Unveiling the Land of Shadow Speculation ▶ Elden Ring Lore

Shadow of the Erdtree requires a dose of Heavy Speculation. Every bit of Miyazaki's Interview with Famitsu is dissected for context. There are numerous theories shared from all across the Elden Ring community.
As we look forward to exploring the Land of Shadows in the DLC, let’s ponder the complexities of the world Miyazaki and his team have created, where every shadow hides a story, and every light casts a shadow.
#EldenRing #EldenRingLore #ShadowoftheErdtree
0:00 Introduction
1:25 The Land of Shadow
3:17 Theories about the Great Tree
5:25 More Theories about the Shadow Tree & Miyazaki Interviews Cont.
8:44 Birth of The Erdtree Lore , Flame of Ruin Theory & Miyazaki Famitsu Interview Cont.
11:20 MORE CONTEXT
11:40 Church of Manus Celes & Moonlight Altar
12:15 The Veil, Marika's Mischief, & the Land of Shadow
14:12 The Eclipse & Miquella
16:03 The Stars, General Radahn, & The Fate of the Stars
17:18 Miquella's Motives & the Physics of a Shadow
17:58 PRAISE THE SUN! Seat of the Sun Speculation
21:34 In-Universe Seat of the Sun Speculation
24:13 The Structure of the Land of Shadow & Marika
28:04 Marika, The Elden Beast & The Elden Ring Theories
30:50 Outro
Miyazaki Interview Narration
@BanditGames
Shadow of the Erdtree Prologue Narration
@SmoughTown
Stranded Soul Narration
@ratatoskr6324
Marika Narration
@TiptoeTheTank
Special Appearance & Theory by @Banuune
Sources Used:
Translated Famitsu Article:
/ full_translation_of_th...
NotPrecursor Theory
www.tiktok.com/@notprecursor/...
@VaatiVidya Trailer Analysis
• Secrets in the Shadow ...
TheBloodMakesUsHuman Sun Realm Speculation
/ the_sun_realm
Mr Elden Thing Map Speculation
/ 1760395404179292404
ZyoidaX Map Speculation
/ elden_ring_dlc_map_spe...
@Ziostorm Tweet:
/ 1764407546318598190
Nameless Singer's Speculation
/ the_erdtree_is_a_tree_...

[@SmoughTown]

Hey Moxie! Looking forward to watching this now with a cup of tea You're work is so well written, edited and recorded. Absolute joy to watch! Oh yeah - I'm in this haha!

[@moxiewatts]

Thanks again for being a part of this homie! ❤

[@gothstar_annihilation]

@@moxiewattsziostorm should definitely take a look at this aswel this was a good analysis

[@nothanks9503]

I always figured the lands between meant the lands between life and death or afterlife or whatever you believe in all the options are there and you kind of decide what the lands between are exactly beyond being between

[@nickfiend13]

I love how Zelda lore channels are jumping into the best game ever lore hunt . Keep it going

[@moxiewatts]

im in pretty deep

[@wast01d]

I'd like to mention, in regards to Marika being potentially controlled by the elden beast, Ranni does explicitly say "I will not be controlled by that thing".

[@moxiewatts]

OMG GOOD POINT

[@wast01d]

i immediately was like "oh shit" when you started talking about marika being a puppet of the elden beast, because of that dialogue

[@moxiewatts]

See i was thinking about a follow up episode about Marika.

[@wast01d]

@@moxiewatts yes please ty ty ty 🙏

[@elijahherstal776]

I'd just like to point out that what Ranni did to the Two Fingers was absolutely savage and she was just sitting there covered in blood like she was waiting for tea to be served.

[@beansnrice321]

One thing that supports your theory on Farum Azula is that it roughly translates to, "The Blue lighthouse," or "Lighthouse of blue."

[@moxiewatts]

:O

[@anonymousmurphy]

Glad I’m not crazy for always having a vague sense that “farum” was too similar to “faro” in spanish, i.e. lighthouse.

[@beansnrice321]

@@anonymousmurphyThere is even a Greek lighthouse named Faros which I believe into Farum.

[@Florjb0rjTheFloorboard]

Farum does translate into "The Lighthouse" in Latin

[@Voice_of_p]

"Fährhaus" in old-german.

[@Bunger321]

Holy production! I can’t believe I haven’t heard of your channel before.

[@malbhet]

I'm gonna take a wild guess, the Shadow Tree is tied to Godwyn, and in order to undo the death root, Godwyn either has to dealt a true death or resurrected.

[@moxiewatts]

YO love this so so so much, i really hope we can do one or the other, but knowing miyazaki we would resurrect godwyn and he'd fight us.

