Shadow of The Erdtree | Story & Ending Explained [Lore] 

SOME COMMENTS AND AMENDMENTS: 1. I am pronouncing Scadutree wrong - I just can't get my brain to change it haha. Sorry 2. I agree with people's point re the Grandmother - she is likely the statue/remains in the Village under the tree and will revise this in future. 3. Some people disagree with my take on Radahn - that the vow was 'mutual' rather than foisted on Radahn. I am coming around to this idea, however there are issues with that as well. If I was to accept this idea, I would need to see it as a vow that was made...but broke down for some reason and thus Malenia was sent to 'collect'. I find it hard to believe that the Aeonian war was some kind of ritual send off for Radahn that was agreed on between the two parties, given hundreds of soldiers also needlessly died and an entire region was 'nuked'. Surely they should have just had a 1v1 duel if this was the case. However I will go into more detail on both sides of this debate in future videos but thanks to everyone who has presented this alternate theory - tbh it wasn't something I had even considered. As always continue to give me your thoughts in the comments below.

I like that on messmers kindling, it confirms that Melina is his sister bc it talks about how his younger sister also had a vision of fire

I find it very interesting that the one statue of Marika we find in the dlc, that isn’t headless, is the one in Messmer’s chamber depicting her holding a baby Messmer. This observation coupled with Messmer consulting the aforementioned statue before plucking out his false eye goes to show that after all that transpired he still holds love for his mother.

That one line from Messmer where he curses his mother, made him one of the most interesting characters in all of Elden Ring. Just one line of dialogue changed how you viewed his character completely.

My theory on Radahn being Miquella's "promised" consort is that when they were children (which we know was when Miquella first saw a lord in Radahn), Miquella asked Radahn to promise to be his lord, and Radahn agreed. But then after the Shattering, Radahn went to war, what he had always wanted, and his childhood vow was forgotten, no more than the words of an immature child. But Miquella was afflicted with eternal youth. To him, their promise was just as real when Radahn went to war as it had been all those years ago when Radahn was still a child. So, when Radahn forgot their promise, Miquella asked Malenia to wage war on Radahn so he could finally uphold his part of their childhood vow.

It's deeply sad to see Messmer as a figure like Hades, having a duty he doesn't want, doing things he hates, and being hated by everyone

Anyone else think the "Spiral" pattern of the crucible is meant to represent DNA? The crucible, after all, is meant to represent the primordial source of life.

Another idea is that if the land of shadow is in fact at the center of the lands between and is merely obscured by the veil; then the divine towers may be the anchor points on which the veil is anchored. The Scadutree being the central pillar. The tree and towers acting almost like a tent structure for the land of shadow.

I think the lands of shadow was shrouded not when the Erdtree was created, but when the rune if Death was removed from the Elden Ring. These likely happened at the same time of course. But there is another thing. The fact that Marika sealed away Messmer suggests the shrouding was a very deliberate act, and if they once were in the center of the Lands Between, I think the Divine Towers might have something to do with it. Ever since the game launched people have noticed how they form a hexagon around the center of the map. I think they were built to help seal the Lands of Shadow away. The fact that the ppace in the LoS called the SEALING Tower shares a very similar design is also not a coincidence.

I think with the final memory that Radahn did initially agree to be his consort, but that it happened when Miquella was still a believer in the Golden Order. When he turned away from the golden order is when I think Radahn rejected him.

In reference to how they got their army to the land of Shadow, it probably required those that followed to willingly give up their golden grace, this is supported by the fact that we have to give knight Queelign grace in order for him to become spirit ashes, this would explain why the ppl in the lands between viewed them negatively and also why Andreas rebelled after learning Messmers secret

So, Mohg wasn't a creep? He was being used by his half brother. And Miquella was using us to kill Mohg so he could use his corpse to resurrect Radahn?

Now knowing what the Greater Potentates’ job was in Bonny village gives a whole different meaning to why the little jar of Jarburg wanted someone with soft hands… It also makes the story of the living jars even more deeply tragic. They don’t know what horrors their kind were born from - they just want to live and grow their flowers. But to Marika and her perfumers they must represent something far more disturbing.

Can’t believe how fast you got something of this quality released. So stoked. Also Scadu is just pronounced “Shadow/Shadoo”. It just uses the Old English root, like its siblings the Erdtree (earth tree/world tree) and Haligtree (holy tree)

After giving it a bit of thought I believe the reason the crucible takes the form of a spiral, is because that is literally the shape of DNA. The very thing that makes life possible would also be its source. I think this is a lot more fitting than the crucible simply being a big tree.

I think that messmer not being a sharbearer in any capacity is evidence that the shattering happened either after or simultaneously to the shrouding of the shadow of the erdtree. Messmer has no shard and no divine tower despite being her eldest son

43:19 damn yet again Geoff you make some solid conclusions. I hadn’t even thought of the Land of Shadow literally being the shadow of the Rune of Death. But it makes so much sense tbh. Marika plucked death from the Elden Ring, and in doing so the Golden Order created a society that venerated life eternal, or being born again thru the Erdtree. Fast forward to the assassination of Godwyn, and the spreading of death root, and Those Who Live in Death are literally overflowing into the Lands Between. It’s almost like that old biblical warning of “When hell is full, the dead will roam our world,”. I love your vids dude, always solid speculation that I can’t help but agree with. Can’t wait to hear you break down the DLC further.

Isn't Maliketh her shadow?

although Siluria's tree depicts a tree instead of a spiral, I think it is worth noting that the ash of war is a spiral bean much like the hornsents incantations (that was actually the first connection I made while playing) not only that, Ordovis weapon also spins in a vortice

I don't see how Melina could be the GEQ if she wasn't born till after Marika became a god and she "competed" with the GEQ to become a god

You always deliver great lore! With that said i don't think Messmer needed to travel to the land of shadow. I believe he was always there before the separation. Messmer's crusade had to go through Belurat so Marika could reach the divine gate, become a god and materialize her order, which then separated the realms. She just left him there along with everything else.

As someone who never pays attention to the lore while playing, you are always appreciated!

One neat thing to note about the Scadutree being near the Erdtree on the overlaid map: If you look at the underground base game map, there is a MASSIVE underground tree stump in Deeproot Depths, just about where you'd expect the Scadutree to be. Coincidence?

I would like to add something about why Marika, essentially the golden order itself, would denounce the crusade. All of Mesmer followers chose to follow him and they chose to turn away from the golden order. Because her intentions was to trap everybody away, not only would she get rid of the prisoners, her serpent-cursed son but also any potential insurrectionists that would choose to betray the golden order.

