Extra point: I forgot to mention the two deeds miquella refers to in his intro, that will be celebrated in song. I wager these deeds are: 1) halting the stars and 2) dying in the grand festival I hope you enjoyed the video! For those who want me to be louder, yall are fighting a losing battle 😂 It is what it is, the volume is set to euro standard and I am set to soft spoken 😅 If you think you hear birds squawking you are NOT going insane, they are Rainbow Lorries and they are gorgeous but outrageously loud and unrelenting, I’ve near lost my voice with the amount of retakes I had to do to try and record in between their OBNOXIOUS conversations, so apologies in advance!
See, my interpretation was that Miquella was referring to our Tarnished and Leda, the champion of the festival being us since we killed Radahn, and Leda being Miquella's loyal blade. The deeds I believe are everything we accomplished to reach that point as well as the final epic battle we had right before reaching the divine gate. Miquella refers to Radahn as his "lord brother" specifically here, which makes me believe he's congratulating us and Leda. I also remember someone interpreting "loyal blade" as Malenia, too.
Love these videos btw, considering these are the first 5 you have dropped and their all really good. The two deeds are Melenia fighting radahn & you finishing him off in the festival. He mentions his loyal blade (blade of maquila). Also, i think the way Miquella "steals you heart" is the real point that needs exploring. He "artfully" stole the heart of Ansbach, and we see him tactfully try and offer us promises that are very similar to Rani, knowing this is what we want to hear. I think he does the same to everyone. he offers them what they want, that's his power, knowing what a soul desirers (all things will flourish, whether graceful, or malign) and then alinging your beliefs with his.. He doesn't care if its good or evil because to him, its all the same, a whisper in the ear. The reason why this is relevant is i believe Goldwyn was a promised consort, as i believe it also could have been Radahn, Malenia, or Us, if needs be. To him, we are all tools being told what we want to hear. The reason Radahn resisted, was because of his great rune, burning with fire to keep away the rot. The rot is an outer god, so his rune is burning to ward away an outer god. His great rune is actually protecting him from Miquelas influence, which is why he said no. My proof of this is that in phase 2, when Miquella returns from the god gate, Radahn again burns with fire trying to ward off Miquellas influence. However, it then gets engulfed in golden flame from Miquella, now to powerful to be resisted. (And Miquellas great rune confirms they can have the power to ward of charms ect).
I assume you're referring to his dialogue in the cutscene? "My loyal blade" can to me only refer to Malenia, the Blade of Miquella, who brought Radahn to the brink. While we are the "champion of the festival", that finished the job, somehow sending Radahn to Miquella. (in that regard I suppose we literally sent Radahn to meet god XD)
MIQUELLA: "Radahn, if I become a god- will you marry me?" RADAHN: "Uh, that's... look, you're my half-brother and I'm not-" MIQUELLA: "You sure?" [sways hips] RADAHN: "It's not going to happen." MIQUELLA: "You know you want me." RADAHN: "Over my dead body." MIQUELLA: "MELANIA! HE SAID HE'D DO IT! GET YOUR SWORD, I'LL EXPLAIN ON THE WAY!"
Of all the endings and parallels to Marika one in particular struck me with a single line of dialog: "Farewell, Lobo. My faithful wolf, my better half." Latenna, considered to be the furthest from divinity due to her human-made nature was alone the most saintly in her motivations. After having been divested of all she knew and loved she sacrificed herself so that she could give the one thing she had left - a birthing drop to give her people a real future. She didn't care about ruling. It was pure altruism. The 'gods' no better than men were all outdone by the one least god or man who proved to be more than both combined.
@@ScumMageInfa I’m so glad I’m not the only one. I was really afraid I was gonna post this and then a bunch of young’ns would be thinking, “The Crow?? What the heck is that???” Lol
I imagined it like I was getting a massage or something and the massage therapist was just gently whispering this at me while soothing music played in the background
Sir. All I have to say is thank you. Everyone saying that it makes no sense for radahn to accept a vow with miquella is blind. Why wouldnt radahn want to take on malenia? Why wouldnt he want to rise to the status of elden lord? Its crazy that people think he would not be interested in this vow.
@@ScumMageInfa but is he though? How will he have endless war if everyone would be compelled in Miquellas new age? Who would radahn fight? And why does Radahn need to escape the greater will? He’s not an empyrean. The most radahn thing to do would be to gain all great runes through the wars to be fought with his family, no? And Leda really makes no sense as an aspect of Miquella, she’s extremely distrusting of practically everyone else. And she was charmed, and mentions it. She just doesn’t care, and she’s not the only one who doesn’t care if they were charmed or not.
@sincorazon9920 he gets three things that he would love. He gets to die in honorable battle against the undefeated Malenia, he gets to be reborn after that death as A LORD. And finally he gets to unite the entire world under his and miquellas banner. I don't think radahn wants endless war. Radahn wants to prove that he is the strongest. It's not like we see redmanes wantonly attacking the lands between. They met an invasion into their territory. It doesn't sound like an army led by a bloodthirsty war mongering ruler. He commanded love and respect from all his soldiers, does that sound like someone who is carelessly working them to the bone sending them out to conquer? It just doesn't add up, the only thing that makes sense is radahn willingly promising to become consort to miquella.
And that’s why godwyn merged with death!!!!!! He’s shaman. I saw the other day that Godfrey is a demi god too. Also rahdan didnt go crazy until he got his great rune.. it was a great rune that drove them all mad. Lastly i think Midra’s story is to show us love can stop one from ascending. I think it was his unwillingness to to burn everything away including nanaya that made him “too weak” to not be frenzy Lord. When he gives up that love, he turns
What I find interesting is that runes that demigods have oddly match them perfectly. And it couldn't be fate, it was halted by Radahn holding the stars. I'm pretty sure runes and their holders were able to mutually influence each other. And they can react to further stimuli, like Radahn rune inflaming itself to slow down the scarlet rot.
@@chillax319 yes. I believe the shards flamed whatever ambition the owner has. It makes morgott look regal and full of life, it lets rahdan become mammoth size almost invincible to regular weaponry or fighting method, Melania’s strengthens her as she fights through the rot. If any of them had the whole ring they would bring an age, but none of their qualities would make a whole. None of them had what it takes to seize the Elden Ring. The shards ultimately distracted them with their obsessions. Miquellas was love….. and we see what he did with that.
Yes indeed he does! It is like they cut... MOST of it D: He also has an extra voice line if you BREAK the charm during the fight and let him re-hug you ;)
Wow really great thoughts shared here, especially love your insights about the nature of the vow and the balance of power and compassion. I don't think I've seen anyone explain that as well as you have here! Also KITE THE COMPASSIONATE!! 💙😭(That is until we need to strike people down...) Thanks so much for sharing with us all your wonderful video!!!
Love your quiet whispery style. This is a very well made video. To become a god, it is said, one must cease being human. Mimicry is the sincerest form of flattery. The part where you compared Miquella's and Ranni's ending speech gave me chills.
Also, I love the theory that Leda is an albinauric but the fact that she has working legs is too big for me to ignore, I suppose she could have been created recently and thus her legs are still intact or she could possibly have prosthetics as Miquella has been proven to be a damn good inventor but idk... I'd like to believe it, but I would need slightly more evidence.
That's entirely possible, but my personal theory is that she's actually an aspect of Miquella himself, considering she's ethereal. Try slashing at her, she just dissolves and reforms when you rest at the grace.@@Aceius
I think the reasoning doesn't add up. Radahn "ensuring" his own death through a vow with Jerren would equate to him doing the deed himself. Radahn putting everything in place for his demise in combat while at the same time fighting to prevent the fulfillment of his promise to Miquella. That's a major contradiction. Note that this is prior to him going mad from the rot, and it certainly doesn't add up then. But even post-rot he still has enough awareness to keep holding the stars in place. So it still doesn't add up. His vow to Miquella would be entirely meaningless to Miquella. Radahn would never fall unless Radahn accepts his fall, so he accepts and refuses his fall? No, this doesn't work at all. And I forgot to mention Leonard. Radahn would absolutely never, under any condition, give up Leonard. Never, never, never. He learned gravity magic specifically so he could ride around on Leonard forever, even when he went mad from the rot he still held on to what he loved. It's not possible that he would willingly surrender to Miquella if it meant giving up Leonard. Btw don't worry about my criticism. Nobody gets the lore right in ER, especially not those who craft theories. The point of the theories isn't to be correct, but to be creative and have fun. They also serve to advance our insight so we can discard old theories and make better theories, it's a long process.
3:36 When Marika became a god, the sky was purple with yuge black storm clouds, with the pure yellow light of a new morning coming in from the Gates of Divinity, yet with Miquella the sky is an overcast yellow/gold, as if the new order has aged and decayed, while the Gates radiates a glorious sun-like light that Miquella steps from within. It kinda feels like the the gates help the old order rebirth into the next generation and Marika betrayed the cycle to create her own order, rather than perpetuate the one she was born into.
Duality is a huge theme in fromsoft games especially this one. Life in death. Order in disorder. The helixes that are everywhere symbolize it. Marika herself epitomizes it with endless compassion & endless tyranny. She didn’t want her people to suffer so she removed destined death but it also broke the cycle. She wanted everyone to be happy & live forever but couldn’t forgive the hornsent for genociding her people to create her.
@coltrueg Freya said radahn wanted endless wars but miquelpa wants to control all. Another reason why I don't think radahn went willing but that's me .
I have no idea how you come up with this stuff, but it's incredibly fascinating to think about. I'm over here drawing triangles, and you've got the whole plot mapped out 😂 awesome work as usual my dude! 🔺️
I’m not convinced the “vow” was between Miquella and Radahn at all - I always thought it was strange that in the last cutscene Miquella states “**IF** we honor our part of the vow” and THEN asks Radahn to be his consort. If consortship is the whole point of the vow then why even say this line? I suspect that the “vow” is between all the demigods (except Morgott, and Mohg if he hadn’t been Miquellested) and marika to free her from godhood. This is supported by the sword monument in Altus speaking of a conspiracy as well as Morgotts line “willful traitors all” referring to all the demigods who betrayed the erdtree
Imagine phase 1 radahn had a lot more of mohg’s abilities and maybe more design, even a bit monstrous. Then in phase 2 with his soul, miquella fully made him what he wanted his lord to be and it is what it is now even if a bit overturned lol
I think Miquella lost an arm because because he sacrificed himself and what he held truly dear to himself, where as Marika was able to remain whole because she sacrificed her people and possibly family instead; she sacrificed what she held outside of her self, Miquella sacrificed what he held inside himself. Also, Marika's missing braid is the same side and relative placement as Miquella's missing arm.
One question: If Radahn wanted to die in battle, why did he withdraw from the Siege of Leyndell? Why not fight Morgott to the death? Actually, why did he even bother besieging Leyndell at all?
MOGH: "No, look- you misunderstood, little brother. What I said was 'I wanna get deep into some MICHELOB', Not 'Miquella', You know, the brand- *MICHELOB* beer? Dude I live in a sewer and I have a horn growing into my eye, I drink to-" MIQUELLA: "MELANIA, BRING ME SOME OF MY STICKS- MOGH'S PLAYIN' HARD TO GET!"
