The Lore of Elden Ring is Cursed

[@VaatiVidya]

Special thanks to @enotriathelastsong for sponsoring this video and supporting lore content! Special thanks also to @VLimit11 and @Mispap1 for their help with the footage and edit of this video - it was great to work with them as a team, and they both brought so much to this project. You can really tell when VLimit's signature editing kicks in in the last two chapters! Go and check out their channel for more lore content, and check out Mispap's for some incredible cinematics. Oh and also @Clever, who designed the "Bloodstarved Spear" mod for Elden Ring, which you saw at the "let's dive in" part of the video at the start. That made the intro. And thank you for watching 🙏

[@odstkchamp7719]

Before I even start the video, since I am early. Just wanted to say keep up the amazing work Vaati! Your videos and how you create them will forever be unique and bring me back. Much love!

[@justsomejerseydevilwithint4606]

Hey Vaati, when are you releasing the Armored Core 6 lore video? You said it was "Almost done" 3 months ago, so I hope soon.

[@daemonphil3132]

[@xanderbrindle]

It's a little bit gross, but I think everyone is sleeping on cutaneous horns. They're real. Look that up at your own parole, though. Basically, they're unusual keratinous skin tumors with the appearance of horns, or sometimes of wood or coral. I still think it's an aspect of the crucible, but the inspiration is key. Like cancer or tumors, it's uncontrollable, unchecked, life. The mechanism of death has been removed, and therefore the cancer/ tumors can grow. The "aspect" of the crucible, is life AND mutation. I believe "destined death", the crucible, the Erd Tree (and it's many incarnations), and the many other gods (serpent, chaos, rot) have been locked in incomprehensible battle to control the lands, through their vessels. All of powerful beings in eldenring are just choosing a more powerful being to serve.

[@thegodsgod8116]

WHAT HAPPEN TO THE 3H LONG VIDEO LORE OF Armored Core 6

[@StanleyG23]

"Why did Mohg think abducting Miquella was a good idea?" followed up by Mohg shouting: "SEX!" was an amazing bit.

[@jhank0cean]

instant demonetize

[@draw2death421]

Even tho 'SEX' is latin for 6 it fits lol.

[@formorian5]

I'm ashamed of myself for snorting at that...

[@98Dreadboy]

​@@draw2death421Also in Swedish!

[@CaliDraco]

He actually wanted his power but miquellas power made him love him in a weird way. But he was never attracted to him let’s be clear. Think of lord of rings and gollum saying “my precious” to the ring

[@Joandersonso]

Using the sigil right in front of Varré after he gives to you and says that you must not use it yet is one of the funniest things i've ever done in my first playthrough.

[@FLITT]

I didn't even wait for him to finish speaking 😂

[@14branflake]

Varre "now my lambkin not quite yet..." Me gotta farm runes byyyeeeeee

[@Astartes00]

onodera

[@indeedidosir]

i like the idea that his reason for invading you in the mausoleum is just mild annoyance at you doing the exact opposite of what he told you to do

[@austinmccon2759]

Every time

[@richardthepastamancer6619]

After playing the DLC I would like to formally apologise to Mohg for calling him a Mohglester. History (lore) has proven me very wrong.

[@BabaBlackSheep-tz6io]

turns out was being miquelested all along

[@YismirGoldFingers]

@@BabaBlackSheep-tz6iowe all were until the spell of his great rune broke

[@wanderingknight7777]

I mean it was just a joke from the start, the problem is the nature of fandoms. Things start as a joke, but once that gains enough traction, the joke morphs into "fact" with some fans.

[@symbiotesoda1148]

@@wanderingknight7777”No matter how much of his bloodied bedchamber he tried to share, the young Empyrean never took interest.” Sounded pretty factual to me man.

[@wanderingknight7777]

@@symbiotesoda1148 Wait, which item description is that?!

[@kevinchattergoon86]

well that "Did Miquella manipulate Mohg" kinda aged like fine wine

[@angusm6411]

We predicted this when the game released. What did you think "compel affection" meant

[@kevinchattergoon86]

@@angusm6411 i wasnt really into the game until last yr

[@juicygalaxy773]

@@angusm6411Not everyone has been playing since the game came out man no need to be a cuck

[@rushpatriot2866]

​@@angusm6411yeah but most people are illiterate I was telling them the same thing but they wouldn't listen now they act like it's a huge revelation. These are gods and demi gods that have treated people terribly ofc hed use his divine charisma to get his way

[@kyle857]

It was super obvious.

[@robynsperle116]

I said this on the Miquella video but in the "Age of Stars" questline we hear character's refer to Ranni's journey to godhood called the "dark path of the empyrean" and "only a path that she may tread" that for her to summon her order she needed to divest herself of everything that attached herself to the Two fingers and the Golden Order. I wonder if at some point Miquella realized the same thing - that to found his order he needed to divest himself of all that he is to become a new god altogether. That going to the "Land of Shadows" is his solitary dark path to becoming a god.

[@serpentnightrevival1151]

dam so he did betray malenia

[@10340ddity]

I'm not gonna be surprised especially if miyazaki-sensei had literally reference too hard with the situation Griffith.

[@BenefitCounterbench]

@@serpentnightrevival1151 Malenia also "betrayed" Miquella in a sense by becoming the Rot goddess. His trying to cure her was the main reason he turned away from the Golden Order.

[@arditlika9388]

No, Miquella just had to transition into a woman to become a God. A God needs to bear children. It's not some mysterious concept, it's a title given to high royalty. It's why Ranni hates the fingers so much, she would have had her agency removed and only become a vessel to bear children, in service of her lord (likely Godwyn himself). She accepts your offer, because in that questline, she retains her agency and is not shackled to you. Basically Mohg needs a marriage with proper royalty to legitimize his rule, Miquella is the only one within his reach.

[@tangledfish]

@@arditlika9388Unfortunately Miquella never got past being an egg.

[@VLimit11]

Loved having the opportunity to collaborate on this. With the DLC finally on the horizon, I'm excited to see all the lore/predictions everyone can come up with before it drops, and I think this video in particular turned out great!

[@commaJim]

Great work, dude!!

[@hhowdy]

Bro got the premium 23 minutes early pass

[@CGAA07017]

You and Vaati in the same video? My birthday gift came in early, I suppose 😂❤

[@COHOFSohamSengupta]

Where is your DLC trailer breakdown video bro?

[@iZenvixity]

@@hhowdyfr😹

[@Haarunen]

My theory for why Mohg's illusion is in the sewers, is that it's there to ward off tarnished from finding the frenzied flame. It's my head-canon that even though Morgott and Mohg have parted ways long ago, they both agree that the frenzied flame should not be found, and that's why both Mohg's illusion as well as Morgott's seal is there to stop the tarnished from finding it. This might even be somewhat supported by the fact that Morgott never names Mohg before his bossfight as he's listing the demigods who betrayed the Erdtree.

[@MrFallenone]

Well Mogh never tried to take the Runes of others. He just found his and left. The others raised armies and fought for the Elden Throne.

[@Pizzifrizzo]

I agree on the Frenzied Flame part. Another reason why Mohg isn't mentioned by Morgott in his speech is, I think, that he only listed the demigods who at one time held a throne in Leyndell. In other words, the members of the "sovereign alliance" that was shattered by "a bloody conspiracy".

[@Noizzed]

​@@PizzifrizzoExactly, he cannot betray something he was never part of.

[@huyhungpham3877]

@Haarunen The Three Finger: " Hey, you two. Any interests for the Frenzy Flame and let chaos take the world?" The Omen Twin: "No, we have so many people that come after us, f off" 🗿

[@joshwhitney4548]

Isn’t this literally mentioned as one of the theories in the video?

[@Ralagathenovel]

Mghlester? ❌ Moghlested ✅

[@daddyjojo9258]

The LGBT community has forgiven Mohg

[@gavinsnider4275]

Moghlested by Miquellester

[@ELA._.BORATED]

Have we? ​@@daddyjojo9258

[@delsinmunroe5067]

​@@gavinsnider4275holy shit that was great 😂

[@MrDoomlz]

@@daddyjojo9258 What exactly does the pedophile community have to do with mohg?

