out to unify and conquer, and his is only sent to utterly destroy: " The Emperor considered long, as He often did, before giving an answer. 'In the time of the Aegypta there was an empress named Hatshepsut. By all accounts of her that survive she was an equitable and proficient ruler, by the standards of her time. She rebuilt her land in the wake of war and occupation, erecting great monuments and bringing prosperity to her people. She reassembled the Aegypta's navy, using it to re-establish their old empire, and launched military campaigns against the nations who had once been their oppressors.' ’A legacy whose parallels are not hard to see,' said the Lion. 'And yet those who came after her did all within their power to ensure that she would have no legacy. Her name was chiselled from every monument, her every deed and triumph stricken from public record. Even her body was removed from its royal tomb.' 'Why, if her reign was so equitable?' 'Because those who succeeded her desired it. Because sometimes what comes before is too troublesome to be paved over in rockcrete, to amend with a monument to compliance or a golden aquila on an Imperial flag. Sometimes it is enough only that it be destroyed, that no trace of it but darkness and ash be left to endure.' ‘And yet history still remembers this empress.' ‘The Emperor Thutmose the Third did not have his Dark Angels.' " Messmer and his army seems to be Marikas Dark Angels, not the soldiers fighting the glorious battles as Godfrey and his Tarnished did, but her executioners, sent against those who need to be exterminated with extreme prejudice and deleted from the annals of history.

[@hhowdy]

28 days left or 5 weeks left, we’re so close. Almost there!

[@yeahkeen2905]

28 days is 4 weeks not 5

[@hhowdy]

@@yeahkeen2905 We’re still in this week so I’m counting it as 5 but yeah technically 4

[@danguinius3654]

*AUGH!!* ...Sorry, just never heard that in weeks before.

[@noamias4897]

Love the fact that you always make sure to give credit 👍 happy we’re getting more content from you with the DLC.

[@SmoughTown]

Thanks my friend - super excited for the next couple of months!

[@titaniumteddybear]

Wait, you're implying that they might have blended the entire population of the Realm of Shadow into a blood smoothie from which they created (or recreated) the Elden Ring? I think that makes a lot of sense. It explains a lot of the ambiguity between the Elden Ring, the Erdtree, and the Crucible. Combine it with Tarnished Archeologists theory about the Erdtree emerging from the destroyed Great Tree, after being nursed to health by Marika, and I think we have a winner.

[@fulmenmoon40]

Except that the elden ring comes from a star.

[@dlwf11111]

@@fulmenmoon40nah the ring is like the fabric of reality, which was modified by the arrival of gold

[@fulmenmoon40]

@@dlwf11111 Maybe I should have said, Elden Beast. Queen Marika even in shackles remains a god and the visions "vessel". Vessel of the Elden beast, Elden beast the vassal of the Greater will.

[@TheClocktowerCrew]

I think its really neat how Messmer's flame incantations Also bear a striking resemblance to Rykards Rancor Hex, especially in how it snakes across the battlefield. I think it interesting how Rykard could really be like the end conclusion of a reverse ritual, where instead of a Demigod eating the Heart of a Draconic Serpent to become Messmer, the Dragon instead devours a Demigod and Togetha they form a bastard blasphemy that just should not be.

[@iboofer]

I had assumed that Messmer led the ancient snake cult and, in his research, Rykard figured out some of what his elder brother had done and patterned himself in a similar way. Sans dragon communion, but otherwise becoming a snake cultist.

[@The.Nasty.]

Awesome, this’ll be what I listen to between my work meetings. You’re awesome Smo, thanks for keeping us entertained and informing us as best as possible.

[@SmoughTown]

Really appreciate those kind words my friend - really grateful for your support

[@TuffCatDad]

I love From's excellent use of visual metaphor. A kingdom, a godhood, built on blood and bodies. The brilliant shining purity of Gold juxtaposed against the death and destruction it took to achieve. The ripping of the new order from the womb. A purge unsung, perpetrated by snakes, Marika herself baring a snake-esque looking bracelet as she wrests power from the old dynasty. Obv Miyazaki loves his Berserk references but man he really *gets* what made Berserk's themes so good.

[@1.0xY.m0r0n]

I was waiting for you to cover this! That trailer dropped SO much info.

