The MAJOR Plot Point Of Elden Ring DLC | Lore Theory 

Elden ring hitting 100k+ peak player counter on steam alone is INSANE Shows how popular & beloved the game is because the DLC is not even out yet, its just dedicated fans prepping for the DLC. It's not a live service either & the DLC trailer has the highest number of likes any Bandai namco or From soft video has ever got When DLC arrives it'll probably be over 500k

I think the homie is Rosus. His broach resembles the swirling stone heads of the Erdtree burial watchdog staves. They guard catacombs, Rosus points to those. Him being an old man, like the hunched back Rosus, makes me think this is the same guy. One could also point to him as a sort of Hades figure (the death ritual spear branch, the association with catacombs and death), the watchdogs evoking Cerberus, the tibia mariners Charon the Ferryman. The woman behind him in the painting perhaps being a Persephone figure? Marika as a Christian metaphor would make sense in coming after these potentially Greek inspired figures

The “wicked golden spike” sure looks a lot like the golden structure inside of the Elden Beast when it stands up tall.

The Erdtree Monk is in my walls

The fact that the erdtree has a "primordial form" means more than i think we give the line credit for.

I think we are the knight of Miquella ...Torrent was gifted to us and one the sword of Miquella has no owner. We either serve him willingly or we are controlled by him since the beginning.

thats Marikas dad and she used him to grow the Elden Ring

Here within a minute stop playin

I pre ordered a day after the trailer and now I’m re playing on a fresh save in preparation. we are all hungry for the largest dlc for the best game series

I really think the few seconds we see of the impaled monk is from the intro to the final boss of the DLC. It seems like such an intentional parallel to Marika's crucifixion before the final battle of the base game. I agree that the monk is probably tied to the birth of the Erdtree and think he's probably a sacrificial figure. Sacrificial kings are a huge topic in George Frazer's The Golden Bough, a work on mythology and religion that has a lot of influence on ER (the Finger Reader in Deeproot Depths even uses the phrase "golden bough" verbatim).

I want to point out, the monk has been "impaled" by the yellow spike(I also think it's an amber from the shadow tree, either that or peanut brittle). Maybe the spikes is a punishment from Messmer, he is called the Impaler.

I have a theory: On the painting at 1:42 I had to think of the Mona Lisa. The reason she has her arms crossed and is a litte bit chubby is because she is pregnant. She is also wearing a veil and that particular type of veil was worn by pregnant women at that time. The woman on the painting in the trailer is wearing a veil too and reminds me of the Mona Lisa. With this reference in mind and Mogh saying 'welcome to the birth of our new dynasty' I think he means the birth of a new god. Because Marikas dynasty eventually started with her becoming a goddess we maybe witness the birth of a new god. The last pictures of the trailer could show this moment because we see this radiant figure (it is 99% Miquella) lifting it's arm to the tree and there is no veil. This could mean that the pregnancy is over and the new god is born. Probs to the youtuber Incognito Mode for his video 'Even Fancier: Paintings' who spoke about Mona Lisa, her pregnancy and the veil.

I actually thought that the Land of Shadow was linked to the Lands Between in an "as above, so below" sense, and that the Lion Dancer was supposed to be an embodiment of the Golden Lineage. The lion itself would embody Godfrey, of course. The lightning it wields would represent Godwyn the Golden at his peak, and the smokey breath it spews would represent Godwyn at his nadir. It also has horns on the forehead, symbolizing Morgott.

Seeing it here in slow motion, it actually looks like this monk character is pulling a great rune out of his body. Like a piece of the elden ring that had become separate.

The spike the monk is impaled with also looks like the candlesticks those guys are carrying in the trailer in the scene with the reverse grip curved swords

I think the monk seems a lot like the father of the erdtree possibly marikas father I think the way it portrays the "monk" almost looks as if the impalement was self inflicted showing sacrifice rather than punishment marikas father sacrificed himself as the vessel for the erdtree to bloom

Countin tha days bro countin tha days!!❤

The fact that Godfrey and his crucible knights knew about and used the power of the crucible could also explain why Queen Marika exiled them, while also planning to bring them back as a contingency plan should she need them in the future.

has anyone talked about how Eleanora is dressed pretty much exactly like messmer? Just faced her again for the first time in years since im setting up my 2nd playthrough for SotET and was realized how much they look alike

I be watching these videos and playing the game at the same time. I'm trying to do all I can before the DLC drops. Thank you for this video.

I just wanna say, outside of the content. You are very consistent and the way you run your Channel is admirable, offering lifestyle change and better health over simply reselling your content or offering videos earlier very cool. Good stuff keep it up

He's definitely gonna be a boss fight

Didn’t notice the blood bursts out of his neck. It’s so disgusting, I love it.

