The coolest thing to me about Miquella is how meta his lore is. We are all fascinated with him as a community (mostly due to the lack of knowledge we have) , which quite literally is what is described as his greatest gift in game.
People complain about FromSoft's narrative style but to me they've mastered the key fundamentals of story and characters and allow for a lot of imagination.
Actually, they're blessed by Crucible, the craddle of all life itself. It's not their fault narrow-minded people, including their parents, shunned them.
@@Владислав-ы9м5у their PARENT is considered the very embodiment of the Golden Order shunning all life forms that can't be reborn within the Erdtree tho ...
I think we will see him again as the main forcus of a DLC, but I do think that Mohg has permanently stunted his potential or corrupted him, which will leave us with this lingering look at what could have been, a glimpse into what could have been a perfect ending that the lands between were so close to, but never got. If we could get an age of unalloyed gold it would be too good of an ending, and having a one-true-ending, or a best ending devalues the choice that the current list of endings give the player. Currently the endings are all small ways you could change the future, each fixing an injustice that exists within the world, however you can never fix everything, so the player must choose what fix is most important or logical to them. Miquella's ending would be too all-encompassing, and would overlap all the other endings, essentially destroying player choice.
@@ivesbarrera to be honest, Dark Souls 3 has a perfect ending where you burn the Painted World and grant the painter girl the dye with which she paints a new world
Maybe the reason the Haligtree failed to become an Erdtree is precisely because Miquella used his own blood on it. Since he is cursed with eternal childhood he could have passed this trait onto the Haligtree, forever keeping it in a premature state.
When you create a gold alloy, you’re essentially reducing the amount of gold in the final product, reducing it’s ‘purity’ so to speak, but it also makes the gold stronger, as pure gold is rather soft. There feels like some great parallels there, miquella being a softer demigod And then when you mix the bloodlines, or alloy the gold, you get a stronger final metal, ie. radagon, godwyn. Theres so many great metaphors with this unalloyed thing
Possibly something of note is that pure unalloyed gold in real life is a more saturated yellow colour whereas it becomes more dull the less pure it is. In the game the opposite is true; the golden order incantations and the Leyndell military are a bright yellow gold whereas the "unalloyed" gold is a dull, almost silver hue, with the haligtree force's uniforms reflecting it.
@@dommorris8163 That could be due to Leyndell’s forces being sat right next to a true Erdtree, meanwhile the Haligtree has not grown yet and doesn’t have the same golden leaves that the Erdtree does
I feel like you've hit the nail on the head with this one. I had made the connection of unalloyed referring to Pure gold, but I didn't think about how that makes the gold more malleable, or soft I guess. I hope these lore guys and gals see this comment. There is something here brother.
What is really interesting is that Malenia chooses the words "most fearsome" to describe Miquella. I would understand if she said greatest, worthy or something related to his pure will and intentions. But calling him the most fearsome when she is the one that harbours Scarlet Rot that affects and destroys everything, alongside her being the strongest demigod in game from raw swordsmanship alone and becoming the first Empyrean to ascend to godhood makes this dialogue really remarkable. How great was Miquella just from power alone?
In a game where no words are chosen by accident, to use fearsome would mean it's something powerful but strikes terror also. Notice that his charm power is called "compel", which a form more intense of a charm, almost a command. So instead of a direct/objective power - which he also had, remember the 3 rings of light - to compel other is of another level, since people will even kill themselves to defend him and his ideals. And he didn't have to force it to them like the Golden Order did. That is a power that even the best and undefeated swordsman or sorcerer in the game, would never have and it's more powerful than their direct powers. Even greater, i'd say, than the ability to stop the stars.
if i got it right she was referring miquellas charming ability and not his basic fighting power...which i think in terms of power radahn is by far the strongest of them all...the fact that malenia couldnt stop him was injured and thus forced to "bloom" (which is a metaphor for accepting the will of an outer god "rot" and loosing more of her sanitiy or "identity") means she was to week...while radahn even mentaly fucked by rot and corrupted still roams that desert and halts the stars "fate" from advancing. I dont know brother...every time fromsoft makes something look "holy" it ends up beeing the most evil shit...i think thers nothing more scary then a little kid who can play you like a fuckin doll...i think miquella is/will be the most evil persona in the game (im sure there is a dlc with miquella as a core of it coming) motherfucker is not dead hes slumbering...with mohg not around he will wake up i no time
It’s kind of fascinating, Miquella seems to be one of if not the ONLY force in the Lands Between that is almost undeniably positive. Who knows how the Lands Between would have developed if he wasn’t taken away. And it’s also tragic how Miquella, who accepted anyone no matter what they were, Misbegotten, wretched, even the “accursed” Omen, was stolen by an individual he potentially accepted, and became a test subject to a madman and his unseen formless mother.
I find it kinda funny how even if you do Varre's questline, you can't really join the Bloody Fingers, and you end up killing him and Mohg. It's like the game is screaming at you, "Don't join Mohg, kill him."
I mean, we only hear about him on account of others, those who were affected by his "love-me" magic. Of course they would sing him praise endlessly. Ofnir, who doesn't interact with Miquella directly doesn't think much of him. Ofnir is not a nice person, but he ain't an idiot. The hope against hope of his followers and devotion that leads footsoldiers to kill themselves for his takes a completely different meaning if you remember his magical allure. Way to Mohg's palace lies in the same Snowfield that the way to Haligtree is, I don't know what it would be hard for them to find it, but it's really strange to me that there aren't any Haligtree-aligned search parties looking for him anywhere in the world. Malenia's sleep wasn't that overpowering, she wakes up just from us approaching, and she did wake up before - or how would she even learn that Miquella is gone and all that. But even without her, Haligtree still has an army, Loretta and agents, but there's no reference to them searching for their lord-god, istead all of them just wait. Now I think it's the result of his cult and his power - everyone believes in him so much they can't fathom that he's captured or powerless to return, he must be just lost or something. His allure overrides their logic. It's quite typical for a FromSoft story to have a genenly good person who's efforst are tragically ruined, but to me there's something quite sinister about this universally liked person with supernatural allure gathering everyone susceptible to be swayed - the lost, the oppressed, the dreamers - into a unified force, while making his own, spliter faith. If Miquella becomes a god and shields the world from influence of Outer Gods or other forces, he may rule unchallenged forever.
@demilung even if you assume his allure was sinister, he still was driven to develop unalloyed gold for his sister's sake, and we have no accounts of him doing or creating anything out of malice. The needles he made remove outer god influence, which almost always means purging or stalling painful corruption or affliction. Instead of raising an army and waging war with those rejects he attracted, he put all his efforts into creating a haven with his own blood and body, to tge point he left himself so vulnerable that Mohg could kidnap him. Idk, maybe it was all to some sinister end, but if it was, it was in a terribly roundabout way.
I wish we could just talk to Malenia, to tell her we know where Miquella is and who abducted him... ...just to then be able to use her as a summon against Mohg and watch her destroy him lol
It's funny the only npcs that look cool to interact with are bosses...also theres cut content that suggests we were friendly with Malenia she even calls us "Dearest Tarnished, My companion..." then she scolds us for our greed and hurting Miquella that leads up to the line "I am Malenia, Blade of Miquella and i have never known defeat" honestly i want to see that scenario more.
@@PapaDrevn that would make her weaker, as channeling it was the only thing allowing her to tie a handicapped Radahn. She also uses it in her 2nd phase, which in my opinion, is harder than the first.
Miquella is so fascinating! He and Ranni are the only demi-gods we don’t kill. Leaves plenty of room for DLC potential. He doesn’t even have a divine tower, nor do we find his Two Fingers. In terms of power, I think Miquella is more powerful than Ranni , just based on what we can see ( the Haligtree, and the unalloyed needles that can ward off outer gods) It’ll be interesting to see his adult form, corrupted by Mohg’s blood 🩸
I'm still shaky on whether he can be corrupted at all. He's unironically "The Unalloyed." No attempt to mix or corrupt him should be possible. Now, what I've been interested in is, let's say it's true that he can be corrupted, is it possible for us to use the needle on him? If he was actually corrupted shouldn't we be able to? Lot of questions.
They've developed Miquella well enough as a potentially "good" character that I'm worried that, like with Malenia, we'll be forced to fight him anyway, even if we agree with him or want him to replace Marika's Order. I would be more satisfied if Miquella becomes tied to a new ending for a new order, similar to Ranni.
@@SmoughTown I don't think he will be. Souls DLCs are always about the prime movers and shakers of the world and what they've done. I suspect that any DLC will shed more light on the shattering itself and generally tell us more about the motivations and machinations of Marika. Miquella was poised to be a prime mover and shaker of the world but his flower was pruned before it could bloom. Personally I think Miquella is dead. His body has that same crusty Empyrean look Morgott's had after we killed him and took his rune. So unless the DLC involves time travel (definitely a possibility but who can say), Miquella's role in the game is over.
He placed himself in a sort of womb within the tree and if you look at the pedestal that he is placed on in the palace it's a pelvis bone. The seat of the womb.
I figured the pelvis was somehow related to the Formless Mother, Miquella being placed inside it by Mohg as if to rebirth him, but we have so little info on her it’s difficult to see how exactly it was used.
Was thinking the same thing, though I thought the pelvis bone we see in Mohg's castle to not originate from the tree but was something manifested from the Formless Mother.
I like that they are literally opposites, Miquella being the embodiment of stagnation and lack of growth, and Malenia is the envoy of progression and decay. And yet they love each other unconditionally as most siblings do.
Would love to see a dlc with miquella (possibly about entering his dream?) where we get to decide his ultimate fate; helping him ascend or completing his blood related corruption that Mohg started. And unlocking two different endings based on whether we help or take advantage of Miquella. It'd be an interesting way to introduce a Lord of Blood ending and one pertaining to Miquella's plans. Though I think an Unalloyed ending would be too good to be true lore-wise. Personally, I'd like to see Miquella's bewitching nature really emphasized, where we are left to wonder whether we are actually helping him of our free will. Perhaps the Unnalloyed ending could be left ambiguous, where the lands between becomes a true utopia, but Miquella's bewitchment of life becomes absolute. And ultimately free will, or at least an aspect of it, is eradicated. So the world ends up becoming a picturesque doll house of sorts, where Miquella, a god cursed with eternal childhood, plays with and cares for his 'toys.'
Yeah, I kinda figure that would be what the Unalloyed Gold age would look like. Miquella seems to genuinely care for his subjects, but he has passive and active mindcontrol going on; making him leader would likely result in a golden age of peace and prosperity, but one underpinned by an uncanny and quiet loss of free will and self determination. I can still see this as the "best" ending as he still seems to be the most kind and generous leader available and likely wouldn't overtly abuse his control, but the fact that this ending strips everyone of choice and freedom would still make it very dubious morally.
My assumption/theory for St. Trina is that they're a projection of Miquella while he's in the haligtree. Since he's slumbering at the time and Trina is a god of sleep. If it happens when he goes into the tree, it explains why people don't recognize him, and the disappearance could potentially be linked to when mohg cuts him out.
I like this explanation a lot, I think mirroring Marika/Radagon would be too on the nose as other theories suggest. St. Trina seems like a placeholder until Miquella ascended imo
We do see something similar happening via Morgott, who can project himself out into other areas like when he appears in Stormveil and again outside Lyndell, you even see him seemingly transform a random noble enemy into a copy of him that will attack you. Depending on how the ability works specifically, whether it will always transform them into a perfect copy of you clothing included or if you can chose to not transform everything, it would explain the ambiguous gender. Miquella may have used the bodies of both men and woman, and either if they transformed into him, the clothing they wore combined with his androgynous looks led them to confuse him for a woman. Similarly, whether it's due to Morgott's magic or Mohg's, there's a fake copy of Mohg down in the Shunning grounds. Each situation shows that there is a pre-established precedent for powerful characters to either project themselves out into the world, or create illusions of themselves that can act independently of the original person. Plus, the cookbook mentioning St. Trina also strangely mentions that the creator searched for St. Trina specifically in his sleep, not when he was awake. It's seems possible that St. Trina may be a dream projection of Miqulla that would take over other people's bodies.
Looks like Miquella's lily may have been yet another victim of the (many!) odd translations of Elden Ring. The Japanese suggests it was not in Miquella's infancy that he loved the lily, but in the Haligtree's infancy, from my reading. Implies much more of a link with the Haligtree and faith in it, than Miquella (and so it withers). My translation of the last two sentences: "Flower of faith in the Haligtree (holy tree), in its infancy the Empyrean Miquella loved/cherished this illusory/short-lived/mythical flower". Thanks for your videos!
Your translation seems to be the same as the english one imo.Also i think the english also takes into account that Miquella tried to grown into full adulthood at the Haligtree.
Can we please start treating the English translation lore as a thing unto itself? I genuinely do not care what the original has to say about these matters whatsoever
What you're saying implies that the original Japanese writing is the only true way to interpret the lore, completely disregarding the English translation for what it is- it's own thing seperate to the Japanese version, and really every version. Just because something different in translation doesn't make it odd or an error.
One last thing about the auspicious birth (not sure if you bring this up), both Miquella and Malenia were born AFTER Radagan broke his vow with Renalla, which was supposed to be sacred. This seems like it might be important, as it could lead to the idea that Radagan's and Marika's marriage and eventual reproduction was 'corrupt'. A relationship not for the sake of love, but seemingly for power and power alone in the service of the Greater Will.
@@alfredosimental6981 I highly doubt that. Renalla was basically powerless after Radagon left. Broken and useless. And even if she did, I doubt her power, even at her most powerful would allow for a curse so strong.
