I love listening to you talk about the lore in your playthroughs. I’m grateful anticipating part two of your epic application of Carl Jung lens across Elden Ring lore. Brilliant work.
Mimic Veil genuinely boggles my mind from a lore perspective. Its name and function remind me of the mimic tears, who are artificial lifeforms made by the Nox using silver. In Elden Ring, mimicry is associated with the Nox and silver. But the Mimic Veil has the Elden Ring on it! And, instead of silver mist, golden light transforms the user. This tells me that the power of the Veil comes from the Elden Ring. Or, at the very least, the source of the Veil's power is different from other forms of mimicry in the Lands Between. Its intended use is the opposite of the mimic tears as well. The silver mimics were meant to create an artificial Elden Lord; and, the Albinaurics are artificial lifeforms. Contrast that with the Veil, which takes a living person and imitates an inanimate object. Perhaps there's a duality there... An important detail: the Elden Ring depicted on the Veil is incomplete, even by Erdtree era standards. The top ring is completely missing! If we knew what each ring represented, we might be able to decipher this. Lastly, "Marika's Mischief" HAS to mean something. We all know what Godrick used it for. But Marika had to have at least one use for it. I seriously wish I had an answer, but so far, I have nothing. Heck, maybe she just used it to shirk her duties as Queen now and then.
One thing I will say is that the Law of Regression is purely based off of intelligence (science) and reveals all kinds of mimicry. If we stick with the psychology theme, this could be saying that the Ego is playing god. The ego has become so dethatched from the other parts of the psyche that it believes itself a god (the incomplete elden ring) and the only truth and knowledge will really reveal what is going on.
Given that Elden Ring draws much inspiration from Norse mythology; such as the Erdtree paralleling Yggdrasil, the gods combating giants that hail from a land of frost, and many other references... When I see the words "Marika's Mischief", I immediately think of Loki, the god of mischief, who has the power to shapeshift and is a primary example of The Trickster archetype. He's a liar, a betrayer, and uses people until they are no longer useful to him, all of which we later learn applies to Marika to some degree as well. I believe that the Mimic Veil was placed in Stormveil not only to show how much of a coward Godrick is, but that it was planted in there by Miyazaki, in the very first legacy dungeon that many players will visit in their first playthrough, to sow the seeds of doubt that maybe Marika isn't really The Mother that we were led to believe she is. She might just be The Trickster consciously playing the role of the mother in order to maintain power as the queen eternal. It wouldn't be the first, or even second time, that the most motherly character of a Soulsborne game is nothing but a lie designed to lead the unsuspecting player character into doing her bidding.
What I like about "Marika's Mischief" is that it humanizes her a little bit, while still adding to her sense of mystery. I'm also curious to know what she used the veil for, but I'm not sure we really need to know. What matters is that it shows a side of her that's tricky and deceptive, perhaps even playful. I notice these qualities in Ranni, as well. This undertone of deceptiveness means you can never be totally sure of the designs of these mysterious women, and their unknowableness gives them a certain allure, befitting a goddess.
I think there is a possibility that Marika’s mischief prevails over much more of the story than many realise. For example, I think it’s quite possible that her “mischief” is what may be responsible for the casting down of the “nameless” eternal city that lies directly beneath a vast chasm in Leyndell that was once a functioning part of the city that a main gate and road lead up to. Which makes no sense if it were always a giant chasm and is quite conveniently directly above the nameless eternal city who shares in much of the stylistic architecture. Additionally we know they were cast out for attempting to create their own lord and radagon seems to appear from nowhere and possesses a name similar to: Rennala, Ranni, Radahn, Radagon. Naming thematics are a thing for a reason. For example Melina, Malenia, Miquella and Marika. Not only did Radagon appear from nowhere, but he just so happened to be tasked with meeting an enemy the golden armies could not defeat and just so happened to fall in love with their queen and learn all about their sorceries and silence their preceptors who harbour all of their/his secrets. He also just so happened to break Rennala’s heart and return to Marika once he had grown stronger and learned from an enemy that she could not defeat. Leaving behind a golden egg rune that functions specifically for rebirth and is reminiscent in many ways of larval tears and literally requires one to function properly and they can only be found by beings either using mimicry or located underground in the eternal cities. I think it’s clear where her origins lie and what her efforts have been throughout the game. Ranni specifically says: “I will not be controlled by that thing.” In regards to her two fingers. Additionally master Hewg speaks of Marika fondly, prays to her and made a “promise” to her lovingly. He speaks of being haunted by “the terror of her” as though SHE were terrified. Not as though she was terrifying. I think Marika learned how to operate outside of the two fingers influence and learned that the greater will had been using her and controlling her for ages in order to pursue its interests (the erdtree’s/greater will’s.) From the jars full of warriors placed at erdtree and minor erdtree bases, to the erdtree burial grounds to the removal of the run of death and even the machinations of the gloam eyed queen and the way Marika used Malekith, it all speaks to Marika trying desperately to rid the lands between of the greater will’s influence. Even at the cost of self sacrifice. Doing all she can to ensure the tarnished and her demigod children are each as strong as possible. Even tasking Hewg to fashion a weapon for us to use that can “kill a god.” Herself, Radagon, the Elden beast.
You don't need to wait til the DLC to meet Necromancer Garris. He's the boss of the Sage's Cave at the foot of Mt Gelmir.
haha thanks!
