The Lore of Elden Ring's Dragons

[@VaatiVidya]

Most sponsors prefer to have their ads at the start or middle of a video - but for some videos that can really affect the viewing experience. So with that in mind, I'd like to take a second to appreciate Displate, who permit me to put their ads at any point in my videos. In this video, their ad is at 1:39:55. As a result, you get an uninterrupted viewing experience in this one, so I'd really appreciate if you could check out their products, if you're interested. I'm lucky to have them supporting this sort of lore content, and of course lucky to have you guys supporting as well. Thank you!

[@Uniberryy]

I thought this was that 2 hour armored core lore video 😫, but this will do till then.

[@The1stReaper]

i love the content! any news on the ac lore video? i have popcorn ready to be popped

[@esmith2k2]

Displate is one sponsor im always happy to check out. They make really cool stuff

[@Rainy_nightday]

Im hungry :(

[@aviannahsalters8246]

😅😅

[@VaatiVidya]

Admittedly, this video is about more than just dragons. But if it's only the dragons you're interested in, I'd recommend skipping ahead to 55:00 at some point as that's where I discuss most of the named dragons!

[@markhenzel4637]

Please do Prepare to Cry video for Age of Order please?

[@blizzardgaming7070]

A video about the outer gods covering the age of perfect order ending would be an awesome way to conclude the endings series.

[@blizzardgaming7070]

​@@markhenzel4637I was worried he may have forgotten about it since he dubed the ranni vid the last ending related video.

[@markhenzel4637]

Have you also done Age of Fracture?

[@phillipsproductions3143]

If I ever feel inclined to skip any part of a vaatividya video, then my subscription should be revoked

[@MaidenlessScrub]

Vaati: Placidusax's heads were severed in an unknown fight Me coming back from the DLC: CURSE YOU, BAYLE!!!!!

[@blood8273]

same feelings. XD

[@benwil6048]

Seems like this needs an update :P

[@MaidenlessScrub]

@@melaniabladeofmiquella I mean the drakes are objectively worse than the dragons. For such a mighty and prideful species, the sight of those weaklings without the stone scales and red lightning is disappointing

[@timelordacaelus5959]

I love how you can actually see one of Placiduasx's heads still bitten into Bayle's neck.

[@MaidenlessScrub]

@@timelordacaelus5959 two of his heads, actually

[@axios4702]

With the newest lore from the DLC I present the following theories: 1: Modern Dragons are referred to by Igon and Florissax as drakes and spawns of Bayle, if Greyoll is mother of the drakes, that would make her Bayle's partner. She is probably in the Dragon Barrow specifically to die there, but it's sure she fled to the Lands Between with her children following Bayle's failed coup, then Placidusax sent a number of ancient dragons to teach humans about dragon communion, so that their endless hunger for power would lead them to annihilate the drakes. Considering how willing Placidusax and his ancient dragons were to wipe out the drakes and how they were seen as inferior, this muddles the conflict between Bayle and Placidusax. Did Bayle just want power, or did he challenge the Dragon Lord to protect his mate and children? The only version of this story we get, unfortunately, is that of Placidusax's followers. 2: The Fled God might very well have been The Greater Will, now that we know the Two Fingers and Marika were guide-less from the start. It's funny because that would be equivalent to God giving up when a meteorite killed the dinosaurs and leaving, never to learn of the little monkeys that picked up the torch of existance in his name.

[@cujo7600]

This is a fucking fire hypothesis, I like it 🗿

[@clumsydarknut]

I literally came to the comments specifically to posit that second theory and I'm so happy to find that someone beat me to it.

[@madeline6951]

How do we know Marika was without Greater Will from the start? I know Greater Will abandoned the Lands Between around the time of the Shattering (?) and Two Fingers are definitely unreliable as they directly lie about Greater Will not abandoning us. I also know Marika ascended to godhood through some kind of deception, but I'm not sure on what exactly happened.

[@axios4702]

@@madeline6951 Count Ymir at the cathedral of Manus Metyr explains that it was never the Greater Will that guided Marika, but Metyr, the mother of fingers, and her children. He also explains that Metyr is malformed and was abandoned by the Greater Will before she even contacted Marika. The Greater Will had abandoned the Lands Between long before the story Elden Ring even started at the Shaman Village, everything done under the Golden Order was pointless.

[@madeline6951]

@@axios4702 Ymir strikes me as a little insane, but he also doesn't have a reason to lie as far as I know, so that's probably true. Still a lot of questions are open tho :(

[@Dahrell77]

I love the fact that we had so much dragon-related Zullie the Witch content recently and to discover now that it was no coincidence and that you two were collaborating for this wonderful and massive video !

[@mokajones74]

Zullie's channel really is like a sneak peak into what the other lore channels are working on

[@guerilla_food]

@@mokajones74 I wish I could enjoy that channel, but reading is for people with attention spans, so I couldn't watch it.

[@J-manli]

Smough also made a Dragon video recently. I nearly skipped this video because I saw “Dragons” and a very long run time haha.

[@Ziostorm]

The quality of these videos is just incredible. The music, cinematography, and presentation really make you feel the scale of Elden Ring.

[@TheFallen3]

Collab??

[@rubededcii2395]

wtf? he is actually one of the best Elden Ring channel (more like formsoft-soulslike but you get the idea) his videos are really nice and condensed, even with useful timestamps if you dont have the time or are only there for some specific news@@rdvansloten

[@rubededcii2395]

love your content

[@BiZkWiK87]

Hey. It's the other guy. From the one channel.

[@Webxhed]

Hey, Ziostorm, love your videos!

[@TY-ri8ch]

37:08 “placidusax is in a state of eternal maidenlessness.” Yeah, same Edit: Not anymore! 💪 Edit #2: Scratch that 😎

[@sechan436]

I feel like a powerful ancient dragon now

[@majidmoro3866]

😂This comment Made my day

[@burnitupgriffin1798]

It's will change boys🦾🦾🦾 our time will come.

[@PotatoPatatoVonSpudsworth]

Alternatively he/she is his/her OWN maiden.

[@lorenzocorso530]

"Placidusax is now drowning in a state of indescribable maidenlessness"

[@westfall19]

Can't wait for an updated version of this with Bayle the Dread. Hands down one of the coolest storyline in the game.

[@bluevern904]

CURSE YOU, BAYLE.

[@NurEinLostie]

@@bluevern904 this shit is engraved in my head together with "Those stripped of the Grace of Gold shall all meet death in the embrace of Messmer's flame."

[@goroakechi6126]

@@bluevern904BEHOLD, A TRUE DRAKE WARRIOR! *YOUR FEARS MADE FLESH!*

[@_AJTV_]

SOLID OF SCALE YOU MIGHT BE, FOUL DRAGON… BUT I WILL RIDDLE WITH HOLES YOUR ROTTEN HIDE! WITH A HAIL OF HARPOONS! WITH EVERY LAST DROP OF MY BEING

[@samuels1245]

​@@_AJTV_ I don't know if I'll ever be able to hear the word "harpoon" again without hearing "HAIL OF HARPOONS!!!!!"

[@meropitou]

one thing about the glintstone dragons that i appreciate very much is how they are named. the first glintstone dragon Smarag is most certainly named after the precious gemstone emerald, which is called a smaragd in german for example, a stone known for its green color. Adula is what truely made me smile though, because it is likely named after Adularia or the effect of adularescence which describes the blue sheen most commonly found in moonstones. a good fit for Ranni's oathsworn

[@Webxhed]

Nice. Very interesting

[@Theendman42]

Adularia..that’s a beautiful name for a girl.

[@davidhong1934]

Wonder if there are unique dragon variants for all the glintstone varieties - meteorite: similar to fallingstar beasts - briar: erupts in painful ruby spikes - crab: literally unstoppable - night: invisible with invisible fire

[@robertjohnson6199]

I thought he was named after Smaug from The Hobbit... much of Elden ring is inspired by Tolkien

[@gigglthewiggl]

​@@robertjohnson6199much? Not that i would totally doubt that, but do you have some examples? :)

[@SmoughTown]

Incredible - absolutely breathtaking work as always Vaati. I constantly watch out for your content and you always lift the boundaries of what are possible, inspiring the rest of us. Thanks for the work, you and your collaborators have done; I know how much work goes into a long video - never mind one of this quality.

