Complete Elden Ring Lore Recap (before Shadow of the Erdtree): Episode 1 

We hope you enjoyed the first episode of our Timeline - there is plenty yet to come. Of course, everything is only our opinion! We just didn’t want to slow down the video by saying that as a constant preface. This has been a LOT of work. It is well known how difficult it is to cleanly piece the complete history Elden Ring together but we have tried our best to provide a compelling sequence of events, while still keeping the flow of the video and not labouring any specific points. Additionally, if some conclusions may feel confusing, note that we have reached them not by thinking about each event in isolation, but by balancing the overall impact on the entire timeline. So while the odd event may appear more complicated when they happen, hopefully in the context of the entire timeline you can see why we thought it made the most sense in the end. As always, thank you for your support, and see you in the next video!

Maybe the dragons pulled a Patrick. "We take Farum Azula and PUSH it somewhere else!"

YESSSS A timeline video, cant wait to watch this forwards backwards and upside down till the second installment, stay safe!!

Something that has occurred to me regarding the Draconian people is that "short lived" may be relative to the dragons and beasts around them. So they may even live longer than traditional humans but much shorter than what surrounded them in society. Love the channel

Man I love how this video just… starts. No fluff, no hand holding, no bad jokes.

Bruh, literally not even half an hour since the new Shadow of the Erdtree story trailer and Hawkshaw uploads a 1+ hour ER lore vid. To say that we're eating well would be the understatement to end all understatements 🔥

Your use of Shadow of the Colossus and Age of Mythology OST made me happy

Timeline mega-vids are back! Super excited for this series!

I’m only theee minutes in and I had to say: that opening was epically written and delivered. I thought you were quoting an Ancient Greek natural philosopher about the cosmogenesis of creation. Can’t wait to watch the rest.

Only a quarter of the way through but I really enjoyed the dragon segment about Farum Azula. The three pillars were really nicely laid out

I can’t believe your channel hasn’t broken 200k subs yet, honestly so underrated. Easily in the top 3 lore channels at least. I appreciate you 👍

Smoughtown held me over, but I knew ya boy was gonna come with the heat. No one dives deeper! Bless your work, good sir!

Nothing excites me more than a new Hawkshaw video. The Tarnished Archaeologist is close, but Hawkshaw is the OG.

I was today years old when I learned about Crystal darts' interaction with golems, imps etc

"This is not a bite sized piece of lore sentimentalism." This is a glorious return of the True Hawkshaw. Been waiting for this video since the very first hawkshaw lore drop 8 years ago. The recent content has a sort of pomp and goofiness to it that I just don't really vibe with but this.... This hardcore lore shit just hits too hard, I want it directly in the veins.

my new headcanon is that the ginormous skeletons are the ones who made the golem type enemies for fun like how we make little dnd or warhammer figurines. Like they basically made their own little armies and made them fight for fun.

I do not think the imps or the watchdogs were created by the "titans" they are clearly newer creations given how consistently they are employed in Catacombs, which were created during the time of the Erdtree, used for Erdtree burial. The hero's grave are also a modern creation, which commonly employs them. They are even used as decorative protection in the rooftops of Leyndell houses. While there are some moments where we see the giant golems, which I believe are indeed ancient creations of "Titans," are protecting modern structures, they are more commonly seen in a ruinous state catatonic state scattered all over the place, or straight up in random areas. We do not see this attribute on the Imps or Watchdogs at all, every single time we find them they are there with clear intention to protect Erdtree creations. Not to mention their creation and detailing looks completely different from the architectural and design style of the "Titans."

With the divine towers sitting perfectly around the impact crater, it almost looks like some ritual was performed to summon a meteorote to wipe out those titans.

Oh yes!!! Back at full blown hour vids!? Sign me up!!

Now i has something to watch and listen to while i wait on bloodborne loading screens farming for best gems

1:03:27 That links to grafting, like from Stormveil Castle. I think it’s apples that you must cut the sapling, and graft onto it a branch from a mature apple tree, in order to get the sapling to make the same fruit as the donor’s tree. So, the erdtree’s roots connecting to the greattree would make sense if Marika grafted the erdtree onto the stump of the greattree.

