The Spirits of Roderika & Ranni

[@AuratticStride]

Something else to consider about this relationship - When Ranni takes over the Rennala fight, she uses spirit summons (Wolves, Bloodhound Knight, Troll & Dragon)

[@トーキ-g8v]

Ranni is able to summon summons that can summon even more summons

[@edvinkarlsson9368]

@@トーキ-g8v Ranni just summons them all

[@Jiibayaabooz]

@@edvinkarlsson9368 “foul tarnished, I heard thy likes summons, so I summoned a summon that summons other summons.”

[@HexagonThatReallyLikesVinegar]

What if, Ranni summons Rennala who uses Mimic Tear to summon Rennala who uses another Mimic Tear to summon another Rennala, which does the same thing, and so on and so forth, until there are 50 Rennalas all spamming spells into the poor tarnished's face.

[@edvinkarlsson9368]

@@HexagonThatReallyLikesVinegar I thought about the same thing

[@silverknightly77]

I have this theory that Hewg is the sculptor that made the Radagon statue, imprisoned by Marika for, "glimpsing the skeleton in Radagon's closet."

[@HailThanagor]

That is an outstanding thought

[@foxache8275]

What about the castle full of statues near Mount gelmir?

[@SirSaladAss]

@@foxache8275 There's not just one sculptor in the continent would be my guess.

[@stratospheric37]

Also there's nothing to indicate Hewg's a sculptor lol

[@newt2120]

@@Hugo_Tate "and i thought he was gay!"

[@ravencarino6115]

I think she meant when she said “I want to be like them” that she wants to be brave, and courageous to fight the spider or even Godrick

[@fishfacemuguck3379]

I think in cut dialogue she's hurting herself specifically to be one with the spider, but I might be wrong

[@ravencarino6115]

@@fishfacemuguck3379 Honestly, that piece of dialogue is really weird. But without any context, we cant say for sure.

[@alien_cult]

@@fishfacemuguck3379 yeah, from what I gathered she basically had survivor’s guilt & wanted to “join” her dead comrades (AKA die horrifically) but was too scared to go thru w it

[@heavenbot]

Everyone seems to look past Rodericka, but her story is one of redemption that, unlike many others in this sad ass game, has a happy(ish) ending. Even just on the surface, I like her lore, she's becoming a better person!

[@user-zs5pl7oo1d]

Another true happy ending is Goldmask's journey. Whilst brother Corhyn descends into utter despair :D

[@heavenbot]

@@user-zs5pl7oo1d Corhyn should have just listened, he did it to himself. Goldmask is smart, he knows what he's wiggling about.

[@user-zs5pl7oo1d]

@@heavenbot Yeah it's the best ending imo

[@jeanlouis243]

@@user-zs5pl7oo1d yeah I argee it's the best

[@xxreyoxx]

@@heavenbot i thought the ending of Goldmask/Corhyn's questline was cool too but wouldve loved more info on how/why was Goldmask dead and alone, and what did Corhyn find out about Goldmask's agenda. Im open to anyones interpretations.

[@Okil_Atlas]

I think you made a mistake. Ranni only transfered into the doll body on the same day Godfrey died on the night of black knifes. She used the rune of deaths power in halves. She gave up her body, and let it died so her soul could transfered. And had godfrey killed so that rune of death had a body and a soul to collect. So Ranni couldn't have fooled him appearing as renna, because ehe would've still had her old body. We know Marika was planning something big with the black knife assassins, but Ranni high jacked her plans for herself. So I think he smithed Ranni the black knifes think she and Marika were working together, since both Marika and Ranni wanted weapons that could kill gods.

[@doctordeceit2839]

If the eyes share the same hue as the doll body and the doll body is based off of Rannis mentor Renna then could it be that it is in fact Renna who Hugh compares Roderika to. This also fits with the theory that Renna was a wraith caller and so capable of spirit summoning and perhaps tuning?

[@entysing6780]

Godfrey didn't die on the night of the black knives :3 Godwyn did. Isn't the Golden Order's naming system just so normal and fine??!?

