The Lore of Elden Ring is Cursed
Summary
TLDRThe video delves into the lore of Elden Ring, focusing on the DLC's new location, the Mohgwyn Palace, and its connection to the character Miquella. It explores the backstory of Mohg, one of the oldest demigods, and his relationship with the Formless Mother, an outer god. The video discusses the concept of The Omen, beings born with cursed traits, and how Mohg's blood and lineage play into his ambitions for a new dynasty. The narrative speculates on Miquella's intentions and the potential consequences of his abduction by Mohg, hinting at the forthcoming Land of Shadow and its significance in the game's expanding universe.
Takeaways
- 📜 The DLC entrance is located in Mohgwyn Palace before Miquella's withered arm, suggesting a connection to Miquella's death and Mohg's role in it.
- 👶 Mohg, one of the oldest demigods, was born of the union between Queen Marika and Lord Godfrey, the first Elden Lord, and has a twin, Morgott, both considered cursed as Omen.
- 🌿 The Omen are individuals born with grotesque horns, vestiges of the primordial crucible, which is a melting pot of life that existed before the Erdtree.
- 🔥 The crucible's energies became the Erdtree, and aspects like horns were once considered divine, but over time, the Golden Order moved away from chaos and the crucible, scorning such features.
- 🛡️ The Crucible Knights, who served Lord Godfrey and fought with aspects of the crucible, were abandoned by Queen Marika's Golden Order and came to be looked upon with scorn.
- 🦌 The Omen and the Misbegotten, creatures born with aspects of the crucible, were once seen as divine but later became contemptible, and their horns were often cut off by the Omen killers.
- 🧝♂️ Mohg, being an Omen, has features like wings and a horn, and his connection to the primordial crucible is further emphasized by his meeting with the Formless Mother, an outer god.
- 🌌 The Formless Mother, also known as the Mother of Truth, is an outer god whose essence is blood flame, and she bestows power upon the accursed, possibly because she prefers to act through those unfairly cursed.
- 🏰 Mohg aims to establish a new dynasty named Mohgwyn, building it on the remains of an ancient civilization, and seeks to share his accursed blood with others to gain legitimacy and power.
- 🔪 The war surgeons, known as the White Masks, were abducted by Mohg to see if they could tame the accursed blood, and Varre is the only one known to have succeeded in this endeavor.
Q & A
What is the significance of the DLC entrance being located in Mohgwyn Palace before Miquella's withered arm?
-The significance lies in understanding the circumstances of Miquella's death and the role Mohg plays in the story, as the entrance may hint at the connection between Miquella and Mohg, as well as foreshadow the events and lore explored in the DLC.
What is the background of Mohg in relation to the Erdtree and his siblings?
-Mohg was born of the Union between Queen Marika and Lord Godfrey, the first Elden Lord, making him one of the oldest demigods alongside his siblings Morgott and Godwyn. Mohg and Morgott were twins, born as Omen, which contrasts with their brother Godwyn, who was considered the golden child.
What are the Omen and how do they relate to the primordial crucible?
-The Omen are individuals born by chance with grotesque horns, which are vestiges of the primordial crucible. The crucible is a melting pot of life that existed before the Erdtree, and its energies became the Erdtree. The Omen are considered cursed, but they bear aspects that were once considered divine and connected to the crucible.
How did the perception of the Crucible Knights and those with crucible aspects change over time?
-Initially, the aspects like horns were considered signifiers of the divine due to their origin from the crucible. However, over time, Queen Marika's Golden Order abandoned them, and these knights and their aspects came to be looked upon with scorn, as they resembled chaos, and the era moved towards fundamentalism instead of chaos and the crucible.
What is the role of the Formless Mother in Mohg's life and powers?
-The Formless Mother is an outer god who Mohg stood before deep underground. She is described as craving wounds and having a blood flame essence. Mohg's accursed blood erupted with fire in her presence, suggesting she may have played a role in empowering Mohg's blood and his subsequent abilities.
How does the concept of 'accursed blood' tie into the theme of curses in the game?
-The concept of 'accursed blood' is central to the theme of curses in the game. Curses are often unfair and heavy-handed, delivered by the gods, and associated with the Omen. Characters like Mohg and the Dung Eater turn their curse into their strength, reflecting a consistent theme where characters overcome and utilize their given curse.
