The Lore of Farum Azula - Elden Ring

[@briannenurse4640]

I'm so invested in this series and I've never played a Souls game, not even once. The lore is just so THICK and JUICY!

[@JackisaMimic]

You should play Elden Ring, I think its pretty good :)

[@briannenurse4640]

@@JackisaMimic One day I will, I'm sure. For now the lore discussion videos are more than fine!

[@randywilliams6248]

Extra thick

[@rickmalinger5361]

​@@randywilliams6248 Just how Aku likes it.

[@trollingstones6257]

@@briannenurse4640 You should start with Dark Souls. Elden Ring, while more approachable to a newcomer when it comes to the amount of QOL features, is WAY harder than all three Souls games

[@Bathezid]

I recently found your channel while recovering from illness. I love your delivery and style of presentation. It feels much more personable than a lot other lore tubers for Souls, and it helps that you have a lot of unique insights on things. Great stuff!

[@JackisaMimic]

I hope you are recovering well, and Im happy that you can find entertainment from my videos in a tough time. My ideas come with me, for some thats a disclaimer for others its a channel subscription!

[@cameranwall]

In astrology, eclipses are portals. It’s advised in witchcraft not to cast spells under them because you can’t always control what come through that portal. Eclipse magic is only for really skilled witches. The moon (the unconscious, dreams, the shadow) is eclipsing the sun (ego, consciousness). Only one who is a master of both can utilize eclipse magic. Just thought I’d share as both an astrology and Elden Ring nerd lol

[@Dastardly_Duo]

Sounds like Radagon, who gave Renalla the Unborn rune

[@ThankyouJword]

Control is a lie to boost your ego

[@the1384]

Great Video about Ancient Times and Farum Azula as always great Work Jack🤩 Let me share something New that fits the “Shadow” Theme. We have 3 Different Types of Ember from the Cosmos but Sellen only talks about 2. Blue and Yellow Ember, while Yellow Ember is extremely Rare and to find maybe cause it only arrived on the Lands between via the Elden Beasts Landing and every Living creature that died on Impact gave birth to the Elden Beasts Form as we know it today and it houses as Sellen said the Vitality of living creatures aka Golden Ember. The Blue Ember exists in “Abundance” as Glintstone. The third Ember almost no one talks about that stems from the Cosmos is Sentient Black Ember aka Falling Star Beasts. Malikeths Black Blade is made out of Black Stones and the Memory Stones we collect in Game are made out of it too. The Golden Order tried to hide the Fact that they were using Black Ember because that was the territory and practice of the of the Gloam Eyed Queen. Also some Small DLC-Links 1. Some DLC enemies have Gold and Black Armor just as Maliketh. 2. The Portrait of the woman and the old man, her Clothes also remind me of the Giant Corpses we find in the Eternal Cites. 3. The Erdtree has a Scar, the Shadow Tree has a scar and the Elden Beasts Stomach has a Scar… That’s no coincidence. 4. Maliketh, Mogh, Radahn and Messmers Weapons seem to be made out of Black Rock that means Star Beast Body Parts. 5. The People under the Lion Dancers Body are Ancestral Followers from the Crucible Era😉we know they like Holding Heads. Please check that up 6. Messmer is probably the Son of Radagon and the Gloam Eyed Queen 7. Melina telling us that she was Born at the Foot of the Erdtree, maybe unbeknownst to herself it was the Shadow Tree. Marika was trying to Hide her True Last Born in the Shadow Realm but Miquella found Melina Trained her, gave Torrent to her and send her to the Lands Between to Aid us the Tarnished. But as we all know to get to the Lands Between we have to Move through the Fog that causes Memory loss. 7. Miquella and Ranni tried to Switch Roles via Fate Manipulation Thanks for Reading❤

[@unknowndummy9387]

Idk why no one else I listen to has made these connections about the grafted blade greatsword, banished knights, and farum azula to the land of shadows. I think a good number of the claims here will prove true when the dlc releases. The fact that the beasts, dragons, and crucible and banished knights are all in farum azula and have such a close connection to this “sun realm” and the crucible makes me think there’s a good lead here!

[@Kolorrobek]

In real world cultures the sun often represents masculine aspects (in eldenring: the crucible and god of storm aspects) and the moon represents feminine aspect (carian, matriarchal numen and nox). In eldenring the moon persist but the sun is gone replaced by the erdtree (renalla is the moon mogger personified: beautiful, smart, charming, also towering height). I think you are right about the land of shadow and the sun realm connection. In the trailer we can see that the man in the portrait is punished or impaled by an eldenring-like stake. Even the portrait is depicting an old man sitting and a pregnant woman standing. A man at the twilight of his life and a woman's beginning of a new life. We know that marika the matriarch numen ascend to godhood at the land of shadow (she probably snuffed the sun). The sun then replaced by the erdtree. I think there is a theme in eldnring about the transition of society. From the conquering, chaotic sun realm type civilization into a more stable erdtree style civilization (focuses on abundance, defense, and healing). You can't build a stable society with 'survival of the fittest' style crucible/draconic aspect. This is why they are persecuted because their existance is hindering 'progress'. Is this why the dungeater (who no longer guided by the sun) is so pissed?

[@lurksmcgee]

What's fun about the ancient dragons is the "gold" sewn throughout their bodies is akin to green gold or what is known as Electrum, and they wield lightning lol So here's a theory I've seen a few times - the rubble you find throughout the Lands Between is not from Farum Azula but from a sun temple that spanned a large portion of the sky and was struck down by the meteorite, the reason people say this is because you find no remnants of beast men skeletons in any of the rubble found on the ground. However, Farum Azula once having spanned a much larger portion is easily explained by Beastmen being found in random caves so very far away from where we know it is at now. I think one of the most interesting things about Farum Azula is that it is only seeable from one divine tower and that's it, yet you can see the entirety of the Lands Between from it....it's almost like it's..veiled away except for Malenia's Divine Tower. Also also considering GRRM was a part of the world building of this game - the blood star could be a comet. Also also also all the ancient dragons have "rock" in their name. Fortisax - strong rock, Placidusax - calm rock, Lansseax - Throwing Rock or Launching Rock, Gransax - Large Rock, and then Farum Azula is if you use the same basis for the Ancient Dragon naming and assume Latin something akin to blue lighthouse or sky lighthouse

[@minerman60101]

I'm not quite so dripping with thoughts as I was in the last video so it'll just be one comment instead of a chain of three: One of my biggest questions about Farum Azula is why it's invisible to most of the Lands Between, except for the Isolated Divine Tower. Is it just a lag concern with rendering it the entire game, or something more intriguing... In addition, you never actually get maps of Farum Azula or the Haligtree in-game, their maps simply appear once you have collected enough of the adjacent fragments for the border to fill out. Your point about Messmer having the other half of the rune of death makes sense from a visual design perspective--his flame is red and black but with the emphasis reversed from Maliketh's flame. I wonder if the exact nature of how we access the Land of Shadow will mean our body isn't actually there for Messmer to kill and wipe our save file. You excluded the Four Belfries' teleport into Farum Azula, something that raises the question of why such a teleporter was established (the Pearldrake Talisman is found here). You also didn't go and see the area's second Crucible Knight who's locked in battle with beastmen, where you get the Boltdrake Talisman+2 and before which you go to a large isolate building containing Banished Knights (and a funny visual error if you look down from the hallway with an open right side). The area behind the Bestial Sanctum may also have been worth a quick look in this video; it's where you find the Cinquedea and the Dragoncrest Shield Talisman. You can see the Erdtree from Farum Azula so it's not unreasonable that Golden Seeds could get there, and separately I've heard someone (maybe SmoughTown?) speculate that the deathroot is a metaphysical disease on the land, and that's why it appears somewhere without a current connection to the Lands Between. To your discussion of Wormfaces, a large one replaces the usual Erdtree Avatar as the boss that drops crystal tears in their woods in the Altus Plateau, and the Minor Erdtree in the Capital Outskirts also has death related shenanigans afoot... Placidusax is perfectly fun on melee and I have the video to prove it :) (His ancient dragon lightning is the most fun part of the fight there, learning to time your attacks to the three strikes and take full advantage of that opening is quite cool) The ending of the words is uh-NAH-thuh-muh

[@JackisaMimic]

Turns out there are areas in this level I have never been too lol. Just had to look up those areas on KZbin, amazing that after hundreds of hours there are still secrets. Though some areas I excluded because I wanted us to get to the level proper, like the Bellfry warp. As an aside, I think that area is important because it shows some sort of alliance between Caria and the destinations of the Waygates. I know SmoughTown's theory on Farum Azula's deathroot but I don't like that answer mainly because of Deathroot's item description: "Later, the Rune of Death spread across the Lands Between through the underground roots of the Greattree, sprouting in the form of Deathroot." I always like to shy away with "just because" or "magic" because that isn't how GRRM likes to write. For example magic in Elden Ring isn't just magic, its telekinesis powered by space rocks called glintstone. We also see multiple instances of Deathroot in chests (denoting ownership) and it being placed in-front of unaffiliated Greattree Roots, leading me to believe that there are actors within the world who are attempting to actively sabotage the Erdtree via Deathroot. The Crucible Knight fighting the Beastman would have been a good thing for me to find as evidence of their conflict and why the Beastmen would have wanted Deathroot and why the Crucible Knight would not have been happy. But this is why I love when you all comment, we all learn by sharing!

[@minerman60101]

@@JackisaMimic now that I think about it, you get sent to Farum Azula for committing a Cardinal Sin, maybe the people who would spread deathroot got sent there too? I dunno. Now that I'm thinking about this again, I realize that I've heard (can't remember from where) an even better explanation for the deathroot being spread there: Maliketh. He ate up all the deathroot that he could in the Lands Between, and then journeyed to Farum Azula. He makes the most sense as the vector of infection.