[@kachucho872]

Marika and Ranni both have to had met each other so that Ranni was given her 2 fingers and Blaidd, and because Ranni discovers the truth about the elden beast (no one else besides Marika knows about the elden besst, not even the fiinger readers or even the all knowing.) Only Ranni and Marika know of his existance and Ranni couldn't possibly know about the elden beast on her own, for the same reason she couldn't have possibly contact the black knife assassins without Marika (even Malekith aknowledges that it was Marika the one who betrayed him). Also Ranni was afraid both of the Golden Order and the black knivfe assasins (there's a reason she gave Rykard protection against Malekith and there's a godskin noble guarding the Divine Tower where her body is located. Not to mention the lider of the Black Knives trapped in a zone you only gain access after completing Ranni's quest).

[@abdoul5176]

Is there any proof Ranni conspired to have Godwynn killed?

[@entysing6780]

@@abdoul5176 Yeah she straight up admits to it during her questline, in extra detail if you have done most of Rogier's questline first

[@lol101lol101lol10199]

The spirit-tuner was likely just Renna herself. We don't know what happened to Renna. Only that she was Ranni's mentor and presumably used to reside in Renna's Rise, right next to Ranni behind Caria Manor. Maybe Renna was involved in Ranni's plot with the Rune of Death. Maybe Renna had the idea to ask her old friend Hewg the Blacksmith for help. Maybe Ranni betrayed Renna afterwards, enlisting the aid of Selivus to turn her actual body into a doll for Ranni's spirit to take control of. Maybe Renna is still in there, paralyzed.

[@Voitan]

I'd say both could qualify as spirit tuners. Ranni learned everything from Renna, and Ranni is the one summoning spirits during the 2nd phase of her mother's boss fight. But it makes more sense that Ranni likely just fooled the blacksmith in believing she was Renna.

[@aranthur]

Another interesting thing to point out perhaps: Roderika's armor set says she is of "expatriated royalty." If she has similar eyes and abilities to Ranni's, perhaps she is actually a distant relation of the Carian royal family?

[@newt2120]

Reaching hard asf

[@aranthur]

@@newt2120 Yes. It is reaching with only minimal evidence. So is every other theory. That's how theorizing works

[@newt2120]

@@aranthur usually theories have a bit more evidence than just goin off based on two characters eye colors somewhat resembling one another. And even then, thats not Ranni's true body, its her teacher as a doll

[@aranthur]

@@newt2120 Cool. Thanks for the advice

[@aceoffires1032]

@@newt2120 true but granted you have to take into account this is merely the start of the game, we've got very little to go on for a lot of things so reaching is all we can do on just about everything

[@copelandiam3712]

I love how in depth you go man; I really never even considered the lore of Hewg and Roderika; they always just struck me as an Andre the blacksmith type. Just kind of there to help you on the quest, not people who could have such deep relations to major characters. This is the first From game I played on release and I have to say that it’s awesome watching all this lore be uncovered and what everyone is making of the story. Keep it up dude!

[@ADcrackerjack]

[@hnhenrique2984]

About Ranni being related to spirit summoning, in the fight with Renalla she also summons a ton of spirits on the second phase, that could be another connection

[@AscendantStoic]

Because that's not really Renalla we fight in phase 2, it's a projection/ghost created by Ranni to mimic her mother in her prime, the cutscene before the fight suggests as much.

[@seamushayday1222]

Yeah that fight is an illusion created by Ranni to protect her mother

[@itsalolmor]

Love Roderika and her voice actor. Pretty awesome stuff

[@kenjijohnsonsanzenin3388]

Aye! Same thing with Milicent!

[@SuperMaster000X]

The end of Hewg pinch a nerve in me. Its a old man with dementia, forgeting everything except the duty he has done for so long. (Roderika best grill btw)

[@sharpfang]

It's hard to tell due to context changing our perception, but if you use gfx editing and place Ranni's eye right next to Roderika's, you'll see Ranni is much colder pure blue, while Roderika's eyes are much more towards green. There are several mentions of an unnamed Tarnished who had strong connections with Ancestral Followers. Torrent, the wolves, the bell... no-one mentions her eye color, but the color of magic of Ancestral Followers is a perfect match for Roderika's eyes. So, while your theory is possible, it's not the only one.

