#nokstella eternal city

[tarnussy]

Nokstella, Eternal City

[blaiddfailcam]

Nokstella, Eternal City

[areas-of-fromsoft]

Elden Ring Round 2, Side A, Match 1. Favourite Area?

EDIT ITS NOKSTELLA NOT NOKRON, MY BAD!!!

[guiding-moonlight]

[dragoncult-handmaiden]

I love the Nox so fucking much y’all have no idea

[nausica-lucaria]

moonlight altar, liurnia and the eternal cities🌌🪼🌑

[elden-ring-item-descriptions]

Moon of Nokstella

This legendary talisman is a treasure of Nokstella, the Eternal City.

Increases memory slots.

This talisman represents the lost black moon. The moon of Nokstella was the guide of countless stars.

[yournextflame]

Elden Ring Sigils and Color Theory

Elden Ring magic sigils sorted by color. Long post about their lore, meanings of certain colors and what it can reveal about the story of Elden Ring under the cut.

In this post, I will be going over why it is important to have a good understanding of color and meanings associated with color in the context of lore. In a game, color is used by developers for more than just drawing the world, it’s about creating visual language, a bridge between writers and players. There are countless articles about usage of colors in videogames, but in this post I will try to reverse-engineer the process and find out the meaning behind visual symbolism and combine it with game’s equivalent of heraldic symbols - magic sigils.

In Elden Ring magic sigils have been used to represent origin of sorceries and power sources of incantations, usually they give us hints what kind of deity is worshipped by people or who created the spell. They are an invaluable source of information on history on the Lands Between. I’ve been already playing with idea of color sorting when I did the same thing with remembrances, but sigils revealed even more secrets about story and lore. How about origin of life on the Lands Between? Origin of the outer gods? But let’s not rush.

The first category, Blue Sorcery as I called it, already shows how color sorting method is supported by the game itself. With a help of descriptions we can place the sigils in the chronological order and track the change in design over the course of story such as replacement of flowing weapon in the sigil of Eternal Cities to Carian sword. Their sigils are incredibly similar to each other, solidifying connection between Nox and Carian royal family; both factions are associated with silver, sorcery, artifical life, moons and stars.

This talisman represents the lost black moon. The moon of Nokstella was the guide of countless stars (Memory Stone)

The young astrologer gazed at the night sky as she walked. She had always chased the stars every step of her journey. Then she met the full moon—and, in time, the astrologer became a queen (Stargaizer Heirloom)

Moons played a central role in Nox and Carian culture, the circle is a base shape for both crests, however, while Raya Lucaria sigil shares similar elements with Eternal Cities and Carian emblems (glintstone sorcerers are the descendants of astrologers, a fact that the Carians remain aware of, - Preceptor's Long Gown), this part was drastically redused in size and moved on top; the central place is taken by the star and framed by a pair of cuckoos. The hue of sigil is also significantly different from cold blue tones of Nox and Carians emblems, the warm greenish tint is close to the color of primeval current spells, which were banished once Rennala became rector of the Academy.

These scholars, who sought to master Carian sorcery, instead learned to see the moon as equal to the stars. This robe, in the hue of the full moon, signifies their heresy (Lazuli Robe)

(Cuckoo Greatshield) Boasting high magic damage negation, this shield is used to hunt down mages. "Our enemy is none other than Caria itself."

So far I’m not going to delve deeper in the roots of the conflict between Carian royal family and Academy of Raya Lucaria, it’s a mere demonstration of a method and how it works. But in next paragraphs I will use it as evidence for a few theories about worldbuilding.

(thanks for clarification about Malenia’s Crest, I rewatched fight on youtube and, yes, it’s a normal Raya Lucaria sigil)

Golden incantations is the biggest group on the list, in a way I can say that history of the Lands Between is a history of gold. Here we can see a symbolical depiction of the Erdtree, the central piece of the game both in a metaphorical and literal sense; we can track how portrayl of the Erdtree changed during Marika’s age until it was replaced altogether by the abstract emblem of the Golden Order Fundamentalism. I have a lot of to say about this group and currently working on post with a more detailed investigation, so far I will touch only basics: such as origin of life gold.