I've always been a proud consort of Miquella, but i was on the edge when it came to whether or not Radahn was fully committed to the plan, or if he did agree, but changed his mind later on due to his great rune corrupting him. I can now say your soothing voice has guided me back to the former with this in-depth video. Excellent work. You've earned a sub from this fellow Miquella fanboy!
Plot hole, We (the player) probably didn't use Destined Death on Radahn so killing him wouldn't have sent his soul anywhere that we know of. As the only way to truly kill anyone is to either do it ritualistically (Mohg "capturing" Miquilla and then trying to put the the formless mother into his body or whatever) or to use Destined Death infused into a weapon... or something that has the power of Destined Death. I hate how something so very integral to the story of a game is forgotten about. If you don't need to go to massive lengths, or to use a part of the Rune of Death, to kill someone then what the fuck was Maliketh doing all that time? Why the fuck was he a boss to begin with?
@Azureskies01 it's so hard to think about what exactly was REMOVED in terms of death... Like, destined death? Why then was melina imbued with it? If ghostflame used to be purple and had red taken from it making it blue (red being locked with maliketh) then maybe the red flame can kill gods, and the blue mortals? Or is the removal of a portion of it by maliketh meaning death can't be FULLY complete? Like, you die, but not "properly"? It's SOOOO annoyingly difficult since we are given such intense mixed messages. Like, remembrances are meant to be remains of those we "kill".. maybe death has become something entirely different after marika messed around with it. A very valid point, my friend.
You're right. It annoys the hell out of me. Our tarnished can't even be killed by destined death, the demigods can be killed even without the rune of death unsealed and normal enemies come back from the dead. The problem is that gameplay doesn't fully reflect the effects of destined death, yet the lore texts don't make it clear either.
Destined Death seems to be aging, not death by sickness, physical injury, etc. hench the name Marika the Eternal. The player and other tarnished revive because of the guidance of grace, and when tarnished give up on becoming the Elden Lord or otherwise lose the guidance of grace, they lose the ability to revive and die permanently when they are next killed. Think of Rogier who in his quest we see a bloodstain of him being killed in his real body, not a spirit summon, by deathblight in Stormveil. Yet every other tarnished when we kill their real body dies. Not to mention all the other spirit summoning shenanigans that you use the coop fingers for like boss summons or invasions not being 'real' deaths. The 'reviving' npc enemies are nameless mooks that aren't actually reviving but are being replaced by other nameless mooks. That is why the all the unique bosses, characters, and even certain mooks don't revive. So removing DD only made people stop aging, not made them immortal. The mausoleum knights are another example of this as well. This is significant to why special people get the root burial rights for deaths that shouldn't be happening if removing DD actual made everyone immortal. Godfrey, the giants, dragons, everything still and has always died when people put a sword to them. The tarnished and those who live in death are special precisely because they are forms of undead. The Black Knives were only necessary to kill Godwyn because it let Ranni do her special 'become a ghost to escape fate' shenanigans.
The difference being I can actually string together a cogent argument. PS I would highly recommend using the 'volume up' button on your device ❤ It comes in useful if you're struggling to hear.
Do you think the vow and the promise could be separate? I don’t think this but the wording had me wonder He says: If we uphold our end of (1) *The Vow*, (2) *Promise Me* You’ll be my consort. The promise would depend on the vow being upheld, and it is an addendum on the vow, not the same thing itself.
@daveyjoneslocker4703 eUUHHGGGHH semantics.. the lore is difficult enough to sift through without that.... But... it is something to consider. I do wonder what the vow specifically was, and between who- malenia, radahn, and miquella?.. or were there more parties?
@@ScumMageInfa lol I know, I think this is less likely to be the case than the more obvious reading, but perhaps the Japanese translation can clarify this. One of two things is happening here. Miquella is seeking affirmation on the commitment to the vow, or he is using the previous vow as the foundation to request a promise from Radahn (or whoever he’s talking to)
I would argue that godwyn was Marikas side that demanded Order and that she kept her love in her "Marika form" and that was a lesson Miquela took to heart so to speak, and that was the reason that he chose to divest from S:t Trina. And while he tried to commit ego death, he failed as he kept only his ambitions and the ego that convinced him that mind control was benevolence and the road to a gentler world.
Still not sure if the Miquella-Radahn twist was more fanservice or original lore. Jerren certainly had no idea what Radahn's deeper plans were, at any rate, since he seems only to know that Radahn wanted a good death: "General Radahn is surely pleased. Festering with rot, and crippled by madness, all he wanted was an honorable death." What I really want to know is... what was going on in 2019 trailer, with Radahn on fire, on his kenes, and staring upwards? "Look up at the sky, it burns". They clearly weren't trying to kill him, as that would've been a dishonourable death. Were they trying to purge the Rot?
20:14 only a 1000 years of compassion? The tarnished could do far better than that, they’ll be the one to do a whole world a much greater kindness than Miquella could ever comprehend! They’ll be the one who’ll actually embrace and shoulder all of the world problems and sins, their torment, their despair, every curse, and every single affliction and truly spare them of it by burning it all away,may chaos take the world…. MAY CHAOS TAKE THE WORLD!!!🔥🔥🔥 But in all seriousness this a great video and I love the way you present your own interpretation of the lore and story of this game, especially with the way you explain the crucible it makes me look at the entire world from a way I never would’ve imagined, keep up the great work!!!!❤️❤️❤️
I can’t say I agree with this theory, but I did really enjoy it. I think it’s such a twist on everything and unlikely allied Demi-gods coming together is a neat idea. Definitely subscribing for more lore insights :)
Personally it makes more sense to me that Radahn did not intend to become Miquella's consort - while there are plenty of benefits for Radahn, and Radahn's desire to emulate his idol, Godfrey is well known, I just feel that it is more likely that Radahn did not promise. While it is mostly based on my "feeling" about Radahn character, I do think that thematically as some other anonymous TH-cam commenter said - the DLC begins and ends with a fight against a Horned Lion Puppet. And as a representation of this - during the transition cutscene to the second phase of the fight, Radahn is aglow with red energy - he is shrouded in a furious red power. However, Miquella speaks and appears - and as this happens, the red glow that has overtaken Radahn is suddenly coloured unalloyed gold. I choose to see this as Miquella reasserting his power over Radahn.
@AshesOfTheKing to cradle the body of the golden bough as it fell and during the carving of the sigil, and ofc, to hold the torch 😂 How tf could you expect ONE blackknife gonna pull of a whole ass ritual that holds the fates of two demigods 😅
Wow, I just had a crazy realization Forgive me if theres a piece of lore or dialog that nullifies my theory I always wondered how a war monger could be kind hearted, that always seemed so contradictory to me I think Radahn actually was a warmonger who had no issues killing people. What if Miquella's enchantment caused him to become compassionate. What if this was a prerequisite to Miquella's plan. I always thought it was weird that Radahn was considered a loving person *in the eyes of Miquella*
You have to know that miquella the kind enchantments or charming powers have limitations. I can state 2 of them In game. 1st. You have to meet miquella, meaning you have to be in close proximity to hear his voice. We the tarnished never got Charmed cause we only meet him in the end and he has to grab us to do it. Everyone else has encountered him like honorable ansbach tells of fighting him. 2nd. This will answer your question. the charm is only limited on your perception of him, it does not change your personality or values, dreams etc. For example Leda is still suspicious and kills others serving miquella even during after the great rune broke. hornsent is still hates everyone of marikaa children except miquella but he still is hateful, and the honorable blood knight ansbach still cares about mohg while charmed, soo it must mean that miquella charm will not make you a brain dead holy zombie puppet, no it just makes you change your opinions on him and yes love him. Not control your every movement, your whole life etc etc. Hope it clears it. ( ⓛ ω ⓛ *)
@razzledaz8146 brilliant points especially the latter. I do wonder if us touching the withered arm counts as encountering him? Though, it would seem difficult to enchant someone via a corpse 😅😂
@@ScumMageInfa Ah but it is as you said a corpse an empty husk, he is not there i dont think he can. Also, he has to whisper a promise to charm you. I think thats the limitations of it.
Don't listen to the hate, i get it you are going for the asmr approach with the lore and I'm all for it. Helps me falls asleep and gives me enjoyable content. Win/win IMO keep up the great work 👏
I didn't get to see your previous video before starting this one. But when you said that Godwyn was a divested part of Marika, I was like.... WHOA, BACK UP, WE'RE WATCHING THE OTHER VIDEO FIRST.
@zach.hanford LMAO very fair 😂 I had to make this video assuming from the last, otherwise I'd basically be making the same video again BEFORE this one and it'd be 1.5 hours long 😂
It would have been better if instead of Radahn, it was Freddie Mercury who came up in Golden Light. Then the Order of Jamming and Chill starts, and the rest of that play through all the npcs and enemies are non hostile and you just get to walk up to the body of Marika and start NG+ As Somebody to Love Plays.
I would argue Godwyn's soul was obliterated in a profane ritual, not like Radahn's soul, which was defeated by normal means. I reckon whatever Ranni did made Godwyn's soul absolutely unrecoverable.
Another great vid for the growing library! I must however warn you... Lord Mohg will have his dignity... A lord not for gods... but for men. The Mohg sigmas are on the hunt! Ranni simps and Miquella stans,,, it's on sight!
Miquella has clearly bewitched you. Honestly, Ansbach is the only level-headed npc in the dlc to make any sense of this mess. Loved the video, nicely done. Death to Miquellester!
Probably one sided on Miquellas part because if Radahn did promise why would he resist when Malenia tried to kill him if Miquella is already in the shadow realm.
My only problem with the DLC is that it doesnt take into account that I: Sided with the dung eater Became elden lord Ushered in Age of Putrid Defilement THEN fight Mohg to gain access to the dlc Defile his corpse as a good dung eater jr would Miquella would have no usable body for radahns soul after im done with it.
@@avalokiteshvara113 I was about to say 'Wait can't you finish the game and then go do the DLC?' Wait... Can you??? I feel absolutely lacking not knowing this LOL
@@ScumMageInfa you can, but it's never acknowledged and Miyazaki even said that the timeline for it doesn't interfere with the base game storyline, it's just separate or before
@@ScumMageInfa Fia says, "I will soon lay with Godwyn. And it will surely stir within me. The new life of the golden prince, and first Dead of the demigods, as the rune of Those Who Live in Death. Please, do one thing for me. Brandish this child, my rune, and take for yourself the throne." Then after D kills Fia, talking at Godwyn he refers to her as his mother.
@@Cosmic_Horrified "New Life' isn't NECESSARILY him being revived, but reborn in a different form for a different use - Hence reborn as a rune, no? Otherwise WHERE IS MY GODWYN BOSS BATTLE GODDAMN IT
i don’t buy radahn willingly fulfilling the vow. i do think they made a vow, but it was made when they much younger. as a side note, i’m pretty sure some item description refers to either their vow or miquella’s adoration of radahn as childish/naive. the main reason i think radahn didn’t want to fulfill their vow, though, is the memory cutscene after the fight with them. miquella is asking, almost pleading, for radahn to fulfill their vow. however, radahn doesn’t give an answer. in fact, we can’t even see radahn, all we are met with is a cold, black void and a deafening silence. i think this symbolizes radahn turning back on their vow. it could even represent miquella feeling abandoned/betrayed by radahn, which i also think would help show how miquella’s curse has affected more than just his appearance. instead of accepting that radahn has changed and no longer wishes to fulfill the vow they made as youth, he concocts a plan to kill him so he could forcefully make him his consort in the realm of shadow.