[@agopessimist1335]

Nice video! Although I do disagree with one point you made about Hewg. I don’t think Hewg chained himself to the Roundtable Hold as a sort of penance. Rather, since Hewg stays in the Roundtable even when he loses his memories and the Hold burns down. It’s far more likely that Marika cursed Hewg to be bound to the Hold and smith for the Tarnished instead of him chaining himself. Marika has a history of cursing other beings to do her purpose, such as with the Fire Giant who was cursed by Marika to tend to the Flame of Ruin (possibly in anticipation of the arrival of the Tarnished to get into the Erdtree). It also helps bridges the connection between Hewg, Marika, and Ranni since it helps explain why Hewg would be terrified of Marika if he indeed forged the Black Knives for the assassination of Godwyn. While it could be possible that Iji could have forged the Black Knives instead due to his connection to Ranni, Hewg makes more sense as the smith since he is capable of smithing “god-slaying” weapons.

[@__mindflayer__]

Whenever I think Elden Ring is dark enough these new lore videos make me realize how wrong I am. And I love it.

[@Rafamrkz]

I thought of this while showering, so I guess I'll have to sue you 💁🏻‍♂️ Now seriously your videos are amazing, and I hope any problem you had with Ofnir's video gets solved so you can brings us content like this

[@TheEvilHumanist]

FYI: Renna was the spirit tuner who was the teacher of Ranni. The doll body is based on the witches body. It's likely Hewg knew Ranni's teacher.

[@Lampaluile]

Inb4 this is related to dlc and it's the ancestors of Roderika on the photo , not miquella or marika

[@cynetyc2830]

5:35 WOW that totally makes sence , that is a very good theory!

[@ruobingqian749]

Whoot a new video! Hewg being kept at the Roundtable by Marika makes sense since it aligns with her desire to be freed of the Greater Will's influence. It makes me wonder if it was having the revelation that there is a blacksmith capable of crafting a god-slaying weapon that played a factor in motivating her to shatter the Elden Ring thinking it would weaken the GW rather than out of an arbitrary one often speculated i.e., out of grief due to the death of Godwyn. But Hewg probably wasn't going to get a happy ending I mean look at his contemporaries Maliketh and the Fire Giant. Can you imagine if From made us fight and kill him by making him hostile after he loses his memories?

[@Arleneim]

Concerning the lore behind hewg, renna and the night of the black knives i had very similar ideas/conclusions. Seeing them mentioned here, i was almost jumping on my seat as i watched. Loved the video.

[@iskobeats]

Man how i love the lore in this game and how it makes you want to dig deeper

[@bruno4213]

It's so refreshing to watch a new lore channel.

[@Moncha606]

Roderika is so cute!! I wanted to hug her the first time I met her 🥰

[@Practicallypreposterous]

6:52 I feel like this portion doesn't entirely explain why Hewg would feel indebted to honour the spirit tuner. Your answer seems to conclude "because he thought it was Renna" which doesn't really explain why he'd then overlook her betrayal of his trust. I'd rather hazard a guess that he knew Ranni before she lost her body, forged the black knives without knowing it was her plot (not much of a stretch knowing Misbegotten are a slave race and Ranni is a secretive person) and she then seemingly died at the night of the Black Knives. That's why he feels indebted to her; because he thinks he indirectly killed her

[@binger8199]

Just a note on Ranni, I've heard it mentioned that Ranni possessed her doll after the Night of the Black Knives since it was then her original body was killed as part of the ritual. Meaning that if the idea is that Ranni used the persona of Renna to trick Hewg even before she even had a need for the doll.

[@rafajafar]

Notice that characters whose names begin with the same letter are related to each other in some way? The R characters all are rooted to sorcery for instance.

[@theelite5135]

What about marika, Melania, Melina, Miquella

[@rafajafar]

@@theelite5135 arcaney-stuff ... Blood, poison, rot.

[@obiwanshinobi87]

Considering Ranni is in a puppet that looked like her teacher I think it Ranni's teacher Hewg is talking about

[@darkangel5403]

Here's a question that could lead into a theory based off of the black knifes, what if Marika's plan was at first to kill herself. I mean imagine it being selected by an outer god, believing in the cause, you know colonizing the world in the name of the greater good or just the greater will. Then maybe she sees how it discriminates. Her first job being lord but second securing a lineage. For this theory to work I'm assuming morgott and mohg are older. So when her first to children get locked up underground forever I bet she starts having some doubts about the greater will. this very big mother character realizes her god gives no love to her children and people and begins a ploy to remove the greater will entirely from the lands between by shattering the symbol of it's power and killing it's god. Herself. I mean even all of the black knife assassin's having a close relationship to Marika makes sense then too. A real friend might kill you if you ask

[@eugenesis8188]

There has to be something to the fact that nearly every character in the game either has a twin, a second identity or some other doppelgänger. Even the dungeater has a line where he says that he is the player.

