Elden Ring Lore - What Are The Erdtree Avatars

[@square-table-gaming]

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[@Bigboy_smooth]

I always figured that one of the purposes of the Erdtree avatars was to water the tree with the blood that’s accumulated in the living jars. Once the jars get large enough they go to the tree and the avatars break them open useing the literal bodies of dead warriors to water the tree.

[@square-table-gaming]

Totally agree with that theory

[@wayward5219]

Makes sense. Miquella watered the Hailigtree with his blood

[@CJProfane]

Malenia sure gave it a good dousing in the blood of my poor tarnished.

[@spencersheahan9709]

Thats too accurate not to be true! Why else would the smashed jars be there? Is this why living jars are being hunted?

[@tedminette1205]

Note that the Erdtree Avatars have 3 toes and 4 fingers. This exact same configuration can be seen with Alexander, our Warrior Jar friend. Given how many of these Avatars we encounter near many broken jars and the distinct similarity between their body types, I think it's fair to speculate that the Avatars are created by the warrior jars being sacrificed at the foot of the Erdtree they are assigned to protect.

[@square-table-gaming]

I think that slips in very well to our theory. The jars carry the blood and spirits of warriors within them so when the avatars bust them open they're watering the roots of the tree in souls. Those same souls along with the ones given Earth tree burials would be used to create the avatars

[@NickCombs]

There are also guardians nearby, and they are similarly hybrids of human and tree. They can start buried and rise from the ground, so it's likely the jar innards are also buried so that the tree's roots can grow through them. These guardians may also be the ones who do that, burying the innards and eventually burying themselves nearby.

[@Draconnik-l6n]

Maybe we should think of them as flower pots rather than jars? Maybe they grow into avatars with age? What if they reproduce by their "seeds" fighting people and their bodies sprout into a new tree?

[@BastosFC2]

7:33 This made me think about something, the minor erdtree close to leyndell has no avatar defending it, instead it's an Omen with 5 commoners. They have an attack where they spew deathblight out of their mouth at you. This is a mystery in of itself and I would love a video on them, but maybe the tree avatar that appears in leyndell is the one that used to defend that particular minor erdtree.

[@alexandermorgan5958]

That totally slipped my mind. You might be on to something.

[@alberthollow1786]

I saw a video from the honored madman that maybe,they are part of Fia's cult who worship Godwyn's corpse

[@rwberger6]

Don't forget the minor erdtree that has wormfaces guarding it.

[@RealEvoMore]

​@@rwberger6 A theory is that worm faces feed on grace, so that would be the reason

[@synchaos9141]

if you see the layout of the map in Altus and the deeproot depths it's how the omens are able to use deathblight and the minor Erdtrees in Altus are basically connected to the deeproot depths and Godwyn's body

[@PbAndJamess]

After 950 hours in this game, I’m just now finding out from the intro of this video that there’s a spirit spring to the left of the frenzy tower lmfao

[@square-table-gaming]

The lands between is vast

[@tjniezek3096]

Brilliantly done !!! I love the idea that the ulcerated tree spirits are premature or malformed versions of erdtree avatars. Always look forward to more Elden lore !

[@BiZkWiK87]

I've always thought of the ulcerated tree spirits as instances of the Elden Beast taking a fleshly form to try fighting us wherever it can.

[@TechNinjaSigma]

6:40 you're probably right, the Rotten Staff looks like it's depicting the Scarlet Bloom, like the one that's now withered in the center of the Aeonian Swamp; fully grown with it's various buds

[@mansgotplans]

Their purpose is to connect the tears and tend to the tree, the hole on top is for collecting the tears The weapon is for tending , defending and hunting. They are the jar poachers, perhaps at one point the jars were supposed to offer themselves but clearly things are not how they used to be all over the lands between.