What is the significance of the Omen Bairn and the Regal Omen Bairn items, and what do they represent?
-The Omen Bairn and the Regal Omen Bairn items are dolls fashioned to memorialize Omen children who have died or might as well be dead due to the excision of their horns. The Omen Bairn represents the tragic fate of common Omen children, while the Regal Omen Bairn signifies the special treatment of royal Omen children, who are kept hidden but not mutilated.
How does Mohg's half-blindness relate to the trend of blind characters in Fromsoftware games?
-Mohg's half-blindness is part of a trend in Fromsoftware games where blinded characters are ironically able to perceive things that sighted individuals cannot. This trend suggests a thematic element where physical impairment leads to a different kind of insight or understanding, often related to the supernatural or the truth hidden from the sighted.
What is the significance of the blood flame in the context of the Formless Mother and Mohg?
-The blood flame is a significant aspect of the Formless Mother and Mohg. It is suggested that the Formless Mother's essence is blood flame, and this is transferred to Mohg, who is described as having blood that erupted with fire upon meeting her. This blood flame is a sign of their power and their connection to the Formless Mother.
What is the significance of the title 'Mother of Truth' for the Formless Mother, and how might it relate to her actions and preferences?
-The title 'Mother of Truth' is a complex one, possibly suggesting a connection to truths that are hidden or obscured. The Formless Mother appears to act through Mohg, who is unfairly cursed, suggesting that the 'truth' she represents might be related to the unfairness of divine curses and a preference for those who are unfairly cursed or accursed.
What is the role of the White Masks in the story, and why were they abducted by Mohg?
-The White Masks are war surgeons who were abducted by Mohg because of their potential to control or tame the accursed blood. Mohg was searching for individuals who could accept and wield the power of his accursed blood, and the White Masks, particularly Varre, were those who managed to do so, becoming his loyal followers and invasive forces against other characters in the game.
Outlines
🔍 Unveiling the DLC: Mohgwyn Palace and Miquella's Mystery
The paragraph delves into the recent revelations about the DLC, focusing on the entrance located in Mohgwyn Palace and the significance of Miquella's death. It explores the backstory of Mohg, his birth from the union of Queen Marika and Lord Godfrey, and his connection to the Omen. The discussion highlights the concept of the primordial crucible and its vestiges, such as the horns of the Omen, which are considered cursed. The paragraph also touches on the history of the Crucible Knights and their fall from grace due to Queen Marika's Golden Order, as well as the treatment of the Omen and the Misbegotten in the Lands Between.
🎭 The Omen and the Misbegotten: A Tale of Two Fates
This section contrasts the fates of the Omen and the Misbegotten, emphasizing the Omen's defining characteristic of horns and brute strength. It discusses the dark items associated with the Omen children, the Omen Bairn and the Regal Omen Bairn, and their significance. The paragraph also explores the role of Mohg and Morgott in the Golden Lineage and the special treatment of royal Omen children. It delves into the theme of blindness and sight in Elden Ring and other Fromsoftware games, suggesting a deeper connection between sight and understanding of the world.
🌌 The Formless Mother and Mohg's Cosmic Connection
The paragraph examines the Formless Mother, her essence as blood flame, and her role as the Mother of Truth. It discusses the theory that the Formless Mother may have a preference for those unfairly cursed and explores the idea of gods' curses being unfair. The text also considers the possibility that the Formless Mother has influenced Mohg and Morgott, granting them blood flame abilities, and suggests that Mohg embraced this power while Morgott did not. The paragraph concludes with a reflection on the Formless Mother's desires and goals, and how they intertwine with Mohg's ambitions.
🏰 Mohg's Ambition and the Dynasty of Blood
This section focuses on Mohg's ambition to establish his own dynasty in the ruins of an ancient civilization, now a blood-soaked land ruled by him as the Lord of Blood. It discusses the transformation of the ancient civilization and the establishment of Mohgwyn Palace. The paragraph explores the concept of the new dynasty, its differences from the old, and the inhabitants of this realm, including the Albinaurics and their adaptation to the environment. It also touches on the role of the war surgeons, known as the White Masks, and their connection to Mohg's plans.