[@GirlPainting]

I have the theory that Roderika, when we meet her again in the roundtable hold, she is actualy dead. 3 points to proov my point. first, when we meet her at the shack, she sayes that she soon will join her fellow friends who where grafted. you get a quest from her to find a remembrence of her friends and bring it to her, but before you can do that she is gone and already at the roundtable hold. you can never give her the remembrance. secondly, if you return to the spot where you find the remembrence ontop of the pile of corpses, you find her red coat, indicating that she was indeed grafted. and lastly, she is besides Huge, the only one who will not leave the burning roundtable. probably because she can not leave it.

[@Wiz_Outlaw]

I like this theory. Makes more sense if she cant leave if the roundtable hold is inside the erdtree like we think it is.

[@samcjsattt]

Great video man. You are the only channel I watch for Elden Ring lore other than Vaati. A lot of the lore videos are too much speculation than just focus on the description.

[@Wolf_Dominic]

You know, I’m only just now realizing just how powerful Ranni herself is. It’s honestly kinda terrifying now that I think about it. Which is why I’m happy to side with her whenever I’m able to.

[@leandrototti131]

It's important to mention that Hewg os actually a misbegotten... Just look at his traits. And as the other misbegotten, he was considered a slave or even worse because of his impurity like the omens. Other important thing to notice is when you are about to leave Leyndell (the door closed by morgott), there is a pack of misbegotten looking for cure or redemption of "their" sins. So Hewg might have been doing some similar stuff

[@eyx9638]

Hopefully noone has ever made a reddit post about this...

[@nowwhat9092]

You misspelled something in the tittle. It should be: “The Spirits of Best Girl and Ranni”

[@jonnymario771]

"Whoat a crayven."

[@battlericky17]

Hey bro, excellent video. I have an entire set of notes about this theory of hewg being the blacksmith of the night of black knives. Since we don’t technically know what ranni looks like entirely, i think he fears the memory of seeing ranni pre death

[@wiegraf9009]

No it's definitely Marika. She shattered the Elden Ring but couldn't defeat the Elden Beast because the Radagon half of her was committed to the Golden Order. She used the Tarnished and Hewg to finish the job.

[@battlericky17]

@@wiegraf9009 nah

[@NerdishGeekish]

Roderika in the thumbnail looks like she found Nepheli's secret spray tan stash.

[@colorgreen8728]

After you speak to ranni, kale will wonder what he heard and almost ask you if you’re someone else

[@theblood416]

The "Weapons to kill a god" thing already gives away a lot

[@hankskorpio5857]

🤯 I FEEL LIKE A DUMMY. That bit about Hewg forging the Black Blades makes SOO much sense!!

[@chillhour6155]

I love her and the blacksmith the most, both are such tragic characters

[@voidnaut]

It is an interesting theory at first glance, but indeed there is the hole in it that Ranni only changed bodies after Godwyn's death. Also Ranni has an accomplished smith in her employ in the form of Iji. Isn't it more likely that Iji is the one that made the Black Knives? I also personally don't think Roderika's eye color is really all that similar, at least, not in a way that couldn't just be chalked up to coincidence. Ranni's doll-body is modeled after the Snow Witch, sure, but that doesn't necessarily mean there's no variation at all. Also how could Hewg not notice the difference between a weird two-faced spirit doll body and an actual physical body?

[@jeftecoutinho]

I think it's worth of note that Empyreans seem to have some sort of psychic abilities. Miquella can bewitch and Marika can apparently inspire terror.

[@deejones0071]

If the duel with Radagon is anything to go by, Marika is/was likely an incredibly powerful being (I assume you'd have to be to break the Elden Ring). So any terror she inspired could likely be just a natural reaction to her power and temperament. With Miquella, we have nothing to confirm or deny that the loyalty and love he inspired was un anyway supernatural in nature. He could have been, simply, a very charismatic individual.

[@stratospheric37]

My man completely forgot about Iji lol. Iji is much more likely to have been the smith of the Black Knives, he's a very close acquaintance to lady Ranni and according to his helmet, he was "terrified of his treachery". Wearing a mirrorhelm at all times, mirrorhelms being worn by those guilty of high treason warding of the interference of the Greater Will and it's vassal Fingers. While his treachery could just be explained as his association with lady Ranni, having this high treason be direct involvement with the Night of the Black Knives makes more sense imo. Hewg's feelings of guilt could just be feelings of inadequacy for the great task he's been given, from his dialogue what I get is less of "I've commited a grave sin for which I must atone for" and more of "I must fulfill the task that I've been given because failure is not an option and she will fucking kill me" kind of thing.