Each and every time I see a smoughtown video drops, I know I’m in for a good one. Makes me wonder how much of the stuff I haven’t gathered on my play through and usually forces me to go back and gather what I haven’t.

I believe Marika's grandmother is the woman turned to stone in the village, as the description says as well that she gifted it to her grandmother before leaving forever so location wise I think that makes me the most sense purely going by what we know from the item description at least. Kinda foreshadowing in a way what would be Marika's fate in the end, but I also think if Grandam was the recipient we'd either find the place in her quarters, or even somewhere like the sewers given her feelings on Marika, and not left in such a sacred place like her home village.

When i saw the statue inside the tree in Shaman Village, I instantly assumed it was the grandmother. Why would Marika leave a golden lock at her own statue? It literally says she is praying there, why would she pray to herself? This is a statue of the grandmother referenced in the item description of Marikas hair lock. She was most likely the village elder and spiritual figure.

I think another reason why Marika would want to get rid of Mesmer and Melina is because they both had visions of fire which were a DIRECT threat to the Erdtree. But later when she shatters the elden ring, she calls for Melina to assist us, perhaps?

Thank you for another great video, man! 🙌🏿 If the trailer of the game shows Marika attaining godhood through that portal covered in hornsent bodies, I think the crusade was to take over the city and the portal. Thus, Messmer would have been born of a pre-god Marika in the Lands of Shadow, which at the time was still part of lands between. 😅

Haven’t seen it mentioned anywhere else so far, but I think it’s cool that the crucible knights are all named for different geologic periods of our own earth - Devonian, Silurian, Ordovician periods, etc.

Initially I was disappointed with the final boss being Radahn and not Godwyn, but it has started to make thematic sense to me which has helped. Reading the description of the Young Radahn Helmet it says that as Malenia set off the Scarlet Rot in Aeonia she murmured into Radahn's ear "Miquella awaits thee, O promised consort". Meaning she was sent down there to retrieve an unwilling Radahn by Miquella. Not sure if Malenia was controlled too by Miquella or wanted to cure their afflictions and trusted and loved her brother to do so. Malenia and many other of his siblings were corrupted by outer gods and made them not good options for Miquella's consort. However Radahn was uncorrupted and also one of the mightiest warriors, extremely powerful sorcerer, and had divinity and rune from his mother. Radahn was the most powerful in the Land and pure and kind and therefore the best decision for Miquella's consort. I may have wanted Godwyn, but after looking into and thinking about Radahn as the final boss I am more okay with it especially for thematic reasons. To think that incredible battle in Aeonia between Malenia and Radahn that we all fawned over was actually just a Cleanrot Army invasion led by Malenia to steal Radahn for Miquella's divinity purposes.

Hello I have never commented on anything ever in RU-vid, but this is something I just had to say, regarding the vow "between" Miquella and Radahn. If you listen to what Miquella says in the ending memory scene, this cannot be the vow, in my opinion. Here are the reasons why. 1. When Miquella says "I'm going to be a god." This sounds and feels more like a statement than vowing anything, as if he has a plan, which he will put in motion, that will make him a god, and Radahn becoming his consort is the last piece of said plan. If his plan was to use Radahn as a consort, Radahn wouldun't have to be dead for that. I believe in the memory he is trying to charm/influence Radahn to become his consort after his plan would have succeeded, but Radahn refused, which means Miquella has to jump all the extra hoops to get him as his consort. Why he is so sure he will become a god and no other, is unclear, but it might have to do with the fact, that he was able to/was going to charm every other candidate with his power. ( same way he charmed Mohg for instance ) 2. Miquellas words "If we honour our part of the vow" certainly does not imply Radahn is part of this vow. If anything, Miquella speaks of Himself and someone else, possibly Saint Trina, and the vow might be them promising to separate themselves so that only Miquella exits The gate of Divinity as a god, not Miquella and Saint Trina. Saint Trina is obviously against this plan, but I think it's possible he charmed/suppressed Saint Trina using his powers making it seem they both are in it together. As for why he would vow separating himself from Saint Trina is anyones guess, but he might have thought if he vowed this to Radahn, it would make him more eager to be his consort. After all, Radahn is a soldier, and having Saint Trina, who Miquella called his love when he dropped him to the pit in the Fissure, be his Queen/master/companion alongside Miquella for all eternity, doesn't really sound very soldiery. Or as I stated before, the "we" in Miquellas vow, could be him and someone else entirely, someone who promised him godhood, should he ditch Saint Trina and get Radagon as a consort. This other someone could be anyone to be honest, but in a sense, Miquellas and Rannis plans seem to work in favour of both of them. Wether Radahn is killed or becomes Miquellas consort, the stars would be moving either way as it seems unlikely Radahn would have kept the stars in check after becoming Miquellas consort, and Ranni would be rid of the two fingers and Miquella would get Radahn as his consort. Both Ranni and Miquella could have had different endgames they kept from eachother, as it seems Ranni wants to rid the world of what was before, and not to become a god, while Miquella wants to make the world a "gentler" place, whatever that entails. 3. ""Lord Brother, ..... Promise me you'll be my consort" It seems strange he would call Radahn "Lord Brother" even though thats what Miquella wanted, Radahn never seems to have expressed any desire to rule or to be a lord, as he sees glory only in battle and war. That wording once again seems to be Miquella charming/influencing Radahn with his powers of manipulation. And the way he asks/begs (he is on his knees afterall) seems very childlike and deceitfull, as if he's trying to influence Radahn to see him as a innocent creature with a pure heart and righteous motive. (this might also be part of how he charms people and others) 4. Also, the chair in the cutscene reminds me of the chair which is in the Capital Leyendell, in Morgotts arena. The surrounding area of the memory is convieneantly dark so we cannot see anything or anyone else, but it might even be possible, that this begging/charming, took place in that very place. Even more, it is possible he has Malenia, Ranni, Godwyn?, and others behind him, and when he says "If we honour our vows" he might be referring to all of them present. It might even be, that many of the Demigods and Empyreans were part of this plan, wether under Miquellas spell or willingly and convincing Radahn to be Miquellas consort was the last thing they needed for the plan to work. After this, we have two ways things played out I believe. Either Radahn accepts this plan and him and Mogh dying etc. is all part of it. But not all agreed I think. In Morgotts cutscene, he speaks of Godrick, Malenia, Miquella, Radahn, Rykard and Ranni to be willfull traitors all. I think it is possible these were the players in Miquellas plans, either willfully or forcefully, and by mentioning Radahn, it seems to indicate he too betrayed the one thing Morgott holds dear, The Erdtree/Marika. Notice how all these characters seem to have some part of the DlC's themes and how they have a part in this plan. Mogh is not mentioned to be a willfull traitor, which might indicate he did not agree to their plans. Neither is Rennalla or Marika/Radagon. The plan might have been to overthrow Marika all along, and this could have been the cause of war/the shattering of the Elden Ring. Perhaps by shattering the Elden Ring, Marika thought she could foil Miquellas plans or something of that nature. OR, Radahn does not accept this proposal, which causes the wars to happen, but Morgott, perhpas unaware of this plan, considers him a traitor for that reason. All this implies that the deaths of Ranni and Godwyn, perhaps the Shattering wars and the Destruction of the Elden Ring was part of the plan, or a byproduct of Radahns refusal and the plan going awry. The plan might also have had the goal of ousting the Outer Gods or the Elden Beast, so that a new order under Miquella would have been made. Marika herself, might have been a part of this, which is why she destroyed the Elden Ring and why she is punished by the Elden Beast by being crucified inside the Erdtree and Radagon is the one who opposed this plan, which is why he fights us inside, and not Marika. Lastly, I believe Marikas betrayal after becoming God, was not towards the Hornsent, but towards the Two Fingers. Methyr is said to have been the first shooting star to land on the world, and I believe it is the one who promised Marika Godhood, should Marika combine herself with it. This is how Radagon came to be. Radagon is the embodiment of Methyr within Marika. And after Marika, Miquella and the other demigos concoted a plan to oust and dispose the influence of Methyr, (by breaking the Elden Ring) the Elden Beast, another cosmic being like Methyr, descended from the stars to punish Marika by crucifying her within the Erdtree. The punishing of Marika could also be related to the fact that Methyr was left in the Land of Shadows, when Marika sealed it away, so Methyr sent/summonned the Elden Beast to enforce their order and grip on the world. Please let me know what you think.