[@JackisaMimic]

That makes sense, but then why do we only see Sun Realm adherents coming back and not resurrected Erdtree Soldiers? TWLID as either Militiamen, hexers who cast Death Sorceries, Sun Realm Soldiers, or Bandits. All types of people who would make living under the Erdtree difficult, no one's Grandma coming back from the dead to back cookies and give hugs, you know what I am saying?

[@Conzort_1]

Here's some paint..sorry ahead of time... Lol The butterflies represent the innate stages of the organic nature of the world (the crucible). FLAME: The natural need for death and destruction to grow anew. NACSENT: The consequence of the flame being applied as it should be. ROT: The consequence, if it flame is not applied. Apply Jack is a Mimic crucible theory. - The Elden ring came after the crucible had already existed, on a meteor or comet. As stated in-game. The crucible IS the world the game takes place on. And it manifested in an interactive way, at first, as a Great World Tree. (To put it lamenly: Cut the tree, read the sap for DNA, "Oh, it matches the world's DNA") The "Elden Scientific Law" of this theory posits that the mere fact the tree exists in the first place, is proof of connection to the cosmos, the deities there-in, and the innate nature of causality and regression; On an interactive level. The DNA of the crucible/World is of this innate nature. Everything else is a manifestation of eons of causality and regression. And other laws we've yet to learn about the nature of the crucible. - Entities of power understood this, and fought to control it for themselves. - The conflict has always occurred, since before the arrival of the ring and beast. - The crucible knights are ancient tree knights. I 100% agree. They are from a time before any of the main characters we know. And they are kin of the tree.

[@Conzort_1]

My wife just said we have our own crucible in our own world. With our different types of life on our planet and battle over dominate species. 💖

[@NickCombs]

11:50 Anathema /ə-'na-thə-mə/ It's used to describe something that is so against social/religious beliefs & desires that it is typically banished.

[@NickCombs]

Gloam /ˈglōm / Twilight. It's related to both "glow" and "gloom" etymologically.

[@nuclearthrone2497]

If the Twinbird is the envoy of an Outer God (God of Death), and it’s crest is found a lot in Farum Azula, combined with the text that Placidusax is waiting for his god, it makes sense to me this was the envoy that was in his body. It also resembles his figure with two heads. Next to that, the Elden Beast has already ‘returned’ so it doesn’t make sense he is still waiting (unless he was not worthy somehow). Next to that, death was clearly a different in his age with normal burials and not tree burials. Thanks for your view!

[@nuclearthrone2497]

I think Marika defeated (the envoy of) death and Placidusax somehow and put the power into the Death Rune (sealed it away in Maliketh), then not used the rune in the Elden Ring to change the rules of Death and make it possible to grow the Erdtree with Erdtree burials

[@Memnoch_the_Devil]

Hey Jack. Just fyi, I can also email this to you if you’d prefer. I just wanted to give others a chance to get in on this and contribute or correct anything here. Just let me know. 1. As far as the Philosopher’s Stone, I’m assuming you’re already familiar with how ingrained alchemy is to the structure of the world building in Elden Ring. It’s just as important as botany is to the terminology, or the history of various religious practices and the evolution of society in general is to the architecture seen in the game. Not only this, but the alchemical principle of the Rebis or the Philosopher’s Stone is essentially what helped many in the community (such as myself) understand the relationship between Marika and Radagon. What’s more, even the colors associated with the formula behind this includes gold on one side and red on the other. Sound familiar…?? If you’d like, I’ll find the specific video I’m referencing (from Tarnished Archeologist, iirc) and share the link with you. Assuming you haven’t already seen it, or maybe it’s just been a while. Honestly I could benefit from rewatching it myself at this point… 2. Regarding the larger Wormface kneeling in the shallow lake/puddle in Farum Azula in front of the gazebo, I notice it’s slamming its head on the ground repeatedly, but it doesn’t appear to be doing so in the same maddening, chaotic manner as some other creatures/characters that we see (such as Dung Eater in his cell). Rather, it reminds me more of the controlled, religious act of prostration that we see Farnese witnessing Father Mozgus doing in Berserk. Any thoughts on this, or am I reaching here?? 3. Also, can you comment at some point on the connection between the Godskin Nobles/Apostles and their notably significant weakness to sleep of all things, which is obviously suggestive of St. Trina/Miquella? It seems a bit too unique to just dismiss outright, don’t you agree? Although don’t ask me what exactly that connection might be… (Edit: Aha! I should have waited until I actually finished the video, lol. How ironic that it wasn’t until you were playing as the Godskin Noble that you ran across the nascent butterflies?? No wonder Maliketh kept killing them, am I right?? lol jk) 4. The statue of the three wolves surrounding the young woman in the Maliketh boss arena… how much do you want to bet there is SOME kind of connection to the three ‘Lone Wolves’ that Ranni gives us upon first meeting her when she also gives us the summoning bell and the steed whistle for summoning Torrent? Even if the three wolves she gives us are merely symbolic of these wolves in the statue

[@AzazelHash281]

I found a different route for Bernie, I killed him at warmaster shack when I first met, then at farum azula I fought his invader, and he did drop the death rune traces

[@Nolimitsbestfriend]

videos continue to evolve boss

[@melkerbotin7098]

I really liked this video!!

[@JackisaMimic]

Thank you!

[@ravendelacour1917]

Depending on how old the era of the Godskins and GEQ was the gods hunted by them could be dragons. Thus their assimilated reptilian features.

[@dutchielander2478]

Oh boy, wait till you speak with Rya in the mansion on mount Gelmir in her snake form and after that with her "mom" when you let her know you've seen her true form. Juicy tidbits in that conversation.

[@FloppeyPyro]

Jack remember please, the Greater Will is not an Outer God it is the Supreme God with the other Outer Gods being "outer" from not being able to create, only corrupt.

[@JackisaMimic]

They are only considered "Outer" because they are outside of the current order. The Greater Will is only "supreme" because the followers of other gods have all been killed or shunned, much like the real world.

[@tauiin]

is is possible that the "meteorite" that destroyed farum azula was actually the beast the GW sent down that eventually became the elden ring?

[@JackisaMimic]

Most likely not. Maliketh's boss room has an older Elden Ring motif on the wall, so the room had to have been constructed after the Elden Ring had arrived. There is a Malformed Dragon Knight guarding the boss room and they only came after the war against the Ancient Dragons. The Elden Stars incantation is found in the Deeproot Depths, where the source of the Ansel and Siofra river is. I think its more likely the impact of the Elden Stars occurred in this region and is what created these two rivers.

[@davisiotta489]

​@@JackisaMimicand we also have a lot of evidence of the influence of the greater will on Farum azula Do you think it's possible that the girl depicted on the statue in Malekith's arena could be Marika? I kind of have a theory that maybe Marika could be the daughter of Placidusax and the goddess from the previous age. Do you also think it's possible that dragons could have been born from the Elden beast's impact on the lands between? the only other race of creatures that have stone skin are the onyx lords and they came to life after a meteor fell, something similar could have happened since the ancient dragons seem to have golden flesh as seen in Placidusax and the elden beast itself has a appearance vaguely reminiscent of a dragon

[@JackisaMimic]

I think that woman is most likely Marika, but that she is the daughter of the people we see in the portrait of the DLC trailer, as well as the reliefs of the “Royal Family” as I call them in Farum Azula. I have also theorized that the dragons exist because of the Elden Ring, that they are stone brought to life by Runes. When the Elden Stars impacted the Lands Between it is possible it shattered slightly and the runes traveled down the Ainsel and Siofra rivers creating life where it went, the Ancient Dragons made of stone being the first to be given life “Without order nothing can exist-without chaos nothing can evolve.” I dont have any evidence for this “in game” other than just thinking about it lol

[@headecas]

Is there any reason to think Marika is not the gloam eye kween?

[@burneraccounthandle]

kween?

[@headecas]

@@burneraccounthandle degenerate speak for queen

[@nomercy8989]

@@burneraccounthandle kweer?

[@JackisaMimic]

Melina has a Gloam-Eye, but she could just be a relative to the GEQ. There is no textual evidence clearly stating that Marika is the GEQ. BUT I think Ranni's story is a parallel to Marika's story (an Empryean resisting their role of god, and their loyal Shadow needing to subdue them) so right now my prime suspect is Marika.

[@headecas]

@@JackisaMimic ever thought that marika IS the mimic created by the eternal cities?she takes on the apearance and powers of or consumes in a way the god of the dragons(elden beast) and the fell god(radagon) becoming the rebus( or something like that, not interested in alchemy) ?

[@jeremykscott]

I genuinely think we are going to see evidence that Marika was the Gloam Queen, and the Greater Will forced Maliketh to become the first Shadow by subduing her. This game seems more like an attempt to break a cycle than it does exposing corruption of a dictatorial/oppressive regime. Every one of Marika's children seemed to receive some prophetic quest to bring death back to the world. Now Messmer is being told to us to be a hero of a war against the Greater Will and seems to be Marika's child. I dunno. I just can't shake the feeling that Marika's being the first Emperyion is intrinsically linked to the Gloam Queen.

[@stampede274]

The fact that beasts, snakes, and hawks are all associated with the dragons of Farum Azula could tie into an evo psych theory that dragons are a ubiquitous symbol worldwide because they're a composite of the animals that most commonly hunted our early hominid ancestors. I'm pretty sure the theory has been discredited, but there's no reason that Miyazaki couldn’t still draw inspiration from it. Perhaps it could relate to the Crucible in some way, with dragons being the perfect amalgamation of beast, bird, serpent, and man?