[@AwesomeWookiee]

I think the Formless mother, made of blood, likes being brought into the Lands Between where she can exist and feel (because she seems to come from a dimension of just her and just blood). If it feels good to her, maybe as an outer God that doesn't understand, she craves the bloodshed of mortals because she doesn't understand how fundamentally different we are. She thinks we're blood in a body-shaped prison and all she wants to do is help.

[@chilly456]

Love this idea! Very... eldritch.

[@helidenial628]

Very Interesting. "body-shaped prison" sounds very poetic.

[@swarthygiant1463]

I think that also ties into the whole “mother of truth” bit, wounds show the truth of what we really are. Underneath the royal robes or armor or rags, under godly flesh or accursed omen hide, we are all just blood waiting to leave its container. Even gods are mortal and all beings and systems eventually have the truth of their mortality revealed, in death humbled and connected to everything before and after

[@NeonViper00]

Me like this theory, weirdly wholesome for fromsoft😂

[@doodlebop921]

Interesting.. it does make sense that an eldritch being that really can’t interact much with the physical realm could become infatuated with the feelings of pain. They are the strongest feelings that exist in a physical sense. Nice thought 👍🏻

[@SmoughTown]

Vaati this is SOOOO good man Might be my fave video of yours to date! Congrats to you and the team for reaching new heights! Awesome seeing Mispap and V-limit working together

[@AngriestPeanut]

Omg Smough! Can you do a video on the lore of gold tinged dung?

[@draw2death421]

You and Vaati have been a great Help for me in understanding who mohg and formless mother are. Thank you.

[@patrickg3872]

Smough and Vaati, my two favorite fromsoft lore channels

[@beniciobonilla2271]

You both are genuinely the GOAT's when it comes to exploring the lore of these video games, keep up the amazing work ❤️

[@oup6009]

I always thought the Formless Mother's body could be a "Body" of Water. Like a current or river of Bloodflame that never sticks to one path and is thus Formless.

[@funguy398]

I imagine it like an ocean planet of boiling blood.

[@valkeitos]

As Bruce Lee said: "Be formless, shapeless, like water."

[@Ecliptor.]

@@valkeitos be bloodflame, my friend

[@RedBishopGaming]

That's basically the implication the game gives you yes.

[@jacthing1]

One that guards sleep perhaps?

[@BananaRama76]

Re-watching this after the DLC, I'm thinking the formless mother was perhaps a being of the hornsent, one of their gods perhaps. As the mother of truth, she perhaps showed Mohg and Morgott the truth of the hornsent's slaughter at the hands of Queen Marika, and while Mohg embraced this vision, Morgott refused to believe it, and perhaps literally repressed this truth through sealing away his accused blood. And even though the Mother doesn't bless this blood flame on all omen, perhaps she could commune with them through visions, showing them the truth of their ancestors, and perhaps even the nightmares are actually visions of the hornsent slaughter in the land of shadow. It is perhaps through these beings that Miquella learned of the land of shadow and Mohg's potential to act as a gateway to the land of shadow. It makes me wonder if that's why he started growing the Haligtree as a haven to the misbegotton and the outcast, and maybe even why he waters it with blood. Plus with Mohg's distaste for the golden order, perhaps that is how he was so seduced by Miquella and became his pawn.

[@Inshabael.]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1398">23:18</a> Bro was tweaking but forgot to turn off the stove.

[@justwastingtimeonyt9952]

Lmao

[@veryhighrice]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@Belmont1714]

Nice one😂

[@keyquixote]

top 5 elden ring joke

[@pavelduben5884]

😂😂😂

[@jays.6843]

Another bit of relevant lore: the snowman oracles are stated to appear to herald a coming age. They only appear in two places:.Leyndel, the capital of Marika, and the Haligtree, capital of Miquella. You know where they don't appear? Mohgwyn Palace. Whatever the snowman oracles know, they seem to realize that Mohg is a complete lunatic and that he'll never be a lord consort, considering they don't even recognize his palace as a place of interest. But the Haligtree still has oracles dooting up a storm. Maybe they realize that Miquella is still active in some way and somehow understand his plan in a way that we don't?

[@davidefinzi8145]

Wouldn't it make more sense if they were heralding the goddess of rot?

[@ArigatoPlays]

@@davidefinzi8145I'd say that's definitely the more likely option. The oracle envoys are only found at the top of the Haligtree, where we enter it too, and not in Elphael, which would suggest they only arrived recently. We don't know much about them, but it would be a reasonable assumption that if they were heralding Miquella's ascension they would have arrived around the time he entered his cocoon state (either shortly before or after Malenia left for her crusade) and they would have followed him to Mohgwyn Palace or at least into the Snowfields. If they were there for Malenia, it makes absolute sense they only arrived very recently, since by the time we as the Tarnished find the Haligtree she has just recovered enough power to fight again after her duel against Radhan (otherwise she likely wouldn't be in that comatose state when we first enter her arena), so there wasn't much time for the envoys to climb down the Haligtree once they senses she was ready to ascend.

[@plipplop728]

@@ArigatoPlays Or maybe they're having a hard time descending to Elphael because of their chonky nature and the way they -walks- rolls. Haha I'm so funny I know.

[@kaingates]

Arent the snowmen oracles linked to the Golden Order?

[@Ylliaster-TheRisenPhoenix]

Worth mentioning too, is that as Vaati says, those who are blind can see things that others cannot. It doesn't look like the envoys even have eyes, so you might be onto something here. They've congregated around the gods to be. Mohg was always destined for failure perhaps.

[@SamFullbuster24]

I really wanted Miquella to be a “good” character as the concept of abundance, of kindness and him doing everything in his power to save Malenia, and building a sanctuary for the outcasts. His quote “this is for thee, mine abundance” really made me quite fond of him. I really hope he isn’t a snake (togethaaaaa)

[@xviii5780]

Knowing what usually happens to good people in from games (Solaire ;-;), I'd not have my hopes up either way

[@BaihakiDwiWahyuKuncara]

Seems you have been bewitched by Miquella's power.

[@amannamedsquid313]

@@xviii5780 That's how it usually goes: either they were good at one point and are not good anymore by the time we show up, the "Good" part was a front/sham/lie the whole time, or they remain good and then die or go insane.

[@SamFullbuster24]

@@BaihakiDwiWahyuKuncara Of course. Lord Miquella all the way. Saying it now as he might be a griffith reference, he didn't do anything wrong.

[@cartooncritique6625]

@@xviii5780 In Fromsoft games, no good deed goes unpunished.

[@Supreme-Moose]

It would be very Fromsoft to make Miquella be both the most loved by the inhabitants of the world and secretly the most wretched.

[@andrew-rn9ui]

And would fit with the Griffith = miquela / Berserk ultimate reference 😅 If anything it's a berserk thing not a fromsoft thing since the latter is inspired by the former to an extreme extent , especially with the cosmic horror shit going on in the story

[@jackbelmont4389]

I am legit dreading that miquela has followers in the dlc and he pulls an Eclipse

[@Ratchet-Taco]

Haha man

[@KSkrode]

lol boy do I have news for you

[@brunopelletier5701]

Give me big sanguinius vibe from 40k

[@2ndslowpoke753]

Since Miquella divested himself of his grace and we hear in the dlc trailer “Those stripped of the grace of gold will all meet death in the embrace of Messmer’s flame” I’m wondering if there could be a plot line where Messmer is hunting Miquella through the land of shadow?

[@JEASOUA]

Messmee had early access to Miquellas Dream

[@kennyjac]

More likely Miquella is hunting Messmer 🫢

[@Arkios64]

I maintain that, in the Trailer, Messmer is specifically questioning Marika's decision to allow Miquella to retain their Empyrean status even after abandoning their body in Mohgwyn Palace, and with it everything that linked them to Marika.

[@odyssey2548]

​@@Arkios64 Or he could be talking about us, the tarnished. We end up getting chosen to be Elden Lord, and we're pretty much the lowest of the low

[@NobleGamer0117]

​@@Arkios64That's a pretty good point, although it still could be Messmer referring to the Tarnished. Even though grace was extended to the Tarnished, Morgott still addresses us as 'Graceless Tarnished'.

[@davewindburn]

I also think that the reason why they call her The Formless Mother is because she can be a motherly figure to everyone who worship her, thus, not having any concrete look. She is the same to all of her "children".