Gold in Elden Ring is more than than shine metal or a color, it’s prima materia of the Greater Will, a force of unknown origin (it’s never called 神  god or an 外なる神 outer god anywhere in EN or JP script and before jumping to conclusion wait until I’m going to observe confirmed outer gods) which is responsible for the creation of Elden Ring. From the description of Elden Stars, the most ancient incantation in this category, and Elden Remembrance we can figure out keywords associated with the Greater Will:

It is said that long ago, the Greater Will sent a golden star bearing a beast into the Lands Between, which would later become the Elden Ring/It was the vassal beast of the Greater Will and living incarnation of the concept of Order (I’d like to point that it’s “Order”, not “The Golden Order”).

(I believe we still can see remnants of the golden star in a form of meteorite ore in Divine Towers and Sealed Tunnel near Erdtree) 

In other words, the Greater Will is about gold, Order and everything Elden. However, a common mistake is to tie the Greater Will to the Golden Order, despite the name the latter is not representative of it, even more so... original gold from the golden star wasn’t yellow.

From dialogue with Sellen we can learn that stars are containing amber, but golden stars are kind of special:

Golden amber contains the remnants of ancient life, and houses its vitality (Sellen)

And Hyetta’s speech supports futher that the Greater Will is responsible for creation of life in one way or another:

…すべては、大きなひとつから、分かたれた 分かたれ、産まれ、心を持った

けれどそれは、大いなる意志の過ちだった だから、戻さなくてはならない

All that there was divided from the One Great. Divided, born and given heart. But it was a mistake of the Greater Will (Hyetta)

So, Miyazaki pretty much unitied theories about meteorites being consensually considered to be involved in the origin of life and primordial soup:

Meteorites could have been responsible for delivering the basis of life's genetic code. Analyses of three meteorites suggest that nucleobases, the crucial components of DNA, could have formed in space and then fallen to Earth to provide the raw material for the origin of life itself

For nearly nine decades, science's favorite explanation for the origin of life has been the “primordial soup”. This is the idea that life began from a series of chemical reactions in a warm pond on Earth's surface, triggered by an external energy source such as lightning strike or ultraviolet (UV) ligh

Now if we check descriptions of Crucible Aspects and Crucible Knights items we can find out that original gold had rent tint.

Holds the power of the crucible of life, the primordial form of the Erdtree. Strengthens Aspects of the Crucible incantations (Crucible aspects incantations)

This sword is imbued with an ancient holy essence. Its red tint exemplifies the nature of primordial gold, said to be close in nature to life itself (Ordovis Greatsword, the name itself is a reference to Ordovician Period, part of the Paleozoic era, a rich variety of marine life flourished in the vast seas and the first primitive plants began to appear on land)

Ancient Erdtree/Crucible emblem is slightly reddish too, however, the modern gold is more pure and yellow, the gold of the Golden Order. The sigil changed the color too and lost the root part just like the Elden Ring itself if we compare modern depiction with Farum Azula mural:

The Golden Order was created by confining Destined Death. Thus, this new Order will be one of Death restored

But a gold is a gold, even though it’s different, but as Turtle Pope said heresy is not native to this world and everything can be cojoined:

The worship of the ancient dragons does not conflict with belief in the Erdtree. After all, this seal, and lighting itself, are both imbued with gold

Yes, the Greater Will governs everything what is golden. 

And yet, the young Miquella abandoned fundamentalism, for it could do nothing to treat Malenia's accursed rot. This was the beginning of unalloyed gold

I can already hear the raise of pitchforks from certain kind of Miquella fans, so let’s talk about outer gods and what exactly they are.

With a surprising exception of emblem from the Scepter of the All-Knowing (Gideon, I have a few questions for you) all sigils in Red Group are assigned to the deities: outer/ancient god of Rot, outer god Formless Mother, Rykard’s immortal serpent and Fell God, who is bit tricky, it’s ambitious if  古い火の悪神 “ancient” is applied to the god or fire. The only confirmed outer gods, who didn’t made it here is an outer god of Deathbirds and Frienzied Flame. Considering theory that removal of the Destined Death from Elden Ring drained color from the god-slaying Black Flame and eclipsed sun of outer god of Deathbirds, I can suggest that original color of their sigils was red too. 