[@JackisaMimic]

Out of those three animal groups: beasts (dogs/wolves), hawks, and snakes only the snake isn't used as a domesticated ally in Elden Ring, much like the real world. We see the Warhawks in Stormveil, while they are mutilated they are still domesticated, obviously we have instances of Dogs and Wolves being used in tandem with humanoid enemies, but none for Snakes that I can think of. I mean obviously Rykard but he fed himself to the Snake so I wouldn't consider that an "alliance"

[@NickCombs]

@@JackisaMimic we have all three if you count the spirit ashes

[@recsanzi]

@@JackisaMimic Mt Gelmir Cristal Snakes dungeons with the bloodhound. That looks pretty domesticated to me

[@JackisaMimic]

@rsanzi There is an argument to be made about Bloodhound Knights being domesticated; they’re a very interesting concept

[@JackisaMimic]

Please be sure to leave your theories and observations in the comments! I have begun writing the script to the continuation of the Black Swordsman saga and reading other people’s thoughts is very helpful in the creative process!

[@arglebargle42]

Thank you for the wonderful content you have been putting us out to ease the wait, makes it a bit easier. Agree with the interest in the Sun Realm shield, and I think you may be right about the DLC area being the old Sun Realm.

[@JackisaMimic]

Thanks for watching my videos! Never did I think so many people would want to hear me yap about Elden ring for so long, I really feel honored.

[@oup6009]

Absolutely died at "We have back in time at home Kids. Its called Farum Azula" Great video as always!

[@NickCombs]

54:28 They look like regular beastmen to me, albeit in clergyman garb. But it's definitely hinting that they were also into ancient dragon worship, and we actually see that some beastmen are able to breath fire and wield red lightning. So there could be some genetic or magical mixing of the species to enable these abilities. We also know that at least one dragon could take the form of a human, unless that's a sneaky way of saying the dragon gave themselves to communion and thus became those humans that ate their heart. But if it's a literal transformation, then ancient dragons can perhaps take the form of any creature.

[@NickCombs]

What's also interesting about these statues is that they are so lifelike. Ancient dragons are stone of course, so it would make sense that they were actually creatures and no mere depictions. The beastmen statues are also strange because they are look both detailed and not posed. They're just standing and sitting around the dragons, though it's possible they could've been moved after the fact. So that makes me wonder why they would have been turned to inert stone. It's an interesting contrast with the other beastmen who were buried in the walls, pillars, and altars.

[@ofcatarina]

a-NATH-eh-muh. Hard A like in the word natural.

[@Uncle_Fred]

Jack, can you comment about the curious amount of womb/fetus/baby imagery in Elden Ring? It seems to be everywhere. Marika is stabbed through the womb. The Song of Lament is a song about women failing to have children. Miquella appears over a pelvic bone and his cocoon looks like a uterine rupture. Abductor Virgins appear to be cradeling a baby and suck you into their chests. Rennala is clutching what appears to be an amenonic sack and attempting to re-birth Ranni. There is a castle titled: "Mourn" . You morn a loss, usually a loved one like a child. There are "womb" related items. Heck, the map itself appears to be one giant fetus! This can't be a coincidence.This imagery is too frequent and too intentional. I think Miyazaki is hinting that the loss of a pregnancy is somehow key to understanding Elden Ring. What do you think?

[@JackisaMimic]

I think that they are all there on purpose but I am not sure what to make of them yet without the DLC. These are very forward facing thematic elements that most likely are incredibly significant to understanding what the story is trying to tell us, but right now I am not sure what that is.

[@the1384]

We can add more, If you look at Placidusax he holds his Arms like if he’s Holding something. Similar to the Old Dynast. Also Placi and Elden Beast have a big stomach indicating that they may have been Pregnant at sometime

[@lurksmcgee]

probably has to do with the stagnation of life in the Lands Between, when you remove death, there is no real life.

[@LordShinyBottom]

Ready to listen to some great lore while at work today🙏🏽 videos keep getting better

[@iamthereddemon20]

"bonk him on the head with a time travel stick" is way way too accurate

[@K8theKind]

Wow! This is incredible and I absolutely LOVE your long form videos! Eep! I can’t wait til I get home from work to have a proper listen!

[@LeggoMyGekko]

1:21:16 this just made me realize, if the Draconic Tree Sentinels only came about AFTER Gransax attacked the capital, that places the attack on the capital BEFORE the displacement of Farum Azula. How would the Draconic Tree Sentinel guarding Maliketh’s chambers get there otherwise? This makes me wonder if the attack on the capital was the reason Farum Azula was sent into the sky in the first place.

[@JackisaMimic]

Great connection! What was the relationship between Farum Azula and Leyndell at the time? Were they opposing cities, were the Ancient Dragons still flying around Farum Azula before the attack? When did the meteorite hit Farum Azula, who summoned it and why? Also, does this mean that the Land of Shadow wasn't concealed until after the was against the Ancient Dragons? Damn, who knows.

[@K8theKind]

@@JackisaMimic lol

[@cowpie1916]

Not necessarily. Both Bernahl and Alexander are able to get to Farum Azula in modern times just as we did.

[@Ontos99]

You pump out high quality videos too fast :)) 20 mins in. Great stuff. Glad you talked about that sun shield and twinbird. Will continue later tonight. Keep it up but we all want to see more Guts role play I think ;)

[@JackisaMimic]

It’s on its way! I want to talk about Elden Ring so bad and these chains will not bind me! I was having trouble thinking about how to frame the “sequel” but I just figured it out, can’t wait to share it with you all!

[@K8theKind]

@@JackisaMimic TheCenteredTarnished asked you in his comment section if you fancy teaming up for a video! I think you should add Ontos the the mix for sure!! That would be so much fun to hear! Perhaps you could interview each other

[@Nolimitsbestfriend]

need that @@K8theKind

[@SirAxelGrimnir703]

I have a crazy theory I want to share. Less lore related and more real world inspo stuff. I'll get back in the replies when I get the time. It's related to Farum Azula, Beast Men, and the Twin Birds and their relation to death and battle.

[@SirAxelGrimnir703]

Key things to keep in mind. Odin's names: Ofnir (inciter) and Raven God. Odin’s animalistic warriors: Berserkers and Ulfhednar (bear shirt and wolf coat) Real world raven/ wolf relationships Torslunda Plates, 8th century Sweden Ravens have been observed to cooperate with wolves, incite play with pups and draw attention to prey and/or warn of coyotes that are nearby to incite a response. Odin also has wolves, but he is called Raven God. His warrior followers are wolves and bears. Much like how ravens will lead wolves to prey or threats, artifacts depict what we believe to be Odin leading the Ulfhedinn, a warrior dressed in wolf skin, in ritual. These are found in the sagas and are believed to be depicted on the Torslunda Plate. Ravens have many associations. From historical to contemporary, they have long been associated with death. Much like Elden Ring’s Twin Birds. Historically, back into the Viking age, Ravens had other associations. They would bring information about the world to Odin. This is less important to this theory than what his raven's names translate to. Their names are Huginn and Muninn. Mind and Memory. Along with Odin, who represents the accumulation of wisdom and knowledge in this context. Think of the Beast Men being gifted intelligence, this will be important later. Odin's Wolf Warriors, Beast Men you could call them, would dispatch enemies on the battlefield sending those they felled, and themselves upon their death, to Valhalla. Think of the branch swords talismans. The rendering of death's worth offering. Why are these men considered animalistic? They, in our surviving sources, are described as being near unstoppable. Invulnerable to fire and iron and bite down on the edges of their shield while screaming and howling like animals. This is, of course, not really possible. But, the red Arteria leaves make me wonder. The effect it has on the player and, presumably, the beast men acts much the same way as some edibles were once believed to be the source for this berserkergang. In the real world, this is roundly debunked, but Elden Ring is not the real world. It's inspired by it. Physical activities are real though. Some of our sources, Byzantine scholars to be precise, describe what may be a spear dance. Think of a pre-battle ritual or myth reenactment. The former is what's important for this. These Vikings warriors from Kiev-Rus were described in much of the same ways as in the paragraph above. Howling like wolves. These men were hired and the Varangian Guard. Think of the Beast Men worshiping and defending the ancient dragons. Beast Men are not kin of the dragons. But birds are. From Ancient Dragons to feathered Dragons to Storm Hawks, it's clear there is a dinosaur to bird like relationship between these creatures. But not the Beast Men. Like the Norse warriors being foreign to Constantinople, perhaps the Beast Men are the same for Farum Azula, with Ancient Dragons playing the role of Byzantine leadership and the Twin Bird taking on the role of their religious leader. It's time I bring up the thing that ties this all together. The Twin Bird motif in Farum Azula and the Torslunda Plates. On one of the Torslunda Plates is a man in a horned headdress followed by a man-wolf hybrid. Each wielding spears. The horned figure is believed to represent Odin and the man-wolf represents the Ulfhednar. Remember the Beast Men being gifted intelligence? What if, in Elden Ring, this has been reversed? Instead of men becoming beast-like, it's beasts becoming man-like, to put it in related terms. Interesting, right? Here's the thing. Those aren't horns on that head dress. Those are the representation of TWO BIRDS, likely Ravens. Twin Birds of death leading Beast-Men through ritual or into battle. Could this be what inspired From Software? Am I thinking too much into this? Maybe and perhaps, respectively. But it's been a thought that's been brewing in my head for a long time.

[@SirAxelGrimnir703]

I am no expert. Alot of these ideas are a culmination of different information from people like Jackson Crawford and various other experts in different fields.