[@shivernaut9884]

Actually really good points

[@stratospheric37]

Thank you

[@SirZipper]

Hewg also mentions that it's his life's goal to create a weapon that can kill a god. If he had created the black knives that killed Godwyn he'd have already scratched off "creating god-killer" off his bucket list.

[@stratospheric37]

@@SirZipper Well Godwyn technically was only a demigod, and not a real god like Marika

[@wiegraf9009]

Yeah it's still possible he knew Renna even if he didn't make the Black Knives

[@carpetlayenful]

Spirit Tuning experience would allow him know that through the eyes the soul of the true person or personna is bound. That is why it is the eyes in which judgement is based and one's face. Perfect example is the death of the Godfrey's Soul in the beginning of the game. Teaching spirit tuning to the bloodline of the one that taught him. The only thng true things about Rodericka is she is a noble of magic bloodline. That is kept from knowing her true destiny. As she has never seen grace, not she saw but lost grace. That which happens to others.

[@binaryburnout3d]

4:20 I think Hewg was Marika's blacksmith when she waged her war against the giants and he failed to smith her a weapon that could kill the god of fell flame. Also the Black Knife plot could have very well been been orchestrated by Ranni's two fingers. It's also more likely that Iji smith the weapons that killed Godwyn. Iji can smith max level "God Slayer" weapons. The Gloam-Eyed queen could also be Ranni's teacher, hence why her doll body bears that resemblence. Given how close she was associated with death, could also be why she's so adapt with spirits. So the Gloam Eyed Queen could be the spirit tuner Hewg was referring to.

[@wiegraf9009]

The Gloam Eyed Queen is almost certainly Melina, given the dialogue about Destined Death she has in the Frenzied Flame ending.

[@Nightwalker170]

Hrm... It's easily missed but you should read the item description on the Godslayer's Greatsword, and then show that lovely black flame spewing piece of art to Hewg. You'll be in for a fun bit of lore that adds a great bit of clarity as to what he did 'wrong'.

[@ctyoro5086]

Very interesting, I agree Ranni is probably the spirit tuner and didn't even consider Hewg making the black knives which would make sense. I don't think Hewg would have met Ranni in this form if that was the case, however, since it was the black knives that slew her original body

[@beatotheelder6170]

The only other character in the files with the same eye color as Roderika is a cut character named Rico. His questline dealt with dreams.

[@idkjustleavemebeplease]

I'm entirely determined to beat the elden beast with my bare fist now.

[@JKurayami]

Roderika sounds like Medieval Luanne from King of the Hill.

[@DipreG]

I mean you guilted me into subscribing with the doggo. Quitr a devious tactic.

[@jonnymario771]

I think the Snow Witch might have been a spirit, it would be easier for Ranni to speak to her in secret within her chambers or something. Also aligns with the fact that Ranni is much likely gifted with spirit arts.

[@ethanrumley746]

Roderika is a parallel for Marika She doesn't want to be dismembered

[@jungtothehuimang]

Blacksmiths in these games are always the best boys, just some good boys.

[@stephenonan8282]

Renna isn’t the name of the Snow Witch. Ranni was tutored by the Snow Witch in secret, and she is likely Chelona. You find Ranni’s Dark Moon at Chelona’s Rise. Renna is just short form of Rennala.

[@BenetbenetLive]

no

[@jonnymario771]

The snow witches robes stay at Rennas rise, this is why we usually agree that Renna is the snow witch.

[@stephenonan8282]

@@jonnymario771 I understand, I also find it a little redundant that her ‘secret’ teacher would have a tower named after her in the middle of their home. Ranni only found the snow witch after getting lost in a forest and being found by her.

[@jonnymario771]

@@stephenonan8282 Fair point. My bet is that her teacher was a spirit. The forest could be close to the Laskyar ruins, a place connected to the spirits. The connection is probably implicit, as the albinaurics there use bells and bells call upon spirits in japanese folklore and elden ring too.

[@JanVerny]

Another thing to note is that Chelona's rise is basically identitcal to Rannis. I am just dumbfound how are all these "lore masters" missing such basic connections.