@@Pelagion98 well a fire giant was able to curse Radagon himself. And even though the fire giants are strong, I don't remember them being shown to possess powers of that measure except for the curse. So maybe you don't have to be powerful to do something like that
I'm thinking along these lines. But more in that the discord between Marika and Radagon had caused their afflictions. Elden Ring seems to be about connections, relationships, marriages.... and the corruptions therein. The Omens are shunned by blood where family would have sufficed. Ranni's ambitions are severed by attachment, et vice versa in her pursuit of the freedom she wishes upon the world. Radagon was happily married, only to be whisked away to serve as consort to his traitor goddess, likely tasked with repairing the elden ring, if only by himself.... Basically, bad blood equals bad blood, literally, instead of just generational trauma
@@ephemeralenhancement9445 wasn’t the fire giant either the fire god himself or was just channeling their god’s power tho? seems like he was more than just a fire giant considering the one we fight is the last one left
It's kinda funny how Miquella was the only child of Radagon not to inherit the cursed red hair, I wonder if this is also an example of him pushing back against external forces or just genetics
Well people seem drawn to Marika and she was from what I understand less of a warrior and more of a ruler. Miquella was also not a warrior but more of a charismatic ruler. That's the only reason I can think of is the embodiment of something different than radagons descendents. But it really could just be genetics lol
That's an interesting point of comparison, given that Marika wished to shatter the elden ring, die at the hands of the tarnished, and usher in a new elden lord not beholden to the Greater Will
It's obvious that there are elements of alchemy in the Lands Between. To me, the iconography of Miquella and the aspects of "him" and Saint Trina "her" might imply that he's representing the perfect being, a hermaphrodite. Gold is also considered "perfect" in alchemy. A butterfly's puta stage is quite ugly, but then they bloom into something beautiful. Malenia had already reached her butterfly stage, so maybe her twin could do the same. Maybe in DLC we'll touch Miquella's hand and go into a dream, like we did with Fia. That's my best guess right now.
The perfect being in Alchemy that you are referencing is the Rebis, which is the perfectly **alloyed** divine hermaphrodite. He was born of one which is the cause of his curse in the first place. I highly doubt he's a Rebis as well.
An interesting thing I've noticed about Miquella is just how similar he is to Griffith from berserk. Both are androgynous, revered as almost godlike, and compel love and affection. Griffith even is one and the same with a young boy, which he transformed into on the full moon. The parallels make me wonder if Miquella really is as kind and good as he seems...
If we're following this metaphor, perhaps he was truly good. But after Mohg’s corruption, he becomes a “Femto” of sorts. If we do fight him in the DLC it will probably be a mercy killing since he’d have been fully corrupted by Mohg and the formless mother.
Makes sense that this is over an hour, Miquella's roots seem to permeate just about everything in the Lands Between I imagine he'll be the "Velka" of Elden Ring
A perfect description. All of the speculation around Miquella and potential DLC reminds me of the DS1 DLC times and how people thought it would be about Velka. DLC about Miquella would make sense, but at the same time it would be such a Miyazaki move to release DLC that has nothing to do with Miquella and have this character remain shrouded in mystery forever.
@@hm02fly75 I think the key difference here is that Miquella plays an even bigger part in the story than Velka and is mentioned more often. Another character that got mentioned often in Dark Souls was Artorias, who got a DLC. Or Lady Maria who we only got a hint of through one Item, aswell as Kos (who turned out to be dead). You never know what Miyazaki will do. So we will have to see if this is a Artorias, Kos or a Velka, Tomoe situation. (although Sekiro was never gonna get DLC, since it's a side project)
He also reminded me a lot of Mergo from Bloodborne, altough both are _absent_ in the plot, their influence kickstarted a lot of their games events. Also both are eternal children.
53:05 basically miquella discovered mirikas secret and learned how he could do the same. Basically splitting himself or converting himself into a new form, one that is unbeholden to the curse of eternal youth his other body is forced into. Maybe he was testing it on himself first, before doing the same for his sister.
I don't think so. I mean all empyreans are suffering from an infliction at birth. I think that is probably because with only 1 parent, the other half has to come from somewhere, right? So as far as I know nothing in the game actually says this but it makes sense. So I imagine the Outer Gods, end up taking the other half like a weird moving day. I think the Greater Will go to Miquella ,probably as a replacement for Marika as the Elden Beast's vessle, as "they" seemed to been afflicted by being a stunted *dual being* with allure. Like Mommy Marika and Uncle Guarranq/Maliketh. Both of whom are bound to the Greater Will and are two people. So while not completely confirmed , is highly suggested miquella/st trina being . Malenia got the SEALED GOD OF SCARLET ROT, most likely to spread the rot and bring the lands between closer to it being able to invade or to come back. Not sure. As it goes for Ranni, we don't know the affliction she suffered from when alive but obviously the God of the Primeval Current inhabited it when she was alive but she accepts it as part of her. OMG! I think I just saw the Matrix flash before me... that might be enough RUclips/Elden Ring for today.
@@MSDK_DARKDRAGON its an rpg the player can be whatever you want them to but it will absolutely never be confirmed or it destroys the aspect entirely making it extremely unlikely
What if he tested it on ranni first saw it worked and fucked up when godwyn was killed and that was meddling done by ranni to undermine miquella’s order which was in her eyes a part of the two fingers plan?
If Miquella does end up being involved in DLC, I hope that we'll get a route to a new ending where we can purge the influence of the outer gods. It's kind of a bummer that Ranni is the only demigod that From lets us side with as things are :/
Great video. I just wanted to note that the oracles might be at the haligtree, even after Miquella's disappearance, to await Malenia's change into the goddess of rot.
The bubble oracles gathering at the Haligtree could potentially mean something else as well. It is said that once Malenia blooms for the third time, she will truly become the Goddess of Rot. And upon her initial defeat, she does indeed bloom for a third time, and for a short while during the second part of our battle with her, she does indeed become a God. Still despite this I do think the oracles are there for Miquella, but I am always left in awe at the ability of Fromsoft writers to write beautiful, poetic red herrings in these games.
Miquella working with Castle Sol, who is worshipping an Eclipse, which can only happen when the Moon and Stars can Move, which can't happen because Radahn is holding everything in place, which may be why Malenia the Blade of Miquella and Radahn fought in the first place!? Great video, keep up the quality content! Peace and Love
"Perhaps the Queen's Sorrow was justified" this along with his words upon defeat, and others seem to imply Gideon is aware of Marika's feelings/thoughts and over all goal...something is up
I love all the different factions and how detailed they are in Elden Ring and how each are trying to bring in their own philosophy of a new age..It really gives a taste of game of thrones in a dark souls inspired universe
CORRECTIONS: 1. The clay men are NOT the same as the Oracles the clay men are the enemies in the underground rivers. 2. The bloom outside Malenia’s boss room is most likely that of a Valkyrie- given the travellers’ set we find. Thanks everyone! What do you think about the unalloyed? Let me know your theories below!
Love your stuff smough, amazing to see all the fantastic content created by fans of the series Thanks for the compelling narrative voice and fucken awesome visuals I anticipate your uploads
I especially like the part in which ranni explains that she, miquella and malenia are the only "demigods" that were awarded with the title of Empyrean, because it has some interesting implications for the gloam eyed queen. As has been established that the GEQ was also an empyrean, it's safe to say she was a full-blown god, or at least not one of Marika's offspring.
Thank you for expanding on the connection between Miquella and St. Trina, I was seriously skeptical of the claim that he is St. Trina one and the same, but you've cleared up my reservations and I'm much more favorable to your interpretation now. I still think there's more to it, I had imagined St. Trina to be more of a teacher Miquella sought, but the evidence available is certainly more in your favor. Great video, very thorough!
@@SmoughTown so does this make Mohg a creeper/pedo? Or was Mohg just enthralled by Miquellas abilities and was forced to fall in love and serve his new majesty to create a new dynsaty.
Knowing that the Aeonian Butterflies are representative of Malenia, or rather the Goddess of Rot which bestowed them upon her, I think it’s likely that Nascent Butterflies are a counterpart associated with Miquella. They’re described as translucent and as if they’ve just emerged from a cocoon, very similar to Miquella’s depiction in-game. Following this, it could imply that the Outer God which afflicted Miquella with eternal childhood could be one of Birth, with “Nascent” referring to an embryonic, developing state. More in line with Miquella’s (St. Trina’s) affinity for sleep, it might be closer to a Goddess of Slumber or Regeneration, better contrasting Malenia’s degradation.
This gave me something to really think about. Not that I myself really think this is the case, but what if Miquella isn’t in his cocoon anymore? If, like the nascent butterflies, he had emerged from his slumber when Mohg cracked it open, but when he emerged it was in a nascent form, making him some kind of invisible/translucent being, maybe even to free himself of whatever influence/meddling that any outer god had done to his physical form, or even to keep Malenia asleep to keep her from blooming further.
Interestingly there’s also smoldering butterflies, implying a potential third sibling, likely Melina the kindling maiden. Just more clues to Melina being a child of Marika
I always kind of took St. Trina as Miquella’s Radagon. Two people one male and one female in the same body. I think the reason St. Trina is associated with sleep is that Miquella in his slumber becomes Trina.
I don't think I've seen people talking about the portal along the northwest cliffs of the consecrated snow fields that goes to Mohg's domain. This very well could've been how Mohg managed to abscond so easily after the kidnapping, a hidden door leading straight back to home, leading through a treacherous path guarded by the strongest Albinaurics loyal to Mohg. Perhaps it was his Albinaurics that created the portal for him, seeking the refuge of the haligtree as a front for their master. Although Miquella's charismatic aura would likely deter treachery, Mohg could lead them to believe that constructing the portal for him would be the best outcome for their savior. Hopefully, DLCs will shine new light onto this subject.
There is a blood trail leading to the portal in the Consecrated Snowfields, showing that Mohg did indeed use it to port back to his palace from there. The Albinaurics are more than likely there because they followed Mohg, not as their leader but rather in force to get Miquella back to the Haligtree. There is an Albinauric waiting by the portal on the Snowfields side, and he's pretty much the only Albinauric that uses the Rings of Light incantation, one of Miquella's creation. The Albinaurics within Mohg's realm likely followed through the portal but then we're influenced by the Unseen Mother once they passed through, as can be seen by their bloody spiked wheel abilities. The Albinauric with the rings of light incantation was likely the only one left behind to wait for the rest in case their mission to retrieve Miquella failed, and he waits there still. That's my interpretation anyways.
I wonder if Mohg was drawn to Miquella due to watering the Haligtree in blood. Also, the opening image with Mohg and Miquella, I notice the white background is actually the initial cocoon that he was ripped from. Great lore videos, keep up the great work!
Don’t apologize for the long video. I would watch a video five times as long if the content was as good as this. The depth and effort you put into your videos has made you my go-to ER lore expert. Thank you for the videos and I look forward to as many more as you can make.
Toward the beginning of the video, you mentioned being puzzled as to why Malenia’s rot bloomed at the base of the Haligtree, but I think there’s an explanation that fits very well when we consider why it bloomed in Caelid and during our fight with her. It does so as a response to being stressed/defeated in battle. So, it seems like she was defending Miquella against Mohg trying to take him when the rot bloomed. But Mohg was able to escape (perhaps through a pool of blood which seems to be a way he can transport himself). At least, this is a theory that fits.
wasnt there a part in the video that said malenia bloomed 2 times before she did with us, the first being radahn and the second was in the roots of the haligtree for an unknown reason, probably either validating what u think or she just got bored
Great video as always. Something that has been bothering me about the Haligtree is that there doesn't seem to be a single albinauric who actually made it in there, just the ones guarding Ordina. I know oracle envoys are present in the branches of the Haligtree, but they seem to be a different kind of ancient artificial life to the regular albinaurics. So why would Loretta guard the entrance to Elphael with her life, if it isn't actually serving as a safe haven for the albinaurics like she hoped? My only speculation is that perhaps the albinaurics who made it are inside the cocoons around the base of the haligtree, undergoing some kind of metamorphosis alongside their god. Perhaps this is in order to heal their legs. It's also possible that the 2nd generation albinaurics (who are much more capable of combat than the first generation and can actually walk) left Elphael and followed Mohg across the snowfield back to his palace in an attempt to bring Miquella back, but obviously failed before they could even cross the blood lakes.
i kinda came to this conclusion about the eggs around the haligtree and lack of albinaurics, especially since Loretta being there suggests that some albinaurics must have made it, another suggestion i’ve heard though is that they all followed him as Mohg took him to Mohgwyn
The thing that really bothers me about the Haligtree is that its secret entrance is guarded by multiple black knife assassins... seems to me its more than a co-incidence that the assassins who carrier-ed out the night of black knives are seemingly Service to an Empyrean who is disillusioned with the Golden order and seeking to establish their own order....
@@Terminalsanity its very likely that both miquella and ranniss goals are not mutually exclusive and so the age of stars and the sanctuary within the haligtree and the curing of malenia and miquella with miquella bringing about an unalloyed order within the domain of the haligtree are both coherent goals at the same time? Like perhaps they would be interested to help one another and achieve both of their goals. They both have beef with radahn and seek the end of the golden order, and if anyone would be sympathetic to ranni even if he disagreed with her killing godwins soul, it would be miquella. He may pity godwin, but still understand the rannis desire to escape tyranny and the control of others. Especially when miquella himself regards that same tyranny as impure. I imagine he pities them both, and he probably pities mohg too.
