With Elden Ring’s one and only DLC Shadow of the Erdtree out for a little over a month now, many players have dived deep into its lore and come up with varied interpretations of how events in the game have transpired. While many of these theories seem accurate, they also touch upon darker aspects of Hidetaka Miyazaki’s massive open world.
From theories examining the motivations of characters like Marika, Mohg, Lord of Blood, and General Radahn, to others looking at the history of the Land of Shadow’s inhabitants, players have done their best to decode Miyazaki’s mysterious storytelling techniques.
However, some of the theories that have sprung up as more players complete Shadow of the Erdtree and uncover crucial details surrounding its lore are so dark and admittedly depressing that we just don’t want them to be true. Here are some of the theories that we hope aren’t true owing to how dark their implications make the overall narrative of Elden Ring and its DLC.
5. Marika’s Purge of the Hornsent
Players who discovered the Shaman Village after using the O, Mother! gesture in front of a statue of Marika at the Shadow Keep may have found a single braid of golden hair hidden away in the hollow of a tree.
Exploring any of the Gaols found in the Land of Shadow on the other hand leads them to find humanoid creatures stuck in giant jars that attack them almost mindlessly.
Bonny Village holds a lot of clues linking the Shamans and these jars, revealing them to be remains of the former that the Hornsent tortured and maimed in the name of their strange religion based on The Crucible and its aspects.
It could be the reason for Marika’s ascension to godhood and her purge of the Hornsent that she carried out through her son Messmer. It could also be the cause for the Omens in the base game being treated the way they were. Dark indeed.
4. Messmer’s Curse and Marika’s Apathy
Messmer’s presence in the Land of Shadow is one in which he is simultaneously feared and respected. Its denizens know of his untold power and ruthlessness in enacting Marika’s will. However, the old Hornsent found near the Divine Beast Dancing Lion arena refers to the “cursed progeny” of Marika. What was Messmer’s curse?
With Marika requiring a consort to ascent to godhood at the Divine Gate, it is highly likely that this consort was one of the Hornsent and Messmer was the product of their union. His curse may originate from that union, however, and Marika locked it away while keeping him in the Land of Shadow.
The Queen certainly doesn’t like her curses and it makes Messmer’s devotion to her all the more tragic, considering all that he has done in her name. It’s also ironic considering his disdain for the Tarnished, another race which was discarded by Marika once she had no further use for it.
3. Mohg’s Connection to Miquella’s Plot
While many players believed that Mohg acted of his own free will, Sir Ansbach, his former servant, reveals that Miquella’s power to charm others may have been the cause of his master’s actions. This is especially tragic as it shows that Miquella planned to be kidnapped all along with dire consequences for other characters like his twin sister Malenia (more on that later).
It also makes Miquella’s use of Mohg’s remains to bring his consort to life so dark that we don’t like to think about the implications. No wonder Ansbach wanted to stop the demigod at all costs.
2. The Tragedy of St. Romina
Messmer’s purge and the destruction of the Church of the Bud are widely believed to be the cause of Romina’s transformation and her aggression toward any who dare to enter her domain. But her embracing the Scarlet Rot means more than just her being patient zero for the deadly disease.
It could mean that she inadvertently caused Malenia’s condition which in turn may have prompted Miquella’s efforts to create a new world order free of the hatred that his mother propagated. It could also mean that she is an indirect contributor to Starscourge Radahn’s plight considering that Malenia unleashed the Scarlet Rot on Caelid in order to make him honor his “vow” to Miquella.
1. Radahn and Malenia’s Iconic Clash
Shadow of the Erdtree gives its players a very important detail about the iconic battle between Malenia and Radahn.
Right before she unleashes her Scarlet Aeonia, the DLC reveals that she whispers “Miquella awaits thee, O Promised Consort,” indicating that Radahn may have turned his back on the pact he formed with Miquella in order to protect Caelid and Selia from the meteors that he held back for so long.
It could be Miquella and not the shards of the Elden Ring that prompted the clash between Malenia and Radahn, a fight that left both of them weakened and debilitated.
Considering that Malenia went back to the Haligtree to wait for Miquella even as he left her behind makes this revelation all the more tragic and we hope that somebody finds a better explanation for Malenia’s words.
It also makes Radahn’s ultimate fate as Miquella’s consort all the more tragic despite a thrilling battle against the Tarnished to top off an excellent expansion for Elden Ring.
While there are more stories and lore that other players have found and will undoubtedly continue to find in Shadow of the Erdtree, these theories were among the most tragic and dark ones we came across.
Are there any theories from the DLC that you wish were not true? Let us know in the comments below!