[@stevenmael]

Welcome to fromsoftwares storytelling, its esoteric at the best of times.

[@ElProf]

It took me a hot second to realise Hewg is misbegotten

[@jeftecoutinho]

3:15 Terrifying. Gideon too was scared.

[@shivernaut9884]

Ranni can only be disguised as Renna after the night of black knives is concluded. Its her body dying at the same time as godwyns soul that allows her to possess the doll. So she couldn't use that disguise when tricking Hewg.

[@hanfei6871]

Elden ring lore has entered the jar jar binks loop

[@sinistergamer2396]

Poor Hugh, he is foolishly unaware that he did/is serving his queen so he punishes himself

[@TheGaming044]

I think the blacksmith only remembers rodrika because he always forgets halfway through the story with the first play through and then gets to know rodrika again towards the end of the first play through, so the both of them may be in a time loop that we the player always starts but I could be wrong though.

[@arikuzuka1676]

Y'all forgot that the ranni we see in game is a doll shaped after her former teacher called the snow witch renna. So it's more likely that hewg was referring to renna the snow witch.

[@Tygor3533]

Yo good theory!!! I think you nailed it spot on.

[@ReneReacts]

Every reference Hewg makes about a woman and "her" is very likely referring to Marika.

[@MarginalSC]

Hewg makes me think he's an aspect of the tree. As the Elden Ring's completion took over the great tree. Also would explain why he loses his memory when the tree gets set on fire.

[@XKathXgames]

But if the knives were made by him because Renna asked... What resemblance did he see? She wasn't in that body yet, she needed the knife to kill her real body. She took over the doll body after she killed herself with the knife.

[@zombiehippo9477]

I've played three playthroughs and one has 300+ and you blew me away. My gosh. Also notice Melina and her dagger you get has the same design without the rune for the black knife assassins. just fyi. Also the skill is a faith copy of the black knife ability.

[@radagast7200]

I just noticed the smith's anvil resembles Mjolnir.

[@BenetbenetLive]

i don't think it does

[@radagast7200]

@@BenetbenetLivethe original style. Not the Marvel one.

[@raisinology]

Ranni and Godwyn died at the same time due to the ritual. Ranni left her Eymperean body while Godwyn soul has been taken away by the black knifes. So it is not possible that Hewg would see Ranni's doll form (or I would say Renna) and notice her eye color before the ritual.

[@V0RTA]

i need Patches lore because he is in every souls game.

[@patrickmcknight2394]

Hewig probably forged the black knifes for ranni’s assassins.

[@mvpostman]

Great video and btw, I’d love to see a lore video about the chad himself hewg if there even is any lore on him

[@alegekelso]

I think the spirit tuner in question is st.Trina who's other self is torrents previous master who gave ranni the spirit calling bell. The next question would be why would miqeulla give ranni an item to pass on? Perhaps godwyn was never supposed to be targeted on the night of black knives, with the black knives betraying ranni instead? But to what end? Maximum pain to Marika? I doubt Marika was in on the plot, let alone orchestrated it.

[@pyricmacguffin]

I always figured he was imprisoned for crafting the Black Knife

[@antharian8053]

Very nice info mate, cheers!

[@faze_venom6908]

elden ring is like one piece a story with so many plot holes and things the fans are very eager to know

[@niakitten2937]

What about War Councilor Iji? He's also a smith that has served the Carian Royal Family for a long time. He could be a viable choice for smithing the black knives, it doesn't necessarily have to be Hewg.

[@SpencerCJ]

True, plus the Carians have easier access to him. Could also explain how he deals with a few of the assassins, he knows what the knives do

[@niakitten2937]

@@SpencerCJ Taking Occam's Razer into account which states the path of least resistance is often the correct path, we can infer that War Counciler Ijii is the smith of the black knives by 3 points specifically. First, he is a smith, Second he has worked with the Carian Royal Family for untold generations, and Third he wears a helmet specifically designed to block the interference of the Golden Order. Perhaps to hide Ranni's plans or, maybe the smithing of the knives? We can also infer through trolls that they are the descendants of Giants with their outer god's blessings ripped out of them, and bred that way to be servants. Somewhere, off the top of my head I can't remember where, I believe the Misbegotten were also originally the first inhabitants of the Lands between outside of the mountaintops. Taking this into consideration I present the following theory: Ijii crafted the knives, Ranni did her Ranni thing. Marika, wanting to probe, shatter, and find out what the Greater Will REALLY wanted, was sold out by Hewg her trusted Misbegotten under the influence of the Golden Order. We know that the Misbegotten, until the shattering, were wholly loyal to the Golden Order and it's reigning members. and since we know the golden order can brainwash trolls, it's not a stretch to say it did this to the misbegotten as well. Meaning his grave sin, is literally getting Marika imprisoned and foiling her long-term plan to an extent. Also, we don't know who crafted the concealing veil. Perhaps this spirit tuner Hewg knows? food for thought, I suppose.