@@outerspaceisalie I think their goals are very much mutually exclusive goals: Miquella wants to establish his own order and rule the Lands between under Unalloyed Gold: a more perfected version of the Golden Order with him as its God head. Ranni wants to ward off external influence from the Lands between and leave letting the people make up their own minds and choose their own path instead of having an order imposed upon them. Miquella's goal would undermine Ranni's goal entirely and via versa. Moreover I don't think Miquella is what he has people think he is. I think he was the one who secretly commanded and commands the Black Knife Assassins (It is after all Black Knife Assassins who guard the secret entrance to the Haligtree in Ordina) and so was the one who had Godwyn killed and betrayed Ranni in the process having had the Black Knife Assassins lie to Ranni about their target being Radahn and had them kill Godwyn instead. That would explain why Ranni had the leader on the Black Knife Assassins Alecto locked up in the Evergaol apparently right after the Night of Black knives. And also would explain why the Black Knife Assassins attack Ranni's crew right after she succeeds in slaying her Two Fingers and is on the cusp of achieving her goal. I think Miquella's mourning of Godwyn was nothing more than a public front to deflect suspicion from his involvement in Godwyn's death. Speaking of Mohg I don't think he actually took Miquella by force rather when Miquella plans for the Haligtree fell through I think Miquella sought out Mohg's aid to complete his transformation into a full God. Note that there is no sign of a fight having taken place at the Haligtree and none of Miquella's forces seem to be actively looking for him just awaiting his return. You don't see them fighting with Mohg' forces in the Consecrated snowfield. I think Mohg is just another enthralled pawn of Miquella when we fight him. Too much about Miquella reminds me of Griffith from Berserk. I do not think he is altruistic as he presents himself and is far more ambitious, devious, and corrupt than public image he crafted to help attain his ultimate goal of having his own order everlasting and unopposed. I'm guessing the impending DLC will settle whether or not I'm grasping at straws or have struck upon something of substance.
-Beautiful, androgynous, femboy -Desired by all -People are compelled to follow him -Wanted a kingdom -Tortured horribly -Currently hibernating inside an egg fueled by the blood of countless tarnished -In a video game series that LOVES to make Berserk references *Uh oh....*
Great stuff. Miquella is definitely my favorite demigod. Nothing is straightforward with him. Is he strong or helpless? Is he benevolent or manipulative?
just a quick point in Shinto (Japanese folklore) Twins were considered unnatural abominations. Do you think this may be in part why they were cursed and the Omen twins is in part related to this concept of twins as cursed? Also, id like to point out how the director pointed out lord of the rings as an inspiration and it seems Miquellas city Elphael is the most obvious reference to a perverse version of Rivendell. They are both sites of refugees, both use art nouveau, naturalistic styles. Both hold the most intelligent semi-immortal beings in their respective universes. And lastly both Rivendell and Elphael show decay amongst a once-mighty civilization as a key theme. Just as well, could Malenia have gone to war to gather the ruins to fuel the growth of Miquella and his tree? This would explain why his sister left him vulnerable despite the massive risks
The "Twins are evil" thing is also dependent on what era you're talking about. Sometimes they're an omen of disaster, sometimes they'd be considered almost godly. Which would tie into the different reactions to Morgott&Mogh vs Miquella/Millenia. In the Godfrey era, twins were seen as a evil omen thus Morgott/Mogh *must* be tossed out lest their curse spread but the Omen curse isn't communicable. Whereas Radagon's reign, twins aren't seen as evil, yet Miquelle & Malenia have two very dangerous afflictions- the Scarlet Rot and Unending Love/Obsession. Unlike the previous set, those two are allowed to exist in amongst the regular population risking a plague or worse. It's a great bit of social lore building.
@@brittany45 That's very True; the Egyptian gods were often twins and even had sibling marriages of their twin gods. Eldenring is inspired by many sources and no doubt takes inspiration from tons of myriad mythologies and Stories. It's very is fascinating indeed when we think of psychology and social factors.
great insight into Miquella/Godwyn, it was something I didn't really catch during my playthrough. Miquella almost seems like the perfect hero if we weren't the protagonist. Such a shame what happened with Mohg.
Amazing video I was completely entranced the entire time. It's funny how this character who is so beloved in the elden ring world can still be the most fascinating part of the lore despite being the most mysterious and one we never even see.
I found a closeup of the St Trina's Torch carving of Trina's adult form, and it's basically a beautiful face with one single eye in the centre of the forehead surrounded by hair that looks like tree branches or tentacles. I just thought it was a cool thought, for Miquella to be both beautiful yet even a tiny bit "monstrous" as Trina.
@@thecrudest147 they might be, or they might be different aspects of the same person :) we don't know if Miquella had one eye over hair (the carvings imply he didn't) but it seems like St. Trina does based on her torch, so it would be fun if that creepy form is something Miquella can transform into.
@@mrrd4444 Maybe something akin to Melina changing appearance at the Lord of Frenzy flame ending? Opening the opposite eye, while her rosey hair turns a blackish gray
I'm wondering if he has the same ability to have a masculine and feminine aspect/appearance like his mother/father. We still dont know if Radagon used to actually be an entire different person either! Maybe that's a super special emperyan ability?
As others have probably pointed out already, a lot of people (including myself) believe that the Aeonian flower we find before Malenia's boss room isn't hers, since we find the armor set of the valkyries that later attack Milicent, and in the Scarlet Aeonia incantation it says that Malenia only bloomed twice, falling short from becomming a full-fledged goddess, hence why when we kill her it says "Great Enemy Felled" instead of "God Slain", like what happens when we defeat the Elden Beast.
Another incredible video. I’ve spent over 300 hours across multiple characters in the Lands Between, but this is the third time I’ve seen a video of yours and been absolutely blown away. For my money you are putting out the very best Elden Ring content, and there isn’t a close second. Take this like and this sub, you’ve more than earned it!
That pool you find in carian manor is a still shallow pool of water often referred to as a "Reflecting pool" and the version of Loretta that appears seems to be a reflection of Loretta I highly doubt is a coincidence. Might have something to do with the spell to bring Loretta forth since she always seems to maintain her form within viewing distance of that pool.
You’ve easily become my favorite Elden Ring content creator. Fantastic lore videos and interpretations. Cheers! Looking forward to what you upload next.
23:45 That bloom is actually not Malenia’s but one of the Millicent’s sisters you can see one of the traveler’s clothes,same one worn by Millicent right next to the bloom when you loot.
@@Ezekiel_Allium the third bloom is what we see in the room after the fight. blooming doesn't automatically result in ascension, it takes time. When we betray millicent she sits there in a bloom ready to become a Valkyrie in the future.
Easily fast becoming one of my favorite lore channels. Only stumbled upon the channel at the start of the Elden Ring content and am tickled pink at the huge library of videos I've yet to go through. Looking forward to some of the other games you go into, even the ones I'm not particularly fond of or play infrequently, like Warframe.
I know this must've taken a HUGE amount of work. This is a great video, and awesome series. For those of us that don't take the time to read everything to ACTUALLY understand what's going on, videos fill us in. Great work, and please keep making them!
It's very interesting to think about these characters' intentions as you peel back the lore. I love your speculations, as all of them make sense. I feel like I would align with Miquela's order, or lack there of, if he were to have a rune. Thank you for a detailed approach to a game that I've loved since the first playthrough. It's really amazing that there is so much depth that you present in a digestible format.
I think that Miquella and Melania are the manifestation of the sin of removing the death glyph from the Elden Ring, The rot is the stagnation and well rot of things that can not die and be renewed and being forever a child the consequence of not being able to age and die. The unalloyed gold is the purity of the gold no changes subtractions or additions that forestall the sins of not only the greater will. But also the will of other outer gods that wish to change or exert themselves on that golden order.
I don't think so. I mean all empyreans are suffering from an infliction at birth. I think that is probably because with only 1 parent, how is it possible? Cause the gods take the other half. So as far as I know nothing in the game actually says this but it makes sense. So I imagine the Outer Gods, end up taking the other half like a weird moving day ASAP , for more empowering them in the Lands Between/ I think the Greater Will go to Miquella. Miquella ,probably as a replacement for Marika as the Elden Beast's vessle, as "they" seemed to been afflicted by being a stunted dual being with allure. Like Mommy Marika and Uncle Guarranq/Maliketh. Both of whom are bound to the Greater Will and are two people. So while not completely confirmed , is highly suggested that it is a miquella/st trina situation . Could explain why he seems to have no belief in Greater Will and wanted to actually fix things. Malenia got the SEALED GOD OF SCARLET ROT, most likely to spread the rot and bring the lands between closer to it being able to invade or to come back. Not sure. As it goes for Ranni, we don't know the affliction she suffered from when alive but obviously the God of the Primeval Current inhabited it when she was alive but she accepts it as part of her and just wanted out of the Greater Wills plan OMG!....that might be enough RUclips/Elden Ring for today. Have a good one.
23:45 im not ENTIRELY sure this bloom is of malenia, you can loot travelers clothes, the same worn by millicent, right next to the bloom, is it not more likely instead that this bloom is of another valkyrie?
I'm not disagreeing with you, but where would the first bloom of Malenia be if this is the case? And do you think that canonically, the player should be leaving aeonias in their wake as they use the scarlet aeonia incantation?
Great video! However, I disagree that the Envoys are there to herald Miquella, rather, I believe they are in the Haligtree to herald Malenia's ascension to the Goddess of Rot. After all, we see that happen at the end of her boss fight, and Miquella is nowhere near the Haligtree at the time. In fact, the lack of envoys near Mohgwyn's Palace seems to inply to me that Miquella's ascension to godhood has become unattainable because of Mohg ripping him out of the Haligtree, interrupting the ritual. Though that is merely speculation on my part.
I agree with your speculation. I think Miquella is dead. Ofnir calls Mohg insane and I don't think it was mere insult. Dude is talking to a corpse and living inside said corpse, animating it by acting as its blood.
@@rainbowkrampus I’m pretty sure he mention Miquella still slumbering and that someday he might wake up. It’s been a while so I can’t confirm for the moment
Within the first 3 minutes you had covered everything I knew about Miquella. I am super impressed you carried on for another HOUR! Well done, you've got a new sub.
I really like the in-depth total coverage of the lore in these longer videos. Please include as much lore as you can. The length of the video only reflects your dedication to uncovering lore and elden rings philosophy. I have the utmost gratitude to you and your team (if any) in the creation of these videos. You're a legend, good, Sir. Thank you.
"Miquella is an extraordinary being and I say that not being bewitched by him at all," Oh, really? Sounds like what someone who is under Miquella's influence would say! iirc there was also datamined ending dialogue, "Age of Absolute", I think this might be connected to Miquella. Absolute could mean Pure in that case. Hopefully for a DLC!
I would LOVE some update videos on your older lore videos.. since often you mention in later videos how your ideas have changed with new understanding or information. Even if theyre a lot shorter bc you only go over where your understanding of the lore has changed your opinions on the topic or any new lore you've/the community has since discovered!
Any thoughts on a potential link between the Albinaurics and Rennala's "sweetings"? Both seem to have problems with their legs, both are known to bite at their foes, and both seem to be able to perform basic sorceries. It almost seems like there are some universal laws regarding "unnatural" life forms at play here.
The boss on the horse in the haligtree was a albinauric and part of rennalas academy she left her spirt/a spell to gaurd it is the ghost horse fight in the academy. "The sweetings" are illusions hence she is like where did yous go pretty sure the whole fights an illusion but they are obviously illusions of children alinaurics from when the academy was functioning That chick went to look for a home for the albinaurics and eneded up there. According to her gears description However We don't see any albinaurics at the haligtree but we see them at the lord of bloods area like they were following miquella you can see this because the portal to the lord of bloods area which is in the snow area aka close to the haligtree there's a lone non corrupted albinauric frog guy using faith magic so most likely they are dumb as bricks and followed him and that one stayied back and wasn't corrupted but obviously is allied with miquella due to it using ring of light aka one of miquellas incantations and the fact they all are dumb aka can't use spells now but that one can... We see them in liurnia but we also find part of the seal there and it seems to be possibly there home or close enough anywhere else you see them seems to be places associated with miquella Soulsborne games are about reading descriptions and environmental story telling. However im kinda thinking the frog alinaurics have something to do with either miquella and his transformation and maybe they were a test and as such fixing thier legs at the cost to magic and making them look like frogs or it was rykard as there's a skinned frog head there and he likes to mutate things like the snake people
Well the sweetings disabilities seem to just a problem with egg which rune says those born of it usually just dry up and die without benediction from her great rune. As we see with boc .
Awesome video once again! Made my lunch break a whole lot more entertaining. I'm always looking forward to whatever you've got coming out next for this game.
Hmmmm... Ofnir saying "Perhaps the Queen's sorrow was justified" in connection to the abduction of Miquella seems really strange to me. Makes me wonder if maybe the shattering was maybe triggered by the abduction. it would be a bit hard to fit all the pieces but I think it may be possible. Marika was planning to overthrow the golden order with the night of the black knifes so it is possible that everyone was distracted and Mohg could take Miquella. Since Miquella wanted to get rid of the outer gods it's not too farfatched that Marika wouldn't be opposed to him taking the role of the greater will. So the plan was to kill the greater will and let Miquella finish his tranformation but Mohg messed it up so Marika lost it and shattered the ring? I am not sure how much is referenced that the shattering was because of Marika's grief. If it's said only in the intro maybe it's just part of the legend and doesn't have to be true alltogehter. But if multiple sourses say it maybe there is a different story to it? Since there's a theory that Godwyn was unwanted son. There is no other son but Miquella she could grief over... It would also explain why Mellania fought Radahn, since only after he died you could enter the etarnal city and get to Mohg... right? I am not sure it that's the same eternal city or you get there by different means. This probably isn't true though since I am sure there is plenty that does not fit together with this theory (like why tf was Godwyn involved... maybe that's just Ranni's plot?) but it's an interesting idea.