Am I alone in thinking the Putrescent Knight is Radahn's discarded body? I feel like his rot-infected corpse fits the description of "tainted flesh" and it would be fitting for both Miquella and St Trina to both select Radahn as their Knight/King in their own ways.

One thing the DLC did for me was feel a sort of compassion for Marika which was really eye opening; we all kinda grew to see her as this ruthless dynastic conqueror in the lands between, but some of the context between the hornsent and the shamans through the shaman village really put into perspective so much of the motivation for Marika's journey. Thinking about how she too must have had to divest herself of so much, much like what her son Miquella would end up doing, in an act of vengeance to bring about a new order. The DLC cinematic trailer holds so much more weight too, imagining her journey from the shaman village across the lands of shadow; and even eventually how her story ends with her shattering the elden ring after her son Godwyn's death. We know thematically that Fromsoft games are all about ages coming to an end, and how it's simply a cycle which must perpetuate itself throughout time, but I think Elden Ring is the first Fromsoft game where we see SO MANY past ages and know so much about each one, and the how and why behind them passing. There's obviously still so many questions leaving the DLC and I'm excited to watch our community discover more and put the pieces together (and am secretly hopefully that maybe in another two years time we can have a DLC 2 to answer some of the new questions raised...)

K, now that I’ve watched all this, I can give my view. Most of it is very insightful, but I gotta be honest, I dont know why you still think Radagon was always part of Marika since her godhood as though he was never his own person. She needed the Hornsent corpses to build the gate, and Mesmer was the one who lead armies to gather those corpses. If that’s the case, why would Mesmer be born of red hair WITH fire powers BEFORE Radagon ever remotely came into existence? Im sorry, but that simply makes no sense at all. On Melina, there are a few flaws or questions with your theory that Melina IS the GEQ. My theory has always been that Melina has a deep connection to the GEQ. Believing the GEQ herself was a daughter of Marika fails to explain how she acquired the Rune of Death in the first place when we all know the Rune of Death was already part of the Elden Ring, which LONG precedes the age of Gold or the Crucible. Plus, I think it’s clear that Melina was not born in the land of shadow seeing as none of the Smoldering butterflies are found there. This implies to me that her activity is exclusively bound to the Lands Between. Your theory on her also doesnt explain why Melina has her symmetry contest with Ranni. I agree Melina and Ranni arent the same person either, but I have a whole theory on this. Also, I dont know why Malenia and Miquella dont have shadow beasts, but I think the reason has to do with a new gen separation. So if Melina is supposed to be an Empyrean, where’s her shadow beast? I’ve always argued Melina was Marika’s LAST daughter, and her not having a shadow bound beast like Marika’s last gen of children gives Melina more implicit ties to Malenia and Miq, not Mesmer. Not to mention, the argument that Mesmer and Melina are “two eye-halfs” I think falls flat when considering which side if the face the eye is missing. Melina’s is not opposite to Mesmer’s like with Ranni. And lastly, it fails to explain why Melina doesnt warn the Godskins to leave us be before or after she regains her memory in Leyendell OR at least warning us to stay away from the Godskins like she did the Frenzied Flame. This is something no one notices. Why cant the so-called GEQ communicate with her own followers anymore? Also, I dont understand why Rennala would never have made any sort of pact with Mesmer before joining herself with Radagon. If both Mesmer and Rennala had beef with Marika and her order, that would be reason for Rennala to join her sister and Mesmer, not forbidding the pact. It seems to me that Rennala personally just didnt want to abandon her Carian duties the way Relanna did; merely a personal choice akin to the one Ranni made in contrast to Radahn and Rykard’s chosen paths. And I dont get why the abductors are evidence, those things arent only found in the Volcano manor. There’s been plenty of evidence that Rennala’s children have taken the talents and knowledge they learened in Lieurnia outside of it for other uses, I dont understand why Rykard’s knowledge of the abductors wouldnt just be another example of this, meaning they actually originated in Raya Lucaria. And if you see them in Raya Lucaria, but not the Caria Manor, that could also mean that these abductors were not a product of Carian design either, but rather a design of the academy. This would lend further credibility to the idea that Relanna joined Mesmer BEFORE Rennala married Radagon or even went to war with him either time. As for the Alabaster lord, I dont see why the argument cant just be that the Alabaster lord has been around for a very long time, long enough to be around since before the erdtree. And Mesmer knowing what a tarnished is could just be evidence that the realm of shadow is where the long march happened. I mean you yourself said Miquella had to divest himself of grace to get there. Regarding the Omen Killers, in terms of when they arrived, I’d make the same argument as I did with the Alabaster lords, the only makor difference being that they were established by Marika.