An interesting take-- I wish we had more to go on, but thats half the fun I guess- Taking jabs at it and interpreting it yourself. REALLY gets the brain juices flowing 😂
but you forget about what miriel says on breaking vows... it is a huge deal, and his own father broke a vow pushing his mother towards madness, do you really think radahn would do the same?
@@riva2625 considering that a whole motif of the game is cycles and characters with good intentions making the same mistakes of the past… yeah, definitely. also he idolizes radagon, who broke his vow to rennala, whereas i don’t think there’s much in the game to imply that he looked up to or heeded the words of miriel. i might be wrong about that though
@@Shrekinspace I just think it's weird for a character that in game is considered extremely honourable to become an oathbreaker, that's like the worst type of taint to his honour. To me it would be extremely ooc for Radahn.
I've seen your videos so far and some things I don't understand/don't seem to fit: 1. St. Trina says you need to kill Miquela otherwise, he would become a caged god. I assume this is because he would be tied to the greater will. But you say that by removing all his aspects he would be free of this. So which i it? 2. Marika is Numen, and she told messmer to kill the hornsent because they killed their people (Town of shamans). But this place is in the shadow realm, and this happens before all the plan thing is set in motion. The place where Marika ascended to godhood (and where Miquela is planing on doing the same) is clearly built on the skeletons of hornsent. In your video you mention Mesmer is Melina in the shadow realm, but how can this happen before she raises to godhood? Did she kill some hornsent, ascended, then came back to kill the rest as Mesmer? You should make some kind of timeline video. I always struggle to follow theory videos on youtube because I'm missing a timeline XD
@superjugy he divested trina to attain godhood- I feel like it's the same sort of thing ranni did- it would seem as though abandoning your flesh and becoming spectral is the only way to ascend- and not become a vessel of an outer god or the greater will- since it has no physical form to inhabit or control. That's my best GUESS as it's a theme of discarding flesh wintry and escape the outer gods and greater will, eg ranni, marika (imo as per my marika video), miquella, rykard etc The marika video was done BEFORE the DLC came out, so I don't hold a few of those shots in the dark any longer :P still most of it remains the same. I will be doing a timeline eventually, but that's further down the line. A LOT of research still to be done.
@@ScumMageInfa You suggest that the Radahn halting the stars was as an act done for Miquella lmao Hilarious because the same exact argument was made about him doing it for Ranni in the past. We have no reason to believe he did this for Miquella. There is nothing that even suggests Radahn held back the stars after the NoBK. From everything we know it is far easier to suggest Radahn did this long before. It's said: "During the age of the Erdtree, Carian astrology withered on the vine. The fate once writ in the night skies had been fettered by the Golden Order." That was Radahn. The Starscourge. The Carian born boy who was obsessed with all things Radagon/Godrey/Golden Order. Radahn also did this to save Sellia and to hold the stars back that guide the . Now look at the place. Leveled by scarlet rot. Yep, definitely part of his plan. Radahn's entire M.O. and identity is tied around Stagnation. That is his toxic trait as Miyazaki & GRRM would say. Radahn doesn't like to see change. He loves the Golden Order. He held
@@ScumMageInfa The description of the Telescope should change your entire theory about when/why Radahn started to hold back the stars. "fettered" = chained/arrested
So much good & refreshing thoughts with amazing explanations! I find it very kind that Miqualla’s actions are talked about without drawing any conclusions of mal intent. You just discussed & presented facts. Thank you for this. We are brothers in arms. This is the way.
I don't know if this question was directed to the guy who made the video or the viewers too, but I wanna join in on this conversation. SPOILERS FOR DLC OFCOURSE: I'm super split on this question because it only makes sense that if your soul is dead, you cant think, you can't possess and exercise a will. On the other hand, it's hard to imagine seeing there isn't at least a sliver of his will/consciousness seeing as his likeness is being replicated in multiple places. His original carcass transforming I can kind of understand STILL resembling him -- but there are multiple Godwyn faces throughout the lands between (and shadowlands). Why is his likeness being replicated? So basically I think there needs to be some sort of idea or will spreading with Deathroot because his face is being replicated. If that was not the case I would be certain he had no consciousness.
Further to Mladen'spastic's brilliant comment- I would argue it is more instinctual now. We see him pop up in Stormveil which is likely where he is from- Like instinctually returning home. Either that, or I would hypothesise marika is actually controlling the deathless mass, using the many eyes we see sprouting from deathroot all over the lands between as her eyes, to watch everything thats going on >_>
@@mladenspasic4233the way i think of it is, like how GRRM handled death and resurrection in AOSIAF. There is a price and you don't come back quite the same. Perhaps with Godwyn the death was so severe he's lost the majority of what makes him, him. And only has th barest hints of consciousness. Just enough to meet the definition of it, but very very stunted.
My idea is there is Body, and Soul, but also Mind. Many examples of imbalance of the three. Marika is now body and soul without mind. This is why Radagon finally has control of the body, the one thing he lacked. We know Ranni possesses mind and soul, but no body. Godwyn would then possess body and mind but no soul. This would add to the depth of grief of the crone lamenting Godwyn’s fate and why Miquella would voice his wish to relieve his brother in true death on the Golden Epitaph because a part of Godwyn is still very conscious. It is Godwyn’s dream we enter to confront Fortissax afterall.
Okay, fine, Godwyn is dead. It's disappointing, but I'll get over it. What I was most disappointed by is how Miquella's power of enslavement wasn't used to greater effect. What would've been cool is if we'd gotten hints, in one form or another, that Miquella had been enslaving people, Messmer soldiers and Hornsent alike, on his journey to godhood, and had raised an army of zealots who was there to greet us when we reached Enir Ilim. It would've allowed fromsoft to not only create some interesting reskins (think the exploding soldiers in elphael), it woud have set up the possibility that through their combine prayers with the people of castle sol and elphael, the eclipse came to pass, but instead of the ritual killing godwyn's body, it allowed Miquella to inhabit it instead, ripping it from the erdtree's and the scadutree's roots, creating a final boss both grotesque and beautiful, with holy magic, lightning, and death blight, with the two trees irreparably damaged, spewing their magic all over the place, and us given the choice of how to proceed: if we'd unlocked the prince of death ending, we could choose to ally ourselves with miquella, end credits would roll, and that character would be bricked. or we could choose dungeater's endng, with all our actions being infused with aspects of the crucible, and after defeating Miquella, sew the seedbed curse in the wounds in the respective trees. or if we had chosen the perfect order ending, we would embody the true herald of the Greater Will, with all our actions infused with golden order fundamentalist incants, and we would mend the wounds in the trees and bring them back together as one. or, in the ranni ending, the eclipse also heralded her own ascension, and we became the vessel for a god-against-god slug fest where we were infused with the powers of the cosmos, and at the end, ranni used the wounds in the trees to freeze them to their very cores. and of course, for the purists who don't want the help, there's the vanilla ending where it's just the Tarnished with nothing but a club and a dream. there were so many missed opportunities to go full-tilt anime that we never got the chance to see come to life. the possibility of our breaking the veil over the shadow realm, bringing it back into the lands between. the chance that, had we defeated radagon and elden beast before going into the dlc, that messmer's dialog include avenging his mother. or if we entered the shadow realm before we ended the game, we could skip the burning of the erdtree, because the shadow lands created a bridge to farum azula, and the ending we chose destroyed the thorns blocking our path. what gets me isn't necessarily that it isn't all wrapped up neat with a bow. it's that nothing that happens in the shadow realm seems to have any bearing on the lands between. i wanted more choices, alternate endings, and diverging paths that shut doors and opened others. i hope that, with their next game, they focus less on the size of the world, and more on the decisions they present to players. and the badassery, too, lol
I need someone to do more digging into who made the golem and the smithscript weapons. The first thing we saw of ER was smithing. Is there a Smith god ala dark souls? Talk of crucibles, ancient forge's in the shadowlands, the forge of the fire giants.
@@Darkrocmon definitely the giants, there are item descriptions explaining once smithing was a divine act, and it originated with the giants EG their forge that the fire giant guards
Thing is, I believe all the Paths of Ascension are created by the Mother of Fingers. This implies to me, that The Fingers created the Path of Ranni and Miquella and Marika. So, none of the Paths escape the Greater Will, it is just the Fingers are Insane and the Will doesn't really care how "the Lands between Thing" works out. Ranni and Miquella and Marika only "escaped" The Fingers, vaguely.
@@Fragmentsinfractals488 Abandoned alien technology The mother ship abandoned this world bc it was beyond salvation 😂 and miquella / ranni / marika are using what was left behind... hmmmmmmmmmmmm 👀
if radahn lost to morgott i guess it's reasonable he sort of went hollow untl Miquella was like "aye bro I have a plan" Radahn wanted to be a lord Miquellaa wanted to be a god I honestly thought he was a twink and radahn more of a bear than a lion but after consideration i think it was more like a *I pronounce you chuck and larry* sort of thing, just two bros helping each other meet their goals
@ScumMageInfa With him not being in control of the capital city, I think it's sort of hard to imagine that he didn't lose cause. I couldn't imagine a scenario where he won but chose not to rule from the capital of two lords that he idolized so much
Thank you for your videos, I fall asleep to them and enjoy your voice in the least creepy way. I watch with headphones and have no problem hearing you, I assume those complaining are not using headphones? Or they keep their volume low out of habit? I notice your voice tends to disappear when I turn my volume down just below mid-way. Doesn’t bother me but it might be good feedback. ❤
Thankyou :'D "Least creepy way" ahahaha! I am honestly not too sure what else I can do about it, I can increase the volume to maximum on my software, but the Ps Ss and Ts will attack people!
If leda is to be an albinauric…well they can’t walk, or not the ones you compared her to, she would have to be the 1 successful alby that we know of, the hog rider was albinauric and why one had his pants and why he didn’t have any, also oddly enough last i checked those same pants have gender differentiation where the wheel plates are removed from female builds and there for male builds, i could have been hallucinating from sleep deprivation as i can’t recall it vividly but i feel like it happened
@@hardluckmk.52 I'd more see it as a blessing from miquella Like removing scarlet rott from leda. He gave leda a rune, I wager this had something to do with this blessing.
Maybe the rune that never dwelt in an eye was instead imbued into her blood, curing the typical clotting of Albinauric blood that renders their legs inert. Anything's possible at this point!