[@square-table-gaming]

The perfumers are the jar poachers, that's been confirmed

[@cgzepp]

A series like this should be made for all souls games. I just feel like a treasure trove of information and lore are yet to be picked from the previous games

[@nimblejarl7635]

One of my favorite designs for an enemy by far, the farther away you see it, the more it looks like some eldritch nature spirit. For some reason, I keep getting Bloodborne vibes from them

[@AegisKHAOS]

Whether they be avatars or asylum demons, the butt slam always gets me.

[@NickCombs]

We're trained to watch their weapons for attack wind-ups, not their badonks!

[@alexandermorgan5958]

I always thought that the Rotten Staff was supposed to visualize Elphael and the Haligtree, but there could always be more to it. On that note, sweet video. I have another suggestion for an interesting enemy, if you are open to the idea. The Starcallers seem to have just enough written about them to puzzle together a vague story, but nothing else. If you aren't up for Starcallers, the Spiritcaller Snail keeps getting stranger every time I see it. The wiki calls it an alien, and that hurts my brain.

[@nunchuksteev9811]

Looks like I'm about to take a 10 minute poop at work. "SHUT UP SHERYL, I CAN'T CONTROL MY BOWEL MOVEMENTS!".

[@tdw745]

I’m pretty sure the rotten staff with its material and shape is depicting the Haligtree symbol as depicted when preforming magic pertaining to it, such as the Golden Epitaph weapon art, and bewitching branch use, along with many moves in the clean rot knights attack set .

[@buer7609]

Been with y'all since you had about 400 subscribers. Couldn't be happier to see a great channel with stellar content growing like it should. Keep up the amazing work. Appreciate your work!

[@square-table-gaming]

Thank you so much!

[@sephylon2499]

Rotten avatar staff kinda looks like the haligtree sigil

[@LoafofSourdough]

I don’t know guys, but I think they might be Erdtree Avatars.

[@square-table-gaming]

Yo... You cracked it man

[@ShardofWant]

The weapon of the wrotten tree avatars looks like the symbol of Miquella’s Haligtree when as seen in his miracles or ashes of war

[@Xenomorphdude472]

You know, I thought that the avatar is reincarnation kind of thing but I didn’t expect the avatar would be the wooden headless creature holding a giant staff.

[@enogelaehoche8988]

With the SOTE release, I believe the erdtree avatars are Marikas kin who were in the jars. They may have fused partly with the erdtrees and defended them.

[@square-table-gaming]

THAT is a very interesting idea

[@mikeirgendboss492]

The rotten Staff clearly depicts the Haligtree instead of the Erdtree, which is curious given the item description. So they are clearly designed to be in the haligtree. Maybe the rotten Avatars in Caelid and the Mountentops should have a rotten Version of the Golden staff, but got the Haligtree ones due to its model beeing done and nit having the resources to change a miner detail. On the other Hand, golden Godfrey has his full Axe, so who knows if it is intentionell ore not. Still, both Places have Connections to the Haligtree and the Twins. Another Theorie i really like is that the Avatars have these Staves to Destroy the Jars lying at the base of many of these Minor erdtrees. Maybe the living Jars collect Bodies for Burial, and bring them to the Minor erdtrees for Burial. Makes sense, since the Erdtree Burial doesnt somehow work anymore. So the Avatars would not Only Defend but care and raise these Trees, so think they really want them to grow. If They are recicelled souls, it doesnt bother them probbably. The minor Erdtrees still produce Treesapp and Crystal tears, which produce Crystal Tears which are Ember. I wonder if one of these minor trees could grow to a Full, new Erdtree which a new Age of Plenty, and if there Roots are Connected or Seperat. I find it fascinating that the seeminly most important aspacts of the World are the least explored in Item descriptions :)

[@BastosFC2]

I'm fairly sure it depicts the crucible/primordial erdtree and not the haligtree.