[@GsusCrust]

OMG I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU CALLED RODERIKA A TARNISHED! That is word for word what I wrote on my Elden Ring Lore hunting MySpace Account!!! YOU WILL HEAR FROM MY LAWYER!!! But for real great theory, and I believe it, I really liked Roderika and I'm glad her fate wasn't just to die like most NPCs

[@wachyfanning]

Ranni didn't take on the doll form which resembles Renna until the Night of the Black Knives tho. So if Hewg had helped forge the daggers for her, he would have met Ranni in her real body.

[@adamproductions4529]

I’m guessing Hewg was imprisoned by Marika too help the tarnished free her from the erd tree. Everything in the lore indicates that Marika was imprisoned herself, and had lost control when merging with Radagon. I’m guessing the events of the game were her attempt at escaping the paradigm set by the golden order. Just my guess tho I could be wrong.

[@fugo5464]

Well, the largest flaw here was the idea that ranni posed as renna while being in the doll, since she wouldnt have been in the doll before the black knives were made

[@Hawquin]

Really liked it but some things sit wrong with me. Just a simple one I can point out is when ranni was conducting her night of the black knives she shoukda still had her original body since that scheme is what she used to kill her body. So if he did meet ranni earlier it wouldn't have been in the form she is in now. He mighta met the gloam eyed queen instead of ranni but idk.

[@snowi8650]

Yea that is pretty huge damper on the theory.

[@petegerms]

It could also be that Hewg knew Ranni before she died. Carians have blue eyes, so the blue eye resemblance could be because Ranni in the flesh had blue eyes!

[@SpencerCJ]

I think you got the timeline mixed up, Ranni only goes into the doll post-Godfrey's death. Also Renna as a name is very similar to Rennala, it's even spelt the same way. Wonder if Renna is Rennala or maybe a family relation to Rennala since the naming convention in this game in insane

[@kobragaming9420]

Nah we know Renna is Rannis mentor because she admits it the first time we talk to her but we also know the body she inhabits is fashioned after Renna by the end of her quest. So just by putting the two separate instances of Rennas mentioning, Renna is Rannis mentor who looks like Ranni right now. She’s also called Renna the snow witch and Rennala is called Rennala of the full moon or bright moon so if anything Renna could be Rennalas sister or something

[@SpencerCJ]

​@@kobragaming9420 We also know that Ranni learns magics from Rennalla. Ranni's body have 4 arms also bothered me, the only connected thing in the game is the marionettes who also have multiple arms, no race has 4 arms. The marionettes are specifically animated by a "greater power in Raya Lucaria Academy" which kinda has to be Rennala. The thing that really convinces me is that all of the ice spells mention the snow witch teaching a "young ranni", but her dark moon spell says *"The moon was encountered by a young Ranni, led by the hand of her mother, Rennala. What she beheld was cold, dark and veiled in occult mystery"* The use of Young Ranni again makes me think these are meant to be connected events, that these events happened at a similar time. I don't think its a coincidence that the moon connects Ranni, Renna and Rennala and I'm 100% convinced that Renna was a puppet controlled by someone in Raya Lucaria

[@kobragaming9420]

@@SpencerCJ actually that isn’t true, the wraith callers have 4 arms and they use a bell to summon spirits, Lo and Behold Ranni is the one who actually gives us the spirit summoning bell so it’s very likely Renna was a wraith caller although it seems that they now seem to live in some form of undeath compared to Rennas form

[@kobragaming9420]

@@SpencerCJ there are three moons in game lore wise aswell, Rennala encountered the bright moon or full moon, Ranni encountered a completely different moon known as the dark moon which is the source of all cold and frostbite spells so Ranni and Rennalas source of power are completely separate from one another, the other moon we know very little about is the black moon which is also missing and was worshipped by the inhabitants of Nokstella

[@SpencerCJ]

@@kobragaming9420 Oh shit I didn't realize wraiths had 4 arms. Not sure what happened to them for them to go looking like Ranni to looking like what they do now. I do wonder though if the links of wraith callers were grafted, since they are connected to the revenants, obviously grafted doesn't mean it had to be godrick

[@josefodium8888]

Personally think that Ranni is not using a doll resembling Renna, she is using Renna’s actual body. So, it makes sense for the blacksmith to feel indebted to Renna since by his actions (forging those blades) he allowed Ranni to take over Renna’s body.

