Elden Ring Lore | Night of the Black Knives Dissected

On a Night of Wintry Fog, the Black Knife Assassins struck down Godwyn the Golden and changed the world forever. Yet despite its importance, there are many details about this night that are hotly debated. Join me this week as we answer some of the deeper questions surrounding the event.
Editor: Creators Studio - creatorsstudio.co.uk/
Intro: 0:00
The Golden Age: 1:59
Foul Covenant: 11:39
Marika is Innocent: 37:50
Killing Fate: 45:02
The Night of the Black Knives: 54:55
Aftermath: 1:09:37
Ordina Liturgical Town: 1:13:39
A Night O' Wintry Fog: 1:14:30
This is an extremely expansive video that not only looks at Astel but also covers the following subjects: Glintstone, Crystalians, Onyx Lords, Alabaster Lords, Gravity Magic, Rennala, The Carians, The Primeval Current, Two Fingers, Greater Will, Elden Beast, The Lands Between, Raya Lucaria and More!
Shout out to Lokey and Mirko (u/LaMi_1) for their insights and translations.
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REFERENCES
Bandai Namco the 'Age of Gods' article: en.bandainamcoent.eu/elden-ri...
Tarnished Archaeologist on Leyndell: • Leyndell's Hidden Hist...
Quelaag 'The Elden Ring Keeps Me Up At Night': • The Elden Ring Keeps M...
Lokey Abyssal Archive: www.abyssalarchive.com/
SmoughTown Video on Eternal Cities: • Elden Ring Lore | The ...
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CREDITS
Commission Thumbnail art by the incredible Sami: / 00osamio00
Big Thanks to Last Protagonist for his fantastic videos and translations provided: / @lastprotagonist
Thumbnail layout by BrightSparkIV: / brightsparkiv
Please subscribe for more future Elden Ring Lore content!
Follow me on Twitter: / smoughtown
Images used from Fextralife Wiki: eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com...
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Soundtrack is Demon's Souls, Dark Souls, Sekiro and Elden Ring
I do not own the rights to Elden Ring, all rights to FromSoftware
#eldenring #eldenringlore #gaming

[@SmoughTown]

Thank you everyone for watching my dissection on the Night of the Black Knives! Would love to hear your thoughts below! How to support the channel: Memberships (YT): kzbin.info/door/cvGOIuFH6befwVyElnMI_Ajoin Patreon: www.patreon.com/SmoughTown

[@raflav54]

You are 100% one of the best content creators for Elden Ring, and a gift to the Soulsborne lore community. Thanks for all your excellent, in-depth work!

[@SmoughTown]

@@raflav54 Yo thank you so much my friend! That means the world to me bud

[@BJK2311]

Thanks for creating this awesome content 🎉👌

[@SmoughTown]

@@BJK2311 My pleasure bud!

[@ThommyofThenn]

@@BJK2311 totally agree bud

[@finnbean5166]

Brother knows so much about these games he could teach souls lore at a university

[@SmoughTown]

Thanks dude! I'm also lucky to learn from other talented creators and translators!

[@SomeUnkindledAsh]

I'd take that class for sure

[@playkapenda2074]

Not only would I take that class, but I’d go into decades of debt just to get my Elden degree.

[@plasticreplica]

He works at the academy of rayaaaa lucariiaaa

[@PrinceBilliamTheFourth]

Had mans put all this research into IRL history and Atlantis would’ve been long discovered.

[@nev2221]

I wish Rogier had more lines of dialog and lore to tell us. His voice actor and much more friendly demeanor than Ofnir's makes him one of my favorite characters.

[@MercedesSLSJpak]

Something awesome about Godwyn I’ve noticed - many people have pointed out how he’s kind of a fungal essence spreading rot throughout the erdtree, but the fact that he has a giant growth under Stormveil is critical to me because it’s the windiest place in The Lands Between and presumably that’s spreading his spores further and further, maybe even to Farum Azula and that’s how he showed up there

[@hiddenshadow2105]

Ok, this will explain 'Maliketh's washroom' in Crumbling Farum Azula a little

[@user-pd1sv8qi9m]

Not just windiest. I think it has to do with the horrors in Stormveil with all the grafting and stuff as well.

[@allmyself666]

@@hiddenshadow2105 his what?

[@hiddenshadow2105]

@@allmyself666 In Farum Azula there is a place (kind of hidden, under the passage where you fight the dragon and hawks, the place with Crucible Knight and a bunch of beastmen). This place is choke full of Deathroot, which is odd because Farum Azula is high in the skies, Deathroot propagates from water and roots and Deathroot started long after Farum Azula went into the skies. So people are joking that this is Maliketh's washroom. Because, you know, he eats Deathroot, it has to come out on another end eventually.

[@hiddenshadow2105]

@@user-pd1sv8qi9m How is grafting related to Deathroot, in your opinion?

[@scribesorcerer4967]

I always felt shattering the Elden Ring was an act of suicide. Radagon spent much time trying to convince Marika to keep going, to keep being the God-Queen. But when she had lost so many children, her beloved son Godwyn’s corpse became an infectious pestilence of undeath, when her daughter was wasting away with Scarlet Rot, these things broke her steadily over time until she couldn’t handle it anymore. I always felt that Marika was meant to be different from Gwyn and other figures who ruled their worlds. She broke her world because it was the only thing that could kill her, because she suffered so much in between promising the Tarnished’s return to claim the Elden Ring, and tasking Hewg to make a weapon that could kill her.

[@krishnansubramoni7801]

While I can sympathize greatly with a grieving mother, we should not forget that Marika has done horrible things. She herself sealed away Destined Death - the thing that could kill her. She did nothing to help her Omen children Morgott and Mohg, and allowed them to suffer in prison. She tricked, betrayed and mentally destroyed Rennala and her family - which ultimately caused Ranni to do the Night of Black Knives. (remember that Ranni hates being bound to the two fingers, which only happened after she became a step-child of Marika). She married Radagon which is also herself and produced children. And of course there is the large amount of territorial aggression, wars, and genocides she committed. She is literally the #1 person responsible for most of the horrors in the Lands Between.

[@RosemaryTravale]

I wonder if Iji could have been the one who carved the other half of the rune into Ranni, and that is the reason why the black knife assassins go after him. Someone had to do it for her since it was on her back, and it seems that the rest of the black knives were out doing their murders. If they really had no idea about Ranni's secret plot to shed her body, then it had to be someone in Ranni's circle and it seems unlikely Blaidd could do it and I get the idea that Ranni would not allow herself to be in such a moment of weakness with that creep Seluvis (she never seems to full trust him, or at least know he's a scheming dingus)

[@kyleharrison713]

I agree, and this isn't getting talked about enough.

[@Aleph-Noll]

maybe she did it to herself?

[@Ryan-pg5vx]

​@@Aleph-NollIt's on her back

[@erederiu]

​@Ryan-pg5vx while I do agree with the idea of it being iji, maybe it was a spell that mimicked the Eochaid Telekinesis?

[@aifos5171]

8:50 also when you use the ash of war of the golden epitaph you can see Miquella's sigil, the description is definitely referring to him

[@azazelsiad3601]

True but it doesn’t prove they knew one another it just heavily implies it. Miquella could have heard of all the grand things his brother had done and commemorated a blade to him in the hopes it would return his soul to his body. Miquella was known for his caring personality and his ability to illicit love from others. Though it does intrigue me because this implies Marika banished Godfrey but not his kin but the story explicitly states she banished him and his kin. “You and your kin shall be divested of grace and sent away”. Melina in the Third Church of Marika reciting her words. This game has the best speculative material

[@alfalldoot6715]

@Azazel Siad By "Godfrey's kin" I think it means Godfrey and all the other tarnished who lost their grace and Godwyn kept his.