Souls Lord Hawkshaw blessing us once again. Thanks for the fantastic content

Amazing video! I love timeline videos, this deserves a lot more views! Personally, I think the Gloam Eyed Queen can be placed further into the timeline, but can't be sure about it. If she was active during the Ancient Dragon era and was an empyrean, how come she never ascended into Godhood? I think she's more related to Marika in way or another, and her Godskin Hunt killed so many Demigods that forced Marika to remove the rune of death from the Elden Ring. Enia says Demigods are all Marika's offspring, so the Gloam Eyed Queen very unlikely was killing demigos left and right unpunished since the Anciet Era.

Boy, From Software were already masters of world building. Throw in George R. R. Martin, and we end up with quite possibly one of the best fantasy worlds ever imagined. It’s just staggering.

Hawkshaw secret fromsoftware employee confirmed????

43:13 Hollijolli Village from Mario e Luigi Partners in time! Heart Strings Touched!

41:30 I don't quite understand why the different factions associated with Glintstone had to be around during the Titan age. Couldn't they have made contact with the Crystalians way later? Also, I've figured that the dragon imagery on the Forge might be akin to a trophy of the Giants succesfully routing the Ice Dragons, and not a mark of cooperation.

Lets go, baby! Long form Hawkshaw!

This helped me understand Elden Ring SOOOO much better!

you know, this is kinda ballsy project to do right before the dlc lmao. Great work as always tho, love your guys' content

Man you have such a way with words. This is awesome.

DLC trailer and Hawkshaw in the same day? God's timing is always right

Great video - one many of us did not realize they wanted - rather what we needed!

This is one of the most comprehensive and densely packed lore videos ever made about elden ring, good job

Wow great work. The visuals and the commentary are 11/10 quality

The big bang. Also people, always choose the broad path of chaos because it's better than making up your mind and being locked out of any single path.

Everyone knows the routine, grab a seat and some food, time to watch.

The whole video was impressive but that intro in particular was exceptionally written.

This, is an amazing video. Thay intro and you yourself rival Smoughtown and others. Highly impressed

You have a great voice for documentarys like this

Thank you for letting me eat good today 🙏🏽 i only get timeline videos from queelag

Can't wait for part 2

Absolutely adore this video, extremely well put together, love the blending of prose and detailed lore explanation. You're one of the only channels that considers not only facts such as item descriptions, but also literary themes, metaphors, and symbolism. Think this will be a fantastic summary of the timeline as we understand it pre-DLC. The one thing I will say I disagree on is the portrayal of the ancient dynasty as a "rot civilization". I'm just nitpicking but nowhere besides the grand cloister is there any link at all between the ancient dynasty and rot. Personally, the grand cloister is symbolic of their civilization as a whole - once it covered the full lands between but now it's hard to tell they even existed - who they were and what they believed is fully up for debate. Their civilization has rotted away, leaving almost no remains.

This video is so on point 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

You have the perfect voice to sleep to bro. Very easygoing and easy on the ears.

First time I’m this early to one of your videos. (Look at the time length) Guess I need popcorn.

yoooo that thumbnail is SICK

The hidden but apparent lore surrounding Mesmer is so cool, like it was right under our noses. All of the giants are impaled by the same shaped spear, it's the shape of Mesmers spear. The capital is already covered in ash, signifying that at some point the erdtree was burnt prior to the main narrative. Snakes are associated with traitors (gladiator helm). Mesmer wields a very powerful looking flame with his red hair, very reminiscent of the fire giants, and he also has those snakes that very much so characterize him. I think we're gonna get some really cool lore that connects these dots. maybe radagon was once the leader of the fire giants/vassal for their fire god, and Mesmer was his son with marika either before or after their merging.

Amazing video and clear, precise writing.

Great video, very in-depth. Thanks for taking the time to create and share this!

I really think the giant skeletons are almost entirely metaphorical, a physical representation of history itself. Immense, forgotten beings embedded into land. And so, everything we do, we do standing atop the shoulders of giants. Their bones and their great works a skeleton supporting The Lands Between itself.

The beast part got me thinking about Boc. Is Boc our shadow as a tarnished? Is he older than he seems? His mum was a seamstress and my mind wanders to the godskins, especially with his dialogue concerning the golden needle... Dunno if there are any actual connections, but it might be interesting to take a closer look.

the intro bangs wtf

When Hawkshaw uploads, I GRAB THE POPCORN ❤

Marika is the one who likes to hit it and quit it (see: Rennala, the dlc trailer that talks of affsir and seduction), so I'm inclined to believe she's the one who is the dragon's missing god. It would explain why one of them just casually decided to storm Leyndell one day.

