#treesandbeasts

[sillovain]

Spirituality of the Scadulands

Essay 5. I have seen very little written about religion in the Lands of Shadow, so Im going to try and write about it. What do people believe? and maybe what it all means in big picture. All lore essays -> #Treesandbeasts

1.1 Life is Short

If you imagine the world on the eve of the Erdtree Age, the City of Belurat stands at the centre of The Lands Between. Surrounding it are numerous towns, and around them are villages. To the south, the shores where "death washes up". To the north, the highlands where “the vitality of the Crucible flourished”. This land once contained both powers of both life and death.

In this time, death was simply a part of the Elden Ring (thus mortality was the norm). People would die, their spirits travelling somewhere beyond. In such a world, there would be incredible power in maintaining contact with the dead. And sure enough, the most widespread spiritual practice among the Towerfolk is spirit channelling.

Spirit is "immortal essence" (see. Roderika, Surging Frenzied Flame).

You could say that the core difference between pre and post Erdtree times is the experience of natural death, and thus the respective worldviews of people in each time.

This society also appears less centralized relative to the later Erdtree one. There is no evidence for a singular God-figure or the presence of the Elden Ring, what passes for divinity in this time is more local and mundane. Whatever Divine Warrior Ornis might be, he’s definitely not a god in the Marika sense. Neither, will you find kings or Elden Lords here, the only named authorities are religious figures (eg. Inquisitor Jori, Saint Romina, Sage Midra).

Faith itself also seems less exclusive. Though Tower-Priests appear to be the most powerful faction, every settlement has its Tutelary Deity (ie. a local one). Likewise, there exists numerous groups that perform something unique - Romina’s church performs purification, Shamans are mediums and scapegoats, Spiritgrave tenders watch over tombs and cremation rites. The only truly heretical faction is Midra’s followers, but even they seem have been tolerated for some time.

While this situation looks messy, consider that the reverse is true - the Erdtree system is very uniform. Not that surprising, given the history of stamping out anything that isn't Erdtree or Ancient Dragon (and secretly Dominula).

Game uses 2 demonyms; Towerfolk and Hornsent. I don't think these are equivalent terms given there's a sizeable portion of people here who lack horns entirely. Are the hornless simply unable to participate in spirit channelling personally? Or are there other ways around this?

Avoiding the Midra tangent, its complex and this essay is long enough. Short answer is that there's clearly a time between Midra amassing a following, Frenzy Flame manifesting, and the authorities being alerted. You can discourse endlessly if any of that was "the point".

2.1 Patron Ancestors

In every settlement sits a Tutelary Deity, an ascended corpse enshrined as an ancestor (see. Curseblades, Outer God Heirloom). Mechanically speaking, its purpose is to collect Revered Spirit Ash ("the remains of those who came before"). As per. Spirit Calling Bell, summoning a person's spirit requires their ashes, the role of Tutelaries then becomes quite obvious - Its a shrine for gathering and calling spirits of the local dead. And sure enough, familial spirits are invoked as guardians (see. Watchful Spirit, Tanglehorn Bairn).

You could thus describe the mundane religion as "Ancestor Worship". A representative ancestor (tutelary) is a shrine where the local dead gather. There, they may be invoked by living members of their community for protection (among other things).

What does Vengeful Hornsent mean by his "Clan"?

What does family, kinship and legacy mean in a world of natural death?

In gameplay, Spirit Summoning also calls for a "Rebirth Monument" (a column-like stone). Horns = rebirth monument on the body (hard pointed object).

Does this sort of spirituality continue at present in a marginal form? Ashes of War are remains that can impart knowledge of battle techniques. Invoking the dead is the passing down of knowledge.

Family shrines (+food offerings) are widespread IRL. Related is the idea that the dead return during certain festivals/times of the year. Think about the "Small Private Altar" Gracesite and if Belurat has any famous festivals.

small private altar grace site, with food offerings

2.2 Kin Circles

Necessary tangent. I don't want to discourse over the word "Tutelary", but "patron" or "guardian" deity are generally equivalent concepts: the globally widespread idea that some people/place/profession has a divine patron. Another relevant concept is the "Legendary Progenitor", the idea that some people share kinship (blood or otherwise) through a founding figure (real or mythical) that sometimes doubles as their patron god.

An in-universe example is the Guardian Deity of Temple Town, Ornis - "from whom the horned warriors claim descent". This is to say; an ascetic ritually becoming an "ancestor" to a random town may seem odd, but there's precedent for ancestorship/kinship not being about literal bloodlines.

For patron deities of professions, why is Taylew the "guardian deity of smithery"? The name of settlements has largely been lost, but there's some suggestion of a "profession/function + settlement" naming convention. Prospect Town, Temple Town, Shaman Village.

If Tutelary = enshrined corpse of an ancestor, then Grandmother(s) of Shaman Village(s) also fit the criteria.