[@SirAxelGrimnir703]

Wait a minute wait a minute wait a minute!!! The falling Leaves tell a story. Arteria leaves and the Helphen Steeple item description. Warriors deaths. Invigorating their fighting spirits until death in battle. What if it's connected? Just a thought I had.

[@SirAxelGrimnir703]

If the Twin Bird is the Envoy for the outer god of death, could it have been within Placideusax's god like the Elden Beast is within Marika? Is this fled God the defeated Gloam-eyed queen? Is this deity its own, unfleshed character? Who knows. There are theories that Caelid and the mountain tops were once connected. Perhaps Farum Azula was founded and connected there. Fauna found within both areas, the large birds and T-Rex dogs, are only found there, minus Mohgs blood puddle under Caelid. What's interesting is the God Skin's are found in Farum Azula. Ghosts of them appear with the Spirit Caller's Snail. The rune of death is found there. Death's kindred have a major presence in the mountain tops. The Helphen Steeple is found there. Death Birds are found there. Castle Sol is found there. A wondering Mausoleum. Black Flame of Death Ghost Flame Losing their power Losing their color Ghost flame once being purple. The color most people think is the color of the gloam eyed queens eyes, or eye if you believe the Melina theory. Is it all connected? It's all close by. From Software put things together for a reason.

[@SirAxelGrimnir703]

If the Twin Bird is the Envoy for the outer god of death, could it have been within Placideusax's god like the Elden Beast is within Marika? Is this fled God the defeated Gloam-eyed queen? Is this deity its own, unfleshed character? Who knows. There are theories that Caelid and the mountain tops were once connected. Perhaps Farum Azula was founded and connected there. Fauna found within both areas, the large birds and T-Rex dogs, are only found there, minus Mohgs blood puddle under Caelid. What's interesting is the God Skin's are found in Farum Azula. Ghosts of them appear with the Spirit Caller's Snail. The rune of death is found there. Death's kindred have a major presence in the mountain tops. The Helphen Steeple is found there. Death Birds are found there. Castle Sol is found there. A wondering Mausoleum. Black Flame of Death Ghost Flame Losing their power Losing their color Ghost flame once being purple. The color most people think is the color of the gloam eyed queens eyes, or eye if you believe the Melina theory. Is it all connected? It's all close by. From Software put things together for a reason.

[@Sammysouris]

Solid vid - thanks for sharing! Regarding the crucible, because you mentioned the connection of "not bleeding" with "tree people". Have you seen Tarnished Archaeologist's video on grafting, the golden lineage, and the Omen? He ties the "people are born from trees" theory of his, and "not from a mother" (Melina's dialogue on Boc) with the different eras of the Erdtree. I had another point but it spiraled out of control, so I'll share it in private! Looking forward to your next vid.

[@JackisaMimic]

I have seen TA's video on it I believe, last year it came out right? If you wanna know what I REALLY think the Crucible is, as well as what the Godskins came in contact with read GRRM's In The House of the Worm. I probably have to do a video on it because it's so eye opening to what the inspiration is to these mysterious ancient things are. Thanks for becoming a Mimic Scholar!

[@Sammysouris]

@@JackisaMimic yes - a few videos a year ago - the video on the Omens is the most impactful imo. "The House of the Worm" - I'll add it on my list 😄

[@advictoriummm]

Farum Azula is one of my favorite areas in Elden Ring. So excited to watch your dive into the lore! I feel like I keep learning something new!

[@JackisaMimic]

It is one of FROMs best designed dungeons I think

[@Memnoch_the_Devil]

@@JackisaMimicamen to THAT, Jack!! I know when people talk about breathtaking sites in Elden Ring, they often mention the first glance we get of Liurnia with the tower of Raya Lucaria sticking out above the endless fog, or the first time we ride the elevator down to Siofra River. But for me personally, it was my first glimpse of Farum Azula that dropped my jaw. I’ve seen a lot of great sites in From Software’s Soulsborne games, but not since entering Anor Londo for the first time was I so completely awestruck at the sheer scale, beauty, and attention to detail and design.

[@MortalMayonnaise]

Jack, in a past life you were certainly a biblical scholar or something of the sort

[@NasWandering]

Yo jack u should structure a lot of your vids like the blackswordsman saga videos really interesting KZbinr structure and if u stick with it I can see u blowin up from it

[@JackisaMimic]

The next Black Swordsmans video is in the works! It took a lot of work to make that video and I wanna talk about Elden Ring so these videos are really to hold me over. I am excited for you all to see the next video, I want it to be better than the first!

[@charliefoot6117]

I love your content dude, super engaging! I love the eclipse theories, it always felt important yet understated. You interpret the Shadow Realm as the Sun Realm, and the Lands Between as a sort of Moon Realm. Do you think it's possible that the eclipse could symbolise reunification of the 2 realms? Or more that the 'Moon Realm' is obscuring the 'Sun Realm'?

[@JackisaMimic]

Glad you're liking the videos! I see the Sun Realm as most likely the previous empire. In the 18th and 20th century Britain was considered "the empire on which the sun never sets" due to it spanning the entirety of the globe. The Shadow Realm most likely has major portions, or maybe the capital, of the Sun Realm but for a time the entirety of the Lands Between seems to be under their domain. We have many castles that share the same style and we find Those Who Live In Death carrying Sun Realm Shields in nearly every area of the game. With the Erdtree casting light day and night it would seem logical to me that it "over shadowed" the Sun Realm literally and figuratively, until it was the dominant power and empire in the Lands Between. I see the Moon, and its adherents, as a smaller culture and not an empire. In my Carian History video I establish them as most likely a small cult religion established on the Mountaintops that was able to grow into a powerful faction with Rennala's take over of Liurnia and the Academy. I also establish that the Moon clan and the Sun Realm would make natural allies, and it is possible that the Eclipse, for a time, could have a been a symbol of this alliance of Sun and Moon. I do not think the Sun and Moon are in opposition to each other, and the Eclipse could have multiple meanings. In my Eclipse video the main symbolism I focus on is how it could represent Ranni as the Moon intervening in the Night of the Black Knives and Eclipsing Godwyn as the Sun, leading to the birth of the Prince of Death and the creation of Deathroot. Since the Sun in Eclipse is supposed to be a symbol of a star that can ward away Destined Death, we see Godwyn and Ranni both being protected by Destined Death and not completely dying but only dying in Soul or Body respectively. Hope that clarification makes sense!

[@SirAxelGrimnir703]

Amazing and thought provoking video by the way.

[@chillylagarto7728]

The only thing that STILL bothers me about Miquella & Malenia as well, is that we don't have a Character that acts as a Shadow for them. Blaidd was Ranni's Shadow, Malekith was Marika's Shadow, but we don't know who Miquella or Malenia's Shadow(s) is. Ranni said that Empyreans receive a shadow upon their selection to be Empyrean, so why does Miquella & Malenia not have one? I firmly believe that Miquella's whole game is about becoming a New God, following his mother's footsteps, he abandons his empyrean flesh to Mogh so that he can arrive in the Lands of Shadow, so that he can await his Elden Lord, we're probably that Elden Lord, much like Godfrey (another Tarnished) was to Marika. He's probably doing this so that he can have the power to escape his curse as well as cure his sister. His first plan to cure Malenia failed, the Haligtree fell to the rot, so Miquella probably believes that the power of the Erdtree simply can't defeat the Scarlet Rot.

[@JackisaMimic]

Miquella is eternally youthful, we can't not know his age. They could have had shadows who knows when but they were able to get rid of them in some way. Shadow of the Erdtree will definitely have information on them.

[@themisterzed]

Slightly disappointed you didn't go down to the other Crucible Knight below and to the left of the hawks, dragon, and dragonstones. I was amazed when I first found this little jump to the side and always wondered what the implications of it were.

[@JackisaMimic]

I actually had no idea about that area, another commenter told me about this too and I have to go check that area out. This is one of the things that make Elden Ring special, there are secrets we can only learn from others, whether its secrets in the game or secrets in the story.

[@Mrweedro]

Ur out put is insane

[@Writh811]

Another great video! Regarding the Beastmen's weapons, as the game and you yourself note in the video they are made of Iron. I find it interesting that Farum Azula is both a prehistoric culture and that the after stone weapons the beasts moved on to Iron. It makes sense but we have to consider another piece of lore: The fire Giants developed the art of smithing (normally I'd put the item and its text but I currently don't have the freedom to hunt it down). With the Giants' cultural contribution to the world defined I can't help but feel this was a gift offered to Farum Azula. The weapons note their incredible balance given their size and we know that Iji (a troll, trolls being giant descendants) was also a master smith who could forge simple weapons with extraordinary qualities. Traveling through the Mountain Tops it is clear the region is rich with iron, noted by the red patches of rock (unharvested iron). And of course my personal nail in the coffin that the giants were somehow loyal to Farum Azula: We need to use their forge to reach Farum. It is very odd and out of place unless the giants had a pre-existing relationship with Farum to establish that means of transport. I think it is interesting you think the prophecies in Elden Ring are BS. I happen to feel the same way about the supposed "curses". After reflecting on every "curse" presented to us, I don't think curses are real in Elden Ring, at least not the way we typically think of them. When I say that I mean the idea that someone or thing casts a spell on you and you are stuck living with misfortune or some other consequence as a form of retribution. Quick example: The fire Giants before the war with Leyndell were already tending their flame for Eternity. So what was Marika's curse, "Keep up the good work!"? I guess the real curse is having to maintain a bonfire that clearly needs a team by yourself. Lately, I'm of the mind the term "Curse" just means an "misfortune" or simply just "an undesirable state" rather than a magic spell. I have more examples but I've already made my customary wall of text.