Love your vids. Thanks! Big fan of the AOM music too 😎

One thing the Story trailer revealed, is that we have collectively underestimated the influence of Marika prior to her becoming a god. I can’t wait to see what genderbending shenanigans she was up to back then

Oh a Hawkshaw timeline?! Yes please!!!!

Marika bless you for posting the songs used

I love everyone chilling by the fire - I assume boggart brought the food to this chill party.

Hell yes dog ! Love the video

I was waiting for this one >:)

Extraordinary work! Can’t wait to watch the next two!

Amazing work. I love all hawkshaw videos. Id honestly be shocked if anything here is proven wrong

This work is pivotal. Fantastic stuff!

man you are hustling this year

bit unrelated but i wonder is the serpent hunter weapon gonna get the buff against messmer, the new trailer looked nuts, the thing that looked like a tree made of bodys reminds me of rykards boss arena

The description of Elden Stars and 17:50 might actually tie together from the sound if it.

The ancestral spirit's have, from what I can discern, megalithic type construction. Thought it was the oldest or one of the oldest. The divine tower section is genius!

most excellent, the video is great!

The Great tree IS the Erdtree. Remember the Erdtree has already been burned down. So that Golden giant skyscraper tree seen in the beginning of the game is it's phantom/non-physical form. The Great tree is the previous name of the Erd tree 🤯🤯🤯

I like the video, dont agree with everything, but i like it

I had no idea how much I needed this video

That AOM music is nice af

Amazing work. Simply Marvelous.

Easily the most hardest part of the lore, besides Marika and Radagon. Hopefully the dlc expands greatly on them and doesnt leave more questions.

Hey this some really nice video! Can i ask what do you use for recording in game?

5 days old? Hide yo vids, hide yo streams, hide yo previews. Vaati’s coming and he’s gonna take “inspiration” from any lore videos

Love this

I dunno, it’s gonna take some convincing for me to believe the Crystalians were created by the first stone-age beings. Descriptions in the game make it seem like they came from the primeval current & they’re always protecting glintstone wherever it’s landed.

We rise

I liked subscribed saved the video and most likely won't watch this all the way but my god you need some credit for the lore dump with the effort to make it not dry.

I'm a little surprised you wouldn't wait until after the DLC to make a lore timeline, but its wrong to look a gift horse in the mouth.

I find the conclusion that the ancient dynasty worshipped rot quite stretched. If you look at their ruins all around the map you'll notice tree iconography. Look at the dynast statue itself.

There's something inside the divine towers that doesn't get much play, if at all, because I never see anyone mention it. While in the divine tower of Caelid, I noticed a relief carving tucked away on the walls overhanging the spiral stair. There is the one and only depiction of a fish and not just one of them. They are encircling what looks to be a beastman corpse or what I interpret to be a fetus due to its positioning. There's only one fish in the game, and two, if you count the Elden Beast as one despite it looking like a plesiasaur. What age would have built carvings representing the bestowance of blessings on the beastmen? Seems totally unrelated to titans, golems, or crystals. Check it out.

I like the video but it makes a lot of assumptions about the titans, we have little to no hard evidence for what they are or anything they did. I don't really see a clear connection between ancient architecture and the titans simply by the stone blocks used being big.(especially considering magic is a thing) I also don't really see anything suggesting that the titans were responsible for creating the golems or crystalians. Really I think the alabaster and onyx lords, or rather their ilk, seem much more likely to be responsible for what's being attributed to the titans here. It's an interesting idea but this seems to state these theories as if fact. Still though who knows, and again the video and really all your work is great :)

30:45 "the Empyrean" is also plural. And the raw JP uses the same 神人の影 as everywhere else. It is very unlikely it implies a shared Empyrean for all shadows.

What are the odds this would drop the same day as the SotE story trailer?

There’s a theory that when godwyn was killed by the black knife assassins the lands between started to mold around the shape of his corpse, look up a picture and compare it to the map. So around ghe 15:00 area when he’s talking about the titans and how they shaped the lands between and the distortion in the land since , it kind of makes sense that these structures the titans have made have stayed in place as the land around it moved and started to mold into the shape of godwyns corpse. Let me know what you guys think of this theory 😊

The Crystals above the Lake of Rot, could they be Glintstones? Lake of Rot is beneath the Academy/Lake of that area. Also I think the Nox in Leyndell were banished below ground and some went down the Siofra and some went down the Ainsel and built their civilisations there, this explains why those two cities have lifts to exit and the Nameless eternal city doesnt, but it doesnt really explain everything. Uhl/Uld palace ruins are always found near Nox architecture so I originally thought that society became the Nox and the Claymen became the Envoys.