[@garbagecan755]

Godfrey: Marika, you can't just send everything you don't like to the Shadow Realm! Marika: Fine, lock the children in the sewers. Godfrey: That's be- WHAT?!

[@moxiewatts]

Marika: what? they're ugly Godfrey: they're YOUR CHILDREN Marika: so?

[@fflipfflop]

Finally SOMEONE is asking whether the sad skeleton horse boomerang dude is Radahn. Great video as always, the in-game captures continue to be god-tier.

[@moxiewatts]

DUDE BUT IS IT...

[@scottmaree2187]

I thought so too. The horse looks just like Leonard.

[@CenteredTarnished]

Wow! Your storytelling and editing is very inspiring! Thank you for all the effort put into this - very cool

[@retineo716]

Great style, great editing, great choice of music....just a fun time. Keep up the awesome work.

[@VoronDox]

I was thinking, the demigods have thier shadows, all of them are Beasts/Beastmen. Maybe, the Elden BEAST is "the shadow of the erdtree" itself? Just like the shadows are there to monitor the demigods, the Elden Beast is there to watch over the Erdtree, and take action when needed.

[@TheExciteProductions]

subbed when the whisper of "wtf does sunder mean" 😂😂

[@Xanderj89]

Reminds me of Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickmans’ *Death Gate Cycle* , where one world was sundered into multiple aspects, so you had like a sea world or a wind world etc (and plenty of magic/primordial dragon and undeath lore now that I think about it)

[@Banuune]

Amazing work! As always! And always happy to help 😊 Thanks for Crediting me (:

[@moxiewatts]

of course love u

[@avr3445]

The bandit cameo was a jump scare in the best way possible!! 2 of my fave “Zelda-tubers” deserve so much success in the Elden Ring lore space!! Can’t wait for more!

[@jjchello]

Regardless of how accurate your speculations are, I want you to know that this video is beyond professional and your best work yet. Felt like a documentary on network television. The details in the effects, voiceovers, research. Just superb! You should be very proud of yourself! P.S. best speculations I’ve seen yet on this subject IMO. 😊

[@moxiewatts]

thank you these kinds of comments mean so much to me

[@jjchello]

@@moxiewatts you deserve them. Now mind telling me which armor set that is your character was wearing? 😝 I want that Elden drip! Lol

[@WeDoStuff360]

@@jjchello it’s the bandit set. You get it by killing patches

[@jjchello]

@@WeDoStuff360 thanks for the suggestion. I think you mean the Leather Armor. But yes I think that’s it. Thanks again!

[@chillylagarto7728]

I feel as though the Land of Shadow was the former place where Souls would go to after Death. However, Marika redirected this flow, now only beings shunned by the Erdtree go here (why we see so much heretical beings here) while forces aligned with the Erdtree will now have a way to rebirth in the Lands Between if they receive an Erdtree Burial at it's roots. This process was corrupted with the Death of Godwyn, with the Prince of Death at the Erdtree's Roots, Deathblight spread across the Lands between, preventing that rebirth during the Age of Abundance. Messmer's probably here on Marika's wishes so that he can control this population so that none of these beings return to the lands between, having their existence ended with Messmer's Flame.

[@moxiewatts]

Perhaps veil itself are 'forgotten souls'...the 'ashes of war' idk something thw way you said it made me think about the veil itself...the substance...then the roundtable hold is just so eerie.

[@moxiewatts]

but yes yus i like this very much thank you for sharing homie :)

[@JMoore-vo7ii]

Some of the best editing/game capture I have ever seen, great work

[@AzazelHash281]

Marika:"You're a third rate duelist with a fourth rate deck"

[@Nick-rh9fo]

I adore your video structure and editing, major props and thank you for the amazing food for thought!

[@kithugomusic]

Your production is a breath of fresh air! Telling the story by making it conversation with someone else or having someone else tell a part of it is really creative and brings good variety to keep the listener locked in. I also thoroughly enjoyed the little breaks in between some of the chapters so I as the viewer could let the new ideas sink in a little bit. Anyway, the Farum Azula idea seems on point. I think Miyazaki said in some interview that they have worked hard to have the player notice a change once the story in the DLC is over. To me, I take it to mean that the Land of Shadow’s connection with the Land’s Between will be restored, and you’ll potentially be able to see it in the base game. Keep up the great work and I hope to see some more Elden Ring content soon! 🤩

[@miguelangelcote9168]

The boss room of the fight against the lion costume thing made me think of Farum Azula

[@moxiewatts]

oh yea same here...especially those floor tiles.

[@NoxteliLo]

What an absolute joy to watch. Your editing enables a really fun way to enjoy speculation. Absolutely well done.