[@Zokalex]

Nice point

[@renandjusta]

A nice detail to notice is when Mohg dies he says "the coming of OUR dinasty", not HIS dinasty. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="68">1:08</a>:30 Edit: Just to clarify, i don't believe he's talking about the player or even his followers (but this is a maybe). I think he is referring to Miquella, the dynasty of he as consort of Miquella, the God.

[@draw2death421]

Yeah it could hint that he did truely love his suporters or mayby he just ment Himself, Formless Mother and Miquellas Dynasty but yeah. He isint selfish thats for sure.

[@ReturnoftheLightning]

It’s pluralis majestatis

[@carancole5974]

It was even more nice when i beat him and i replied " What dynasty?"

[@Noizzed]

Unless he has children we don't know about it's kinda hard to create a dynasty when you are dead...

[@natedlc854]

I believe hes talking about the Dynasty he will create with Miquella. Like the Golden Lineage of Marika and Godfrey

[@jacthing1]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="3415">56:55</a> Vaati Obviously Mohg just picked Miquella's cocoon up over his head and then just stealthily snuck his way out of the haligtree. Possibly using the cocoon to beat anyone who saw him to death so they didn't raise the alarm.

[@lavalarva7728]

HE DID DE "VI" JOKE YES

[@_syedmx86]

"I'm gonna get demonitized for that one" lol

[@StillNightingale]

That threw me off guard 🤣

[@allanslaterr121]

Time stamp?

[@richter1934]

​@@allanslaterr12157:36

[@hello_storm]

@@allanslaterr12157:35

[@capntophat4380]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="3459">57:39</a> is one of the greatest moments in a video ever and caught me off guard completely

[@hamiltonrankin8462]

“Why would he do this tho?” “SEX!!!👹”😭😭😭

[@draw2death421]

Lol i knew it was coming since mohg has unused dialogue for 4, 5 and 6 in latin so once he started the video and i heard Unnus i imediatly knew what was coming lol.

[@CrowSkeleton]

I had to pause the video due to laughing so hard.

[@RosuVT]

"Why did Mohg think abducting Miquella was a good idea...?" Mohg: SEX

[@cenatraa]

fr?

[@tktvr9703]

@@cenatraa fr 57:35

[@lc193]

I can’t lie though, Miquella is hella fine 🙏

[@WillGlacier]

@@lc193 HUH??? Bro they have the body of a child fym 😭

[@unterhau1102]

​@@WillGlacierif the age is on the clock, they're ready for the co-

[@Javilin447]

Guaranteed 99% of souls vets saw the Miquella’s egg and went “oh I can’t activate it? It must be a DLC entrance”

[@davidcole7943]

played remaster 2 3 and blood born I said it as a joke and they decided to do Miquleas dlc first all I hope if that elden ring doesn't get the blood born curse of one dlc.

[@user-xf6ci9kp7w]

​@davidcole7943 sorry to tell u this but they did announce they were only doing one dlc

[@lumeronswift]

Nah, most of us thought "hmm, which gesture do I need to use here"

[@gearyt2355]

For real man, I was surprised that the egg did nothing.

[@dragothica4925]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2400">40:00</a> Curiously there also isn't any Site of Grace at the Second Church of Marika, when most/all other Churches of Marika have a Site of Grace nearby/within. It has definitely been usurped by Mogh's influence.

[@kingdomcome3914]

Also curiously, there's a Stake of Marika by the Rosé Church.

[@notfunny3397]

Mohg refusing to cut off or grind down his horns even as it grew and stabbed him in his eye, is pretty darn metal. Also plays into how mohg embraces his omen affliction, and morgott despises it.

[@draw2death421]

I allways imagined that Morgotts cut horns on one side of his face was to show he tried to remove his own horns but stoped after he coudnt endure the pain of it anymore.

[@osanakoma366]

u said it, metal AF friend

[@keladrygoodell]

I see it as him being shackled flat, pinned to the ground like using the item in his boss fight, while a stray horn slooooowly inches towards... And eventually into... His eye while he can only watch it approach and scream in gutteral fear. I don't know if it's true or not, but the idea of the twins being shackled from the onset of the Golden Order (ie when Godfrey was divested of grace) up until the shattering itself when they were either fetched from the sewers, or had their shackles weaken to the point where escape was possible on their own really resonates with me.

[@sketcher445]

@@keladrygoodellThat's really fucken dark

[@timothymenard1750]

I have a theory about why Miquella might have gone to the land of Shadow: So, IF the Land of Shadow is an afterlife where those who die without grace go to, Is it possible that when Godwyns soul was killed that's where he ended up? It might be that because he was killed by a piece of the rune of death that he died without the possibility for Erdtree reincarnation which might've sent him to the Land of Shadow. If this is the case it could be that Miquella has gone there to retrieve Godwyns soul, It seems based on Castle Sol's whole thing that Miquella wanted to bring Godwyn back, (This is just speculation) It might be that the Eclipse Ritual Castle Sol was trying to do would weaken the Veil/Barrier between the Lands Between and the Land of Shadow similar to how the Eclipse ritual in Berserk weakened the barrier between realities, So that they could retrieve Godwyns soul. (note: I don't read Berserk, I just know some stuff by other people talking about it so if the eclipse stuff is incorrect sorry about that.) If this is true it may be that due to the failure of the Castle Sol Eclipse that Miquella decided to die outside of grace to go there himself and bring back Godwyns soul. Another more messed up theory I have is that Miquella may be trying to resurrect Godwyn for a more self serving purpose than just the goodness of his heart, It's possible that Miquella wants to bring Godwyn back so that Godwyn can be his Elden Lord when he ascends to godhood, This could be why Miquella is somewhat obsessed with Godwyn, and asides from him I can't think of anyone else who Miquella would choose to be his lord. It also makes sense that Miquella would want Godwyn as both himself and Godwyn were beloved by the people, meaning Godwyn would make a great choice in terms of image.

[@caseycox1002]

You're a genius. This is literally what I expect Miyazaki to do since it's both an amazing twist and exactly parallels Griffith. If it's not this, I'll be pretty confused at what they do actually go for.

[@TheSergio1021]

God I hope you're right. I really want Godwyn to be in the DLC.

[@infinitegameworks]

Its so tough to tell though because godwyn was killed specifically for his soul so that rani could kill her body but preserve her soul. Thats why Godwyns body still "lives" albeit quite dead like, spreading death root and corruption. So I would think his soul was destroyed but then at the same time it really does seem that miquella is searching for Godwyns soul and it would make so much sense if he went to the land of shadows to find it there. I really want to see more of Godwyn he just seems so interesting but I guess only time will tell with the release of the DLC.

[@CodeeXD]

Kinda unrelated but the eclipse doesn't really do anything in berserk, its just when Griffith activates his behelit and is a part of a fake ass prophecy. The behelit itself is what transports you to a deep deeeeep level of the Astral plane npt the actual eclipse itself.

[@ReneAensland]

You're on the money. Miquella's goal after Godwyn died was to traverse dreams, find Godwyn's soul and bring him back. My assumption was to give him a proper death and end Deathroot plaguing the Lands Between. Your theory is awesome, imagine if we see Godwyn?!

[@someguywithcancer1595]

Well, now we owe Mohg an apology

[@hunterpence9276]

He was the victim all along 😢

[@hunterpence9276]

He was the victim all along😢

[@capsloccc4606]

Do we? Bro was manipulated into being an incestuous pdf file and we owe him an apology?

[@MarvinT0606]

him and Morgott. They never chose to be born _as the horned race that genocided Queen Marika's village and stuffed them into jars_

[@justreadberserkd1021]

@@hunterpence9276 he wasnt

[@AmigoRoberto]

I challenge the assumption that Marika is like Gwyn. I dont believe her actions indicate she is trying to maintain her order. I think most of her actions post Rennala/Carian Manor are self sabotaging. Shes 100% done with her own order by that point

[@samuelriccio24]

I think the confusion about her seemingly incoherent actions has to be led to the presence of Radagon. Radagon seems to be the one trying to restore the shattered ring, the one trying to mantain the order, while Marika is the one who shattered it and tasked the tarnished and Hewg to kill a god. Marika wasn't of course always so "rebellious" to the Greater Will, especially in her earlier years, but it's hard to pinpoint if this change was tied to Radagon's presence and how exactly their duality works, considering that they weren't always "one and the same" according to Melina's recollection of Marika's words.