🩸 The Blood Pact: Varre and the Taming of the Accursed Blood
The paragraph delves into the character of Varre, a war surgeon who has tamed the accursed blood as per Mohg's desire. It discusses the abduction of the war surgeons by Mohg and his search for individuals who can control the accursed blood. The text explores the concept of 'taming the accursed blood' and its implications, as well as Varre's loyalty to Mohg and his unique abilities. The paragraph also examines the role of the bloody fingers in Mohg's plans and the potential consequences of accepting the blood pact.
👑 Miquella's Dual Nature and the Path to Godhood
This section explores the duality of Miquella, both as a benevolent figure helping his sister resist the Scarlet Rot and as Saint Trina, a mysterious entity with powers over sleep and dreams. It discusses the disappearance of Saint Trina and the various theories surrounding it, including the possibility that Miquella's death was a form of deep sleep. The text also considers the potential implications of Miquella's ascension to godhood and the involvement of the Formless Mother in this process. The paragraph concludes with speculation on whether Miquella anticipated his abduction and the potential outcomes of Mohg's ritual.
🌙 The Land of Shadow and Miquella's Final Resting Place
The paragraph discusses the Land of Shadow, a mysterious realm that Miquella chose to enter by divesting himself of his flesh and grace. It explores the idea that Miquella's death and defiling might have been a deliberate act to achieve a state of sublime slumber and complete divestiture of grace. The text also considers the potential benefits for Miquella in being in the Land of Shadow and the implications of his actions on the world of the Lands Between. The paragraph ends with a reflection on the uncertainty surrounding Miquella's fate and the anticipation of the upcoming DLC.
🎮 Enotria: A Soulslike Adventure Inspired by Italian Folklore
The final paragraph shifts focus to introduce Enotria, a soulslike game inspired by Italian folklore and history. It highlights the game's unique setting, vertical level design, and the central role of masks in the gameplay. The text mentions the game's features, such as skill trees, spells, buffs, passives, and Chainable Parries, and expresses excitement for the game's potential. The paragraph concludes with an invitation to follow Enotria's pages or pre-order the game for those interested.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡DLC
💡Mohg
💡Omen
💡Crucible
💡Erdtree
💡Golden Order
💡Formless Mother
💡Miquella
💡Mohgwyn Palace
💡Blood Boon
💡Two Fingers
Highlights
The DLC entrance is located in Mohgwyn Palace before Miquella's withered arm, suggesting a deep connection between the DLC content and Miquella's character.
Mohg, one of the oldest demigods, has a complex background as a twin and Omen, which sets him apart from his golden child brother, Godfrey.
The Omen are considered cursed, born with grotesque horns that are vestiges of the primordial crucible, a concept that blends many creatures' physiological aspects.
The crucible is a melting pot of life that existed before the Erdtree, and its energies became the Erdtree, influencing the creation of the Omen and Misbegotten.
Crucible Knights, once knighted and serving Lord Godfrey, have fallen into disarray and are scattered across the Lands Between, fighting for various causes.
The Golden Order, led by Queen Marika, has abandoned the Crucible Knights and moved away from chaos and the crucible, towards fundamentalism.
The Omen and Misbegotten have suffered due to their cursed status, with the Omen killers hunting and mutilating them for their horns.
Mohg's defining Omen characteristic, his horns, have caused him to be half-blind, reflecting a trend of blinded characters in Fromsoftware games who gain unique insights.
The Formless Mother, an Outer God, has a significant influence on Mohg, with whom she shares a deep connection through their shared experience of being cursed and defiled.
The Mother of Truth is believed to bestow power upon the accursed, potentially because she represents a truth that challenges the unfairness of the gods' curses.
Mohg's ambition to establish his own dynasty, Mohgwyn, is fueled by his desire to gain legitimacy and power beyond his Omen status.
The Albinaurics, particularly the Red Albinaurics, may have been affected by Mohg's accursed blood, leading to the growth of Omen horns and a weaponization of blood.
War surgeons, known as the White Masks, were abducted by Mohg due to their potential to control the accursed blood, reflecting Mohg's desire to share and spread his power.
The Sanguine Nobles serve the Lord of Blood and are aggressive missionaries for the accursed blood, indicating a structured effort to establish Mohg's dynasty.