[@NickCombs]

I think the theory that Melina (aka GEQ) is Marika's twin should be duly considered. It really brings the opening scene into clarity if Melina birthed Messmer, assisted by Marika, only to be betrayed when the baby's grace was stolen to form the duality of gold and shadow. A graceless god who would go on to become a Lucipher like demon. It also explains the figure mourning amidst the burning city as Melina, distraught at what has become of her son and realm.

[@captainlastname1932]

I've been waiting for this video like a kid sitting outside a closed toy shop. I'll be simply giddy for the next 45 minutes. Thank you for the video Smough you're the GOAT!

[@SmoughTown]

My pleasure my friend - truly grateful for your kind support, means the world

[@callmeknightsky]

The theory about the closed eye is probably the best I’ve heard and it makes so much sense! Another fantastic video 🙌🏼

[@SmoughTown]

Really appreciate that! Have no doubt we will get more info regarding spirits/bodiless characters in the DLC

[@callmeknightsky]

@@SmoughTown certainly there is so much to come!! The hype is indeed HYPE! And showing St. Trina as Miquella’s fate has created so many questions. Was Miquella’s fate to fully turn to St. Trina and become a god? If so, did something similar happen to Marika? Was it first Marika and then Radagon, or was it Radagon and then Marika somehow? I am now officially going off the rails lol.

[@RossAshmore]

40 minutes?! You got some sleep to catch up on Geoff😂

[@SmoughTown]

Hahaha you know me well Ross - don't worry, will be taking it easy over the weekend. As always appreciate your support bud

[@Onigure]

I like to hear and read you big brains and theories. Also love that you can accept you might be wrong. What a great community.

[@Fuzboy]

This may not be concrete proof/clue, but you can divide the music to 3 distinctive parts. The first is a nod to the Elden Ring theme, which I think it supports the idea that this scene depicts the birth of the Golden Order's Elden Ring. The second part is likely Messmer's theme as it plays during the battle/siege with Messmer. The third song represents Miquella, or at least the "followers" of Miquella

[@SmoughTown]

I defo agree there are three main 'scenes' being shown here

[@Fuzboy]

@@SmoughTown Don't know if someone has mentioned this yet, but in the official Elden EU Ring SotE page, there's a line that describes the NPCs who we'll meet as those "who follow in Miquella's footsteps with ulterior motives." I think this is definitely something interesting to bring attention to.

[@phonographzerophono8143]

In regards to your commentary about the Omen feeling underdeveloped, I've had this theory that the Omen may in fact be the same as (or adjacent to) the Ancestral Followers, and the various techniques the Followers use to commune with the spirits of nature are a means of both taming/directing their horn growth and soothing the angry spirits that would otherwise torment their sleep. The budding horn item may, for example, be the Followers 'passing off' their excess horn growth onto other creatures. This would also fit with the suggestion that the Ancestral Followers are a contemporary movement -- With the Omen being treated as poorly as they are, it would make sense that some of them might grow to resent the Erdtree and start looking to the old ways for answers, and could also explain where their (seemingly reactionary) stance against the usage of metals originates from, if Marika effectively committed mass slaughter (if not outright genocide) to create gold.

[@themagister577]

Not to mention that the archway of bodies 'Marika' is standing in is very similar in shape to the entryway to the Erdtree. The birth of the Erdtree.

[@havanaradio]

A new world to conquer and parasitize. (Amerika, it was never subtle but no one acknowledges it for some reason 🤣)

[@BenefitCounterbench]

​​@@havanaradioBecause Marika is a Hungarian nickname of Mária (Mary), it has nothing to do with America, people just butcher the pronunciation. Margit, István, and Elemér are also Hungarian names in the game thanks to GRR Martin.

[@havanaradio]

@@BenefitCounterbench lol come on, you think it was chosen without recognition that its one letter away from America??? In a game about an island nation assaulted by culture dominating aliens that arrive with bombs from the sky? Think for half a second.

[@big_manny]

this land being the “shadow” version of the lands between, and the shadow of the erdtree literally being the shadow of the light the erdtree emits, sort of “beneath” it, while being an omen themed land is really reminiscent of the dark sewer the omens dwell in being beneath the golden city of leyndell

[@eldric.stoneskin]

The burning wicker men have a real world inspiration that I’ve noticed George RR Martin draws on in ASOAIF as well, where the celts used to build a green man effigy out of straw which they would then burn at the end of winter to bring back the spring, with these burning wicker men being known as a “King of Winter” Makes me wonder if this enemy could be called a “King of Winter” as well

[@aroudingo]

Thank you so much for all this amazing content you put out for us souls fans! It is really clear you put so much effort and care into to your videos, and it is really paying off! The quality of content, and the extent of your lore analysis is really inspiring. The way you link to other fellow creators and give them visible credit is humble and shows your deep care for the community

[@SmoughTown]

Yo thank you so much my friend - that is incredibly generous of you and much appreciated. Thanks for the kind words and support, really keeps my going!