[@alfalldoot6715]

Because Godrick is still definitely in the Lands Between and is also a distant descendant of Godfrey

[@JohnJohn-qq1cw]

@@azazelsiad3601 how would he never meet his brother? no doubt they were a dysfunctional family, but still.

[@brittany45]

​@@JohnJohn-qq1cw I believe they're technically half-siblings. Godwyn and his sibling cohort are the children of the first Elden Lord, Godfrey, whereas Miquella and his cohort are the children of Radagon. It's entirely possible for the first group to be grown and off doing whatever it is grown demigods do and never properly meet their siblings. There's quite a few things that happen between the birth of the first bunch of kids, Godfrey getting divorced/banished, Radagon becoming the second Elden Lord, *and then* the second batch of kids are born. In real medieval life, children of royals were raised by nannies and teachers and only 'debuted' as members of the family when they became adults so if there was a substantial amount of time between births you might only ever meet face to face once you were both adults!

[@giovanniprovost]

Shoutout to you, Hawkshaw, Quelaag, Zullie and of course our boy Vaati for consistently helping me understand hidden nuance in this incredible game. I especially love that you allow us to make our own assumptions about what could be going on, and still manage to educate me MASSIVELY. Props to you and the entire Soulsborne lore community.

[@SmoughTown]

Thanks my friend. Honoured to be mentioned among such legends

[@MadAtreides1]

I suggest to check both Crunchy and The Tarnished Archeologist

[@jackweaver1846]

@@MadAtreides1 TA is unmatched

[@kasp7674]

Another fantastic video. I have always wondered why Ranni would have to specifically kill Godwyn the Golden to get rid of her Empyrean flesh. Couldn't it have been anyone? And why kill so many other demigods as well? But after watching this video I think I finally got it. What would people think, if Ranni just abandoned her empyrean flesh? I don't think that could be interpreted as anything other than her rebelling against the Greater Will. But by having multiple demigods killed, she can essentially play it off as her just being another one of the victims. By then helping to hunt down the assassins and even imprisoning their leader, she can even earn a good deal of goodwill.

[@michaelblevins1651]

Here’s my theory she needed another demigod to die in soul so she wouldn’t die in soul but only in flesh. Look at Godwyn in the intro the mark left by the assassins is half of the rune of death the tune of deaths mark can be split to enact a partial death because the rune was formed fully but separated if ranni tried the tune on her full she would’ve been out right dead

[@DaveyJones59]

I think the reason the ringleader is imprisoned in the Evergaol on lunar plateau is because the "mistake" that led to her daughter dying was Ranni's fault. I think the problem was that she died along with Godwyn, thus resulting in Godwyn's corpse not dying like it should have and when Alecto found out, Ranni imprisoned her. As to why she killed Godwyn, that is because he was the single greatest demigod backer of the Golden Order. His death was literally 1 tier below killing Marika herself in terms of the damage it would cause to the Golden Order.

[@demilung]

I think the God-killing party was after all available targers to topple the current regime and Godwyn was just a high-value target. It plays with them being Numes with relation to Marika - for other people Marika is one true God and her children are holy demigods. But to Numen Marika could be known as one of their kind who gained power - so they would not hold her in such reverense and to them the plot would be an almost natural change of ruling order. Ranni pretended to side with them, but for her own goals. I don't think she called out targets, but simply waited for the first demigod to be killed to kill her flesh at the same time - basically to DDoS the Rune of Death with two simultaneous requests resulting in half-effects for both targets. While going after Godwyn first would make sence in a multi-target assassination, I think it's ultimately a coincidence that Godwyn became the Prince of Death. Considering Ranni's dead flesh remained hidded with her holding the only key to the tower and that Gideon and others counts among the "remaining unaccounted sharbearers" I don't think the fact of her death in flesh was known to others, and since she's unaccounted I seriously doubt she has shown herseft after the fact in her new form to help with anything.

[@clutchedbyanangel]

Being an Empyrean, she could even make it look as if she was the primary target

[@briandennis3679]

I firmly believe that Ranni singled out Godwyn as the first to die. We all know what became of Renalla when Radagon left her to become the second Elden Lord. I think Ranni was angry about what became of her mother, and she held Marika responsible as the one who sent Godfrey away and seemingly called Radagon back to the capital and away from Renalla (or perhaps she knew Radagon's secret). As such, she saw the necessary death of another demi god as a way to get revenge on the person who broke her mother. She wanted Godwyn, Marika's first and most beloved child, to be the first to die. Not only would it cause Marika pain to lose her beloved child, but there is the added humiliation that comes with being the very first demi god to fall. It would seem a fitting form of revenge. Ranni went through the pain and humiliation of seeing her mother fall from grace, so to speak. So she caused Marika the same pain and humiliation of seeing her son fall from grace as well. The other demi gods were singled out by the Black Blades and likely were of no consequence to Ranni. There is also the fact that, as an Empyrean, Ranni would require an Elden Lord to serve as her consort. It is possible that the Golden Order had already decided that Godwyn, as the first born of the Order, was the best suited for the role. This would just be one more decision about Ranni's fate that she had no part in, causing her to resent Godwyn for the role that he would play. As far as what happened afterwards, I don't think Ranni knew that Marika would smash the Elden Ring and trigger the Shattering. Ranni likely intended to let everyone believe that she had been assassinated as well, and wait for a time to enact the next phase of her plan. But then all the other demi gods turned on each other anyway and went to war, so it didn't matter if the others knew of her survival.

[@SomeUnkindledAsh]

I really wish they would release a version of GRRM's mythos. I like to think it's something similar to the style of "Fire & Blood". Kind of a recounting of history as told by an ancient noble. I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

[@brentbentKRFP]

I'm hoping for a streaming service to pick it up and create the show from the story GRRM has already plotted out for them even though, at the time, he was only plotting it for a video game world. If done properly, it'd be a hit in the West and the East.

[@seanfussa3076]

One question about godwyn is "How did he start spreading death root?" I believe that nobody understood what was happening on the Night of the Black Knives. In the aftermath someone, probably a relative like Marika, took Godwyn to the roots of the Erdtree in order to give him an erdtree burial and reincorporate his soul. His body, being unable to die due to the incomplete curse, started the process of erdtree burial, but since he couldn't be killed his body started to spread like an infection in order to protect itself. It ends up all over the lands between spreading through the erdtree's vast roots leading to the vast propagation of deathroot we see today. People probably only realized that he was soulless after they put him through erdtree burial.

[@jeffphisher3801]

The "foul" in could convenant probably refers to the fact that ranni and the black knives were allies but she obviously did something to piss them off since they kill iji and go to kill her as well. It's referring to a false/bad allegiance

[@williamkensington2772]

Being the schemer she is she probably intended to double cross them to keep them quiet, reclaim destined death, eliminate threats to herself and tidy up lose ends

[@Chessheromusic]

They were protecting iji and ranni .. The timing and what was happening is important. As they are protecting ranni from blaidd after iji already saw him as a threat. Iji says that the golden order is after his mind therefore wears the helm not to betray her by accident He purposefully takes it off and accepts they will come for him-he assumes an accepting pose? So if iji didn't fight back then why are the black knives dead around him??? Who used the black flame. The black knives weren't all hiding there is one protecting the halig tree You're missing miquellas part in all this

[@Terminalsanity]

@@Chessheromusic Great catch most people seem to over look that Miquella had Multiple Black Knife Assassins in his service guarding the seal to the Haligtree in Ordinia (they're are actually 4 of them that Evergoal BTW) I think Soughtown had it backwards Ranni didn't lock up Alecto to betray the Black Knives she locked up Alecto because they betrayed her on the Knight of Black Knives Why would Ranni need to betray the Black Knives to cover her tracks? She would have outwardly appeared to have been one their victims that night same as Godwyn and the other demi-gods who had been slain more over merely capturing the leader of the Black Knives wouldn't do a whole lot to keep them from spilling the beans about her involvement there if anything that would make them more inclined to reveal that about her. No imprisoning Alecto seems way more like a punitive/retaliatory step on her part. So how did the Black Knife Assassins betray Ranni? Well what did Ranni need to accomplish to realize her ambitions? Have a Demi-god receive one half of the curse mark at the same time she did to shed her Empyrean Flesh and then release her suspended fate so that she could use the finger slaying blade to slay her 2 fingers and whose death would have checks off both boxes for Ranni that night? Her brother Radahn.And that's where I think the Black Knife Assassins betrayed her they either switched the target to Godwyn or they did not slay Radahn in addition to him sabotaging Ranni's ambitions indefinitely and frankly forever barring the Tarnished's intervention and co-operation. And I think can already guess why the Black Knife Assassins would betray Ranni over that point, they were actually in the service of Miquella the whole time and enlisted her aid in the conspiracy under false pretenses and tired to use her to further Miquella's ambitions by bring about the fall of the Golden order through Godwyn's death.