[@VaatiVidya]

Thank you Smough! For a while there I was thinking that this video length might rival one of yours. Then I noticed your recent uploads 😂

[@yeahthisisyoutubable]

Real recognizing real! Also lmao Vaati

[@Hammy7325]

@@VaatiVidya one day video lore 🤣

[@Sekooma]

​@@VaatiVidyaOh my god. The lore has consumed this one.

[@DustGamezX]

I love your content as well smough, your most recent videos have been great to listen to in the background while killing time at work.

[@236Doodad]

I don't know what's more mind-blowing: The staggering amount of detail FromSoft packed into this game, or the ability of Vaati and his team to rigorously parse it all out.

[@christmasham4312]

Both? 🤯

[@wankahi]

​@@christmasham4312The lore and everything about the 85% written and imagined by George RR ehos mostly inspired by Tolkien, Miyazaki add a little spice to the story eith his signature, Miura's inspiration ; Berserk and he destroyed the lore by using the Shattering. Elden Ring is BASICALLY written by 4 great writers

[@mrfoxyyy2870]

The answer is not one or the other. Without FromSoft's almost unrivaled worldbuilding the impeccable lore hunting of Vaati and his team would go to waste. Same works the other way around, Without this incredible team, us common plebians would probably not be so varsed or invested in the lore of the world that we are currently. So in conclusion They compliment each other and would suffer from the absence of one.

[@williansouza8724]

watch a movie: nah watch an almost 2 hour youtube video about game lore: hell yeah

[@hussainchoudhury8846]

i actually love listening to these when i am working and the day is a bit quiet - makes the day fly by!

[@JoHajime-Zenin]

I listen to these in my free time and when I'm going to bed. Vaati's voice is just so soothing

[@anasshahid224]

Facts 😂

[@hollowspecs3430]

Especially when you're busy

[@Sharkenite]

​@@JoHajime-Zenin Same. I can have 1 headphone in at my job working and I just listen to his whole playlist during my 8 hour shift.

[@Egalia_1]

I really appreciate the dragons in Elden Ring because it’s the first time in the series for me that they really felt like a “people” or group. Before you just have Seath and the immortal dragon in DS1, nothing else. In DS2 you have the fake dragon and Sinh, the rest are completely uncharacteristic. DS3 has even less so. I feel like Elden Ring really makes them feel more like characters with their names and unique abilities. At least, for me it did

[@HansWurst1569]

DS1 also had kalameet

[@joyboy6752]

Smoughtown made a great real life comparison by comparing them to dinosaurs. They seemed way more fleshed out in this game while still being ambigious.

[@Astald798]

One of the things that I like about dragons in ER is that they really feel like a part of the game. They are not something like "one-time event" like in souls series, here they feel like actual inhabitants of game's world - in Limgrave you have basic, fire breathing one, in mountaintops frost one, etc.

[@Tacticalsmile47]

Ds1 had kalameet and the one on the bridge in undead burge

[@HansWurst1569]

@@Tacticalsmile47 only kalameet, the other was a drake

[@tanks608]

Vaati dropping a video right now, seems like DLC update confirmation to me!

[@colecarmichael5724]

Stop hoping man give up it’s never coming

[@_Azulite_]

DLC files have been uploaded to steam recently, all of the Bandai Namco youtube playlists for elden ring have been updated with unlisted videos, and the thrustmaster leak pointed towards a February release... we have to be close now, don't go hollow brothers!

[@eddiepope7640]

@@colecarmichael5724it is coming lol what you smoking homie pass it

[@mitsuri3096]

Its coming out this year focus on tax season ​rn @colecarmichael5724

[@colecarmichael5724]

@@_Azulite_ it’s too late man I’m playing gollum there is no more hope

[@Todietipso]

About the Old Lord's Talisman having four heads: Since Dragons could turn into humans. The talisman would have been worn when Placidusax was in their human form, which would mean the last head would be the one wearing the talisman

[@nightscout9979]

That's a very interesting idea! Personally, I think the scarring on Placidusax's chest depicted by the talisman implies that he had been in a major fight at the time the talisman was made and thus could have lost one of his heads before the talisman's creation. If the talisman was meant to be worn by Placidusax himself, and if dragons could truly transform instead of making projections, then your idea could work.

[@45johngalt]

nice catch/idea!

[@Expoz3DxSpaRtaN]

My theory about farum azula's time twisting properties is that placudisax actually has direct influence. Placudisax is still alive there in the past. Because he is entangled with that location in the past, when we lay down and become part of the land, we are then entangled with the land and become part of the moment in time affected by placudisax's presence. This only happens because we are not immune to time, just like crumbling farum azula. So we can be manipulated just like the land. For placudisax the arena isnt destroyed like it is for us, so by being at the same place where placudisax was, for him it could be the same thing as us just being there normally since its the same physical location, just different time location.

[@jstar3382]

1:02:41 here's a fun idea. How about both? It was struck by a meteorite, crumbling the city and raising it. Placidusax, to hold the city in the sky, in case the gravitational magic ever began to fail, made the time stopping vortex in the middle of the city, holding himself within it to preserve the city. Perhaps, with his death, it will crash back down someday

[@andreaslois3074]

Thing is, there's no suggestion that gravitational magic has had any influence on Azula, and it instead just seems that azula is floating by itself.

[@Ocelcinion]

@@andreaslois3074 I don't mean to be the "well, actually" guy, but there can be made arguments for two. 1. the Ruins Greatsword: "Originally rubble from a ruin which fell from the sky, this surviving fragment was honed into a weapon. [...] The ruin it came from crumbled when struck by a meteorite, as such this weapon harbors its destructive power." 2. Astel, Naturalborn of the Void, "[...]A malformed star born in the flightless void far away. Once destroyed an Eternal City and took away their sky. A falling star of ill omen." Put these together, and you get two things. One, a sword that fell from the sky, and has Gravitational magic imbued. Two, a being that has fallen through cities. It is assumed, and I agree with this assumption, that Astel, on their way down to the eternal city, struck through azula, imbuing the ruins with gravitational energy, causing the city to float. The city is crumbling because the force of the storm causes it to rip apart, while the vestiges of gravity magic don't allow it to leave the sky, so all it can do is destroy itself while remaining stagnant in the air.

[@andreaslois3074]

@@Ocelcinion The sword description implies that the city was floating already, and meteors hit it on the way to the ground. The astel description is regarding one of the eternal cities, not azula

[@Ocelcinion]

​@@andreaslois3074 I do agree that the sword description doesn't fully imply that it came from Azula. That is a bit of stretch, but the reason I make that stretch anyway is because, as I said, Astel may have collided with such a sky ruin on their way down to the Eternal City. Since the description mentions The Eternal City only, we have to reconcile a few facts: Eternal City was hit by a meteorite (otherwise known as a Falling Star, aka Astel, as the Remembrance confirms). We also know Astel came from Space, and had to break through the ground in order to arrive in the cave we find it in. The problem is, we never see a point of impact. We never see WHERE Astel "took their sky". Basically, I don't see a situation in which a Greatsword could have been Randomly imbued with Gravity Magic while in the sky, unless the location it was in was struck by Astel on their way down. Now, to be fair, there is one problem which is that you find the Greatsword in Radahn's castle. Azula may or may not have broken off from Eastern Caelid, so it's possible Radahn could have more to do with this than we think. On the other hand, we can't know that the event that broke off Farum Azula is the same one that gave it magic, and I say "gave it magic" because I believe that the storm is not the sole thing keeping the city in the sky. So either I'm wrong, or it's radahn's fault somehow, or it is astel's fault lmao

[@andreaslois3074]

@Ocelcinion I do think the ruins greatsword is from Azula, my debate is that Azula was floating from beforehand and was hit, causing it to crumble. Astel is unclear whether he's related or not, but he did crash in one of the cities, destroyed it and robbed it of its fake sky (which is what the description referred to). There's nothing connecting him to Azula, but nothing going against it either.

[@ServerYT]

1:08:56 So we got a floating city that is most likely from Caelid, and a possible huge part of land that vanished, right next to architecture that looks exactly like Farum Azula, and on the other side you've got animals and Giants that match the beings from the other side? Has anyone considered the fact that Farum Azula IS the land bridge that is now gone?

[@laurentmorin1923]

That's definitely a good theory.

[@aistikasmursu9432]

my theory on why the farum azula is floating is because of marika spiriting away literally half a continent's worth of land mass that then turned in to the land of shadow.