Regarding the crucible, it's interesting that irl, the history of life on Earth is often visually represented as a spiral

If Marika removed the Rune of Death at the start of her new Order, that can only mean that the Gloam Eyed Queen's war against Marika occurred BEFORE Marika became a God herself. In fact, at the start of the trailer, we see Marika pulling runes from white folds that could in fact be Godskin folds. Perhaps a final battle between chosen Empyreans at the foot of the Divine Gateway?

I like how this DLC flips the base game on its head. Who would of thought the Vampire Demon lord was a pawn in Miquella's game. 10/10 amazing!

Also the giants in the Mountaintops have something going through them that looks more akin to a spell from the Scadutree Avatar, curious.

This finally proves my theory that Placidusax's god was a Divine Bird, and its imagery was shown in the entry way of Malekith's boss arena. Also shows why the Death Rite birds are, well, birds. Those who tend to the crucible's funeral rites. I wonder why, tho, part of Faram Azula is in the lands between, north of Caelid (where the Beast Clergyman, Malekith, resides eating deathroot). Perhaps when Faram Azula was shattered part of it fell to the Lands Between.

In regards to the Greatsword of Damnation, I think the line “There is something of the Golden Order in the sight of those fixed upon this crux” has more to do with a war between the Greater Will’s influence of order and the Frenzied Flame’s desire for chaos.

I had a realization this morning that I feel some of you may find interesting. When Hewg says that Roderika the spirit tuner reminds him of someone he once knew, he's obviously referring to Marika. With new information from the DLC, it has made me believe that Marika seperated her beloved people the shamans from the hornsent, and elevated them to royals, as indicated by Roderika's red hood. Not only that, but I believe that Godrick was purposefully targeting the shamans or using his own shamanic blood to do the grafting, now that we know that their flesh melds easily with that of others from the DLC. This would also mean that in trying to save her people from persecution, she potentially resigned them to a different kind of it from one of her own children.

I think it's very intentional that the DLC flavor text says that the land of shadow is where the *Goddess* Marika first set foot, it's where she took her first steps *as* a Goddess, not necessarily her first steps period.

My headcanon goes like this. The Numen are from 'another world'. They arrived upon the world on which the Lands Between, Lands of Shadow (our world) exists via giant spaceships that appear to us as massive rune-covered coffins. The Numen were not like the Hornsent that occupied this region, and as a result their special powers appeared as magic, occult etc. As a result, they were called Shaman. They relocated to a village of their own, a place where they could prosper without fear of being attacked, farmed into jars etc because one of their traits as Shaman/Numen was an inherent ability to graft or be grafted. They were 'built different', more pliable, more compliant. Down the line, this could explain Godrick's ability to graft. And if all of Marika's descendents are also Numen, could explain their own great powers. The Hornsent staged a genocide against what was clearly a more powerful race. And wiped out all but one, in the shape of Marika. Anything of a high enough technology would surely be consided magic, think of Sam Raimi's Army of Darkness as an easy reference. Or, similarly Back to the Future. The Numen must have seemed so beyond anything supernatural the locals had ever witnessed. But at this stage, they were still a minority, easily squashed - or at least the small Shaman tribe that did not descend as Nox to the eternal cities were. Messmer would be Marikas weapon of mass destruction and tool of revenge for this crime. *It's half the fun isn't it, coming up with our own theories?* I assume the whole ascend to godhood parable, their true abilities etc not being obvious or might just not have occurred to them yet, or become fully realised reminds me of how Superman was just a 'regular man' on his home planet, it was only once he arrived on Earth where his abilities were fully realised eg. his planet had a super oppressive gravity endowing him with the ability to fly on ours.

I see everyone saying Radahn didnt want to be Miquellas consort. He promised and made a vow to be.

I was going to make an "I am a Ranni stan." joke, but you remembered to mention her at the end. Nice. The take on Radahn being an embodiment of stagnation in the game was one interpretation I haven't heard before. People are usually smitten that he learned Gravity Magic so he could still ride his horse, or that he was such a 'Chad' for being able to hold the stars in place even after his mind is a rotted out mess. However, the interpretation is right there in his actions: he can't bear to ride another horse, his two biggest heroes were the two Elden Lords of the Golden Order so locking the stars in place keeps Ranni from pursuing her radical path that threatened the order those two championed, she had probably already made things crazy with The Night of Black Knives.

On the Grandmother point. I’d suggest it might be a very early reference to the Greater Will. The Mother - Metyr, Mother of Fingers can be considered the daughter of the Greater Will. Metyr gifts Marika two fingers cementing a sort of mother/daughter relationship. Thus the Greater Will would be the Grandmother. We also know that Erdtrees are the way the Greater Will spreads its influence across the cosmos. We see hundreds of them when fighting Radagon/Elden Beast. The lock of hair feels like the first moment that Marika gives herself to the Greater Will and is gifted the Minor Erdtree incantation. Perhaps she swears allegiance to the Greater Will after seeing her village destroyed by the hornsent while she was away communing with the nearby Metyr.

38:25 - nope, it doesn't make sense since Maliketh was Marika's shadow, just as Bleidd was Ranni's shadow. Radagon could exist since Marika's arrival/birth/whatever, seeing as Miquella had his other side, Saint Trina and similarly his other side was of opposite sex. Miquella also shows us that it is possible to separate from their other self, seeing as he left Trina behind.

Awesome vid Smough I couldn't wait to finish the game so I could give it a watch. Of note though, the item description for Radan's original gauntlets reads: "From his youngest years, Radahn was naturally captivated by the Lord of the Battlefield." He could have felt betrayed when Godfrey was stripped of grace and banished, and in turn Miquella could have leveraged this in his plan to make Radahn his consort.

As soon as I finished the dlc, I rushed to your video. Another masterpiece by SmoughTown!