I love listening to you talk about the lore in your playthroughs. I’m grateful anticipating part two of your epic application of Carl Jung lens across Elden Ring lore. Brilliant work.
Mimic Veil genuinely boggles my mind from a lore perspective.
Its name and function remind me of the mimic tears, who are artificial lifeforms made by the Nox using silver. In Elden Ring, mimicry is associated with the Nox and silver. But the Mimic Veil has the Elden Ring on it! And, instead of silver mist, golden light transforms the user. This tells me that the power of the Veil comes from the Elden Ring. Or, at the very least, the source of the Veil's power is different from other forms of mimicry in the Lands Between.
Its intended use is the opposite of the mimic tears as well. The silver mimics were meant to create an artificial Elden Lord; and, the Albinaurics are artificial lifeforms. Contrast that with the Veil, which takes a living person and imitates an inanimate object. Perhaps there's a duality there...
An important detail: the Elden Ring depicted on the Veil is incomplete, even by Erdtree era standards. The top ring is completely missing! If we knew what each ring represented, we might be able to decipher this.
Lastly, "Marika's Mischief" HAS to mean something. We all know what Godrick used it for. But Marika had to have at least one use for it. I seriously wish I had an answer, but so far, I have nothing. Heck, maybe she just used it to shirk her duties as Queen now and then.
One thing I will say is that the Law of Regression is purely based off of intelligence (science) and reveals all kinds of mimicry.
If we stick with the psychology theme, this could be saying that the Ego is playing god. The ego has become so dethatched from the other parts of the psyche that it believes itself a god (the incomplete elden ring) and the only truth and knowledge will really reveal what is going on.
Given that Elden Ring draws much inspiration from Norse mythology; such as the Erdtree paralleling Yggdrasil, the gods combating giants that hail from a land of frost, and many other references... When I see the words "Marika's Mischief", I immediately think of Loki, the god of mischief, who has the power to shapeshift and is a primary example of The Trickster archetype. He's a liar, a betrayer, and uses people until they are no longer useful to him, all of which we later learn applies to Marika to some degree as well.
I believe that the Mimic Veil was placed in Stormveil not only to show how much of a coward Godrick is, but that it was planted in there by Miyazaki, in the very first legacy dungeon that many players will visit in their first playthrough, to sow the seeds of doubt that maybe Marika isn't really The Mother that we were led to believe she is. She might just be The Trickster consciously playing the role of the mother in order to maintain power as the queen eternal.
It wouldn't be the first, or even second time, that the most motherly character of a Soulsborne game is nothing but a lie designed to lead the unsuspecting player character into doing her bidding.
What I like about "Marika's Mischief" is that it humanizes her a little bit, while still adding to her sense of mystery. I'm also curious to know what she used the veil for, but I'm not sure we really need to know. What matters is that it shows a side of her that's tricky and deceptive, perhaps even playful. I notice these qualities in Ranni, as well. This undertone of deceptiveness means you can never be totally sure of the designs of these mysterious women, and their unknowableness gives them a certain allure, befitting a goddess.
@@CenteredTarnished when is the part two of your giant Carl jung lore video coming out? It was a master piece! I can’t wait for more!
I think there is a possibility that Marika’s mischief prevails over much more of the story than many realise. For example, I think it’s quite possible that her “mischief” is what may be responsible for the casting down of the “nameless” eternal city that lies directly beneath a vast chasm in Leyndell that was once a functioning part of the city that a main gate and road lead up to. Which makes no sense if it were always a giant chasm and is quite conveniently directly above the nameless eternal city who shares in much of the stylistic architecture.
Additionally we know they were cast out for attempting to create their own lord and radagon seems to appear from nowhere and possesses a name similar to: Rennala, Ranni, Radahn, Radagon. Naming thematics are a thing for a reason. For example Melina, Malenia, Miquella and Marika. Not only did Radagon appear from nowhere, but he just so happened to be tasked with meeting an enemy the golden armies could not defeat and just so happened to fall in love with their queen and learn all about their sorceries and silence their preceptors who harbour all of their/his secrets. He also just so happened to break Rennala’s heart and return to Marika once he had grown stronger and learned from an enemy that she could not defeat. Leaving behind a golden egg rune that functions specifically for rebirth and is reminiscent in many ways of larval tears and literally requires one to function properly and they can only be found by beings either using mimicry or located underground in the eternal cities.
I think it’s clear where her origins lie and what her efforts have been throughout the game.
Ranni specifically says: “I will not be controlled by that thing.” In regards to her two fingers. Additionally master Hewg speaks of Marika fondly, prays to her and made a “promise” to her lovingly. He speaks of being haunted by “the terror of her” as though SHE were terrified. Not as though she was terrifying.
I think Marika learned how to operate outside of the two fingers influence and learned that the greater will had been using her and controlling her for ages in order to pursue its interests (the erdtree’s/greater will’s.)
From the jars full of warriors placed at erdtree and minor erdtree bases, to the erdtree burial grounds to the removal of the run of death and even the machinations of the gloam eyed queen and the way Marika used Malekith, it all speaks to Marika trying desperately to rid the lands between of the greater will’s influence. Even at the cost of self sacrifice. Doing all she can to ensure the tarnished and her demigod children are each as strong as possible. Even tasking Hewg to fashion a weapon for us to use that can “kill a god.” Herself, Radagon, the Elden beast.
cant wait for the next part tarnished