[@beansnrice321]

I'm 100% with you on all of the talk of the veils and what not. Hot take, Marika is/was a deathbed companion and her bedchamber is her Baldachin temple. (I actually am not totally sold on this one but I think the overlap of themes does make the theory plausible.

[@moxiewatts]

dude thats actually a sick way of thinking about it. I like it because its not like the usual go-to~ its really interesting

[@beansnrice321]

@@moxiewattsOnly a handful of themes repeat in Elden Ring and it just seemed oddly specific that Baldachin temples were even a thing. On top of that Marika's bedchamber is clearly a holy place since it was modeled after the Pantheon and the bedchamber itself is depicted at the top of the Elden ring's version of the Tree of Jesse(pronounced Yash-eye), where Jesus is normally portrayed.

[@moxiewatts]

I'd have to go back and watch the TA 3 creed of the erdtree but this seems SUPER familiar

[@beansnrice321]

@@moxiewattsLol, if I ever seem to be leavingn out details or skipping context, it's probably because I'm going off of something Tarnish Archaeologist said but forgot to mention it. XD

[@Psychx_]

6:25 that would also explain why the age of plenty came to an end. The tree was disconnected from its roots and couldn't provide any more sap to the lands between, while its lower part is oozing with it.

[@moxiewatts]

precisely :)

[@vickivileblood]

this is great work, fantastic video moxie, (outer) god tier editing

[@AlejandroFaustoC]

I really liked the theory about Farum Azula being connected to that new castle in the Land of Shadow!

[@beansnrice321]

Not to get too into talking about Messmer just yet but I do have some food for thought. After brushing up on Celtic mythology, I'm convinced that Messmer is akin to Lugh and Miquella is akin to Bres the beautiful. Lugh's weapon was a firey spear and he was sometimes shown with a two headed snake wrapped around him. He was also known to wield fire. Lugh was also know as, "Lugh of the Long Arm." He was also half god and half giant and killed the Dagda, the, "Good God," who controlled life and death and was the father of druids. He also lead the fight vs the Formorians and killed the one-eyed lord of the Formorians, Balor, who was also his father. Bres was also called Eochu Bres or, "the beautiful horseman." Sometimes just called, "Eochaid." He was the beautiful son of of the one-eyed Balor and was the lord of the Formorians after Balor was killed. He was made king of the Tuatha Dé Danann when Nuada was disqualified due to the loss of his hand. Bres was known to be a bad king who made their equivalent of Zeus dig ditches. There is a little overlap and things don't match perfectl. I also see Miquella-as-Bres to be an inversion of Bres in a number of ways. For instance Bres was known to age very rapidly and was a full grown adult after only 11 years or something. Still, despite the overlap and inversions there are some incredible similarities. The Formorians were also called, "the sea people."

[@moxiewatts]

Sometimes just called, "Eochaid." :000000 this is such an interesting explaination...what are your thoughts on the symbolism of the axe and what that means for this... i see ties to what youre saying. especially with the symbolism of the sea. i WONDER if the land of shadow is under the sea

[@beansnrice321]

@@moxiewattsIt's all super hard to tell and clearly Miyazaki deliberately removes detail that would allow player to draw better conclusions. Miyazali also seems to pick characters or iconografy from other things to tell his own stories. So it's always a bad idea to say that any character is explicitly some character from something else. Think of it a little like how Winnie the poo was used to make a horror themed movie once it entered the public domain. The characters are obviously referential but the story being told is it's own story and is clearly not connected to the Winnie the Poo story. Personally my thoughts of the Formorians being sea people is more of a possible explanation for the Numen arriving by sea. However the Numen are almost certainly named from the Numenorians of Tolkien. That being said there seems to be a very strong connection between the sea and spirits at least, which may be souls. Aurelia's quest as well as countless other elements seem to point to this. Tarnish Archaeoligist even has a few great videos on how the icon on the back of the huge thrones looks like brachiopods. The Tibia Mariners and the various depictions of boat burial also attest to this. One interesting idea is that the Latin Lord of the underworld, Pluto or Hades in Greece, known as Dis Pater was known as, the Father of Riches," and, the Father of Wealth." Apparently this was because he a bit of a god of fertility, things like food and metal come from the earth. Regarding Eochaid, it basically just means, "horseman," with Eoc, meaning horse. Eochaid is pronounced something like, "Yok-haid," btw. So I think that there is a possible link between Elemer of the Briar and the Kaiden horsemen. Also, it is never clearly said or shown where horses even come from in Elden Ring and where they fit into the lore. The best clue we seem to have is the Ancestor spirits. Finally, in countless myths and especially Gaelic ones, there is mythical cow of some type somewhere in the story. In Rome there horns of a mythical cow was supposed to be seen when the moon is in it's crescent shape. In Gaelic stories the mythical cow was probably the clouds and it's milk was rain. While Elden ring does have a glyph depicting a cow in some of the Elden John areas, no bull or cow is seen in game. in fact Torrent is the closest creature we see to a mythical cow in game, with his odd horns. So I wonder if Torrent might be the or descended from the mythical cow/bull that has only been vaguely hinted at. Maybe the fact that he's a burnt spirit horse is a sign that he had been sacrificed somehow or was possibly made into a puppet like the Dung eater, Latenna and Nepheli get made into puppets. Also, I'm not quite sure which axe you were asking about. Did you mean Godfrey's?