[@dublk5593]

Man I just wanna say I appreciate your videos I’m a computer science major and In the past with souls games I would spend all my time trying to understand the lore of the world by exploring in game but haven’t had the time. I fr appreciate the effort you put into these videos and it’s a nice escape from the day to day grind of being a student keep up the good work.

[@SmoughTown]

That means alot my friend, and I wish you all the best with your studies!

[@dublk5593]

@@SmoughTown ofc, and thanks man should be graduating this spring if all goes well.

[@spiritas5372]

Sellia was also where Rahdan learned gravity magic from a alabaster lord. The black knife armor seems to bend light similar to how light bends around galaxies and black holes from gravitational lensing.

[@ImarBenIsrael]

Ahhhh man , my favorite group in the game , the Nox/Numen and the squad , the black knife assassins . Yes sir we here for the lore Smough

[@SmoughTown]

Enjoy it my dude

[@V01DShinigami]

I really like this kind of long form content, granted it's obviously long and a lot to take in, but it's really nice to watch on long days where it feels like you have nothing to do, also there's a lot of thought and lore implications given with no drawbacks to ideas cause there no 15/20 min time-frame to work under, and even if you can't finish the video in one sitting(at least for me) it give me something to look forward to after I get finished with a busy day. Love your content man, can't wait to see more!

[@SmoughTown]

Thanks my friend! I have tried doing shorter videos...but I guess this is just how my mind works haha. Really pleased you enjoyed! Thank you

[@sirgideonofnir6840]

I'm sure others have thought this, but Godwin sounds and reminds me alot of Sanguinius from warhammer 40k. The brother that was loved by all, civilians and his siblings alike. And his death was a major blow to humanity.

[@itsdionbabyyy]

Rightttt

[@Leonismychild]

Omg…you kinda right

[@Goob_V10]

The way I’ve always thought about the “close ties with Marika” is that whoever the assassins were, she basically used to be friends with them in high school. 🤷‍♂️

[@AlbertusSalvatierra]

Dude - amazing as always. The Black Knives and the death of Godwyn has always been an interesting bit for me

[@SmoughTown]

Enjoy my friend

[@monsieurdorgat6864]

Wonderful video, overall! I can't say that the outro bit about the Black Knives founding Ordina is particularly founded, though. The Black Knives found in Ordina are largely dead or sealed away, it seems more likely they assaulted Ordina to gain access to the Haligtree (possibly to kill Miquella as another demigod target) but were either killed or sealed in Ordina's evergaol. The architectural similarity to Sellia is probably better explained by the noteworthy population of Albinaurics, who also have ties to the Eternal/Nox.

[@jeftecoutinho]

Perhaps the Elden Ring's shattering was Marika trying to commit suicide? After all, her life is supposed to be eternal, as stated in the Sacred Relic Sword description.

[@nathreetimesnineequalstwen7172]

Reasonable assumption 👍

[@sworddragonsliege]

My theory is something similar to this. I think the Black Knife plot was supposed to kill Ranni's body and the part of Marika's soul that was Radagon so she could be free of him. And Godwyn was an unintended (on Marika's part) death. So she shattered the ring in an act of desperation.

[@sworddragonsliege]

@@shoelacedobby3819 Well, Radagon is half a god and Ranni is a demigod, so perhaps their souls were equal in potency. I do think that not any random soul would work. But if the Greater Will split Marika apart to make Radagon, it couldn't have made a new soul for Radagon, so perhaps he had half a full god powered soul.

[@whoisj]

I assume she did it, and then handed out the Rune fragments to her surviving children to protect them after so many had fallen. Godwyn was only the first. the wandering mausoleums each contain a fallen demigod (child of Merika).

[@OG-ColorfulAbyss.]

I mean, basically yeah. The Elden Beast IS the Elden Ring. Marika/Radagon is the earthly host of the Elden Beast and we can see the Elden Ring inside their partially broken body. I don't get why we don't take the Elden Ring for ourselves. Restoring the Elden Ring in Marika would just restore the Elden Beast.

[@Writh811]

I know it is a leap on my part but I assumed the reason that the other demi-gods end up soulless was because Ranni gave the Black Knives bad info. She taught them the sigil to carve into their target's flesh. It would make sense that she discerned the two halves of the now circular Rune of Death and only taught them the side she needed them to use. The positioning of the two halves of the rune on each back doesn't have either centered in a way to convey that the full circle was ever intended. Since it all happened fairly simultaneously they wouldn't be able to check in with each other to realize Ranni screwed them and only taught them half the rune. Remember Ranni stole the rune and Ranni performed the rite. The Black Knives just took their equipment and went to work.

[@sworddragonsliege]

Very interesting idea.

[@Acesahn]

It always made the most sense to me that the Black Knife's were playing their own angle so this enforces that theory.

[@LordKnightBane]

Great video. Really glad you and other creators reference each other's work to (in my opinion) move the understanding of the lore forward! Gives a good community feeling so we know where each content creator's lore theories stand in relation to others. Just a few points/thoughts I wanted to contribute: 1. The fingerslayer blade mentions " This blood-drenched fetish is proof of the high treason committed by the Eternal City and symbolizes its downfall." I think the key word here is "treason". Though the Nox have a separate culture but they were still embedded into the Golden Order's societal structure, hence their actions being treason. I even posit that the blade could have been made from the corpse or part of a corpse victim of the night of the black knives and this in turn caused the Golden Order to turn upon the lower quarter of the city (Nox inspired architecture like Sellia) and cause it's downfall into the Deeproot depths as the Nameless City and likely something similar to Nokron...as we see Nokron in a wrecked shape compared to Nokstella, which itself isn't in good shape. 2. I think the Nox's Age of Stars and Ranni's are different, Ranni would be the God under the Dark Moon (player would be Lord of Night) whereas the Nox would intend for something like Death to be it's main power (replacing their Black Moon), I don't know who the God would be (maybe Ranni? To get the Nox on side) but their Lord would have been an artificial creation. I see the Eternal Cities having ghostflame for illumination, feather motif on their black knife armour and their leaning to intelligence based magic (like death magic) as pointing towards this. Atleast it seems to be in line with opposites Gold/Silver, Life/Death, Day/Night, Faith/Intelligence, "natural" creations like beasts/"unnatural" creations like albinaurics and the rest. Possibly why the Godskins may ally with the Nox (to champion the cause of Death) if they weren't outright created by them. 4. After getting the fingerslayer blade, meeting Ranni then going to Ainsel river you will find her miniature doll form. She'll say something along the lines that your poking around has roused attention and she compels you to kill the Baleful shadow that is hunting her. It's likely this is what also causes the backlash from the Nox getting Iji and Blaidd attacked/killed. 5. There's a dead black knife in Ordina and they're trapped in a large ever-goal. I don't think it was safe ground for them, likely they were after the twin prodigies but got caught in the trap. Thanks again for the content!