2.3 Tumult of the Heavens

Above the mundane religion is a closed and elite form of spirituality - Divine Invocation used by Sculpted Keepers. This art involves drawing down spirits into living vessels, granting (the keeper) superhuman abilities. In game, this is represented by various horned helmets giving stat bonuses. Additionally, when beast-type warriors (incl. Lion Dancers) "powerup", they float into the air to manifest weather/storm powers.

see. Equipment from Horned/Beast/Bird Warriors, Ascetics and Lion Dancers. Also Spirit Ashes of Horned Warrior/Ornis.

Sculpted Keeper helmets having a low 'Focus' stat could also be interpreted as enabling trance/altered states.

This usage of "spirits for personal empowerment" appears unique to the Divine Tower's extensively-horned inhabitants. Its not found in the towns and villages, or used by the shadow commoners. This is a grand showcase of power among the priestly elite.

Its implied that tower priests keep knowledge hidden (see. Inquisitor Ashes, Lamenter, Secret Rite Scroll). Who is the audience for the Dancing Lion festival?

+2 Horn Charms suggest that horn growth is intentionally enhanced and cultivated. The priests of Enir-Ilim are vastly more horned than anyone else. Sprouting enough horns that they can be cut and gifted is a powerful gesture (see. Horn Tender currency). Hence, what's "sculpted" about a Sculpted Keeper?

There is a common reverence of storms/weather in pre-Erdtree times (see. Stormveil, Badlanders, Zamor). Is this because Enir-Ilim's influence once extended into lands beyond? Or is this just reflecting something older and more widespread? Why is Godfrey leader of the Crucible Knights?

You could compare this to the present day Ancient Dragon Cult seemingly being exclusive to the Leyndell Army. These are sky-centered elite faiths.

To summarize, the "core" of Divine Tower religion is about communion with the ancestors and communion with the elements. First and foremost is one's local identity (family, hometown, profession etc.) under a patron deity. Above that, are a class of priests that practice horn cultivation to invoke inhuman spirits.

There's likely overlap between the 2 halves (eg. Jori can summon spirits of other inquisitors). Why are Horned Warriors modelled after "heroes of older times"?

Is invoking familial spirits the precursor to Divine Invocation? With few small horns, you can speak to the dead. With many large horns, you can channel heavenly beasts. The elite religion sprouts from the common one.

2.4 Charnel Grounds

Next are a collection of practices associated with death and purification. Most interestingly, the professions associated with them seem exclusive to hornless people. Along the southern regions, Gravekeepers watch over the tombs and cremate using Ghostflame. Church of the Bud kept sacred flowers and performed purifications. Shamans appear to be healers, mediums and scapegoats.

There's general idea that there is a class system based on presence of horns. You can invoke ideas of ritual impurity, the task of handling death and filth being reserved for certain people. Plenty of IRL examples for "unclean" professions.

While the trend seems to be that highest authorities (Enir-Ilim) are the most extensively horned, there's also explicitly hornless spiritual masters (see. Romina, Midra, Nanaya).

3.1 Roots of Gold

Gold bears a specific meaning. It is the colour associated with the Greater Will (and no other cosmic power), the residue of a Star-Beast-Ring that fell long ago. There is a very limited list of gold-aligned societies (that we know of), just Farum-Belurat-Leyndell. Thus the advent of the Golden Order marks the passing from one golden society to the next. Primordial (Crucible) gold leads to modern gold, Belurat into to Leyndell.

Think about the Golden Order's founder. How she (seems to have) originated as a priestess in these lands, able read it's language and knowing secret Tower Rites - this is familiar spirituality to her. Given all this, can we draw any analogues between spirituality in the Land of Tower and the present Erdtree one?

Consider how much "root" imagery there is in the Crucible

At first, Bear Communion appears to be this strange (and seemingly isolated) type of magic, described as "more akin to the divine invocation of the hornsent than it is to the Dragon Communion". The connection here being someone claiming/invoking a beast/non-human spirit. Sculpted Keepers calling the divine beasts/birds, Godfrey-Serosh, and ultimately Marika-Elden Beast. In that sense, the foundational power of the present age's god follows in line with all this.

With Divine Invocation being such as exclusive art, perhaps its not surprising that the person who wields similar power in the current age is also the Golden Order's godhead. Also compare Sculpted Keepers being described as vessels and Marika as vessel of the Ring.

Returning to the idea of Tutelary Deity as guardian ancestor for a group of people - can we then say that Marika is tutelary to the entire realm and its people? Her Erdtree governs the cycle of life (even collecting the dead in a physical sense), as creator of this life cycle, Marika could be called originator of the Erdtree people. To convert is to be adopted into her family. To quote Queelign - "Marika mother to us all".

Looking at one's tutelary is a sacred act (see. Outer God Heirloom). Think about how Marika's image (especially her face) is treated (and where it gets used).

If Tutelary = Divine Corpse, then this is even more true at present.

Far beyond this essay, but you could expand on this idea of god as parental figure. A fundamental provider and protector.