[@Psychx_]

Your background in cinematography really shows in the footage and editing and the theory crafting is also on point. Subbed.

[@moxiewatts]

ahhhh thank you ;-; my useless film degree might actually be worth something

[@beansnrice321]

Miyazaki being a programmer, the Erd tree being the data tree for the game is also probably quite literal. In that sense everything that happens is literally written in the tree. Another thought on runes is that in gaelic tradition, not much was written down. So bards and songs were often the only way that history and knowledge was handed from one generation to the next. So it's my theory that the runes you pickup after your death are literally the words, thoughts and memory of your previous life, when you died. You literally pick up the story of your previous life to pick up where you left off.

[@moxiewatts]

Oh thats such a perfect conclusion to come to! You should *really* go read that post homie. I think you are on the perfect track :)) thanks for sharing!

[@shemochu6348]

your videos are always top quality, thank you!

[@twilitblade]

Your cadence and formatting and content are so good. I can't wait to watch more videos.

[@moxiewatts]

tysm ;-; i really appreciate it homie

[@spiralunity]

This editing is amazing. This whole video is amazing, I love it.

[@moxiewatts]

thank you! editing is always the fun part, its the sound editing that kills my soul

[@graciesugarbee]

Always get so excited for these, your scripts and editing just keep getting better! 💜

[@moxiewatts]

thank you thank you gracie!

[@tfranklin]

I watch lots of FromSoft lore videos and this is one of the best; both as analysis and entertainment. Your informal tone is refreshing as most lore videos are either overly academic or use that hushed, storytime voice. I keep thinking about that lone Crucible Knight standing on a bridge to nowhere in Siofra River. The one you warp to through the belfry portal? That HAS to relate to the Land of Shadows somehow, right? That whole giant void is SUS.

[@moxiewatts]

i spy a belfrey in the second shot of the trailer, do you? yes I think the belfreys absolutely gotta have something to do with this conspiracy

[@moxiewatts]

also tysm i try not to take myself too seriously, gotta have some fun right?

[@LaurenAstro]

LOVE this video so much! It feels like the closest theory thus far.. very thoughtful & well crafted.

[@TheExciteProductions]

Another thing that I always thought about, is that you just fall to your death when walking into the ocean. Makes me think the water is also an illusion. You would imagine it would slowly get deeper like an ocean but in every place you just fall

[@Solibrae]

You did make a lot of interesting points, the bit about the Elden Beast being both the Ouroburous symbol on the Shadow of the Erdtree logo and a representation of the duality of the Erdtree and the Shadow Tree is very clever indeed. I think the editing, while impressively made, did distract from what you were saying at times though.

[@moxiewatts]

LOOK its for the sticky ipad kids

[@randywilliams6248]

You got all the Champs together in this one!

[@leslieoff3388]

How's this not viral!!! Omg This is gold

[@moxiewatts]

idk how it hasnt hit a million. tell the homies too

[@Youngsickbacchus]

8k views is criminal the editing was amazing

[@KitsuneShapeShifter]

Incredible video. Subbed.

[@clumsyaf6250]

This video was absolutely amazing

[@PrivateInvestigatorIRL]

Wow. What an excellent, well-edited video. So glad I found this channel

[@moxiewatts]

thanks! super glad you like it :)))

[@ofcatarina]

First time seeing your channel. Incredible work. Big agree about farum azula

[@arglebargle42]

Quality editing and speculation, good material to think over as we wait the unbearable wait. Thank you Moxie for making this and sharing it with us. Speculation: If the titles weren't released by different production houses, I think that all the soulslike games FROM have made would be part of the same multiverse, but due to licensing this can never be stated as 'official canon'. That's why we get certain repeating motifs, like worldtree pillars and the essence of life being currency.

[@moxiewatts]

I see-- Ok that makes SO much sense I could not find the official answer fuckin anywhere dude thank you.

[@shrinkwrapninja]

Incredible!