[@jungtothehuimang]

I always got the vibe that she wanted a new order that she was more in control of, which is why she brings back the tarnished in hopes they will be beholden to her and help her get more power. I didn't bc I wanted to marry my four armed puppet mommy, but I think Marika hoped you would not be swayed by the other emperyans or outer gods.

[@macnamaryb7773]

I think Radagon was initially just Marika. No separate body, no separate mind, just part of Marika. Then, in the war with the Giants, the Giants cursed Marika, and Radagon was basically sheared off of her as a mortal man. Now, Radagon's whole deal is to become perfect, and then regress. So he picks up an army from Leyndell and goes off to win some personal glory and power, when he enters Liurnia and gets his ass handed to him by the Carian Knights... twice. Eventually, he realizes that war will not net him power, and so seduces Rennala and marries her, gaining access to the knowledge and magic of Raya Lucaria. Meanwhile, Marika and Godfrey are scheming to betray the Golden Order, and so Marika sends Godfrey and the Tarnished off to become stronger so they can vanquish the Elden Beast, and it is then, with a power vacuum present at the capital, that Radagon swoops in and becomes Second Elden Lord, likely against Marikas desires. Because what he wants is to become Marika again, to be immortal and eternal again, and more importantly, he wants the Golden Order to last forever, clearly against Marikas own intentions.

[@broopont2239]

I think both can be true. She has turned against the Greater Will which is why Radagon becomes the counterpart to keep her in check and her breaking the Elden Ring is the straw that breaks the camel's back, causing her punishment. At the same time though, it seems like she still wants to maintain her status. She was the one who decided to seal the Rune of Death and make herself Queen Marika the "Eternal".

[@NotAGoodUsername360]

Marika is a contradiction, she is the Magnum Opus, a Rebis. She simultaneously trying to destroy and maintain her Order. She is both rebelling against and being loyal to the Greater Will. She is a pacifist that loves combat and bloodshed.

[@jareddnewton]

I can't help but notice the other bloodborne easter egg: that sleep and dreams are synonymous with st. Trina/Michiela. The moon presence (another outer god) ruled the hunters dream, and lumenflowers in the hunters dream also had a soft purple glow.

[@gwynbleidd1917]

Yeah, I think Bloodborne mightve been Miyazaki's favorite game to make, or at least the themes they put in it obviously inspired much in this one.

[@mayhemivory5730]

Considering that dreams/nightmares always belong to dead people in both games, there is definitely a theme going on.

[@bexiexz]

100 a theme@@mayhemivory5730

[@joereed8872]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2670">44:30</a> I'm pretty sure that in nephili's quest the noble who has you fight the godrick captain tells you that the captain has gone mad for blood. Or is enticed by blood. Something like that

[@curiousguyontheinternet9023]

I believe he wording is that he’s obsessed with blood. Which tracks given how fervent the sanguine cult is

[@ShupperDupper]

it's aso where you find the recipe for the blood grease and bloodbone projectiles.

[@kingdomcome3914]

There's a noble spirit nearby that says that one of Godrick's Knight Captains was "Bedeviled by blood".

[@amannamedsquid313]

@@ShupperDupper And you can find bloodroses within the courtyard too.

[@m-sama2140]

If your last theory is right, which I think it is, it would make Mohg an almost direct parallel to the player’s story throughout the game and especially Ranni’s quest and ending. The Omen and the Tarnished are clearly not popular throughout the lands between. The Omen obviously more so, but the Tarnished are definitely disliked by many. Our entire goal, like Mohg, is to become Lord. During Ranni’s quest, we assist an Empyrean, who has already cast off their flesh, in casting off the Two Fingers and their grace. Almost identical to how Miquella has potentially cast off his flesh using the cocoon and then needed Mohg’s help casting off his grace. Then finally, having cast off both flesh and grace, Ranni is able to ascend above the Elden Ring and travel to somewhere far from the Lands Between. Similar to how Miquella has now cast off flesh and grace and traveled to the Shadow World. The only differences being that in Miquella’s case, Mohg is dead and not being brought with him unlike us with Ranni. Another difference is likely their goals. Ranni’s goal was to create a world where the outer gods has no influence and people had true free will. Miquella’s goals are still pretty mysterious. It would be cool if in the dlc we get the option to assist or fight Miquella and if it unlocks a new ending similar to Ranni’s. It would make sense as well for there to keep being parallels between Ranni and Miquella since they’re pretty parallel of each other, Ranni being the best of the Moon lineage and Miquella being the best of the Golden Lineage.

[@queenbee7266]

Ooh this is a good analysis

[@holyone2460]

Your theory is very interesting

[@justarandomguy983]

I believe that the festering bloody fingers are the fingers that Yura cut off. The reason I believe this is that during Yura's questline, before he gives you the Nagakiba, he says that he cut off "the finger."

[@ValbrandrLeonhardt]

Yura cut off the bloody finger that is used to invade other realms. When we do Varre's quest line, he corrupts one of our fingers to give us this power.

[@W_PFP]

No

[@Ydla]

A little something I've been thinking a lot about after learning more about Miquella: During the start of the game, at the Chapel of Anticipation, what was waiting for us was not the grafted scion, but the nascent butterflies on the cliff. Miquella's manipulation was apparent right at the very beginning. Everything is according to his plan, including the dead maiden at the church of anticipation who can lead us to Mohg, and that Varre, not Melina, is waiting for us as soon as we get our consciousness back.

[@thehakiguy7006]

Great catch! They are also just out of reach, leading to us falling to our death. Then Torrent (whose former master was likely Miquella) nudges us and “had our measure from the start” as Melina says. Can’t wait for this DLC to re-contextualize the entire game.

[@KazeBlack]

I wonder, the Land of Shadow could be very similar to a painted world as in the position it takes within the Elden Ring universe . Miquella's Cocoon is a direct reference to a painting made by Salvador Dali, "Geopoliticus Child Watching the Birth of the New Man". We are sucked into the Land of Shadow by touching Miquella's arm, so basically are sucked into a painting again just not in the literal sense this time around. The original painting by Dali also has this umbrella shape above the egg which reminds me a lot of the veil that the Shadow tree has.

[@Mr0611Thomas]

Underrated comment!

[@gamersreactions9267]

True. A keen observation, fellow art enjoyer!

[@NotAGoodUsername360]

It is most likely also a callback to Dark Souls 3 DLC where the Painted World foretold the arrival of a new paradigm where Fire would replace Dark and Rot would replace Fire, and that it would be constructed with the essence of the Dark Soul.

[@theobell2002]

Painted worlds are lame. It's the Dark Souls version of multiverses.

[@dripofu]

@@theobell2002Painted world are cool. they are not just plot devices

[@Rustymind7]

I’m sorry for falsely accusing you mohg 😔

[@TheInvisibles]

There are some more Berserk parallels now that you mention it. Mohg’s winged form resembles Father Mozgus’s angelic form. Mozgus’s actions at the Tower Of Conviction caused dead spirits to arise in a “bloodflow”. Also, while Griffith’s first transformation involved the sacrifice of those who loved him, his second transformation (his rebirth to the physical plane) involved manipulating the religious fervour of Mozgus. Could Miquella’s first transformation have required the sacrifice of Malenia and his second require manipulating Mohg?

[@KommissarAlexander]

Goddamn it Miyazaki is just riping off Berserker wholesale isn't he?

[@KommissarAlexander]

Actually, nevermind, Mozgus' angelic form doesn't look like Mohg at all.

[@xviii5780]

​@@KommissarAlexandergood artists take inspiration, great artists steal 🗿

[@led-0185]

Mohg's design is more likely a reference to Bloodraven from Martin's ASOIAF. He uses blood magic from the formless mother, and has raven feathered wins, hence, Bloodraven.

[@SIGNOR-G]

​@@xviii5780 Not that Miura can do anthing to stop him anyway now... Damn at least i hope the dlc will be good.