3.2 Crucible Flames

Fire (and attitudes to it) seem to be the dividing line between primordial vs. modern gold. There's a suggestion that it is an intrinsic part of tree-ring-gold system, made taboo in the Erdtree Age. Crucible Aspect: Breath is the only Erdtree spell with fire. Erdtree prophets constantly glimpse fire. Burning the Erdtree appears to be an inevitable part of starting a new age.

Erdtree Prophets parallel Inquisitors with their saffron robes, covered eyes and ability to use fire. Difference being that this power is taboo for the prior, and a casual weapon for the latter.

Nothing explicitly stated about trees, but a (spiral) tree is one of the most common visual designs in these lands. The graves at Belurat city explicitly surround a tree, though unknown if connected to later tree burials.

Despite (comparatively) relaxed view on fire, there is still a fear surrounding Fire (as per. Furnace Golems).

Returning to the fundamental question of worldview - is the difference in attitude to fire just about the acceptance (or not) of inevitable ends? Its not that burning trees is good; rather we accept that sometimes/eventually trees burn (and new life follows) vs. there is one perfect and eternal tree that should never burn.

left: open world grave, right: Belurat grave

3.3 Closing Thoughts Wanted to keep on topic, so there's a lot of relevant things (and tangents) I did not cover.

Inquisitors wield the power of gold, but lack the Elden Ring (and a central god that bears it). How does this make sense? Answer deserves a essay on its own, but consider how priests of Enir-Ilim wield Rune Arcs as weapons. TLDR; there are definitely older Shattering(s).

Absence of the Elden Ring can also be interpreted as the lack of Order in literal sense. Shattering and Convergence - does it also apply to society? A world of many local gods gives way to a world under a universal one (Belurat broadly draws aesthetics from Mediterranean antiquity).

Erdtree and Ancient Dragon Cult coexist thanks to commonality of gold (see. Gravel Stone Seal). Implications for primordial vs. modern gold?

While not enslaved like in the present, Misbegotten with their extensive set of Crucible aspects are only ever seen congregating around forges and never in settlements. In that sense, they are a stateless people even in this ancient time. Having too many Crucible Aspects might thus be seen negatively. Non-DLC Crucible talismans imply that this taboo has developed over history. Perhaps the long arc of physical ideals goes; many aspects (Misbegotten) > 1 aspect (Hornsent) > 0 aspects (present day). Curseblades (shunned and imprisoned) are the only Hornsent with tails.

There's an assumption that "hornless = no Crucible influence". Instead consider - different aspects. People seem to be turning into trees and flies, aspects themselves are mutable (Morgott loses horns on dying).

Avoiding Fell God discussion for now (difficult to make sense of, but will write about it someday).

---END--- Thanks for reading. I sprouted several rounds of horns/trees/fingers to channel this. Shares and reblogs very appreciated, tyvm.

[sillovain]

Flesh and Divinity

Essay 4. The most speculative one yet, about the lore of meat and how its important to gods and maybe everything. Very long post ahead. lore essay tag -> #treesandbeasts

1.1 Bodily Power By each receiving a half-death, Ranni and Godwyn reveal that bodies and souls are entities that can exist independently of each other. In fact, spirit-only beings seem widespread in this world. But its also important to realize that Godwyn's soul-less body continues to be a force in the world. The takeaway here is that there is innate power in empty physical flesh.

No soul, no mind, no problem; the flesh simply continues.

So what is this "meat power"? I'll suggest that it is what the Arcane stat represents. There is a known connection between ARC and "organic stuff" (eg. flesh, blood, poison). You see this in various weapons (Reduvia, Mohg Spear etc.), but also magic schools (Bloodflame, Dragon Communion). Next, there is other side of ARC; a grab bag of poorly known powers - Meteoric Ore Greatsword, Spritestones etc. It could be said that this aspect is quite literally a mystery. In other words, the occult or arcane.

In that sense, the through line of Arcane is "power without understanding". Luck, instinct, gutfeel. Unknowable mysteries. It just works. Power that is raw, innate and without mind.

You could also approach this from the thematic cycle of "Mind, Body, Soul" and the respective magics/stats drawn from them. If Intelligence = the Mind, and Faith = the Soul, then Arcane = the Body. Pure symbolism aside, this interpretation does seem work in-game. Like every other sorcerer, Rennala casts with a staff. No amount of studying sorcery makes her more innately magical than any other person. With Faith and sacred objects, believers can summon the powers of their deity. But a god simply holds that power, it does not need to pray to itself.

Think about how none of the demigods need staves or seals to use their powers.

Arcane stat grants holy resistance - and every demigod is holy resistant.

1.2 Grasping at Heaven Is Arcane and Divinity therefore the same thing? You could say that thematically, divinity and the arcane represents the ultimate mystery. Trying to answer questions around the "nature of gods" is meant to be fruitless. I hear you, I agree, but I'm going to try anyway.