[@Gyokosz]

@@aistikasmursu9432 Sooo your theory is Farum azula is being Vacuumed by the land of shadows disappearance and the only reason it hasnt just crumbled is cuz dragonscales fuck with time itself? that actually does make a bit of sense

[@Firota117]

If it was the land bridge then the landmass of the lands between would have been a circle rather than a C. What else is a circle? The elden ring rune. What had a piece removed from it? The elden ring rune. What if the land itself is mimicking the state of the rune? Maybe that's when the Farum Azula ascended?

[@archerwolf6361]

Thank you!!!!

[@thezelectian1807]

This could be a stretch but, when Vaati talked about the similarities between Caelid and the mountaintop, all I could think about was that Farum Azula is literally east of that gap between the two sections of the map. What im trying to say is that Farum Azula could possibly have been that land mass between both locations. Could be the reason why Caelid has Farum architecture, why Maliketh is located in both Caelid and Farum, why Greyoll and the northern section of Caelid is called the Dragonsbarrow, why the ice dragons are found in the mountaintops along with the corpses of the giants and the monster dogs and crows are in both locations. There’s so many connections between the three locations and the placement of Farum Azula so close to both Caelid and the mountaintops that it’s possible that long ago Farum was apart of the Lands Between. A capital in place of Leyndell before the Greater Will. Then, when the Nameless God died (or fled) the ancient dragons suspended Farum Azula in an eternal, timeless loop, tearing it away from the Lands Between. Another thing to add is that you can only reach Farum from the mountaintops. Again, could be a stretch, but it’s possible.

[@ThreeWallabies]

Alexander presumably reaches Farum Azula from Mt Gelmir. But I agree with your theory! I think the giant water fall in between Caelid and the Mountaintops that can be seen on the map (and in-game - particularly visible from the isolated divine tower in the right weather!) could be another clue/piece of evidence in support of this.

[@maisumjesus]

i was thinking the exact same thing

[@CmackNumber0]

@@ThreeWallabies he might have gone as we did, seeing as we can summon him to help with the boss that's gatekeeping farum azula

[@kirkshanghai]

Like this theory

[@bingusmingus2937]

I always thought that was the case with the matching architecture and everything. Also the landscape looks like a huge chunk was literally removed and put somewhere else

[@gotmilk2123]

I love how bayle is the missing link between ancient and modern dragons

[@Mackster_]

CURSE YOU BAYLE

[@LilNinja921]

He is the modern dragon forefather

[@screech5212]

Yeah cuz he can use lightning even though it is made of fire

[@Btw_13]

@@screech5212it’s lighting infused with fire or is it just fire that looks like lightning

[@boochin]

1:14:14 Yes, Miquella most likely created castle sol as a way to help Malenia. The eclipse was supposed to cure the Rot God's influence over Malenia, but the eclipse never came, because Radahn was holding back the celestial bodies required to create it. This is why Malenia fought Radahn in the Caelid Wilds. You will also notice that Royal Knight Loretta, who appears in the Carian Manor and the Haligtree, wields Carian magic, but wears the symbol of the Haligtree on her crown. This further implies some relation between Miquella and the Carians.

[@Lyko5]

You mean to help Goldwin achieve true death

[@devonpenner7177]

Hol up, it's been a while since I've had my head wrapped mostly the way around this stuff. What's the haligtree's connection to carian manor? You fight the real Loretta in Haligtree but what's Ranni's carian manor have to do with Melania?🤯😵‍💫

[@boochin]

@@devonpenner7177 Summarizing ahead: Malenia and Ranni are both empyreans, and so is Miquella. This means that they have been chosen by the two fingers to maybe become a god someday. Miquella and Malenia were both born cursed however, Miquella with eternal childhood, and Malenia with eternal rot. Loretta, an Albanuric knight for Caria manor, set out to find a home for the Albanurics, and came across the Haligtree, a haven for all kinds of creatures. Miquella let her in, and gave her a sickle made of unalloyed gold. This is why she's found in both places. Malenia, being Miquella's sister, is also in the Haligtree. Malenia and Ranni probably have opposite views on the two fingers, as Malenia hopes they can cure her of her sickness, and Ranni killed the fingers in her divine tower. (This is why you see them on the Moonlit Alter) This and Loretta are probably the extent of their relationship.

[@Lyko5]

@@devonpenner7177 Loretta was an Albinauric and like many, she sought refuge with the Carians but eventually left due to politic changes and because Albinaurics were not seen as people but Miquella's Haligtree accepts all equally and she started to serve him

[@devonpenner7177]

@Lyko5 ahhh ok ok I hadn't watched the entire video yet so I didn't realize that he covered that exact topic haha cut content saying that the carian knights were supposedly being gifted to miquella by The Carian royal family

[@TheDbzgtaf]

thank you for taking the time and effort for making this video.

[@chester1882]

I always remember the first time i saw Placidusax's intro cut scene - the two remaining heads reaching up and crossing over - the parallel between the two fingers communing or trying to commune with the Great Will was clear and impactful. From's story telling in their design is as masterful as their written story telling.

[@kfrausto]

Masterful indeed. From’s storytelling is unmatched and very compelling.

[@henryko4994]

I'm not going to lie, as deep and rich as Fromsoft's lore is, without creators like Vaati, I guarantee 90% of it will be lost to literal apathy and/or sheer neglect for non-game play elements from the average gamer. I'd give it's lore a lot of credit, but the credit of story telling to Vaati and not From Soft.

[@Armameteus]

@@henryko4994 While Vaati and people like him do help to make From's lore digestible for the average viewer, it's not without From's lore in the first place that he has material to work with. Further, I also don't think it's to the discredit of From that they make their lore cryptic such that the average player won't be able to understand it; it's _supposed_ to be something that only the most dedicated and attentive can dig up and interpret. If one thing is universal to all games From creates, it's that one must earn their victories through hard effort in the face of great challenge; knowledge, too, is something earned through such effort, as the challenge of understanding the lore is also a signature of From Soft's work. The game is hard, the lore is hard. Just as with beating the game takes great skill and dedication, so too does understanding the lore take great skill and dedication to comprehend. As such, only those that deserve to know will know because they earned it. That's what makes From Soft's narrative's so compelling to so many; that effort to understand is a large part of the appeal, not a flaw or a detriment.

[@poetryofcinema6957]

​@@henryko4994well, from FromSofts's perspective Vaati is someone just like you and me.

[@ambrizfer7898]

​@henryko4994 it's done on purpose though. It gives you a basic story but if you want more you have to look for it. Very similar to berserk.

[@blood8273]

1:08:30 we now know that the bridge is very likely to be the Jagged Peak, and also made sence that Farum Azula is right next to it. if we alinge the divine towers with the Suppressing Pillar(and tweak the scale a bit) we will know jagged peak is in fact the land bridge

[@johanneskirestos5316]

I was litteraly gonna point this out! im glad im not the only one that noticed

[@theonlyzanny]

such a cool thumbnail 😳

[@kirbenzi5878]

MY GOAT IN THE WILD

[@josephjones7020]

A wild Zanny has appeared! Salutations bruhda

[@hollowtheghost08]

Needs some of your touch

[@VaatiVidya]

By John Devlin! The GOAT

[@jack_955]

Zanny?

[@ohmethiasknight5009]

I like the idea of placidusax having both male and female heads, it mirrors Marika and Radagon in a really cool way as we have these two Elden lords that sired their offspring with themself

[@ordinaryplatinum]

I feel like in a way it also mirrors godfrey and hoarah loux... but they have a different kind of duality

[@aarongentle300]

Not mention the duality with the snow witch having both a physical and phantom face

[@ordinaryplatinum]

@@soldjaroffortun3 more like binary (intersex?) representation (non-binary would be 0 heads)

[@blakewhite3131]

​@@ordinaryplatinum non-binary doesn't mean no gender at all, (that's agender, I believe) it means outside of the conventional gender binary. Multiple genders for one person would fit the label of non-binary. :)

[@ordinaryplatinum]

@@blakewhite3131 so by that logic, non-binary is a category of genders rather than a specific one itself? or, i guess you could be "simple non-binary" or you could have a more complex gender. thanks, this comment really made me think! also, upon a re-evaluation, placidusax could be either intersex (unconventionally) or bigender, i guess? I'm no expert. also also, radagon/marika is ranma½-gender, i decided.

[@DizzyEyes94]

BRO that shot at 0:27 where the dragons' maws look like a xenomorph... Absolute masterpiece material

[@VaatiVidya]

Mispap does it again

[@ShrimpEmporium]

@@VaatiVidya Seriously, your editors and footage capturers deserve a medal! As do you, of course.