Long story short: sigil of the outer gods and other unwelcomed deities are represented by red color and they are all related to the death, Formless Mother is about bleed, fell flame is burning, rot is decay, etc.

However, as stated in the description of Ordovis Greatsword, primordial gold of the Crucible had a red tint that was lost when Marika estabilished Golden Order by sealing away red Rune of Death; and this knowledge eventually leads to conclusion that...

Outer gods aren’t aliens. What a surprise.

They are natural powers that were screwed by the removal of Destined Death, when they got outed from the Golden Order. They are red tint of the primordial gold.

Once the concept of Death was banished from the Lands Between the elements and effects linked to it - death, decay, combustion, bleed became outer to the newly estabilished Order. There is a clear thematic difference between celestial Greater Will, who isn’t even presented on the Lands Between, and actual outer gods, who can be sealed or banished, more over there are no outer god of water, sunshine or happiness, they are all linked to the side-effects of death. When death was excluded from the Order, they were affected as well.

The thing is that gold in Elden Ring is a magical substance and changes the tint depends on the currently running Order, which is shown in the endings when Golden Tree (黄金樹 that’s how Erdtree is called in JP) acquires different hue. It’s another overlooked element of visual storytelling.

This Golden Order is something that the Elden Ring may have once represented, but not directly. It’s more about how you apply those rules and how you enforce them on the physical world and what effects they have on it, - Miyazaki in interview to gamesradar

(Golden Order isn’t direct representation of the Greater Will/Elden Ring as it was said by Miyazaki himself, it’s only one temporary set of rules)

Elden Ring consists of runes and even newly discovered mending runes (concepts) can be added to the system (regression is the pull of meaning; that all things yearn eternally to converge) ot removed and the gold will respond to it by changing the color and reshaping reality according to the Order (causality is the pull between meanings; it is the connections that form the relationships of all things). Elden Ring - Rune of Death = yellow gold and banishment of ancient gods, who were associated with death, Elden Ring+mending rune of a choice=see example aboive.

For futher evidence that gold changes metaphysical properties and in the current state (Golden Order) preserves things from not only from dying, but decomposing too, I want to bring a few descriptions:

Fresh beast blood, glinting with gold. Material used for crafting items. Found by hunting carnivorous beasts.This glimmering blood never rots or decays ( Beast Blood)

Someone's excrement. It has a golden tinge. Material used for crafting items. Gold-tinged excrement is a highly stable substance; it doesn't dry out, nor does it lose its customary warmth or scent. For better or for worse, it remains as it is (Golden Dung; I can’t believe I’m using description of literal sh/t to prove my point)

However, from what we know only Rune of Death was sealed, and while outer gods’ influence was seriously weakened, it still existed. This is why Miquella abandoned Golden Order and was working on development of his own gold, even more pure and untainted, before he got mohgged:

Unalloyed Gold Needle: An intricately crafted needle of unalloyed gold. A ritual implement crafted to ward away the meddling of outer gods, it is thought capable of forestalling the incurable rotting sickness.

Now let me clarify: community’s favorite boogieman “influence of the evil alien outer gods/the Greater Will” isn’t a thing in a sense that there is a group of invaders from the outer space trying to enslave the Lands Between. Even thought  外なる神 is used in Japanese media culture for lovecraftian beings, we should remember that history is fabricated by the Golden Order in Marika’s favor; "outer gods” are alien to the current Order”. Same goes for the influence of the Greater Will, it was never about mind-control or whatever was projected onto it, the influence of the Greater Will is simply how Order and gold are changing course of the nature. 

Last thing I want to add is that influence of the outer gods isn’t always about destructive powers (Order of Rot is about decay and rebirth), but I’ll leave it for a dedicated post.

In Mixed Group I put sigils with unique or unknown colors.

In my first draft Dragon Communion was placed in the Red Group for the intense hue of sigil, but upon futher research I decided to move it here. The power of Dragon Communion incantations doesn’t stem from any patron god or the assigned star (unless I missed something); they are scaling from arcane, an inner force of the caster. 

Violet is an interesting choice for Gravity sigil because this color, albeit with the less intence hue, is used for sleep status and associated items. 