In truth the best path for us all is the middle path. Something between Ranni and Miquella. We must balance our fear (doubt and loneliness) with our hope (compassion and forgiveness). Too much hope makes you complacent. If we embrace ALL of our aspects, then we may not feel the need to grow and learn and do better. Nobody is perfect and we all have our blind spots so we could always evolve. And if we become too fearful, then we may be overwhelmed and paralyzed in to inaction. We may be overcome with dispair and just give up and "burn it all away". So the wise try and balance the 2, oscillating between them as needed. This is a core teaching and tenet of Islam. Never lose hope in the mercy and boundless love of your creator but don't think you can escape the consequences of your actions either. Which is what Miquella was after: he sought to transcend the law of causality (not the original sin as per the English translation. Garralous goldmask just dropped a vid on this). So he is envisioning a world free of "sin" in that no action will be marked as a sin because "all is embraced". His needle that we get from Malenia even says that it helps you escape your "fate" if you've been diddled by the 3 fingers and have the frenzy flame in you. So that's his deal. But it just... doesn't work. How can you be accepting of people who do bad and evil and selfish things and treat them equal to the innocent? Well that's where Micky's charm becomes a necessity but that removes agency and free will. It's a fog on the mind that makes you suggestible (I think that's his St. Trina aspect that he's able to essentially roofie people with the "quagmire of sleep" to get them to conform to his vision. Not that his vision is bad but it is born of a flawed and unfinished thought process. Miquella is cursed with eternal youth in body AND mind and can't see past his juvenile ideology. I think the concept of godhood in ER is really about :who gets to set the rules and shape the world as they see fit but they still need the elden ring, they still need a consort. These are all pre existing rules of the universe of the elden ring. Yeah you can remove death but it always seeps back in. That is the law of regression and even a god cannot escape this cycle no matter how much they delay the inevitable. So while Marika pushed back on regression, Miquella pushes back on causality. Both of them rejecting the golden order. This order is not however just a new made up order. It is the Order of this world. It's not a made up religion, but the edification of the nature of the world. I believe this is from the One Great the creator of all.
I think she was seduced by the Fingers specifically. Gold is an element inherent to Marika and her race. The Minor Erdtree incantation in the shaman village states that it is "Only the kindness of gold, without Order." Gold as an element and metal is known for its malleability, and I believe the fingers are responsible for imposing Order onto Gold, removing its malleability---its purity---and by adding an alloy to it. Miquella is trying to return Gold to its original state by unnalloying it.
Sounds interesting but Radahn held the stars after Malenia dropped scarlet rot, Not before and he likely did it to subvert Miquella cause he didnt want to support him. He idolized Radagon and Godfrey, which means he supports the Golden order.
radahn holding up the stars still didn't prevent him from dying and reaching miquella though. also, he idolized godfrey and radagon but there's no hint to him idolizing the golden order, we see there's a misbegotten inside redmane castle, and his cape has miquella's lily shape patterns at the bottom and a different tree from the erdtree in the middle.
@@riva2625 it did until we got there and killed him lol. If he was happy to be will Miquella he wouldnt have been roaming the desert as a mad man, eating dead corpses.
@@gamerwatchandlearn yea but he died with the stars still up, so holding them up had clearly not that purpose. also, he should have died during aeonia and didn't just because his rune fought the rot and he lost his mind. but malenia represents valkyries... in norse mythology, valkyries have the task to deliver honourable warriors through death to bring them to valhalla. aeonia was supposed to be his honourable death in battle.
@@ScumMageInfa its a nice video and I watched it till the end. My point is that he didnt hold the stars to give Miquella time to execute his plan. He held the stars to freeze everything so he did not have to join Miquella in the Shadow realm. Basically he was an unwilling participant not a partner in crime.
While a majority of people believe that the pre-DLC lore pointed to Godwyn as being Miquella’s desired consort, I think seeing Miquella’s power to charm others recontextualizes a lot. If Godwyn was the consort Miquella wanted, then why not charm him? In fact, this is exactly what he attempted with Radahn. However, as the description of Miquella’s Light hints at, Radahn refused to be embraced. As an extra edit, this video is, however, by far the strongest argument I’ve heard on Radahn consenting to be Miquellested. And of course, the one that refused to be embraced by Miquella could simply be us after defeating him, but I don’t think this fully lines up. We can be charmed ourselves if grabbed enough times, after all.
considering that Radahn has Miquella's symbol on his cape (STARSCOURGE Radahn btw, not the Moghbody) i doubt there was some secret Godwyn plot like people think. I think its just headcanon copium.
Thankyou :) I fully believe it was US who refused to be embraced though- Since we get the remembrance which is the 'trophy' after killing something, solidifying that ending. Whereas if we DONT kill Miquella, that essentially doesn't exist and we DID accept being embraced :P
@@avalokiteshvara113 this might sound like mental gymnastics at this point, but I believe Radahn’s soul isn’t actually present in that body until the second phase begins. My reasoning is that Miquella says “my lord brother’s soul WILL return” possibly meaning future tense. I think that the first phase is essentially us coaxing Radahn’s soul into this body by presenting a credible threat, giving him a fight he could actually lose, and awakening his warrior spirit. Why would Miquella say “at long last you are returned” only once we hit phase 2, and not at the beginning of the fight. I think this body was prepared for Radahn, while still belying its original owner with the Omen horns
@@ScumMageInfa that’s definitely the next most probable answer. For me personally, while there is ample evidence to the contrary that you’ve pointed out, I still believe most of the evidence points to Radahn not being down with it. But I can already tell this is something Miyazaki intentionally left ambiguous, and we’re gonna gonna be arguing about it for the next decade lol
i'm not gonna lie man i haven't watched this but from the title alone there's something about elden ring lore you're missing. elden ring is steeped in themes of duality. everyone has a twin, a doppelganger, or a single alternate personality. trying to ascribe a third identity to a character who already has two is doomed to fail. people miss this, just see that elden ring has characters with multiple identities, and start speculating that every tom dick and harry is secretly each other. i never once watched that "miquella is melina" theory video that caught on like wildfire right before the dlc dropped; i dismissed it out of hand because miquella is already st trina, and sure enough. same thing for "miquella is messmer". this is also why ranni isn't melina, etc
@SamSmith-rw1ql My guess, is that she was elevated by the gift of miquellas rune It gave a gold hue to ger eyes, her flesh has colour more akin to humans, and she is fiercely loyal to him. Also, the fact beforehand her eyes were faded, just like the alby women's are.
@@ScumMageInfa idk it's sort of heavily implied with their manic behavior akin to Mohg's unwavering devotion and possessive nature. Also there is a theory about how the Haligtree is a giant Bewitching Branch.
I just wana know why we got the conclusion we did, it just feels like such a dead end even compared to other fromsoft stories. Like even just the land of shadow rapturing and sending us back to the main game would have been better imo. The main game was still very cryptic in its end but still felt better than what we got here. Its just off. Maybe I am missing something though idk
![Sentient Horcrux Infusion Transfer (Marika's Great Escape) [Pre-DLC]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/cF_zZULXdaI/mqdefault.jpg)
Extra point: I forgot to mention the two deeds miquella refers to in his intro, that will be celebrated in song. I wager these deeds are: 1) halting the stars and 2) dying in the grand festival
I hope you enjoyed the video!
For those who want me to be louder, yall are fighting a losing battle 😂 It is what it is, the volume is set to euro standard and I am set to soft spoken 😅
If you think you hear birds squawking you are NOT going insane, they are Rainbow Lorries and they are gorgeous but outrageously loud and unrelenting, I’ve near lost my voice with the amount of retakes I had to do to try and record in between their OBNOXIOUS conversations, so apologies in advance!
See, my interpretation was that Miquella was referring to our Tarnished and Leda, the champion of the festival being us since we killed Radahn, and Leda being Miquella's loyal blade. The deeds I believe are everything we accomplished to reach that point as well as the final epic battle we had right before reaching the divine gate. Miquella refers to Radahn as his "lord brother" specifically here, which makes me believe he's congratulating us and Leda. I also remember someone interpreting "loyal blade" as Malenia, too.
Love these videos btw, considering these are the first 5 you have dropped and their all really good.
The two deeds are Melenia fighting radahn & you finishing him off in the festival. He mentions his loyal blade (blade of maquila).
Also, i think the way Miquella "steals you heart" is the real point that needs exploring. He "artfully" stole the heart of Ansbach, and we see him tactfully try and offer us promises that are very similar to Rani, knowing this is what we want to hear.
I think he does the same to everyone. he offers them what they want, that's his power, knowing what a soul desirers (all things will flourish, whether graceful, or malign) and then alinging your beliefs with his.. He doesn't care if its good or evil because to him, its all the same, a whisper in the ear. The reason why this is relevant is i believe Goldwyn was a promised consort, as i believe it also could have been Radahn, Malenia, or Us, if needs be. To him, we are all tools being told what we want to hear.
The reason Radahn resisted, was because of his great rune, burning with fire to keep away the rot. The rot is an outer god, so his rune is burning to ward away an outer god. His great rune is actually protecting him from Miquelas influence, which is why he said no. My proof of this is that in phase 2, when Miquella returns from the god gate, Radahn again burns with fire trying to ward off Miquellas influence. However, it then gets engulfed in golden flame from Miquella, now to powerful to be resisted. (And Miquellas great rune confirms they can have the power to ward of charms ect).
I assume you're referring to his dialogue in the cutscene? "My loyal blade" can to me only refer to Malenia, the Blade of Miquella, who brought Radahn to the brink. While we are the "champion of the festival", that finished the job, somehow sending Radahn to Miquella.
(in that regard I suppose we literally sent Radahn to meet god XD)
MIQUELLA: "Radahn, if I become a god- will you marry me?"
RADAHN: "Uh, that's... look, you're my half-brother and I'm not-"
MIQUELLA: "You sure?" [sways hips]
RADAHN: "It's not going to happen."
MIQUELLA: "You know you want me."
RADAHN: "Over my dead body."
MIQUELLA: "MELANIA! HE SAID HE'D DO IT! GET YOUR SWORD, I'LL EXPLAIN ON THE WAY!"
Malenia wants to kill radahn, and send his soul to miquella.
Trust me, she fully understood what he wanted.
HAHAHAHA! 😂😂
lmaoo!!!
@@elijahherstal776 🤣
LMFAO
“He even copied her taste in men” let’s fucking go lmao
🤣😂 #whereisthelie Hahahahaha Oh George R R Martin you naughty, naughty man.
Caught me soo off guard! 🤣
Of all the endings and parallels to Marika one in particular struck me with a single line of dialog: "Farewell, Lobo. My faithful wolf, my better half." Latenna, considered to be the furthest from divinity due to her human-made nature was alone the most saintly in her motivations. After having been divested of all she knew and loved she sacrificed herself so that she could give the one thing she had left - a birthing drop to give her people a real future. She didn't care about ruling. It was pure altruism. The 'gods' no better than men were all outdone by the one least god or man who proved to be more than both combined.
A very powerful move indeed, I really wondered what the towering sister was meant to be / where that would go...
“Mother is the name of God on the lips and hearts of all children”
-Brandon Lee as Eric Draven in The Crow
immediately thought of this also
Ayyyyeee! :P I was hoping someone would pick it
@@ScumMageInfa I’m so glad I’m not the only one. I was really afraid I was gonna post this and then a bunch of young’ns would be thinking, “The Crow?? What the heck is that???” Lol
The cut voice of Miquella sound a lot closer to St Trina than Miquella himself. Maybe there was an option at one point to reunite them.
I think the voice actor may have been changed >_>
I’m convinced this guy whispers because his girlfriend is in the other room and she doesn’t know how big of a nerd she’s dating yet
🤣😂
I imagined it like I was getting a massage or something and the massage therapist was just gently whispering this at me while soothing music played in the background
Sir. All I have to say is thank you. Everyone saying that it makes no sense for radahn to accept a vow with miquella is blind. Why wouldnt radahn want to take on malenia? Why wouldnt he want to rise to the status of elden lord? Its crazy that people think he would not be interested in this vow.
@@colemix1852 it's like they think he is getting nothing out of it?