Do you think it could be possible that rellana at first didn't plan on standing by messmer, since the description of the helm specifically states: "chase after Messmer", but instead had plans to fight against him at first. And the reason it says she "renounced her lineage" is because to get to the land of shadows u kind of have to sacrifice yourself. It would also make sense that Rennala would then be accepting of it, therefore the gift. idk it's just something that came up to me when seeing this

Only halfway through the video but something just occurred to me, Sorry if this has already been pointed out. You can kind of map out the timeline of the Elden Ring based on the appearance and actions of Marika's children. There was the age of the Crucible This was when Marika was an Empyrean but of a marginalized people. The reasons for their marginalization is likely due to the fact that their powers threatened the hornsent. The way that their ability to merge with other people used against them is textbook example on how a people's traditions or gifts are perverted to serve the existing powers. It might also be that the hornsent could not produce empyreans themselves that they were doing their best to keep them underfoot. A saint could refer to an empyrean perhaps? Then there is the age of Marika's Ascension. This would likely have been the appearance of Radagon and when Messmer was born. Messmer is the only child that Marika actively has actually used her own power to heal or protect from his birthcurse. Messmer being the one connected to the snake of the abyss. Melina's birth and death marks another age When Melina appears is unknown, but I think that she was borne after Marika had won the war and bore the curse connected to Death and an ironic opposite to Marika's life. I believe that she was born during the age of the Erdtree and the golden order, but during a time, when death was still present in the lands inbetween. It would also possible connect her with Messmer in a way, since she bore the rune of death sending people to the "death realm", where Messmer rained fire and damnation. However, I believe that when Marika wanted to be rid the scadu tree realm entirely, it is possible that Melina rebelled. Essentially she abandoned her first two children and kept them apart. Radagong's marriage to Rennala and Marika's to Godfrey These could either be two or one age, but this one were the age, Marika actually had demigod children with suitors who were not gods. The Godfrey and The Renalla line. They are also the ones who were remarkable different and not cursed. Morgot and Mohg were of the horned lineage which like Melina is twisted irony, cause they would have been celebrated in a different age, but also taken from Marika. Godwyn the Golden literally sounds like the favorite pampered child, though his death and deeds are very idealized since he is dead. Radagon's children with Rennala all take from their mother and father in equal measure of madness and divinity. Ranni is an empyrean but one who is a believer in the age of the stars. Like Marika she is one that rejects the current age that she feels betrayed by. Shaped by the ideals of her mother, the rejection of their father and the disdain for the destiny thrust upon her by the fingers and Marika. Radahn almost feels like he is akin to Godwyn, except he is the ideal General/Warrior, while Godwyn was the ideal Prince. Rykard was the rebel, and possible the most strongwilled and extreme of Marika's children. Akin to Ranni and Marika he wished to usher in a new age, but I share the sentiment that the war simply wore down his choices in order to achieve his goals. Radagon and Marika's reunion Possible the last two demigod children, and perhaps the most terrifying and unfortunate of them. Malenia and Miquella, both geniuses in their blessings and yet these blessings were powers almost linked to the curses they received from their birth. Malenia being a God of plague and Miquella a God of Love freely given or not. They are really a tragedy, and yet perhaps the most peaceful of the the ages, as the twins grew up. Miquella clearly saw and heard and considered what his parents had done and intended to start a different age, but the perhaps most brilliant and blessed thing he created was saint Trina. Like Melina, Trina was an aspect of peaceful death/slumber and dreams, and represent possible an order of peaceful death the same way that Radagon represnted the golden order. These are likely a simplifaction of ages before the events leading to The Elden Ring Shattering, and I likely got some things wrong, cause it is likely that ages were not necessarily that divided, but certain events are VERY related to the appearance and acts of the Marika's children.

So what I'm getting is that rocking the Omen Armor and a Godslayer greatsword is very lore-cathartic.

I think Radahn is the second choice of a consort for Miquella. Miquella called Godwyn "Lord Brother" in some vanilla item descriptions. And in the cinematic he makes his pleadge with his "Lord Brother"

Considering Marika has all the symbolism of the alchemical rebis, and the thematic parallels that has with the crucible being this divine current of primordial life, I believe the jar rituals by the hornsent are coming from a place of jealousy. If the shamans could blend flesh harmoniously, I would imagine that the hornsent would recognize that as being a higher tier of divine blessing, than just the horns they would have. I feel them claiming the purpose of the jars is sainthood, it is just a lie to mask their real intentions. Jealousy. Which would make it even more bitter for Marika to witness.

I don't know why I heard "Miquella Shit himself of his divinity" but I did and now I'm dying laughing

I was upset that Mohg's shackle didn't work when I got to Radahn, but now I think it's because the shackle was bound to Mohg's omen form and he lost it upon death, which happens to Morgott, frail and weakened without horns. We never see Mohg's body so can't confirm. I think there's a lot more to be speculated about when it comes to the omen curse, in regards to the horn sent. Marika created the Erdtree, and from the mass amount of hornsent bodies that we see in the trailer. That is the crucible, children born from this mass grave, cursed omens. If any ending correlates with the DLC, I think it would be dung eater. I think Marika found a way to directly target those afflicted with the blood of the hornsent via the shackle, and the curse fades upon death. The reason revived Radahn has horns is because Miquella used the same means to achieve this resurrection, the mass grave. Cursing Radahn himself with the blood of the hornsent, absent of Mohg's own curse

Great video as always Smough, enjoyed it! I would encourage you to pay closer attention to Messmer's mid-fight cutscene and the implications of it. The eyeball he plucks out isn't the Iris of Grace - it's Marika's Sore/Scarseal. Literally a "Seal" that covers a "Scar" where the eye should be. Why would Marika place this here on Messmer? Why do so many other characters in Elden Ring have their eyes closed? I propose that outer gods and powerful beings outside of Marika and the Erdtree express their wills upon the world through vessels (similar to how Marika is a vessel for the Elden Ring/GW - note how we've never seen Marika's left eye). The abyssal serpent is only released after Messmer destroys the seal closing him away - even then, we never see Messmer's left eye. Mohg's left eye is pierced through with his horns, he's under the influence of the Formless Mother. The Flame of Frenzy manifests in the eyes - Vyke's left eye is burned by the grip of the three fingers. Ranni's spirit's left eye is closed. Both of Malenia's eyes are rotted over. Red glintstone grows in Alberich's eyes and thorns pierce the eyes of those who see the Blood Star. The Fell God of Flame manifests as the eye (which starts off closed) on the Fire Giants. Godrick's golden eyes are known to have faded. And then we come to Melina. Her left eye is closed, covered by an avian tattoo. Recall that death is associated with the avian via the deathbirds. I concede that Melina could be the GEQ, but I believe it is far more likely that she is acting on behalf of the GEQ. She's a vessel, or a tool, or an aspect of the GEQ, enacting her will and carrying out her, for lack of a better term, order. If Melina is a child of Radagon and Marika, which I believe she is, this would also make her cursed, just like all her kin. Cursed as in, they have the influence of an outside power inside of them. If you want to get REALLY deep in the lore reeds, this could be an alchemical allusion - Marika as a Shaman is malleable, just like her Order. She represents a metal, gold. Like Shamans do inside the jars, Marika absorbs the aspects of the foes she defeats... only to birth their vestiges and proxies later on. But, I digress. I really hope you find this helpful and thank you for reading it!