[@JackisaMimic]

There was definitely an alliance between beastmen and Giants. If we use ASOIAF as our blueprint the Giants and the Children of the Forest were allies, but the Giants were hunted down by men and then even further by the Others (White Walkers in Game of Thrones) who are very similar to the Zamor. Your catch on iron is spectacular! What area in the mountains could I find that? You are right to be skeptical about curses. Omen and Misbegotten are considered cursed beings because they can not be given Erdtree burial, that is the point of Dung Eater's quest. Though, is it really such a good thing to be consumed body and soul by a tree? I posited in the Weeping Peninsula video that Erdtree Burial may be like entering a heaven like hivemind akin to some of GRRM's other works with A Song for Lya or the Weirwoodnet in ASOIAF One thing about the curse of the Fire Giants is that we don't know when they were cursed. Its assumed that it is at the end of the War Against the Giants but no piece of dialogue or item says that is when it occurred. Looking at Burn O Flame! and Remembrance of the Fire Giants it doesn't make it very clear on when the curse was put upon them.

[@Writh811]

@@JackisaMimic Everywhere up there. I'm not even trying to be vague when you know what iron ore looks like you realize that whole mountain top has iron just laying on the ground. A batch that is next to a grace to make it quick. If memory serves, the grace outside the Giants arena has some. Spawn in, run to the nearby rock wall. There should be some rocks on the ground in piles. Some of those rocks have the rust spatter pattern of iron ore. And rock faces (as in walls not the giant faces) have it in some places.

[@JackisaMimic]

Thanks! I’m RG colorblind (and never played Minecraft) so if I’m not sure what I’m looking for I have trouble sometimes

[@Writh811]

@@JackisaMimic Minecraft would only server to fail a person's ability to identify Iron ore lol. For the most part iron ore looks like darkish grey stone with flecks or bands of rust coloring (ranging from orange to red) on them. Once processed it takes on its more well known blackish coloring. I use to collect minerals when I was younger. I used that knowledge as a kid to rationalize why a character named Ironman was red and yellow lol. (not sure if that is the real reason for his colors). If you have time to humor a random aside about the mountain tops; when I was strolling around after my last post, looking for the best examples of iron ore I was walking across that narrow pathway where the Golem shoots arrows at you and was interested in the carvings on those blocks as well as the intention of them. Until yesterday I assumed the Golden Order made it to go kill the giants but the top face of them has Fell God swirls circling swirls. The side has, I'm not sure if it is a 3 leaf tree or what on it. But if it was built by the giants it is too narrow to be a path so that means it was a wall. I'm a strong believer that the Lands Between is missing land everywhere and I couldn't help but feel that this wall was an indicator of more missing land in the mountain tops (Whatever happened to break the land the giants clearly used giant chains to try to hold their home together.) Have you leant any thoughts to that part of the mountain, if so what is your take?

[@JackisaMimic]

@Writh811 I assumed it was a destroyed Black Stone Civilization structure but the Golem always made it hard to investigate. I’ll have to take a look at it again, thanks for the heads up!

[@GuyyDude]

Great work Jack! I'm so glad you mentioned the potential for another rebellion and the storm hawk king. One of my own personal theories is that Godwyn was actually the first to be sacrificed to create death root. I think perhaps death root was weaponized at one point, and the head beneath stormveil is perhaps what became of the Stormhawk king. Just food for thought, it makes sense why his followers might be disgraced and cast out if their leader did such. It's also very telling that rather than let themselves die and return to the Erdtree they burn their bones, thus committing them to the ghostflame.

[@JackisaMimic]

Great connection about why they would burn themselves in Ghost Flame! This is why I ask you all to comment lol

[@briannenurse4640]

Anathema is pronounced an-A-the-ma

[@K8theKind]

Anathema can be used interchangeably with words/phrases like “strongly disliked” or “hated.” For example: The Carians and their so called “toothless pedantry” are anathema to all that Sorceress Sellen aspired toward and practiced. Indeed Sorcerous Sellen was regarded as anathema to the Carians and Raya Lucaria as well. As they christened her the Graven Witch. It is pronounced like: “An - ath (like math) - eema. 😉💯👍👍👍 Hope this proves helpful! It’s a brilliant word to include in your vocabulary repertoire!

[@briannenurse4640]

It more specifically means "in direct opposition to," not just "disliked" or "hated"

[@JackisaMimic]

The more I mispronounce words the more comments I get, I don't think I'll ever change 😈

[@K8theKind]

@@JackisaMimic 😂🤣, ppffffff you know I’m going to be tearing up your comment section no matter what. So if it’s someone else I suppose this applies. But not me!!

[@K8theKind]

@@briannenurse4640 Not from my recollection, so I took the opportunity to look it up and the Oxford dictionary says quite clearly: a·nath·e·ma noun 1. something or someone that one vehemently dislikes. "racial hatred was anathema to her.” Though I do appreciate your input. 😊💜🫧🙏

[@briannenurse4640]

@@K8theKind Fair enough! My source was how I've always interpreted it!

[@splatzec]

Every statue of Marika has it’s hands removed. Miquella and Messmer are the left and the right hand, both having been removed upon or perhaps prior to the shattering. Plays into the duality, the two and three fingers. Goes deeper but without more lore hunting I can’t tie in all the pieces. The jellyfish tendrils are bugging me. They match the giant bearded statues in the mausoleum grounds, one of the only places I have found Miquella’s Lily. Hang on, death flame = st. Trina’s(Miquella’s) colours + messmer’s flame?

[@JackisaMimic]

To quote the great rapper Nas - "I never sleep because sleep is the cousin of death" But more appropriately, to quote Hamlet: To be, or not to be, that is the question: Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles And by opposing end them. To die - to sleep, No more; and by a sleep to say we end The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to: ’tis a consummation Devoutly to be wish’d. To die, to sleep;

[@chrisjulien7698]

Christ bless you, i wanna see the crucible knights and Dragons go at it

[@neo_medieval]

I love this series ❤ and it’s inspired me to also start a new play through for the DLC but taking it slow and taking my time to review items and locations etc to see how things connect. I’ve been obsessed with Miquella since my first play through and went down several rabbit holes when it became noticeable he’s involved in so many aspects of the story.

[@JackisaMimic]

So glad to hear you like this type of video, Mimic Scholar! Item location is very important, and its a fun way to look at the game world. It really adds a lot of depth to items that you might not think are that significant, and its a fun way to engage with your imagination in a medium where it is usually difficult to do. The next Black Swordsman video will do just the same as you are, our protagonist will reexamine their journey to see how Miquella may have been guiding, or manipulating then.

[@neo_medieval]

⁠​⁠​⁠@@JackisaMimicsuper exciting!! cant wait to see more ❤

[@spiralunity]

Something i feel isnt being talked about enough, Messmer kinda looks like a Godskin. Anatomy and his wrist/ankle armor.

[@JackisaMimic]

That's an interesting observation. I would not be shocked if Messmer had some relation to the God-Hunt movement. Will have to keep you in mind when we get the DLC or if we get any new information!

[@robizquierdo900]

Yep, definitely think this video seems more coherent. And we can understand your train of thought better. Thanks for the step up!

[@JackisaMimic]

Great! Glad you enjoyed the improvement!

[@Groddon]

I still belive that the chronology of the land between need to be place in order: I strongly belive, mainly because of the depiction of the elden ring in farum azula, that the giantroots (which to my understandig are confirmed by japanese description text, are not the roots of a supposed "Greattree"), sprouted by the falling of the elden star on the planet. I belive that Marika, becoming a vessel to the elden ring, was a much later event, probably after the coming of the numens on the land between. Also this vessel thing really shed some light on the whole matter of the removal of the rune of death: if the elden ring is the crucible, and the crucible is the root of the herdtree, how can a tree be alive if it's roots are disconnected? remove death from the equation and you have a immortal, literaly empty, symbol of faith for your Golden Order, at the price of the end of the age of plenty, while you can have a everlasting position of power and false godhood. And for those who remember how thigs where before, banishment and ostracization, for they are "impure" for the orthodoxy of fundamentalism. Misbigotten, depicted in bas-relief in farum azula, where condidered touched by the divine, because the Elden Ring in the form of the crucible it's life itself, reduced to lowly and mistreated slaves.

[@Groddon]

Also, could it be that the land where Marika cast away Godfrey and his army of tarnished, it's the land of shadow?

[@JackisaMimic]

I am thinking that it is a land outside of the entirety of the Lands Between. To me the story of the Tarnished sounds like a creation myth where man is cast out of heaven and then after death they get to return to paradise. But the gods are no more fickle than man, and paradise is crumbling.

[@Groddon]

Eh! that image in the prolouge of an impaled/pierced Hoarah Loux, when we have Messmer "the Impaler" it's a connection so tempting to make :) Unrelated question that come to mind: is the D brothers unique connection a Nox experiment? after all we find the other D brother in the outskirt of Nokron, and I dont recall, aside from Albinaurics, Eteranl Cities and Caria, the usage of silver in the golden order or herdtree worship @@JackisaMimic

[@JackisaMimic]

I think the D brothers are either two mimics of one person or one is a mimic and the other is not. Why would the Golden Order accept them when others scorn Albinaurics then? I don’t think people in the Lands Between know that mimics can or do exist. We obviously know, but do the characters in our story know that doppelgängers that can turn into plants, animals, and people are running around?

[@Groddon]

@@JackisaMimic by Zullie the Witch unmasking video, seems that the two broders do not share the same model so they could be only akin to a mimic... Sellen soul transplant also come to mind, since the second brother come to consciousness when Fia stabbed D in the RTH

[@NickCombs]

22:30 An important note about deathbed companions. We have an origin for their practice in the Perfumer Tricia ashes. And since it follows after perfumers and they in turn come after the founding of Leyndell, we can say pretty confidently that deathbed companionship is a more recent practice that did not exist in the time of the Sun Realm.