I do like the angle that Marika wanted Miquella to remove the influence of the Outer Gods all along, and Mohg kidnapping him ruined that, but also it was a consequence of her or the Greater Will's act of abandoning the Omen children in the first place. Also we know for a fact that Radagon was close to his son, and that Miquella gave him "several incantations", and we know Radagon and Marika are the same person in some way. So either Miquella was in on those plans or Radagon/Marika simply let him do his own thing knowing it would benefit them one day.
miquella's bewitching powers are actually pretty scary. The ability to magically suede others to your side and earn their favor with a flick of a (metaphorical) finger is terrifying. It's funny because before we even meet him, we are already moved to like him because of how we hear he is loved. It's like his magic works through others.
it's interesting how when Malenia becomes a god, the goddess of rot, she has an entourage of butterflies. But Miquella, in order to obtain godhood, creates a cocoon which is something moths do, not butterflies. Perhaps their is a lore reason as to why these two gods represent these two different yet very similar insects?
had to look this up. it seems like no sites can agree on the meanings of chrysalis/pupa/cocoon but apparently "melania" is the old name for the "Siccia" genus of moths. the more you know lol
Lepidopterans are special in the Lands Between. I'd be willing to theorize that specifically they are a sign of something untouched by the order, given the 3 varieties deal with flames, rot, and the arcane. With Miquella's fight against outside influence and Malenia's almost direct Aeonian butterfly generating, maybe they came to the same conclusion.
@@heavenbot Yeah, it's interesting to see how lepidoterans are tied in with statuses of the world. There's a weapon art known as poison moth sting, too. But other than these examples and the empyrean twins they have zero references or relevance to the story so far it seems.
@@blueverb chrysalis is what butterflies have, cocoons are the outer shell moths make usually made of silk and leaves, and pupa are the chrysalis like state moths enter inside the cocoon
Once again completely amazing video SmoughTown, been thoroughly enjoying them all! Thanks for doing this amazing work, I imagine many many hours go into it! I hope there will be many more to come
i dont remember what item description it was, but there's something that says loretta was rumored to be an albinauric herself. i think those rumors are true, considering the lengths that she went to to find a place where her kind could live in peace, not to mention that she's a magical archer who always fights atop her steed, just like the other young albinaurics
This video is sick, I loved the haligtree and Malenia, it just felt like so authentic and permeated sadness of a fallen order stunted to short of its fruition indeed
Forgot to comment on it in the Mohg video you did, but you asked us if we liked these long vids on story and personally I love them! Deep dives on lore and history of this universe is so much fun to listen to, and I like the format and pace you present it. Keep it up!
One thing to note: the Golden Order was conjoined with the Moon/Silver. I think this is what led Miquella to create an Unalloyed (unmixed metal) order in hopes that it would cure them of their afflictions.
I genuinely can't wait for the miquella dlc.... It's mad that I feel bad for this character already who we've no to seen but no so much about...the noble cause he had....and the fact when we meet him chances are his sleeping defenseless body has been defiled. Epic boss encounter ahead. Jeep up the good work...your videos are brilliant
I want to see an alternate ending where you wake up Malenia, tell her where her brother is, and you help her kick mohg's ass, saves Miquella, and bring in the age of the unalloyed.
Really good video, I really like the way you positioned it as a mirror image of the Golden Order and Erdtree. I think this is further shown by the Rotten Staff carried by the Putrid Avatars, which if you look at closely is actually in the shape of the Haligtree rather than the Erdtree. Also, from the Gideon dialogue about Miquella being stolen, I find it very interesting how he relates the knowledge that Miquella was stolen before being able to finish the Haligtree to the possibility that Marika’s sorrow was justified. Which becomes really interesting with the Black Knife assassins seemingly guarding passage to the Haligtree with their armor set implying a connection to Marika. Additionally, I disagree that our battle is the third bloom of Malenia. The flower outside her boss room has the Traveler’s set on it, which is the set that Millicent and her sisters wear. I feel that armor placement is deliberate to say that it’s not Malenia’s second bloom, especially when coupled with how the description is written in the future tense. I just don’t see where that flower would fit on the timeline as Malenia’s first bloom was the Battle of Aeonia and since then she’s been asleep in the tree as I understand it.
@@brotherclementine7706 that could be it and is an interesting possibility, but I'd have to wonder who placed the set there. Maybe the pests, as they seem to almost be holding Millicent captive before we give her the needle? Another possibility is that Gowry has succeeded once before our quest with Millicent, but I'm not sure how supported that is based on the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia. It does say the four sisters without making mention of Millicent, so it is possible there were more we don't see in game. The Traveler's set does say it was "worn by young women who set off into the world to confront their fate" so it does seem that it was left by a woman who traveled there.
Hey man, I basically never comment on RUclips, but I wanted to let you know I discovered your channel through Elden Ring and I’m glad to see you’re finding an audience for these videos. Your reasoning and analysis are sound and I like that you bring linguistic, historical and cultural insight to some of your points. Really like your astute observations when it comes to environmental storytelling too. Not going anywhere in particular here, just hope you’re having a great time doing what you do and finding success. I subbed and will keep liking videos. I share with my friends too. Hope it helps you find more success in doing what you like and excel at. Keep on keeping it real, man!
Love the video. Your suggestion that Miquella represents purity is heavily tied to, once again, the concept of the Rebis. The opposing qualities of the Rebis are separated by purification and putrefaction, and I'm pretty sure we're all well aware of Miquella's relation to Malenia, literal Goddess of Rot, and Marika/Radagon, the Rebis. It also makes sense why Miquella would have helped Malenia in the cut content as well, as their combined efforts could have made a second Rebis, perhaps.
I have to say (I havent watched the video yet, so maybe this is mentioned) that due to the nature of Miquella's lore combined with the current unfinished seeming state of him left chilling in Nokron after you kill Mohg, the inevitable DLC could definitely be somehow connected to him. I also would guess, that this DLC will add an additional ending, based on Miquellas idea of a new order.
Clicked on the video and saw the length, and literally blanched. Did not even consider watching it but let the first few minutes play. I am now at 48:46 and went "FINALLY", when he started talking about St. Trina. Liked and Subbed!
Mohg: *Lurking, communing with his Blood Goddess* Miquella: *begins watering his sapling/tree with his own blood* Mohg: *sniffs, inhales bewitching blood* Mohg: *Newborn obsession swiftly intensifies* I don't think Miquella ever had a chance of NOT attracting Mohg's attention. He's one of the three characters "pure of blood" with a shot at becoming a God, he willingly seeded the Lands Between with that blood, and he's arguably the most Pure of all 3 due to his pursuit of the unalloyed faith/magics. For someone like Mohg that's one hell of a siren's song for obsession and corruption. I think the emphasis the item descriptions put on Miquella's use of his own blood to grow the Haligtree are important. With Mohg's domain being that of blood and the Haligtree and Miquella being so entwined it would be easy for Mohg to find him and secret him away at a vulnerable moment.
True, dont forget mogh can also move in a blood state, it would be easy for him to sit in wait inside the tree hidden in plain sight, waiting for an opportunity to steal miquella.
Mohg also might've appreciated Miquella as an Omen, seeing as the Haligtree was all about welcoming races spurned by grace like the misbegotten and the albinaurics
For a character whose fate it is, so far at least, to be merely a bloody stage prop for a deranged omen lord in his failed subterranean palace Miquella sure does permeate just about every aspect of the lore. It's sad to see him in this state, but then again tragedy is the glue that binds all FromSoft storytelling.
quick thought. There is an anime called Rust-Eater Bisco that has a brother-sister characters where the brother is a doctor trying to cure his sister's rust. Even the sister's "suit up" scene is heavily similar to Malenia's "suit up" scene
Completely agree with what you said, I didn't think there was nearly this much lore for Miquella, and how nicely this video ties into your Mogh video is something I enjoyed a lot.
57:13 i believe the figure in the roots is another depiction of marika with the obvious missing hole underneath being the place where miquellas cocoon was originally placed in its cycle of decay and rebirth and that this was the intended way of him nourishing the haligtree. the depicted marika having her rooted arms entwined around his protected body in an endless cycle of rotting and getting reborn is probably miquellas perfect idealistic delusion of a mothers love to her children. to miquella, his mother was everything, while his father was the depiction of what everything should not be, which makes it clear that the twins never really knew their mother but only had this deformed fantasy about her and how they longed to be held by someone who loved them. 1:06:28 when we look up at the haligtree after malenias first phase, we basically look at his missing cocoon, but the camera got shifted to the rooted figure instead. this wouldve been his dialogue to power up his sister for phase 2. it is still possible, that the rooted figure could represent him, so visitors would have something/someone to look at while he was in a cocoon state, but all the depictions of statues of a mother hugging her child make me think otherwise
![Twenty One Pilots - “The Line” (from Arcane Season 2) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/E2Rj2gQAyPA/mqdefault.jpg)
![Stromae, Pomme - “Ma Meilleure Ennemie” (from Arcane Season 2) [Official Visualizer]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1F3OGIFnW1k/mqdefault.jpg)
The coolest thing to me about Miquella is how meta his lore is. We are all fascinated with him as a community (mostly due to the lack of knowledge we have) , which quite literally is what is described as his greatest gift in game.
exactly！
that’s what i love about it too! they managed to write him in this way that makes him as mysterious and fascinating as he’s described to be
People complain about FromSoft's narrative style but to me they've mastered the key fundamentals of story and characters and allow for a lot of imagination.
now we can finally know more about it :)
Not many people know that Melania is actually the blade of Miquella
Can you confirm for me if Malenia has ever known defeat? The game is very unclear in this regard.
Only to the pot hero
Dude, I just started watching your BJJ videos because I just started BJJ myself. Fancy seeing you here!
@@shalashaska5851 she cheated on her battle against Radhan - she lost, poison nuked the guy and ran away. She calls it a tie
Is that a rare dialogue or something?
I love that Albus is like "I think I will soon die" and then dies immediately after finishing the statement.
Soon my legs wil-AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH *dies*
Well, he was accurate at least
Truly a 2000s anime supporting character moment
This has the same energy as: "Oh, the floor cracked. I think I might fall."
"I think I might die as soon as this sentence finishes" *turns to dust*
“They are the only demigods born with physical afflictions”
Morgott and Mohg: 👁👄👁
Lol
Not sure if they’re considered demigods or ABOMINATIONS-Leyndell (probably)
If it said "Empyreans", that'd be accurate. Poor Omens lol
Actually, they're blessed by Crucible, the craddle of all life itself. It's not their fault narrow-minded people, including their parents, shunned them.
@@Владислав-ы9м5у their PARENT is considered the very embodiment of the Golden Order shunning all life forms that can't be reborn within the Erdtree tho ...
I really hope they do a Miquella dlc where we can get an unalloyed ending. "Age of Unalloyed Gold" sounds pretty good imo.
It’s not in the nature of From Software to allow us the catharsis of our idealized ending.
I think we will see him again as the main forcus of a DLC, but I do think that Mohg has permanently stunted his potential or corrupted him, which will leave us with this lingering look at what could have been, a glimpse into what could have been a perfect ending that the lands between were so close to, but never got. If we could get an age of unalloyed gold it would be too good of an ending, and having a one-true-ending, or a best ending devalues the choice that the current list of endings give the player.
Currently the endings are all small ways you could change the future, each fixing an injustice that exists within the world, however you can never fix everything, so the player must choose what fix is most important or logical to them. Miquella's ending would be too all-encompassing, and would overlap all the other endings, essentially destroying player choice.
They will never do a "true good ending", never had one in any souls game
@@ivesbarrera to be honest, Dark Souls 3 has a perfect ending where you burn the Painted World and grant the painter girl the dye with which she paints a new world
@@DanateDMC true
Maybe the reason the Haligtree failed to become an Erdtree is precisely because Miquella used his own blood on it. Since he is cursed with eternal childhood he could have passed this trait onto the Haligtree, forever keeping it in a premature state.
@@Bungowumperpuss And those mushrooms are probably there because of scarlet rot frlm none other then Malenia
@@multilink1748 she sure seems to ruin a lot of things.
You know, like the Haligtree... and Radahn... and Calid.
@@boneman-calciumenjoyer8290 and our health bar..
@@boneman-calciumenjoyer8290 and our sanity
@@cerberyn yeah, that too, if you can't memorize her moveset that is.
When you create a gold alloy, you’re essentially reducing the amount of gold in the final product, reducing it’s ‘purity’ so to speak, but it also makes the gold stronger, as pure gold is rather soft.
There feels like some great parallels there, miquella being a softer demigod
And then when you mix the bloodlines, or alloy the gold, you get a stronger final metal, ie. radagon, godwyn. Theres so many great metaphors with this unalloyed thing
Possibly something of note is that pure unalloyed gold in real life is a more saturated yellow colour whereas it becomes more dull the less pure it is. In the game the opposite is true; the golden order incantations and the Leyndell military are a bright yellow gold whereas the "unalloyed" gold is a dull, almost silver hue, with the haligtree force's uniforms reflecting it.
@@dommorris8163 That could be due to Leyndell’s forces being sat right next to a true Erdtree, meanwhile the Haligtree has not grown yet and doesn’t have the same golden leaves that the Erdtree does
I feel like you've hit the nail on the head with this one. I had made the connection of unalloyed referring to Pure gold, but I didn't think about how that makes the gold more malleable, or soft I guess. I hope these lore guys and gals see this comment. There is something here brother.
O o
@@dommorris8163 CVS? M000
What is really interesting is that Malenia chooses the words "most fearsome" to describe Miquella. I would understand if she said greatest, worthy or something related to his pure will and intentions. But calling him the most fearsome when she is the one that harbours Scarlet Rot that affects and destroys everything, alongside her being the strongest demigod in game from raw swordsmanship alone and becoming the first Empyrean to ascend to godhood makes this dialogue really remarkable. How great was Miquella just from power alone?
