Elden Ring - Rennala's fight had a big change

A neat part of Elden Ring's different narrative structure compared to the Souls series is getting to see more interpersonal connections between various characters.

Song used: Zora's Domain (Night) - The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild OST

[ZullietheWitch]

At this point I just expect to see Crucible Knight in the loadlist for any random map. One thing I like a lot about the Blaidd summon though is that it helps further depict Blaidd as having been accepted as part of Ranni's family rather than just her shadowbound servant.

[HelixSnake]

If Renalla summoned a crucible knight I would have uninstalled the game

[Shyguymask]

1:37 I always saw Rennala phase 2 as a big illusion made by Ranni, so I don't think it would have been problematic for Blaidd to show up because it would have been a clone inside well, an illusion. And I think the real cute thing would have been the fact Ranni has enough faith in Blaidd to let a clone of him help defend her mother.

[CountJoe]

- A Black Knife Assassin
"Oh no"
- A Crucible Knight 
"OH NO!"
- And a Bell Bearing Hunter
" OH GOD NOOO!!!"

[Dywindel]

I always assumed you weren't fighting Rennala in the second phase, but Ranni's projection of her mother when she was most powerful. Which would make sense why Blaidd would be a summon.

[midouban]

if you talked to Iji after talking to Sir Jerren (Before the festival), Iji will tell you that Blaidd is actually Ranni's stepbrother, adopted by Rennala herself and they played together like siblings since they were just kids

[pdragon]

You know for how dark and messed up all the infighting between the demigods is, the relations between the inner family groups are pretty loving and wholesome. I wish we could have gotten a bit more family stuff between Rennala and Radahn/Rykard, and likewise between Ranni and her brothers. Like maybe you could take Ranni's doll to Redmane Castle and Volcano Manor to get some extra dialog from her about them.

[bopobodachocobo]

It's kinda cute to think of ranni and blaidd as siblings. I also like the implied lore that rennala would have considered blaidd her own and taken him into her family

[sirflimflam]

Rannala is such a pitiable character. I can totally picture her when she was in her prime, strong and wise, owning it up at the academy with Radagon at her side. My guess is truly just that it would have been weird if she could summon the spirit of Blaidd when he has not died yet. Hell, even Ranni's introduction in phase 2 of the fight confused me at first, before I realized it was more of a lingering spell than active intervention on Ranni's part.

[nobuffer]

The fact that Rennala refers even Blaidd, a creation of the Greater Will who once waged war on her, as if he was her own child, really shows that Rennala must have been a very kind and loving mother, and their family was probably very happy for a time.

[PaperFlare]

Worth pointing out that the spirits summoned are supposed to represent Ranni's followers:

The wolves are the wolf pack that hangs out in front of Ranni's Rise.

The giant is Iji.

The dragon is adula.

The bloodhound knight is Blaidd.

If we work under the assumption that the boss fight is either a memory of Rennala, constructed by Ranni, or just straight up Ranni impersonating her mother (keep in mind that the Rennala we fought came from the amber egg, while the real Rennala was babbling on the floor), then it would make sense for Ranni to use the strength of her followers to protect her mother.

[BlairWasTakenAlready]

I always loved how the summons felt connected to Ranni or representative of Ranni, you have:
The Wolves: What Ranni first gives you to summon
The Troll: Either Iji or the Carian Knight Giant Knight Bols
The Bloodhound Knight: The Bloodhound that Blaidd is looking for who betrayed Ranni/Caria Manor
The Dragon: Andula, who works for Ranni

The fact that she used to summon Blaidd too feels so perfect, but I can see why they cut it

[NamelessKnightt]

This all makes me wander where the ability to summon spirit ashes come from, being that Ranni gives us the bell to summon them and Rennala has the power to summon them by will. They all seem to be highly tied up with magic and the Raya Lucaria Royalty.

Edit: thank you for everyone who joined the discussion and for bringing to my attention that people related to death can also summon spirits. The ability of ashes is not related to the raya lucaria family but the summoning seems to be. I've also now noticed that snails that are related to death, mariners, Fia and others can summon spirits by will. And that the bells that revenants use to cast spells at you could also be the same we use to summon spirits.

[thefunkinator]

just wanted to say that this music was really fitting! It's always a small but important part of your videos that doesn't get mentioned as much as I think it should!

Very interesting insight on Blaidd! Thank you for the video

[gutembergcraft]

I think it's interesting how her summons align with Ranni's servants, a troll (iji) dragon (adula) a bloodhound (with blaid refers as a traitor iirc) and the wolves ranni gives you. Maybe I'm seeing too much but I don't think it's coincidence

[Shroomluck]

I think that the summons she has now are very appropriate. All are Carian aligned to Rani or Renalla. Dragons protecting the Key to Raya Lucaria, Ranni and The Dsrk Moon Cathedral. Trolls in Caria Manor as well as loyal Iji.
The wolves are in the ruins of the noble estate or are allied to Blaidd as they protect Rannis tower when there. The bloodhound knight was the only one that stood out but if it is a stand in for Blaidd it makes more sense.

[HeavenlyHavoc]

Rennala being able to summon spirit ash may have some interesting implications for Torrent, as Ranni tells you when she gives you the spirit summoning bell that it was entrusted to her by Torrent's former master. It very well might be that you're riding around on the Carian Royal family's pet

[Cosmic-Sorceress-]

Rennala will always be one of my favorite characters in Elden Ring: my main sorceress character has been a cosplay of her since I fought her and the set and staff have allowed me to be a pure sorcerer for the rest of the game. I didn't want to win the fight first time through and every time I still take time to appreciate Rennala's moveset and arena. I wish we could get a full moveset like hers to the spinning weapon ability on her staff and have something to alter our casting and dodging animations for that levitation effect.

One thing's for sure, I'm giving Radagon a hell of a thrashing for breaking her heart. Rennala deserved better than what she got.

[afatexplorer]

Zullie you never disappoint. Thank you for all the great videos

[readingfreak]

To me it is also interesting that this version of renala fights with this spirit summons and her daughter gives you a bell to do the same.