[@rahinewhite7073]

Great presentation 🎉

[@alexanderjackson6341]

Yo, when I say that I just nerded out on this video…I absolutely mean it. This was so awesome. The music playing in the background for the Structure Land of Shadow deck, beginning at 26:00 mark was just breathtakingly surreal as you made your assessments….jeez!!!!

[@Misnos]

Your videos are always so good!

[@moxiewatts]

thank you so much homie means so much ;-;

[@Darkheart00]

Really a unique presentation style, Moxie! Just came across your content :D

[@moxiewatts]

thank you! i def work really hard on the videos, i want them to not be a waste of time for anyone

[@reinaldomizutani8867]

INSTA SUB! Love the speculation and the editing!!

[@ricklubbers1526]

What if the tree is grafted.

[@EfrenEgypt]

THIS VIDEO IS MINDBLOWING

[@microwave4928]

Everyone’s missing one obvious point, the shadow tree is really only a tree in name only. Look closely at the lower branches of the shadow tree, they look like the ends of plant roots spurting up That top part of it that more resembles a smaller tree could be the actual shadow tree, growing out of the lowest base roots of the Erd tree. The Erd Tree represents life and the roots of the tree along with the shadow tree represent death , together they make the great tree, A sort of ying and yang. (A bonus theory is that the shadow tree started first and the erd tree leeched off of it and oppressed it’s people to grow stronger and that’s all been buried and could’ve also been orchestrated by queen marika)

[@Nihil847]

Great video. The connection between the ring in Farum Azula and the Golden Order blew my mind. Though, the person riding torrent might still be Marika when she first arrived in the land of shadow since there is no giant building there. It makes sense why you’re also given her three wolves’ spirit ashes (if they are hers)

[@D0verking69]

This should have wayyyy more views

[@moxiewatts]

Thank you

[@Apexx27]

I wish I had the patience to put in as much work as you do in your videos

[@MrBedZeppelin]

Very well produced!

[@jgiles2016]

My guess (heavy speculation) regarding farum azula is that the ancient dragons knew Marika was going to do something drastic. Since they were implied to be the ruling civilization pre-erdtree, and may have had informants via the ancient dragon cult, they were privy to the knowledge somehow. Placidusax split the part of the city that had their elden ring and fled to the sky to escape being sealed to the shadow lands. This also puts him closer to the sun which could be the “fled god” that the Remembrance of the dragon lord references. The fled god could also be the greater will as when you enter his boss arena he seems to be communing similarly to how the two fingers commune with the greater will. This further makes sense when considering that he has an Elden ring in the first place and he spouts golden fire. That’s MY crackpot theory though sorry for wall of text 😅

[@Jonathan-ob7oy]

Love that this is edited like a true crime documentary or something haha great work!

[@galaxsija4591]

hey Moxie, awesome sound design on this video. super engaging

[@trbajuice8060]

I subbed within the first 7 seconds. I know good editing when I see it.

[@eddymonies8302]

I’ve formed a real addiction to watching every single video on this subject I’ve come across. “There is nothing more terrifying.”

[@moxiewatts]

i read that in the trailer voice

[@HopeiThis]

This is art, thank you.

[@moxiewatts]

you're welcome :)

[@depalodor]

The comments under this video are absolutely mind-opening! You really activated the glycogen in some people's craniums. Thanks for this video, looking forward to more!

[@moxiewatts]

the glycogen neuron activation achieved.

[@wast01d]

blowing my mind with this one Moxie

[@moxiewatts]

tysm homie

[@syedasadali8529]

I believe that Marika took the Elden Ring (the one in Farum Azula) and then removed all its "wildness" but as we know removing a shard of the Elden ring means that it has to be stored somewhere. I think Marika removed the unwanted elden ring shards whom mesmer inherited and split the land of shadow so that the her order is solidified.

[@DemonKingHiei]

I haven’t watched all the vid yet but the editing and work into this is amazing Now here’s something I theorize. Ever notice how all 6 divine towers are lined up perfectly to surround the sea in the middle of the map. What if the divine towers are gate keeping the Shadow lands and concealing it so we can’t see it

[@Gangfang]

Excellent video

[@douglasferreira5082]

Considering that "farum" could be translated to "lighthouse", it seems that Farum Azula serves as guidance to the lands between. It is also suggested that the tarnished moved from and came back to the lands between on boats. "Cross the sea of fog, to the lands between" 🤔

[@moxiewatts]

Been thinking about the Sea of Fog a looooot recently...maybe it's literal.

[@camerong8406]

As a newcomer to ER lore, this blew my mind. Thank you!