But he is having his literal dream come true 😂
@@ScumMageInfa 💯 💯 💯
@@ScumMageInfa but is he though? How will he have endless war if everyone would be compelled in Miquellas new age? Who would radahn fight? And why does Radahn need to escape the greater will? He’s not an empyrean. The most radahn thing to do would be to gain all great runes through the wars to be fought with his family, no? And Leda really makes no sense as an aspect of Miquella, she’s extremely distrusting of practically everyone else. And she was charmed, and mentions it. She just doesn’t care, and she’s not the only one who doesn’t care if they were charmed or not.
@sincorazon9920 he gets three things that he would love. He gets to die in honorable battle against the undefeated Malenia, he gets to be reborn after that death as A LORD. And finally he gets to unite the entire world under his and miquellas banner. I don't think radahn wants endless war. Radahn wants to prove that he is the strongest. It's not like we see redmanes wantonly attacking the lands between. They met an invasion into their territory. It doesn't sound like an army led by a bloodthirsty war mongering ruler. He commanded love and respect from all his soldiers, does that sound like someone who is carelessly working them to the bone sending them out to conquer? It just doesn't add up, the only thing that makes sense is radahn willingly promising to become consort to miquella.
@@colemix1852 well put. Couldn’t have said it better myself.
And that’s why godwyn merged with death!!!!!! He’s shaman. I saw the other day that Godfrey is a demi god too.
Also rahdan didnt go crazy until he got his great rune.. it was a great rune that drove them all mad.
Lastly i think Midra’s story is to show us love can stop one from ascending. I think it was his unwillingness to to burn everything away including nanaya that made him “too weak” to not be frenzy Lord. When he gives up that love, he turns
What I find interesting is that runes that demigods have oddly match them perfectly. And it couldn't be fate, it was halted by Radahn holding the stars. I'm pretty sure runes and their holders were able to mutually influence each other. And they can react to further stimuli, like Radahn rune inflaming itself to slow down the scarlet rot.
@@chillax319 yes. I believe the shards flamed whatever ambition the owner has. It makes morgott look regal and full of life, it lets rahdan become mammoth size almost invincible to regular weaponry or fighting method, Melania’s strengthens her as she fights through the rot.
If any of them had the whole ring they would bring an age, but none of their qualities would make a whole. None of them had what it takes to seize the Elden Ring. The shards ultimately distracted them with their obsessions. Miquellas was love….. and we see what he did with that.
20:12 he dose say that line in game if he does his heart steal attack on you twice.
Yes indeed he does! It is like they cut... MOST of it D:
He also has an extra voice line if you BREAK the charm during the fight and let him re-hug you ;)
@@ScumMageInfa what does he say then?
Wow really great thoughts shared here, especially love your insights about the nature of the vow and the balance of power and compassion. I don't think I've seen anyone explain that as well as you have here! Also KITE THE COMPASSIONATE!! 💙😭(That is until we need to strike people down...) Thanks so much for sharing with us all your wonderful video!!!
Bless you
@@ScumMageInfa literally whether they like it or not
holy cow it's the legend kitetales
Holy cow it’s the legend(s) KitKat!
@@Memnoch_the_Devil lol and you’re on our list! Yay!🫵🫵🫵🤣😂🤣
Love your quiet whispery style. This is a very well made video.
To become a god, it is said, one must cease being human.
Mimicry is the sincerest form of flattery.
The part where you compared Miquella's and Ranni's ending speech gave me chills.
@sarahthesarah2850 Thankyou, what a lovely compliment ♡
To be truly fair and draw compassion that is all-encompassing, one must become unalloyed. ♡
Something I don't hear enough people talk about is that the soul and body aren't the only parts. The trinity is soul, body, and MIND.
Also, I love the theory that Leda is an albinauric but the fact that she has working legs is too big for me to ignore, I suppose she could have been created recently and thus her legs are still intact or she could possibly have prosthetics as Miquella has been proven to be a damn good inventor but idk... I'd like to believe it, but I would need slightly more evidence.
That's entirely possible, but my personal theory is that she's actually an aspect of Miquella himself, considering she's ethereal. Try slashing at her, she just dissolves and reforms when you rest at the grace.@@Aceius
Please never change your low, sultry lore tones o wise one. I for one very much enjoy Elden ASMR. Also the lorries sound hilarious.
@TheFeralFerret 😂
You have no idea how much this means to me lol
Thankyou.
I think the reasoning doesn't add up. Radahn "ensuring" his own death through a vow with Jerren would equate to him doing the deed himself. Radahn putting everything in place for his demise in combat while at the same time fighting to prevent the fulfillment of his promise to Miquella. That's a major contradiction.
Note that this is prior to him going mad from the rot, and it certainly doesn't add up then. But even post-rot he still has enough awareness to keep holding the stars in place. So it still doesn't add up. His vow to Miquella would be entirely meaningless to Miquella. Radahn would never fall unless Radahn accepts his fall, so he accepts and refuses his fall?
No, this doesn't work at all.
And I forgot to mention Leonard. Radahn would absolutely never, under any condition, give up Leonard. Never, never, never. He learned gravity magic specifically so he could ride around on Leonard forever, even when he went mad from the rot he still held on to what he loved. It's not possible that he would willingly surrender to Miquella if it meant giving up Leonard.
Btw don't worry about my criticism. Nobody gets the lore right in ER, especially not those who craft theories. The point of the theories isn't to be correct, but to be creative and have fun. They also serve to advance our insight so we can discard old theories and make better theories, it's a long process.
3:36 When Marika became a god, the sky was purple with yuge black storm clouds, with the pure yellow light of a new morning coming in from the Gates of Divinity, yet with Miquella the sky is an overcast yellow/gold, as if the new order has aged and decayed, while the Gates radiates a glorious sun-like light that Miquella steps from within. It kinda feels like the the gates help the old order rebirth into the next generation and Marika betrayed the cycle to create her own order, rather than perpetuate the one she was born into.
A compassionate warmonger is a hell of a oxymoron. 😂
Talk about wanting your cake and eating it too, right? :'D
*Looks at the towering Radahn*
Are YOU gonna argue with him about it, though? 😂I aint LOL
Duality is a huge theme in fromsoft games especially this one.
Life in death. Order in disorder.
The helixes that are everywhere symbolize it.
Marika herself epitomizes it with endless compassion & endless tyranny. She didn’t want her people to suffer so she removed destined death but it also broke the cycle. She wanted everyone to be happy & live forever but couldn’t forgive the hornsent for genociding her people to create her.
@coltrueg Freya said radahn wanted endless wars but miquelpa wants to control all. Another reason why I don't think radahn went willing but that's me .
I have no idea how you come up with this stuff, but it's incredibly fascinating to think about. I'm over here drawing triangles, and you've got the whole plot mapped out 😂 awesome work as usual my dude! 🔺️
Ahahahah thankyou my guy
Triangles are good. Remember: "everything is but a cycle".
I was amazed with how spot on the Marika video was as I played the DLC
Thankyou! :)
I was low key also a little shocked when i started reading the crosses LOL I was like no way 😂
I was legit baffled and thought you might have gotten leaks or something but no, you just brainwaved Miyazaki wnd Grrm lol @@ScumMageInfa
I’m not convinced the “vow” was between Miquella and Radahn at all - I always thought it was strange that in the last cutscene Miquella states “**IF** we honor our part of the vow” and THEN asks Radahn to be his consort. If consortship is the whole point of the vow then why even say this line? I suspect that the “vow” is between all the demigods (except Morgott, and Mohg if he hadn’t been Miquellested) and marika to free her from godhood. This is supported by the sword monument in Altus speaking of a conspiracy as well as Morgotts line “willful traitors all” referring to all the demigods who betrayed the erdtree
Imagine phase 1 radahn had a lot more of mohg’s abilities and maybe more design, even a bit monstrous. Then in phase 2 with his soul, miquella fully made him what he wanted his lord to be and it is what it is now even if a bit overturned lol
I think Miquella lost an arm because because he sacrificed himself and what he held truly dear to himself, where as Marika was able to remain whole because she sacrificed her people and possibly family instead; she sacrificed what she held outside of her self, Miquella sacrificed what he held inside himself.
Also, Marika's missing braid is the same side and relative placement as Miquella's missing arm.
One question: If Radahn wanted to die in battle, why did he withdraw from the Siege of Leyndell? Why not fight Morgott to the death?
Actually, why did he even bother besieging Leyndell at all?
Your voice is so soothing in watching this in midnight and i almost fell asleep.I love it!!
MOGH: "No, look- you misunderstood, little brother. What I said was 'I wanna get deep into some MICHELOB', Not 'Miquella', You know, the brand- *MICHELOB* beer? Dude I live in a sewer and I have a horn growing into my eye, I drink to-"
MIQUELLA: "MELANIA, BRING ME SOME OF MY STICKS- MOGH'S PLAYIN' HARD TO GET!"
@@elijahherstal776
"I only want you for your body"
😂🤣
Thank you for acknowledging that the vow went both ways. Thank you, Scum. Thank you for your brilliance and critical thinking prowess!!!
Oh you
I've always been a proud consort of Miquella, but i was on the edge when it came to whether or not Radahn was fully committed to the plan, or if he did agree, but changed his mind later on due to his great rune corrupting him.
I can now say your soothing voice has guided me back to the former with this in-depth video. Excellent work. You've earned a sub from this fellow Miquella fanboy!
@Arian-11 I have a 8k word script ready to launch an absolutely scathing defence of miquella ♡
Watching all your vids in order, one could argue the attempts by Godrick to use grafting could be another type of crucible.
Plot hole, We (the player) probably didn't use Destined Death on Radahn so killing him wouldn't have sent his soul anywhere that we know of. As the only way to truly kill anyone is to either do it ritualistically (Mohg "capturing" Miquilla and then trying to put the the formless mother into his body or whatever) or to use Destined Death infused into a weapon... or something that has the power of Destined Death.
I hate how something so very integral to the story of a game is forgotten about. If you don't need to go to massive lengths, or to use a part of the Rune of Death, to kill someone then what the fuck was Maliketh doing all that time? Why the fuck was he a boss to begin with?
@Azureskies01 it's so hard to think about what exactly was REMOVED in terms of death...
Like, destined death? Why then was melina imbued with it?
If ghostflame used to be purple and had red taken from it making it blue (red being locked with maliketh) then maybe the red flame can kill gods, and the blue mortals?
Or is the removal of a portion of it by maliketh meaning death can't be FULLY complete? Like, you die, but not "properly"?
It's SOOOO annoyingly difficult since we are given such intense mixed messages.
Like, remembrances are meant to be remains of those we "kill".. maybe death has become something entirely different after marika messed around with it.
A very valid point, my friend.
You're right. It annoys the hell out of me. Our tarnished can't even be killed by destined death, the demigods can be killed even without the rune of death unsealed and normal enemies come back from the dead. The problem is that gameplay doesn't fully reflect the effects of destined death, yet the lore texts don't make it clear either.
Destined Death seems to be aging, not death by sickness, physical injury, etc. hench the name Marika the Eternal. The player and other tarnished revive because of the guidance of grace, and when tarnished give up on becoming the Elden Lord or otherwise lose the guidance of grace, they lose the ability to revive and die permanently when they are next killed. Think of Rogier who in his quest we see a bloodstain of him being killed in his real body, not a spirit summon, by deathblight in Stormveil. Yet every other tarnished when we kill their real body dies.