[@JackisaMimic]

I think you are misreading Tricia's Ashes: "Tricia was once known as a healer who dedicated her efforts to treating Misbegotten, Omen, and all those seen as impure. When her efforts failed, she was their companion as they died, watching over them to ensure that they could pass peacefully, free of pain. A tale akin to the origins of the deathbed companions." This just says that the origins of the Perfumers are similar to the origins of Deathbed Companions. That we can assume the Deathbed Companions could have been healers and when healing failed they would be give comfort to those who were dying.

[@NickCombs]

@@JackisaMimic Ah yes, that could be the case. Thanks for your interpretation.

[@Solibrae]

Perhaps the Golden Seeds landed in Farum Azula a very long time ago, but because the whole place got sealed beyond time they were never able to grow beyond the point we see them.

[@lucasgraeff5391]

Wow man, what a great video and format. I love just spoken videos without montages or weird sound effects.

[@JackisaMimic]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video! Im too old for that type of editing so you won't see that type of stuff here lol

[@inaijik]

15:33 “Miquella seems to have his fingers in everyone’s pie” is an especially funny statement because it seems Miquella has 4 arms via the Radahn fight and could hypothetically have his fingers in everyone’s pie.

[@pippinyougenius]

Probably nothing to this but is there any chance Godfrey being impaled to death has anything to do with Messmer? Badlands probably is just a separate place altogether but something decently powerful would’ve had to kill Horoah loux right?

[@pippinyougenius]

Messmers line about “all those stripped of grace shall meet death. In the embrace of Messmers flame” got me thinking of this.

[@JackisaMimic]

Maybe symbolic, as of right now I don’t think they are literally related

[@pippinyougenius]

@@JackisaMimic I agree. What’s the theory on how horoah loux died? Is it implicated he was just overwhelmed by sheer numbers or the harshness of the badlands?

[@JackisaMimic]

"A crown is warranted by strength" was his motto. Live by the sword, die by the sword. Someone who wanted to be chieftain probably killed him, in the end it's probably not too significant.

[@Nolimitsbestfriend]

luna is always a great treat black cats are a treat to be around

[@Nolimitsbestfriend]

not like food hahahaha

[@unknowndummy9387]

ANOTHER HIT BY JACK

[@jimping7064]

If you're a fan of ASOIAF I'd love to see some lore/theories on that stuff, you got me hooked on all your content

[@JackisaMimic]

Its not something I thought of doing, but if I fid any inspiration in Shadow of the Erdtree I may. Elden Ring, Thousand Worlds, and ASOIAF all seem like Rosetta stones to me

[@jimping7064]

@@JackisaMimic Jackivus Mimicous book club oh boy

[@JackisaMimic]

Not a bad idea 🤔

[@jasonsouthern5281]

Amazing vid! Could those wolves in malakiths room represent the process of creating a crucible? When Marikas people were put into jars, they were with all forms of life. This could represent the process of the crucible. Melding like under the Elden Ring.

[@jamie8703]

I have a strong suspicion that the woman in the painting is a Numen deathbed companion (keep in mind: Crucible, Baldachin Blessing, Gloam Eyes, watch Quelaag's Ancient dynasty video). The ancient dynasty who seem to be the earliest humans and perhaps lived in, or before, the crucible era (uhl palace, Mohgwyn). they coexisted or at least lived in close proximity to the ancestral spirit worshippers who seem to venerate death and rebirth. The ancestor spirits have flowers budding on their horns, mixed or alloyed life evocative of the crucible era and rebirth. Farum azula is the capital city of **Im Guessing** the crucible era, it's a massive mausoleum filled with undead. I have a feeling this regal deathbed companion from the painting was a Numen tasked with rebirthing the God? Ertree monk? Old dude from the painting. Numen are said to belong lived and seldom born. perhaps the Regal deathbed companion lived long enough to carry on the rebirth of the old man in some kind of veneration of Death. I believe this age or central power fell to the Regal Deathbed companion after she (or her cloned daughter) became the empyryan known as the Gloam Eyed Queen and led a Godhunt. Marika may be the twin of the GEQ or her cloned daughter but she is certainly embodies the complete opposite of the values depicted in Farum Azula and the crucible. Endless Unalloyed Life vs Cyclical Alloyed Death. Twins seem to exist in opposition (mogh/morgott Melania/Miquella, Marika/Radagon)

[@PrinceBilliamTheFourth]

Radagon is a mimic of Marika/god created by the Nox (all the references to creating a lord). Nox are connected to Caria, and thus Radagon (the mimic) was wedded to Rennala. However, prior to his marriage to Rennala, Radagon had a stint with the Gloam Eyed Queen, which resulted in birth of Messmer. Gloam-eyed queen, most likely Melina, is a sister of Marika, who Marika banished to Shadow real upon her godhood. It was in the Shadow Realm where Radagon procreated with gloam-eyed queen and Messmer was born. Thus Messmer is not a son of Marika, but a son Radagon and niece of Marika, who Marika (now fused with Radagob) has put in charge of the Shadow Realm.

[@davisiotta489]

I have a very strong theory that the sun in the game is the greater will itself, there is a strong correlation between the sun and the greater will, as you analyzed the sun is present thematically in all three characters that represent the three variations of the base ending of the game, the greater will has a strong relationship with life itself and according to Hyetta it is left to understand that life or at least life after emerging from the crucible only exists because of the actions of the greater will, I think the cosmology is the main theme of all the endings of the game, you obviously have the whole relationship with the sun in the endings in which you become elden lord and in the ending age of stars you obviously see the moon taking on a position of greater importance, in the frenzied flame ending you can see the flames going up into the sky almost like creating a new sun and I think that's what's happening the frenzied flame as an opposite of the greater will is taking its place and replacing it, to add more thoughts I think that the dark moon is the outer god of death mainly because it stands as an opposing force and seems to be correlated with things that have some proximity to death, be it Ranni who is practically dead in body and had involvement in stealing the rune of death and the fact that she seems to have been worshiped by the nox who are always close to things related to the ancient dynasty which is inhabited by ancestral Spirit worshipers who seem to have a strong connection with death and the twin bird which was the envoy of an outer god of death, with this I come to the conclusion that the eclipse is the representation of death and life because it is the moment that the two outer gods of these concepts would be somehow interconnected, I think that is why Miquella needs the eclipse to deliver a true death to Godwyn, in the eclipse the separation between life and death would be less clear and Miquella could use that to deliver a complete death and maybe even a rebirth to Godwyn, I think that's why the weapon which represents the eclipse has a golden and black flame that the omens are capable of manifesting, it is the representation of an era in which life and death were not distinct and therefore the omens being a manifestation of the crucible and the life of that time still have this flame, remember how ancestral Spirits worshipers worship horns as a representation of life growing in death?

[@davisiotta489]

In addition to all of this I would say that we basically can't see the dark moon almost anywhere anymore because with the rune of death sealed, The dark moon as an outer god of death would lose its influence due to "death no longer existing"

[@davisiotta489]

in the 4 endings in which you become the elden lord you are still letting the greater will be the god in power, that's why these endings are related to the sun, even if an altered version of it like the dung eater Sun with omen horns

[@JackisaMimic]

You know, I hadn't thought about it until this comment, what if we learn that the Sun is actually an 'outer god' we've haven't heard of yet?

[@davisiotta489]

​​@@JackisaMimicI don't believe he is a different outer god, so far the image of the sun seems linked with the greater will and I don't see why he would be a different outer god, once again, the sun is the source of illumination of the world and is the that feeds life through hes light, once again correlation with the greater will because of her be connected with life

[@epiccthulu]

I’ve got this crackpot theory, based on the fact that the Mandela Effect is affecting most Elden Ring players: Miyazaki said that the elden ring Mimics were unconnected to the other settings, he never once said that the Lands Between were NOT connected to the other games. And the Land of Reeds gear is literally named after the Sekiro location and describes the civil war at the end of the game perfectly. So the land of the Sun, that has seen better days, and seems to be linked to undead…Its gotta be a dark souls connection. And when i first saw mesmer’s flame, the black made me think of Humanity, dark pyromancy

[@nathanmarcano3171]

Farum Azula, easily one of my favorite locations in Elden Ring up with the Eternal Cities (Classical architecture and the faux-night sky), yet it is a strange place in terms of lore. Here is my take; In an age before the Erdtree, there was the Age of Dragons, which was dominated by the Dragons, but later the Beastmen as their loyal vassals, who saw all dragons as gods (we see some sort of evidence given the temple-like design of the area and the use of faith-based incantations.). Whoever the God of this age was, they took Placidusax as their Lord. Serosh and Gurranq were the mortal rulers, with Gurranq a clergyman and Serosh the mortal monarch of this time. Farum Azula used to be part of the Dragonbarrow region of the Caelid Wilds. I believe that it wasn't Marika, but the Gloam-Eyed Queen and her Godskins who ended the Age of Dragons, but was unable or unwilling to slay all the ancient dragons. We know the Gloam-Eyed Queen was at the latest a contemporary of Marika during the rise of her Golden Order, and used Malekith to end what I dub the Age of Death, but we're not quite there yet. Serosh and Gurranq would quest to find allies to fight the Godskins, who were devastating the Ancient Dragons (who were now becoming the modern dragons we see), and Placidusax's god used some sort of magic to remove Farum Azula from time, but not before fleeing to give their realm a chance to survive. The Dragon-God is slain, but Placidusax remains, and resides within the storm outside of time. It would be Gurranq who would meet Marika, and would become her shadow-beast in exchange for helping defeat the Gloam-Eyed Queen, and she would help him, but would in turn take up the mantle of God after the Godskins and Gloam-Eyed Queen were defeated. Serosh, for his part, would become the Beast-Regent in order to help tame Hoarah Loux, and would allow the barbarian to become a Lord. The Godskins would be hunted, and forced into strange places, some even finding their way to the lands of their ancient enemies over the years, thanks to the pull of Destined Death, which they once served, when The Black Blade came to Farum Azula, to ensure that no one could steal Destined Death again. I want to look at Placidusax's name real quick. Notice anything strange inside that name? Placid. I believe the -sax suffix denotes being an Ancient Dragon. GranSAX (Grand Ancient Dragon?), PlaciduSAX (Peaceful Ancient Dragon, he is beyond time, so he's pretty peaceful... or placid, if you will), FortiSAX (Fortuitous Ancient Dragon, or Strong Ancient Dragon if you're going for the fortis angle, but you would need both strength of mind and body to resist Death itself and the death of your friend, if you've been through that, you know it, and I'm sorry for your loss.), Lansseax is the exception, but she is the only explicitly female Ancient Dragon we know about, so it could be a male/female dichotomy within the dragons, but (Lance Female Ancient Dragon, given we get a glaive from her... Yeah, it's a stretch). Dunno how much of this makes sense, but it is the only timeline I can think of that makes sense of the various Empyreans and other forces we see that aren't the golden lineage.