[@xSanityControlx]

Was gonna post a comment talking about how shallow the games lore was and several plot points that should have been withheld. You addressed those very well and acknowledged that. 10/10 great job on this video. Dark souls and Elden ring do connect. On a meta level. Great observation. People who say the games have no connecting, or at least similar plot points have never played more than one souls game.

[@moxiewatts]

thank you! yeah some of these ideas are driving me nuts. I dont know shit about DS yet but when i do i bet ill have more to say

[@colemix1852]

Holy hell, if that skeleton on a horse is like "Leonard's spirit of revenge puppeting the skeletal remains of radahn" that would be so cool lol

[@colemix1852]

9:59 this song goes so hard. I love it

[@RyuuKageDesu]

Such great ideas here! It does make me sad that King's Field is so often left out of the shared universe (or multiverse?) theories of these games.

[@marystone860]

HOLY F%#@! This vid JUST gave one of my theories, just a bit more viability! One of them that I have, I think Messmer was the original leader of The Confessors, after they were formed by Marika, to stamp out the last bits of resistance to the Erdtree, the Two Fingers, and the Golden Order! If you look at Messmer's Spear, on the Trailer Photo, around the mid-point, it looks like to me, the symbol that's on the Confessor's Cloaks AND the Crespius Crossbows, just turned a little! The Confessor's purpose was to get rid of any devation from the Two Finger's and their teachings, among those who worshipped it OUTSIDE the Lands Between! Land of Shadow, cut off, outside from the Land's Between, AND the Land of Shadow is where Marika first step on and became a God! Could Messmer be the first Leader of the Confessor's? CRAZY, but, BAT-S%#@ if true! New Sub!

[@SmallOneEyedKing]

I like you little fan arts of Describing the Lands in Shadow

[@moxiewatts]

Thanks homie! I didn't really know another way to communicate the idea.

[@jacobweeks777]

24:24 WORM SPOTTED, DAY MADE.

[@moxiewatts]

[@Asterati]

I love that people keep calling it the shadow realm. We got the duelists, we got the shadow realm, and we have living humans being burned as sacrifices. Yugioh confirmed for the DLC.

[@JabronyJoenZ]

The thumbnail is so cool

[@stellataylor7436]

Bro what did I just click on? Your video was one of the most exciting lore videos I’ve ever seen

[@moxiewatts]

omg thank you so much it took a bazillion hours to work on and export

[@pzzldmom]

As your mom, you've done my little nerdy heart proud. I feel like watching this people would now understand our family debate Christmas morning on whether Rey was a Skywalker or a Palatine. Nerd runs in our blood.

[@kofu1267]

Deathroot is just the shadow tree trying to reunite with the erdtree 👀

[@Galamoth06]

It's interesting that the Shadown Lands are said to be obscured _by_ the Erdtree, rather than from it. Miyazaki said the baldachin-like veil in the sky is representative of the seal Marika placed on the land, and since Marika has a direct relation to the Erdtree, it makes sense that it's the cause of the lands being separated. The eclipse could be the light being blocked by the Erdtree, literally its shadow. I really like Ratatoskr's idea that the Shadow Lands are still right there in the middle of the map and we just can't see or touch them.

[@knasigboll]

Your Enia impression is immaculate

[@aiellamori]

The lands between being sundered makes the convocation of 14, hydaelyn and zodiark canon in elden ring lore now, fight me

[@wjr4700]

It should be noted that the site of grace inside the Erdtree is called Stone Platform. It makes no sense for that to be inside a tree. Also, If you clip outside of the stone platform there is a sandy area you can explore along with a blue warp that takes you back on top of the platform but only once. Whats up with that?

[@moxiewatts]

wait BLUE WARP?? add me on discord id love to see it! MoxieWatts also yeah wtf why is it stone

[@redheadsilver8041]

But if farum azula was above or in the lands of shadow and then Marika disconnected them, resulting in some cataclysm in farum azula, them that would explain why the dragons attacked leyndell in the war of the dragons, it was a retaliation.

[@someoneinsomewhere8079]

It's pretty cute how the shot with the bright Erdtree in the dlc looks like a baby hanging onto their mother

[@moxiewatts]

interesting...never saw it like that initially...what could it mean O.o

[@nor2003]

Dam farm azula being connected to that castle in the shadow area mindblown hope it ends up being true

[@JSON_bourne]

Wonder if theres some corilation beyween the usage of the word shadow here and how it was used when talking about blaid or malaketh.

[@GuyyDude]

Hey hey! Love the video, especially you pointing out how Miquella's intelligence is as strong as his faith. Definitely didn't associate him with the stars. To build on that! I can tell you where the sun is! 🌞 go to Castle Sol and look up! It's still stuck there, in the sky, stuck in a permanent Eclipse. The sun isn't gone, it's just paused and obfuscated.

