Elden Ring Lore | Malenia and the Scarlet Rot

Malenia, Blade of Miquella is one of the greatest champions in the history of the Lands Between. Yet despite her courage, Malenia cannot forever resist the power of the Scarlet Rot within her. Join me as we explore the lore of The Scarlet Rot and Malenia, Goddess of Rot.

Intro: 0:00
The Scarlet Rot: 1:00
The Outer God of Rot: 15:26
The Blue Dancer: 22:48
Malenia, Blade of Miquella: 27:23
A Flower Blooms: 43:10
The Valkyries: 55:58
Gowry and Servants of Rot: 1:05:28
The Goddess of Rot: 1:16:51

This is an extremely expansive video that not only looks at the Malenia, Goddess of Rot but also the following subjects: The Great Lords of Rot, Gowry, Millicent, The Valkyries, Miquella, Unalloyed Gold, Sellia, The Outer God of Rot, The Haligtree, The Aeonian Swamp, The Pests and More.

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REFERENCES:

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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 #malenia #millicent

[SmoughTown]

What are your thoughts on the Scarlet Rot and Malenia?

Hit me up with your comments below!

[Skwadley]

I have a theory that Malenia constantly repeats that she is the Blade of Miquella so she herself doesn’t forget. I can’t imagine the scarlet rot would eat away at her flesh but leave her brain alone.

[blakebailey]

5:30 one of the coolest things about scarlet rot is that you can use it to infect the undead like the Tibia Mariner. Imagine a magical disease so potent that it can even assail an incorporeal ghost, a divine virus that withers away not only the body but also the very soul.

[endma]

i think the most touching thing about miquella and melania is that both of them have dedicated their lives to helping the other. miquella founded unalloyed gold just to help his sister and melania dedicated her life to the sword to become the physical presence that miquella couldn’t be. it kind of reminds me of that old christmas story where a husband sells his watch to get his wife a fancy hair brush while his wife sells her hair to get her husband some watch thing

[Bentbire]

I like the theory that Malenia declares who she is and that’s she’s never been defeated because she’s trying her best to remember because of the rot, but I also like to think she may not even be referring to combat, but the struggle to keep the Scarlett rot contained. Trying to convince herself that she will never slip up and release the rot, even though it’s already too late.

[igorengel]

Seems like one of the biggest items with lore on the Lake was missed - the map for it. "It is said that the divine essence of an outer god is sealed away in this land", so apparently Outer God of Rot is located directly below/in/whatever the lake, which explains it being in such advanced state of rotting

[mooshugaipan]

I believe you can even see unalloyed gold like, grafted onto her flesh in places. If you've seen any close-ups on her character model, you can spy these crosshatched patches on her body that are the same hue as the prosthetics she wears.

[jankfoot]

Was just talking to my friend about how malenia cant see anymore, and our footsteps in the water is how she knows where we are, and explains why her swings are so long and cover a lot of area.

[Raymander]

I love the fact that you retract statements and goes on to think differently than in previous videos, it really shows that you are well researched and that you are also learning with the rest of us, very humble.

[marvelouspatches]

One interesting thing I found when playing then double checked in the voice lines is that Iji can make weapons that don't succumb to the scarlet rot. And this is mentioned by Jerren. They are always blunt as stone but never fall to the rot. I'll put in the full quote.


"Well, I haven't heard that name in an age. Then you must serve Princess Ranni? The next time you speak to Iji, tell him this: The festival of Radahn will surely set Ranni's fate into motion. By the by... Is that old fool still hammering out weapons? His enormous frame, cramped in that little place... Bit of a haughty sort. Strange fella, when I knew him. And funny thing, his swords were all blunt as stone. But not one of them decayed when faced with the scarlet rot..."

[AlbertusSalvatierra]

Thx for this. The demigod family tree is so confusing, so it helps to know that all rot-born creatures that occurred following the battle of Aeonia are in fact the children of Malenia, of which included the pests, the sisters, etc

[TechNinjaSigma]

I hope that the DLC furthers Miquella & Malenias stories. I think it'd be cool if we actually got to speak with Miquella over at Mohgs place and we help him perfect his Unalloyed Gold in order to purge the Outer Gods and bring an Age of the Unalloyed at the Haligtree instead of the Erdtree

[wind-flower]

I think there's some symbolic connection between the themes of stagnation leading to rot and Malenia being chosen as the vessel. She is the result of self-cest, an attempt by Marika/Radagon to keep the Golden Order for all eternity - leading the world into a state of stagnation. Maybe this was why the rot god was able to take hold of her.

[mayhemivory]

finally, finally someone who noticed that malenia only bloomed twice! i was growing sick and tired of everyone acting like her blooming three times was a foregone conclusion. excellent work!

[nagoshi]

This really sheds context on the naming of "Waterfowl" dance. By name, reflecting her flowing water combat style, but also the proverbial "wings" of her prowess. In other words, a winged bird of the water: waterfowl.

[maxfilesize]

Interesting idea about Malenia's lifesteal ablility being a kind of manifestation of her courage. I saw it a little differently though:

In the upper worshiper's woods where you fight the the Regal Ancestor Spirit, the Ancestral followers get this blue buff. What this buff actually does is give the Followers a lifesteal ability, just like Malenia's. I feel like this suggests that the lifesteal ability could be something that both Malenia and the Followers specifically learned from Siofra/The Blue Dancer. Thematically it makes sense that Siofra would provide a healing ability, as it's kind of the antithesis of Rot and decay.

[WardofSquid]

I really hope we get new and unique Endings: *an Age of Rot, Unalloyed Gold, and Blood* endings would be really amazing.

[darthacez]

Another great video Fellow Tarnished!
Also, you forgot to mention that the description of the Unalloyed Gold Needle changes when you receive it from Millicent’s corpse. It now contains Millicent’s dew - her essence containing Malenia’s sense of self and dignity.
When you return the the UGN to the flower after the boss fight, it gives you Miquella’s needle and Ancient Smith Dragon Stone - a sort of trade .
I believe this is Malenia inside the flower recuperating giving you the needle and Ancient Smith Dragon Stone as a form of gratitude for returning the UGN and giving you hints of removing a god’s influence and ways of killing of a god. (Almost like supporting us in becoming the Elden lord).

[VictorIV]

Greetings. Fighting a giant Scarlet Rot avatar in the form of a scorpion would've been absolutely dope. Do a video on the Frenzied Flame or Godwyn next!

[pushpitkumar]

The most tragic part of Malenia's story is that she's been battling the curse of rot since birth and never knew relief from it. In every battle, It was always a inner fight against the rot and against her opponents. Despite this she still managed to become an absolute god at combat without ever giving in to the rot. The only time she willingly used it was to overcome Radahn who was her most formidable opponent. And since she hated the rot, it is important to consider what was so necessary to her in the fight that she allowed the rot to take control and let go of her pride. I personally don't believe she was there for great runes because she had no reason to spare godrick. She spared him out of mercy. She was there specifically for Radahn, most likely because he would have been the biggest threat to miquella's rule over the haligtree. Also I don't think Malenia really intended to destroy caelid considering it was her first bloom and that she had been holding the rot back for a long time. Sudden release of energy ended up covering all of caelid. Pretty tragic if you think about it, she gave up on her honor and dignity to secure victory for Miquella only for Mohg to abduct him. I really hope we get to see more of the twin prodigies in a future dlc considering Malenia's bloomed only twice.