[@frenchman3976]

Bayle! Vile Bayle! O terror incarnate! There is life in me yet! I will soon feast upon your heart! Mark my words! You too shall know fear! Uaaaargh!

[@IndominusRex-wc1ey]

Did... did you just make a rehymeless poem in a KZbin COMMENT SECTION to aid in the slaying of a dragon? Respectable

[@cowmeatius7151]

11:48 I think miquella did know that time, or at least plasidusax and the ancient dragons, was the missing puzzle piece. When you pick up miquellas needle, you also get an somber ancient dragon smithing stone, which is said to be one of plasidusax's scales which warps time around it

[@dummbobqqqqq]

And we could also question who writes the item descriptions since they seem to be part of the world.

[@Y.Moroboshi]

@@dummbobqqqqq the leather armor set’s description suggest that Patches is writing the item descriptions, just like in Dark Souls 3.

[@tortue_]

@@Y.Moroboshi fitting for our interdimensional traveller of worlds to note the world around him, he is literally miyazaki!

[@tortue_]

He was trying to achieve the storms effects and manipulate time outside the storm for his needle to work, if only he had his time to finish his works...

[@Gatchu137]

​@@dummbobqqqqqI don't think they could realistically be tied to a specific writer. So many of the item descriptions would be from undocumented parts of history, or only known by a handful of people.

[@kelvinsbowties]

Im already ready for Vaat to drop the 8 hour video essay analyzing the DLC trailer

[@jacobcisaac9939]

On god though ,I was just discussing it w my friend and we both agreed let's wait for our man Vaat to drop a detailed video for the trailer

[@Dear-he1gv]

And we’ll still watch the entire thing

[@ysera6072]

In many depictions of Hydra and hydra like creatures there is believed to be a "lead" head, one that holds most of the control over the beast. The other heads each have their own thoughts and ideas but collectively they work for the lead head's desires. Seeing as Placidusax is the only enemy (afaik) with multiple heads and very much resembles a winged hydra. What if he is both the dragonlord and his god. His god being the missing lead head. Just something I thought was interesting to think about seeing as we don't know who Marika equivalent for the dragonlord is.

[@theiberianbadger0123]

I have a theory that placidusax’s god may be the twin bird.

[@aquam135]

Like your theory about a lead head. But there are some instances of NPCs/enemies with two or more heads. D and Ds Armor has two heads. School of Graven Mages has severel heads. Twinsage Sorcerer has a two headed Mask. There are Burial Watchdogs with three heads. Rykard has a sneakhead and his own. Fire Giant is a head on a head.

[@davidpavel5017]

I have literally never heard about this lead head thing

[@ysera6072]

@@aquam135 I didnt really count the depictions of multiple heads so much as actual creatures with two heads. (Ie the mage masks and D's armor) largely because that's all they are. D's armor symbolizes that the twins are connected not that they have two heads. As for the twin sage sorcerer, is there any evidence of a multi headed being that the mask is based on other than the graven mass? For the watchdogs it's my understanding that they are glintstone machines given life, so they aren't really creatures. Your other examples (rykard, graven mass, and fire giant) are all examples of multiple entities merging into one rather than one being from the start as with a hydra. Those are the reasons I discarded them. I get where you're coming from though. That being said the twinbird may be the only creature that I would classify as another multi headed creature though we only see it in depictions on shields and murals.

[@ysera6072]

@@davidpavel5017 in the Hercules mythos the hydra has multiple mortal heads that can be severed and regrow. It also has an immortal head that cannot be killed. It's not exactly a "lead" head but it certainly points in that kind of direction

[@corykeena3055]

I saw a video on TikTok yesterday that theorizes that the Royal City of Farum Azula once sat on the massive plain where you fight Radahn. If you look at the ruins against the cliffside, how it would connect to the Farum Greatbridge and the Temple to the north, and especially the ruins on the backside of the Dragonbarrow Minor Erdtree, it connects REALLY well. It then makes the location of Dragonbarrow (and the locations you find the gravel stones) make a lot of sense.

[@BackwardsPancake]

1:05:57 This shot kind of brings attention to an interesting parallel - The dead giants in the ground in Caelid are kind of analogous to the ancient dragons buried in the ground in Farum Azula.

[@sinvismcree7698]

I always liked Placidusax and the ancient dragons and their lore. But i can see there was more to learn of the other dragons. I really liked this video Vatti.

[@Mineral4r7s]

"Tarnished Archeologist" makes a great analogy with trees and botanical grafting as explanation for all the different "devolutions".

[@samhughes7980]

CURSE YOU BAYLE! I HEREBY VOW! YOU WILL RUE THIS DAY! BEHOLD, A TRUE DRAKE WARRIOR! YOUR FEARS MADE FLESH!

[@namelessnightingale8991]

SOLID OF SCALE YOU MIGHT BE, FOUL DRAGON, BUT I WILL RIDDLE WITH HOLES YOUR ROTTEN HIDE!

[@samwiseganja634]

@@namelessnightingale8991WITH HAIL OF HARPOONS

[@michaeltovah4]

WITH EVERY DROP OF MY BEING

[@HeyGuy4321]

and I, Igon! Lol he mentions you first then talks about himself.

[@BOKNOKB7]

Hes such an inspiration

[@Sylocat]

So, if there was a land bridge between Caelid and the Mountaintops, and Farum Azula used to be on the ground... was that what the bridge was?

[@BasedMace]

makes sense considering the dragonbarrow in caelid and how the giants ran the dragons off the mountain

[@kaiokensei7861]

Exactly what I was going to say

[@insu_na]

I don't think there was water there in the first place. I think Farum Azula used to be a mountain, of which only the tip has survived the meteor impact

[@dannywatson4253]

It also makes sense with the geographic position of Farum Azula in modern times.

[@ramoraid]

@@insu_na also makes since this is the only location where a waterfall is found yet the ocean around limgrave is much higher in elevation.

[@Sam-ht4og]

In Japanese tornado is called Tatsumaki(竜巻) or dragon(竜) twist(巻). In Japanese or Asia, dragons are considered divine and said to be able to summon storm. You can clearly see where they got the inspiration for those western looking dragons

[@Sam-ht4og]

Also thunder is called Kami-nari(神鳴り) or God(神) sound(鳴り) for it was believed that god were the ones shooting the thunders. What I want to say is that you guys are awesome that you’re able to find answers even with missing hints(sometimes)

[@Sam-ht4og]

I think these are staging to show that stakes are getting high. although it is translated to dragon, Asian dragons and western dragons are fundamentally different in that Asian’s are god to be worshipped and one’s in western mythology are usually a very powerful monster to be slain. I think modern dragons are essentially a western dragons waiting to be slain and die out while elder dragons Asian’s are the gods who can only be defeated by other gods or someone who is very close to god Facing them, u can feel that progress

[@chill-3-]

あなたの考えは素晴らしいです

[@SilasHutchison]

This is better than most movies that clock in at 1hr 40min. The pacing, visuals, and sheer writing quality are leaps and bounds better than most of what passes for entertainment these days. To put it simply, this reeks of hard work and passion.

[@mattnsg13]

now you have to remake this video because of bayle

[@Glirion__]

BAAYLEE VILE BAYLE! O TERROR INCARNATE!

[@Redguard4]

CURSE YOU, BAYLE!!

[@nonjabiznas]

That and he mispronounced Placidusax every single time

[@natelav534]

The countless hours of effort you put into these videos dont go unnoticed. I love to put videos on like this when doing mindless farming in games, but yours usually end up grabbing my full attention. Keep them coming!

[@DrMyxomatosis]

On the question of whether Farum Azula was already in the air when it was struck by a meteorite, it's a tough one. The Ruin Fragment description says they are "believed to have once been part of a temple in the sky". We know wording is chosen very carefully in this game, and to me the way that's worded implies that Farum Azula was whole at some point when it was in the sky. The Ruins Greatsword is a little harder to parse: "Originally rubble from a ruin which fell from the sky, the ruin it came from crumbled when struck by a meteorite." But again, it seems like Farum Azula was already in the sky when it became a "ruin", with pieces of it falling from the sky only after it's destruction. It also feels too well-preserved to have survived being destroyed on the ground and only then hoisted into the sky. This does leave us with the question of what magic allowed Farum Azula to float, if not gravity magic from the meteorite. I feel like time and gravity are somewhat interwoven thematically: Radahn uses gravity magic to hold back the stars, but in doing so they seem almost frozen in time. Dragons are often referred to by their stony nature (with gravity magic often involving stones also): Fortissax was called the "mightiest boulderstone", and Greyoll is likened to a mountain. It could be that the time-twisting magic of the ancient dragons also allowed them to manipulate gravity, allowing Farum Azula to float above the Lands Between.