I think a key point in why we fight Miquella aside from the guidance of grace is implied by st trina. He gives up love to become a god, so will his rule really make the world a kinder place? Maybe it will be a kinder place because he plans to mind control everyone into getting along and being happy with the new order. This seems kinder to him but it removes other's agency. Like he removes the agency of Radahn and Mogh, and all the npcs at the start of the dlc.

There is one more thing that I believe should be investigated more. Miquella has 4 arms, not unlike Ranni (doll form). This to me signifies that there is some connection between Miquella andRanni. Some meddling on Miquella’s part, leading us(Tarnished) to kill Radahn. Miquella is a mastermind. He had a backup for a backup. If Radahn failed to uphold the vow, he had Malenia, and if she failed, he had us. Trying to figure out the details though. Moreover, Miquella’s heart stealing power makes me question actions by those near to him. Malenia is one. Other is Radagon(Marika). Radagon is mentioned to be close to him, so the actions by Marika taken during the Shattering, and her plot along with Ranni might not be of her own volition.

I love Elden Ring but can't tell my arse from my elbow when it comes to deciphering the lore. Thanks so much for making these videos, they're fascinating and completely rejuvenated my love for the game. Keep up the awesome work!

love watching this stuff while winding down before bed...

What if Melina was the gloam eyed Queen on Marika's order like Messmer, but in Marika's ascension she had to be treated as an enemy of the golden order. Edit: What if Melina burnt the Scadutree, that's why she's already body-less.

There is a sword/greatsword in the base game with flavor text of a child's prayer that Godwyn, lord brother, die a true death. When you take into account what happens in the DLC, you can assume that Godwyn the Golden may have been Miquella's first choice for lord, but when he realized Ranni had destroyed his soul, he sent Malenia to kill Radahn as his second choice.

I remember theorising that Radahn looked up to Godfrey because of his focus on strength. But now knowing he looked up to Messmer it makes sense. Also really interested in hearing more about the implications of the greater will apparently being absent for seemingly an age

Maybe Messmer and his army were able to be transported there because the lands of shadow didn't disappear all at once and instead it was a slow fading away type event. Ample to time for an army to march in and start a crusade with everyone too busy fighting to notice

Don't know If it fits under this Video but behind the Arena of gaius you can find an albunauric archer with her Wolf. Upon defeating she drops the Boots of gaius and it says that he is an albaunaric. For me this is crazy that a Guy who belong to one of the Most hated species in Elden Ring has trained with radahn and was considerd like an older Brother and / or friendly rival to him. And as Always great Video so far Geoff❤ cant watch the miquella part because Radahn is still using me as an punching ball but that last 20 minutes will be that much sweeter if i finally Beat him. Greetings from Germany

I think the fact that shamans could be melded well with others implies that Radagon was melded to Marika at some point. Also, he is not a ‘shadow’, not a ‘dark side’ of her. He’s very much Order-oriented guy.

What about Messmer being Marika’s brother, and not her son? Their mother, i.e. the person depicted in the statue at the shaman village and in the statue in Messmer’s arena, is the Grandmother. Proof of this is that all Marika’s statues in the base game are missing one braid, that we find in shaman’s village, and Marika herself is still missing some hair in the boss cutscene. But the statues in shaman village and Messmer arena have still all hair. Also, the person we thought being Marika in the trailer wears bracelets, and Marika doesn’t. My theory is that the person in the trailer is in fact Messmer’s and Marika’s mother. She could be a previous god before Marika, as DLC hints towards different reigns that go beyond the “before there were the dragons, then Marika”. For instance , Queen Marigga could be herself a previous god, influenced by Metyr the same way Marika was influenced by the Elden Beast (Marigga’s tribe was able to use magic although their race is said to not have enough intelligence) This is pure speculation, but to me the dlc is pointing right in that direction

Can you imagine being Mesmer, abandoned for what are aeons, for an annihilation war your mother sent you, only to see a Tarnished as the new Lord? Man titled so hard he subconsciously dropped every single belief he had so far and cursed his mother with his dying breath. It hit me so hard.

I didn’t even think about how Melina used the minor erdtree incantation, that confirms it for me! Absolutely Marita’s first daughter and paired with Mesmer.

One thing i find odd. In the lands of shadow, we see boats with quite similar arcitechture to the nox, meaning that the numen (and Marika) came by sea to the lands between. The problem is that since these boats are in the lands of shadow, there is a possibility that the numen came after the shadowlands were created. Its not a strong theory, but the boats must be connected to something?