Not to mention all the other spirit summoning shenanigans that you use the coop fingers for like boss summons or invasions not being 'real' deaths. The 'reviving' npc enemies are nameless mooks that aren't actually reviving but are being replaced by other nameless mooks. That is why the all the unique bosses, characters, and even certain mooks don't revive.
So removing DD only made people stop aging, not made them immortal. The mausoleum knights are another example of this as well. This is significant to why special people get the root burial rights for deaths that shouldn't be happening if removing DD actual made everyone immortal. Godfrey, the giants, dragons, everything still and has always died when people put a sword to them. The tarnished and those who live in death are special precisely because they are forms of undead. The Black Knives were only necessary to kill Godwyn because it let Ranni do her special 'become a ghost to escape fate' shenanigans.
Leda being an aspect of Miquella like Trina seems like too much of a leap for me.
Another means of interpreting jarren’s promise was that radahn was implying to kill him if he became miquella’s consort, but jarren misunderstood.
Have you SEEN that final boss fight? That is one brutal promise to make if that is the case 😂
Need more content bro your going to be one of the goats I can already tell man amazing work keep it up
@@TheRat617 PLENTY more coming 🥰
The volumes fine. Great content bro
Thankyou 🥺🥰
Whispering the entire script like Joe Biden
The difference being I can actually string together a cogent argument.
PS I would highly recommend using the 'volume up' button on your device ❤ It comes in useful if you're struggling to hear.
It’s fitting for st Trina - feels like I’m in a cave listening to thrioller
@@ScumMageInfa appreciate you being a good sport about it, I enojyed the lore/theory
JOE BIDEN. JOE. BIDEN. BIDENATOR
@@NewHerseyAccent After seeing that debate it was hard not to cry at the comparison, but at least you didn't call me vaati 😂❤
Do you think the vow and the promise could be separate? I don’t think this but the wording had me wonder
He says:
If we uphold our end of
(1) *The Vow*,
(2) *Promise Me*
You’ll be my consort.
The promise would depend on the vow being upheld, and it is an addendum on the vow, not the same thing itself.
@daveyjoneslocker4703 eUUHHGGGHH semantics.. the lore is difficult enough to sift through without that....
But... it is something to consider. I do wonder what the vow specifically was, and between who- malenia, radahn, and miquella?.. or were there more parties?
@@ScumMageInfa lol I know, I think this is less likely to be the case than the more obvious reading, but perhaps the Japanese translation can clarify this.
One of two things is happening here. Miquella is seeking affirmation on the commitment to the vow, or he is using the previous vow as the foundation to request a promise from Radahn (or whoever he’s talking to)
9:55 Jerren, being a Bloody Finger and a Redmane, might know more about Miquella and Radahn's relationship than we realize.
I think the Golden Epitaph Sword was made after Godwyn was soul-killed.
I would argue that godwyn was Marikas side that demanded Order and that she kept her love in her "Marika form" and that was a lesson Miquela took to heart so to speak, and that was the reason that he chose to divest from S:t Trina. And while he tried to commit ego death, he failed as he kept only his ambitions and the ego that convinced him that mind control was benevolence and the road to a gentler world.
They literally explain why Radhan held back the stars… there’s no other explanation but ig you can speculate if you want
21:58 the flame of frenzy will melt it all away
Still not sure if the Miquella-Radahn twist was more fanservice or original lore. Jerren certainly had no idea what Radahn's deeper plans were, at any rate, since he seems only to know that Radahn wanted a good death: "General Radahn is surely pleased. Festering with rot, and crippled by madness, all he wanted was an honorable death."
What I really want to know is... what was going on in 2019 trailer, with Radahn on fire, on his kenes, and staring upwards? "Look up at the sky, it burns". They clearly weren't trying to kill him, as that would've been a dishonourable death. Were they trying to purge the Rot?
Oof, that makes Malenia into a Maliketh analog. They both seal an unsavory aspect of the cycle of life and death.
20:14 only a 1000 years of compassion? The tarnished could do far better than that, they’ll be the one to do a whole world a much greater kindness than Miquella could ever comprehend!
They’ll be the one who’ll actually embrace and shoulder all of the world problems and sins, their torment, their despair, every curse, and every single affliction and truly spare them of it by burning it all away,may chaos take the world….
MAY CHAOS TAKE THE WORLD!!!🔥🔥🔥
But in all seriousness this a great video and I love the way you present your own interpretation of the lore and story of this game, especially with the way you explain the crucible it makes me look at the entire world from a way I never would’ve imagined, keep up the great work!!!!❤️❤️❤️
i really enjoy your voice and manner of speaking in this video, please keep up the great work! i look forward to seeing more like this
@@AndrewRyan9373 thankyou! You absolutely will :D
I can’t say I agree with this theory, but I did really enjoy it. I think it’s such a twist on everything and unlikely allied Demi-gods coming together is a neat idea. Definitely subscribing for more lore insights :)
Personally it makes more sense to me that Radahn did not intend to become Miquella's consort - while there are plenty of benefits for Radahn, and Radahn's desire to emulate his idol, Godfrey is well known, I just feel that it is more likely that Radahn did not promise.
While it is mostly based on my "feeling" about Radahn character, I do think that thematically as some other anonymous TH-cam commenter said - the DLC begins and ends with a fight against a Horned Lion Puppet.
And as a representation of this - during the transition cutscene to the second phase of the fight, Radahn is aglow with red energy - he is shrouded in a furious red power.
However, Miquella speaks and appears - and as this happens, the red glow that has overtaken Radahn is suddenly coloured unalloyed gold.
I choose to see this as Miquella reasserting his power over Radahn.
I'm not an ice witch simp, I swear! I just need to go into the arena to get my heart stolen...
And if Godwyn really sacrificed himself, why did it take a crowd of assassins in the night of black knives?
@AshesOfTheKing to cradle the body of the golden bough as it fell and during the carving of the sigil, and ofc, to hold the torch 😂
How tf could you expect ONE blackknife gonna pull of a whole ass ritual that holds the fates of two demigods 😅
Maybe it's the other way round. Maybe Radagon divested himself of Marika, like Miquella divested himself of St Trina.
😂🤣😂💜💜💜💜 THIS ENDING!!!!
I believe like marika before him, after radahn conquers the lands between miquella will cast him aside and elevate malenia to consort status
Ah, swapping the half sibling for the full sibling, that's great
Wow, I just had a crazy realization
Forgive me if theres a piece of lore or dialog that nullifies my theory
I always wondered how a war monger could be kind hearted, that always seemed so contradictory to me
I think Radahn actually was a warmonger who had no issues killing people.
What if Miquella's enchantment caused him to become compassionate. What if this was a prerequisite to Miquella's plan. I always thought it was weird that Radahn was considered a loving person *in the eyes of Miquella*
But that begs the question- What did he see in Radahn then to convince him of Radahn's compassionate nature in the first place?
To me, it's just a child's naivety. And maybe when grown up, his confidence that he could "control" Radahn 's violent urges. @@ScumMageInfa
You have to know that miquella the kind enchantments or charming powers have limitations. I can state 2 of them In game.
1st. You have to meet miquella, meaning you have to be in close proximity to hear his voice. We the tarnished never got Charmed cause we only meet him in the end and he has to grab us to do it. Everyone else has encountered him like honorable ansbach tells of fighting him.
2nd. This will answer your question. the charm is only limited on your perception of him, it does not change your personality or values, dreams etc. For example Leda is still suspicious and kills others serving miquella even during after the great rune broke. hornsent is still hates everyone of marikaa children except miquella but he still is hateful, and the honorable blood knight ansbach still cares about mohg while charmed, soo it must mean that miquella charm will not make you a brain dead holy zombie puppet, no it just makes you change your opinions on him and yes love him. Not control your every movement, your whole life etc etc. Hope it clears it. ( ⓛ ω ⓛ *)
@razzledaz8146 brilliant points especially the latter.
I do wonder if us touching the withered arm counts as encountering him? Though, it would seem difficult to enchant someone via a corpse 😅😂
@@ScumMageInfa Ah but it is as you said a corpse an empty husk, he is not there i dont think he can. Also, he has to whisper a promise to charm you. I think thats the limitations of it.
Don't listen to the hate, i get it you are going for the asmr approach with the lore and I'm all for it. Helps me falls asleep and gives me enjoyable content. Win/win IMO keep up the great work 👏
Thankyou, genuinely appreciate it
I whisper like this to my cat sometimes. The only thing missing is the occasional "psp, psp, psp, psp."
@@AeroZephron I'll make sure to include it next time, soz ♡♡
I didn't get to see your previous video before starting this one.
But when you said that Godwyn was a divested part of Marika, I was like.... WHOA, BACK UP, WE'RE WATCHING THE OTHER VIDEO FIRST.
@zach.hanford LMAO very fair 😂
I had to make this video assuming from the last, otherwise I'd basically be making the same video again BEFORE this one and it'd be 1.5 hours long 😂
I would never miss a Miquella video, especially from you. Was this always here?
@@xinonuzumaki83 sure has been, though it has been significantly less loved by the algorithm hahaha
Alexa find me Miquella, I mean, Marika doing the thug shaker 4k
🤣😂
Wonder what happens to miquellas physical body since death is stagnant in the realm of the erd tree
I really like that someone made video not portraing Radhan as someone who was used against his will.
@@greencaptain2783 you just wait.
The script I'm writing rn is a scathing rebuke of all the "miquella is evil and radahn doesn't consent" BS
Video is super on point my thoughts exactly
Your voice is so great for this ❤
It would have been better if instead of Radahn, it was Freddie Mercury who came up in Golden Light. Then the Order of Jamming and Chill starts, and the rest of that play through all the npcs and enemies are non hostile and you just get to walk up to the body of Marika and start NG+ As Somebody to Love Plays.
When he came back through the gate, could he have brought back Godwyn into his own body?
I would argue Godwyn's soul was obliterated in a profane ritual, not like Radahn's soul, which was defeated by normal means.
I reckon whatever Ranni did made Godwyn's soul absolutely unrecoverable.
@@ScumMageInfa got hit with the 'Do Not Pass Go'
Another great vid for the growing library! I must however warn you... Lord Mohg will have his dignity... A lord not for gods... but for men.
The Mohg sigmas are on the hunt! Ranni simps and Miquella stans,,, it's on sight!
CATCH ME AT THE COLLY, HOW BOUT THAT!! 😂
Sounds like this crusade is SOL. Nah, you can have your Miquellester, and your Ice Witch. I'm taking The Lands Between in a new direction.
*Locks you in the basement with the 3 fingers and throws away the key*
@@ScumMageInfa Now that I'm done eating them, and have burned my way out. Don't you think TLB deserves a little less misery?
Miquella has clearly bewitched you.
Honestly, Ansbach is the only level-headed npc in the dlc to make any sense of this mess.
Loved the video, nicely done.
Death to Miquellester!
*Adds you to 'the list'*
The question is who promised Miquella Radahn as a consort, that ? is what's frying my brain.
Probably one sided on Miquellas part because if Radahn did promise why would he resist when Malenia tried to kill him if Miquella is already in the shadow realm.
My only problem with the DLC is that it doesnt take into account that I:
Sided with the dung eater
Became elden lord
Ushered in Age of Putrid Defilement
THEN fight Mohg to gain access to the dlc
Defile his corpse as a good dung eater jr would
Miquella would have no usable body for radahns soul after im done with it.