She is likely referring to his ability to charm others. Hell, there's no guarantee that her own devotion to him isn't because of his ability to charm.
I mean the dude could literally build god-repellants. Makes Radahn's star-hold look flimsy.
That line threw me off. I suppose she means in his charm and master planning perhaps?
In a game where no words are chosen by accident, to use fearsome would mean it's something powerful but strikes terror also. Notice that his charm power is called "compel", which a form more intense of a charm, almost a command. So instead of a direct/objective power - which he also had, remember the 3 rings of light - to compel other is of another level, since people will even kill themselves to defend him and his ideals. And he didn't have to force it to them like the Golden Order did. That is a power that even the best and undefeated swordsman or sorcerer in the game, would never have and it's more powerful than their direct powers. Even greater, i'd say, than the ability to stop the stars.
if i got it right she was referring miquellas charming ability and not his basic fighting power...which i think in terms of power radahn is by far the strongest of them all...the fact that malenia couldnt stop him was injured and thus forced to "bloom" (which is a metaphor for accepting the will of an outer god "rot" and loosing more of her sanitiy or "identity") means she was to week...while radahn even mentaly fucked by rot and corrupted still roams that desert and halts the stars "fate" from advancing.
I dont know brother...every time fromsoft makes something look "holy" it ends up beeing the most evil shit...i think thers nothing more scary then a little kid who can play you like a fuckin doll...i think miquella is/will be the most evil persona in the game (im sure there is a dlc with miquella as a core of it coming) motherfucker is not dead hes slumbering...with mohg not around he will wake up i no time
It’s kind of fascinating, Miquella seems to be one of if not the ONLY force in the Lands Between that is almost undeniably positive. Who knows how the Lands Between would have developed if he wasn’t taken away. And it’s also tragic how Miquella, who accepted anyone no matter what they were, Misbegotten, wretched, even the “accursed” Omen, was stolen by an individual he potentially accepted, and became a test subject to a madman and his unseen formless mother.
Exactly, this is why IMO Mohg is the most evil being in the game, worse than the dung eater
I find it kinda funny how even if you do Varre's questline, you can't really join the Bloody Fingers, and you end up killing him and Mohg.
It's like the game is screaming at you, "Don't join Mohg, kill him."
I mean, we only hear about him on account of others, those who were affected by his "love-me" magic. Of course they would sing him praise endlessly. Ofnir, who doesn't interact with Miquella directly doesn't think much of him. Ofnir is not a nice person, but he ain't an idiot. The hope against hope of his followers and devotion that leads footsoldiers to kill themselves for his takes a completely different meaning if you remember his magical allure.
Way to Mohg's palace lies in the same Snowfield that the way to Haligtree is, I don't know what it would be hard for them to find it, but it's really strange to me that there aren't any Haligtree-aligned search parties looking for him anywhere in the world. Malenia's sleep wasn't that overpowering, she wakes up just from us approaching, and she did wake up before - or how would she even learn that Miquella is gone and all that. But even without her, Haligtree still has an army, Loretta and agents, but there's no reference to them searching for their lord-god, istead all of them just wait. Now I think it's the result of his cult and his power - everyone believes in him so much they can't fathom that he's captured or powerless to return, he must be just lost or something. His allure overrides their logic.
It's quite typical for a FromSoft story to have a genenly good person who's efforst are tragically ruined, but to me there's something quite sinister about this universally liked person with supernatural allure gathering everyone susceptible to be swayed - the lost, the oppressed, the dreamers - into a unified force, while making his own, spliter faith. If Miquella becomes a god and shields the world from influence of Outer Gods or other forces, he may rule unchallenged forever.
@demilung even if you assume his allure was sinister, he still was driven to develop unalloyed gold for his sister's sake, and we have no accounts of him doing or creating anything out of malice. The needles he made remove outer god influence, which almost always means purging or stalling painful corruption or affliction. Instead of raising an army and waging war with those rejects he attracted, he put all his efforts into creating a haven with his own blood and body, to tge point he left himself so vulnerable that Mohg could kidnap him.
Idk, maybe it was all to some sinister end, but if it was, it was in a terribly roundabout way.
This is why I subscribe to the theory that Miquella split his soul from his body and memory and put it in the player character
I wish we could just talk to Malenia, to tell her we know where Miquella is and who abducted him...
...just to then be able to use her as a summon against Mohg and watch her destroy him lol
Yes, especially after getting the unalloyed needle. Malenia with no rot. Oooo boy
Malenia be like "let me solo him"
It's funny the only npcs that look cool to interact with are bosses...also theres cut content that suggests we were friendly with Malenia she even calls us "Dearest Tarnished, My companion..." then she scolds us for our greed and hurting Miquella that leads up to the line "I am Malenia, Blade of Miquella and i have never known defeat" honestly i want to see that scenario more.
@@PapaDrevn that would make her weaker, as channeling it was the only thing allowing her to tie a handicapped Radahn. She also uses it in her 2nd phase, which in my opinion, is harder than the first.
@@Gelt1911 weaker against the tarnished maybe, but as a summon against Mogh? With no rot, and sight? Either way still would be neat.
Miquella is so fascinating! He and Ranni are the only demi-gods we don’t kill. Leaves plenty of room for DLC potential.
He doesn’t even have a divine tower, nor do we find his Two Fingers.
In terms of power, I think Miquella is more powerful than Ranni , just based on what we can see ( the Haligtree, and the unalloyed needles that can ward off outer gods)
It’ll be interesting to see his adult form, corrupted by Mohg’s blood 🩸
Maybe we'll visit a perfected version of the Haligtree in Miquella's DLC. I suspect some sort of dream DLC.
It's probable that Miquella would share Melania's divine tower. If that's a trait inherent in all demi-gods born as twins like Mogh and Morgott.
I'm still shaky on whether he can be corrupted at all. He's unironically "The Unalloyed." No attempt to mix or corrupt him should be possible. Now, what I've been interested in is, let's say it's true that he can be corrupted, is it possible for us to use the needle on him? If he was actually corrupted shouldn't we be able to? Lot of questions.
Highly likely that Melina is also a demigod
"nor do we find his Two Fingers"
What if we do though?
There is one set of Fingers to whom no demi-god is attached, seemingly.
They've developed Miquella well enough as a potentially "good" character that I'm worried that, like with Malenia, we'll be forced to fight him anyway, even if we agree with him or want him to replace Marika's Order. I would be more satisfied if Miquella becomes tied to a new ending for a new order, similar to Ranni.
Yeh I'm divided on whether or not I actually want him in DLC
@@SmoughTown I don't think he will be. Souls DLCs are always about the prime movers and shakers of the world and what they've done.
I suspect that any DLC will shed more light on the shattering itself and generally tell us more about the motivations and machinations of Marika.
Miquella was poised to be a prime mover and shaker of the world but his flower was pruned before it could bloom.
Personally I think Miquella is dead. His body has that same crusty Empyrean look Morgott's had after we killed him and took his rune. So unless the DLC involves time travel (definitely a possibility but who can say), Miquella's role in the game is over.
He's going to get the Aldia treatment from DS2. You're welcome
Agree, it will be better to have a new ending with Miquella, rather than force us to fight him.
i think he gonna be more like ranni as a character in this game if he ever appear
He placed himself in a sort of womb within the tree and if you look at the pedestal that he is placed on in the palace it's a pelvis bone. The seat of the womb.
I figured the pelvis was somehow related to the Formless Mother, Miquella being placed inside it by Mohg as if to rebirth him, but we have so little info on her it’s difficult to see how exactly it was used.
@@beatotheelder6170 True. Could just be a way of saying his rebirth will be unpure.
Was thinking the same thing, though I thought the pelvis bone we see in Mohg's castle to not originate from the tree but was something manifested from the Formless Mother.
Mf is just riding d real hard 💀
I like that they are literally opposites, Miquella being the embodiment of stagnation and lack of growth, and Malenia is the envoy of progression and decay. And yet they love each other unconditionally as most siblings do.
Elden rings state the most mundane facts and think they've said something profound
Would love to see a dlc with miquella (possibly about entering his dream?) where we get to decide his ultimate fate; helping him ascend or completing his blood related corruption that Mohg started. And unlocking two different endings based on whether we help or take advantage of Miquella. It'd be an interesting way to introduce a Lord of Blood ending and one pertaining to Miquella's plans.
Though I think an Unalloyed ending would be too good to be true lore-wise. Personally, I'd like to see Miquella's bewitching nature really emphasized, where we are left to wonder whether we are actually helping him of our free will. Perhaps the Unnalloyed ending could be left ambiguous, where the lands between becomes a true utopia, but Miquella's bewitchment of life becomes absolute. And ultimately free will, or at least an aspect of it, is eradicated. So the world ends up becoming a picturesque doll house of sorts, where Miquella, a god cursed with eternal childhood, plays with and cares for his 'toys.'
Love the idea of enter his ‘dream’. Hadn’t seen that idea yet!
Good news, everyone!
Yeah, I kinda figure that would be what the Unalloyed Gold age would look like. Miquella seems to genuinely care for his subjects, but he has passive and active mindcontrol going on; making him leader would likely result in a golden age of peace and prosperity, but one underpinned by an uncanny and quiet loss of free will and self determination. I can still see this as the "best" ending as he still seems to be the most kind and generous leader available and likely wouldn't overtly abuse his control, but the fact that this ending strips everyone of choice and freedom would still make it very dubious morally.
My assumption/theory for St. Trina is that they're a projection of Miquella while he's in the haligtree. Since he's slumbering at the time and Trina is a god of sleep. If it happens when he goes into the tree, it explains why people don't recognize him, and the disappearance could potentially be linked to when mohg cuts him out.
I like this explanation a lot, I think mirroring Marika/Radagon would be too on the nose as other theories suggest. St. Trina seems like a placeholder until Miquella ascended imo
We do see something similar happening via Morgott, who can project himself out into other areas like when he appears in Stormveil and again outside Lyndell, you even see him seemingly transform a random noble enemy into a copy of him that will attack you. Depending on how the ability works specifically, whether it will always transform them into a perfect copy of you clothing included or if you can chose to not transform everything, it would explain the ambiguous gender. Miquella may have used the bodies of both men and woman, and either if they transformed into him, the clothing they wore combined with his androgynous looks led them to confuse him for a woman. Similarly, whether it's due to Morgott's magic or Mohg's, there's a fake copy of Mohg down in the Shunning grounds. Each situation shows that there is a pre-established precedent for powerful characters to either project themselves out into the world, or create illusions of themselves that can act independently of the original person.
Plus, the cookbook mentioning St. Trina also strangely mentions that the creator searched for St. Trina specifically in his sleep, not when he was awake. It's seems possible that St. Trina may be a dream projection of Miqulla that would take over other people's bodies.
So kinda like margit and how he's morgott's own projection
Looks like Miquella's lily may have been yet another victim of the (many!) odd translations of Elden Ring. The Japanese suggests it was not in Miquella's infancy that he loved the lily, but in the Haligtree's infancy, from my reading. Implies much more of a link with the Haligtree and faith in it, than Miquella (and so it withers). My translation of the last two sentences: "Flower of faith in the Haligtree (holy tree), in its infancy the Empyrean Miquella loved/cherished this illusory/short-lived/mythical flower". Thanks for your videos!
Your translation seems to be the same as the english one imo.Also i think the english also takes into account that Miquella tried to grown into full adulthood at the Haligtree.
Can we please start treating the English translation lore as a thing unto itself? I genuinely do not care what the original has to say about these matters whatsoever
What you're saying implies that the original Japanese writing is the only true way to interpret the lore, completely disregarding the English translation for what it is- it's own thing seperate to the Japanese version, and really every version.
Just because something different in translation doesn't make it odd or an error.
@@_Molecule maybe the severity of these translation errors is being overblown though?
One last thing about the auspicious birth (not sure if you bring this up), both Miquella and Malenia were born AFTER Radagan broke his vow with Renalla, which was supposed to be sacred. This seems like it might be important, as it could lead to the idea that Radagan's and Marika's marriage and eventual reproduction was 'corrupt'. A relationship not for the sake of love, but seemingly for power and power alone in the service of the Greater Will.
I always believed it might have been Rennala that cursed the birth of the Twins after being betrayed by Radagon.
@@alfredosimental6981 I highly doubt that. Renalla was basically powerless after Radagon left. Broken and useless. And even if she did, I doubt her power, even at her most powerful would allow for a curse so strong.
@@Pelagion98 well a fire giant was able to curse Radagon himself. And even though the fire giants are strong, I don't remember them being shown to possess powers of that measure except for the curse. So maybe you don't have to be powerful to do something like that
I'm thinking along these lines. But more in that the discord between Marika and Radagon had caused their afflictions.
Elden Ring seems to be about connections, relationships, marriages.... and the corruptions therein. The Omens are shunned by blood where family would have sufficed. Ranni's ambitions are severed by attachment, et vice versa in her pursuit of the freedom she wishes upon the world. Radagon was happily married, only to be whisked away to serve as consort to his traitor goddess, likely tasked with repairing the elden ring, if only by himself....
Basically, bad blood equals bad blood, literally, instead of just generational trauma
@@ephemeralenhancement9445 wasn’t the fire giant either the fire god himself or was just channeling their god’s power tho? seems like he was more than just a fire giant considering the one we fight is the last one left
It's kinda funny how Miquella was the only child of Radagon not to inherit the cursed red hair, I wonder if this is also an example of him pushing back against external forces or just genetics
Well people seem drawn to Marika and she was from what I understand less of a warrior and more of a ruler. Miquella was also not a warrior but more of a charismatic ruler. That's the only reason I can think of is the embodiment of something different than radagons descendents. But it really could just be genetics lol
That's an interesting point of comparison, given that Marika wished to shatter the elden ring, die at the hands of the tarnished, and usher in a new elden lord not beholden to the Greater Will
It's obvious that there are elements of alchemy in the Lands Between. To me, the iconography of Miquella and the aspects of "him" and Saint Trina "her" might imply that he's representing the perfect being, a hermaphrodite. Gold is also considered "perfect" in alchemy.