[@sworddragonsliege]

I somehow never considered the Night of Black Knives to be the treason that the blade mentions. That is a very interesting idea.

[@brentbentKRFP]

I cannot imagine how you keep all these snippets of information organized enough to make these videos. Thank you for masterfully stitching together all these interrelated but spread throughout the game bits of knowledge.

[@SmoughTown]

My pleasure my friend! It’s a lot to put together but worth it for all the amazing support I get from the community

[@aifos5171]

Finally someone talks about the article on the bandai website! So easily forgotten

[@SmoughTown]

Madness that it is so easily overlooked eh!

[@georgerolandallen]

the furtive article

[@TheTwilightmaster6]

As you present the story at the end, it seems almost like Ranni disguised her true identity from the Black Knives. As she did orchestrate the Night, and the plot was to cause as much damage to the Golden Order regime as possible, it would make sense if she had presented herself as ‘Renna’, the way she does with us Tarnished initially. Leading from this, perhaps Ranni/Renna had the assassins target Lunar Princess Ranni. Perhaps she, as ‘Renna’, fooled the assassins into thinking that the deaths of such prominent members of the Erdtree and Lunar houses, the ritual would enable their age of stars. But her true plan was to use the Nox and Black Knives to free herself of the Greater Will.

[@wpb5876]

This is actually pretty good theory. It could also suggest why, after such a long time has passed, that when we (the player/tarnished) discovery Ranni is Renna, the Black Knives also come to realize this and go after Ranni. It’s also around the same time in the quest when Ranni gets the FingerSlayer Blade that the Black Knives start going after her and her allies.

[@clintonwoodside7381]

You’re the winner of the Elden Ring lore video’s contest. You get the trophy this time. Love your videos sir, thanks for dropping this one on my birthday!

[@SmoughTown]

Happy birthday dude! Enjoy my friend

[@cfh23666]

Thanks again, probably some of my favorite lore videos come from you. After taking a step back and looking at the lands between in a macro lens it’s like there were a lot more people trying to kill a god then you think. Hewg promises a godslaying weapon to marika, Rykard wants to consume the gods, there were god slayers before Maliketh took care of that. Ranni is kind of along those lines with wanting to remove the gods influence. Mohg and melania are similar in they both need miquella to further they’re goals or to just have a goal in general. And radahn kind of seems like a follower not a leader. Grace almost seems to see this stale mate resting on a razors edge and bring the tarnished in. If the assassins would have had a 100% success or failure rate then a lot changes. Kind of puts into perspective how important to the storyline of the game this one event actually is.

[@PsychoticDyldo]

These videos are always a highlight to my day when they drop. Thank you and the others who help gather this lore together

[@vokunvith1578]

There is another odd loose link between Marika and Ranni, besides just the Black Knife Set. That would be Torrent and Melina. Ranni directly approaches you under the alias of Renna at the church, because of a promise she made to Torrent's original owner. The only other owner we know of for Torrent, a 'Spectral' Steed, is Melina, whom is currently burned & body less, herself. Nevermind that, Melina is heavily implied to be the Gloam Eyed Queen originally, who would align with Rani's agenda atleast to a degree. But it seems to be Marika herself who brought Melina back from her dead state. After all Melina herself says her mother gave her a purpose & she can only move freely on her own in the capital, near the Erd Tree & Marika. Furthermore, Melina leaves your side to do "something" in the capital on her own. Only being seen again to help you with Morgott at The Throne using Black Knife fighting techniques & weaponry, oddly 'past' a random Black Knife Assassin by Queen Marika's Bed Chamber & after the Erd Tree blocks you. It's entirely possible Melina, the Gloam Eyed Queen. Has something to do with the Black Knives deciding to go after Rani. Rather or not Melina was acting on her own to team up with the Black Knife Assassins or under Marika's orders for revenge or a grand plot is speculation. Meanwhile Gideon seems to believe Marika wants everyone to be stuck in a stalemate of sorts too. After-all Marika, Gideon & Melina all make odd comments. The Torrent Connection is very much a enigma.

[@varsoonhks3211]

Nah. Melina isn't the Gloam Eyed Queen. The two are entirely separate figures.

[@BiRios]

The thick plotens when you consider what looks like Miquella on Torrent for the DLC as well

[@stephenlucas8836]

Ever since Marcia gave her speech to the Godfrey and the tarnished about them returning to the lands between, rage war and brandish the elden Ring. That is the definitive words of some that expects the ring being shatter in the future and not some that believe the golden order will last forever. Not sure how far into the future Marcia planed or if she take actions as things happened but clearly their were many thing that didn’t go to plan. I also herd some refer the diolog from the finger reader near godwyn sounding more like she is lemmenting the fact he failed to die a true death but instead lived in death, almost as if the diologe was hidding, at least in the two finger circle, Godwyn was expected to die but for some reason his fate was not fulfilled (keeping in character for Ranni not wanting to have her fate decided by the two fingers) (fate is no longer in the stars, but the fingers can still weave it). Would like some one to double-check that diolog to see if that is true in both English and Japanese.

[@foster2095]

I feel like not enough ppl talk about how the black knife leg armor and the nox's are the same, just without the cloth skirt and dyed black.

[@jstar3382]

Let's go baby more lore

[@canisdivinus6218]

Been listening to all your content while doing a re-play. It's a great companion piece for a second go around where I don't have to pay attention as much

[@SmoughTown]

Thanks Canis, glad you enjoy the content

[@emanuelelamattina4264]

Awesome as her "i do not want to be controlled by that thing" acquires a deeper meaning as you finish the game. At first, it seems she is referring to her fingers, but most ptlrobably to the Elden Beast, since she would have been the physical vessel for it And this answers another question: why specifically godwyn? Why not another unnamed demigod?

[@mysteriousstranger9182]

Yet another great lore video!! Your content is as well put together as the night of the black knifes itself!!

[@SmoughTown]

Thank you my friend, that is so kind!

[@demilung]

Here's somethign that pops into my mind from the writing standpoint - Ranni's fast and blunt confession on everything relating the Night of the Black Knives, repeating several times that "I did it all, it was me" reminds me of a writing trope of a character overemphasizing their fault because of their guilt. Ranni's is a cold character, but she shows sadness and melancholy often in her dialogue, she's not beyond emotions completely. I think while she went onto this cruel plot to free herself, I think she regrets or feels ashamed for the sorrow it brought to others, specifically Godwyn. It could be just another stepping stone on her way to freedom from the Two Fingers, there's no real reason to think anyone could've predicted Godwyn becoming the Prince of Death and creating Those Who Live in Death. After all, there are several soulless demigods in the game in the Walking Mausoleums but only Godwyn mutated into that - probably because of his Erdtree burial which backfired horribly. If she knew thats' what would happen, not giving information on how to prevent it to anyone through her many agents seems like pointless cruelty. That's all my speculation, based on the impressions of Ranni's dialogue and character, it reminds me of a character who stepped on a cruel path which caused unwanted side-effects, but keeps going because stopping now wouldn't fix anything, and would only make those sacrifices and losses meaningless. I'm sure you've seen that trope before. Also, if her dialogue only means that she stole the rune personally, that would be kind of strange - the stealing of the Rune is wide known, but it takes some effort from a scholar to learn of Ranni's name. So either she stole the rune in complete secret from Malekith himself which would be incredible, or he kept secret that it was her for no reason.

[@EmmettFlo7]

Yes! Finally a good explanation for why more than one demigod was killed on the Night of Black Knives! There had to be multiple targets in order to overwhelm Marika and prevent her from protecting the main target of the plot: Godwyn.