[@ebithrilebithril]

I thing the Omens may be a bit more literal, they are omens of Marikas weakening power and resurgence, at least partial of the former order time of the crucible. They are living reminders that she is not all powerful god but merely a currently ruling one

[@Zzzooooppp]

Something I think is interesting about the horns, feathers, and scales that the misbegotten and Omen are born with 'accidentally', the Servant of Rot bugs also have appendages that don't belond: human arms. they too suffer from too much crucible energy

[@lionelhutt9119]

What I think you may have potentially overlooked the implications of, is Omens having horns at birth. Trigger warning for body horror For common folk, without godly constitution it would almost definitely lead to the mothers death. the horns would tear. That may be why it became considered less sacred in a order ruled by a Goddess. Bloodborn also delves into the horrific side of motherhood and childbirth, so it would be a recurring theme for Miazaki.

[@unterhau1102]

Reminds me of the trolls from berserk. Although more brutal, and less consensual...

[@LEO_M1]

I don’t know if that’s even relevant. Some item descriptions and Melena herself talk about how people aren’t born from mothers, but from the Erdtree itself. Melena talks to you about Boc, saying she hears him crying often about how he misses his mom and how he wants her to call him beautiful, and Melena muses saying “is that what it’s like to be born from a mother?” You’re born of the Tree and when you die, you’re buried as close to its roots as possible so that it can reabsorb you.

[@WRG-bh8bz]

i thought about this as well but it seems they begin growing horns sometime AFTER their birth. i could be wrong but thats the way i understood it

[@CrayonosaurusRex]

The "War Surgeons" having that name reminds me of the "Quartermasters" in 40k who comb across battlefields to recover usable supplies from the dead and dying troopers, mercy killing them if they can

[@slimdaddyladron4582]

Something I don't see people mention enough is the senguine nobles. Most elden ring faction enemies take after the Lord they serve, cleanrot knights with Melania and miquella, Radahns knights in Caelid, etc. However these nobles who are Mohg's elite envoys do use blood flame but fight nothing like Mohg. If you look closely at their moveset they fight almost exactly like Margit (as in his fell omen disguise where he tries to only use his staff till the second phase) they glide around, have similar piercing strikes, dive attack that's only unique to Margit, quick dagger throws, all of which is almost exactly like how Margit fights. That simply can't be a coincidence.

[@MatthewM-hd6uj]

Probably Moho missing his brother in a way

[@victorabaderamos6019]

@@MatthewM-hd6uj Or maybe they used to be on Leyndell's army until they either fell to bloodlust (like Okina) or felt the winds change and switched allegiances to the side they thought would be the victor

[@MatthewM-hd6uj]

Great idea

[@ThatShadowPrism]

I like it 👍

[@marcomendicino3997]

it simply CAN be a coincidence though, or just a matter of re-purposed ideas and assets, which happens a lot during FROM's development. Mogh was supposed to be a demon in initial plans; Goldmask was Hoarah Loux("Hoarah Roux, the Goldmask"); There were scrapped ideas of sea monsters evidenced by early versions of the game map, which were someway repurposed to be Godwyn's visage, most likely the meta reason for that unique corpse under Stormveil. Furthemore Malenia's Cleanrot Knights fight nothing like her either, meanwhile Messmer's pose in the sold statue is the same as Cleanrot Knight's pose, which I doubt he has any concrete connection with. So I don't think there is any necessary meaning with Sanguine Nobles re-using some of Morgot's animations. It's likely just a matter of development stuff

[@checkmate9099]

I'm just imagining the DLC now(some theories of mine): We go to face off against Messmer thinking he is the main boss. Only for Miquella to be freed from his slumber, he removes the veil from the shadow tree. (The veil is gone from the tree when Miquella appears in the trailer) This may cause the shadow land to reconnect to the lands between once again. (There is a huge chunk of land missing in the middle of the Lands Between) Miquella then betrays everyone and begins his 'Nightmare'. We have always known Miquella to seem gentle yet Malenia, who is not only a very strong Demigod but also an Empyrean herself says: “My brother will keep his promise. He possesses the wisdom, the allure, of a god - he is the most fearsome Empyrean of all.”

[@CEOofHeaven-le2if]

That would be so awesome. I'm really sure he's gonna get the Griffith moment.

[@SolaScientia]

Yeah, I think Miquella is going to be the final boss. Messmer being all over the collector's editions reminds me how Malenia is all over the original collector's editions and yet she's an optional boss in an optional area of the game. When the trailers were first dropping I, probably like many others, expected her to be a major mandatory boss and yet she wasn't at all. I'm getting the same vibes from Messmer. Miquella has always seemed a bit sketchy to me and I'm more of the mind that he orchestrated everything with his own abduction and so forth. That's even before the parallels with Griffith come to light.

[@13Misiu13]

Watching the video after playing the DLC only increases my appreciation to Vaati's accurate theories, especially the parallel between Miquella and Griffith and the intentional arousal of Mogh affection towards Miquella.

[@pedro_mab]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="450">7:30</a> Mohg's horn growing into his eye is probably also based on real-world horned animals whose horns can actually grow into their eye sockets, potentially killing them in the process.

[@gavantothemaxextreme]

You mention st.Trina disappearing and the sharing souls of of some characters . It really feels like when Miquella entombs themselves into the tree, that they sleep and st . Trina takes over until mohg steals them. Cutting off both from the lands between . Just a game theory. Love these movies!!!

[@NobleGamer0117]

So then that would imply that, rather than being an alias, St Trina is a different soul/personality who shares the same body with Miquella.

[@hallideadlyest5822]

at the end of Hyetta's questline, after we take the flame of frenzy, she mentions 'the great one'

[@n8doggy733]

the One Great, to be exact

[@kamuymamushi5877]

Oedon the Formless Wait a minute.. The Formless Mother..

[@TheMarauderOfficial]

@@kamuymamushi5877 obvs outer gods dont have set gender, but oedon is definitely implied to be male-coded as oedon is the one who impregnates arianna

[@kapitanbeuteltier5889]

​@@TheMarauderOfficialI really really doubt that "impregnation" by an outer god works in accordance with normal human biology.

[@hannahshark8080]

A bottomless sea, a bottomless curse...

[@slim_jimmothy]

justice for mohg the miquellester used the poor guy then stole his body

[@luxinvictus9018]

I think it's really interesting that the very first character you speak too in the game is connected to one of the more niche bosses who is barely connected to anyone else or their story lines and can be easily missed by most casual players. And yet now he and the whole blood dynasty questline will become *essential* to get to the DLC. Most games would usually make a DLC connected to the most popular characters, not the one group that most players don't even know about I truly love how FromSoft makes games and tells stories. It's so unique and refreshing.

[@DjDolHaus86]

Varre isn't essential, I don't have a PS plus subscription so as his quest centred around online invasions I killed him at the church in Liurnia fairly early on (turns out you don't need to be online to do the 3 quest invasions but I didn't know this at the time). You just have to wait until you've got access to the consecrated snowfield to access the portal to Moghwyn palace

[@dannywatson4253]

My thought about why the Formless Mother doesn't do much is that she simply doesn't have an empyrean to act through. The Greater Will and Rot can both take a much more direct control in the world by controlling their empyreans, but the Formless Mother only has Mohg, who is never stated to be empyrean. Hence, Mohg has a lot more of his own will in what he's doing, and can only get visions or messages from his outer god.

[@drakorise]

How does the Fell God of the giants do it then?

[@dannywatson4253]

@@drakorise The last giant could easily be empyrean too, to be fair.

[@lesouth0348]

@@drakorisebecause the fell god is literally part of the giants.

[@oplu45]

It might be worth looking into Barber Surgeons re. white mask war surgeons. One of the most common forms of "surgery" performed in medieval Europe (especially Italy and France in terms of inspiration for the depiction in Elden ring) was bloodletting, as European medicine still held to Humors as the primary source of ailment in the body. Additionally, a battlefield surgeon's job during the time period would have largely consisted of mercy killing. I think there's probably a lot of Humorism in Elden Ring as a whole actually. I hadn't really thought of it before now.

[@cookielegends1192]

Coming back to this after playing the dlc and the fact that bro was right on the money about miquella controlling mohg

[@FalloutW90]

Every outer god has a type of flame, and stars / space are a recurring theme in the game. Could the outer gods be different types of far-off stars? All trying to exert their influence? Rani and Rennala follow the full moon, so maybe moons are the counter to them?