A butterfly's puta stage is quite ugly, but then they bloom into something beautiful. Malenia had already reached her butterfly stage, so maybe her twin could do the same. Maybe in DLC we'll touch Miquella's hand and go into a dream, like we did with Fia. That's my best guess right now.
The perfect being in Alchemy that you are referencing is the Rebis, which is the perfectly **alloyed** divine hermaphrodite.
He was born of one which is the cause of his curse in the first place. I highly doubt he's a Rebis as well.
I think you can see the future.
An interesting thing I've noticed about Miquella is just how similar he is to Griffith from berserk. Both are androgynous, revered as almost godlike, and compel love and affection. Griffith even is one and the same with a young boy, which he transformed into on the full moon. The parallels make me wonder if Miquella really is as kind and good as he seems...
It also works with Miquella's compelling of affection and loyalty, similar to Griffith's
He seems like a good chap though, devoted his life to cure his sister literally by turning himself into a tree.
I am with you completely even in the mogh video I left a similar comment
If we're following this metaphor, perhaps he was truly good. But after Mohg’s corruption, he becomes a “Femto” of sorts. If we do fight him in the DLC it will probably be a mercy killing since he’d have been fully corrupted by Mohg and the formless mother.
Miquella is a villain like all the rest, replacing one order and god with another is not true freedom, but a new form of slavery
These videos are a cut above everything else that's out there in terms of detail and quality.
Thank you for your unparalleled support as always man
Agree, my fav lore channel by far.
Makes sense that this is over an hour, Miquella's roots seem to permeate just about everything in the Lands Between
I imagine he'll be the "Velka" of Elden Ring
Agreed! His influence is unmatched
A perfect description. All of the speculation around Miquella and potential DLC reminds me of the DS1 DLC times and how people thought it would be about Velka. DLC about Miquella would make sense, but at the same time it would be such a Miyazaki move to release DLC that has nothing to do with Miquella and have this character remain shrouded in mystery forever.
@@hm02fly75 I think the key difference here is that Miquella plays an even bigger part in the story than Velka and is mentioned more often. Another character that got mentioned often in Dark Souls was Artorias, who got a DLC. Or Lady Maria who we only got a hint of through one Item, aswell as Kos (who turned out to be dead). You never know what Miyazaki will do. So we will have to see if this is a Artorias, Kos or a Velka, Tomoe situation. (although Sekiro was never gonna get DLC, since it's a side project)
He also reminded me a lot of Mergo from Bloodborne, altough both are _absent_ in the plot, their influence kickstarted a lot of their games events. Also both are eternal children.
@@Xfushion2 Mergo isn’t really absent, just invisible. He dies when the Wet Nurse does
53:05 basically miquella discovered mirikas secret and learned how he could do the same. Basically splitting himself or converting himself into a new form, one that is unbeholden to the curse of eternal youth his other body is forced into.
Maybe he was testing it on himself first, before doing the same for his sister.
So your character you play could be Miquella, because we are the only maidenless one and we can kill demigods for ever
I don't think so. I mean all empyreans are suffering from an infliction at birth. I think that is probably because with only 1 parent, the other half has to come from somewhere, right? So as far as I know nothing in the game actually says this but it makes sense. So I imagine the Outer Gods, end up taking the other half like a weird moving day. I think the Greater Will go to Miquella ,probably as a replacement for Marika as the Elden Beast's vessle, as "they" seemed to been afflicted by being a stunted *dual being* with allure. Like Mommy Marika and Uncle Guarranq/Maliketh. Both of whom are bound to the Greater Will and are two people. So while not completely confirmed , is highly suggested miquella/st trina being .
Malenia got the SEALED GOD OF SCARLET ROT, most likely to spread the rot and bring the lands between closer to it being able to invade or to come back. Not sure.
As it goes for Ranni, we don't know the affliction she suffered from when alive but obviously the God of the Primeval Current inhabited it when she was alive but she accepts it as part of her.
OMG! I think I just saw the Matrix flash before me... that might be enough RUclips/Elden Ring for today.
@@MSDK_DARKDRAGON its an rpg the player can be whatever you want them to but it will absolutely never be confirmed or it destroys the aspect entirely making it extremely unlikely
*Marika
What if he tested it on ranni first saw it worked and fucked up when godwyn was killed and that was meddling done by ranni to undermine miquella’s order which was in her eyes a part of the two fingers plan?
If Miquella does end up being involved in DLC, I hope that we'll get a route to a new ending where we can purge the influence of the outer gods. It's kind of a bummer that Ranni is the only demigod that From lets us side with as things are :/
I think this should be an ending if we get all of the greater runes. Just completely replace Marika and tell the Greater Will to take a hike.
@@piedpiper1185 but great runes make no sense since they come from the greater will
@@theoneandonly9775 maybe you collect them all then destroy them?
@@theoneandonly9775 I assume the greater will has a return policy
@@haydenfromtarget1357 that's the chaos take the world ending
Great video. I just wanted to note that the oracles might be at the haligtree, even after Miquella's disappearance, to await Malenia's change into the goddess of rot.
Very true!
The bubble oracles gathering at the Haligtree could potentially mean something else as well. It is said that once Malenia blooms for the third time, she will truly become the Goddess of Rot. And upon her initial defeat, she does indeed bloom for a third time, and for a short while during the second part of our battle with her, she does indeed become a God. Still despite this I do think the oracles are there for Miquella, but I am always left in awe at the ability of Fromsoft writers to write beautiful, poetic red herrings in these games.
Miquella working with Castle Sol, who is worshipping an Eclipse, which can only happen when the Moon and Stars can Move, which can't happen because Radahn is holding everything in place, which may be why Malenia the Blade of Miquella and Radahn fought in the first place!? Great video, keep up the quality content! Peace and Love
"Perhaps the Queen's Sorrow was justified"
this along with his words upon defeat, and others seem to imply Gideon is aware of Marika's feelings/thoughts and over all goal...something is up
I love all the different factions and how detailed they are in Elden Ring and how each are trying to bring in their own philosophy of a new age..It really gives a taste of game of thrones in a dark souls inspired universe
Man if only Miyazaki and George R. R. Martin would collab on the lore of a game 😢
Well, the devs did collab with George r r Martin for this
CORRECTIONS: 1. The clay men are NOT the same as the Oracles the clay men are the enemies in the underground rivers. 2. The bloom outside Malenia’s boss room is most likely that of a Valkyrie- given the travellers’ set we find.
Thanks everyone!
What do you think about the unalloyed? Let me know your theories below!
Love your stuff smough, amazing to see all the fantastic content created by fans of the series
Thanks for the compelling narrative voice and fucken awesome visuals
I anticipate your uploads
I think Unalloyed is pronounced weird in this game. 🤣
I especially like the part in which ranni explains that she, miquella and malenia are the only "demigods" that were awarded with the title of Empyrean, because it has some interesting implications for the gloam eyed queen. As has been established that the GEQ was also an empyrean, it's safe to say she was a full-blown god, or at least not one of Marika's offspring.
@@matthewlenscak1312 thank you so much! I just love sharing this content
@@lanceelopezz223 me too haha
Thank you for expanding on the connection between Miquella and St. Trina, I was seriously skeptical of the claim that he is St. Trina one and the same, but you've cleared up my reservations and I'm much more favorable to your interpretation now. I still think there's more to it, I had imagined St. Trina to be more of a teacher Miquella sought, but the evidence available is certainly more in your favor. Great video, very thorough!
I’m really glad I was able to add value to the discussion! Thank you so much 🙏
Ya covered mohg and miquella back to back I can't have asked for more. Well done
👌I hope you enjoy it!
@@SmoughTown so does this make Mohg a creeper/pedo? Or was Mohg just enthralled by Miquellas abilities and was forced to fall in love and serve his new majesty to create a new dynsaty.
@@SmoughTown definitely did
Knowing that the Aeonian Butterflies are representative of Malenia, or rather the Goddess of Rot which bestowed them upon her, I think it’s likely that Nascent Butterflies are a counterpart associated with Miquella.
They’re described as translucent and as if they’ve just emerged from a cocoon, very similar to Miquella’s depiction in-game. Following this, it could imply that the Outer God which afflicted Miquella with eternal childhood could be one of Birth, with “Nascent” referring to an embryonic, developing state.
More in line with Miquella’s (St. Trina’s) affinity for sleep, it might be closer to a Goddess of Slumber or Regeneration, better contrasting Malenia’s degradation.
This gave me something to really think about. Not that I myself really think this is the case, but what if Miquella isn’t in his cocoon anymore? If, like the nascent butterflies, he had emerged from his slumber when Mohg cracked it open, but when he emerged it was in a nascent form, making him some kind of invisible/translucent being, maybe even to free himself of whatever influence/meddling that any outer god had done to his physical form, or even to keep Malenia asleep to keep her from blooming further.
Interestingly there’s also smoldering butterflies, implying a potential third sibling, likely Melina the kindling maiden. Just more clues to Melina being a child of Marika
Lol good job presenting Vaati's theories as you're own.
I always kind of took St. Trina as Miquella’s Radagon. Two people one male and one female in the same body. I think the reason St. Trina is associated with sleep is that Miquella in his slumber becomes Trina.
I don't think I've seen people talking about the portal along the northwest cliffs of the consecrated snow fields that goes to Mohg's domain. This very well could've been how Mohg managed to abscond so easily after the kidnapping, a hidden door leading straight back to home, leading through a treacherous path guarded by the strongest Albinaurics loyal to Mohg. Perhaps it was his Albinaurics that created the portal for him, seeking the refuge of the haligtree as a front for their master. Although Miquella's charismatic aura would likely deter treachery, Mohg could lead them to believe that constructing the portal for him would be the best outcome for their savior. Hopefully, DLCs will shine new light onto this subject.
There is a blood trail leading to the portal in the Consecrated Snowfields, showing that Mohg did indeed use it to port back to his palace from there.
The Albinaurics are more than likely there because they followed Mohg, not as their leader but rather in force to get Miquella back to the Haligtree.
There is an Albinauric waiting by the portal on the Snowfields side, and he's pretty much the only Albinauric that uses the Rings of Light incantation, one of Miquella's creation. The Albinaurics within Mohg's realm likely followed through the portal but then we're influenced by the Unseen Mother once they passed through, as can be seen by their bloody spiked wheel abilities.
The Albinauric with the rings of light incantation was likely the only one left behind to wait for the rest in case their mission to retrieve Miquella failed, and he waits there still.
That's my interpretation anyways.
@@Faviomec that's not quite true, the other albinaurics in the snow fields use the rings of light all the time too.
@@Faviomec Don't forget the Sanguine Noble that invades right before the portal near the big tree their.
I wonder if Mohg was drawn to Miquella due to watering the Haligtree in blood.
Also, the opening image with Mohg and Miquella, I notice the white background is actually the initial cocoon that he was ripped from.
Great lore videos, keep up the great work!
Don’t apologize for the long video. I would watch a video five times as long if the content was as good as this. The depth and effort you put into your videos has made you my go-to ER lore expert. Thank you for the videos and I look forward to as many more as you can make.
Toward the beginning of the video, you mentioned being puzzled as to why Malenia’s rot bloomed at the base of the Haligtree, but I think there’s an explanation that fits very well when we consider why it bloomed in Caelid and during our fight with her. It does so as a response to being stressed/defeated in battle. So, it seems like she was defending Miquella against Mohg trying to take him when the rot bloomed. But Mohg was able to escape (perhaps through a pool of blood which seems to be a way he can transport himself). At least, this is a theory that fits.
wasnt there a part in the video that said malenia bloomed 2 times before she did with us, the first being radahn and the second was in the roots of the haligtree for an unknown reason, probably either validating what u think or she just got bored
Great video as always. Something that has been bothering me about the Haligtree is that there doesn't seem to be a single albinauric who actually made it in there, just the ones guarding Ordina. I know oracle envoys are present in the branches of the Haligtree, but they seem to be a different kind of ancient artificial life to the regular albinaurics. So why would Loretta guard the entrance to Elphael with her life, if it isn't actually serving as a safe haven for the albinaurics like she hoped?
My only speculation is that perhaps the albinaurics who made it are inside the cocoons around the base of the haligtree, undergoing some kind of metamorphosis alongside their god. Perhaps this is in order to heal their legs. It's also possible that the 2nd generation albinaurics (who are much more capable of combat than the first generation and can actually walk) left Elphael and followed Mohg across the snowfield back to his palace in an attempt to bring Miquella back, but obviously failed before they could even cross the blood lakes.
i kinda came to this conclusion about the eggs around the haligtree and lack of albinaurics, especially since Loretta being there suggests that some albinaurics must have made it, another suggestion i’ve heard though is that they all followed him as Mohg took him to Mohgwyn
The thing that really bothers me about the Haligtree is that its secret entrance is guarded by multiple black knife assassins... seems to me its more than a co-incidence that the assassins who carrier-ed out the night of black knives are seemingly Service to an Empyrean who is disillusioned with the Golden order and seeking to establish their own order....
@@sleepyqueer the oracles look a lil like albinaurics with new swag ngl
@@Terminalsanity its very likely that both miquella and ranniss goals are not mutually exclusive and so the age of stars and the sanctuary within the haligtree and the curing of malenia and miquella with miquella bringing about an unalloyed order within the domain of the haligtree are both coherent goals at the same time? Like perhaps they would be interested to help one another and achieve both of their goals. They both have beef with radahn and seek the end of the golden order, and if anyone would be sympathetic to ranni even if he disagreed with her killing godwins soul, it would be miquella. He may pity godwin, but still understand the rannis desire to escape tyranny and the control of others. Especially when miquella himself regards that same tyranny as impure. I imagine he pities them both, and he probably pities mohg too.