[@martinmcguinness5742]

Hanging out in the city with 90 min until the nightshift starts ? Smough got you covered. Thx m8

[@SmoughTown]

Haha thanks Martin, hope your shift goes well!

[@alecolson8360]

I believe the Eclipse was some kind of plan or prophesy for the death and rebirth of Godwin. This plan was interrupted by Ranni when she slew her own corpse, splitting the curse of death in half. ‘Your comrade remains soulless’ - this line shows Miquella did not intend his brother to become that which lives in death. He wanted Goldwyn to die a true death and perhaps be reborn as a dark inversion of a soul 9:26

[@Mop890]

Always look forward to these, can't wait to watch this one. Keep up the incredible lore dissection mate ❤

[@SmoughTown]

Thanks Mop, means the world. Will do!

[@Mop890]

@@SmoughTown Absolutely!

[@viktor_v-ughnda_vaudville_476]

You def do your research and present very complete and unique takes on all your subjects with very obscure lore sources I can dig it

[@SmoughTown]

I appreciate that Viktor, your support means alot

[@Alberto-wu1mj]

I really appreciate that you look at the original Japanese and different translations. It helps clarify why the language was used.

[@SmoughTown]

Thanks so much - The translators I've worked with have really changed my mind on so much

[@Alberto-wu1mj]

That makes sense. You changed my mind about Marika’s involvement in the assassination of Godwyn with this video. I don’t know Japanese but I did study Latin and Greek at university and how it is has evolved in English. Many words started with an original meaning but evolved to have a much more common meaning. I think this what happened regarding Marika’ connection to the black knife assassinations; we look at our most common meaning that she was involved with them, but the translation shows how less used meaning applies as she is kin to them.

[@battlericky17]

Genuinely my favorite video next to the fire lore. I cant even begin to describe how relaxing yet insightful this video was for me

[@SmoughTown]

Thanks brother. Really pleased to hear you liked it that much! I was pretty pleased with it as well

[@Sleepy_Dan...]

Aaaaahhhhhh hell! I'm gonna have to do a playthrough with daggers for once and maybe cosplay as a BKA. I'm playing as Trevor Belmont from castlevania now. I love your videos and hope you receive joy from making this content! Hope your Xmas was amazing and that your new year brings good fortune.

[@SmoughTown]

Hey Daniel! Thank you so much for the kind words, means the world. I wish you a happy new year and holiday

[@liamobrien9186]

Wow, until now I don't think I really realised how significant the night of the black knives was. You explain it really well and do a great service to putting it in proper perspective. Happy holidays to you and I can't wait to see what you discuss next!

[@SmoughTown]

Thanks Liam! Glad I did this event justice! Appreciate the support dude

[@LillieLeafe]

Grown to really look forward to your videos. Keep it up man. The thoroughness is incredible.

[@kurlozradec5134]

I love your content, I can just sit back and sip tea to your lore videos 🙌🏽

[@1Xaria]

Excellent video! I certainly agree with you on Marika's involvement in the plot. The theories about her playing a large part in its orchestration never rang true to me. Every direct mention and reference of her in relation to it and the ensuing shattering always dripped of desperation or grief to me or a more complex variation/combination of such head spaces. One other lore note that stuck out to me in my last play through, I would love to get your thoughts on as I don't recall it being mentioned in any timeline video. When you reveal Miquella's state in the Dynasty to Gideon, he makes a comment about "the queen's grief being justified." The way he says it suggests that Marika knew of Miquella's abduction and Gideon was aware of her response following it. This suggests that Miquella was cocooned and abducted before Marika was imprisoned. Or that she was still aware of it while imprisoned and Gideon was able to interface with her somehow. In truth, this comment kinda baffled me as when I heard it, I couldn't recall hearing its mention before in any timeline video. Now, I haven't reviewed said videos to be completely sure, but is this new to anyone else?

[@evej5619]

A belated Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you too, Smoughtown! Thank you very much for your excellent videos this year (and before). To me, you always weave everything into such an engaging, compelling, and entertaining case. In this instance, I especially enjoyed it because I have a slightly different view of events*. I just really value getting to listen to new, alternative reasoning and experiences. The diversity is such a treat. Looking forward to far more! (* I don't have any firm view on Marika's involvement in the Black Knife plot itself. However, I do think she made extensive plans to facilitate the events of the game and may have seen fierce competition as a different kind of evolutionary crucible. Due to that view, I struggle to believe she acted out of grief.)

[@SmoughTown]

Merry Christmas Eve! Thank you so much for your support throughout the year! Means the world

[@rgdaxter]

Listened along to this in the background while working. Absolutely love your videos SmoughTown. So much detail

[@SmoughTown]

Thank you my friend! You dont know how much that means to me, as I am currently writing a lengthy script on Ranni!

[@Jeremysturgill86]

Videos like this really highlight how much time, effort, and well thought through creativity goes into these games. They truly create an entire universe… it’s just so mind boggling

[@entysing6780]

Can't wait to dive into this one. Thanks, as always, for your all of your continued hard work Geoff. Cheers mate, The 🐐 strikes again, crediting content creators and uncovering the lore like some kind of Elden Ring Indiana Jones. 🍻

[@SmoughTown]

Thank you so much my friend, your support has been unbelievable. Hope you enjoy the video

[@OoTRIGGAMANoO]

I've watched quite a few of your videos now and from what you said about Merika, I believe her to be more than capable of planning the whole thing. She may not have known every out come but as long as the greater will could be destroyed she knew all would be free from it. She is the greater good fighting for us all. That's what I like to think. I still think it's possible for a mother to sacrifice her son for such a cause. It happens all the time these days with out any benefits and they aren't even gods doing it. Good stuff though!

[@deeezey_2239]

The life of 1 vs the life of the whole lands between being under the thumb of a tyrannical parasite Easy loss really, she probs felt guilt probed the golden order Lost her mind in a way in grief and finding the secrets Smashed the elden ring Something like that

[@wowitsfrostygames155]

I think it’s possible that Godwyns death was necessary because he’s not just lying there doing nothing. He’s actively infecting the very land itself. Even the erdtree. I have to wonder if in some way the Elden ring is only even capable of being shattered AFTER Godwyn has done his part. I just can’t imagine it an accident that the consequence of Godwyns also happens to be causing so many problems outside of just his death. Hard to say I keep going back and forth on the idea. I don’t think it’s likely but I think to completely disregard it isn’t smart either. I don’t really care what the publisher or the cinematic said, fromsoftware has mislead us on shit like that before. Also even in an “in lore” argument, the cinematic is narrated by someone who is already a schemer. She’s literally telling the story as if she doesent know anything either when come to find out she’s the one that set the whole thing up.

[@marvelouspatches8577]

Love the video mate. Absolutely fantastic. Been watching since the first lore video of elden ring and I will be here forever more

[@SmoughTown]

Thanks so much my friend, grateful to have your support

[@Ninjabob568]

always manage to deliver smough hope the holiday season treats you well friend, i await the next video

[@yael4171]

Great lore video, always nice to see your takes. Happy holidays and hope you have a good new year.

[@SmoughTown]

Happy holidays to you too Yael, thanks for all the support

[@Lexsed]

Yet another masterpiece, excellent stuff. On an unrelated note - the video description seems to be the one from your previous video (the "This is an extremely expansive video that not only looks at Astel...." part). Didn't see anyone pointing it out so figured I'd make you aware if you see this.

[@SmoughTown]

Thanks for that! You are quite correct!

[@majinbustos6179]

I love your videos! They have inspired me play Elden Ring more often as my main game... Being able to understand the lore like this contributes to a more interesting and immersive experience. Thanks so much for all the work you do, to put all these little details and references together, and then supply it on a video for people to consume is serious talent and skill.

[@WaruiDeshou]

Thank you for this! I have had so many lingering questions about the relationship between Ranni and the Black Knife Assassins that you have answered decisively here. They were really eating at me, so I appreciate the work you put in to suss out these conclusions.