[@aifos5171]

​@@BastosFC2 The rotten staff resembles Miquella's sigil, the one you can see when using bewitching branches and the ash of war of the golden epitaph, so most likely the staves depict the Halightree

[@BastosFC2]

​@@aifos5171 How would you explain it's description tho if it's the haligtree

[@mikeirgendboss492]

@@BastosFC2 dont know, would be interestig what the japanes text says since the menaings sometimes varry.

[@BastosFC2]

@@mikeirgendboss492 true

[@spencersheahan9709]

Posted a comment on a year old video the other day and got a like from you guys in practically the same day. You guys are too good! Don't overwork yourselves we appreciate you too much to let you do that. Take care and thanks!

[@square-table-gaming]

No prob, I stay on top of all our comments!

[@eldenringpvpenthusiast1710]

Hey your tree spirit video actually got me thinking, the tree spirits almost look like they could fit inside the avatars. might just be a coincidence but both have dragon and tree like features, both have rotten variations, and the name ulcerated tree spirits could imply it got too big and separated from whatever used to contain it. if you mesh the bodies together I think it would very much resemble a tree like dragon. Also, I might be crazy for this, but I've always believed the "trees" in Caelid are actually uprooted erdtree or great tree roots, that don't like the rotted soil anymore or started growing upwards for whatever reason, but the area with the commander, these roots actually do twist around to form a "tree" which gowry happens to be steady gazing at. So in a way since those are the roots of the erdtree, forming a rot tree, it's still technically the erdtree. Once you have the perspective of those things being roots, it helps you understand what those rotting bloody sacks are near them. The sacks of bodies formed during erdtree burial, also lifted up because its rotting and the golden erdtree probably doesn't want to absorb it. And there's something similar going on in mountain tops of the Giants. The frozen lake where you fight the dragon, look where the spirit trees were growing, then look at the darker "trees" growing straight out of the lake. I believe these "trees" are a product of those tree like spears impaling the Giants unfurling into a tree, or deathroot growing upwards like a tree. that last bit wouldn't make any sense unless the roots of this great tree could produce another seemingly different tree. I cant find too much reason roots would do opposite what roots normally do, but in deathroots case if opposite in nature to a golden tree which probably absorbs sunlight, Deathroot might crawl towards the abyss, which may have been in the sky due to an eclipse. I got no idea about the rot tree but it probably has to do with lotus flowers or something. Sorry for the paragraph lol, but thanks for another great topic to think about!

[@thebrickmaster7403]

One thought that I had was why the Putrid Avatars never became ulcerated spirits. An idea as to why they don’t become the Ulcerated spirits is that maybe the scarlet rot afflicted them after they were fully developed. If ulcerated spirits are only formed from being disrupted in their development, than this might explain that.

[@Varindran]

Wanted to say thank you again for these lore videos. Keeps us entertained until the DLC drops.

[@square-table-gaming]

Thank you for watching!

[@jamB2007]

Dude I love this channel! The fact that you all are still finding things to make videos on says a lot about elden ring! Can’t wait to see dlc and keep growing the lore!

[@ENALDOm]

Just an observation: i never any videos talking about the lions. Every enemy has at least a bit of lore videos except these ones

[@TheHogfatherInvades]

The avatars of all time!

[@truth.honesty]

I don't know exactly if there's a video on them yet but the white little men in Nokron. I think they're the hawk soldiers or something. I'd love to learn more about them.

[@sterquiliniis7583]

I love this theory by the way, it is speculation for sure but I completely believe it based on my understanding of the putrid tree spirits and erdtree burials in current time.

[@AynenMakino]

While Avatars cast miracles with the golden light of Marika's religion, their staff seems to feature the more organic and natural depiction of the Erdtree from a stratem before the church of Marika. Did the Avatars exist before Marika formed her religion? Or are they Avatars of the Elden Beast?

[@Hoarahchadtheallgrabbing]

So, both of the Ulcerated tree spirits and the Avatars are spirits, but the avatars are the spirits of the buried people in the catacombs, while the ulcerated tree spirits are the spirits of the Erdtree and the minor erdtrees and they were corrupted by Godwyn,s deathroot 👍👍👍

[@scottdevnull5778]

personally I think its more similar to the guardians, perhaps its a more advanced version

[@alpacaofthemountain8760]

Great video! These were always very visually interesting enemies.

