Secrets in the Shadow of the Erdtree

I’m sensing heavy ‘Messmer-will-only-be-the-halfpoint-of-the-DLC-and-the-second-half-will-be-completely-nuts’ type of vibes

Someone made a joke about how Vaati would make an hour long video out of a 3 minute trailer, and it turns out they were almost right.

took me a minute to put my finger on it, but the "hippo thing" is giving me major bloodborne shark giant ptsd

Something that stood out to me 8:51 the woman in the painting is clearly pregnant, with her hand over belly, like a pregnant mother would in other ancient and historical pieces of art. The Shadow Land, “where the Goddess, Marika, first step foot.” I wonder, could that imply that the Shadow Land is where Queen Marika was born? Perhaps the old man and the pregnant woman in the painting are Marika’s mother and father. When the Elden Ring needed a vessel, an Empyrean, perhaps in exchange for power, these Numen’s offered their child Marika, as the first Empyrean of the Greater Will.

Man I still can't get over the veils that gently cover the sky. Miyazaki and his team are freaking gods at creating intensely interesting imagery.

I've been waiting for this one

I love the opening line of the trailer referring to Miquella "wield[ing] love to shrive clean the hearts of men". I think the line saying he "wields love" is an extremely important one, connected to the Bewitching Branch item description which states "Miquella is loved by many people. Indeed, he has learned very well how to compel such affection." The allusion that Miquella can bewitch others into favouring him sounds very much like him "wielding love" as a weapon, and I can easily see someone saying there's nothing more terrifying.

The name ‘The Impaler’ could be a reference to Count Vlad Dracula, who was the inspiration for Dracula the vampire. Count Vlad Dracula was a member of the Chivalric Order, the Order of the Dragon. And the name Dracula literally translates to ‘son of dragons’. This reference seems to further connect Messmer to Dragons while building onto the theme of blood which also runs through the trailer.

Vaati, that 3 minute overview overlapped with the trailer, perfectly spacing your sentences between those in the trailer, was absolutely beautiful.

HYPED

Melina is Messmers twin. He killed her and was banished by Marika which caused her to eventually go crazy and shatter the elden ring. Melina is an ash and thats why she comes and leave just like a summon

Always wondered why when you fight morgott and he’s talking about the thrones there was a space between miquella and Melanie’s chair. Makes sense now that was mostly where messmers chair was. Also heard a good theory the center part of the map surrounded by the divine towers is where the land of shadows is. The vail over the tree in the land of shadows is physically hiding the area. That area is about the size of limgrave. And you can find the dogs in caelid and the mountain tops but no where else so be fire it was hidden they could of moved between the two areas but once it was hidden the were trapped on either side. It makes a lot of sense.

If Empyreans all have a Shadow that takes the form of a wolf (Marika/Maliketh, Ranni/Blaidd), I find it interesting that the default Tarnished is always wearing the Raging Wolf Armor. The armor description states, "Armor worn by Vargram the Bloody Wolf, one of the first Tarnished to visit the Roundtable Hold. According to the old legends, wolves are the shadows of the Empyrean. Vargram aspired to such a state himself." So, if one can acquire the "state" of becoming a Shadow, and our default Tarnished is seen wearing this "wolf armor," perhaps WE are a Shadow... to Miquella? After all, he gives us the gifts of Torrent and the Spirit-Calling Bell, and he's awaiting his "promised Lord" (promised Elden Lord, maybe?) I think Miquella has been essentially "training" us to become his Shadow this entire time, and that when we get to the DLC he will reveal what our purpose in serving him is.

Messmer seems to me like he upgraded into every possible faction. His one eye looks like dragon magic, the other eye like the gloomeyed mother and the godskins, his fire from the giants, the snakes whatever rykard is, but still is kinda under marika and the golden order. Dude is just a player that has maxed out every skill 😂😂

One thing I noted is that the pink butterflies exist in at least one place in the base game. In the Haligtree around the rot swamp with the tree spirit, surrounded by pink lilies that I also think are unique to that area.

2:18 Just noticed that the horseback boss with the boomerang looks super similar to the one boss way back in your Elden Ring boss art competition!

"Do you think it vulgar, perhaps? Where I come from, it is a sacred act." might be hinting that Fia came from Land of Shadow.

I love how people are making 40 minute to an hour long videos from just a 4 minute trailer. Really shows just how much care and dedication fromsoft puts in their games

Messmer gives me big Lucifer Morningstar vibes. His whole aesthetic, ties to flame, the serpents (like the serpent in Garden of Eden), the fact that he's in the Lands of Shadow which could be a sort of afterlife... etc

37:30 something I've noticed that no one seems to be talking about when it comes to the guy pulling the spined thing out of his eye. Look at his garb. Royal looking, most certainly heavily decorated. And, most importantly, a bright yellow... What have we not seen any reference to in Elden Ring that has been in every single other Souls game to date? I guarantee that guy is going to end up giving us a Xanthous throwback of some sort. Be it hat or garb.