[@Spookyma2]

Regarding the last part, I'd assume just wind magic. It is quite common, and / or they are in a locked fall in time. Forever falling but never moving.

[@MrLegendseeka]

Gravity magic is also so closely tied to stone it's not funny. With such a huge gap in our knowledge of the history of the Lands Between, we don't know what type of magics were around during and before the age of Placidusax. In real life, Gravity is theorised to be the only force that isn't manipulated by time, in fact, it's quite the opposite. Time is manipulated by gravity so your theory is very plausible. Again we see your theory having a lot of validity when we look at Radahn holding the stars in place like they're "frozen in time" and how it affects Rannis fate. It's almost as if her time is frozen in place due to Radahns gravity magic

[@t.k.5972]

If you want to know where farum azula possibly stood before, follow the trail of the worm guys to their forest...just my speculation but the landscape there is quite "below" the other area. From color theory , it is interesting to see gravity magic being recolored. It could have been blue but it became closer to red by becoming purple. Either it purely serves game mechanics, or it is connected to the red blood goddess inbetween space . Radahns red hair comes to mind as well. Red plus blue = purple.

[@Deadgye]

My hypothesis is similar to TA's; That there was a near cataclysmic impact far in the past, possibly the golden star if not something before it, which caused a huge gravity distortion that Farum made use of. Then the airborn Farum got hit directly by something beeg, but not big liek xbox, which also destroyed the eastern landmass connecting Caelid to the mountaintops. Alternatively, maybe they reversed the polarity on the divine towers.

[@neropocalypse]

one thing that came to mind during the ancient elden ring chapter was a method I learned in school: when chopping a tree down, you would cut a lattice/checker-like pattern into the stump to slow its regrowth/aid in decomposition. ...which COULD be something but I dunno 🤷‍♂just one of those weird coincidences maybe

[@Baehellet]

10:00 Something I just noticed and am forced to consider now, if you observe the other grave impressions and the skeletons inside them, you'll notice that the tarnished actually lays down with their body upside down in the grave when compared to the rest. Could this actually be the reason we access Placidusax's arena in this way? By laying down and becoming part of the environment, but in an inverted way, causing the flow of time to reverse?

[@JamesTheChronicler]

"He is in an eternal state of...maidenlessness." Sounds like me fr

[@Snoke1912]

Never has a more relatable character been made

[@connor5185]

Fax​@@Snoke1912

[@Dragonzzilla]

The dragons' lore is so compelling, there's a reason why I developed my first Tarnished/made a bit of a roleplay of him. I named him Anders Born-Of-Stone, and he sought to emulate the Ancient Dragons. He lived in Farum Azula until the meteor struck and he plummeted to his death, only to rise later as a Tarnished. I used the Draconian preset ethnicity as a basis, I sought out the Scaled set, armed him with the Ruins Greatsword (reclaiming that disaster) + Fingerprint Shield (wanted to know what happened to Vyke) and the Giant Crusher (to avenge the frost dragons and showcase his inhuman strength), and pursued Dragon Communion for those sweet eyes and spells. It was a ton of fun.

[@sordschie3944]

Hell yeah

[@AKKTHEV]

Very cool man RP is my favorite part of the game

[@Cjwikkedawesome]

nerd. jk that rules

[@ravencarino6115]

I too had my first Tarnished roleplay related to dragons as a Dragon Hunter instead. Her ancestors were a clan of dragon hunters, hired as mercenaries by Leyndell when Gransseax attacked the city. When Godwyn made peace with them, the entire clan was betrayed, and only one mother and her daughter survived, they fled on a boat to a far away land and returned as Tarnished. Her goal, to rid the Lands Between of all dragons, both mortal and immortal and kill Placidusax in Farum Azula. It is there she finds his ancestors gone crazy and sporting the powers of dragons, in their desperation, they consumed dragon hearts to survive and became the Banished Knights they are now. And as a bonus, one of the Banished Knight spirit (the one with two dual greatswords) is directly her father, so when she summons him, it is actually her father that is coming to help. I took inspiration for this from when if you take damage while the spirit is active, the spirit abandons whoever he's attacking and teleports to fight whoever is fighting you instead.

[@spiraljumper74]

Fuck yeah bro. My Leyndell Dragon Cultist RP build was probably my favorite play through. Totally different build, faith lightning incants instead of arcane dragon communion, but very fun. The Dragons have compelling lore from a lot of different angles. Farming the Leyndell knight set from that one guy wandering in Liurna at low level was such a pain though. But the rest of the build came together really early.

[@rhydondaddy]

After months of silence, Vaati has emerged from his tomb to deliver another top tier video. You should start selling these as "Sleep Aids" because it's going to take me 5 watches to make it through.

[@EasyMoney-tb3fg]

Nailed it! Time to get comfy and curl up with a blanket

[@ChrisHall1337]

You mean waited for everyone else so he could cherry pick a video together. And copy their content. Remember Bloodborne and never forget!

[@Eric-cj8sb]

​@@ChrisHall1337 Hahaha lame. His BB content is why I first came here. VAATI is awesome and you need to stfu.

[@5tarstriker78]

The narration is on another level. I've drifted off to Vatti's delicately articulated story telling many a time. The prepare to cry episodes add such extra insight and immersion to the souls series. And now with the support he's built over the years, these Elden Ring Lore episodes, now the production level is venturing into award nomination territory. Absolutely Epic!! I can't believe I missed this count down. I'm currently helping with Malania. I'm saving this bad boy for later. 💯🙌🏻🌞

[@rhydondaddy]

@@ChrisHall1337 isn’t the goal to make easily digestible lore videos? I am not sure what you’re trying to say. Anyone can google souls lore that people have found, the talent is making an entertaining video.

[@belliebun4529]

Hoo boy, after what we’ve seen in the DLC, this is gonna need a major update.

[@daxterxander7905]

No kidding

[@curranmckenzie9574]

@@daxterxander7905CUUUUUURRRSE YOOOUUUUU, BAAAAAAAYYLE!!!!

[@6kaliba9]

The lore of all from software games is just always so ... enchanting? Grand, and magical. Mythical and all the good things that dark fantasy needs. You carry us through this world with your well thought through script and soothing voice. These games and your videos proof that entertainment can be more than that. Thank you for that!

[@alexnorth3393]

They forgot to give the main character any personality and even a voice. It was awful.

[@SirZipper]

@@alexnorth3393 That's because you're meant to almost RP your own character.

[@heckingbamboozled8097]

​@alexnorth3393 you *want* a voiced MC? Was Fallout 4 not a good enough example as to how that sort of thing is actually detrimental to the RPG experience?

[@noel1626]

100% agree. Blows my mind how people can come up with such incredibly rich lore like the fromsoft games. And also how people like vaati can capture that so concisely in these videos

[@WeAreOutOfWeed13]

​@@alexnorth3393you're the main character supposedly filling in the gaps when you're not mindlessly bonking things

[@titaniumteddybear]

Modern dragons: 2 wings. Ancient dragons: 4 wings. Elden Beast: 8 wings. So here's my question: what are the odds that the Greater Will has 16 wings like a Biblical angel? Because that would be rad as hell.

[@alyseleem2692]

Don't do it. Don't give them ideas. It'd be a boss worse than the Elden Beast! ( kidding. That'd be cool as ###)

[@mr.cantplayaninstrument8402]

I'll also add that malenia has wings in her second phase, of course I don't think it was her true God form but it shows there are steps

[@mysterin5061]

Sephiroth: 😒

[@stormlordeternal7663]

If we follow this through process then eventually you’ll just reach a sphere of wings. Which once again reinforces the fact that Kirby is beyond powerful because they have dunked many soul balls.