There seems to be an implication that "power" simply exists up there in the heavens and becoming a god (in the deified mortal sense) is about bringing down some of that "divine/arcane stuff". The Outer Gods have a strong connection with the Arcane, not surprising given these are the most innately powerful, most naturally divine entities known to exist. In that sense, the Outer Gods are cosmic beings of raw unthinking power (ie. forces of nature), which tracks with them not having any sort of personhood.

The Spira incantation also suggests that mortal-divine connection is about reaching upward into the heavens in the very literal sense. By reaching further upward, people become increasingly like the Outer Gods that live among the stars? Once again, Ansbach states that Miquella seeks "true godhood" and that this status is also held by Marika. Not an amazing revelation here, even pre-DLC you could infer that there's clearly a relative scale to gods in this setting. The world has many small gods but only one god holds the ring.

Think about what the Divine Gate ritual entails. Also the whole point of Divine Tower(s)

The Lamenter is like a "denizen of heaven", the transformation grants +Arcane and +Holy Resist.

If you want to play at translation, Arcane stat in JP can be translated as "Divine Mystery"

for IRL cultural inspirations, see. "Great Chain of Being"

Is ascending to godhood ultimately about becoming a conduit, allowing power from above to spill down to earth? Think about what Marika's Rune represents.

2.1 The Empyrean Vessel The term Empyrean is used to describe future god-candidates. Not every demigod is one, nor does it appear to be about political favour (ie. Marika's favourites). In fact, there's a strong implication that "Empyrean-ness" is once again; a property of the physical body.

Ranni (about herself) describes her old body as "empyrean flesh". Ansbach (about Miquella) states that Empyreans have distinct eyes that are "vessels of soaring grace". Which if interpreted literally, then Empyrean eyes are most golden/shining. Empyrean blood is also distinctly golden (see. Empyrean-Blood Burgeon). Ansbach also claims that shedding flesh allows Miquella to sever his birthright and fate; again implying that it is the body that's important here.

Why? As Enia famously states - Marika's body is the Elden Ring's container, the "Vessel of the Vision". This status is so fundamentally important that "she remains a god" despite being no longer actively ruling. As seen in the various endings, mending the ring and bringing about a new age doesn't bring Marika back to life, but it doesn't matter. All a new order needs is a body to contain it.

The revelation of Ranni and Miquella is probably that a god is desired solely as magical meat, your capability as a ruler is irrelevant. Discarding your flesh thus frees you from being an asset to the current order (more on this later).

It could be that Empyrean Flesh is about having a body that can hold exceptional amounts of divine power. To have a special affinity for the arcane (even among demigods). Using this concept, a few things become self-explanatory.

Empyrean eyes being rich with grace are seen as potential for a body that can hold the Elden Ring; source of all grace.

Why does the ring need a body? The Elden Beast is a spirit (its appearance and gameplay properties imply so). Think about how Ranni/Melina need some sort of anchor (a doll/grace sites) to manifest. You could read into the word "Shaman" here.

Not discoursing over the word "Shaman", both as translation choice or whether the word has any good definition IRL. But yes, I am aware.

Jar Saints drop Innard Meat, which is quite literally a piece of flesh that holds spirits and scales with ARC.

You could read into the word "Empyrean", referring to historical ideas of there being a land of spirits/fire/light in the skies above (I am really simplifying here).

2.2 Secret Vessels While I think the above idea is broadly correct, it has a few odd implications. For one, horns are a known bodily feature used in channeling spirits. Thus, are Morgott/Mohg empyreans?.

If you play cut-content here, there's Hornsent/Empyrean Grandam. Also the internal names of Enir-Ilim priests stating that they are all "divine people". One way around this is the observation that spirit channeling via. horn seems temporary (see. Lion Dancer, Sculpted Keepers in general).

Still, there is one more demigod that fits this "spirit vessel" description, and its a weird one - Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy. Think about it like this - Recusants hunt other tarnished, they acquire many runes and then are consumed, adding to "the family". In his current state, Rykard is a mass of rune-enriched flesh teeming with spirits. In that sense, he is a self-made "Jar-Saint", created not by intentional grafting but by consumption.

What is "devouring the very gods" supposed to achieve? If one is not born an empyrean, perhaps one could take enough divine flesh to become one?

Is this the nature of his blasphemy? the implication that it is possible to become like the current god through other means. Or perhaps it reveals something profane about said god?

3.1 Gods Past and Future In the time and place from which Marika came, channeling spirits and invoking divinity were seen as equivalent concepts. As with Lion Dancers (and Sculpted Keepers in general), horned-bearing flesh is a vessel that spirits can be drawn down into. This is called "Divine Invocation", and gives the user superhuman abilities (see. Horned Warrior Helms). For an in-game demonstration, see. Divine Beast Warriors when they "power up" with weather magic.

Again, its about getting the power that exists "up there" into a body.

Then there are the Tutelary Deities. An ascended corpse is used to collect Revered Spirit Ash; the "remains of those who came before". Yet again about bringing some "spiritual material" downward to earth.

