Let's Speculate about the Lore in Elden Ring DLC 

I've been thinking about how the term Shadow has been used in Elden Ring, and it makes me wonder if the second tree curling around the "Erdtree" is either the exact same situation we see with Malikith and Blaidd or something similar. The Shadows have a set purpose to both assist their assigned individual but to also to assassinate them if they go against the Two Fingers/Greater Will. Could it be that the Erdtree itself had its own Shadow assigned to it, and if so this implies the Erdtree would have a sort of conscience of its own. Assuming the above is true, then could it be that the Erdtree itself attempted to rebel for its own reasons, and as a result is being attacked/killed/punished by it's Shadow for doing so? I bring this up because Shadow is such a specific term in Elden Ring, and refers to a very particular kind of being. Though this does ask the question as to if a Shadow can be anything and not just a wolfman. We do have Vargram the Raging Wolf, who according to his armor set aspires to become a Shadow. However, this is rather vague as it does not specify if it is literally possible to turn into a wolfman like Blaidd, or if he just thinks Shadows are cool and wants to emulate being one. There are also the Bloodhound Knights who seem to fill a similar niche, but we never see inside of their helmets to confirm if they are human are not, despite their bestial fighting style and mannerisms. We also do not know if all Shadows are restricted into being wolfmen anyway, as we really only know of 2 of them to begin with, with both of which being in dire mental straights so its not like they would be decent sources of info on the matter anyway even if the game readily presented the answer. Either way, I'm super exited for the expansion and can't wait to start a new adventure in the Lands Between.

1:27 doesnt it look like the tree has hands

I figured since we burn the tree to beat the game. This is the post affection of the lands after the tree has burned and no more holy erdtree now, lands are drab and more darkness

As a Ghostflame and Godwyn fan I was holding back my hopes for Helphen. Omg I hope we go to Helphen. Or Crucible era is just as good. It looks like one tree trying to kill another tree for sure. It could be the Elden beast landing into the 2 trees to help out the losing Erdtree vs GreatTree botanical battle.

My goodness why is your tarnished dummy thicc!?

very poggers indeed

Shadow of the Erdtree = Crucible

I think the word "shadow" here is not related to the context we already have ingame and not literall, it looks more like a poetic form of "horrible/dark secret", as example "Shadow of Innsmouth" by Lovecraft.

Could that be mount Gelmir? I know it sounds weird and unlikely, but when I look at mount Gelmir, it really looks like a tree stump. Especially the tips of the volcanic section. They look like petrified tree limbs