[@rishisharma5827]

Hello guys. I was wondering if marika wanted Godwyn dead herself. Because she was plotting against the Greater Will, she would have wanted to remove any successors. So she could have commissioned the black knife assassins herself. Now either she also intended to kill Ranni for the same reason, or Ranni just took the opportunity for her goals. Seeing as how Ranni never henceforth commissions us to kill anyone but just the influence of Finger readers, she most likely didn’t want to kill Godwyn. On a second note, Ranni could have asked Renna for help to turn her into a spirit, and it was Renna who contacted the assassins. Rogier the mage says the night of black knives was Rajni’s doings, but maybe it was Renna.

[@AscendantStoic]

I'm Elden Lord, and Rodericka is my favorite tarnished in the Lands Between XD (yeah, that's a Mass Effect ref)

[@beyond560]

Roderika sounds like shes from the same place in England that I am from

[@francocarorocca4945]

I love how she calls the Grafted Scion "the spider". Makes me feel as if she doesn't have knowledge of the lands between.

[@vgaglory4555]

Roderika is from across the seas, from Birmingham, judging by the accent :)

[@eetfuk3571]

Miyazaki definitely didn't know about this. as he always does.

[@slevvin6700]

But wait, with Ranni having the appearance of Renna... she would have only taken on that appearance AFTER the night of the black knives...then wouldn't the spirit tuner Hewg met have been Renna and not Ranni?

[@wiegraf9009]

Yes definitely

[@mattfromtinder9803]

I think it was probably Iji that forged the knives. My evidence is the mirror helm, and the black knife assassin you find later in the quest line near his body. Great video tho.

[@mrmastaofdesasta6994]

Interesting BUT, if Hewg helped orchestrate the Night of Black Knives, he would have encountered Ranni before she possessed the "Renna Doll". Unless Ranni used a spell to make herself look like Renna, it wouldn't make sense for him to confuse them.

[@Frostman411]

Assuming the theory is right: I think maybe Hewg sees a debt to Ranni because he believes her dead after the Night of Black Knives. Ranni probably didn't/couldn't use her doll body until her real body was destroyed. Hewg, if he did make the black knives, likely saw them used to kill Godwyn, and then the girl who asked for them died as well. Then Marika shows up after all is said and done and curses the poor Misbegotten to his current fate. "The sheer terror of her" may have been his perception of her knowing he'd played a part in the death of her favored child from her marriage with Godfrey. If the theories people have put forth thinking Marika was involved in the Night of Black Knives herself (given the description of her "betrayal" of Malekith), she likely knew once all it all went down that Hewg was the only one capable of crafting a weapon to slay a god, since he already crafted one to slay a demigod.

[@bearski8947]

I think he could be mentioning the gloam eyed queen

[@jamie8703]

I have a feeling Hewg is asking for forgiveness for being born misbegotten. Even the misbegotten of the haligtree, where they are "accepted", can be found praying to be reborn. These people are made to feel that they are wrong from birth I think it's likely Marika used this self hate to control Hewg and others she found useful

[@sinner2133]

Wake up babe new Jake lore video

[@aesonone]

I understand the line "the sheer terror of her(s?)" meaning Marika herself was in terror, maybe from the punishment she received, lines up with her wish for the god to be slain by a weapon Hewg is commanded to smith. knowing the translation is a bit iffy the interpretation i suggest is a bit less cheesy than just Marika being scary or whatever

[@newt2120]

Everything in the game suggests Marika being a scary woman who plotted the whole thing

[@aesonone]

​@@newt2120 yeah Gideon was also scared shitless when he got more info. it's just that to my mind Hewg being reverent and determined to carry out her wish but also wanting to forget her (if terrifying was her default state) sounded a bit contradicting