How DARE they not acknowledge the ScatLord...
The DLC takes place before you become elden lord, so your headcanon is a bit silly
@@avalokiteshvara113 I was about to say 'Wait can't you finish the game and then go do the DLC?'
Wait... Can you??? I feel absolutely lacking not knowing this LOL
@@ScumMageInfa you can, but it's never acknowledged and Miyazaki even said that the timeline for it doesn't interfere with the base game storyline, it's just separate or before
Yo, Ranni tells us that she loves Blaidd and Iji, then they die before her ending can happen! So she may be doing the exact same thing herself!
Godwyn is reborn as the Mending Rune of the Death Prince. Fia says so herself.
@@Cosmic_Horrified figuratively?
Or literally?
@@ScumMageInfa Fia says, "I will soon lay with Godwyn. And it will surely stir within me. The new life of the golden prince, and first Dead of the demigods, as the rune of Those Who Live in Death. Please, do one thing for me. Brandish this child, my rune, and take for yourself the throne."
Then after D kills Fia, talking at Godwyn he refers to her as his mother.
@@Cosmic_Horrified "New Life' isn't NECESSARILY him being revived, but reborn in a different form for a different use - Hence reborn as a rune, no?
Otherwise WHERE IS MY GODWYN BOSS BATTLE GODDAMN IT
Tbh Radhan prob didn’t expect to be resurrected into Mogh’s body
will ER2 setting be 1,000 years ahead?
i don’t buy radahn willingly fulfilling the vow. i do think they made a vow, but it was made when they much younger. as a side note, i’m pretty sure some item description refers to either their vow or miquella’s adoration of radahn as childish/naive. the main reason i think radahn didn’t want to fulfill their vow, though, is the memory cutscene after the fight with them.
miquella is asking, almost pleading, for radahn to fulfill their vow. however, radahn doesn’t give an answer. in fact, we can’t even see radahn, all we are met with is a cold, black void and a deafening silence. i think this symbolizes radahn turning back on their vow. it could even represent miquella feeling abandoned/betrayed by radahn, which i also think would help show how miquella’s curse has affected more than just his appearance. instead of accepting that radahn has changed and no longer wishes to fulfill the vow they made as youth, he concocts a plan to kill him so he could forcefully make him his consort in the realm of shadow.
An interesting take-- I wish we had more to go on, but thats half the fun I guess- Taking jabs at it and interpreting it yourself. REALLY gets the brain juices flowing 😂
but you forget about what miriel says on breaking vows... it is a huge deal, and his own father broke a vow pushing his mother towards madness, do you really think radahn would do the same?
@@riva2625 considering that a whole motif of the game is cycles and characters with good intentions making the same mistakes of the past… yeah, definitely. also he idolizes radagon, who broke his vow to rennala, whereas i don’t think there’s much in the game to imply that he looked up to or heeded the words of miriel. i might be wrong about that though
@@ScumMageInfa yeah, a lot of the references to the vow itself just reiterate the same info. most of it is up to interpretation
@@Shrekinspace I just think it's weird for a character that in game is considered extremely honourable to become an oathbreaker, that's like the worst type of taint to his honour. To me it would be extremely ooc for Radahn.
Nice video but Godwyn and Ranni simply can’t be divested pieces of Marika. Leda and the albunauric link is a huge reach as well.
miquella the alchemist bro unalloyed gold refined in every sense it was infront of us all along
@kfc_luvr_4eva417 oooo and all the parts he divested were like impurities in the metal
I've seen your videos so far and some things I don't understand/don't seem to fit:
1. St. Trina says you need to kill Miquela otherwise, he would become a caged god. I assume this is because he would be tied to the greater will. But you say that by removing all his aspects he would be free of this. So which i it?
2. Marika is Numen, and she told messmer to kill the hornsent because they killed their people (Town of shamans). But this place is in the shadow realm, and this happens before all the plan thing is set in motion. The place where Marika ascended to godhood (and where Miquela is planing on doing the same) is clearly built on the skeletons of hornsent. In your video you mention Mesmer is Melina in the shadow realm, but how can this happen before she raises to godhood? Did she kill some hornsent, ascended, then came back to kill the rest as Mesmer?
You should make some kind of timeline video. I always struggle to follow theory videos on youtube because I'm missing a timeline XD
@superjugy
he divested trina to attain godhood-
I feel like it's the same sort of thing ranni did- it would seem as though abandoning your flesh and becoming spectral is the only way to ascend- and not become a vessel of an outer god or the greater will- since it has no physical form to inhabit or control.
That's my best GUESS as it's a theme of discarding flesh wintry and escape the outer gods and greater will, eg ranni, marika (imo as per my marika video), miquella, rykard etc
The marika video was done BEFORE the DLC came out, so I don't hold a few of those shots in the dark any longer :P still most of it remains the same.
I will be doing a timeline eventually, but that's further down the line. A LOT of research still to be done.
Successfully ignored everything we know about the Night of Black Knives with pure speculation
Nice explanation of how
LOL
@@ScumMageInfa You suggest that the Radahn halting the stars was as an act done for Miquella lmao
Hilarious because the same exact argument was made about him doing it for Ranni in the past.
We have no reason to believe he did this for Miquella. There is nothing that even suggests Radahn held back the stars after the NoBK. From everything we know it is far easier to suggest Radahn did this long before.
It's said: "During the age of the Erdtree, Carian astrology withered on the vine. The fate once writ in the night skies had been fettered by the Golden Order."
That was Radahn. The Starscourge. The Carian born boy who was obsessed with all things Radagon/Godrey/Golden Order.
Radahn also did this to save Sellia and to hold the stars back that guide the . Now look at the place. Leveled by scarlet rot. Yep, definitely part of his plan.
Radahn's entire M.O. and identity is tied around Stagnation. That is his toxic trait as Miyazaki & GRRM would say. Radahn doesn't like to see change. He loves the Golden Order. He held
@@ScumMageInfa The description of the Telescope should change your entire theory about when/why Radahn started to hold back the stars.
"fettered" = chained/arrested
@@ScumMageInfa Good talk 👍
So much good & refreshing thoughts with amazing explanations!
I find it very kind that Miqualla’s actions are talked about without drawing any conclusions of mal intent. You just discussed & presented facts. Thank you for this.
We are brothers in arms.
This is the way.
You don't even have to draw Mal content to it. Femboys actions sound sussy just explaining it how it is
May I ask why you feel the actions are sussy?
@@EnochTD Fembussy so bomb HE MADE CHADAHN GAE D:
That, is likely why.
Powerful, indeed.
*whispers Whisper to me again...
*lowers voice*
"Get in the jar"
@@ScumMageInfa 😳😱💀
Do you think Godwyn has any level of consciousness?
I don't know if this question was directed to the guy who made the video or the viewers too, but I wanna join in on this conversation. SPOILERS FOR DLC OFCOURSE:
I'm super split on this question because it only makes sense that if your soul is dead, you cant think, you can't possess and exercise a will.
On the other hand, it's hard to imagine seeing there isn't at least a sliver of his will/consciousness seeing as his likeness is being replicated in multiple places. His original carcass transforming I can kind of understand STILL resembling him -- but there are multiple Godwyn faces throughout the lands between (and shadowlands). Why is his likeness being replicated?
So basically I think there needs to be some sort of idea or will spreading with Deathroot because his face is being replicated. If that was not the case I would be certain he had no consciousness.
Further to Mladen'spastic's brilliant comment-
I would argue it is more instinctual now. We see him pop up in Stormveil which is likely where he is from- Like instinctually returning home. Either that, or I would hypothesise marika is actually controlling the deathless mass, using the many eyes we see sprouting from deathroot all over the lands between as her eyes, to watch everything thats going on >_>
@@mladenspasic4233the way i think of it is, like how GRRM handled death and resurrection in AOSIAF. There is a price and you don't come back quite the same.
Perhaps with Godwyn the death was so severe he's lost the majority of what makes him, him. And only has th barest hints of consciousness. Just enough to meet the definition of it, but very very stunted.
My idea is there is Body, and Soul, but also Mind. Many examples of imbalance of the three. Marika is now body and soul without mind. This is why Radagon finally has control of the body, the one thing he lacked. We know Ranni possesses mind and soul, but no body. Godwyn would then possess body and mind but no soul. This would add to the depth of grief of the crone lamenting Godwyn’s fate and why Miquella would voice his wish to relieve his brother in true death on the Golden Epitaph because a part of Godwyn is still very conscious. It is Godwyn’s dream we enter to confront Fortissax afterall.
@@enjoji mmmm, great point. Seems as though radahn lost one of those portions too, his "witt" aka mind gone
Okay, fine, Godwyn is dead. It's disappointing, but I'll get over it. What I was most disappointed by is how Miquella's power of enslavement wasn't used to greater effect. What would've been cool is if we'd gotten hints, in one form or another, that Miquella had been enslaving people, Messmer soldiers and Hornsent alike, on his journey to godhood, and had raised an army of zealots who was there to greet us when we reached Enir Ilim. It would've allowed fromsoft to not only create some interesting reskins (think the exploding soldiers in elphael), it woud have set up the possibility that through their combine prayers with the people of castle sol and elphael, the eclipse came to pass, but instead of the ritual killing godwyn's body, it allowed Miquella to inhabit it instead, ripping it from the erdtree's and the scadutree's roots, creating a final boss both grotesque and beautiful, with holy magic, lightning, and death blight, with the two trees irreparably damaged, spewing their magic all over the place, and us given the choice of how to proceed: if we'd unlocked the prince of death ending, we could choose to ally ourselves with miquella, end credits would roll, and that character would be bricked. or we could choose dungeater's endng, with all our actions being infused with aspects of the crucible, and after defeating Miquella, sew the seedbed curse in the wounds in the respective trees. or if we had chosen the perfect order ending, we would embody the true herald of the Greater Will, with all our actions infused with golden order fundamentalist incants, and we would mend the wounds in the trees and bring them back together as one. or, in the ranni ending, the eclipse also heralded her own ascension, and we became the vessel for a god-against-god slug fest where we were infused with the powers of the cosmos, and at the end, ranni used the wounds in the trees to freeze them to their very cores. and of course, for the purists who don't want the help, there's the vanilla ending where it's just the Tarnished with nothing but a club and a dream.
there were so many missed opportunities to go full-tilt anime that we never got the chance to see come to life. the possibility of our breaking the veil over the shadow realm, bringing it back into the lands between. the chance that, had we defeated radagon and elden beast before going into the dlc, that messmer's dialog include avenging his mother. or if we entered the shadow realm before we ended the game, we could skip the burning of the erdtree, because the shadow lands created a bridge to farum azula, and the ending we chose destroyed the thorns blocking our path.
what gets me isn't necessarily that it isn't all wrapped up neat with a bow. it's that nothing that happens in the shadow realm seems to have any bearing on the lands between. i wanted more choices, alternate endings, and diverging paths that shut doors and opened others. i hope that, with their next game, they focus less on the size of the world, and more on the decisions they present to players. and the badassery, too, lol
I need someone to do more digging into who made the golem and the smithscript weapons. The first thing we saw of ER was smithing. Is there a Smith god ala dark souls? Talk of crucibles, ancient forge's in the shadowlands, the forge of the fire giants.