[@Etheralysium]

Love your stuff man! Keep it up!

[@SmoughTown]

Thanks Bartley!

[@caiobs1722]

you should do a full video on Melina, her past seems really interesting and we dont seem to know much about it. keep up the good work!

[@drazzytime9353]

There’s not enough info fr

[@alexkuhn5188]

Always makes my day better when there is a new SmoughTown video! Today hasn’t been great for me so seeing this video pop up in my recommended videos cheered me up quite a bit!

[@SmoughTown]

Sorry to hear today hasn't been great Alex, glad the video helped and I wish you a happy new year.

[@Slayer4Deagle]

Love your vids man, perfect for background when working :)

[@daethedm2933]

I feel the simplest explanation for why the others are also called soulless is that Ranni only told them to carve that half, so they wouldn't botch her plan. If they did that same half-wheel on the others it logically would result in just the deaths of their souls as well. That's just always been my thought, and adds to the betray of Ranni to the Assassins.

[@megrel5403]

your videos are like a drug to me bro, keep it up!!!!

[@SmoughTown]

Thank you my friend, I really hope you enjoy this one as well!

[@Math.R]

I just found your channel and i will probably watch all your Elden Ring videos in less than a week this look so much work, i'm a very happy person rn. Thank you sir

[@SmoughTown]

Thank you my friend! That means a lot, welcome to the channel!

[@coroarc8423]

Great Work as usual! U are crazy and produce such good stuff since the first video. thank you!

[@SmoughTown]

Thanks so much dude, really appreciate the support

[@Kolsev]

Not sure if this has been pointed out yet, but the one of the Tree Sentinal pair carries a sentry torch by the looks of things as well.

[@brasingt]

The assertion that “catalyst” should be translated as “trigger” is a perfect example of the extreme nitpicks self-appointed translators use to take issue with the game’s English text. Translation is much more of an art than a science given the fluidity of language. I would like to see how they’d translate “water closet.”

[@kaosdays2146]

All your videos give me so much more knowledge on a game I thought I knew so much about. Love Elden ring and it’s world and your videos are a perfect companion piece to explain the story.

[@coreyrachar9694]

A lengthy elden ring lore video is just what I was hoping for when I opened youtube!

[@ringlhach]

There's one major problem I have with the idea that the Black Knife assassins are Sellian: the knives themselves scale with Faith and Dex. I feel that it was more likely that Ranni founded or tricked a group of courtiers that believed that Marika's Golden Order was perverting the way of things, with how other Empyrions were being anointed and she just would not go. Whether or not that struggle was a part of the way of things is a separate matter (I think it probably is), but while to Ranni this was all to get herself free of the Greater Will and her Two Fingers, this group wouldn't necessarily have known that she didn't intend to give up her path to divinity.

[@Jrockk999]

Well Maliketh's own remembrance says that Marika betrayed him. There is also that Marika had planned to shatter the Elden Ring, the tarnished were planned to return based on what she told Godfrey and his soldiers from which the tarnished are descendant from. Marika clearly had a hand in it, she was probably even the one to tell Ranni and the Black Knife Assassin's how they may steal death from Maliketh. Given that she knew the tarnished would be called back, her children would have to be killed to restore the Elden Ring, and her direct punishment from the Greater Will. Marika is clearly more involved than just having ties to the event.

[@SmoughTown]

But her betraying him, could simply be her shattering the Elden Ring - Maliketh even says when you kill him 'Marika...why did you shatter?' So I think the betrayal is linked to the the shattering - betrayal because he made a great sacrifice to preserve her order...which she destroyed anyway.

[@LloydsSky9]

I read the story the exact same way, Godwyn seems like a sad but necessary death. Godwyn also didn't go against the grain how Marika requested.

[@Jrockk999]

@@SmoughTown Perhaps but that doesn't explain the rest of Marika's actions. As intelligent and cunning as Ranni is, I don't imagine that many individuals have contact with Maliketh. Where could Ranni obtain the knowledge to steal Destined Death from Maliketh or that he even had it in the first place. Marika clearly at some point wanted out of the Greater Will's influence and Ranni had no desire to potentially replace her step mother. It's likely that with a similar goal of no longer having their Fates controlled, Marika assisted Ranni by providing her with information and knowledge to steal from Maliketh and to cover their tracks. I imagine that Marika could have indeed shattered the Elden Ring at any time, but she knew that blinding doing so could have held worse consequences for her and she needed Radagon's resolve to be shaken so that he couldn't stop her. One thing that is very clear is that all the demigods save Rykard, Miquella, Mohg and Ranni seem loyal to the Greater Will and would have restored the Elden Ring to its former self. Godwyn may have the most loyal son and given the amount of love and respect he is given as Godwyn the Golden, it's likely Marika knew she needed him above all her children to die from first, if only to prevent him from just returning the status quo. Marika has obviously been planning her betrayal for a long time. Why else would take Godfrey's grace, banish him and his warriors, only to plan for them to return and kill her children. She knew that she would be punished, her children would take pieces for themselves and that they would have to be killed by the tarnished that would be called back. She couldn't know all of this if she didn't plan it out.

[@Photoloss]

@@Jrockk999 Maliketh was widely known at the time, see his title "Death of the Demigods" as per the Stone of Gurranq incantation. He served as Marika's monopoly on killing demigods. And you forgot to list Malenia, although politically she's just an extension of Miquella anyway. Personally I agree Marika was involved somehow, doesn't really make sense Ranni would be able to turn a bunch of noblewomen with "close (social) ties" and shared ancestry (Numen) with Marika against her otherwise.

[@Jrockk999]

@@Photoloss Oh I know that Maliketh was known but given his reputation and what his entire existence was meant for, I find it hard to picture Maliketh as sociable as perhaps Blaidd. Maliketh seems more like a recluse that only acted when Marika needed him. We have no actual history of what their relationship was like, but I don't see Maliketh babysitting the demigods when they were little and weak. I doubt many of them even talked to him let alone know enough about him to make a magical artifact that could stun him. It just seems like Ranni had to have received help from someone that had all the right information but also had the connections to help in this plan.

[@gagemcmahon9485]

Your videos never fail smough you’re a legend thanks for continuing to make these videos

[@benlavis3006]

Loved your video, amazing amount of work you've put in as usual. One thing I noted is the assassins killing godwyn in the opening cinematic look like they are specifically carving a half wheel, it doesn't look like they left enough room to carve anything more, just a random thing, it may be that ranni instructed them to carve that shape to benefit her, which then would have led to them taking the blame for all that followed the prince of death etc.

[@SmoughTown]

Yeh that’s a great point Ben! Perhaps she told them to do it that what and a) they knew the full plan or b) they didn’t know her plan! Thanks for the support my friend!

[@andrewburton9238]

This is so amazing!

[@SmoughTown]

Thanks Andy!

[@eldenthugshaker]

I'm still of the opinion that Marika may have had a hand in the Night of Black Knives. Gurranq mentions being tricked by Marika if you defeat him at Farum Great Bridge: "Marika...why...wouldst thou...gull me? Why...shatter..." His remembrance mentions Marika using him to guard Destined Death, and betraying him anyways: "Marika's sole need of her shadow was a vessel to lock away Destined Death. Even then, she betrayed him." We must also remember that Marika had already planned for the Tarnished to one day return, but for what? Shattering the Elden Ring of course, not that Godwyn's death directly lead to it, especially if she already meant to shatter it. One possible motivation for her to get rid of Godwyn if you believe she's still a selfish ruler hoping to cling to power and be worshipped as the one true God would be to weaken the dragon cult since it was Godwyn's friendship with Fortissax that led to it. There's also the matter of a Black Knife assassin being in front of Marika's bedchambers out in the open, strongly suggesting to me that her presence is not some fancy of the assassin out for a stroll.