Loving these new ideas 😍

alright, whusgowinawhn guys?

what if marika took a branch from the shadow tree and brought it to the lands between, planted it, and it grew into the erdtree? this is a thing that trees can do in real life and that would explain the leaking sap from the shadow tree, as well as why miyazaki said the shadow land is the birthplace of the golden tree. not only that, but it would explain why miquella’s haligtree failed, because he grew it from a seed, rather than taking a branch from the shadow tree back to the lands between. thus in the dlc he would try again, this time he would go to the shadow land and take a branch, so that he could try and make a new erdtree??

Imma guess, the people in the painting are Marika's parents, if the land of shadow was were she first set foot, could interpret it as the place she was born.

Looking at the spiked ‘rib cage’ that the monk has looks awfully similar to the rib cage of the Elden Beast

Also, if you see the Monk in the DLC, kind of has that symbol of the small closing circles and big ones outside, if you can picture it. I am talking about the symbol in the TAKER's CAMEO.

Man… the Metroid prime music alone got me to sub. First time watching one of your videos and can already tell this is a good channel.

Fuck I can’t waiiiiiit

I believe that the DLC will be very heavily focused on the idea of the Fire's Deadly Sin and its relation to Destined Death. Enia already offers us a peak about it: "The Rune of Death goes by two names; the other is Destined Death. The forbidden shadow, plucked from the Golden Order upon its creation..."

Dude, the cloth physics and lighting on the monk's garb, it might be the most impressive shot in the trailer.

Great stuff, really enjoying these speculation vids leading up to the DLC. One minor thing I noticed which probably has little to do with anything but I though was cool anyway, in the scene showcasing the new throwing dagger weapon, there's a large cloth with a dark colour and gold trim dangling from a building on the left side of the screen. I thought it looked familiar and upon returning to the game I realized it's very similar to the dark cloth with gold trim that's draped above Gurranq in the Bestial Sanctum, not quite a perfect match but very similar.

I'm using pto on the 21st-25th for some dlc grinding

Fantastic video! Was wondering if you have thought about the Candletree Shield you get in the Sage's Cave? It seems like the enemy in the trailer attacked by the Tarnished using reverse grip daggers is holding a candle shaped exactly like it. Considering that shield describes a cardinal sin it makes that enemy extremely interesting.

The statues with the flowers in roundtable hold, the tree the buds are on looks a lot like the death rite bird spear.

The dark golden glow of the spike is very reminiscent of the underdeveloped tree that is growing in the Minor Erdtree Church in the capital outskirts. So i could totally see it being wood from a tree.

When you first get to Marika, the red "spear" in her. Is that from Mesmer? Same color and all, plus Mesmer the "Impaler".

The sword of milos is a kings field and shadow tower reference. It was there as well. Its an hp drain sword that looks like a fishs spine.

Just a thought: The image of this monk pulling these golden thorns from his body is kind of evocative of when the Elden Ring is shown in Merika's body at the end of the game.

A lot of mausoleum knights and lilies in elden ring point to the ocean behind the shaded castle and shade is a synonym for shadow

those branches the monks are holding remind me a lot if the death ritual spear

1:04 nothing like seeing a good old gym ad

This is good!

I feel like there's a good chance you get one of the martial arts from the monk/around their legacy dungeon

Just started a play through again with the intention of a thorough completion to have a very well equipped character for the DLC

I have a theory. You talked about how it could be possible that marika achieved godhood in the land of shadows. Maybe when you go to the land of shadows you become an empyrean and if you do something specific there you become a god

To me it looks like the same gold that Marika is crucified on. Like he’s been smote by the Greater Will or even Marika

Hi Ziostorm great video as always. But I don't know why not one lore analysis creators get the launch date hint of June 21

I think you have cracked it my lad.

1:49 huge point that Vaati made. The seal the old man wears in the picture is of Gideon the all knowing. It’s his eye seal

The man from the DLC you keep calling a monk, I don't think is a monk. I think it's more likely he was a noble, and is wearing a cloak. That is what the broach is holding closed. Plus, monks usually didn't get portraits painted, especially ones with a woman beside him. Again, that's something nobles did. Whether the lady is his wife or daughter, we don't have enough information to say.

The spikes coming out the sides reminds me of the Helphen Steeple

The reason the trees in the tree-tender statues look like the spikes on the death ritual spear is because the death ritual spear is based on real life weapons such as the seven-branched sword and branched spears like the langxian 狼筅, which are described as branched precisely due to the resemblance to a branching tree. Langxian were sometimes even made to directly resemble branching vegetation with blades as the leaves.

A crucible is a vessel to contain extreme heat in metal working. The giants forge connects both to volcano Manor, and the frenzied flame.