[@moxiewatts]

I'll have to go take a look ;)

[@MrFool-cv5hf]

Really good video

[@moxiewatts]

thank you so much homie :)

[@MrFool-cv5hf]

@@moxiewatts hope it hits the alhorithm

[@Limcube]

Another one joining the Great Zelda Migration, Pog. Together we are Strong

[@moxiewatts]

ABSOLUTELY HOMIE

[@echohazmat8759]

My personal belief is that Miquella went to the Realm of Shadow to collect the sap dripping from it. My thoughts come from the Icon Shield, and the Blessed Dew talisman. He most likely needs it to heal the Haligtree, or keep it from rotting away into a husk.

[@kylesprenkel680]

obligatory alchemy marika the white queen from the silver shadow of erdtree. or the other way around and mesmer is radagon's morgott idk mang. sadly work gets busy by the time the dlc is set to release so if you figure it out before that would be kinda cool.

[@zokisan9554]

love the make and feel of your cuntent, such a bliss to indulge in 💜 lately i've been deep diving into A Song of Ice and Fire lore parallels to Elden Ring; GRRM's Weirwood trees give strong Great Tree:Erd Tree vibes, Marika as Daenerys and Godrick as Khal Drogo and the truth behind """war against dragons and fire giants""" being diluted by thousands of years that have passed since and just like in real life, his-story is written by whoever """""""won""""""" respective wars. i have no clue which character Messmer is akin to in ASOIAF yet but grrm and Miya are both taking massive impspiration from our world lore. There's Greek mythos to Slavic Paganism and Eastern traditional theosophy down to toying with the irony of ancient ancestry lore being lost to time, this makes for an immersion way beyond the actual in-game play hours. i love this game! 😹🚬🌝💜

[@moxiewatts]

so uh, waddya think of the gloam eyed queen and stormveil castle?

[@zokisan9554]

hello Goddess ​@@moxiewatts re The Queen of Gloam, the-time-of-day-immediately-following-sunset - my sauce base is asoiaf's "Great Empire of The Dawn". It's about ancient rulers mentioned as foot👀notes in the literature and these nameless Lords are associated with Gemstones, GEQ's watery Onyx eye is giving me very that tease. allow me to weave my thread into your audiovisual blanket. The O is for Omega, the Greek Z to Alpha as any beginning. For a line to form a circle and become a form it has to pierce - what is piercing where is subjective, hinterpreted differently. so i will leave it at that. The Lands-Between seem populated by undead slaves bound by Grace, like held together by but blocked from returning to the circulatory l∞p. Hence everyone be tired af and over it. Grace has to be Merciful, but this is mercyfoolery Pierce free since Great Tree lands and they seem tormented af 🙊 What function do thorns have in plants? Wiki says predominantly to deter [not demeter 🤯 whole-y s*mother} herbivory in a mechanical form. For this reason, they are classified as physical or mechanical defenses, as opposed to chemical defenses. Say Grace is life-force, prana, e-motion (energy-in-motion) rendered without ability to pierce. Meta vs Physical, from linear to circular, leaving the metaphysical death aside for a moment (i.e. what and is there even "a soul" etc), what we "can" know about physical death is a dead body decays differently in a desert vs in a sea, dry vs bloath. while the process of material decay unfolds differently; it's the same mechanism, transmorphation of forms. death as stages of transition of matter, neither just one nor null. GEQ and the vaguely implied rot entity represent the formless behind "herbivores cuming for ur bootysattva corpse" mechanism, not sure if they're different rays reflecting a spectrum or a sun i mean sum. but i noticed the parallel that both can become embodiments through certain conditions met in material vessel M., another form of the same mechanism embodied through certain conditions met in material vessel G. however, it feels more as if GEQ got trapped in Godwyn rather than summoned to, for me. Something about wanting only the bud of the rose butt the thrones i mean thornes. maybe GEQ is also Rot-God lore told through another lense, maybe they're both part of a mysterious third energy-in-motion (e-motion). in any case there's a suspicious LACK of iconography for both and either. i see GEQ as metaphysical God appearing in that ghost town Lands-Between through signifiers, the blatant disharmony of elements displayed makes it difficult to establish Her in truth. Have you wondered as well why the Noxian ant friends drop Numen roons? i think the Nox as a split of New-Man faction had a Buddhistic type of handling transmorphing form, throwing corpse nutrients out for ant vultures to feed and thus synchcycle harmoniously. the rituals obviously shape shifted over time as TA points out and so have most probably intentions around power and corruption too. he is not talking about the little boats and ships and the directions they go as marked on the game map enough! for my cuntspiracy taste. as for that one torned up thorny castle, that i naively suspegged was metaphorically named veiled because stormy weather clouds until the DLC threw that baldachin'd realm into the mix. i have no satisfying lawgic behind why that particular castle was stage for the sacrificial limb i mean lamb moment of Godwyn hexcept that it must've been incremental to the landfallpit creating the ~shuttered-off island because he was the tenant and landlords are evil. random insert but i love your take on the roundtable hold being the TOP of the shadow realm's tent. i noticed Hoarah Lux arm/weapon seems the last of the 13 (?) to have been jammed into the wood so that fits the metaphorical cut well. back to GEQ/Rot (as if i haven't said enough): Godwyn might've disposed of certain Malenia-Geist-Invocation criteria that made him a vessel vassal (longevity? aging backwards syndrome? hexponential limb growth? unbreakable bones? i haven't thot much about this yet so am just thinking out loud.). pair that with the fact that StorCa rests on the pun that is a Grave of Limbs... it has all the foolery and shenanigans to make one think it's a silly little tutorial area but much truth hides there in plain sight. i am just blind! (i play since 10/23 only and have technically no business leaving these womanic cumments around these between-streets.) moving on to closure: am obsessed with the icy snow area, the rocks made of megagiga chadiants so ancient that their skeletons fossilized as mere backdrop for the fire giants last resort, yet more than one fantastic story untold. hexplicitly so. and the fire giant petrifications with their puppeteerish limbs concatenated by them darn thorns. you're on to something about them thorn roots connecting realms. i am dreading offing The Fire Giant as it feels inherently wrong, just like killing dragons in the game. sometimes i feel i am playing a different gayme than the lore boys! so your holler is hextra appreciated, Goddess of Mox. i hope i was able to infuse you with some hintriguing jest and amuse you with what i love to do best: promote my bootyleg #justiceformarika campaign! another Woman Destroyed. (i differentiate between Marika a mortal New-Man woman and Marikadagon myth used to manipulate through toxic patriarchal shenanigans and buffoonery. his-story, his-story never changes. thanks for giving me this prompt, bless your TLC heart. i had a maiden stressed week and you made me gayer as the daisies in May 💜🚬🐉 i might make no sense but i wish to gift senses with stimuli and hope i made you smile, at the very last but not beast