[@sterquiliniis7583]

The rotten erdtree hammer depict the aeonia tree buds I'm pretty sure

[@Okkusen]

The souls buried ....form these protectors seems logic

[@alberthollow1786]

Ayy,I'm super happy you guys actually listened to my suggestion!I also have a few theories of my own regarding their roles.I think that they serve another rule outside of protecting,and that is feeding the tree.This theory is based on the broken living jars who surround most of the minor erdtree's,and as you know,they are filled with corpses,their rules being similar to the lands between clean up crew,once they are full,they are meant to go back to a minor erdtree and get smashed by the avatars who wield weapons perfect for smashing.Maybe these avatars have existed before the shattering,even if it was one or just a handful of them at the start?I also have a few video suggestions which I think could make for a nice mini series.I really enjoyed the video of the dangers that lurk in caelid,so I thought of what if there was a video exploring the fauna of each area and the interesting enemies/species/factions that are in them to pump fuel untill the DLC comes out?I also thought that a video exploring all the different dragons would be interesting,bc even tho most are very similar,some have some interesting lore like Smarag eating wizzards,adula most likely working with ranni,greyll guarding the bestial sanctum,borrealis and the frost dragons who lived in the mountains before the giants and the ancient dragons!Like always,I really enjoy the effort on your videos and I def love the artwork in each thumbnail!Keep up the good work and I hope to see you guys continue with the DLC :D

[@corwin32]

Dig the Erdtree Captain Planet hypothesis

[@kickin_wing_135]

Erdtree Avatars are now "Fresh Boys"

[@jkbell87]

I have never actually fought one of these things. I always use meteorite of astel or comet azur.

[@drakejohnson5386]

What I see when I look at the rotten staff origination is the sigil of the haligtree. The candle like design reminds me of the candles we light in the city in the concentrated snowfields. Why would they be affiliated with the haligtree? Possibly in a way to supplant the erdtree, wherever Malenia already affected the land, they took advantage of the situation and planted their seeds of influence. Hoping to turn those minor erdtrees into minor haligtrees and have haligtree avatars over [putrid] erdtree Avatars. Like many things with haligtree, not everything went to plan. I don't necessarily believe that miquella's theft was the reason this plot failed though. The reason they are still minor erdtrees could be simply that "the seed is strong" and the haligtree is just not powerful enough to truly supplant the erdtree. Another possibility is that the reason we fight putrid Avatars over haligtree avatars is that the corrupting power of the god of rot is more influential than the mind control and persuasion abilities miquella has.

[@kreadapelu8813]

Alright, it isn’t an enemy that I am obsessively curious about. There is a (something) that can be seen if you go to the Academy Crystal Cave, in the day, climb that tower, face south, and look up. It can also be seen from within other areas of the Raya Lucaria Academy. The thing can only be seen in the day. It is not a wisp like those found around the academy, inside Divine Towers, or on the path to the mountains. It is not a starlight beam nor grace beam. It has form of sort and moves in in a repeating… idk. What is it, what is it? WWHAT IS THAT THING? Please grant me peace.

[@NickCombs]

I'm at the top of the ladder facing south and looking up. What exactly am I looking for? Right now I'm just noticing the clouds and the faint edge of the skybox, but that isn't moving.

[@NickCombs]

Ok so I had my boy just chill overnight on the tower and the next morning it was there. It's a wispy cloud that's undulating in an unnatural way and glowing bright blue. I think what we're seeing here is the starlight streaming down over the Moonlight Altar. That's really cool, kinda wish it looked like that when we go there!