My very different interpretation of Miquella and Radahn: To be eternally youthful and abundant is also to be eternally on the precipice of budding. I think Miquella's curse of eternal youth was more than that - it was at its core a curse of a loss of growth, of change. And of control. Miquella's devotions were real. His compassion emboldened and heartfelt. His love was his drive - the simple, childlike memory cutscene at the end affirms this. And therein lies the tragedy - that the more of his qualities he discarded, the emptier his godly acquisition became - the less control he had. How could he prevent his godly prison if he abandoned the very doubt that would have guided him away from it? How could he, as he slowly discarded all that made him who he was (it was presumably necessary for the acquisition of Godhood), retain his humanity? The whole Miquella good or bad conversation is the wrong question. The question is what is happening to him, and how it is affecting the things he is doing. The Miquella we find at the end of the DLC is a God, yes, but is utterly trapped. And it's likely he knew this would come, or at least felt it happening. How could he look out onto the age of compassion he had created? For he had abandoned his eye. He would never truly embrace those he so badly desired to, for he had abandoned his flesh. How could he confide in someone who loved him about this affliction, this grim fate? For he had abandoned his love. Miquella's Godhood was, in fact, a prison. In the end he was utterly alone in it, guided and perhaps comforted only by the faint light of a childhood memory - an innocent, passionate awe of an idyllic age of compassion, and the memory of his kind, lordly older brother. This is why Radahn appears so off-putting thematically and visually. And why the whole fight feels a little off-to putting, the entire Radahn premise. Because it is wrong, it is sad, it's a trapped, isolated God wandering in a spiritual void by a fate he could not control clinging to the only thing he has left - quite literally clinging. An empty memory void of all the real honour and love that Miquella saw in Radahn from the very start. And this is why the silence and nothingness at the end of the DLC is so important, and so necessary. You're supposed to feel that void. Miquella's glowing circlet of light, the core of his order, is already fading. The memory of his vow is darkened, empty, faint, and pleading. It is remembered one last time by the Tarnished, and then never again. He truly was forever on the precipice. It's heartbreaking. The new spirit larval year item I think is used to display that Miquella was both fated to a fleeting existence, and also that being in the land of Shadow brought him closer to a spiritual being. The more you think about Miquella's story in this sense the more haunting it is. It's like a spiritual horror movie, where Miquella aspired to be a god out of good, and then slowly learned of a deeper, more sacrificial nature of it all and had to accept that he would have to shred his own humanity and that the more he did it, the harder it would be to stop. Sort of like falling, sort of like a fissure. A stone coffin fissure. The game never says Miquella tried to kill St. Trina, or attacked her, or wanted to harm her. It specifically says he could not save her. Because he loved her. For she was the only other thing that would ever exist to truly understand his affliction - because they were one and the same. And she loved him more than anything. When he cast her down the fissure and sacrificed her to his own fate, this was likely an enormous, impossible emotional struggle. Like he had to watch as his Godly will gradually overtook him and the more he cast aside, the more the will overtook him even more. He was fated to become less of himself, not less than himself. Like he just had to sit there in a darkening void, and watch it all happen. Watching himself become less of what was in there, Godly or not. This is why it is so crucial that we understand Miquella's discarding. It's why he develops a religious-like cult of followers who treat him like a Christ figure - because he sacrificed everything out of love. But to sacrifice everything to become a God means that as a God, you are left with nothing. In the end, Miquella succumbed to his affliction. For it was the immovable force within him that would both compel him towards abundant compassion and torment him to never reach it. He was sentenced to disgrace his own order and values and by end have no control over it. I think this is why Miquella left us a trail alongside Marika's. Why there are Nascent butterflies just out of reach at the first moment of the game. Why Torrent ended up with us. Why a follower of Mohg, who was enchanted by Miquella, is the first character we meet. Why Miquella left so many of his crosses right next to sites of grace. So he would have a chance. A chance to be freed from his divine prison. We were, the entire time, his only hope. That we might kill him and grant him forgiveness, so he would not have to spend an empty age of Godhood alone in the torments of what he had lost. And the horror that it was always fated to happen. Miquella is like a black hole. So then the quiet, empty ending is pretty fitting when you put it in this perspective. A grand spectacle wouldn't have had the same effect. People complained that Elden Ring didn't have the same deep emotional silence that older souls games had, and then got so used to Elden Rings grandeur that they thought an ending that was exactly that was too boring.

I am no lore master by any means. There is one idea that keeps coming back to me related to the betrayal and seduction. If Marika was working with the Hornsent as a Shaman, maybe the shamans were not persecuted yet? Then the betrayal took place - Horsent started killing of the Shamans as an act of revenge? Marika planting/using the Minor Erd Tree in her village of origin could be the way of saying "I am sorry for what I have done to you". What we also miss is the timeline. Marika ascension doesnt mean all of this happened instantaneously. Perhaps when she asceneded there were no trees yet, though her action still lead to retaliation from the Hornsent? What you think?

I see a lot of people talking as though everything Miquella has done was one plan. Isn't it possible that the Haligtree was a failed plan and he went with Mohg as a plan B?

One of the things that is haunting is the realization of why Marika love Godwyn so much. Think about the order of her children. Messmer (and likely Melina), Godwyn, Mogh, and Morgott. While Messmer could be a Radagon and Marika child, I feel it’s more likely that he is the result of the seduction. So the first of her children is cursed. Mogh and Morgott are born, looking like the Hornscent. The same people that killed her people. Cursed yet again. Then there is Godwyn. No curse flame, horns, or blood. No sights of the Crucible. It proves to Marika that she is not tainted. He is born perfect. It was him that she could cling too.

given that the demi god curses seem related to Marika’s past sins (Omen twins as payment for the Hornsent slaughter; Rot from Romina to Malenia, etc) it makes me think Messmer’s snake curse would be from Marika’s original “betrayal” and could explain the possible snake head figure we see Marika draw strands of gold from in the trailer - also with the snakeskin near the “O Mother” gesture = maybe she seduced/betrayed Eiglay or other pre-Erdtree snake god?

I find it very interesting that Radhan would be Miquella's lord and not his sister or Godwyn. Godwyn would have been very poetic.

Excellente video man!! Here a suggestion: What if the "Crucible" is a rune (or various runes?) that were part of the Elden Ring? Maybe that rune represented the amalgamation the crucible is known to be, an amalgamation where order/desorder does not exist, because it is all blended together. Then, when Marika rose to godhood she confined the Crucible rune; thus creating order (The Erdtree), but alas, as Order exists, so Desorder, and thus was born too the Scadutree, wich inmediatly veiled all that was considered "a desorder"... And we could expeculate even further... maybe, in the gates of divinity, Marika slew whoever brandished the Elden Ring, reshaping it for a new Age of Ordering; that's why everything then came to be in opposition to the Erdtree: Order does find opposition in the enthropy of life.

The branding on the head of the jar people is 100% to mark them for sacrifice, using the meta justification that Miyazaki cannot stop himself from referencing Berserk

i do think that marika was definetly scared of mesmer because he wields fire and possibly had the means to burn the erdtree and her godhood to the ground for what reason what so ever. Rather be safe than sorry. She had no room for possiblities thats why she removed the destined death. Great Video as always love it

The Lore-Man cometh

interesting detail seems to be that Malenia is found sleeping when we fight her, it goes well with the St. Trina and Miquella duality. Miquella is afraid her love and attachments are going to hold him back in doubts of what he must do, that works very well with the idea that Miquella himself wasnt able to cure Malenia of her Rot but St. Trina is in turn the one that, in love for her sister, puts her to sleep when Miquella gets taken because she knows that miquella wont ever return and hes essentially abandoning Malenia in the Haligtree.

I'm confused how you view Radagon as the shadow self. Considering he is the one that embodies and stands for order. Marika, if anything better represents the shadow realm as she is fickle and flawed like a human. Radagon is the one that seemingly strives for order, inclusion. Maybe you didnt mean it that way. But I think being an Empyrean- the prerequisite of it- is having 2 selves. So perhaps he was always apart of her from the getgo. Basically, I dont think the DLC addresses him at all in terms of his origin.