@@Darkrocmon definitely the giants, there are item descriptions explaining once smithing was a divine act, and it originated with the giants
EG their forge that the fire giant guards
Thing is, I believe all the Paths of Ascension are created by the Mother of Fingers. This implies to me, that The Fingers created the Path of Ranni and Miquella and Marika. So, none of the Paths escape the Greater Will, it is just the Fingers are Insane and the Will doesn't really care how "the Lands between Thing" works out.
Ranni and Miquella and Marika only "escaped" The Fingers, vaguely.
@@Fragmentsinfractals488 Abandoned alien technology
The mother ship abandoned this world bc it was beyond salvation 😂 and miquella / ranni / marika are using what was left behind... hmmmmmmmmmmmm 👀
@@ScumMageInfa It is also very... Bloodborne.
@@Fragmentsinfractals488 Moon presenceeeeeeeee
if radahn lost to morgott i guess it's reasonable he sort of went hollow untl Miquella was like "aye bro I have a plan"
Radahn wanted to be a lord Miquellaa wanted to be a god
I honestly thought he was a twink and radahn more of a bear than a lion but after consideration
i think it was more like a *I pronounce you chuck and larry* sort of thing, just two bros helping each other meet their goals
I don't think he LOST to morgott, even though the scene depicts him being pinned, we never know how that ends. It'd be wild if he did actually lose.
@ScumMageInfa With him not being in control of the capital city, I think it's sort of hard to imagine that he didn't lose cause. I couldn't imagine a scenario where he won but chose not to rule from the capital of two lords that he idolized so much
@@sk8legendz a damn good point.
@@sk8legendz love the osrs pic btw
Thank you for your videos, I fall asleep to them and enjoy your voice in the least creepy way. I watch with headphones and have no problem hearing you, I assume those complaining are not using headphones? Or they keep their volume low out of habit? I notice your voice tends to disappear when I turn my volume down just below mid-way. Doesn’t bother me but it might be good feedback. ❤
Thankyou :'D "Least creepy way" ahahaha!
I am honestly not too sure what else I can do about it, I can increase the volume to maximum on my software, but the Ps Ss and Ts will attack people!
Idk if you're cooked or cooking but keep up the good work. Best of luck in your lore journey.
I ask myself this every day.. :'D
Thankyou!
If leda is to be an albinauric…well they can’t walk, or not the ones you compared her to, she would have to be the 1 successful alby that we know of, the hog rider was albinauric and why one had his pants and why he didn’t have any, also oddly enough last i checked those same pants have gender differentiation where the wheel plates are removed from female builds and there for male builds, i could have been hallucinating from sleep deprivation as i can’t recall it vividly but i feel like it happened
@@hardluckmk.52 I'd more see it as a blessing from miquella
Like removing scarlet rott from leda.
He gave leda a rune, I wager this had something to do with this blessing.
Maybe the rune that never dwelt in an eye was instead imbued into her blood, curing the typical clotting of Albinauric blood that renders their legs inert. Anything's possible at this point!
In truth the best path for us all is the middle path. Something between Ranni and Miquella. We must balance our fear (doubt and loneliness) with our hope (compassion and forgiveness). Too much hope makes you complacent. If we embrace ALL of our aspects, then we may not feel the need to grow and learn and do better. Nobody is perfect and we all have our blind spots so we could always evolve. And if we become too fearful, then we may be overwhelmed and paralyzed in to inaction. We may be overcome with dispair and just give up and "burn it all away". So the wise try and balance the 2, oscillating between them as needed. This is a core teaching and tenet of Islam. Never lose hope in the mercy and boundless love of your creator but don't think you can escape the consequences of your actions either. Which is what Miquella was after: he sought to transcend the law of causality (not the original sin as per the English translation. Garralous goldmask just dropped a vid on this). So he is envisioning a world free of "sin" in that no action will be marked as a sin because "all is embraced". His needle that we get from Malenia even says that it helps you escape your "fate" if you've been diddled by the 3 fingers and have the frenzy flame in you. So that's his deal. But it just... doesn't work. How can you be accepting of people who do bad and evil and selfish things and treat them equal to the innocent? Well that's where Micky's charm becomes a necessity but that removes agency and free will. It's a fog on the mind that makes you suggestible (I think that's his St. Trina aspect that he's able to essentially roofie people with the "quagmire of sleep" to get them to conform to his vision. Not that his vision is bad but it is born of a flawed and unfinished thought process. Miquella is cursed with eternal youth in body AND mind and can't see past his juvenile ideology. I think the concept of godhood in ER is really about :who gets to set the rules and shape the world as they see fit but they still need the elden ring, they still need a consort. These are all pre existing rules of the universe of the elden ring. Yeah you can remove death but it always seeps back in. That is the law of regression and even a god cannot escape this cycle no matter how much they delay the inevitable. So while Marika pushed back on regression, Miquella pushes back on causality. Both of them rejecting the golden order. This order is not however just a new made up order. It is the Order of this world. It's not a made up religion, but the edification of the nature of the world. I believe this is from the One Great the creator of all.
you sound like iji lol, great vid :)
I will take that over home brand Vaati ANY day of the week hahahahaha thankyou 🥰
I couldn't watch the whole video.. i fell asleep 😂 but great video tho 👍🏻
@@queen_n24 yw for the solid sleep ♡ 😂
Marika was seduced by gold and to be a god and found that it became a prison and Radagon started taking over,and she regretted everything.
I think she was seduced by the Fingers specifically. Gold is an element inherent to Marika and her race. The Minor Erdtree incantation in the shaman village states that it is "Only the kindness of gold, without Order." Gold as an element and metal is known for its malleability, and I believe the fingers are responsible for imposing Order onto Gold, removing its malleability---its purity---and by adding an alloy to it. Miquella is trying to return Gold to its original state by unnalloying it.
Sounds interesting but Radahn held the stars after Malenia dropped scarlet rot, Not before and he likely did it to subvert Miquella cause he didnt want to support him. He idolized Radagon and Godfrey, which means he supports the Golden order.
radahn holding up the stars still didn't prevent him from dying and reaching miquella though. also, he idolized godfrey and radagon but there's no hint to him idolizing the golden order, we see there's a misbegotten inside redmane castle, and his cape has miquella's lily shape patterns at the bottom and a different tree from the erdtree in the middle.
@@riva2625 it did until we got there and killed him lol. If he was happy to be will Miquella he wouldnt have been roaming the desert as a mad man, eating dead corpses.
@@gamerwatchandlearn yea but he died with the stars still up, so holding them up had clearly not that purpose. also, he should have died during aeonia and didn't just because his rune fought the rot and he lost his mind. but malenia represents valkyries... in norse mythology, valkyries have the task to deliver honourable warriors through death to bring them to valhalla. aeonia was supposed to be his honourable death in battle.
I get the feeling you didn't watch the whole video >_>
@@ScumMageInfa its a nice video and I watched it till the end. My point is that he didnt hold the stars to give Miquella time to execute his plan. He held the stars to freeze everything so he did not have to join Miquella in the Shadow realm. Basically he was an unwilling participant not a partner in crime.
While a majority of people believe that the pre-DLC lore pointed to Godwyn as being Miquella’s desired consort, I think seeing Miquella’s power to charm others recontextualizes a lot. If Godwyn was the consort Miquella wanted, then why not charm him? In fact, this is exactly what he attempted with Radahn. However, as the description of Miquella’s Light hints at, Radahn refused to be embraced.
As an extra edit, this video is, however, by far the strongest argument I’ve heard on Radahn consenting to be Miquellested. And of course, the one that refused to be embraced by Miquella could simply be us after defeating him, but I don’t think this fully lines up. We can be charmed ourselves if grabbed enough times, after all.
considering that Radahn has Miquella's symbol on his cape (STARSCOURGE Radahn btw, not the Moghbody) i doubt there was some secret Godwyn plot like people think. I think its just headcanon copium.
Thankyou :)
I fully believe it was US who refused to be embraced though- Since we get the remembrance which is the 'trophy' after killing something, solidifying that ending. Whereas if we DONT kill Miquella, that essentially doesn't exist and we DID accept being embraced :P
@@avalokiteshvara113 H... HOW DID I MISS THAT OMG.
WOW.
I wish I had seen that before the videooooo *Beats self like dobby when he is frustrated*
@@avalokiteshvara113 this might sound like mental gymnastics at this point, but I believe Radahn’s soul isn’t actually present in that body until the second phase begins. My reasoning is that Miquella says “my lord brother’s soul WILL return” possibly meaning future tense. I think that the first phase is essentially us coaxing Radahn’s soul into this body by presenting a credible threat, giving him a fight he could actually lose, and awakening his warrior spirit. Why would Miquella say “at long last you are returned” only once we hit phase 2, and not at the beginning of the fight. I think this body was prepared for Radahn, while still belying its original owner with the Omen horns
@@ScumMageInfa that’s definitely the next most probable answer. For me personally, while there is ample evidence to the contrary that you’ve pointed out, I still believe most of the evidence points to Radahn not being down with it. But I can already tell this is something Miyazaki intentionally left ambiguous, and we’re gonna gonna be arguing about it for the next decade lol
i'm not gonna lie man i haven't watched this but from the title alone there's something about elden ring lore you're missing. elden ring is steeped in themes of duality. everyone has a twin, a doppelganger, or a single alternate personality. trying to ascribe a third identity to a character who already has two is doomed to fail. people miss this, just see that elden ring has characters with multiple identities, and start speculating that every tom dick and harry is secretly each other. i never once watched that "miquella is melina" theory video that caught on like wildfire right before the dlc dropped; i dismissed it out of hand because miquella is already st trina, and sure enough. same thing for "miquella is messmer". this is also why ranni isn't melina, etc
@ace-smith I'll read your comment, once you've watched the video, how about that 😅😁
@@ScumMageInfa horse, water, drink, etc
Any room for joiners? The discord link seems to be expired.
I am SO bad with that. I'll fix it in like 5mins!
Don’t Albores have legs that don’t work? How can she be one?
@SamSmith-rw1ql My guess, is that she was elevated by the gift of miquellas rune
It gave a gold hue to ger eyes, her flesh has colour more akin to humans, and she is fiercely loyal to him. Also, the fact beforehand her eyes were faded, just like the alby women's are.
“Ego death” 🙄
Who is to say Miquella didn't compel the actions of Melenia and Radahn?
What is to say he did? Just because one can charm, doesn't mean the ALWAYS do >_>
@@ScumMageInfa idk man his track record isn't clean. He used his "charm" on his soldiers and that led to them committing sudoku via explosion.
@@SindyxLotus hey now HEEEEY now, where does it say he charmed them??
@@ScumMageInfa idk it's sort of heavily implied with their manic behavior akin to Mohg's unwavering devotion and possessive nature.
Also there is a theory about how the Haligtree is a giant Bewitching Branch.
I just wana know why we got the conclusion we did, it just feels like such a dead end even compared to other fromsoft stories.
Like even just the land of shadow rapturing and sending us back to the main game would have been better imo.
The main game was still very cryptic in its end but still felt better than what we got here. Its just off. Maybe I am missing something though idk
I have a theory, it'll be coming out soon :P
Is it possible to share the soundtracks that you used please?
The track in this video is 'Nameless Song' from Dark Souls
I'll put them in the description from now on.