With Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree hitting the shelves earlier this year, many fans thought it marked the finale for the game. Official statements support this notion, suggesting it’s the last expansion we’ll see for the beloved title. While the add-on has been celebrated for wrapping up numerous storylines, it has also dropped new enigmas on players, especially for those engrossed in piecing together the rich tapestry of the game’s lore. Considering this game is FromSoftware’s largest venture yet, it’s unsurprising that Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree has introduced more narrative threads and open questions than perhaps any Soulslike before it, leaving fans pondering the unresolved mysteries.
The SotE expansion shed light on several aspects of the primary game’s lore. It confirmed figures like St. Trina and unearthed the grim past that influenced Marika’s harsh loyalty to the Golden Order. However, it also brought along fresh questions, disregarding some narratives from Elden Ring’s world, which might forever remain unsolved.
### The Mystery of the Gloam-Eyed Queen
Among the game’s community, the Gloam-Eyed Queen’s mystery remains a hot topic for speculation. Though some insights were provided in SotE, much still remains unclear. Widely known from item descriptions, the Queen was the forerunner of the Godskins and harnessed the power of Destined Death with the Black Flame. However, what players encounter in Elden Ring itself are mere fragments of her past influence. Fans have tried connecting the dots between her and the snake-like characteristics of Messmer or Marika’s history of betrayal. Yet, no substantial revelations have come to light following the striking resemblance of Melina to her in one of the game’s endings.
### The Division of the Land of Shadow from the Lands Between
The DLC emphasizes through various texts that the map of SotE was once linked to the principal world of The Lands Between. Still, details on how this division transpired are scarce. The sky around Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree’s Scadutree echoes the similar veil found in the Queen’s Bedchamber, sparking theories about the Mimic Veil’s involvement. But, how these realms were genuinely split—whether through physical or illusionary means—remains a mystery.
### Puzzling Stratigraphy and Colossal Corpses
From the outset, players have speculated on the massive buried corpses scattered across Caelid and the Mountaintops of the Giants, yet answers elude. Though some link the impaled giants to Messmer, the larger remains leave players guessing, as they dwarf anything else encountered in the game and don’t seem to fit any existing records in Elden Ring.
This scenario mirrors the gigantic skeletons on thrones found in the Eternal Cities, hinting at a cataclysmic event in the past. The Lands Between is dotted with buried structures dating back ages and constructions like Stormveil Castle, which has changed hands and purpose through different eras. These clues hint at a complex history filled with unseen calamities and power shifts within the civilizations of Elden Ring.
### The Enigma of Messmer’s Lineage
The revelation of Messmer as Marika’s clandestine offspring was already groundbreaking. However, SotE hinted he might be her firstborn, contrary to past assumptions that Godfrey was her initial partner and the sire of her first demigods. With his red hair and stern demeanor hinting at Radagon’s lineage, this complicates the established family hierarchy. How Marika could have been involved with her other half so long ago challenges previously accepted timelines from the base game.
### Understanding Godwyn’s Corpse Husks
Many anticipated the expansion would delve into the ties between Miquella and Godwyn. However, the latter, the Prince of Death, was largely confined to references in catacombs and Stormveil, showcasing grotesque Deathroot growths reminiscent of his body. Some theories suggest Godwyn’s arc concluded in Fia’s questline and the Age of the Duskborn ending, but his enduring presence hints at unfinished matters involving this demigod.
### Unraveling the Origins of the Two and Three Fingers
The Two Fingers, noted for their cryptic communication of divine will, remain one of Elden Ring’s unique narrative elements. Their explanations are mostly limited to their connection with Metyr. Even with locations such as Finger Ruins and bizarre structures at Midra’s Manse introduced in the DLC, the origins of the Three Fingers and their interaction with other magic forms stay elusive. The discovery of the Fingercreepers’ background may be informative, yet if perceived as merely relics of an obsolete deity, it might disappoint those seeking depth.
### The Enigma of Enir-Ilim’s Petrified Corpses
In the game’s final stages, players encounter the majestic Gate of Divinity before battling Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree’s Radahn. This gateway laced with Hornsent bodies hints at sacrificial traditions. However, a closer look reveals numerous bodies without horns integrated into Enir-Ilim and its surroundings. This indication of forgotten cultures—erased from the tower and Land of Shadow—points to the depth and age-old intricacies of Elden Ring’s world history.