[@JackisaMimic]

I really like your breakdown on the names of dragons, hopefully we see more info on other Ancient Dragons in the DLC to see if there is any confirmation. I was thinking that Fortisax was female but maybe that isn't the case, and their relationship with Godwyn was platonic or potentially queer.

[@MrJordwalk]

You're on the right track about the Dragon names, but slightly off. Gransax, Fortissax, Placidusax, and Lansseax actually mean the following: Gransax = The Great Mountain Fortissax = The Enduring Mountain Placidusax = The Unmoving Mountain "sax" is the Latin word for ""stone, rocky, mountainous" Lansseax is a potentially an improper translation from the Japanese and it was meant to be the phonetically-identical in Japanese "Lansax" or "Lanssax", which means "The Spear Mountain". HOWEVER, "seax" is an Anglo-Saxon word and changes the meaning of her name to "Longsword".

[@K8theKind]

@@MrJordwalk brilliant!!

[@K8theKind]

@@JackisaMimic I think FIA is FortIssAx 🤭 I know I KNOW… you don’t buy it… But Fia seems to be as smitten with Godwyn as FortIssAx is, they both use death sorceries and Fia absolutely wrecks a knight of the golden order nearly entirely unscathed until his unhinged brother comes and catches her off guard and unawares. Bah!

[@JackisaMimic]

I actually think Fia could be Fortisax, and if we don’t see any characters in the DLC that are Dragons masquerading as people then she is definitely Fortisax

[@ravendelacour1917]

I believe Marika replaced or overwrote the Crucible when she created the Erd Ring. That she meant the Ring to be the refinement of the world of the Crucible into what she saw as a more pleasing form. However by removing Destined Death in an attempt to create a realm of eternal beauty, she went too far and caused such an imbalance the Lands Between were doomed to fail apart as they were unsustainable.

[@r3al1tych3ck4]

Melena hates frenzied flame, Elmer of the Briar hates merchants (frenzied flame). Melena could be the daughter of Gloam eyed queen and not necessarily Marika. There is snake headed humanoid on briar set and could easily be the gloam eyed queen. The god skin apostles are also serpent like.. I have seen one video that uses free camera to show the humanoid on the Briar armor set i think it was the right leg or hand.

[@thelionofjudah5318]

Great video. Always the smaller channels mostly cover things bigger loretubers dont talk about. Interested on the hornsents lore in belurat.

[@nuclearthrone2497]

At 1:00:00 - maybe it’s also possible the Elden Ring shattered before ‘The Shattering’ - also interesting in relation to ‘The age of the Elden Ring’ - not sure, it’s maybe strange that they are golden then, not sure if the Erdtree was golden before

[@retlr_]

We gettin outta Lyendell sewers w this one! another absolute fire post my g i cant wait to see more. Added some info in the replies that i thought fit in well w the narrative you are uncovering ^_^

[@retlr_]

29:10 those snake like figures bordering the structure of where you fight the ancient dragon remind me a LOT of the dragon depicted on the brass shield in the center. Thought that was very interesting as all of the current soldiers use these shields… How are those modern shields connected to this ancient S shaped motif, dragon or not the shape itself seems significantly unique..

[@retlr_]

another thing to note regarding deathroot and the dragons, on the banished knights breastplates (metal itself not the cloth version w the tabard) the bottom half depicts a dragon like creature reminiscent of godwyn AFTER the night of black knives. Same fishlike body but with a dragon like head. could this support the theory that deathroot was always present in the lands between and even in this supposed sunrealm? The figures obviously have flippers and deformed bodies. Not to mention the thorns coming out of those dragons and covering the whole armor, just like godwyns deathroot is to the lands between. Just so happens those thorns are blossoming flowers reminiscent of the lotus motif found in farum representing the sun on their altered helm! Super cool connections I thought fit in well with this episode lol

[@JackisaMimic]

There is a reason I say that Godwyn looks like a SeaDRAGON Im looking at the armor now and I totally see what you're pointing at

[@retlr_]

@@JackisaMimic I’ve stared at this armor for hours… this video was what finally made all the pieces click! Some sort of dragon funerary armor signifying the cycle of life and death. Makes sense as the banished knight armor is more of a celebratory/parade armor signified by all of its ornamentation. Death root (decay) leading to flowers of the sun and rebirth under the kingdom of the dragon (headpiece). Seems likely if death root really is not unique to godwyn and the shattering. Looking at the armor further the shoulderplate with the horn literally has a sun on the front of it near the bottom illuminating these dragons. this armor is lit.

[@retlr_]

@@JackisaMimic this dlc gon go cray fr

[@ricklubbers1526]

Three wolves are hinted at in the beginning of the game. Ranni gives you spirit summoning bell and the three wolf ashes.

[@peacewalker4058]

You're becoming one of my go to lore speculators (kosmos, crunchy etc etc) . I prefer this form of videos where you show footage while speak your thoughts with a greenscreen to the storytelling one. This one is to the point and less certain which is better since it's much more engaging and doesn't set anything in stone.

[@JackisaMimic]

Happy you enjoy this style! I really like making them because it helps me think and I also get a lot of great comments from people about what they think. Next video will be narrative driven but going into the DLC I want to do videos like this and use my comment section as a way to aggregate theories and ideas!

[@Memnoch_the_Devil]

Ive come to think it’s important that we don’t set things in stone when discussing Elden Ring lore. We’ve got to keep an open mind, and always be prepared for our ideas and theories to be completely disproven at any point. Whenever I begin to dive into this game’s lore, I’m always reminded of the opening quote in Hideo Kojima’s Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, right before the opening song The Man Who Sold the World plays: “There are no facts, only interpretations.” -Friedrich Nietzsche

[@Aliandry]

I think the gaols are related to the Land of Shadow, or rather, how it's "hidden".

[@nomercy8989]

I bet the "woman" in the thore is actually the man that says your kin will have to die.

[@heisehao]

Finding your channel has been a blessing! This format of lore videos really caught me off guard but definitely in the absolute best way possible, since it's different from other lore vids out there. Here because of the EldenTube algorithm, staying for Jack's high quality lore times (and Luna!)

[@JackisaMimic]

Thank you! I am happy you are enjoying my videos, I try my best to produce something that isn't just unique in content but in presentation. Luna is also present for every video, even if she isn't in frame, she is probably sleeping on my desk lol

[@Kaptime]

At the converted fringe tower in NE Liurnia there is a Miquella's Lily outside and the same blue luminescent flowers as seen in the DLC, given it's position on the map, it would overlook the land of shadow so I'm interested to see if there is any reason for this when the DLC comes out.

[@JackisaMimic]

The possible proximity to the Land of Shadow, or where it once was, may be why they are Frenzied in that village to begin with.

[@mcsquared5005]

How does Plasidusax have the bolt of gransax if it is in Leindel? Both the big version and the equippable one?Were bolt of gransax standard issue for dragons ?

[@JackisaMimic]

Could be that Gransax's bolt is modeled after Pladdy's, which appears to be pure red lightning. If we consider how the weapon works when we use it, it is a physical spear that can manifest a red lightning spear. Potentially this is a way for an Ancient Dragon like Gransax to utilize the power of the Dragonlord.

[@ammaralmihyawi3538]

It wasnt coherent at all. I didn't learn something new. Your Video about GRRM writing of elden ring was way better

[@JackisaMimic]

My videos are all have different styles, if this playthrough method wasn’t to your liking I would recommend watching either my video on the Eclipse or my Carian History video. I am surprised you learned nothing new: you already connected Farum Azula with the Sun Realm, the prophecy for burning down the Erdtree is the same as “the one who walks alongside flame”, the statues of the Royal Family with the portraits from the DLC trailer, the Crucible is in conflict with Dragons, or that Wormfaces could be consuming deathroot or literal worms to protect Greattree roots? I find it hard to believe that not one thing I said in this video was neither new or unique to you.

[@LeoBatchelor]

What if the dlc offers a new ending to the base game maybe something with miquella if he truly is pulling all the strings idk just a thought

[@JackisaMimic]

If I remember correctly Miyazaki confirmed that there will be no additional endings added to the base game thanks to the DLC BUT I dont think that leaves out additional cutscenes to already existing endings Based on some evidence I lay out in my next video, I think it is possible that we may get an expanded cutscene with one of the endings.

