Summary
The release ofElden Ring’s DLC Shadow of the Erdtree is slowly, but surely, approaching. As is the case with any piece of media released by FromSoftware, fans have more questions than answers in the lead-up, and lore hounds everywhere have started tearing the trailers and interviews apart, seeking the smallest crumbs of story detail.
The trailer released on February 21 was quite generous in showing audiences what they could expect to face in the Land of Shadow. Perhaps the most important revelation was what appears to be the new antagonist of theElden RingDLC, Messmer the Impaler.
What’s Known About Messmer the Impaler So Far
Marika’s Possible Hidden Child
Mother, wouldst thou truly lordship sanction, in one so bereft of light?
Not much has been officially shared aboutMessmer, but sharp-eyed fanshave already been able to infer some aspects of his identity, due to evidence that can already be found in the game and FromSoft’s strong visual storytelling. It’s plausible that the “Mother” Messmer speaks of in the trailer refers to Queen Marika. Not only does the trailer show a statue of Queen Marika herself holding a baby right behind the Impaler, but the official artwork for Messmer sees him sitting upon a throne which is an exact replica of the thrones that can be found at the foot of the Erdtree. The thrones themselves are meant for each of the demigods, Marika’s offspring, as said by one of her oldest living children, Morgott.
Messmer’s title, the Impaler, also brings to mind the way players find Marika after making their way intothe Erdtree. Her body floats in the air, impaled upon some sort of spear. Even though she is poised similarly to the statues in her churches, there is no explanation or reference to the spear she is impaled upon. One wonders if Messmer was the one to leave her in such a state.
One location in the base game offers a slightly more vague reference, as opposed to obvious imagery tying Marika and Messmer.The Impaler’s Catacombs, found in the Weeping Peninsula, could be another point of connection. The name of the catacombs may be a pure coincidence, referring to the fact that the dungeon is full of spike traps that, obviously, impale intruders. What lore hunters are taking into account, though, is a spirit located outside the catacombs themselves, who mentions an “unwanted child”.
O Marika. Queen Eternal. He is your unwanted child.
Messmer and Marika’s Family Share a Strong Resemblance
Besides the references to Marika, Messmer bears an uncanny resemblance to certain demigods, specifically the children of Radagon, by both Marika and Rennala. His mane of red hair is shared by Radagon, Ranni, Rykard, and Malenia. The winged serpent coiled around his body could also point to a connection betweenMessmer and the Blasphemous Serpentthat Rykard fused with in his bid to gain immortality, putting Messmer into a heretical or rebellious position with the rest of the Golden Order.
Besides the serpent imagery, the Impaler also sports several ties to dragons. His right eye bears a strong resemblance to eyes the player can gain through dragon communion. His attire is evocative of the Drake Knight set, while the flame he conjures in the trailer bears similarity to theDragon Communion Seal. Considering Godwyn the Golden had strong ties to the Ancient Dragons, a parallel could also be drawn to Marika’s children by Godfrey, the first Elden Lord.
Elden Ring Lore Theories Are Booming
The trailer for Shadow of the Erdtree is only three minutes long, and it has already opened the floodgates ofElden Ring’s lore once again, giving audiences new ground for speculation, while recontextualizing existing aspects of the lore. Messmer’s possible connection to Marika is only a part of the puzzle. It has already been confirmedthe DLC will reveal more of Miquella’s story, which could also tie in with Mogh and his abduction of the sleeping demigod. What’s more, the Impaler’s closed eye may suggest connections to both Ranni and Melina.
No matter the theories fans craft during the wait for the DLC, audiences can surely expect a lot more to come when it finally arrives. Shadow of the Erdtree has been slated for release on July 10, 2025.
Elden Ring
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ELDEN RING, developed by FromSoftware, Inc. and BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG adventure set within a world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin. Danger and discovery lurk around every corner in FromSoftware’s largest game to date. Hidetaka Miyazaki - President and Game Director of FromSoftware Inc. Known for directing critically-acclaimed games in beloved franchises including Armored Core and Dark Souls.George R.R. Martin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including the acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire - A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast For Crows, and A Dance with Dragons. As a writer-producer, he has worked on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and pilots that were never made. He lives with the lovely Parris in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