[@joseaugustodasilvagoncal-su5fu]

maybe every other outer god has a flame as a deliberate threat to the whatever is the current tree

[@TheBfutgreg]

@@joseaugustodasilvagoncal-su5fu Sword of Night and Flame ultimate Godslayer weapon confirmed

[@TheMarauderOfficial]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1017">16:57</a> its also possible Morgott’s blood was ‘accursed’ when Mohg contacted the Formless Mother, as twins in Elden Ring are more like a single person split in two rather than two different identical people

[@gkampy101]

I'm thinking she could have afflicted him accursed blood at birth and he just met her later. Malenia was born with the scarlet rot and the rot god didn't need to physically meet her to do so.

[@NottherealLucifer]

Only the Ds are a single person split in two. The Omen twins aren't and Melania and Miquella aren't. You're taking a single pair of twins and applying what you know about them to all other twins.

[@umngyr]

I would think this more likely as well. That Mogh's encounter with the formless mother also affected Morgott, or that perhaps he asked a boon for his brother. We don't get much on their relationship, but given that they were both imprisoned in the sewers together, they might have been close at one time.

[@TheMarauderOfficial]

@@NottherealLucifer no I’m not? The D’s are the literal example to set the standard. Marika and Radagon, Morgott and Mohg, Melania and Miquella, they’re all somewhat based on Jaime and Cersei from A Song of Ice and Fire, conflicting yet complementary, two puzzle pieces made to fit. This applies easily to I’m pretty sure all the twins in Elden Ring. It’s a high magic setting, where a core theme of the story is separation and regression, hermaphroditism, alchemy, there are no ‘normal twins’ in Elden Ring

[@NotAnyoneImportantRightNow]

@@NottherealLucifer Well Mogh and Morgott do share a Divine Tower too.

[@darklight645_]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="3450">57:30</a> Why did Mohg think abducting Miquella was a good idea Mohg about to hit us with the reality check:

[@thetyler101]

Alas, Mohg still gets NIHIL bussy

[@mrwulfblood3862]

Coming back to this after the lore of the shaman village and marika and her people being persecuted by the hornsent explains LITERALLY SO MUCH about omens and horns and why they’re considered cursed and hunted

[@Jeanmarie-i9x]

There IS actually a third omen that uses bloodflame. There is an "Acurssed twins" boss fight before you take the lift of rold. He wields an axe with bloodflame.

[@eriksmulders3753]

You're right. They are an Omen twin boss fight on the way towards the Divine Tower of East Altus, where you can restore Morgott's Great Rune. And I just realised something else - I believe one of these Omen twins has all of his horns cut off, while the other has all of his horns intact. Furthermore, the area grows weirdly dark when you enter it and the darkness dissipates after you kill both Omen twins, which is unique to this fight. I'm starting to think that this whole fight is just another illusion: these Omen twins are actually phantom versions of a younger Mohg and Morgott. Probably from a time when they were young Omens, still living together, in the Subterranean Shunning Grounds. It was created by Morgott to protect the Divine Tower in Leyndell after he took over. That explains why the entire area disappears and you fight in this strange darkness. It should be noted that another enemy on this bridge disappears entirely once that fight starts, hinting that this is not some normal darkness, but you're in a completely different, illusory world, just like when you fight the phantom version of Rennala on the moonlit lake - a magical illusion that Ranni created. They're even called the "Fell Twins", just like the illusion of Morgott's older self is called "Margit the Fell". When they were younger, the twins may have already discovered some simple ways to utilize their accursed blood (Bloodflame Blade, which only requires a minimum amount of Faith and Arcane) and used it on weapons, but only after Mogh found the Formless Mother later did he truly set out on the path to become the Lord of Blood. After that, he and Morgott definitively went their separate ways. Morgott 'recanted' his accursed blood and only used the basics when absolutely necessary, while Mohg embraced it.

[@GGDad]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1730">28:50</a> gotta love those tiny little moments of humour that Vaati puts into his videos. Miséricorde is a french word for mercy, while the 🤌 gesture is italian. Intentionally wrong or not, it makes his videos all the more enjoyable. Keep on it, Vaati!

[@gamersreactions9267]

I loved the scene where Mohg took out his Trident and NIHIL'd all over the place.

[@mightyarbokking7197]

So he blue balled then?

[@legion4022]

Mohg allways NIHIL's all over the place

[@nesnahprotsdam]

Imagine having to clean up all that NIHIL. I bet they are forcing some underpaid misbegotten to do it. UNIONS NOW!

[@AngriestPeanut]

When will this unfunny joke end

[@holloway4058]

It’s Mohgin’ time

[@huyhungpham3877]

Lord of Blood, forgive our sin, we have been mislead by the charm and dream..... For the Formless Mother, for the Blood.....NIHIL!!!!!

[@risenbow6592]

My only problem withe the formless mother also approaching marget is that he is devoted to the golden order. What I think happened is that when mough got his blood set a fire it also Ignated margets because they are twins

[@erpillar958]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1010">16:50</a> there is one other omen that fight with a bloodflame buffed weapon!! On the way of the divine tower where you claim the great runes of morgott and mogh!!

[@Cathart1c]

Yes, exactly!

[@leonardoremmie]

This is the first video I've seen of yours but the the voice over, editing, footage and everything is incredible. You mention it wasn't your editing and footage but the combination of it all is incredible. And I'm relatviely new to the game so thank you for the information

[@VaatiVidya]

My pleasure!

[@seanduncan9310]

@@VaatiVidyano chick fil a sowce?

[@GabrielRivera-ie6sh]

In the parkour to get to the frenzied flame, there is one slightly sane merchant still playing his instrument

[@billveusay9423]

Also funfact about Enotria : they've hired The Pruld as production designer for the cutscenes. You may know him as that italian dude who's made the "I'm in the abyss", "When you go Dark Souls with your best mates", "Praise till you're hollow" videos. And if you don't, go check it out, you're in for some treats. My favourite of his is "Dark Souls lore: Artorias".

[@alligatorwani8233]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="3448">57:28</a> "What happened? But why, why did Mohg think abducting Miquella was a good idea?" *Mohg: SEX.*

[@beanbeater]

i don't blame em

[@Lord-of-Gaming-007]

​@@beanbeaterwhy?? Also, yes😊

[@Liam-pi9vi]

@@beanbeaterBoth Miquella’s base form and his alter ego, St. Trina are described to be young and essentially appear as adolescents dawg.. 🤨

[@coleviloria3800]

It feels very akin to Seethe the Scaleless and Gwynevere from Dark Souls.

[@raziel6304]

@@Liam-pi9vi Curious because Vaati says in this very video that St. Trina is an adult form. And who the fuck cares it's a fictional immortal demigod

[@ZardBrood]

Amazing video Vaati! Something that came to mind during it near the end, about St. Trina's cut descriptions being prolific in battle and all the comparisons to Griffith, I'm starting to think that Miquella might be the true final boss of the dlc. I get the feeling the little bit we saw at the end of Miquella is the intro cutscene to the fight itself, and I'm terrified to see what it will be like if he is the real boss, with everything he may have done to get to this point.

[@tumbaldotexe]

also it might be cool that we get another god slain after it only been used when elden beast defeated

[@empyrealcultist1992]

We are always griffith in these games, our subversion is just far less subtle than his. We always end up nigh omnipotent with either a lit castle or dark one 😂

[@Bon_fyre]

We owe this man an apology after the dlc 😭

[@VictorIV0310]

Balam Industries sponsored field trip to that 3 hour Armored Core lore video.

[@kyokoshin755]

I really can’t wait for this ^

[@Kaiser0hmega]

Armored Lore*

[@jeff911p]

lock on load maggots! you're going on field trip.

[@JackOfFaces]

"Moghwyn" dynasty is also an amalgamation of Mogh and Godwyn - I think the DLC will revolve around some sort of conspiracy that both Miquella and Godwyn are/were a part of to bring about a new age or order.