[@Nolimitsbestfriend]

how does death root reach the skies XD latching onto dragons haha

[@mrwhatcanido4942]

yoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[@orgixvi3]

Hot take: the sun realm is a red herring and is only meant as a Dark Souls reference

[@JackisaMimic]

If it’s a red herring I think I’m the only one following it lol

[@mef7839]

Perfect vids for eating food 😺😺😺

[@dkMansell96]

Bernhal being doing some bullshit in that invasion. Hardest one in the game lol

[@JackisaMimic]

This is also NG+4 so he was smacking me around

[@ClayProof]

Have you noticed that the thing the "old man" is pierced by has a lot of commonalities with the root part of the Farum Azula Elden Ring symbol. Or at least strong connections to the Elden Ring. It seems to be some kind of amber-like substance. Sap from the Crucible? Anyway, that's my wild observation.

[@ClayProof]

Possibly, you can then connect "roots" with the "old man." Why is the figure that some believe might be Marikas father impaled with part of the "old" elden ring? Abandoning your roots (violently)?

[@ClayProof]

Did "old man" try to contain the Elden Ring and become a God or Lord?

[@JackisaMimic]

Being amber is a good thought. Whatever it is it looks tied to runes/Elden Ring (and it looks painful)

[@Blockvard]

So you're saying that Tanith is essentially a wormface, she just chose to go for a different snack. Snakeface 🐍

[@JackisaMimic]

She was eating Rykard's snake long before we got involved.... Was that too far?

[@Blockvard]

@@JackisaMimic xD

[@fafnir888888]

On the topic of the Blasphemous Claw, you kind of went over it quickly and didn't really mention the connection between Ranni and Rykard at all. If Rykard was in on the plot with Ranni all along, his desire to burn the Erdtree might have been connected to getting the Rune of Death for Ranni. He might have even turned to the serpent to learn how, its blasphemous knowledge thought required by Rykard to help Ranni. Bernahl having the claw might be the last will of Rykard and the enactment of the final stage's of Ranni's plot. Bernahl might have even been a contender to be Ranni's lord before she burned herself. I think the Sun Realm ties are loose but there is definitely more to Bernahl than we know yet it in game.

[@JackisaMimic]

I skipped over it because it wasn't very relevant for what we were trying to do in this video, but you make very astute observations. I don't think Bernahl is doing anything because he has any love or respect of Rykard though, I think Bernahl is more interested in his own goals, whatever they may be.

[@fafnir888888]

That's a valid point. That item stands alone in its reference to Rykard helping Ranni I think, so it is hard to speculate much. If Rykard was involved he might have also known Radahn had to die to help Ranni as well. This knowledge might have led to his apathy in completing his blasphemy after being consumed, not wanting to kill his brother but still wanting to help his sister. The family talk might be his inner turmoil being projected outward. Anyways great content and look forward to more! @@JackisaMimic

[@JackisaMimic]

Check out my Carian History video if you haven’t. It’s a long one but I talk extensively about all of the characters and what I think their motivations are. It’s also in a very different style than I think you have ever seen for a lore video

[@NoConsequenc3]

Enjoyed this, thanks

[@garbageprince]

I noticed you referred to the Greater Will as an outer god. What do you make of smoughtown's opinion that the GW is more of a supreme god in the vein of an abrahamic god?

[@JackisaMimic]

Christianity has been a dominant religion through history because it was fueled by empires through violence and cultural exportation. Before Christianity, pagan beliefs were dominant in the world and they were spread by empires through violence and cultural exportation. The Greater Will is much the same, before the Age of the Erdtree many Gods had power, because many people worshipped them, practiced their beliefs, and fought for them. We see this in items like the Ancient Death Hexes or items relating to Deathbird worship. The Greater Will is only the supreme god because those who believed in other gods were killed, or their cultures absorbed, much like in the real world.

[@davisiotta489]

​@@JackisaMimicI also think about it, I think that the greater will is only the supreme god because it is the outer god that has control of the world now through an empyrean vessel, the outer gods are called that because they are outside the current order at least I think like this

[@garbageprince]

@@JackisaMimic thanks for taking the time to reply 💖💖

[@garbageprince]

@@JackisaMimic So I had a little more time to respond. I don't think I was clear enough in my wording. But what ST asserts is that the greater will isn't a god like the outer gods. It like stands in a tier of its own above them like Iluvatar from LOTR. I was just wondering if you thought that was the case or if it's just one of many who happens to control the lands between

[@lofimusicandliminalspaces3908]

I’m still convinced messmer impaled all the giants. I may be wrong but…

[@sinisterwombat3128]

Oh he hit them from every angle..gave them a good pounding

[@zacharycunningham7669]

I'm inclined to agree with you, I too think that Messmer was involved in the war with the Fire Giants, because if you take a closer look at the spears that the frozen corpses of the Fire Giants are impaled upon, and then look at both the spear that Messmer wields in the DLC trailer, as well as the spears that rise up out of the ground during his AOE flame attack in the same trailer, you'll see an incredibly uncanny resemblance between all of them.

[@lofimusicandliminalspaces3908]

Ah natha ma is how you say it

[@Cricket0021]

i have this theory that might get me beat up on the streets which is Messmer is Melina's alter ego. this game likes characters that have an alter ego that is their opposite gender (radagon and marika, miquella and st.trina)

[@JackisaMimic]

Hey it's possible, could be why we have very little information on who Melina is, or could be that Messmer is the reason why Melina is burned and bodiless. Seems that more likely than not the two characters are linked

[@Skyflakes05]

@@JackisaMimicshe also has the same closed left eye as messmer

[@JackisaMimic]

So does Ranni's ghost and Marika/Radagon (since their faces are shattered)

[@wuttfps6543]

Great video!

[@wispfire2545]

Kudos (:

[@PakShaikh117]

Great content as always

[@JackisaMimic]

Thank you!

[@notDionysis]

(An)-(ath)-(Oma)

[@JJdaSamuRai]

Jacks a mimic.

[@JackisaMimic]

And now you are too :)

[@gLobbZ]

Doesn't it say in a description somewhere that Maliketh was sent by Marika to defeat the Gloam-eyed queen? Not sure if her sending him after herself makes any sense to me but

[@JackisaMimic]

Godslayer Greatsword: “Sacred sword of the Gloam-Eyed Queen who controlled the Godskin Apostles before her defeat at the hands of Maliketh.” Doesn’t mention Marika sending him and only says defeat not killed. That’s why I think the parallels to Ranni storyline make sense.

[@zacharycunningham7669]

@@JackisaMimic I'm gonna have to burst your bubble here, by pointing out that Marika desired for Destined Death to be sealed, which pulls the rug out from under your assumptions that the Gloam Eyed Queen and Marika, are one and the same. Marika cannot also be the Gloam Eyed Queen, not if she wanted the Rune of Death removed from the Elden Ring in the first place, which she used Malekith to accomplish. I think, that it's more likely that the Gloam Eyed Queen was someone else who was chosen as an Empyrean at roughly around the same time as Marika was, and that the two of them eventually fought against one another, believing that two Empyreans could not rule the Lands Between.

[@JackisaMimic]

Doesn’t burst my bubble because these things do not need to be mutually exclusive. I look at the lore the same way a Golden Order Fundamentalist would by using Causality and Regression. The Law of Causality reads: “Causality is the pull between meanings; that which links all things in a chain of relation.” If Marika desired Destined Death to be sealed away how did she accomplish it? Just by asking? Between Maliketh’s Remembrance, the Godslayer Greatsword and the Godskin Apostle armor descriptions we know that: the Godskins were lead by the Gloam Eyed Queen, who channeled Godslaying Blackflame through her sword, but after her defeat at the hands of Maliketh the power of the Godslaying flame was sealed away, and Marika’s sole need for her shadow was to seal away Destined Death and yet she still betrayed him. Knowing the Law of Causality we see all of the links in the chain above, with regression we can work backwards. Law of Regression: “Regression is the pull of meaning; that all things yearn eternally to converge.” If I am Marika and I want Destined Death sealed away, perhaps the best way for me to get what I want is to use it as a weapon in order for it to be needed to be sealed away. If you want to get an effect sometimes you need to create the cause. This is one possibility as to how Marika could be the GEQ and also want Death sealed away. This is the same methodology I used for my Eclipse video and the same reason I believe Radagon and Marika have similar goals: Marika wants to burn the Erdtree, Radagons thorns prevent entry to the Erdtree. Since we cannot enter the Erdtree because of the thorns it must be burned down, therefore if you want the Erdtree burned you should prevent entry so burning it is the only option. The game is very explicit about the importance of Causality and Regression, so much so that important characters like Marika, Radagon, and Miquella are aware of it. We should be thinking like they would to understand the story

[@zacharycunningham7669]

@@JackisaMimic One problem there: I'm fairly certain that an Empyrean's shadow is supposed to be driven to outright KILL the Empyrean they are bound to, if the outer god acting as patron to the Empyrean in question believes that their Empyrean is acting in rebellion against the said outer god's designs.

[@JackisaMimic]

Iji:”Her very shadow, incapable of treachery. But if Lady Ranni, as an Empyrean, reists being an instrument of the Two Fingers, the shadow will go mad, transforming from a follower into a horrid curse. But such is his destiny. In such matters, Blaidd's own thoughts hold no weight.” Killing is an assumption, and I think it’s far off. Empryeans appear to be very rare and their bodies are necessary for housing the Elden Ring. Killing one would most likely be against the interests of whoever wishes to control them, I find it highly unlikely Blaidd would kill Ranni, at least while she still had her flesh. I think it would be more likely that she would end up like Marika, crucified and imprisoned.