@@outerspaceisalie I think their goals are very much mutually exclusive goals: Miquella wants to establish his own order and rule the Lands between under Unalloyed Gold: a more perfected version of the Golden Order with him as its God head. Ranni wants to ward off external influence from the Lands between and leave letting the people make up their own minds and choose their own path instead of having an order imposed upon them. Miquella's goal would undermine Ranni's goal entirely and via versa.
Moreover I don't think Miquella is what he has people think he is. I think he was the one who secretly commanded and commands the Black Knife Assassins (It is after all Black Knife Assassins who guard the secret entrance to the Haligtree in Ordina) and so was the one who had Godwyn killed and betrayed Ranni in the process having had the Black Knife Assassins lie to Ranni about their target being Radahn and had them kill Godwyn instead. That would explain why Ranni had the leader on the Black Knife Assassins Alecto locked up in the Evergaol apparently right after the Night of Black knives. And also would explain why the Black Knife Assassins attack Ranni's crew right after she succeeds in slaying her Two Fingers and is on the cusp of achieving her goal. I think Miquella's mourning of Godwyn was nothing more than a public front to deflect suspicion from his involvement in Godwyn's death.
Speaking of Mohg I don't think he actually took Miquella by force rather when Miquella plans for the Haligtree fell through I think Miquella sought out Mohg's aid to complete his transformation into a full God. Note that there is no sign of a fight having taken place at the Haligtree and none of Miquella's forces seem to be actively looking for him just awaiting his return. You don't see them fighting with Mohg' forces in the Consecrated snowfield. I think Mohg is just another enthralled pawn of Miquella when we fight him.
Too much about Miquella reminds me of Griffith from Berserk. I do not think he is altruistic as he presents himself and is far more ambitious, devious, and corrupt than public image he crafted to help attain his ultimate goal of having his own order everlasting and unopposed. I'm guessing the impending DLC will settle whether or not I'm grasping at straws or have struck upon something of substance.
-Beautiful, androgynous, femboy
-Desired by all
-People are compelled to follow him
-Wanted a kingdom
-Tortured horribly
-Currently hibernating inside an egg fueled by the blood of countless tarnished
-In a video game series that LOVES to make Berserk references
*Uh oh....*
Oh. Oh no. Fuck.
Obvious but stupid question but Mohg is Donovan right?
@@MrCowman57 Yes.
@@Sorrowdusk thank you.
#MiquellaDidNothingWrong
Great stuff. Miquella is definitely my favorite demigod. Nothing is straightforward with him. Is he strong or helpless? Is he benevolent or manipulative?
another victim enthralled under Miquellas power...
@@DisgruntledPeasant guilty as charged
charming or...bewitching?
Great comments lol
just a quick point in Shinto (Japanese folklore) Twins were considered unnatural abominations. Do you think this may be in part why they were cursed and the Omen twins is in part related to this concept of twins as cursed?
Also, id like to point out how the director pointed out lord of the rings as an inspiration and it seems Miquellas city Elphael is the most obvious reference to a perverse version of Rivendell. They are both sites of refugees, both use art nouveau, naturalistic styles. Both hold the most intelligent semi-immortal beings in their respective universes. And lastly both Rivendell and Elphael show decay amongst a once-mighty civilization as a key theme.
Just as well, could Malenia have gone to war to gather the ruins to fuel the growth of Miquella and his tree? This would explain why his sister left him vulnerable despite the massive risks
The "Twins are evil" thing is also dependent on what era you're talking about. Sometimes they're an omen of disaster, sometimes they'd be considered almost godly.
Which would tie into the different reactions to Morgott&Mogh vs Miquella/Millenia.
In the Godfrey era, twins were seen as a evil omen thus Morgott/Mogh *must* be tossed out lest their curse spread but the Omen curse isn't communicable.
Whereas Radagon's reign, twins aren't seen as evil, yet Miquelle & Malenia have two very dangerous afflictions- the Scarlet Rot and Unending Love/Obsession. Unlike the previous set, those two are allowed to exist in amongst the regular population risking a plague or worse.
It's a great bit of social lore building.
@@brittany45 That's very True; the Egyptian gods were often twins and even had sibling marriages of their twin gods. Eldenring is inspired by many sources and no doubt takes inspiration from tons of myriad mythologies and Stories. It's very is fascinating indeed when we think of psychology and social factors.
great insight into Miquella/Godwyn, it was something I didn't really catch during my playthrough.
Miquella almost seems like the perfect hero if we weren't the protagonist.
Such a shame what happened with Mohg.
Amazing video
I was completely entranced the entire time. It's funny how this character who is so beloved in the elden ring world can still be the most fascinating part of the lore despite being the most mysterious and one we never even see.
I found a closeup of the St Trina's Torch carving of Trina's adult form, and it's basically a beautiful face with one single eye in the centre of the forehead surrounded by hair that looks like tree branches or tentacles. I just thought it was a cool thought, for Miquella to be both beautiful yet even a tiny bit "monstrous" as Trina.
I thought Miquella and St Trina are the same person?
@@thecrudest147 they might be, or they might be different aspects of the same person :) we don't know if Miquella had one eye over hair (the carvings imply he didn't) but it seems like St. Trina does based on her torch, so it would be fun if that creepy form is something Miquella can transform into.
@@mrrd4444 Maybe something akin to Melina changing appearance at the Lord of Frenzy flame ending? Opening the opposite eye, while her rosey hair turns a blackish gray
@@thecrudest147 Miquella = St Trina = Melina
I'm wondering if he has the same ability to have a masculine and feminine aspect/appearance like his mother/father. We still dont know if Radagon used to actually be an entire different person either! Maybe that's a super special emperyan ability?
As others have probably pointed out already, a lot of people (including myself) believe that the Aeonian flower we find before Malenia's boss room isn't hers, since we find the armor set of the valkyries that later attack Milicent, and in the Scarlet Aeonia incantation it says that Malenia only bloomed twice, falling short from becomming a full-fledged goddess, hence why when we kill her it says "Great Enemy Felled" instead of "God Slain", like what happens when we defeat the Elden Beast.
but Milicent sisters can't bloom-?
@@lawlessloki9320 they can, just that they will be less impressive valkyries
Another incredible video. I’ve spent over 300 hours across multiple characters in the Lands Between, but this is the third time I’ve seen a video of yours and been absolutely blown away. For my money you are putting out the very best Elden Ring content, and there isn’t a close second. Take this like and this sub, you’ve more than earned it!
Thanks so much for the sub! means alot!
That pool you find in carian manor is a still shallow pool of water often referred to as a "Reflecting pool" and the version of Loretta that appears seems to be a reflection of Loretta I highly doubt is a coincidence.
Might have something to do with the spell to bring Loretta forth since she always seems to maintain her form within viewing distance of that pool.
“They are the only Demi gods born with physical afflictions”
Morgott and Mohg: “Are we jokes to you?”
Yes, yes you are
You’ve easily become my favorite Elden Ring content creator. Fantastic lore videos and interpretations.
Cheers! Looking forward to what you upload next.
Amazing, honoured you think so!
23:45 That bloom is actually not Malenia’s but one of the Millicent’s sisters you can see one of the traveler’s clothes,same one worn by Millicent right next to the bloom when you loot.
Was gonna say this, everyone assumes when they see a bloom it's from Malenia
Her blooming confuses me. I don't think she's bloomed 3 times
@@LSB44446 She actually bloomed 2 times: One against her fight with Radahn and one against us
@@darthacez Isn't she only supposed to ascend after her third bloom? The one in her fight against us would have to have been her third right?
@@Ezekiel_Allium the third bloom is what we see in the room after the fight. blooming doesn't automatically result in ascension, it takes time. When we betray millicent she sits there in a bloom ready to become a Valkyrie in the future.
Easily fast becoming one of my favorite lore channels. Only stumbled upon the channel at the start of the Elden Ring content and am tickled pink at the huge library of videos I've yet to go through. Looking forward to some of the other games you go into, even the ones I'm not particularly fond of or play infrequently, like Warframe.
I really appreciate that, thanks for the support!
Fantastic video and summary. Miquella has quickly become my favorite character or at least demigod in elden ring
I know this must've taken a HUGE amount of work. This is a great video, and awesome series. For those of us that don't take the time to read everything to ACTUALLY understand what's going on, videos fill us in. Great work, and please keep making them!
Albinaurics are incredibly passive in Elden Ring’s narrative despite their tendency to find their way into every area of significance possible
they’re passive until they kickflip towards me and slam a giant club into my spine
Just like minorities irl. They'll go way out of their way to be surrounded by white people.
Makes me think of the Orphan of Kos. What a great boss fight that was, by the way!
Absolutely amazing
To be fair the oracles could be heralding meliania's acsencion to goddess of rot but it could also be miquella as well! Love the video though!
I said the same thing
@@WillyTeach good job william! I appreciate you!
Poor old Mohg, no oracles anywhere near his palace lol
The only reason I don't agree with that is because they're found at the Capital and not places like Calid or the Lake of Rot
@@kylecherpy2842 yeah but they herald the coming of NEW gods not old ones. Meliania is a new god. The god of rot is an old one
It's very interesting to think about these characters' intentions as you peel back the lore. I love your speculations, as all of them make sense. I feel like I would align with Miquela's order, or lack there of, if he were to have a rune. Thank you for a detailed approach to a game that I've loved since the first playthrough. It's really amazing that there is so much depth that you present in a digestible format.
I think that Miquella and Melania are the manifestation of the sin of removing the death glyph from the Elden Ring, The rot is the stagnation and well rot of things that can not die and be renewed and being forever a child the consequence of not being able to age and die. The unalloyed gold is the purity of the gold no changes subtractions or additions that forestall the sins of not only the greater will. But also the will of other outer gods that wish to change or exert themselves on that golden order.
I don't think so. I mean all empyreans are suffering from an infliction at birth. I think that is probably because with only 1 parent, how is it possible? Cause the gods take the other half. So as far as I know nothing in the game actually says this but it makes sense. So I imagine the Outer Gods, end up taking the other half like a weird moving day ASAP , for more empowering them in the Lands Between/
I think the Greater Will go to Miquella. Miquella ,probably as a replacement for Marika as the Elden Beast's vessle, as "they" seemed to been afflicted by being a stunted dual being with allure. Like Mommy Marika and Uncle Guarranq/Maliketh. Both of whom are bound to the Greater Will and are two people. So while not completely confirmed , is highly suggested that it is a miquella/st trina situation . Could explain why he seems to have no belief in Greater Will and wanted to actually fix things.
Malenia got the SEALED GOD OF SCARLET ROT, most likely to spread the rot and bring the lands between closer to it being able to invade or to come back. Not sure.
As it goes for Ranni, we don't know the affliction she suffered from when alive but obviously the God of the Primeval Current inhabited it when she was alive but she accepts it as part of her and just wanted out of the Greater Wills plan
OMG!....that might be enough RUclips/Elden Ring for today. Have a good one.
Right as I open RUclips to check, the Lore Lord delivers 🙏
23:45 im not ENTIRELY sure this bloom is of malenia, you can loot travelers clothes, the same worn by millicent, right next to the bloom, is it not more likely instead that this bloom is of another valkyrie?
That’s actually true
Yes
I'm not disagreeing with you, but where would the first bloom of Malenia be if this is the case? And do you think that canonically, the player should be leaving aeonias in their wake as they use the scarlet aeonia incantation?
@@heavenbot I think Malenia actually bloomed twice: during her fight against Radahn and one against us.
@@darthacez This. We don’t see the first bloom in-game, but it’s clear in the trailer of Radahn and Malenia’s fight
Great video! However, I disagree that the Envoys are there to herald Miquella, rather, I believe they are in the Haligtree to herald Malenia's ascension to the Goddess of Rot. After all, we see that happen at the end of her boss fight, and Miquella is nowhere near the Haligtree at the time.
In fact, the lack of envoys near Mohgwyn's Palace seems to inply to me that Miquella's ascension to godhood has become unattainable because of Mohg ripping him out of the Haligtree, interrupting the ritual. Though that is merely speculation on my part.
I agree with your speculation. I think Miquella is dead.
Ofnir calls Mohg insane and I don't think it was mere insult. Dude is talking to a corpse and living inside said corpse, animating it by acting as its blood.
@@rainbowkrampus doesn’t Ofnir also imply Miquella is alive within the cocoon?
@@SorowFame Not that I recall. Ofnir didn't even know where Miquella was until we tell him. I'm not sure how he could ascertain Miquella's state.
@@rainbowkrampus I’m pretty sure he mention Miquella still slumbering and that someday he might wake up. It’s been a while so I can’t confirm for the moment
@@SorowFame Ofnir says that miquella will be fine if hes left in his cocoon, but he also implies he doesnt know if thats a good thing.
Within the first 3 minutes you had covered everything I knew about Miquella. I am super impressed you carried on for another HOUR! Well done, you've got a new sub.
I really like the in-depth total coverage of the lore in these longer videos.
Please include as much lore as you can. The length of the video only reflects your dedication to uncovering lore and elden rings philosophy.
I have the utmost gratitude to you and your team (if any) in the creation of these videos. You're a legend, good, Sir.
Thank you.
"Miquella is an extraordinary being and I say that not being bewitched by him at all," Oh, really? Sounds like what someone who is under Miquella's influence would say!
iirc there was also datamined ending dialogue, "Age of Absolute", I think this might be connected to Miquella. Absolute could mean Pure in that case. Hopefully for a DLC!