[@steelbone10]

Marika has displayed 4D chess moves throughout the game. To name a few, helping Ranni steal the rune of death, creating Melina to burn down the erdtree, killing Godwyn. Greater Wills no.2 fanboy (Radagon is number 1), and finally binding Hewg to the roundtable and tasking him to create a godslaying weapon. The entire game is the final act of a grand Noxian conspiracy to overthrow the Golden Order and bring about the age of stars. Marika is most likely descended from the eternal cities, the Carians are probably descended as well due to their relationship with the stars and moon. The biggest piece of evidence IMO that points to Marika always planning to betray the greater will is sending away the Tarnished with the plan to bring them back one day. Not only that but also provide them with the roundtable that has a blacksmith who's only objective is to forge a godslaying weapon. Their are a lot more hints throughout the game but I would be here forever if I brought them all up.

[@DozleZabi]

You give a reason why maliketh would feel betrayed then give a weak, headcanon tier reason for why she MIGHT want godwyn dead. Face it, Marika is innocent

[@sworddragonsliege]

I agree with part of this. But I think Marika was actually intending to use the blade of death on herself to kill the Radagon part of her. Godwyn was never her intended target, and was an innocent bi-standard that was probably trying to stop the assassins from killing his mother, not knowing she wanted to assassins. So when the assassins couldn't get to Marika in time they killed Godwyn instead.

[@Terminalsanity]

Honestly my biggest issue with Marika being in on Godwyn's death is that frankly, it seems to be a rather pointless act, as far as screwing over the Greater will goes shattering The Elden ring takes the cake and Godwyn's death provided her 0 protection or cover for doing it seeing as the Greater will crucified her after she did it. Since Godwyn was merely a Demi-God and not an Empyrean there was never any chance he could have ever supplanted or replaced Marika. As for betraying Maliketh, think about it, Marika had him seal the Death rune in his body over his failure condemning causing to suffer with an eternal hunger that literally drove him to madness likely telling him that if he consumed the all the death root one day death would be sealed again and things could go back to normal but that was all a lie. He would never being able to fully reseal death and Marika never intended the restoration of the Golden Order, she wanted it to either remain shattered forever or end with a new order replacing it in a new age. So all of Maliketh's suffering was for nothing more than a cruel punishment he was never going to attain either forgiveness or redemption.

[@nezumixp6744]

@@DozleZabi it literally mentions in his remembrance that Marika deliberately betrays him tho it’s wasn’t that Maliketh “felt” she did

[@michaelrasputin2048]

Great work as always, thank you! Keep up a good work!

[@SmoughTown]

Thank you my friend! Will do!

[@ladrellhart2063]

Your number 1. I love your work man. I watch these videos 3 or 4 times each.

[@SmoughTown]

That means so much to me Ladrell! Makes a massive difference and it is appreciated

[@ladrellhart2063]

@@SmoughTown Anytime. I appreciate you.

[@SmoughTown]

@@ladrellhart2063 Appreciate you too my friend

[@hiddenshadow2105]

I believe that Marika wanted to kill Godwyn - both body and soul - to gestate a new rune of Death within him, and then resurrect him and wrestle the Lands Between from the state of stagnation by adding a new 'patched' rune of Death back, while not granting Godskins back their power through the Rune of the Destinied Death. Ranni, who made the knives, double crossed her at the last moment, hence the grief and shattering of the ring.

[@Mikethehamham]

Great video. But I'm genuinely curious, if Marika wasn't part of the plot, how exactly would she have been responsible for betraying Maliketh?

[@SmoughTown]

Thanks very much! By shattering the Elden Ring; Maliketh made great sacrifices to protect her order….and then she destroys it regardless. He also says something like ‘Marika…why would you shatter…’

[@Mikethehamham]

@@SmoughTown ahh, I guess that makes sense. Thanks for the reply! And keep up the good work! Your vids are a great way for me to kill time at work

[@SmoughTown]

@@Mikethehamham thanks buddy! I should have included thatb

[@sworddragonsliege]

My theory is that Marika was part of the plot. But that Godwyn was never the intended victim of the plot. And that Marika herself was the intended victim, or, at least, the Radagon aspect of her soul. So she could have betrayed Maliketh that way. Also, if Maliketh is like Bladh in that he works for the Golden Order, anything she does to destroy the Golden Order would be betraying him.

[@RubALamp]

@@SmoughTown I don't think that's the case. The shattering of the Elden Ring ended up affecting everyone, not just Maliketh. Betrayal implies a conscious and direct decision to go against the trust of someone. In this case, I do think Marika betrayed Maliketh by revealing relevant information of Maliketh's sword to Ranni. This is some wild speculation, but maybe Marika trusted Ranni with her disapproval of the Greater Will, and Ranni did the same. Thus, they began to conspire against the Greater Will. I do not think Marika intended for Godwyn to die however, and maybe this happened because even though Marika and Ranni shared similar goals, in the end Ranni did not want Marika to continue her rule because of her ties with the Golden Order.

[@tonysack-a-titanite7497]

Been waiting for a good one on this!!!

[@verpast]

I just blind like your videos before seeing anything; I know you will deliver :) Thank you and keep it up!

[@lizma4809]

I always think Marika has her plan for Godwyn to be the "martyr to destined death" because this title just reminds me a lot of Nito the lord of death/first of the dead, who possesses the power of death if I'm not mistaken, and in Elden Ring, power over death seems to be very crucial. Perhaps she wanted her golden boy to be a lord capable of changing the current Order that has no death at all, creating a new age/order of Godwyn's own, so she conspired the thing with Ranni because Marika's still the god of this current order (here I assume everyone knows Ranni just love her moon/stars or whatever, since she's moon princess after all, and the greater will seems to love such kind of weird battle royale by choosing her to be an empyrean), but in the end Ranni used Marika, got the death rune, and screwed Godwyn up because she had her own plan to make almost everyone on this land go f themselves. Anyways, it's just me guessing I always wonder how she managed to sort out which part of the rune is to kill soul, which to kill body though. It would be sooo sarcastic if she ended up killing her soul lol

[@Late0NightPC]

Rather uniquely, your talking about the Blade of Calling actually ends up shedding some lore on an entirely different character, and potentially disproves an idea that I've seen shared about, that Millicent's sisters just "appeared" inside the Aeonian swamp after Melania bloomed there. Polyanna, Millicent's sister, also uses the same blade, both during Millicent's questline's ending, as well as when you summon her as an NPC to fight Commander O'Neil. If the weapon was given out to Ladies in Waiting of the court, it would also imply that that Polyanna was one as well, and eventually abandoned that role in order to serve the God of Rot and help Gowry in his quest to make Millicent bloom. It might be possible the sisters did appear in the swamp, and she then grew up, became trained as a Lady in waiting before eventually leaving to work with Gowry, but it also may be possible the Rotten insignia's description is not meant to be literal, and that the sisters were once normal people. Gowry only specifies that he found Millicent in the swamp, whereas the Rotten insignia says the sisters were "born in the swap". Polyanna initially appears named as "adopted daughter" which implies that she is not officially part of the family and was adopted in, yet is clearly called Millicent's sister, meaning it's most likely she was adopted into Millicent's "family", which suggests she isn't actually connected to the Bloom in the same way Millicent is. The traveler's set she wears says it is worn by women who set off into the world to confront their fates, so it may that she and the other three "sisters" were all normal people who got caught in the Aeonean bloom and were changed by it somehow, being "born" into their new selves as followers of the Rot Goddess. The oldest sister Mary weidls a Halo scythe, which is noted to be used by the Cleanrot Knight, meaning she must have been alive before Malenia bloomed, otherwise she wouldn't have had the scythe. One of the other sisters even weilds a Tree Spear, noted to be used by the Palace Guards of Lyndell, which would imply Maureen worked directly inside the palace for some time before eventually heading to the Haligtree. It would also explain why they were "doomed never to bloom", as they weren't "purely rotten" in the way that Millicent was, who was found as a baby inside the Swamp, either directly born from the bloom, or impacted at such a young age she was transformed by the Rot in a more pure way. They had already grown up, making the Rot not able to change them in the way it did for Millicent.