[@tomkuzik7]

Fuuuukkk yeahh 😤🙏🙌

[@sNNNNNable]

Vaati clearly knows something, we are going back in time for the dlc

[@brendo1143]

We aren't hollow, we will have the trailer, we only need to last a bit longer. Ooooooh Elden Ring

[@Hunter-zf7rt]

The great hollowing is nearing its end ​@@brendo1143

[@tenwholebees]

I mean, every other Souls game DLCs involved the past and/or a culmination of time itself, so most likely, yeah

[@goktugonvermez8140]

Think we see him as boss fight

[@goktugonvermez8140]

My holy samurai waiting for finnese fights

[@moje5193]

"Salt makes any meal taste a little bit better" Is such a cold line 🔥🔥🔥

[@LilacPineapple]

Glad I found the comment praising how good that sudden line drop was.

[@ADHDZach]

The scope of history in Elden Ring is astonishing to me. This story stretches across millenia (and if Enya is to be believed, tens of millenia). This was my first FromSoft game, and to have different historical periods to identify within a fictional land is a level of world-building I have never seen vefore

[@alexmcleod9078]

Check out Tarnished Archeologist if you haven't, he does videos talking about what you can tell from the environments and buildings, because it's so detailed you can get a coherent archeological narrative out of it.

[@Boss_Fight_Index_muki]

George RR Martin has an immense talent for writing layered history littered with myriad of detail.

[@jackjohnson7206]

Just wait for dlc, some answers will come but more questions, and some answers will change.

[@Eric-cj8sb]

​@@Boss_Fight_Index_mukiMartin just added all the incest and political intrigue. He isn't that great.

[@P.I.Staker-u3z]

Ah yes GRRM famous for not finishing his stories

[@ruttzorz]

I feel like I saw a twitter thread forever ago probably by Quelaag taking about Vyke's lore and the reason why he sought the 3 fingers is because he learned about how he would have to sacrifice his maiden to complete his quest and he couldn't bear doing that so likely Shabriri in some guise told him of the 3 fingers and how to completely the ritual at the mountaintops without sacrificing his maiden. At some point he was stopped and imprisoned up there before he could do it though.

[@johntong9743]

He's wearing his armor when you find him, which has been melted with fingerprints imprinted on it, implying he was wearing it when he communed with the three fingers, so there's also the possibility that he missed a key step of the ritual.

[@lordjzargo7940]

It's silly that you don't get to save Melina by taking the three fingers, burning the erdtree and then curing urself

[@bluegem8582]

@@lordjzargo7940 to be fair, in universe that plan in of itself is a huge gamble, not only with all the process to even get the true needle, but then also manage to enter an area outside of normal time in order to use it then, and regardless, she had already accepted as her inevitable destiny, so she takes the communing with such destructive entity, even if only to use it as alternative to her as kindling, as a deep betrayal

[@Chronoanime666]

@@lordjzargo7940you can save Melina, there’s no special game ending sadly but you can sacrifice yourself then get rid of the frenzied flame.

[@Skippercarlos5]

@@Chronoanime666- The problem is you might not be getting rid of the frenzied flame when you use the needle. Malenia wasn't cured when she got the needle from Miquella, her rot just stopped spreading. When she stabbed herself and broke the needle in the trailer it allowed her to use her rot powers and to bloom on Radahn. Similar to how Malenia's rot wasn't cured with the needle, our character might not be cured either. Which means that if the needle ever was to break, the Frenzied Flame would probably burn the world since your character becomes Elden Lord. Melina likely didn't want to take such a giant risk, especially since her purpose in life seems to be to burn the Erdtree.

[@IndustrialSocietyanditsconsequ]

I think Vyke's turning to Frenzy makes sense with the Lokey theory in mind. Him going deep within the underside of Lleyendell to find their old nameless god and uncovering the Frenzy Flame only to be burnt by it and self-imposing exile to prevent its spread would be a very cool story.

[@titaniumteddybear]

But Vyke was still wearing his armour when he was embraced so it wasn't a complete process. So if we go down there the 3 Fingers will only see us if we're nekkid.

[@anthem_sm]

Wasn’t it just to save his finger maiden ? He might have been corrupted by shabriri… idk

[@pillarmenn1936]

@@anthem_sm Him doing it for his fingermaiden is the likeliest theory

[@ultraphoenix95]

@@pillarmenn1936 What bother me with the maiden theory, even though I'm favorable to it, it's that Vyke's Armor only suggest it: "Did he make his choice for his maiden, or did some other force lure him with suggestion?" At the same time, the game tell us it could be for his maiden, and at the same time it could be for something else.

[@pillarmenn1936]

@@ultraphoenix95 Likely an allusion to what Shabriri pulled on us.

[@PayYourTick]

I find it amazing we now know who took Placidusax’s heads. CURSE YOU BAYLE!

[@wesleywilcox8829]

Something to note and, correct me if I’m wrong but when you get the final version of the needle you also get an ancient dragon smithing stone. That is, at the very least to me, a hint that Miquella did know about the time component, but was unable to either fuse the needle with the stones time warping capabilities. Or Miquella did not merge them in time (no pun intended) before mogh took him from the haligtree. That’s my thoughts on it.

[@Marlowe19]

I was thinking about the nature of the dragon's missing god, and I developed a theory (apologies if you have covered this already) that I believe ties up some loose ends in the lore. You reference early on that at one point we suspect that the two fingers and the three fingers were one (for convenience, let's say the five fingers). If true, then the five fingers are what was originally sent to the land between as the representative of an outer god, and the five five fingers acted as its representative in prehistoric times. As I see it, the five fingers were a combination of two aspects: order (represented by the gold color) and passion (represented by red). This was the god of the ancient dragons, who utilized the power of this combined aspect (lightning, a spell of order in the modern times, but infused with the red passion that makes it stronger). Items related to the crucible having a color scheme containing both red and gold further supports this. Finally, the outer god is described as the "greater will." To have will means to have 1) purpose (or passion) and 2) specific focus (or order). However, something happened. At some point during the crucible, the two fingers (order) and the three fingers (passion) separated from each other. Because passion without order is uncontrolled chaos, the three fingers were sealed away to prevent the total destruction of the land between, and those touched by the three fingers suffered uncontrollable passion, frenzy. Meanwhile, the unalloyed order of the two fingers controlled the lands between through the Erdtree (which also served as the prison of the three fingers), creating a regime of passionless order. It was order without purpose, direction, or intent: order for order's sake, and it eventually drove the denizens of the land between mad. Those physically changed by the three fingers saw their changes (like the horns of the omens) grew uncontrollably without any order to guide them. Followers of order became austere, lacking in passion lest it be seen as a betrayal of order. It is unclear to me what happened, but whatever it was destroyed the crucible and left the Erdtree and the elden rune altered. Perhaps the combined fires of creation grew out of control and ripped the five fingers apart. As "crucible" can also be defined as a "test," perhaps the five fingers failed somehow. At any rate, my theory is that the ancient dragons are indeed waiting for their god to return, but their god never did because it had been broken into two aspects. The greater will cannot effectively influence the lands between because its two aspects are no longer on speaking terms--the two halves of the messages are not being combined, and so the greater will's influence is being interrupted. I could go on about the duality inherent in representatives of the greater will, but I've rambled long enough...

[@Foatizenknechtl]

Would be interesting to hear what you think after meeting methyr

[@usamimi-no-majo]

I always thought the relationship of Vyke and Lansseax was incredibly romantic, when you consider how intense all the red lightning incantations get. And he was able to coat himself with it. Also makes sense in the way that "a crown is warranted by strength"...maybe that's why dragons also become oathsworn to those who can best them in combat.

[@Ravagerblade]

Nah, not romantic at all. I said so

[@usamimi-no-majo]

@@Ravagerblade oh ok then

[@IplayTeemoasaWard]

Why do I have to think about the dragon episode from Rick and Morty lol

[@Ravagerblade]

@@usamimi-no-majo lol

[@granthefato340]

george rr martin 100% wrote that part in

[@enricokohler475]

can't wait for an update to this lore section after the DLC: Bayle vs Plasidusax, their respective offspring and the war between them, in which the Dragon Communion Church was found by the Placi fraction to kill Bayle fraction

[@KitsuneShapeShifter]

The way Drakes seem to besiege Farum in the sky, and how Jagged Peak look like it was a location where gravity was shifted upward and since there are hollow holes that look like Placis arena in Bayles arena

[@ulisesvillar6088]

Vaati: Superserious almost 2 hours video of ER lore. Also Vaati: Lego Yoda death scream in 2:32 Never change xD

[@LordYeager_55]

The dragons have always been my favorite part of fantasy worlds, as they're my favorite mythical creatures. Midir and Fortissax are some of the more memorable souls bosses I've fought. I'm glad there's finally a long and in-depth video exploring the dragons of Elden Ring.