[@swarthygiant1463]

I was also wondering if it was just a reference to his jealousy towards the literal “golden boy”. Maybe Mogwyn is his way of equating himself to his golden brother, much like using essentially Roman ruins is his way of legitimizing his new empire

[@maxyboy9648]

I never put “Mohg” and “Godwyn” together like that, makes sense though and is in line with a lot of From’s naming schemes for characters and concepts

[@beherit_benis6806]

I was always of the mind that "Mohgwyn" was the intended name for he and "Morgottwyn" (or something like that) for Morgott. Sort of like how you have names for your children in mind before their birth. Only the twins were born as Omen and thus unfit for a proper name (like "Godwyn") under the Golden Order.

[@ImpetusOmnipotens]

To me, it sounds like a Welsh word. I have no idea what it could mean, though.

[@RealLifeIronMan]

​​@@ImpetusOmnipotens Gwyn is the welsh word for white or blessed. So Mohgwyn translates to "Mohg the blessed" in Welsh. I am a native Welsh speaker and there are many Welsh names in Elden Ring. For example: Sellen is a corruption of the welsh word for star, "seren".

[@VashimuXIV]

The parallels between Miquella and Griffith casts a major sense of dread, which I’m glad was extrapolated upon in the later half. Maybe it’s a red herring, but it feels too convenient to be that of an inspiration from Berserk. The more answers we think we find, the more questions arise. This was an amazing video though Vaati. I could listen to you for ages.

[@mitchh5596]

Really great comment

[@VashimuXIV]

@@mitchh5596 Thank you kindly

[@clumsydarknut]

After the DLC, I'm really jiving with the theory that while the Misbegotten are just remnants of the Crucible, the Omens might be a deliberate curse from the Hornsent. For starters, we know from the Grandam that the Hornsent have horns much like the Misbegotten, and have a penchant for summoning spirits both benevolent and vengeful. They also have a special affinity for spiral horn-based incantations and cultivating horn growth. The Omen curse involves not only growing horns in painful excess, but also being tormented by spirits that, in the waking world, appear identical to those used by the Hornsent NPC. The Omensmirk Mask, with its horns in similar placement to the horns of the Grandam, Curseblades, and the Lamenter (which is also an aspect of Hornsent culture), somewhat corroborates the idea that the visages tormenting the Omen are, in fact, Hornsent. Throw in the ample motive that the Hornsent have to seek vengeance on Marika and her followers and you've got the makings for an excellent multigenerational curse. What better vengeance could their be than to use your own holy rites to eternally torment the goddess who betrayed you by corrupting her own children with the very symbols she sought to eradicate? It would make Marika's reason for shunning and exiling Morgott and Mohg all the more compelling - not only must she hide them for political reasons like maintaining the illusion of her perfect Order, but for personal ones as well. Their presence would be a constant reminder that despite everything she did to achieve divinity, her oppressors could still reach her, in which case what was the point of achieving divinity? It works well with some of the speculation about why Marika shattered the Elden Ring. If Godwyn's death was the last straw that made her decide she wanted out of godhood, the Omen Twins were probably the first.

[@juicydragon8532]

It could be that instead of the formless mother visiting both Mohg and Morgott separately, that Morgott’s blood was set alight at the same time Mohg’s was. The formless mother set Mohg’s blood alights but it’d make sense that their blood is identical-they’re twins after all, and thus when Mohg’s was set alight, his twin’s was as as well.

[@TheMarauderOfficial]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2569">42:49</a> odeon’s seeking of precious blood is referring to him wanting to impregnate a woman of ‘royalty,’ which he does with arianna who is descendant of queen annalise

[@DaisukiOno88]

LET'S GOOO VAATI VIDEOOO

[@toni5290]

LONGER THAN 1H HOLY FUCK YES

[@jesusdelvallecabanero7765]

dude i just discovered this channel and i love it! I was always fascinated with this game´s lore, so I watched a lot of lore videos like this from other channels (english and spanish), but none of them with this quality and this visual and narrative dedication. Now I finally found the Elden Ring Lore channel i was looking for. Keep it up man, and greetings from Spain! (I do apologize for my bad english xd)

[@Khotetsu]

Am I crazy or was there some bit of lore that said that Miquella was "watering" the Haligtree with his blood? If so, it could provide a possible connection between Mohg, Miquella, and the Formless Mother. I imagine the blood of an Empyrean flowing through a massive tree that so easily parallels the Erdtree wouldn't go unnoticed, and there's no reason that the Formless Mother couldn't have contacted Miquella as easily as Mohg and Morgott. Plus, there's the whole Miquella the Unalloyed/of Unalloyed Gold thing, implying a sense of purity of essence that separates him from the Erdtree and which plays opposite to the cursed blood of Mohg and the Omen. And with all the parallels to Griffith and references of Miquella not being as kindhearted as he seems, I wonder if they're intentionally casting doubt on Miquella. At this point, I'd be more surprised if he was actually good all along than if he pulled some kind of betrayal.

[@kempolar9768]

Yes there was that bit of lore somewhere, I remember that watering the Haligtree with his blood was an attempt to have it grow into a full Erdtree but it didn't work.

[@drakorise]

@@kempolar9768 This works pretty nicely with the idea that Miquella planned for all this to happen. If it was clear that the Haligtree had failed then it seems safe to assume that he no longer was bothered about completing his rebirth ritual there, we can probably assume that the state of the Haligtree means that the ritual would've failed. If Miquella planned to be abducted it also helps answer one of the biggest unanswered questions I've see around which is 'why did Malenia leave Miquella alone while he was vulnerable to go fight Radahn'. Did Miquella specifically tell/order Malenia to go fight Radahn just so that he could be abducted while she was away?

[@Lewcifer0]

@@drakorisewhat’s interesting is Miyazaki said we need to defeat both Mohg AND Radahn to access the dlc. This could imply that Radahn holding the stars and fate to a standstill is affecting Miquella’s fate as well. Therefore, I could totally see Miquella sending Malenia to kill Radahn to free the stars, much like how Ranni sent us in her quest. And we know Malenia wasn’t interested in Radahn’s great rune, so there had to be another reason for their battle. Finally explains why they were fighting in the first place and why Malenia would leave Miquella’s side.

[@Khotetsu]

@@Lewcifer0 I could see Mohg kidnapping Miquella from the Haligtree equally as either a part of Miquella's plans or a surprise because of this. Either Miquella had Mohg kidnap him as part of his plans to get to the DLC, or the Haligtree's withering is the result of Mohg's actions and the travel to the DLC may or may not have been a change in plans. Miquella might have intended to drain himself of his Empyrean blood to "divest himself of his lineage and all that is golden" through the Haligtree originally.

[@ludakriss9094]

This is stellar effort, man. When Myazaki said that he trusts the players to "figure it all out for themselves" at least a part of me thinks he's aware of people like you. The absolute number of little facts in the items, spells, incantations and everything else that reveal little bits of lore are so many. It takes a keen eye and probably too much time to collate all of it make sense of any of it. Thank you for it all. Peace.

[@4wheal]

Honestly, the biggest twist with Miquella would be if he actually is just what he shows himself to be a guy trying to make the world a better place to help his sister and those cast out

[@caseycox1002]

Nah bby we're goin full Griffith

[@walkermcmurrin7452]

People can only speculated on the kind of person Miquella is. Too bad there not adding anymore endings I would love to revive the Haligtree and make that a new ending.

[@honsai7409]

​@@caseycox1002not really. That's a really superficial and reductive way of thinking. Let's have more faith in the creative skills of the writers

[@jameswest6232]

"Beware the killers clothed as men of compassion" After playing most of the DLC, I feel this applies to Miquella quite well.

[@maplex1529]

At <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1240">20:40</a> you say Omen have the ability to conjure illusions, so wouldn't the golden particles mentioned at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1282">21:22</a> be because it is a crucible spell since omens are crucible creations? Crucible spells do have these particles around them while conjuring the horns, tail or fire sack or when they disapear as well.