[@whoisj]

1 month before the DLC drops, I honestly believe that the corpse in the cocoon is Mesmer and not Miquella.

[@syrobe]

amazing video! agreed with you on a lot of parts. I like to think that the beginning shot represents the whole beginning of the DLC area, how the land of shadow came to be rather than the lands between

[@SmoughTown]

Thanks dude! Yeh defo a possibility!

[@darrenfields7361]

Marika directly wiping out an Omen based society would also explain the dreams of terror the Omens have possibly visions and remnants of the restless souls that were purged. Along with why there souls don’t go to the Erdtree in Maricas original plan she didn’t want them too

[@therako7301]

44 Mins of amazing Lore analysis but not a single mention of the best lore item in the game the Albinauric Bloodclot, you made and ruined my day all at once, Thank you keep up the amazing work!

[@SmoughTown]

OMhGGG I didn't even notice! Hahah thank you so much, I will do!

[@eugenialysa]

Perfect timing!! Thank you for covering this story trailer!

[@SmoughTown]

Thanks so much Eugenia! Your support means the world

[@ATroubledMaker]

Just ran across this and recognized you are the immensely talented artist behind the St. Trina concepts and work. I looked at more of your creation/development on your Twitter (after hesitantly joining to share my work and also network) and it's brilliant. The fact you also develop this in a game engine is insane to me. I do in game photo/video cinematics but have never shared it as I only started playing ER due to becoming sick and bedbound. I'm a researcher/investigator and had no idea the itch that would be scratched from this work of art and concepts from real life history and world mythos. I do hope to meet other creators. It allows me to still do something valuable and meaningful even after losing my ability to work and the parallel of themes between overcoming the impossible and persevering strongly resonated with me. It may have helped prolong my life.

[@jamesnorman9160]

This trailer has so much amazing imagery in it: mainly, that one of Messmer overlooking the city burning down while his armies (including the burning wicker giants) lay waste to it, all the while he stands there looking like he's made of pure evil. The snakes and bloodflame doesn't help...or Marika standing among a literal landscape of bodies and flesh as she cements the Golden Order. It's unusual to be this excited for coming DLC rather than a full game...

[@timdiggity]

Yes!! I’ve been eager to hear your analysis!

[@SmoughTown]

Thank you tim! I shout out your video near the end!

[@timdiggity]

@@SmoughTown No way! Thanks so much man!

[@Firecat0]

@SmoughTown She isn't pulling out strands or threads; she's pulling out cloth. Try looking at it like greenscreen fabric; it's only visible on the edges of folds where the sheen of the light is being reflected enough to change the color and keep it from being keyed out/made invisible. It's very visibly fabric in the close-up, but even in the far shot it looks just like those big parachutes we got to play with as a group in elementary school. The light is just being strongly reflected on the folds (think black velvet).

[@mr.ashenfire2624]

Your videos continue to smolder with the Flame of Ambition.

[@quassigio7395]

The hair that was pulled out is Marika's own, but altered due to what she did with that body. It's possible that Marika might not naturally be blonde and instead bleached her hair to make it golden, similar to how she removed death from the order to create the Golden Order. The body might belong to the Gloam-Eyed Queen which would make sense because the godskins are the ones who just so happen to have all the bleached skin armor sets. I believe Marika assigned her firstborn son a duty opposite to that of the Gloam-Eyed Queen. He may even be some sort of perverted reincarnation of her. While the Gloam-Eyed Queen is known as the skinner of gods, Mesmer is the skinner of demons and the sinful-the snake eating snake. Additionally, the fact that Mesmer resembles a godskin, only with red hair as opposed to the once blonde hair of the gloam eyed queen ties everything together. Edit: I also think having one eye closed is a symbol of partial puppetry or disconnection of some kind. Ranni being the most obvious example has this. (She also has the ghost version next to her which could imply her distinction from the others. She has control despite being a puppet.) So does Melina who conveniently can’t remember much about anything except what she’s been told do. And now so does Mesmer who’s been born to do nothing but eat sin and be forgotten. I don’t think Melina and Mesmer are necessarily controlled by Marika but definitely manipulated and misguided as a result of not being and/or knowing half of what they did/were prior.