[@Morraak]

Last Protagonist is great at translating fromsoftware text from the japanese version, severely underrated youtuber.

[@ravendelacour1917]

In physics, time and gravity are interlinked. It's possible that the time storm and antigravity properties of Farum Azula were transferred by the massive force of the meteorite. If time is lethal to gods, the gods retreated from Farum Azula like Superman would from a meteor filled like Kryptonite. It also explains how Radahn could "hold back the stars" to prevent Fate from continuing because his gravitation magic also gave him a form of time mastery. Just as Farum Azula holds back time around it, Radahn's power holds back time progression of his family line.

[@yueng8167]

I am a audience from Hong Kong. My english is not very well,but I really love your videos such as secries of elden ring lore and prepare to cry. Especially the styles of telling the story. And I hope you can provied some transcripts of the videos, because i want to shadow and imitation your sounds, pronunciation and intonation which I think it can very useful to improve my English skill. And I wish you can make a video about Death Stranding cause I think it interesting too. This is my first time message in KZbin and I very thank you for your unforgettable video. Thank you!

[@043Tarzan]

I hope we get to see a black flame dragon. That would be dope

[@davidhong1934]

Godskin Trio incoming

[@boozados]

Godslayer Dragon

[@blizzardgaming7070]

The glaom eyed queens shadow perhaps?

[@pokimanefartcompilation]

​​@@blizzardgaming7070 Well that would probably have to be some kind of wolf, rather than a dragon. A black flame wolf does sound really cool aswell.

[@B4RC0D301]

I asked the convergence team if they had plans for a madness dragon and they said that there were no plans at this moment but that could change so possibly in the convergence mod anyways there could be a madness dragon and possibly others

[@Ovakilov]

Hope to see Tarnished Archeologists' theories mentioned in the future - their analysis is always fun to watch

[@erichowens85]

So many lore hunters just seem try to stitch together meaning from explicit lore descriptions, instead of drawing on environmental art or clear historical influence. I appreciate TA doing that, I learn so much about the real world from his videos. And observations that the Erdtree is a clear grafted scion on top of older tree roots (what with the statues of favored root sprouts, of the difference in the old great tree being a gymnosperm instead of beech, and the first character in the game literally being a grafted scion) are so insightful.

[@colorpg152]

his lore is terrible

[@victorprati7908]

TA goes beyond any other lore tubers he'sv the best on the subject

[@cloter2079]

arguments ?@@colorpg152

[@AFlyingCoconut]

@@colorpg152 Big words can be hard lil bro, I get it

[@koxtynhay]

Before the DLC: What kind of madden beast would have the power to rip Placidussax's heads? After the DLC: CURSE YOU BAYLE!!!

[@SkeletonInSpace]

With regards to Placudisax's heads being labeled as both male and female, we see this same representation of divine hermaphroditism embodied by Marika/Radagon, also within nature itself in various species of flowering trees/plants. Divine hermaphroditism is also featured pretty heavily in alchemical mythology as well, which this game's lore is steeped in to a large degree. Love these new long form lore deep-dives, Vaati. Thanks for everything you and the other lore-masters do for this community!

[@planetgodzilla473]

When you think about it there is a high likelihood that the two heads of Placidusax are the dragon equivalent of Marika and Radagon. Two beings that are now one, but still distinct individuals. But seeing as so much about them is shrouded in mystery we probably won't know anything for certain until fromsoft releases more info.

[@zaidlacksalastname4905]

What if he was the god AND elden lord, and the chopped off heads are the god-part that fled? just an idea lol

[@planetgodzilla473]

​@@zaidlacksalastname4905just imagine in "elden ring 2" fighting and killing a decapitated dragon head, now that would be crazy.

[@grigoregruesome3606]

@@planetgodzilla473it’s a secret boss in armored core. They made it into mechasaxx

[@fourdayz1414]

I always thought that the statue of the woman + 3 dogs in Maliketh’s arena was placidusax’s nameless god at the moment the first beastmen were given their intelligence (I feel like this made far more sense rather than Marika or Miquella). Given Placidusax’s nature, I’m now wondering if that statue could’ve been a human form they might’ve taken? It fits the theory that Placidusax was both god and elden lord just like Marika/Radagon and like what Miquella was seemingly trying to do by becoming St. Trina

[@jorelquieta3318]

The amount of attention to detail it takes to disassemble all the lore and story bits to put it into item descriptions, environments and putting them back together is such a mind boggling thing to see unfold thats why fromsoft games would always be special. Also the people who goes out of their way to piece everything in a team effort matter is such an awesome thing these games does to its players.

[@stuckwchuck]

Mind blown finding out the broken structures you first see in Limgrave are actually from Farum Azula. I always thought they were weirdly placed ruins from Stormveil but they never lined up. Your videos are amazing.

[@gamingdude8661]

It's also important to note that the banished knights can use dragon comunion incantations.

[@Potato_Tomato-od2lz]

There seems to be 3 faction that banished knights fall into only plate follow godrick red cowls are dragon communion followers and black garb soldiers are under nialls command

[@antonironstag5085]

not all of them. only the ones with red capes.

[@ultraphoenix95]

DS1's Everlasting Dragons: *got killed by Gwyn and his lightnings* ER's Ancient Dragons: "Well well well, how the turntables?"

[@ultraphoenix95]

Looking back at this comment, it would have been better if I've put "Improvise. Adapt. Overcome." instead.

[@Vladek16]

amazing video 😮 1:42:04 I really love the theory of The Tarnished Archaeologist. Especially the videos on the Greattree, the Erdtree and the Crucible 😄

[@CidCidCid]

Vaati - just want to say thank you. I’ve been working my way through your lore videos and am holding off starting the dlc until i complete them. As a thanks I just purchased a displate of the painted world. You have brought joy to me in understanding this game on such a deeper level. I am forever grateful for your content!

[@llamachai]

Thank you so much for this, VaatiVidya! I've always loved the ancient dragons depicted in Elden Ring and wished I could learn more about them. Your narration was also very relaxing. Your video and a cup of tea got me through 2 hours of coding feeling very focused and inspired.

[@oroboros4437]

I don't have anything to run Elden Ring, only played Bloodborn for a time, but man, your voice, the montage, all the action scenes which where perfectly cut with what you said, and all the dedication you give to just a part of this amazing worldbuilding, it is like archeology of a distant world, everything come together and make sense. I felt despair and injustice with those tragedies, understood a deeper meaning than the main plot, I saw incredible armors and weapons and you did such an impressive work to put all those pieces together in such a hard game ! I did definitely liked and sub because this was an amazing story, and I know for a fact that Fromsoftware give clues or hints about there lore like drop after drop in a desert. It was amazing, thank you !

[@chrisbellville6957]

If you can play bloodbourne you can play elden ring

[@kawaranai9743]

@@chrisbellville6957 maybe he doesn't have what he used to run Bloodborne anymore

[@UseTheLess00]

"Placidusax is in a state of eternal maidenlesness" I felt this on a spiritual level :(

[@hassansyed4135]

Base from the DLC, I like to believe that the modern dragons are not the descendants of the ancient dragons but rather another species that developed near convergent strength of which the ancient dragons form an alliance until Bayle’s betrayal. The reason is that Bayle has fire lightning, which is akin to the frozen lighting of the dragonkin, which is a pale imitation of the ancient dragon lightning. Bayle’s second phase is uncannily like the second phase of the dragonkin of nokstella where it develops wings with a more powered version of their unique lightning. My theory is that from that alliance, the ancient dragons bestowed their powers and scales to the modern dragons, a power in which bale possibly took advantage of to betray and fight placidusax. The vast amount of feathers on the modern dragons could be an evolutionary link between the dinosaurs and birds as it is a trait exclusive to this lineage, so the modern dragons could be an offshoot of a surviving lineage of aerial theropods that now exist alongside the birds.

[@dmv-1667]

I'd like to think that Torrent and the player have a similar relationship to Godfrey and Serosh. In the sense that Torrent was drawn towards the player at the start of the game and helped guide the player throughout the world as well. A true companion.

[@lemonlefleur6236]

Turns out Torrent is Plac’s fleeing god.

[@rawflux8160]

Your videos honestly change my perception of The Lands Between everytime I play it again after watching your amazing videos. Love your content and the attention to detail that you bring to them, I truly hope your passion for these games and their respective documentries continues on throughout the years. Thank you for all your hard work and happy hunting tarnished 1.