I like how yellow color of Frenzied Flame is similar to the gold of the Greater Will, carrying the theme of duality, yet the shape of the sigil is distorted and assymetrical. In fact, designs of the ancient sigils usually is far less complex than intricate shapes of newer ones (with a few exceptions). Just to be clear, even though influence of the Flame of Frenzy can be cleared by Miquella’s needle, the game never calls it an outer god. It’s a matter of semantics, but I guess that unlike crew from the Red Group it was never booted from the Order since Chaos and Order can’t naturally coexist, but there are a lot ot of to speculate about, considering drastic changes in Frenzied Flame quest and lore.

Golden star in the centre of Bestial sigil reminds of Cinquedea dagger (Short sword given to high ranking clergymen of Farum Azula. The design celebrates a beast's five fingers, symbolic of the intelligence once granted upon their kind), which shows beast’s arm holding golden slab.

So, Death spells. I believe that both Black Flame incantations and Death Sorcery of Deathbird outer god were affected by confining of Destined Death.

The black flame could once slay gods. But when Maliketh sealed Destined Death, the true power of the black flame was lost

Storied sword and treasure of Castle Sol that depicts an eclipsed sun drained of color.The eclipsed sun, drained of color, is the protective star of soulless demigods. It aids the mausoleum knights by keeping Destined Death at bay. Mausoleum Knight Armor: The wing-shaped ornaments on its back evoke the Deathbird

And, as I’ve been already pointing in a different post, death of Godwyn brought back forgotten death sorcery that almost ceased from existance during age of immortality, but was rediscovered

Death in the Lands Between is incredibly complex subject and deserves a series of posts, even though I believe there should be DLC because so far all lore related to it seems to be incomprehensible.

Unmarkered sorceries don’t have background sigil, but they all share something in common. They originated from the Mountaintops of Giants:

Zamor Ice Storm: Ice sorcery of the Town of Zamor.Strike the ground with the staff to create a freezing tornado. Charging enhances potency. Cloaked in icy tempests, the knights of Zamor have challenged the Fire Giants since ancient times.

Briars of Sin : An aberrant sorcery, discovered along with red glintstone by those exiled to the north for their crimes.The Academy reviles this sorcery, which draws its power from faith

Founding Rain of Stars: The eldest primeval sorcery, said to have been discovered by an ancient astrologer. A sorcery of legendary status.The glimpse of the primeval current that the astrologer saw became real, and the stars' amber rained down on this land. Sword of Night and Flame: Astrologers, who preceded the sorcerers, established themselves in mountaintops that nearly touched the sky, and considered the Fire Giants their neighbors.

Another interesting details to consider is that they are all in some ways are unwelcomed or straight up heretical. It reminds me of relationships between Golden Order and remnanats of the Crucible. Aberrant sorcery is a mark of sin, primeval current was banished and cold sorcery is veiled in occult mystery:

The snowy crone taught the young Ranni to fear the dark moon as she imparted her cold sorcery.

I guess Ranni’s secret mentor is called snowy crone for a reason.

That’s being said, everything I wrote is a subject to change as DLC may reveal more details or I will reconsider some parts under futher research. But overall I think it was an interesting experiment.

読んでくれてありがと

[perishx]

Elden Ring Edits (2/∞ ) ↷ Nokstella, Eternal City

[tarnussy]

They are taking L's you didn't even know existed.

[rainbowsnowcone]

Fellow Elden Ring players, can you tell me down in the comments/or the tags what are your favorite areas to explore in the game?

For me it would be the Eternal Cities. Beautiful starry night areas that are eerie with peaceful inhabitants (and not-so peaceful ones) and eldritch-y vibes and gorgeous architecture. Nokstella leading me deep into the hellish Lake of Rot was quite the shocker for me.

[blaiddfailcam]

Nokstella, the Eternal City

Beneath the great Liurnia rests one of the triplet cities, and her hidden moon with which to guide countless stars.

[areas-of-fromsoft]

Elden Ring Round 3, Side A. Favourite Area?

[miquella-everywhere]

Watching the Eclipse and thinking about Miquella ✨

Okay so adding to this

With the introduction of Messmer and the Realm of Shadow we kind of get the unconfirmed idea that he was banished to this Realm, but it also gives me the idea that Marika has the power to throw people/things into this Realm if they are too much of a threat or undesirable to her Golden Order.