[@KyleB_95]

Dang you're quick Smough! What a great video!

[@SmoughTown]

Thanks Kyle! Hope you enjoy it

[@dshearwf]

I love how our gaze switched from character to character since the game's release. For me, it was always Marika though, like just this big blank on the whole WHY as the original instigator of everything and depicted in sooo many (conflicting) ways, I finally want to know what this lady was cooking up all this time...

[@AlexanderForsman]

I got two thoughts: --> I think the city Mesmer is attack looks far more similar to the design of Selia than Lyndell. --> Secondly i think what we see in the beginning is Radagon recreating himself into Marika in a pact with the Golden order. I see lots of similarities between that scene and Griffith becoming Femto.

[@mateuszsotys3912]

Old Leyndell (the part where we find the onion armor) actually looks like Sellia. So it can be Leyndell in the past

[@varsoonhks3211]

Man who has only read Berserk : "Getting some real Berserk vibes from this game..."

[@shogomakishima7224]

If you look very closely in third scene you will see that a braid appears on Marika hair even though it wasn't there just a moment ago. Also this V type body build suggest it is a man.

[@Pillowcasethegreat]

@@mateuszsotys3912 if you look at lendyall from the map and compare it to the underground, the part where there seems to be a moat lines up perfectly with the location of the unamed eternal city suggesting after the betrayal from the nox, they were literally sent underground. also theres a reason the new lendyell is built on top of the old building. so it wasn't leyndell but rather the earlier culture that the golden order "built on top of"

[@Andrei-Rex]

When this Berserk nonsense will stop.

[@cameron2643]

Just wanted to say, I really enjoy your elden ring content and truly appreciate the long form lore content. I like to listen to them while I'm at work since I'm not a huge fan of music while working. I hope you continue all the amazing work, and I wish you all the best.🧡

[@SmoughTown]

Much appreciated my friend - I am really grateful for your support and kind words. Wish you all the best too!

[@elcononamethon2157]

I need to be up in 6 hours for work. But my priorities are set in stone

[@SmoughTown]

hahaha - hope work goes well my friend

[@Zeark]

Yesss I’ve been waiting for this!

[@linusprammefors1830]