I absolutely say this of my own free will, Miquella is great
@@SmoughTown blink twice if you need help! 😂
Awesome video dude! You’re really killing it with the Elden Ring lore!
Thanks Aiden!
I also noticed that Malenia bloomed again after her boss fight. I believe this is her third bloom
Considering the outfit you find by it, I disagree. It was one of Millicents sisters. They were all known as Blooms .
@@eiden2616hi! What makes you think they are known as Blooms? Thanks
I would LOVE some update videos on your older lore videos.. since often you mention in later videos how your ideas have changed with new understanding or information. Even if theyre a lot shorter bc you only go over where your understanding of the lore has changed your opinions on the topic or any new lore you've/the community has since discovered!
Don’t apologize for the length!!!! This video was awesome. I love Elden ring, so the longer the better.
Any thoughts on a potential link between the Albinaurics and Rennala's "sweetings"? Both seem to have problems with their legs, both are known to bite at their foes, and both seem to be able to perform basic sorceries. It almost seems like there are some universal laws regarding "unnatural" life forms at play here.
The boss on the horse in the haligtree was a albinauric and part of rennalas academy she left her spirt/a spell to gaurd it is the ghost horse fight in the academy.
"The sweetings" are illusions hence she is like where did yous go pretty sure the whole fights an illusion but they are obviously illusions of children alinaurics from when the academy was functioning
That chick went to look for a home for the albinaurics and eneded up there. According to her gears description
However We don't see any albinaurics at the haligtree but we see them at the lord of bloods area like they were following miquella you can see this because the portal to the lord of bloods area which is in the snow area aka close to the haligtree there's a lone non corrupted albinauric frog guy using faith magic so most likely they are dumb as bricks and followed him and that one stayied back and wasn't corrupted but obviously is allied with miquella due to it using ring of light aka one of miquellas incantations and the fact they all are dumb aka can't use spells now but that one can...
We see them in liurnia but we also find part of the seal there and it seems to be possibly there home or close enough anywhere else you see them seems to be places associated with miquella
Soulsborne games are about reading descriptions and environmental story telling.
However im kinda thinking the frog alinaurics have something to do with either miquella and his transformation and maybe they were a test and as such fixing thier legs at the cost to magic and making them look like frogs or it was rykard as there's a skinned frog head there and he likes to mutate things like the snake people
@@rhysrat8949 the boss on the horse is specifically said to not be an albinauric just that she was helping them (on her shield.)
Well the sweetings disabilities seem to just a problem with egg which rune says those born of it usually just dry up and die without benediction from her great rune. As we see with boc .
@@dragonlogos1 I’m pretty sure the description even says it was a silly rumour
@@SorowFame it does it is actually pretty great
Awesome video once again! Made my lunch break a whole lot more entertaining. I'm always looking forward to whatever you've got coming out next for this game.
Thanks Jemmie!
Please don't stop making lore videos, they are phenomenal!
Hmmmm... Ofnir saying "Perhaps the Queen's sorrow was justified" in connection to the abduction of Miquella seems really strange to me. Makes me wonder if maybe the shattering was maybe triggered by the abduction. it would be a bit hard to fit all the pieces but I think it may be possible. Marika was planning to overthrow the golden order with the night of the black knifes so it is possible that everyone was distracted and Mohg could take Miquella. Since Miquella wanted to get rid of the outer gods it's not too farfatched that Marika wouldn't be opposed to him taking the role of the greater will. So the plan was to kill the greater will and let Miquella finish his tranformation but Mohg messed it up so Marika lost it and shattered the ring? I am not sure how much is referenced that the shattering was because of Marika's grief. If it's said only in the intro maybe it's just part of the legend and doesn't have to be true alltogehter. But if multiple sourses say it maybe there is a different story to it? Since there's a theory that Godwyn was unwanted son. There is no other son but Miquella she could grief over... It would also explain why Mellania fought Radahn, since only after he died you could enter the etarnal city and get to Mohg... right? I am not sure it that's the same eternal city or you get there by different means.
This probably isn't true though since I am sure there is plenty that does not fit together with this theory (like why tf was Godwyn involved... maybe that's just Ranni's plot?) but it's an interesting idea.
interesting
I do like the angle that Marika wanted Miquella to remove the influence of the Outer Gods all along, and Mohg kidnapping him ruined that, but also it was a consequence of her or the Greater Will's act of abandoning the Omen children in the first place.
Also we know for a fact that Radagon was close to his son, and that Miquella gave him "several incantations", and we know Radagon and Marika are the same person in some way. So either Miquella was in on those plans or Radagon/Marika simply let him do his own thing knowing it would benefit them one day.
miquella's bewitching powers are actually pretty scary. The ability to magically suede others to your side and earn their favor with a flick of a (metaphorical) finger is terrifying. It's funny because before we even meet him, we are already moved to like him because of how we hear he is loved. It's like his magic works through others.
it's interesting how when Malenia becomes a god, the goddess of rot, she has an entourage of butterflies. But Miquella, in order to obtain godhood, creates a cocoon which is something moths do, not butterflies.
Perhaps their is a lore reason as to why these two gods represent these two different yet very similar insects?
had to look this up. it seems like no sites can agree on the meanings of chrysalis/pupa/cocoon
but apparently "melania" is the old name for the "Siccia" genus of moths. the more you know lol
Lepidopterans are special in the Lands Between. I'd be willing to theorize that specifically they are a sign of something untouched by the order, given the 3 varieties deal with flames, rot, and the arcane. With Miquella's fight against outside influence and Malenia's almost direct Aeonian butterfly generating, maybe they came to the same conclusion.
@@heavenbot Yeah, it's interesting to see how lepidoterans are tied in with statuses of the world. There's a weapon art known as poison moth sting, too. But other than these examples and the empyrean twins they have zero references or relevance to the story so far it seems.
@@blueverb chrysalis is what butterflies have, cocoons are the outer shell moths make usually made of silk and leaves, and pupa are the chrysalis like state moths enter inside the cocoon
Once again completely amazing video SmoughTown, been thoroughly enjoying them all! Thanks for doing this amazing work, I imagine many many hours go into it!
I hope there will be many more to come
i dont remember what item description it was, but there's something that says loretta was rumored to be an albinauric herself. i think those rumors are true, considering the lengths that she went to to find a place where her kind could live in peace, not to mention that she's a magical archer who always fights atop her steed, just like the other young albinaurics
This video is sick, I loved the haligtree and Malenia, it just felt like so authentic and permeated sadness of a fallen order stunted to short of its fruition indeed
Forgot to comment on it in the Mohg video you did, but you asked us if we liked these long vids on story and personally I love them! Deep dives on lore and history of this universe is so much fun to listen to, and I like the format and pace you present it. Keep it up!
One thing to note: the Golden Order was conjoined with the Moon/Silver. I think this is what led Miquella to create an Unalloyed (unmixed metal) order in hopes that it would cure them of their afflictions.
I genuinely can't wait for the miquella dlc....
It's mad that I feel bad for this character already who we've no to seen but no so much about...the noble cause he had....and the fact when we meet him chances are his sleeping defenseless body has been defiled.
Epic boss encounter ahead.
Jeep up the good work...your videos are brilliant
So many spelling mistakes..I'm half asleep 😂 keep up the good work
I want to see an alternate ending where you wake up Malenia, tell her where her brother is, and you help her kick mohg's ass, saves Miquella, and bring in the age of the unalloyed.
Man this is the best lore video I've seen on Elden Ring lore so far. Amazing job, can't wait for the others to come!
For a sec I thought the thumbnail of this video said - "Miquella the Unemployed".
I was cracking tf up
He is also that
Mohg really softlocked the lands in between
Legit deleted Miquella's file
Really good video, I really like the way you positioned it as a mirror image of the Golden Order and Erdtree. I think this is further shown by the Rotten Staff carried by the Putrid Avatars, which if you look at closely is actually in the shape of the Haligtree rather than the Erdtree.
Also, from the Gideon dialogue about Miquella being stolen, I find it very interesting how he relates the knowledge that Miquella was stolen before being able to finish the Haligtree to the possibility that Marika’s sorrow was justified. Which becomes really interesting with the Black Knife assassins seemingly guarding passage to the Haligtree with their armor set implying a connection to Marika.
Additionally, I disagree that our battle is the third bloom of Malenia. The flower outside her boss room has the Traveler’s set on it, which is the set that Millicent and her sisters wear. I feel that armor placement is deliberate to say that it’s not Malenia’s second bloom, especially when coupled with how the description is written in the future tense. I just don’t see where that flower would fit on the timeline as Malenia’s first bloom was the Battle of Aeonia and since then she’s been asleep in the tree as I understand it.
It could be that the bloom has one of Millicent’s sisters growing in it, and that set is for her.
@@brotherclementine7706 that could be it and is an interesting possibility, but I'd have to wonder who placed the set there. Maybe the pests, as they seem to almost be holding Millicent captive before we give her the needle?
Another possibility is that Gowry has succeeded once before our quest with Millicent, but I'm not sure how supported that is based on the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia. It does say the four sisters without making mention of Millicent, so it is possible there were more we don't see in game. The Traveler's set does say it was "worn by young women who set off into the world to confront their fate" so it does seem that it was left by a woman who traveled there.
Absolutely the best lore channel right now. Thanks for all your hard work! Dope to see LP contributing again.
Hey man, I basically never comment on RUclips, but I wanted to let you know I discovered your channel through Elden Ring and I’m glad to see you’re finding an audience for these videos. Your reasoning and analysis are sound and I like that you bring linguistic, historical and cultural insight to some of your points. Really like your astute observations when it comes to environmental storytelling too.
Not going anywhere in particular here, just hope you’re having a great time doing what you do and finding success. I subbed and will keep liking videos. I share with my friends too. Hope it helps you find more success in doing what you like and excel at. Keep on keeping it real, man!
You hit the nail right on the head with the cocoons, and notice Miquella's hand/arm is not child size anymore.
Thank you!
Love the video. Your suggestion that Miquella represents purity is heavily tied to, once again, the concept of the Rebis. The opposing qualities of the Rebis are separated by purification and putrefaction, and I'm pretty sure we're all well aware of Miquella's relation to Malenia, literal Goddess of Rot, and Marika/Radagon, the Rebis. It also makes sense why Miquella would have helped Malenia in the cut content as well, as their combined efforts could have made a second Rebis, perhaps.
I have to say (I havent watched the video yet, so maybe this is mentioned) that due to the nature of Miquella's lore combined with the current unfinished seeming state of him left chilling in Nokron after you kill Mohg, the inevitable DLC could definitely be somehow connected to him. I also would guess, that this DLC will add an additional ending, based on Miquellas idea of a new order.
1 hr plus of one character. This is gold. I look forward to the other lore videos youve made :)
Clicked on the video and saw the length, and literally blanched. Did not even consider watching it but let the first few minutes play.
I am now at 48:46 and went "FINALLY", when he started talking about St. Trina. Liked and Subbed!
Mohg: *Lurking, communing with his Blood Goddess*
Miquella: *begins watering his sapling/tree with his own blood*
Mohg: *sniffs, inhales bewitching blood*
Mohg: *Newborn obsession swiftly intensifies*
I don't think Miquella ever had a chance of NOT attracting Mohg's attention. He's one of the three characters "pure of blood" with a shot at becoming a God, he willingly seeded the Lands Between with that blood, and he's arguably the most Pure of all 3 due to his pursuit of the unalloyed faith/magics. For someone like Mohg that's one hell of a siren's song for obsession and corruption. I think the emphasis the item descriptions put on Miquella's use of his own blood to grow the Haligtree are important. With Mohg's domain being that of blood and the Haligtree and Miquella being so entwined it would be easy for Mohg to find him and secret him away at a vulnerable moment.
True, dont forget mogh can also move in a blood state, it would be easy for him to sit in wait inside the tree hidden in plain sight, waiting for an opportunity to steal miquella.
Mohg also might've appreciated Miquella as an Omen, seeing as the Haligtree was all about welcoming races spurned by grace like the misbegotten and the albinaurics
For a character whose fate it is, so far at least, to be merely a bloody stage prop for a deranged omen lord in his failed subterranean palace Miquella sure does permeate just about every aspect of the lore. It's sad to see him in this state, but then again tragedy is the glue that binds all FromSoft storytelling.
Yea sometime i just want to yell STOP ALL THIS POINTLESS fighting.
quick thought. There is an anime called Rust-Eater Bisco that has a brother-sister characters where the brother is a doctor trying to cure his sister's rust. Even the sister's "suit up" scene is heavily similar to Malenia's "suit up" scene
Completely agree with what you said, I didn't think there was nearly this much lore for Miquella, and how nicely this video ties into your Mogh video is something I enjoyed a lot.
Seeing this pop up on my feed, I cannot WAIT to devour this next amazing lore video by you! Love the work smough my dude
57:13 i believe the figure in the roots is another depiction of marika with the obvious missing hole underneath being the place where miquellas cocoon was originally placed in its cycle of decay and rebirth and that this was the intended way of him nourishing the haligtree. the depicted marika having her rooted arms entwined around his protected body in an endless cycle of rotting and getting reborn is probably miquellas perfect idealistic delusion of a mothers love to her children. to miquella, his mother was everything, while his father was the depiction of what everything should not be, which makes it clear that the twins never really knew their mother but only had this deformed fantasy about her and how they longed to be held by someone who loved them. 1:06:28 when we look up at the haligtree after malenias first phase, we basically look at his missing cocoon, but the camera got shifted to the rooted figure instead. this wouldve been his dialogue to power up his sister for phase 2.
it is still possible, that the rooted figure could represent him, so visitors would have something/someone to look at while he was in a cocoon state, but all the depictions of statues of a mother hugging her child make me think otherwise