And this theory leads me to think about the mysterious disappeared Moon of Nokstella.

We already know that the people of Nokron were banished and exiled to live underground as punishment for the creation of the Finger Slayer Blade. But what about Nokstella and its moon? Why would the moon would have even disappeared in the first place?

Well Memory Stones are said to be fragments of this disappeared moon and they have the ability to increase the amount of spells that you can utilize in battle. And if that's just a fragment of the moon, then imagine what the whole thing could have done 🤔

So then perhaps around the same time that the Nox were banished underground for their treachery, maybe Marika saw the Dark Moon of Nokstella as a threat and took it away from the Nox, throwing the Moon into the Realm of Shadow which acts as an inter-dimensional prison in a way????

Could that be one of the reasons why Miquella has such keen interest in the Eternal Cities? Could the Dark Moon of Nokstella be an instrumental part to Miquella's Eclispe?

And will we be the ones to find it 🤔

[who-is-riley]

ELDEN RING

Eternal City of Nokstella

[catcas22]

CAT!!!!!

I want to ask you about THE ALBINAURIC WOMAN! She hides in a cave to the west of the Laskyar Ruins which jut from the mist-shrouded lake of Liurnia. She knows the location of the medallion's counterpart, I am sure.

(sorry)

In all seriousness, I want your thoughts on something. A post crossed my dash today that was speculating about if Albinaurics, being originally artificial entities, are at all capable of reproducing independently. The OP concluded (and I agree) that they probably can. Despite the fact that Albinaurics are hunted for their blood and frequently tortured/imprisoned/killed for being "impure", and the fact that both generations were deemed failures in the eyes of the Academy (g1 had the bad legs, g2 came out all froggy and was too stupid to use magic) and therefore probably aren't being produced there anymore, they exist in large numbers and many appear outwardly young.

I was doing some more looking when I came across Latenna's dialogue when you take her to the Apostate Derelict.

Oh young yet towering sister of ours. Let the birthing droplet in. And create life. For us. For all the Albinaurics.

Thank you. I've finally fulfilled my purpose. Our young yet towering sister will give us hope. Now that nothing is left unfinished, I will join you in battle to the bitter end. And when the fighting is done, then you may lay me to rest.

As well as if you kill her in the Liurnia cave instead of talking to her there:

Ohh... Phillia. Take...the birthing...droplet...

So the obvious question that I've been pondering is, what in God's name is a birthing droplet??? Why does it need to be "let in?" Why does it need to be Phillia specifically? Why won't Latenna or Albus or any of the dozens of other g1 Albinaurics milling about in the Consecrated Snowfield suffice?

I'm trying to muddle through my own thoughts on the matter, but while I do that I'm curious to see if you have any ideas.

Hi Bri! Sorry this took so long, it had me stumped for awhile. The more I dug into it, the more questions I raised. Long rambling theory below the cut.

So I'll start by saying I agree with OP. Albinaurics have to be able to reproduce somehow, otherwise they would have long since died out.

Going into this, I had the vague idea that Latenna was from Liurnia, probably from Albus's village. Makes sense, right? She's looking for a path to the Haligtree, chasing tales of a safe haven in the hopes of saving her people.

A quick look at her dialogue disproves that. So there's my first assumption dead in the water.

We have reached the land of Miquella's Haligtree, where Lobo and I began our travels. It's entirely thanks to you that I'm so close to home. These great snow-laden lands stretch far to the north. And beyond the ancient bowers, and the liturgical town of Ordina, lies the place to which I must return.

So Latenna is from the Haligtree, specifically the Ordina subdivision. The Apostate's Derelict is located just a bit north of Ordina.

I originally thought the "birthing droplet" might be something similar to a sacred tear produced by the Haligtree. But if the Droplet had its origin with the Haligtree, Latenna never would have had to leave the snowfields. I think we can safely assume that whatever the Droplet is, Latenna journeyed to Liurnia to find it.

It could have had its origin in Raya Lucaria, or in Nokstella. Both would fit, geographically speaking.

Then I realized that Albus's village is located directly beneath the Moonlight Altar.

I'm not sure exactly what to make of this, but it feels important. It feels intentional.

The Altar, specifically the Cathedral of Manus Celes, was at some point bombarded with a shower of these bad boys.