And while its not exactly the same, Tutelary Deities accumulating spirit ash could be compared to the Erdtree accumulating remains. Its about having a physical object that gathers something from the dead (spirits?).

Are spirits the "parcel" by which people receive power?

This is all to say that Marika follows in the tradition of divinities before; a fleshy conduits for spirits. But as we all know, Ranni and Miquella ascend at the end of their quests. The incoming god is flesh-less, a major break with tradition.

So what does this mean? You could suggest an alternative vessel for the Elden Ring. Essentially uncoupling the sentience and vessel portions of the god. The conduit remains, but the soul is no longer tethered to it.

Is this why Miquella clings to the Mohg-Radahn homunculus? He is now only/mostly a spirit, and a body with Red-Hair and Horns (ie. Lamenter like) is to be the new vessel?

Does Ranni simply want to have the ring unbound, no vessel at all? To quote her - "As it is now, life, and souls, and order are bound tightly together, but I would have them at a great remove", how is she planning to achieve that?

3.2 Spare Parts Final bit. Meat lore ties to a lot of thing, so here's some ideas that couldn't fit into this essay.

If deities are innately magical/arcane, then are Dragons, Giants and even Albinaurics god-like in some sense?

Does volume of flesh mean anything? early civilizations seem to be either Dragon or Giant based. Interpreting very literally, do people need something extra to emulate these larger beings? (Divine Gate sacrifice)

Are stone and flesh equivalent? The Divine Gate began as flesh but became stone. Same thing with Marika's body. Dragons were stone and some became flesh.

Claymen. Didn't mention ARC sorceries earlier, but they don't use a casting tool and are made of mud (soft rocks).

Avoiding "Old Gods" discussion for now. On a vibes level, I think the theories that they represent giant skeletons and that giants had some sort of pantheon equivalent is correct. There's just so little to actually say.

---END--- ~Thanks for reading

[sillovain]

War without Grace or Honour

Part 3, some overlooked parts of the Erdtree Crusade. At present, the crusade has fragmented into several groups with conflicting aims. Yet even ignoring that, this is an army that was largely staffed by the Golden Order's undesirables. Are these people a problem to the very society they came from? Also why Crusade timeline is surprisingly solid. lore essay tag -> #treesandbeasts

1.1 Leadership

At the head of this army is a lord so accursed that an insurrection occurs when he reveals his true nature. At present, he hides in a dark tower with his loyal knights who are not found elsewhere.

I think it is wrong to solely blame the insurrection on Messmer being "cursed". Another cursed demigod - Malenia, lives her entire life in the public eye. She too has a following of loyal knights that embody her curse, but the Fire Knights are driven from their homes while Cleanrots become revered soldiers of The Shattering. Malenia enjoys a certain dignity that Messmer was never given.

Why? clearly not all curses are seen as equal. Or it could be something he did. Who knows.

see. Fort of Reprimand for the aftermath of the Huw/Andres incident

The crusade's second-in-command is the only politically significant member of an extremely persecuted people. Even as an army commander, he lives outside in a shack behind the castle with one other Albinauric. While we don't know if the status of Albinurics has changed with time, there are no (known) high standing Albinaurics in modern Erdtree society. The manor servant Pidia is (apparently) as good as it gets.

Accompanying the Erdtree forces is a large Carian contingent. The warrior princess that leads them "forsook her birthright", and had to swear loyalty to the Erdtree via. ritual combat. The Carian's senior sorcerer/high priest has in turn gone off to pursue arcane mysteries for personal reasons.

1.2 Common Crusaders

The common soldier of the Crusade is a member of the "Ignoble Penal Battalion" (ie. a prisoner conscript). As for their fighting style? don't ask why it resembles the old banished king, whose people were seen as barbarians.

The Hero starting class; "descendant of Badlands chieftain" has an iron chain around the waist. Which could mean anything.

The common knight of this army is a Crucible Incantation user. This type of magic that is rare in the present day, save for Crucible Knights who seem to have become wandering mercenaries. Meanwhile, most modern knights of the Erdtree follow the Ancient Dragon Cult.

Why is this older knightly religion also shared by the very people targeted by said crusade?

1.3 Schisms

The elite Fire Knights are the disowned children of Leyndell nobility, its explicit that Messmer's reputation predates the crusade (see. Fire Knight Helmet). Among these elite crusaders, each one seems to have gone off to pursue some personal agenda in the present day. Shadow Keep's western gate is blocked by the rogue Fire Knight Salza, who refused orders to the burn the ancient ruins beyond. His mentor Wego is trapped and playing with zombies in the cathedral basement.

Across Shadow Keep, every depiction of their god (save for one) has been defaced. The flooded section of the keep is specifically: The Cathedral District. Also, its stated that some of the crusaders have either forsaken incantations entirely (see. Scadutree spells only found in Shadow Keep) or have secretly adopted local beliefs (see. Spiraltree Seal).