[@NickCombs]

Heading over to the Moonlight Altar, I noticed in addition to the light beams, there is what looks like snow, but it doesn't collect on the ground. So those might be little particles of glintstone which make up the wispy storm we're seeing from Raya Lucaria. The particles are there at all times of day, but maybe the light has to reflect just right to see them from afar. One more note: the two moons at Manus Celes? Yeah, the full moon is directly above Raya Lucaria where Rennala is. And the dark moon is directly above the Divine Tower of Liurnia where Ranni's body is found.

[@saulitix]

That's a very interesting theory, although I don't really thinks it's correct but with these games you never truly know.

[@tossapat027]

I thinking The Erdtree Avatars & The Living Jars & The Watchdogs both made by Queen Marika after Radagon marriage with Rennala. It become system to when Watchdogs protect Catacombs underground. Erdtree Avatars is Erdtree Watchers on ground and Slam Living Jars when them fulfill the task successful to harvest warriors' bodies to fertilizer the Erdtree. But after The Shattering War they forget all Role why them creating . . .

[@square-table-gaming]

The thing is, the Erdtree avatars didn't exist before the shattering.

[@Gettles]

Aslyum Demons with a faith build

[@js500y9]

Speaking of community requests have you guys done the Tibia Mariner yet?

[@square-table-gaming]

We have not! They are tied to the greater story of those who live in death, but we'll see if they can support their own video.

[@js500y9]

@@square-table-gaming I just think they’re neat!

[@mushroomsrcool1449]

I dislike the concept of souls being tortured for defence. I feel like Miquella would never let her Haligtree do that. Perhaps Erdtree Avatars are the spirits of the Erdtree incarnate, and that the Haligtree has multiple due to being exposed to Miquella's divine blood and perhaps multiple sprouts were used. Or, just like the Elden Ring has the Elden Beast as its guard-dog, perhaps Erdtree Avatars are those fancy root people who are like higherups of them. They were selected by the tree's spirit to protect it, and to be chosen you'd need ALOT of Faith.

[@robertsoto5713]

They are priest that turn into them over time. Look at the smaller guys with trees growing outta them. I think they turn into them

[@square-table-gaming]

If this were the case we'd likely see many more of them. It's a possibility but the guardians predate the shattering and the Erdtree guardians were specifically said to have arrived after the shattering.

[@christophermcguire4099]

Wait i thought that the description erdtree guardian garb (full bloom) implied that the erdtree avatars are "fully realized" erdtree guardian enemies? You stated that the erdtree avatars could be part human and part tree, and the armor piece says the guardians are already part tree. Maybe make a video on the guardian enemies?

[@square-table-gaming]

We did! They are likely not the avatars themselves. They are literally becoming trees that bloom, distinctly different from the avatars.

[@LYCAN-MASTER]

Could it be these avatars come into being by a demigod plunging these avatar weapons into a newly growing erdtree or haligtree. If you inspect the indentation on the top of these avatars, the indentation look to me like what I would image if a demigod took one of the avatar staffs and struck the top of it. The indentation has a very similar shape to the end of the avatar staffs.

[@levampblaze6312]

Like the whole fusing by the souls of the dead and become the avatar. I also think they came from the tarnished as well coz of how they wield the weapon and spell. I think the tree spirit were fuse not only the souls of the dead but the dragon as well since the tree spirit were look like a lot of snake like being. Maybe the greater will absorbed severed heads of placidussax to obtain the dragon breath and took the shape as well to become elden beast . Then greater share their power to the tree sentinel. Btw I wish it should have been called as The bastard avatar of the erdtree

[@square-table-gaming]

I don't think they could be related to the tarnished because the tarnished were already exiled at the time of the shattering. By the time we made our way back to the lands between the erdtree avatars already existed

[@levampblaze6312]

@@square-table-gaming what about the severed heads of placidussax theory?