[@SassyTheSasquatch96]

I swear Vaati, im not used to this change in upload style i was here from the start when you made darksouls one videos semi recently now you put out full-length cinematic experiences. I'm so happy to see how you grew over the years. Pours estus all over body.

[@VeylmanTheRock]

Used to enjoy his content too before I learned some of it is lifted word for word from other's theories/videos..

[@dbgoat4436]

@@VeylmanTheRockhell I like hearing it again 😂

[@TheDevil69270]

I don't know what to say anymore, I wonder if there is any game where a content creator (and the community around him) plays such a part in the experience of a game. Sometimes I ask myself if it's a good thing for newcomers, and I'd love to hear Vaati's take on this. I certainly enjoy the community aspect of From Soft's games, but isn't that a shame that most players won't have the time, or just know that such a deep lore exist, because at this point it takes multiple full time community members to piece that together. Anyway, I enjoyed every second of this, thank you

[@Aeryn-u3i]

Surprised no one had talked about their names as they stand out. Most noticeable, in contrast to the drakes, is the ancient dragons have the suffix "sax" or "seax" which means knife, or "to cut" When, interesting, the former part of the names relates directly to them and what we know of them; when in conjunction with the 'sax' gives insight to alternative meaning. Placidusax: Placid or more relevant from Latin Placidus "pleasing, peaceful, quiet, gentle, still, calm," It's also related to the word "Please" "to satisfy (a deity), propitiate, appease," from Old French plaisir "to please, give pleasure to, satisfy" Both of which relates to what he's doing. Almost like he's in a state of prayer/meditation to get his god back. However, when added with the suffix, his name could mean, in other words as well, "to cut peace". Fortissax: of Latin root Fortis "strong, mighty; firm, steadfast; brave, spirited," He was a strong and respectable warrior to Godwyn Gransax: from Latin grandis "big, great; full, abundant," also "full-grown;" figuratively "strong, powerful, weighty, severe," Obviously he's the biggest dragon we see. Lansseax: Could be pretty obviously and most likely rooted with "Land" But may also relate interesting to Middle English lainer, "thong for fastening parts of armor or clothing" from Old French laniere "thong, lash, strap of leather," from lasniere from lasne "strap, thong" Unlike the others, not sure how this relates to her except for when combined with sax, possibly relating to her glave. So we have: Peace-Cutter Stronghold-Cutter Great-Cutter Earth-Cutter, Respectively. May also be names given to them and not actual names.

[@SM-cq1mm]

Sax is the Latin word for rocky/stony/made out of stones. Let's call it stone for simplicity (kinda like gravel stone) Saex is cutter though. So we actually get: Peace/Calm rock (Placidusax) Strong rock (Forttisax) Grand rock (Gransax) Land cutter (Lansseax) I think that makes it more interesting how only Lansseax is different (could also be a way to differentiate genders between male and female dragons, who knows) I got this from a different dragon lore video I watched, I forgot from who though.. I think Smoughtown

[@thecountbassy_]

Something I’ve had in the back of my mind for a while - the Greater Will speaks through the two fingers, the Flame of Chaos through the three fingers, and five fingers are signs of intelligence and grace of gods. What if the two and three fingers were once part of the same “hand of a god,” or even “hand of the gods,” but deific in-fighting or some meddling of either a single or multiple outer gods caused the separation of the fingers into two counter-aligned orders? Wonderful video as always Vaati.

[@TheScrootch]

They are opposites. Chaos and Order, two sides of the same coin if you will

[@Jupiter__001_]

Don't let Guts hear this

[@quinn5920]

I really like this theory! It makes me think of siblings fighting over the last piece of pizza or getting upset that one cheated at pulling the Christmas cracker. Adds a level of horror to think that you might inhabit a world at the whim of such childishness

[@Lvng_Kvlt]

⁠@@quinn5920exactly this. That last sentence is basically the dilemma in Elden ring, childish family matters being settled by people with far more power than they should wield, like overly exaggerated medieval lords

[@sclafantasy]

@@Lvng_Kvlt kinda like every GRRM story 😅

[@Roland3ld]

At this amount of runtime, Vaati essentially made a documentary on Elden Ring lore. And I must say, it was an amazing documentary. Thanks for the movie Vaati.

[@coolguysayswhatev]

1:23:28 omg the ad break with Vaati saying, "...and you might get him to say this..." Then cuts to an incredibly blown out audio of "PUFFIN' ON THIS HOT OR NOT?!". I died laughing omg

[@AnonymousInternetUserLaine]

Considering the rather intriguing shape of that the Lands Between currently has one might wonder if the crater-like shape in the center was caused by a massive meteorite, perhaps the same one that crippled Faram Azula considering the most likely collision course that such a meteorite would have taken

[@maddoxkelley3606]

the greater will and the elden beast definitely came from out of the lands between and were definitely the asteroid that created the crater and all that. it also make sense because on the way to volcano manor you can fight a fallen star beats or whatever it’s called and i feel like that confirms that there are beings completely unlike those of the land between and that those who worshiped the full moon were on the right path because the greater will came from the stars

[@cryptofacts4u]

Post DLC: Now we know! 🤯

[@slimesoliloquy]

It was in my understanding that the ancient dragons had control over their time warping ability, at least that placidusax did, and that he was the one that from a spell that last indefinitely, created a zone out of time to save himself and his land of farum azula from an outer threat (maybe the erdtree) and that the eye of the storm was were his spell took effect, stoping time itself in the eye of the storm while only slowing it on the edges, thus the crumbling state of the rest of farum

[@carlsonthemagking]

By Grace, Vaati has returned! I was so worried this series was over.

[@Mephil]

Perhaps the frenzied flame IS the crucible. If the crucible contained everything, and all was one. Then that matches perfectly the frenzied flames objective of “once everything was one and to one everything will return”

[@alpha00zero]

Another tidbit that could add to your theory of "the storm is helping twisting time" is that all the tornadoes spin counter-clockwise. Against the very flow of time.

[@WyattNelsonN0S13NM]

I always thought that the talisman only having four heads was explained by the circular ring in the top center - if it was meant to be worn as a necklace, with chain or string through that hole, then the fifth head would be that of the wearer.

[@chrisp.9380]

That's a fantastic observation!

[@maheshkrishnan2099]

This was just … MIND BLOWING ! Thank you so much Vaati 🙏🏻. Everything from the thumbnail all the way to the ending shot was so gripping. I feel lucky to have played the game more now. The hype for the DLC just became much more thanks to this.

[@Chessheromusic]

Godfry also had a name change He was more of a beast man that Marika and the greater will rose to Elden lord It seems to repeat the greater wills action in giving the beasts intelligence

[@blooobish]

excellent video. also, far as lore masters go, Tarnished Archeologist is at the very top tier. his vids are amazing not only for the lore, but for the connection to real world references and inspirations. you get both an actual history lesson and a lore theory at the same time. couldn't recommend them enough for featuring in future vids.

[@nightscout9979]

His references to real events and places are interesting, but his theories regarding ER leave something to be desired. He has a bad habit of ignoring key facts in the story to push for his theories instead. Also, once Maliketh is defeated, you can look up and see that the Erdtree's branches are all brown bark, so the Erdtree is actually real, not an illusion.

[@xieotv2386]

I'm going through an extreme low point in my life rn, family fucked me over and stole a lot of money from my time playing professionally. And continued to lie to me about it currently moved on my own with 0 experience outside of school and soccer. This is all not to say I need a pity parade I just wanted to say. These videos remind me of good times playing dark souls and stuff. This takes me back there and provides to me a place of comfort. I appreciate these so much.

[@Marcelaos1]

you are not alone brother

[@ibi_et_iterum]

I hope things have gotten better for you !!!

[@BluestTable]

👑

[@HeevaEgo]

Presentation of Vaati’s Elden Ring videos are incredible. Even down to miniature details like the Thumbnail.

[@EKk8819]

After 3 years and fighting Placidusax lie a million times, I had no idea you can use the needle to reverse the frenzy right there.. So cool now I can rock the frenzy eyes until I get to Elden Beast, then I can reverse it an get any other ending I havent yet..

[@kyleharrison713]

Love the vid, as always. The one thing I don't think anyone can ever convince me is that Gransax somehow didn't absolutely level every damn structure in Leyndell. Just look at the size of him or her (idk if its specified), It would take maybe 1min tops... Anyway, looking forward to a new year of awesome vids!