Why is Hilde enshrined atop the storehouse? think about it.

All this is to say that; whatever the original mission the crusaders may have bought into, it no longer matters. At present they have wandered off to pursue personal agendas. Which is not unreasonable, as they have been abandoned by Erdtree society at large.

2.1 The "Long Crusade" Rant

I am just going to keep repeating that there is a canon timeline window to when the Crusade happens (its a Marika-Radagon Era event). Its also to say theories about how "the crusade put Marika on the throne" or "nobody knows about Messmer because he has born in the Land of Shadow and never left" are really baffling to me.

Messmer recognizes the player as Tarnished, he is aware of Godfrey's exile.

Ritual duels are seen as foreign to the crusaders (see. Thrusting Sheild), arenas have been closed topside. The Marika-Godfrey age is over

Shadow Keep has minor Erdtrees growing on its grounds, something that only came about after the Age of Plenty ended.

Messmer and his loyal knights were banished from Leyndell. The Fire Knights were specifically from well respected elite families, this obviously requires for there to be an Erdtree noble class with deep history.

Troops such as Perfumers and Tree Sentinels require the Erdtree religion to already exist.

At Fort of Reprimand, you can find Abductor Virgins, Rykard already has his job as inquisitor. There's also Omen Killers, hence the Omen curse cannot be a result of the crusade (the base game already states where said curse originates).

Then, you have the entire Carian contingent and specifically Commander Gaius, who was Radahn's sparring partner. Radahn is also said to have looked up to Messmer as a mentor figure. The Liurnia Wars are long over, Rennala and Radagon have adult children at this point.

Romina acquires the discarded "wings of the rot goddess", Malenia has been born and her rot has been suppressed.

Some have tried to argue for a "Long Crusade", claiming that this war has spanned the entirety of The Golden Order's history, hence the above evidence being invalid. A few reasons why I think this idea is bad. For one, there is nothing that points to the crusade being ancient history (so why argue for it be in first place?).

Next, the veil over the Land of Shadow already exists during the crusade, Enir-Ilim is protected from burning (you can see the fire's limit in the trailer, also in-game).

If Erdtree forces have been freely marching in and out of the Land of Shadow over the ages, why bother to cover it at all?

If The Land of Shadow was easy to access across the Erdtree age, why call it "a long-forgotten place where none would tread"? Why would Erdtree priests need to "quell the fears of their flock"?

There's a bigger discussion about how much anyone in the crusade knows anything about the past (that topic is too big for this essay).

The "Long Crusade" idea also creates this bizarre scenario where the city of Belurat is somehow tougher to conquer than all Fire Giants, Ancient Dragons and nations of The Lands Between. Note that Belurat does not even have a standing army, you are attacked by civilians and priests in the city, the only arms bearing members of this society are a few Sculpted Keepers. There's is no evidence that something like a Belurat common soldier even exists.

Think about why this society had to repurpose Divine Dancers and free Curseblades from jail to fight. This is not a particularly militarized society.

The kicker here is that there are "Shadow Ghosts" that preserve a record of people who died in the Land of Shadow. If there ever was an older generation of crusader or armies of Hornsent common soldiers, they have left zero evidence of their existence.

You could point to the commoner ghosts in Shadow Keep, but its unknown what they even represent.

Closing Thoughts

Messmer's Crusade is known as "war without grace or honour". It is not celebrated nor is it even remembered, all participants (both friend and foe) are abandoned and forgotten. Contrast this with the Giant's War, where Godfrey and co. are remembered as heroes for exterminating the Fire Giants, so I don't think genocide is the factor here.

I think it's important to note that the very society that started the crusade does not want to discuss it. This war is different. Why? I don't have a good answer. I just want more people to think about this part of the lore.

~ Thanks for reading

[sillovain]

Denizens of Heaven

Part 2, trying to take stock of the various gods of Elden Ring. Elden Ring uses the word "god" (much like giant, dragon or even human) in a non-specific way. Still, I don't think it is controversial to say that The Scarlet Rot and Marika are not equivalent entities. On one hand, you could argue for a political definition of godhood - "anything worshipped as a god is one to it's followers". This can be true, but within ER, gods seem to come in at least 2 distinct types - the Outer Gods (distant, abstract, unknowable) and the "Worldly Gods" (deified mortals that walk the earth). All lore essays -> #Treesandbeasts

1.1 Celestial Powers

For the Outer Gods (incl. The Greater Will for simplicity sake, though its debatable), you can say the following about how these entities are characterized.

They are not limited by physical space - think about how the influence of Scarlet Rot and Formless Mother can manifest in both the Land of Shadow and The Lands Between, the veil does nothing to stop them. There is also nothing to suggest that Outer God influence needs to be spread in a physical manner. Rather it seems that Outer Gods are omnipresent but are only encounterable by people in great suffering - Romina simply discovers the Scarlet Rot after being immolated, likewise for the Bloodfiends and their tutelary.

