Elden Ring Lore | Queen Marika and the Erdtree

Queen Marika is the singular most important character in the entire game and despite that she remains an enigma. So too is the Erdtree central to the story, and yet it's nature still alludes us, so join me this week as we try to unpack these subjects.

Intro: 0:00
Red Gold and Prehistory: 3:37
Pre Erdtree Timeline: 14:26
What is the Erdtree?: 23:49
Queen Marika the Eternal: 44:14
The Age of Plenty: 1:00:45
The Immortal Rebis: 1:07:52
Marika the Numen: 1:21:51
Marika the Martyr: 1:33:12

This is an extremely expansive video that not only looks at Marika and the Erdtree but also covers the following subjects: The Crucible, The Misbegotten, The Age of Plenty, The Golden Order, Destined Death, The Night of the Black Knives, Godwyn, Those who Live in Death, Empyrean, The Greattree, Leyndell, The Age of Dragons, The Golden Lineage, The War of the Giants and More!

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REFERENCES

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CREDITS

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Soundtrack is Demon's Souls, Dark Souls, Sekiro and Elden Ring

I do not own the rights to Elden Ring, all rights to FromSoftware

#eldenring #marika #erdtree

[SmoughTown]

Thanks for watching my Take on Marika and the Erdtree!

Let me know your thoughts on the lore below!

[davidgomez]

Red Gold is not just red Gold. “Red Gold” is a name often used to refer to copper. “Red tinged gold” is just a way to say “orange”, which is a word that never appears in-game since the word did not yet exist.

[StylesX]

SmoughTown, you have a heart of gold. Don't let them take it from you.

[aranthur]

Perhaps Radagon came to be the first time Marika felt doubt about her faith in the Erdtree? A version of her still loyal and unquestioning of the Greater Will manifested in reaction to the doubt she felt upon realizing that the flame of the giants could never truly be put out, no matter how much force she threw at it. Thus explaining why this split manifested with red hair? A representation or reminder of her own insecurities

Great video, by the way. So in-depth and insightful!

[MidnightatMidian]

Dude, I've been heavy on Fromsoft lore since Bloodborne came out.. You are clearly the best lorehunter around here. I think you surpassed Vaaty and the others because how deep and logical your investigations and theories goes. Thanks for the work and for sharing those really insightful ideas with us.

[clinthakeman]

It occurs to me that "Eternal" maybe an epithet for "Numen". This would also explain why Marika and Nokron share the same adjective. "Marika the Numen" and "The Numen City" would work equally as well and link the two together nicely. Assuming, of course, that was the intent behind the writing/translation.

[Meander]

Marika's character and intentions have always been the thing I was most curious about in the story. Thanks for giving us such a well thought out take, I really appreciate it!

[Fbleh]

These lore documentaries are honestly the best content I've ever seen on YouTube, each of your uploads has become a special event to me at this point

[justunique]

I promise I’m not saying your videos are boring but your lore videos have become my sleep meditation. I have always struggled to sleep and some nights would be sleepless. But elden ring being a game I enjoy and a game who’s story I want so badly to understand your videos have become a nightly routine of mine. It’s not something that requires me to actively look at to understand. I can lay down, set my phone down and just listen. I learn more about the story while also being distracted from my worries so I can actually relax. I can finally get sleep now. Of course I come back and listen to what I missed. Thank you for giving me something that works, and thank you for doing what you do. Keep up the amazing content man. You’re doing fantastic.

[deliriushunter]

Dude pumping out hour+ long masterpieces like its nothing. Can't wait to watch this one, best Lore channel by far!

[justinsamuel]

Thank you for the tremendous amount of Elden Ring content you've created these past months! Your analysis and attention to detail are truly impressive. Better than so many and worth every penny.

[GaryJojo]

My thoughts on what Marika says about her children is that maybe after coming to understand that even as a God she's replacable, that she still wants her children to achieve some level greatness of their own, and not be pawns to others.