Theory: Miquella is st: Trina, as much as he is not. From the trailer, we get a very interesting comment about Miquella abandoning his fate. But what is his fate? The fate most likely is for him to become st: trina. And since birth, he probably had instances where his second persona bloomed. But why is it so that the many people we see have different personas? Twins sort of say? For example: Radagon is Marika. Miquella is saint Trina. Here comes the interesting part. Melania, and Ranni, well, you would not think they have a second personas, but they do, and that is of the snowy queen, and the legendary swordsman/the blue fairy who taught her to fight. We have always presumed these to be different people, and as much as it can be true, that can be untrue. Interestingly, if we presume that the snowy queen is a second personality of Ranni, and the legendary swordsman/the blue fairy who fought against rot and taught Melania to control and to fight it, then what makes an empyrean maybe is not simply one being born of one god, but one being born of one god with two personalities, two identities housing one body, or two identities, which has been separated from one another, to then again meet and have a child together. Marika is an empyrean, and the reason she is an empyrean could be because she has radagon within her. Now, why is this important to understand when it comes to Marika becoming the vessel for the Elden ring? Well, at some point I believe Radagon was separated from Marikas body, and with the red of hair he had, was presumed a descendant of the giants, who also had red hair. The reason this separation had to happen was because otherwise, Marika would not be able to hold the Elden ring within her, which then would take the place of Radagon to live within her body. This is why when Radagon and Marika finally meet to become the vessel and Elden lord, they only have Empyrean children, since the empyreans are born of one god, the one god in this case being Radagon and Marika, since they once were the same person. With this in mind, how does this apply to all the other empyreans? Well. Miquella is saint Trina, but in truth, he is not, and saint Trina was the persons and identity living within him from birth. Sometimes this persona could bloom, just like with Melania or Marika, such as when the scarlet rot blooms, or when radogon blooms from Marika. That is why some people were sure that saint Trina was a boy, since it sometimes bloomed from his souls. But then we now hear in the trailer that he separated himself from his body. Which technically means that both saint Trina within him is now bodyless, aswell as Miquella. And saint Trina is in fact Melena, ho serves to be our guidance through the lands between. That is why some believe that she was a girl. For when they meet saint Trina, she now looked like she actually looked, like Melena, who simply was hidden when she lived within Miquella. Now with Ranni. She too had a separate identity, this being the snowy crone that taught Ranni everything. Her second persona housed within her. Ranni to burned her body, becoming bodiless, and what happend was that the snowy crone exist as her own persona out in the world now, and Ranni herself choose to live within a doll of her liking. This means that empyreans who separate their souls from their body has an opportunity to house another being. This could be how Marika and Radagon both houses separate beings, simply by divesting themselfes of the body, Radagon perhaps taking the liking and body of a giant, or Marika taking the liking of the pregnant woman in the shadow of the erdtree trailer. She stole the body of a pregnant woman, from a man who loved her dearly, and that’s who we see in the trailer with the sword becoming his spine. The gloam eyed queen was presumably the last empyrean before Marika chose to host the Elden ring. For when the gloam eyed queen died, the golden order was founded. About Radagon: One thing that has always been off about Radagon is what his motivation is. When he warred for the golden order, he set out to make gold the true order of everything, that is why they fought against the moon and stars, being the carians and the academy. But then he presumably falls in love with Rennala, and their love comes through very barringly, for Rennala is truly heartbroken when we meet her in the game. And something is off about the the way Radagon leaves her to become Elden Lord right after having a daughter who is an empyrean. First he leaves her an egg of amber giving the ability for rebirth. Is this something Radagon left with Rennala simply to make sure Marika didn’t receive it? Radagon is told to be very loving of his children. All his children love and adore him, look up to him, and between Miquella and him, they give each other gifts of golden rings. Nowhere do they talk of Marika and their relationship. Whenever we hear of Marika, she talks of eradication of her enemies, she says one time that either you are of the golden order or against it, a very tyrannical person. But then she goes and shatters the Elden ring, where as Radagon tries to restore it. Why? When we give all the deathroot to Gurranq, he screams in agony at Marika, “is this what it is to sin?”, presumably talking about the life after death and his satiation for deathroot. And when we later kill him, he apologises to Marika for dying, and says that the golden order can never be restored, probably the reason for why she shattered the ring. The reason was probably that the golden order was crumbling after Godwin’s death. The Erdtree was built by feeding it bodies. In this trailer we see the creation of it, and in this world, when people die, they leave their bodies by the roots. Is this a spiritual act or nice religious act? Probably not. It is probably how the erdtree lives and breathes, how it eats, how it gets stronger. By feeding upon the bodies of the dead. But that isn’t all. When marika plucked away the rune of death, she had Maliketh simply for placing the rune somewhere. Meaning that her purpose of plucking it away had a true great purpose for her own order. That reasons are two in my opinion. First of all it is the way to live forever, to never die. As a person burdened by the god she has contact with, she has to act in its way, and she plucks it away to stay a god ruling forever. The other is make sure that people live for ever, so the erd tree can feed upon people in the graves forever. After Godwin’s death, he was buried right by the base of the erdtree, the reason for this is that the dead live on within the erdtree, but since his soul had died, and his body spread death through the roots affecting the lands between, her order was slowly crumbling. Together with the Haligtree opposing the order, giving refuge to the people of the lands between, where as Marika would have killed them to feed the erdtree. Marika realised that only one thing could be done to save her rule, making sure that the golden order stays the golden order, keeping marikas age going, and that was to shatter the Elden ring and make the world fight itself, so that no one can take her place. How does Radagon fit into this? Radagon and marika whether separate or not, Marika festered Radagon and Marikas bodies into the same body, Radagon becoming trapped within Marika. Radagon is said to try to fix it, and as the ‘leal hound’ as he is, of course he would do everything to fix it. But fix it does not simply mean that at the time of shattering, trying to assemble it back together. It can simply mean that Radagon was of the golden order, and where as Marika shattered the Elden ring to stay the god eternal, Radagon tried to keep the golden order intact, and make sure that Marikas plan of a never ending war was not to happen. If Marika shattered the Elden ring, the golden order would be eternal, but it would be broken. The reason Radagon fights us is because we are there not simply to take the place of Elden Lord, technically replacing Radagon, but we are there to usher in a new order or new age, which means that if Radagon doesn’t fight you, then he doesn’t fight for the order Marika tried to make eternal by plucking away the rune of death and shatter the Elden ring. My personal theory is that Radagon was ones thought to be a giant, and lived as a builder working on stormwind castle, where he later led a rebellion against his oppressors and gained a royal status within the golden order. Later to lead wars for them, against Liurnia. Godfrey was probably sent away to the badlands to allow the lands between to live within a false sense of peace, since there was no more to kill for the erdtree growth. To later send him back to the lands between, presenting him as a vengeful man and a foreign army to kill after their invasion. But Godfrey was not satisfied, and instead of leaving with the boats, stayed with a sword crafted from his entire army, and tried to kill everyone within castle morne, until he fell to his death. The other reason they were sent away was probably for the exact reason she tells them. To kill everyone when returning, feeding the erdtree even more, probably without Godfrey knowing if it. Extra fun fact: if you look at the return to grace icon in you inventory, it tells them that grace is what leads everyone. But if you look at the icon, you might think, what brought Queen Marika to the lands between? And the icon looks like a falling sun or something bright in the distance reflecting of the water. Maybe that is what brought Marika to the lands?