[@sworddragonsliege]

That is a very cool theory. And I think it makes sense.

[@sevenchurch9197]

Loved this. I've tried to articulate my thoughts to friends which are essentially the same but you do it so much better, more researched and more in depth obviously. I'll just point them at this in future 😊 Masterful dissection, thank you. Still have questions about Melinda though....🤔

[@KagedWhizDumb]

Great video, well told; interesting until the end. Happy holidays to you and yours as well! As a new follower I look forward to your past and future videos. Elden Ring is a great game with a beautifully tragic story that you have to experience to truly appreciate. With all your insight, playing through again adds a measure of understanding my first play through was lacking. Catch ya next time Tarnished!

[@SmoughTown]

Really appreciate your subscription! Hope you continue to enjoy the content in the new year

[@nightullr]

i think it makes more sense for the black knife assassins to be on board with Ranni’s intention to escape her empyrean physical form. they seek the same goals: Ranni seeks to enter the age of stars and, it seems, to become the goddess of this age of night. The Nox are trying to create a Lord, which in many other cases (the age of the dragons, what seems to be the plan with Malenia if she were to become goddess of rot, Mohg and Miquella) the Lord of whatever age it may be marries the God and they rule together. So it makes sense to me that the Nox/Sellians would be willing to help Ranni towards her goal of bringing the age of the stars, and the Nox are attempting to create a Lord for her to rule with. (Edit adding more) Perhaps they then decided they no longer wanted Ranni as their God later on and thats why the assassins and the Nox turned on Ranni. Either they felt she was using them for selfish reasons and didn’t actually care for their vision, or they did not like that Ranni is a Carian royal, and values the moon as much as the stars (i think i remember that being one of the main conflicts other sorcerers had with the Carians.)

[@OG-ColorfulAbyss.]

The Nox and Numen are basically one and the same, Ranni is an empyrean how? Not simply because the Greater Will chooses her but because she is a worthy candidate, why? Because she's of Numen descent. Raya Lucaria is right over Nokstella, and you get to the Cathedral of Manus Celus which you can only get to from the Moonlight Altar which is right above the Lake of Rot but somehow even though it's below the Lake of Rot Astel's room is clear (makes no sense).

[@MrJordwalk]

Another possibility: The Nox turn on Ranni because she betrayed them by choosing our Tarnished to be her Lord Of Starlight instead one of them.

[@patrickg3872]

Fantastic worm SmoughTown. Love this channel and has been very fun watching and learning here in 22’

[@SmoughTown]

Thanks Patrick! Really appreciate that support

[@AssailantLF]

This one was awesome and helped me understand a lot that I was unsure of. Particularly your inferences about what happened during the aftermath and how Ranni potentially betrayed them. I never thought about how Ranni likely used The Black Knives as a cover to keep herself innocent, and I never thought about how they were likely hunted in the aftermath. Also i think it's fair to say that Blaidd was the one who carved the cursemark into Ranni's body. Such a cool scene to imagine happening. I'd love to see an artistic depiction of that.

[@TevorTheThird]

I wonder if Godwyn was in on it. He seems like a real Baldur type. The super awesome, everyone loves him, would help anyone out, etc, etc, etc. What if he was part of the plot alongside Ranni to escape their fate as puppets of the Greater Will and it just happened that one of them needed to die... so naturally he insisted that he got that half of the deal. To spare the sister he loved. Ranni was pretty oddly insistent in her proclamation of "It was me! All Me! I did it all by myself!" which can be read kind of passive aggressively. She could be covering for Godwyn's roll in things. Or someone else's. Also I always thought it odd that the Black Knives could kill a demi-god. Sure they had the tools. But those guys are tough. Surely he was on the same level as Godfrey, Radahn, Melenia, etc. In game, which is a poor metric I admit, they're not that spooky. But spooky enough to stealthily steal part of the Rune of Death from under Malekiths nose (somehow... perhaps by some betrayal? Hmm?) and get all the way to Godwyn, no doubt pursued by agents of the Greater Will, successfully. At that point the killing might have been academic. He goes along with it. Finally, if Godwyn was in on it, well then, maybe it really did just go all the way to the top. There's all those implications that Marika was somehow in on it which often seems hard to jive with the idea that it then drove her to brake the ring and cause the shattering in reaction. But perhaps she had also come to realize that the Greater Will was a bad thing and in seeing her daughters desperation to not become the next vessel for it, and her sons willingness to die a terrible deathless death to ensure that didn't happen, then she indeed makes a turn herself and becomes part of the plot. The "plot" part of course simply being the doing of it under the noses of the Two Fingers and the Greater Will, who clearly have other agents in play that might have tried to stop them. Malekith for instance, who like Blaidd, no doubt has that off switch that allows the Greater Will to force them to do whatever they want even if it goes against their own wishes and loyalties. After all Ranni only wins when the Elden Ring is dissolved. Marika set that up for her. Godwyn's death then being the "trigger" that sets off the next step of the plan; Marika smashing the Elden Ring. It wasn't just Ranni betraying everyone in a selfish bid to save her own ass. It was nothing short of a total rebellion to remove the Greater Will's influence over the world by the very gods themselves! See also brother Rykard who, originally at least, was basically plan B. Or maybe not. I think Patches is responsible for the whole mess personally. The scamp.

[@samueln.rnascimentodosreis6918]

The ideas people have to make Ranni innocent...

[@TevorTheThird]

@@samueln.rnascimentodosreis6918 I wouldn't say that makes her "innocent". She just has more accomplices.

[@lovesiriusblack]

57:14 I wonder if Ranni is so heavily stating that it was she that stole the death-rune just because the opposite is true? I think it was Sinclair Lore that mentioned how it would make sense that Rykard is closest to Marika, giving his roll as Praetor. If it was something that would make this whole thing even more shattering for Marika that would make sense right? elden ring theories sound much better in my head on sleepless nights than they look here lol (hope i make sense, english isn't my first language)

[@mmeiruplays]

Super! I will definitely watch this tomorrow with my morning coffee. Can't wait!

[@SmoughTown]

Thank you so much 😍hope you you enjoy

[@thatguywesmaranan]

SMOUGHTOWN YA ABSOLUTE LEGEND!!! thank you for this holiday season content, good sir...

[@WeyounSix]

It's a good idea to remember what a catalyst really is. In chemistry, a catalyst is a substance that triggers a chemical reaction to begin. There are a lot of reactions that simply will do nothing until they come in contact with the catalyst. I think the translation works fine, since all of the materials were in place for the reaction to begin, they just needed something to kickstart the reaction. Therefore, the night of the black knives is the catalyst to the reaction of the shattering war.

[@daycrow8651]

yea the fixation of something simple is weird

[@asdf5303]

35:27 I thought the description pretty clearly implies that Rykard was the one to carve the rune into Ranni's back, using the blasphemous claw, and he got to keep it as a reward. It still has blood on it, and it would be odd for her to take the time for a random meeting with Rykard during the Night of the Black Knives.

[@ZonicCeasor]

I’ve been waiting to see you deconstruct this huge lore event. Got my wetsuit on and I’m ready for the deep dive!!

[@SmoughTown]

Hope you enjoy it m friend!

[@danielrooney431]

This was a great video great job, thanks for making these videos there truly amazing

[@SmoughTown]

Thanks Daniel! It’s my pleasure

[@andrewvellos9735]

Here we GOOOOO!