Lore Revelations in the Shadow of the Erdtree

everyone apologize to Mohg

Sorry Mohg..

I just noticed that Messmer is actually a great foil to Miquella. All the trailers made Messmer look like a diabolical, genoocidal psychopath whose actions were so evil that he was erased from history. But in game he’s actually a pretty chill dude who was well liked and inspired loyalty from the people around him like Rellana and Commander Gaius, Radahn even looked up to him as a big brother. When one of his Black knights betrays him, he doesn’t have him tortured or killed like a typical villian would, he just imprisons him and mourns the loss of a brother at arms. He even has an entire clinic in his castle for treating and trying to cure the shaman jars. That same castle is also built in a way that hides and protects his mother’s village. It’s clear he only did evil things because Marika ordered him to, and it becomes really tragic that he was essentially abandoned by her and only realized it upon death. If he was actually allowed to be his own person and pursue his own goals and ambitions, I feel like he could have been one of the most revered demi gods, right up there with Radahn and Godwyn. He instead ends up dying alone and abandoned with no legacy to leave behind since he was erased from history. A fate that not even the omen brothers suffered. Meanwhile Miquella is said to be a beautiful kind hearted savior who in reality is a monster who only inspires loyalty because it’s literally his ability to enchant and manipulate people. He casts aside his humanity in order to become a god and seeks to enslave everyone beneath him under the guise of love. Fantastic Juxtaposition and misdirection on Fromsoft’s part.

I love how Radagon and Marika have the same introductive melody to their respective themes because they were originally the same being, but then Marika's theme becomes melancholic and a little sinister (fitting for a lonely and ruthless goddess), while Radagon's becomes assertive and epic (fitting for a lord of order).

"on your 400th attempt" You didn't have to fucking rub it in...

Sir Ansbach is the best NPC in this DLC by far, he says one of the best lines if he gets defeated during the Radahn fight: "Righteous Tarnished, become a lord, not for gods, but for all men." Like literally "fuck the gods, do it for us"

I love how Messmer says "In the embrace of Messmer's flame." He sounds like he's just so fed up and tired with doing this thankless duty. Mind also that it intentianally sounds like he's just reading of a script. Compare it with his other lines and they are much more filled with emotion.

Messmer's eye being a Marika Soreseal type thing was so cool. That was the only ounce of Grace that was left within him and by removing it, he became Graceless like us which is why he tells us to embrace our oblivion as he'll do the same. Amazing character.

"Without intent to cause harm" - Vaati "Sister, go nuke Radahn." - Miquella

Radahn: “I’ll die before I become your consort.” Miquella: “okay, deal!!”

I don’t think Marika’s betrayal demands an inclusion within Hornsent culture. Of course they’d think a shaman turning against them is a betrayal because they quite literally think the shamans belong to them - belong to their religious authority. It’s just like how a slave master might call a slave uprising a betrayal.

If the Hornsent worshipped the Crucible, then the melding of people inside jars was probably seen as one way to reach divinity because the Crucible was the source of all life, melded together.

"I think the fingers had a hand in it" Damn you Vaati

"Why did Marika hate the Omens so much?" After watching the video: Understandable, have a great day

I was just doing the quest in Jarburg and noticed that there are flowers of every color there, just like in Shaman Village - From are so good with the tiny details.

I like how this tied together because it explains something that always bothered me about Malenia's march south: why was Godrick allowed to keep his great rune after Malenia kicked the crap out of him? She wasn't after rune fragments, only Radahn.

A detail with messmer is that every statue of marika in the keep is beheaded, expect the one cradling the baby in his arena

"Goodness, why did Marika do something so horrible to the Hornsent?" A few hours later "Oh. Yeah, that makes perfect sense now."

A nice detail is that the Tree Sentinels guarding the Shaman Village drop Marika's Blessings. Since those were made for Messmer, i think it implies he personally assigned them to guard his mother's village.

Messmer talks as if he's reciting someone else's words, "in the embrace of messmers flame" is obviously in the 3rd person, but also his tone sounds as if its rehearsed almost. That changes though once he says his lines when entering his second phase, almost as if abandoning his mothers orders and finally speaking/thinking for himself.