[@linusprammefors1830]

I apologise. When I say the blind swordsman, what I mean is the blue fairy bestowing a sword(water) to seal the rot.

[@cfh23666]

After listening to some of the ideas this seriously reminds me of Egyptian mythology and the duat. It’s kind of explained like water. Obove the surface and below the surface. Plus Egypt has a lot of mythology on the shadow.

[@punishedvenomsnake716]

This was such an incredible trailer from both a visual and a lore perspective. I legit watched it over 10 times in a row just to take all of it in. Less than a month to go but it feels like June 21st is an eternity away. FromSoft just makes art, man.

[@SmoughTown]

Genuinely the same - watching it every couple of hours because it is just THAT good

[@punishedvenomsnake716]

@@SmoughTown Absolutely! That shot of Messmer in front of the burning battlefield and city is just peak kino 🔥🔥🔥 I was also very hyped in expecting your lore breakdown as well, Smough. I can't wait to see where things go with Miquella, maybe we'll see the return of covenants and other really cool features in addition to all that sweet, sweet lore 🙂

[@nathanplumb3782]

I hope we get to meet Elden John in the second game. I bet he’s a cool guy that’s probably really good at playing the piano, singing, and making me feel things.

[@EmraHemingway]

Hey Smoughtown! 👏🏻👋🏻🔨 Your vids are super rad! This is how I think the Crucible works! Maybe this is common sense, but I believe that the game mechanic of “Remembrances” may relate very closely to the nature of the Crucible with the Erdtree and its predecessor. The reason creatures are able to blend in this melting pot of life through the Crucible is through the power of the Erdtree; that is, the tree stores the lives and “memories” of those buried near it in the form of aspects. The Crucible Knights can pull the different aspects of great beasts from the Erdtree, because of how all life once connected to the tree. The Golden Order Erdtree does a similar thing with its Remembrances, and the player Tarnished can turn those Remembrances into aspects of those bosses. I think the key difference is that the current Erdtree, with its order, cannot allow life to change and blend through it. Because of this players can only acquire aspects in the form of codified knowledge or a physical item, and cannot, say, grow a muscular Godfrey arm. That’s why the Tarnished’s remembrance weapon can be smaller than or different looking to the boss’s; it’s a memory or aspect of that boss. Thinking on Golden Order Fundamentalism, if all things are connected in a chain of relation, and all things yearn eternally to converge, that would make those rules constants since at least the first great tree, and possibly earlier! tl;dr: All life is connected together by the primordial Erdtree; The tree holds the life and memories of life of all deceased creatures, and so other creatures pull from and blend into those memories through birth or faith. Enjoy my funny theory! I’m quite confident on this! 🌌🖤

[@EmraHemingway]

Also, 43:13 I think the spear-bearing body kneeling on the army-clad steps looks like a Crucible Knight! Look above its shoulders at the axe helm-like protrusions! But what could a Crucible Knight be doing here, in a place likely before Godfrey’s time? 🪓🌲

[@drifty9000]

If the pile of corpses was a sacrifice to the Greater Will, maybe that provides context to the massive humanoid skeletons in the Eternal Cities? Those are also surrounded by human corpses, these ones apparently petrified. Maybe the Nox were trying to imitate Marika's ascension to godhood, and the giant skeletons are the (failed) result.