[@kabobba]

omg you got smough on here now too?? so glad you’re being welcomed by the elden ring lore community ❤❤❤❤

[@kabobba]

and bandit and ratatoskr?? all my favourites in one expertly put together video wow

[@moxiewatts]

YES! I have acquired the homies on the track

[@moxiewatts]

[@kabobba]

@@moxiewattscommon moxie W, also, this might just be your best video yet, at least in my opinion!!! good shit moxie !!

[@cwill14]

And what does Ranni say about her situation and why she did what she did? "I would not be controlled... by that Thing." The Elden Beast. And to think, it was an eldritch liason that began all of this... it is all but a cycle.

[@moxiewatts]

i keep thinking it is a big cycle because y'know when you start ng+ its the same cutscene as when you start the game? I dunno i keep thinking about our cycle as the tarnished and the cycle as a whole

[@cwill14]

@moxiewatts Also, why does the Elden Beast have all those other dimensions/planes/worlds of Erdtrees in its boss arena? Maybe controls aspects of time, too, and these are the cycles that continue to feed it, or just other worlds The Greater Will has dropped other tree-ring-seed-beasts onto?

[@Solibrae]

"It is merely a cycle. Stand before the Elden Ring. Become the Elden Lord." - Memory of Grace's description.

[@kurtbeardsley3858]

10:00 Are minor erdtrees the result of a great runes presence? As a part of the elden ring. Haligtree is a bit unique, but so is miquela. With the runes removed from the erdtree, it began to rot/fade/hollow, while other trees sprouted. Just my inferences from that comment.

[@moxiewatts]

makes sense given the ones in the regions corresponding to demigods, rykards is messed up, and i think the one in altus plateau is as well? I think? what are your thoughts on the minor erdtrees, because trying to figure it out is driving me nuts

[@kurtbeardsley3858]

I have long thought the rings are the gods or kami, literally. The holders of the rings shape the nature and laws of the rings, and those traits can also influence the holder. (godrick grafting, ties to his runes function) other ties are less clear, and half I can only guess at. Radahn influenced his rune, the reverse of what i believe drove godrick mad. However, perhapts its a metaphysical ecosystem? a trinity, a tree, a rune, a host. A shadow tree, a shadow(blaidd) and a shadow...host? It mirrors nicely if we inject an evil marika into the mix. gasp, radagon? @@moxiewatts