They are unknowable - there is nothing that we can point to in-game as being the spoken words of an Outer God, nor is there any known/definable goal for these entities. When there is a claimed connection (eg. Greater Will), contact has filters (fingers + priestesses), is not in real time; and the reality of said connection is spurious anyway (as per. Metyr).

They have envoys - every cosmic god seems to have mortal representatives that manifest it's power on the worldly scale. Mohg with The Formless Mother, The Twinbird with it's unknown god etc.

Whatever they are, these are not personified gods. Which then leads to the question: are Outer Gods even sentient? Sure, the Scarlet Rot consumes and spreads, but so does any fungal colony. The Formless Mother is the only one that seems to have wants or a relationship with its followers. But even then, this is a simple give-and-take affair, is it any more complex than the relationship between cultivator and crop?

You offer blood to the Formless Mother so you can cut it's body for blood. You offer water to a tree so you can cut it's body for wood.

I stress this because the "Outer Gods are simply forces of nature" line of thinking has become very compelling to me. There's really nothing to suggest they behave on a level more complex than a bacterial one. Perhaps they are forces seen as being particularly dangerous, but still simply forces nonetheless. Note that the known Outer Gods are rot, blood and death (The Twinbird's God) respectively.

All these aspects require the existence of life. Since The Greater Will is the originator of life, the known Outer Gods could be thought of as being dependent (even parasitic) on said creation.

Rot in a controlled form is fermentation (as per. Verdigris and Forager Brood items). Something can be both useful but also highly destructive. Think about the relationship between early agricultural societies and rivers, floods or storms.

This is to say; theories that talk about how the Outer Gods have plans, or describe them as personified gods (in either an Abrahamic or Pagan sense) are very unfounded and don't follow how these entities are characterized.

1.2 Celestial Bodies

While the known Outer Gods are never described with a physical form, The Greater Will absolutely has one. Specifically, it appears to be a region of space (The "distant starry expanse" as per. Comet Azur), if not the entirety of the observable cosmos itself (if you read anything into the Microcosm). Thus, there is a very interesting idea that the "cosmic gods" as a whole are celestial objects in the most literal sense.

The Outer Gods are thus "Outer" in the sense that they are outside the golden ring of the microcosm (ie. outside Order). If so, then maybe The Greater Will is categorically something else - or perhaps the "Outerness" is only something of concern to us mortals.

The cultural obsession with astrology becomes self evident, its about tracking the movement of divine celestial objects. Which I guess is also a very literal interpretation of IRL astrological belief that celestial bodies influence life on earth.

If so, then moons are probably also Outer Gods. And the sun? go figure who that is.

2.1 The Worldly Gods

Beginning this section with the following statement - By virtue of their birth, every demigod is already an immortal being with supernatural abilities. Yet, Ranni and Miquella must strive to achieve godhood; it is something that they do not innately have, but can ultimately gain.

The game is quite is explicit about how godhood is a status an empyrean gains through personal ritual journey. The "empyrean path" is very formal, there's an institution (fingers) that selects candidates (empyreans) and even grants a personal magical guard (shadow). From there, the journey as empyrean (as with both Miq/Ranni) only needs a handful of loyal followers and can be done hidden from the public eye.

In all (non FF) endings, the ring either stays in Marika's body or is taken by another ascended empyrean (Ranni). If godhood is simply due to no-one being able to wrest the Elden Ring from Marika, why is there no ending where the player simply takes it and runs? This is to say, Empyrean Flesh has real magic, its not just a title for royal heirs.

As per. Enia, Marika remains a god, vessel of the vision despite her imprisonment. She continues to be god regardless if she actively rules in any capacity.

Message "God Slain" is used for the only 2 people known to have undergone a Divine Gate ritual. Neither Goddess of Rot nor the Gelmir Serpent return this message despite being worshipped as a god by some.

What about Tutelary Deities? the sparse lore on them also implies that it is a state attained by ritual means. (Will write more about them next entry).

The point here is that the essence of godhood does not come from monopolizing power - eliminating all your rivals and getting the world to worship you. Rather it seems to be the opposite. Marika became a god and enough people believed in her vision of the Erdtree age to make it reality, exterminating the Fire Giants and waging wars of expansionism to make her the de-facto power.

Gods are not made by powerful people declaring themselves as such. Instead, people becoming gods makes them powerful.

~ Thanks for reading

[sillovain]

Life and Days

Been trying to summarize my thoughts on ER lore post DLC, so here is the new long-form lore essay series. In part 1, Im going to try and map the passage of life onto a day cycle as well as a colour wheel. In short: Life Stage = Time of Day = Colour. This is not saying that every single thing in-universe has meaningful colour, but only that it is important to life. More importantly though, I think it gives a clear answer to what veiling the Land of Shadow is about. All entries -> #treesandbeasts

1.1 Golden Land, Shadow Land

In the base game, there is a known relationship between life and death as well as their respective colours. Just as a refresher; Gold (ie. yellow-orange spectrum) is symbolic of life itself, if not the very state of existing or being alive.