An ephemeral sliver that gives off a pale blue glow. What remains of a passing flash of starlight.

A prized item that was once used in the Eternal City as an ingredient in intoxicating draughts.

Put aside, for a moment, my theory that the g1 albinaurics originate from the Eternal Cities, with the g2's being modern glintstone scholars' clumsy attempt at replication.

Instead, direct your attention to the Amber Starlight Shard.

An ephemeral sliver that gives off a pale amber glow. What remains of a passing flash of starlight.

If the stars command our fates, then amber-hued stars must command the fates of the gods.

This item is found in the alcove just outside the walls of Leyndell, at the foot of a statue of Malenia and Miquella, surrounded by land octopi (who consume human blood) and sacremental buds (believed to originate long ago from a strain of buds cultivated with youthful, sacramental blood).

I believe that this hidden alcove was the spot in which Miquella initially nurtured his stolen Erdtree sapling, hiding away from prying eyes and watering it with his own blood. I also believe that this is the spot where he and Malenia formally severed their fates from the Golden Order, with the Amber Starlight Shard being a byproduct of this act.

Via Albus's dialogue, we know that albinaurics fade away, starting with their legs, due to some imposed fate.

My legs will soon fade, and with them, my life. Alas, this is the immovable fate of all Albinaurics...

If killed by the player, he adds:

You merciless brutes. Let the curse take everything.

Assuming he's talking about the same thing, does that mean that the albinaurics' affliction is the result of a curse? He also refers to Gideon's men as "cursemongers." Not entirely sure what to do with that.

Back to the Birthing Droplet. The name itself immediately brought two things to mind: dew, and tears. We know that the Erdtree used to produce dew, and that said drops could impart blessings and good health. There's also the Celestial Dew -- another connection to the Eternal Cities.

A hidden Tear found in the Eternal City. Also known as a Night Tear.

Allows one to carry out an Absolution at the Church of Vows, reversing all antagonizations.

Once upon a time, the stars of the night sky guided fate, and this is a recollection of those times.

"Tear?" That jogged my memory. Down a fresh rabbit trail.

The Erdtree used to produce sacred tears and crystal tears, but I'm more concerned with chasing the Eternal Cities connection. Thus, we have larval tears and silver tears.

Silver Tear Husk

A hardened husk shed by a formless life form known as the Silver Tear, found in and around the Eternal City. The Silver Tear makes mockery of life, reborn again and again into imitation. Perhaps, one day, it will be reborn a lord...

Larval Tear

Core of a creature of mimicry known as a silver tear. As much as a substance as it is a living organism.

Material required by the amber egg cradled by Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon, to birth people anew.

This is where inspiration (madness?) hit me. Doesn't "Birthing Droplet" basically function as a synonym for "Larval Tear?" Sort of like how Fia refers to what everyone else calls a "Cursemark" as a "Hallowbrand," because she's seeing it in a different context?

I will now attempt to draw a definitive link between g1 albinaurics and the Eternal Cities.

Albinauric Staff

The albinaurics harbor a secret; they cast sorcery with their innate arcaneness.

Silver Tear Mask

Mask fashioned from the corpse of a formless Silver Tear, supported by its hardened, shed husk. Greatly increases arcane to the detriment of physical attack power.

Albinaurics and silver/mimic tears both run off of arcane energy, both bleed silver, both are considered a mockery of life, both are made by hands. If albinaurics were not developed in the Eternal Cities, surely they were developed by someone building off of the technology of the Eternal Cities. Albinaurics fit the EC brand in basically every way.

We also have a few oblique references to the origin story of the g1 albinaurics.

Silver Mirrorshield

Shield of radiant silver, festooned with amber and carried by Loretta, Knight of the Haligtree.

The shape is said to imitate that of a sacred drop of dew, which inspired the absurd rumor that Loretta herself was an Albinauric.

So albinaurics are associated with sacred dew in some way? But aren't they supposed to be anathema to the Erdtree?

Albinauric Shield

Tall oval shield made of metal carried by young Albinaurics.

The ornamentation represents the primordial drop of dew from which they are said to have been created.

Blue Silver Mail Hood

Worn by the wolf-riding Albinauric archers.

Blue silver is a metal born from the same mother as the archers themselves, and provides protection from magic and frost.