[@SolaScientia]

Mohg is, for whatever reason, one of my favorite characters and probably my favorite boss fight of the game. I definitely used the medal to teleport there early, and I'm glad that FromSoftware did a patch to allow offline players like myself to complete Varre's quest to get the medal. I went there pretty damn early compared to when we can access the teleporter later on. I was level 75 or 76 when I got there and leveled up to 78 just before I fought Mohg; he took me absolute ages to beat. Then again, I didn't have the shackle and with my left arm still messed up at the time, I couldn't use any buffs or anything on my sword (which also wasn't at max yet). Just me, the purifying crystal tear (which I did go and get because I couldn't afford the flask uses to heal through the Nihil damage), a mimic tear at only +4 or +5, and a Bloodhound's Fang also at just +5 or +6. Still the absolute most fun I've had in an Elden Ring boss fight. I'm going back to that church in Liurnia. I can't remember if I actually went in and fought that enemy. I love the quietly muttered "gonna get demonetized for that one". Having a degree in Classics with many years of Classical Latin under my belt, I love that Mohg uses Latin. Thank you for talking about Miquella and how it's concerning there are parallels with Griffith. I've honestly thought Miquella was a bit sketchy and not nearly as innocent or whatever as people thought. He comes across as quite manipulative (and I typed that before you outright said it at the end of the video). Yes, we're going to literally follow his footsteps in the DLC and, very likely, track him down. They're setting Messmer up as the big bad in the trailer, but I think that while Messmer is going to be a major part of the DLC, I don't think he's the final boss. Sort of how Malenia is all over the Elden Ring collector's editions, but she's an optional boss in an entirely optional area of the game. I think we're going to stumble across Miquella and discover exactly what he's doing in that land. "I presume you, too, are keen to know. Just what Kind Miquella is doing here." The delivery of that line sounds to me more like Miquella is not doing something pure and wholesome; or could just be wonder at what the hell he's doing in that land of shadow.

[@martusmartus8976]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1005">16:45</a> i would rather argue that because Mohg and Morgott are twins they both got their accursed blood aflame Also one of the fell twins has blood flame on his axe

[@Nason599]

VaatiVidya is such a powerful god of lore that he was right on the money before the DLC dropped

[@James-nj5ks]

over an hour of Vaati giving Elden Ring lore? Yes Please

[@virtualranger7780]

When saying that you thrust your arm into her body, could it also be describing the blood as a body of blood, similar to a body of water?

[@ImATurtle314]

Babe wake up a new vaati vid has dropped

[@phoenix15_]

Ok honey

[@jxalmada66]

Yes dear....

[@Goooober12]

To put it simply, the main narrative theme of Elden Ring is the conflict between people seeking reason within the world and the world having no inherent order. People want their suffering to have reason and thereby purpose, but the cold reality is that the world is truly meaningless. Any semblance of order is one that is created by one’s perspective. The Greater Will has never had an interest with the Lands Between. It might not even be a sentient force; but just a personification for the chaotic cosmos. Metyr and the Elden Beast were delivered to the Lands Between. They sought purpose from the Greater Will for why they were abandoned in a foreign land, only to receive silence from an uncaring god. Marika is equally blind. She sought purpose and divinity in her suffering as a shaman, but only succeeded in usurping and perpetuating the suffering she herself experienced. Once she realized that the world is truly meaningless, she became disillusioned and shattered the Elden Ring and her order with it. Each of her children sought purpose within their curses. They suffered and were empowered by their curses, only to be devoured. They desperately sought reason for their curses or why their mother abandoned them. Ironically it was only Ranni who rejected the notion of order by a higher will that manages to have a happy ending.

[@bryanZ17]

Probably the best summary of Elden ring

[@Zach-qo1on]

About chapter 2 when talking about Marika, it’s also stated that she wanted the order to change and it’s more of Radagon forcing the golden order to stay in power (all if this can be found in game so no speculation on this part). I do think they both wanted that for awhile before Marika saw the writing on the walls, that things have to change. A lot of people blamed Ranni for the shattering but ignore that Marika planned to do it way before Godwyn’s death. The Golem eye queen, 2 fingers looking for someone else to be a new Empyrean and replace and destroy Marika. She started to distrust the two fingers and the greater will as a whole when Radagon came into the picture. She even belittles Radagon the more over zealous he got about the Golden Order. I think she believed the golden order will work for awhile until Miquella and Malenia were born cursed, just like Mohg and Morgott and the nail in the coffin was of course Godwyn.

[@MichaSennin]

We have no evidence or suggestions that Marika wanted to shatter the elden ring before Godwyns death. Her dialogue about wanting to research the order doesnt suggest she set her mind to shatter it because it happened before his death and shortly after Godfrey left the lands between. we have no idea what Marika did during this time until her improsiment shortly after the shattering. also the exact reason why she did it is unknown and nothing in the game outright suggests her reasoning to shatter the elden ring. you say she planned it way before Godwyns death but were exactly did you take this from?

[@andrewyang2320]

The Omen Bairn description always struck me as being the words of the parents, not the omen child: "Please don't hate me or curse me." would make sense if spoken by the parent to the child right before they abandon them. The parent being someone who is on some level aware that what they are doing is wrong and against their innermost instincts, but who yet yield to the Golden Order to give up the child who is considered cursed and the curse to be contagious. And so they beg for forgiveness and understanding from their child and to not be tormented by the curse as punishment for an act they know is wrong. The Bairn looks too young to speak as well, it's just a little baby and so are I assume most Omen when they are abandoned. It's a horrifying tale no matter what.

[@funguy398]

This.

[@Sul227]

It really reminds me of infant circumcision in the US.

[@CleanVGC]

@@Sul227 Huh?

[@Sul227]

@@CleanVGC Something that children are born with, but is viewed as undesirable by society and is thus excised shortly after birth.

[@BigBadWolframio]

Yes!

[@Rasln15]

I was pretty sure Kenneth called that knight a "blood knight", but actually his line is: "Young Tarnished, I would have a boon of you. I want you to take back my fort. It lies to the south, beyond the Mistwood. A Knight commander from Stormveil took it. A fool, and plumb mad to boot. Simply obsessed with blood!". So it really seems that that Knight was some sort of Mogh worshipper and aleady had that "blood frenzy". Fort Haight also has some Blood roses already growing around and inside its walls. Conversion happening.

[@davidhong1934]

How exactly does that work? Does the Bloody Knight have to file bloody paperwork to join the blood cult?

[@shotgun-enjoyer]

you were dead on with all the stuff about Mohg, we owe him an apology

[@danekingrokabas4347]

I believe that the formless mother is called the mother of truth because she showed Mohg and Morgott the truth of their blood, ergo that they are actually the children of Marika. leading them to leave the sewers and go out into the world. Mohg starting his own dynasty, and Morgott attempting to return to grace.

[@Prenz01]

i will never get over the fact that somewhere in the files we have audio of mohg saying "SEX"

[@bigboy6019]

imagine they kept that in and you play the game for the first time and don't know about the countdown & he just yells that mid battle bro i would turn my game off

[@Jack-tg9qm]

Well, sex is Latin for six, so it makes sense considering Mogh loves to count in Latin

[@SarahStorm]

When you read Japanese mythology is goes very well with rituals and curses found in Souls games "The earliest creation myths of Japanese mythology generally involve topics such as death, decay, loss, infanticide, and contamination. The creation myths place great importance on purification, ceremonial order, and the masculine. For example, the first child born to Izanagi and Izanami after they attempt a union ceremony is born with no limbs or bones, and the parents discard the child by sending him to sea in a boat. When Izanagi and Izanami ask the older gods why their child was born without bones or limbs, they are told it was because they did not conduct the ceremony properly) "

[@knighthunter5333]

Spread the word, LORD MOHG HAS BEATEN THE ALLEGATIONS!!!!

[@Grigorii-j7z]

Wonderful video! My theory is different, but that's my favorite part of Souls lore: there is enough information for deep theorycrafting, but usually not enough for decisive conclusion.

[@falgalhutkinsmarzcal3962]

Shakespeare said it best about Death: "To sleep perchance to dream [...] for in the sleep of Death who knows what dreams may come?" This is also why the Gloam Eyed Queen is likely linked to Twilight, sleep, and children in swaddling, why the Godskins are so susceptible to Sleep, and why the Spirit calling snails are linked to the Godskins in the cave (because snails are crepuscular creatures). Purple is also linked to St Trina and the Godskins that serve the Gloam eyed Queen.

[@caiobarbosa7680]

true

[@krillin2591]

My homies and I were just theorizing playing TWO YEARS AGO saying that Miquella’s egg will be an entrance to DLC. Super dope that it is going to be.