Golden Runes are stated to be "lingering trace of gold, imbued with the power of life itself". Thus unsurprisingly, everything drops runes upon death, the player levels (ie. grows) using runes.

The current Order is "The Golden Order", where natural death no longer exists.

Gold-tinged blood and dung are "highly stable", never decaying.

Ancient Dragons are the only natural immortals, their flesh contains golden.

The Erdtree once healed everything in its presence. As it was a source of life.

Likewise, Death is sometimes called a shadow, and is associated with purple and the evening.

Rune of Death is the "Forbidden Shadow", used by the Gloam Eyed Queen and her Godskins.

See also. Age of Duskborn, Grave Violets and Tibia Mariners.

Another purple element, sleep can be thought of as a lesser death. Thollier's Concoction kills humans but merely puts an ancient dragon to sleep. Is eternal sleep much different from death?

1.2 Bodies are Warm

Through this lens, the colour space between yellow and purple is filled by the orange-red hues (ie. Primordial Gold and The Crucible). It then becomes clear what is meant by "From which Gold arose…and so too Shadow born”. The Golden Order is known to have begun with Marika separating life and death; the world is split into it's respective lands and respective trees. Gold stops being red, becoming its present-day yellow hue – it now solely contains life; having been refined of death.

Primordial Life and it's Red-Gold is therefore representative of mortality, life that is destined to die. The colours of blood and flesh, the Scarlet Rot, the flowers of senescing Tree Guardians.

The big takeaway is that Marika becoming god, defeating the GEQ and veiling the Land of Shadow all refer to the same event. The world splits into lands of gold and shadow respectively, and to each an equivalent tree.

Go figure what the trailer scene is about. Identity of the "pregnant corpse"? Pretty self explanatory.

Think about why the respective tree avatars are linked to abilities called "Golden Land" and "Land and Shadow".

This also explains what is meant by "In an age long past, before this land was enshrouded in shadow, the vitality of the Crucible flourished". The Land of Shadow is not in a natural state, the life of the land has been intentionally siphoned from it (see. paintings in Midra Manse).

This where the grounded part of the theory ends. Below, I am going to speculate further and complete the full colour wheel/day cycle.

2.1 Souls are Cold

Since daylight + warm colours (yellow-orange-red) represent the physical portion of life, night + cool colours (green-blue-purple) likely represent an "spirit phase" of life. If (Death = Purple = Dusk), then the next phase of life that follows should be (Soul = Blue = Night).

Glintstone is primarily blue-green and contains "Residual Life", but it is clearly not a flesh and blood organism, so it what sense does it contain life? Life is said to originate as stardust, therefore is stardust some essence of life?

Is it a soul? Sellen's Primal Glintstone is said to be her soul. Blue-green eyes are associated with spirit tuning.

Spirit beings tend to be cool coloured (Ancestor Spirits, Spirit Summons, Jellyfish etc.)

2.2 Dawn is Green

After night should come be Birth = Green = Dawn. I think you can broadly say that Green is about youth, growth and potential.

Stamina items are always green. They are associated with Turtles, who are "symbolic of inexhaustible power".

The Greatsword of Solitude mentions something called the “Light of Birth”, depicted as a cross/diamond shape. Eternally young Miquella’s cross resembles dawn breaking over the horizon. The Miquellan Knight's Sword has green amber, said to be a substitute for Glintstone.

Paraphrasing Upper-Class Robe; "bright green robe worn by noble children… traditionally the child's first show of burgeoning independence"

At Enir-Ilim, the skies are green. The Grandam calls down spirits from the higher spheres to inhabit Sculpted Keepers. Is birth about the arrival of a soul into a body?

Hyetta states that "births and souls" were the result of the One Great shattering. Ymir suggests that creation sent life-bearing stardust across the void (ie. Primordial Current). In that sense the Blue-Green of Glintstone is quite self explanatory, stardust = soul and is the fundamental unit of life that pre-exists fleshy bodies.

There is apparently some ancient Neoplatonic philosophy that states souls travel in a "shell of stars" before being born. But history of religion is not my expertise, so I wont say more.

1.5 Final Thoughts

Leading back to the beginning, we could also say that Maturity = Gold = Noon. Life at it's apex, fully grown and yet to fade. You can thus conceptualize the promise of the Erdtree Age as "life at it's fullest forever". But as they say, "yet it was only for a fleeting moment. Such is the course of all life".

Here's a graphical summary to close out.

~ Thanks for reading

[sillovain]

Hi, call me Kin. Started as a souls fanblog just to hang out. Somehow became an esoteric lore and fanart blog along the way. Will sometimes post about other interests; painting and plants. Asks are open.

Personal art -> #kin's art

Personal photos (mostly plants) -> #kin's photos

ER lore rambling tag -> #heavenisgreen

ER lore essays (effort posts) -> #treesandbeasts