As a side note, I love how Miquella is like "Oh I want a gentle rule" while Freyja is like "Yippee! Radahn will be resurrected for war and conquest!!!"

The mention of Shaman flesh melding well with others makes things in the base game make so much. How did Radahn survive the Rot? How did Rykard resurface after being digested by the Great Serpent? How is Godrick's grafting possible? Because their Shaman flesh is able to take in and integrate it. Why were Messmer, Miquella, Malenia, and possibly Melina born as the incarnations of Outer Gods of Flame, Sleep, Rot, and Destined Death? It's a stretch, but it can even explain why Godwyn's body was able to live on after death, spreading and mutating as his flesh along the GreatTree roots

Something i like about the idea of melina being messmer's sister is the irony of godwyn's fate. Messmer and Melina, Mohg and Morgott, Malenia and Miquella. All linked at birth by something as twins. And then there is godwyn, who isn't born with a twin but gets one in death in the form of ranni.

Once I was finished with the DLC and the last boss was defeated, I put down my controller, took a long exhale, and said to myself: "Now to wait for SmoughTown."

this might be a stretch, but isn't it such a sad detail that the jars in Jarburg, who probably distantly come from the shamans, are filling their village with flowers like the Hinterland is? and that the little ones dance around the flowers that grow around minor erdtrees, like the spell marika left behind in her home?

Visiting Bonny Village and Seeing how the Hornsent potentates would treat the Shamans.. and then making it to the Shaman’s village.. dear gosh the feels were hit.. it was all a story of an unending cycle of a broken Order being toppled and replaced by another broken one..

I may be making a pretty bold claim here but I'll say that unlike Miquella, who mainly uses his powers to compel people into following him, Messmer inspires genuine loyalty from his followers without resorting to power or coercion despite seeming like a grim, sullen demigod who knows nothing but war and slaughter. - Rellana renounced her royal title to swear fealty to him along with some Carian knights and sorcerers, becoming known as his loyal “Sword”. - Commander Gaius is one of his close friends who leads his ground forces. Despite being an albinauric who would normally be shunned by the Golden Order, he remains loyal to Messmer and holds a high ranking and respected position. - His Lordsworn soldiers and knights are devoted to him (With spirit of one going as far as being outraged that Marika has never embraced him). They've proven to be difficult enemies with many tricks up their sleeve, implying a level of training and discipline higher than even some knights in the Lands Between. - The Fire Knights, his personal guard, came from Leyndell’s upper echelons and noble families. It's stated they didn't mind being ostracized and disowned by their noble families back in Leyndell if it meant being at their lord's side, and tried to put Messmer's flame into themselves, to show their unwavering support. On top of all that, they did all of this knowing they’ll be shunned by society and erased from record with their deeds unsung and forced to wage an unending war without mercy or honor. They also have no real reason to stay in the Land of Shadow anymore. The Golden Order has collapsed, Queen Marika is imprisoned in the Erdtree and the Lands Between was ravaged in the Shattering, all before the Tarnished comes to kill any and all remaining demigods left. Messmer and his army could’ve deserted the Golden Order, splinter up and resort to banditry. Yet, even after all this time, Messmer’s army remained at their posts, unaware of the developments in the Lands Between, with little to no hint of any rebellion or mutiny aside from a few black knights who abandoned Messmer after discovering his “serpentine nature” and was imprisoned for it. Even after Messmer quashed their rebellion, he gave them an honorable burial and mourned for their loss.

The new Pot lore is still terrifying. I still remember the first time I saw them outside of their pots.

Everyone to Mohg before the DLC: *what a creepy little Mohg-lester....* Everyone to Mohg after the DLC: *........................................sorry Mohg.*

“I don’t care what they teach you at schools, the Crucible was a bird!”

"the Shamans' flesh was said to meld harmoniously with others" all I'm gonna say is maybe Godrick has more of Marika's genes than we initially assumed...

I don't think the statue we get O Mother from, the same statue in the hollowed tree, is meant to be Marika. I think it's meant to be a young version of The Grandmother of the Shamans, possibly a leader figure of their entire group. Marika has always been depicted as fairly full figured, and the figure of this statue is withered, thin, and frail. The other headless statues of Marika in the DLC don't have that withered, thin depiction either. That's just my assumption anyway.

An interesting idea I thought of, is the idea that the reason why Radahn is holding back the stars, was not to save others from a potential threat that the stars might bring upon the lands between, but to instead halt HIS OWN FATE of becoming Miquella's consort. I know a theory people had of why Radahn holds back the stars is because the stars couldve destroyed the town he learned gravity magic from. But why keep holding the stars back even after Malenia nuked Caleid? He mustve known everything would be destroyed anyways. But he keeps holding them back. Not for the town or for Ranni, but to halt his own fate. To spare himself what he believes would be a humilation by becoming consort to Miquella. To stop Miquellas plans of bringing about a new age.

The biggest piece of evidence for me beside's Messmer's kindling eluding to the fact that he and Melina are related is the fact that both of them have their left eye closed.

One major spiral design from the base game is the Elden Stars which would explain why the Hornsent are venerating that shape, and having the reference of the "golden Crucible" could imply that the Golden Star was the thing that became the Crucible. An another observation is that the omens are probably not Hornsent, they are likely the resoult of a curse by the Hornsent. Near the schorched ruins there is a ghost who says that she will forge a curse on Marik's children out of the resentment of the dead. The omens are also haunted by evil spirits and those spirits look like a horned face according to the omen smirk mask. We can also see them having nightmares while they are sleeping and I doubt the Hornsent having the same issues. (The Gandam can doze off seemingly peacfully) The Omen bairn calls the Omen curse born, while the Horned Bairn doesn't mention any curse and it is depicted having horns only on it's head while the omens are having horns all over theit bodies. Similarly all other animals in the land of shadow have horns only on their heads.

1:33:51 I like to believe when he praises his "loyal blade" he's referring to Malenia instead of Leda. Despite the obvious with her being the Blade of Miquella, she was the one who started the process of bringing back Radahn as Miquella's consort by infecting him with Scarlet Rot, which results in Jerren starting the Festival of Radahn to finally give him a warrior's death, which eventually (knowingly or not) finishes what the loyal Blade of Miquella started at the end of the Shattering. Which explains why he says how his "loyal blade" and "champion of the festival" shall forever be praised in song in his new Age of Compassion he seeks to bring with Radahn as his consort.