[@square-table-gaming]

@@levampblaze6312 that I'm not totally sure of, it may be the other way around because placidusax was technically the first Elden lord

[@levampblaze6312]

Hmm... 😎

[@Carrot-Man1876]

Greetings from the Carrot-Man 👋🥕

[@square-table-gaming]

My liege

[@necrovive]

the avatar make sense the name explain it, but the ulcerated spirit kinda confuse me it called spirit but fleshy and physical, but it makes sense when they drop the seed because just like the seed they shouldn't exist but that one spirit in mt gelmir didnt drop seed instead it drop crystal tears, maybe the spirit is kodama gone wrong and turn into tatarigami.

[@square-table-gaming]

Check out our video in the ulcerated tree spirit!

[@tHEsHINYsTONES]

interresting video. im realy impressed. my first playthrough took me over 400h and im still learning :)

[@VolleyR1055]

I said it before and I'll say it again, just what the heck is up with these guys? Such a massive game you forget just how strange everything is.

[@electricarrow4565]

Do Vargram the Raging Wolf

[@square-table-gaming]

We did! Check out our video on the raging wolf and the errant sorcerer

[@electricarrow4565]

@@square-table-gaming thanks

[@collinnicolazzo2065]

First one.....now elden lord

[@thaqiftalip2771]

Hey, Square Table. If you are done with Elden Ring, why don't you try other From Software games like Dark Souls, Sekiro and Bloodborne. Or maybe, other Souls-like games.

[@square-table-gaming]

There's still plenty of topics left in Elden ring but we are exploring the possibility of other souls games. The toughest part is that there's very little left to say.

[@thaqiftalip2771]

@@square-table-gaming Well, just you know that you're options are free as always. I would actually want to listen to the other enemies, allies, NPCs and events in other Souls-like games.

[@TiberiusRex182]

Could they have been birthed from the Rune of Rebirth?

[@square-table-gaming]

Likely not as Rennala already had that rune before the shattering

[@Local_commentor]

There plant pokemon of the asylum demon

[@alsimmonshellspawn6021]

Of do you get the staff of the avatar?

[@square-table-gaming]

Killing the avatar in the deeproot depths

[@alsimmonshellspawn6021]

​​@@square-table-gaming don't remember encountering any avatar in the deeproot depths

[@square-table-gaming]

@@alsimmonshellspawn6021 it's in the vid! Off to the left of the path that takes you to the nameless eternal city

[@SpontaneousPudding]

I got long speng

[@HenryGreenEngine3]

Roots. Tree. Haha pun

[@chables74]

Algormancy!

[@jacobnavarro3675]

Thanks for lowering the volume of your intro logo thing.

[@square-table-gaming]

It's the same volume we always use in the sound mix, not sure why it would seem different

[@jacobnavarro3675]

@@square-table-gaming its usually a little louder than the rest of the video. This was a lot less jarring. If its just my player being weird, thats too bad. I was hoping it was a conscious change.

[@square-table-gaming]

@@jacobnavarro3675 according to our audio mixing the intro is kept significantly lower than the rest of the audio. I'm talking -20. It wasn't like that in some of the earlier episodes when we first had it but we made that adjustment a long time ago.

[@heavymaciej]

Come back to out roots... Good one

[@square-table-gaming]

Unintentional pun, but I'm.happy with it

[@heavymaciej]

Unintented puns are the best ones

[@wearsaFDUtoo]

was i one of the people who asked?!!!

[@wearsaFDUtoo]

thanks for listening!!

[@square-table-gaming]

We try!

[@jackpotter3887]

Do not heart this comment.

[@square-table-gaming]

Sure thing

[@flangboot]

I'm curious as to which direction this video series will take when all the major and minor bosses, enemies and npcs have been discussed..GIVE US THE LORE FOR THAT ONE PARTICULARLY LARGE MADNESS RAT

[@square-table-gaming]

Ideally we'll be exploring other games. I'm working on some FF16 stuff at the moment.

[@flangboot]

@square-table-gaming in all seriousness though, I super appreciate all the videos and lore dives. I love the thumbnail art and the thoughtfulness put into each topic :)