This makes me think that maybe the erdtree burials are a facade for sacrifices needed in order for the erdtree to stay alive. Maybe the erdtree needs bodies to grow and these “monks” are kind of vessels for minor erdtrees just like Miquella gives his body to feed his tree. If so, the rune of death being cast out is actually the plot against the erdtree/golden order. The golden order needing the tree to “survive” (as faith/gods dies by being forgotten) the tree would had to die first. If there were a cult of believers who would give themselves as vessels, would make sense for the monks to have a deathbed companion or even a lineage carrier (since we don’t know what role the woman in the painting represents. Could be both, could be Merika, could be how the first demigod was born, by the grace given as a gift to the first vessel). I really like this theory. It makes a lot of sense.

I'd love to be a strength build ambassador (when I get back to making content and my personal training certificate 😅). Really great idea, huge fan

We're finally going to get answers about the gloam eyed queen. The land of shadow looks dusky....like the gloam of twilight during the finsl light of the setting sun. The GEQ was an empyrean, and the god before marika, not a would-be usurper. Hence why the GEQ and the godskins (who are heavily tied to snakes) had access to the rune of death, which was still part of the elden ring until AFTER her defeat by Malekith, whereupon it was removed by Marika

Those bound Bodies in the swamp kind of remind me of those one eyed stones gathered by the evergaols

i taught the Golden spikes running through that monk looks like the spiked fragments from the elden ring like the ones seen inside of marika`s hammer

the things in that deathblight swamp that are on the floor look more like the tips of fingers, it's most likely one of those big hand enemies

This theory is doing doing leaps and jumps with the flimsiest of "evidence"

That decorative broch might be the eye of St.Trina on the torch

The guy with the sword in his body if u pay close attention it fit perfectly with the elden ring symbol.

Lets go love the videos

I don't know if you noticed this, but the fire monk camps and the giants in the mountaintops have spears that look like Messmer's weapon. Maybe messmer has influenced the events that took place in the lands between?

Ziostorm is reaching HARD today. Love to see it.

I still hope we are gonna interact with Godwyn somehow,I really love him as a character.Maybe his soul is drifting in the land of shadows... On another note, if someone knows the chanting music in the background of the video at 2:25 please let me know. I know it's the Metroid Prime Ost but I can't find that specific track.

Miquela's Haligtree is quite literally an attempt to replace the Erd Tree. And the Haligtree is clearly missing one of its two trunks. I wonder if that missing trunk has been taken to the land of shadows and might even be related to the second tree encircling the Erd Tree.

The golden stake looks a lot the Elden Ring Rune stuff (Specifically the roots parts in the old Farum Azula one maybe). The the material looks a lot like amber, maybe Erdtree or Crucible sap?

The golden branch inside the monk looks to me to be part of the old elden ring seen in Maliketh's boss arena. Maybe the monk houses it like Radagon/Marika does.

I noticed thst there is a 4th kind of butterfly, although it cannot be looted. They are pink, bright pink, very distinct from the rest. As far as I know, they can only be found in inside the Haligtree, just as you enter inside the tree.

Is it me? Or ITEM: The blasphemous Blade - , has a similar stylized Symbol to that of the Clasp on the Man in the Trailer? Could it be Blasphemous, for this very purpose? Whilst I know it attributed to Rykar because he is (lord of Blasphemy). But could it the so called (last resort) be related to killing more gods or demi-gods and this is related to the plot? I cant help but think that this may be related to some familly tree feud? Like the War of Roses, wherein so many relatives and descendants lay claim to the same heritage. This may tie Liurnia in some ways with this story. And I hope so... The Cuckoo.... (continued)? I think the figure in the Raya Lucaria library-forum like surroundings is related to the Cuckoo-order. Perhaps its leader? As we dont hear nor have much lore behind the driving forces of it in the main game. Only that they exist and are at odds with the Royal familly. I highly suspect we'll have a bunch of new information on the Knights of the Cuckoo Order.

Current recipe: Erdree has subduing presence- as long as it exists, there can be only one? Strangling tree in land of shadow is a second attempt by miquella to grow an Erdtree, but instead of completely separate, it’s parasitizing the Erdtree as its shadow. Similarity to death ritual spear with the sap idea (along with the design of other things tied to various implementations of “death”) could imply the rune of death’s power is shared with objects of similar shape, essentially The Shape of Death. The forking design of the shadow tree could then mean its purpose is to essentially kill and subsume the Erdtree, directly stealing whatever was missing from the haligtree attempt.

I never noticed those statues in Roundtable Hold. I actually really like the comparison of the growing tree to the Death Ritual Spear. If you read its description, it mentions that there were priests that could walk amongst and protect the Deathrite birds, and that they would eventually be resurrected. Well, if the Land of Shadow is where Marika became a god, then it would make sense that these priests were still around since there was no Erdtree. As we know, the Erdtree originally was where souls went after death to be reborn, before Marika removed Destined Death from the Elden Ring. This could make the growing tree with the alternating branches a symbol of rebirth from the founding of the Golden Order, based on the Death priest ritual spears. Now, I don’t know who this person was, but let’s say that Marika wanted to punish him, then trapping him in immortality and preventing him from resurrecting would be a great way to do that. The thorn branch is also golden, maybe alluding to the fact that it was Marika who put it there.