[terminalarray]

I noticed a lot people miss the fact that a Black Knife is sitting right outside Marika's bedchamber. There is some definite connection between Marika and the Black Knives.

[scudzilla]

When I started Elden Ring, I swore I'd never get into the lore. It was so abstract and I didn't want to invest.

Now I've watched like ten of your videos and rewatched a few. Looking forward to this one, and thanks for all you do!

[yoitsjonmac]

Also I really respect how much you give nods to other creators in the community and just how freaking thorough you are. You're criminally undersubbed imo, the idea of the mycelium network associated with the tree is fascinating, I gotta watch that too now. 🤣

[eduardovalderrama]

Dude, this is a masterpiece. Not only do you make informed theories as a base to your argument but also take into account multiple POVs to challenge and, at times, strengthen your thought process.

Elden ring on its own was a monumental event in my life but you and other lore creators took that same experience into an intelectual level that heightened the material as a whole.

Much gratitude sent on your way.

[Bhubnipz]

That ending transition made me realize something. Marika is depicted in her statues as having two braids, one on each side of her face. But the Marika we see inside the Erdtree only has one that also serves as Radagon’s when the transformation occurs.

[AlbertusSalvatierra]

I mean, the Numen are pretty remarkable craftsman as well — between the semi-invisible Black Knife sound-canceling armor as well as Marika’s rune-breaking hammer. And tbh the idea that the Numen are the descendants of the Nox is interesting and relatively fitting.

[Carnagefiend]

Phenominal video! Your approach about Radagon and Marika was inspiring! What if Radagon is a reflection her mind and body at a time when she was a fervent believer? The red hair a memory of a time when she felt unstoppable, an internalized association. He is the "glory days" of eternally flowing conviction.

Opposite Radagon is Marika. While Radagon feels believing HARDER and minmaxing faith solves all, Marika is wallowing in doubt. She's not brought a new age. Those touched by Grace suffer yet, and her decisions as Marika and Radagon both bring only more suffering.

She is burdened, cursed. She attempts to break her yoke but part of her cannot let go of the past. What is left is denial in the form of Radagon while her accursed god, confirming and affirming her faithlessness, waits for a tarnished to put her back in a place of service to it.

It's even more horrifying than I could have imagined.

[one-eyed-dragon]

Amazing video as always Smough. And as always I have some comments to add.

Regarding the Erdtree being disconnected from it's roots could be related to fact someone else has infested them. Godwyn, or rather the Prince of Death, has parasited the roots and thus expanded the influence of death around the Lands Between by directly causing growths around the world. I think it wouldnt be weird to assume perhaps the erdtree disconnected itself from the roots to avoid allowing destined death to influence it's very core.

Also, ass you said, the disconnection hints that Erdtree Burrial no longer works, and this could perhaps help with figuring out why people who received Erdtree Burrial have been unable to return and remain as Spirit Ashes. The way to the tree has been cut off it seems, so they just linger in ash waiting.

Also another thing to mention is that Red lightning is directly stated to be "primeval" in the Dragonking's Cragblade. There is also a very interesting detail about Red Lightning being different from Golden One. That being that golden lightning is sort of created through your seal and then you then utilise it by throwing it, be it on your enemies or yourself. Meanwhile red lightning is never created by you, but instead summoned from the heavens, which then falls into your hand and you are able to wield it like a weapon. This is even true for ancient dragons, as they too do not generate the lightning from themselves.

However, there is a certain dragonlord who to my knowledge is the only one capable of generating Red Lightning into his hands without it needing to be summoned from the sky, even in his Bolt of Gransax Nuke attack. Furthermore, the Cragblade in general seems to be part of Placidussax (it may actually be a reference to DS tail weapons as his tail is actually missing), and the cragblade is said to "contain primeval lightning". So perhaps it is something that is an integral part of his body.

Oh also, gold is an extremely good conductor of electricity, and Ancient Dragons seem to be made of gold underneath their stony skin, particularly Placidussax. Just food for thought.

I can't wait for the next video, cheers mate!