Put a pin in the "mother" thing. Here we have multiple sources saying that albinaurics originated from a sacred, primordial drop of dew. But that's the Erdtree. That's the Golden Order. The albinaurics shouldn't even be compatible.

I now have to thank two people. One, shoutout to @caelaan75 for suggesting to me that albinaurics might not be subject to the Erdtree's cycle of reincarnation -- their souls may be subject to an entirely different cycle.

Second, thank you @thistoowillpasss for asking...

Prompting me to realize...

Now, let me just get into character...

Okay I'm ready.

I think I was accidentally right about Helphen and the Lampwood Tree.

At first I thought we were looking at an "as above so below" situation, with Helphen being a sort of afterlife mirror to the Erdtree. But then I recalled that albinaurics originate from a drop of "primordial" dew. Primordial. The same adjective used to refer to the Crucible, the previous form of the World Tree.

From the Crucible Tree Set:

Holds the power of the crucible of life, the primordial form of the Erdtree.

And I may be cloudspotting here, but does the primordial Erdtree carving we see in Farum Azula resemble the etching on the Albinauric shield? The shield whose description references primordial dew?

Guys... guys I think I was accidentally right. There may have been an actual Helphen Tree, predating the Crucible just as the Crucible predated the Erdtree. And I think the Nox used the sacred dew of that tree in their development of their various brands of homunculi.

The albinauric curse may have been a deliberate handicap imposed by their creators, or it could simply be a result of the fact that the tree that gave them life no longer exists. Or it does exist, but in a form that fundamentally rejects them.

Whether it originates from the Moonlight Altar, Nokstella, or the stars themselves, I believe that the Birthing Droplet is similar in function to a mending rune, a patch inserted into the albinauric cycle of reincarnation in order to cleanse their curse.

I'm not precisely sure how Young Yet Towering Sister Phillia accomplishes this. Her name is two letters off from filia -- Latin for "daughter."

Wait, didn't the Silver Blue Mail description say something about a mother?

There's only one divine force in Elden Ring that can claim such a title.

Bloodboon

Sacred incantation of Mohg, Lord of Blood.

Thrust arm into the body of the Formless Mother, then scatter the bloodflame to set the area ablaze.

The mother of truth craves wounds.

Briars of Punishment

The guilty, their eyes gouged by thorns, lived in eternal darkness. There, they discovered the blood star.

The Formless Mother's incantations all scale with the arcane stat. Just like albinaurics with their innate arcane energy...

Both the Nox and their Raya Lucarian successors were a highly astrologically oriented society. Could they have venerated the Formless Mother in the form of the Blood Star? Could they have petitioned her aid in the creation of the albinaurics?

Mohg seems to recruit heavily from amongst the ranks of g2 albinaurics. Could he be luring them in with a bastardized version of their own creation myth, with Miquella as their promised savior?

Which brings me back to Phillia. Given her unusual size and rather significant-seeming name, I think it's likely that she was created with the express purpose of using the Birthing Droplet to repair the albinauric "code." Obviously Miquella would be the obvious candidate for her creator. He sought to aid all those cast out by the Golden Order, and he's in the business of thwarting curses and rebuking the meddling of outer gods.

Now, I'm not a fan of the theory that Miquella was in on his own kidnapping. But I think that he and Mohg may have collaborated for a time before his half-brother's true nature became apparent -- likely in the interval between Godwyn's death and the later wars of the Shattering. Like Miquella, Mohg styles himself as the champion of those abandoned by the Order. And if Miquella had traced the albinaurics' creation back to the Blood Star, it would have seemed highly beneficial to work with someone who had a direct line to the Formless Mother.

I think that Phillia was a joint project, a clone of sorts created by Mohg and Miquella. Either Miquella overlooked a whole forest of red flags in order to keep Mohg cooperating, or he decided that the risk was worth it. Maybe he took terrible chances with his own safety in favor of just a little more research -- he was so close to breaking the albinauric curse, after all. Maybe he even made a deal, only to find himself in over his head when, by sheer dumb luck, Mohg imprisoned him directly beneath the territory of the one person who could fight Malenia to a stalemate. But I'm just speculating now. I've already far overstepped my evidence.

Thanks for the ask! This was an experience.