Regarding the version of the bald man with sapling on the Altus Plateau, the buds on the surrounding plants are what un-opened sunflower buds look like.

It looks like head head is being severed as he pulls the thorn blade out. Voluntary decapitation or obscuring the head is usually used as a symbol of devotion/obedience in From soft games. Literally sacrificing himself to draw out the sapling

that erdtree monks broch looks a bit similar like the one which holds the feathers on the Raptor armor

Seems like his golden robes once resembled what Corhyn’s robe would’ve looked like, he even has what looks like a blindfold over his left eye.

If you look at 1:59 the veil kinda cast a shadow over the lands like a skull

OK, check it out: Radagon is a mimic. But he's the mimic of a god, so he's got more powers than our mimic and the way it works is slightly different too. Marika was a Numen, with ties to the Nox, who tried using mimic tears to create an Elden Lord. Marika actually succeeded in this, but she had to keep it a secret, so her mimic doesn't look like her, but it's how they're the same person. Marika created the mimic to be in multiple places at the same time (like fighting the Carians in one place, while holding down the Order in another place). Her mimic, Radagon, was semi permanent (unlike ours) and he developed his sense of self over time, which lead to things like marrying Rennala. It may have also lead to creating the albinaurics (ties to the Nox) and the misbegotten (in ages past), like the red haired warrior type, one of which wields Radagon's sword. This also may have led to Radagon mating with a dragon (long ago) and producing offspring. Offspring that has dragon eyes (like when we partake in the dragon communion) and has winged serpents surrounding him. Offspring who Marika would not necessarily approve of, yet keep around, since it's basically her offspring. If not that, then Messmer is the child of the Gloam Eyed Queen and Placidusax, with the GEQ being the god to whom Placidusax acted as consort and Elden Lord. This also explains the dragon eyes, as well as the statue in Maliketh's arena of the little girl and three wolves, as well as the biggest godskin fight happening in Farum Azula. Could also explain why Messmer's fire looks like the fire of Destined Death.

Shadow work is big in psychology . The Centered Tarnished has the best lore videos i lve seen . And hes super lowkey

I would like to hear your thoughts on the intertwined trees and their nature

The monks face seems covered by branches in front of dectus. Just a small detail that seems to make sense if it's the same dude.

The “erdtree monk” looks quite alot like how morgot does after we defeat him and his omen features are expelled. Dont know if this may have any connections but they looked similar

the spikes going through him looks like it fits the bottom of the start screen

You definitely need check out Tarnished Archeologist's video on IRL tree grafting and the Erdtree if you haven't already as I think there's a lot there that'll be relevant to this video. I think your idea of Marika cutting off the Land of Shadow to stop others from getting their own Erdtree sapling to challenge hers is right on the money though. Miquella seems to have two motivations from what we know: grow his own Erdtree, and save his brother from living in death. Maybe both are linked and the only answer is for Miquella to go there and create his own Erdtree in the Land of Shadow? Then he becomes god of life and death and can save Godwyn?

I think the tree at the center that's having it's sap leak and be collected is the Primordial Great Tree and the tree wrapping around it like a Parasite is the Erd Tree.

its not just some golden spike its a huge golden(sword?) knife like the black knife

So we finally will meet " may chaos take the world " guy

Also, really cant believe nobody else has pointrd this out in 2 years, but the sapling from the statue of baldy has its branches growing in sn srrangement almost identical to the death ritual spear. Meaning its likely tied to, or in fact is, the Helphen

That “but” at 4:44 killed me

Whats the black and red spike that merika is impaled by in the urd tree.

At about 8 20, i think those are hand spiders waiting for you to walk on the

Makes me wonder if The land of Shadows is where Melina comes from? She appears to us burned and bodiless as if she did the same thing Ranni and Mequella did: divesting themselves of their flesh and free up their spirit to move about unimpeded by the Greater Will.

Oh Gidday! I dunno if this interests you, but I noticed the all the Devine towers on the map align up with what could be the new map, and I sorta reckon they might be holding up the veil

This theory actually makes a lot of sense. Miquella is following his mothers footsteps as we are following his. He needs whatever she used to become a God. It's a nice tie in. It also fits into my own theory that the land of shadow represents things best left forgotten. Marika has skeletons in her closet and this is where she keeps them. Whether it be the crucible, sources of blasphemy, a child born of wedlock, and now the source of godhood.

The Golden spike in the monk to me looks like the elden ring itself or at least the bottom portion of each circle.

The priest broach kinda looks like the fire giants eye when he opens it