Excellent video

The word for greattree is just big roots.

I've had an epiphany that The Lands Between are named thusly because they were once vertically between the Eternal Cities below and the temples of Farum Azula above. The Divine Towers may have reached to Farum Azula, or at least the one isolated tower, or perhaps a central tower that is now gone. Obviously now Farum Azula has drifted away or been forcefully moved, possibly by whatever has caused a gigantic area of land between Leyndell and Caelid to be completely missing [kept watching the video, agree with a meteorite extinction event]. Some of this area does appear to be in the Shadow Realm from the DLC. God I love this lore and I hope we get some more questions answered soon.

Is anyone else expecting melina/gloam eyed queen to be an optional boss in the dlc depending on your ending path? I really think she will be in fact I'm kind of banking on it, but I don't see many people talking about it. What do you guys think

In the dlc a titan may be a boss over a fire giant and a handful of new golems

The cinematic work here is impressive, and obviously a lot of passion went into it, but the lore itself is based on a lot of dangerous assumption when not outright making stuff up, bluntly speaking. Like, there are some facts we can all agree on. Then there are theories, that here are presented as fact even though they're actually far from supported by the game, they just make some sort of sense. Placidusax's god being also the Gloam-Eyed Queen is an enticing theory that I like, but regardless of my personal preferences it's never even hinted at in the game's text. Some Godskin Apostles show up in Farum Azula, and that's about it. The giant corpses, called "titans" here (a name that never appears in the game), could reasonably be connected to the Fire Giants, and the Fire Giants reasonably be connected to the construction of much of the ancient stone architecture of the game (although the Divine Towers seem to have a different aesthetics and I don't think they can be associated with the Giants, they probably predate them and just about everyone else except possibly the Ancient Dragons), and also reasonably be associated with some of the golem constructs, the fire-powered ones at least, but less so the catacomb guardians that seem way outside of the Giants' area of interest (it could be speculated that the Crystalians built the golems, some in the past for the giants and some for the catacombs, but it's a wild guess). But, a "superpower"? That fought wars with... Some other dudes, I guess? To put it bluntly, this is not in the game. No such lore exists on an ancient Giant empire, let alone any text that even references the existence of those giant corpses. The theory crafting on the different depictions of the Erdtree seem way excessive to me. Christians don't depict Jesus always with the same face, and this isn't indicative of some giant conspiracy about different Jesuses. A stylized depiction of the Erdtree is just at that, at most you can assume that they depicted different moments in the Erdtree's growth. Then there's the stuff completely out of left field. Like, "the god of many faces" (who?), or the "Greattree Empire" (literally what?). Entire cycles of burning and rebuilding the massive tree that gets mentioned by absolutely no one ever across the entire text and dialogue of the game? The Crucible showing up only shortly before Marika's appearance instead of at the very beginning of the timeline? How does all life manages to get blended inside the Crucible if mankind, dragons and giants have been around for millennia already at that point? The Crucible created life in the world, and countless little details make it align with the Greater Will and the Elden Beast, allowing us to place the creation of the Crucible and life shortly after the Golden Comet sent by the Greater Will, and then the Ancient Dragons came forth, followed by everyone else. This is in blatant contradiction of written Crucible lore. But the worst part has to be the "Greattree Empire". Like, is this supposed to be Marika? No, because apparently she came after, so the Greattree Empire is a never mentioned, never seen, even by groups outside of the Golden Order, great empire that ruled the land and no one knows who they were, especially the game because From definitely never put anything about them in the game. The timeline goes that the Ancient Dragons, closely related to gold, were the first creatures to arise and create civilization, then the beastmen rose to serve the dragons and possibly other races came to inhabit the Earth, then the dragons fell from grace and Marika showed up, although the timeline is very nebulous here. There is no reference of intermediary empires between the dragons and Marika as far as we know, and that's probably because of the purge she did in SotE and we should find more about the real history in the DLC, but regardless of that there is no mention anywhere of any "empire" in the current game's lore. That's made up stuff.

+1 for age of mythology soundtrack

Maybe the true elden ring is all the friends we made along the way

17:18 the rock tower at mt.Gelmir was created by a star fell beast. Maybe that solves it?

Elden Ring can be summed up very simply. Elden Ring: a Carl Jung Nightmare