[@smokingbobs1344]

22:20 I just noticed that during this shot the blood is actively flowing down the stairs. Gruesome stuff.

[@UtinniTim]

We know the Erdtree needs bodies via burial to keep its roots strong, we also know Miquella’s Haligtree was distinct from the Erdtree in that he watered it with his own blood. So it does seem like a big revelation will be that those mountains of corpses were the foundational nutrients required for the Erdtree to start growing. (Edit) yep, you touched on all my theories in the first 10 minutes. This is why I follow you 🙌

[@rebar4846]

The "Omen-looking boss" design reminds me a lot of Godwyn tbh. Just the way his arms are placed. The way his blades remind me of the two halves of the Rune of Death.

[@_.alex.-]

I wish I had the ability to watch something and then pull this much detail from it. I was just sat there with a grin on my face haha. Love your dedication to detail ST.

[@LBJ.91]

I think Mesmer is the mirror of the tarnished.

[@Verbmo]

For people still doubting the person in the beginning is Marika, not only do the bracelets match but so do the flowing black robes on her lower half we see her in at the end of the game.

[@BiblicFurby]

Just fought the Godskin apostle in the divine tower Caelid and noticed they also have those weird yellow eyes like Messmer. Maybe Marika and the Gloam-eyed queen made Messmer as like a super godskin, and that scene in the beginning is marika pulling his grace/gold from his swaddling cloth.

[@cha0ss849]

Lowkey sort of starting to believe what we were seeing in the trailer was the crucible right before the erdtree was formed cause not only does it fit the description of having life blended together, but like what a lot of ppl have been saying the bodies form the shape of a tree(maybe the birth of the erdtree). What rlly caught my eye tho was how even though Siluria's helm and a ton of the other crucible imagery does use tree symbolism, the branches of the helm do look like hands or arms reaching out just like the trailer. Thought this was interesting even this could sorta be a stretch.

[@HDdeiu]

[@SmoughTown]

Hello there!

[@mr.ashenfire2624]

General Radahn!! *violently starts spinning arms*

[@rukenshin1709]

“A seduction and Betrayal” makes that painting of the man and the woman next to him touching her belly very important. I’m of the belief that the woman in that picture is Marika and the man sitting down is the previous God of that age and in that picture she was currently pregnant with Mesmer. Marika poisoned Mesmers mind to betray his father and side with her , maybe with the promise of his own kingdom. I truly believe because unless her other self Radagon existed during that time, there is no one else since Godfrey from what I understand in the lore she met in the lands between since he was blessed with grace which shadowland does not seem to possess.

[@NIALLISSNOWFLAKE]

Im about to eat so perfect time

[@ididntaskverified3663]

You prevented me from the first comment, shame

[@jer1515]

The shot of Messmer standing with his spear pointed straight up in the air, in front of the impaled people, with an inferno behind them as it moves up to show the city is somehow being siphoned or dissolved into shadows beneath the twisted tree and its oozing gold... I don't know how they come up with this stuff man the feeling it evokes is something else

[@ididntaskverified3663]

Gyat

[@notacat.1]

27:15 "The saint" I personally believe is a spirit tuner that Hewg the blacksmith is personally indebted to (via the saint secretly letting him live, maybe?), only evidence I can think of is the brooch on the "Chrysalids' Memento" key item from the Rodericka quest

[@moki4895]

Having his play during work is gonna be essential to my enjoyment 😮‍💨, thank you for another worthy addition to my collection

[@SmoughTown]

My pleasure and I hope work goes well!

[@D3ltus]

I think you're spot on with the leading character being a knight of Miquella. Not only the sword you mentioned but their armour seems to be designed after the Carian Knight's armour set

[@petroscardoso]

for me this speculation of yours ate 7:20 about the corpses feeding the tree was the mandatory true since I've seen a catacomb for the first time. the bodies are put close to the roots to nurture the tree. like... a fertilizer

[@rhapsody5645]

Very happy we're getting more Marika storyline.

[@Muerto26789]

You are probably one of the smartest KZbinr i ever heard. You are a lore genius. AMAZING VIDEO 💪🏻

[@whoisj]

Many ancient cultures believed that there was power in blood, especially human blood. I can easily imagine that in a Crucible Civilization sourcing their most powerful magics from human sacrifices. I would think that it's quite likely Merika drew power from that massive pile of corpses combined with the power of the stolen rune strands to create the portal to the glowing, golden lands we see her open in the video.