The Land of Shadow, where Miquella's body resides, is a mysterious realm veiled by Queen Marika, hinting at a deeper connection to the world's history and Miquella's role.
Miquella's duality as both a benevolent figure and a potentially ominous entity with manipulative abilities adds complexity to his character and intentions.
The theory that Miquella may have foreseen his own death and the events surrounding it, possibly using Mohg for his own ascension to godhood, raises questions about his true motives.
Transcripts
Up until last week, we didn't know much about the DLC. In fact, we knew (NIHIL) But now we
know that the DLC entrance is here in Mohgwyn Palace before Miquella's withered arm. I think
it could be important to understand the circumstances of Miquella's death here at
the hands of Mohg. So let's dive in. As the age of the Erdtree began, Mohg was born of the Union
between Queen Marika and Lord Godfrey. Godfrey was the first Elden Lord, and as such, Mohg is
one of the oldest demigods alongside his siblings who were Morgott and Godwyn. Mohg and Morgott were
twins. Born together and born as Omen, placing them in stark contrast to their brother Godwyn,
who was the golden child, so to speak. Omen, like Mohg and Morgott, on the other hand, were
considered to be cursed. But what are the Omen? Skip this chapter if you've heard it all before.
But I think The Omen are born by chance, sprouting these grotesque horns that are vestiges of the
primordial crucible. So what is the crucible? The crucible is a melting pot of life that existed
before the Erdtree and its energies are actually what became the Erdtree. It's here that there
was this blending of many creatures, physiological aspects like feathers, tail, knot, scale, fang and
horn. What's truly noteworthy about these aspects is that they would sometimes come to grow on
creatures that weren't supposed to have them. For example, kill a deer or sheep or even an ancestral
follower in the Lands Between. And there's a tiny chance that you'll receive a budding horn,
which I think are not unlike the horns of the Omen. The budding horn reads "This horn began
to sprout on a beast that typically bears no horn. Perhaps it is a vestige of the primordial
crucible." According to the Crucible talismans. There was a time when these aspects like horns
were once considered signifiers of the divine. And that makes some sense because these aspects stem
from the crucible which did become the Erdtree. So why wouldn't they be considered holy? And so it's
during this time that we have to assume that the ancient warriors known as the Crucible Knights,
were knighted, serving Lord Godfrey and fighting with many aspects of the crucible, including horn,
tail, breath and even wing. But fast forward to the current age and the Crucible Knights are lost,
scattered all over the Lands Between fighting for different causes or for no cause at all. That's
because Queen Marika's Golden Order abandoned them. The Crucible Gantlets reveal that "in time,
the strength shown by these knights and even their appearance came to be looked upon with scorn for
having such close resemblance to chaos." This matches a wider trend in Marika's Golden Order,
where things were moving away from chaos and the crucible and even the Erdtree and towards
fundamentalism instead, as the age of the Erdtree progressed, but the Crucible Knights got off easy
All things considered. Take these creatures, for example. Previously, they were seen as divine for
having aspects of the crucible at birth. But eventually they came to be called misbegotten
instead. A word that really sends the vibe that these were now seen as contemptible creatures
bearing ill gotten gains. The misbegotten became seen as impure, a fact revealed by
the Spirit Ashes of Perfumer Tricia, who was a healer who dedicated her efforts to treating
misbegotten and The Omen as well. The Omen and the Misbegotten certainly needed treatment, as many of
them suffered these grievous wounds as a result of their horns being cut off. Those responsible
for these wounds in particular were the Omen killers, a sect of Leyndell butchers, who had
full authority to hunt the Omen and amputate the horns. So, in my opinion, the tradition of cutting
off omen horns would have begun because horns are the offending part of The Omen as they represent
their link to the primordial crucible, which is something that became this accursed concept. And
omen do bear more aspects of the crucible than just horns. Mohg has a set of wings just like the
Misbegotten and Morgott might as well, though the only really raked in his animation files. Instead,
Morgott has a tale just like The Crucible Knights. All that said, the defining aspect of The Omen are
definitely the horns. That and their brute strength were enough to label them as omen,
distinct from the Misbegotten, but still by chance. Though many Omen were apparently born
directly from the Erdtree's royal line, two of the darkest items in the game are The Omen Bairn and
the Regal Omen Bairn. The word bairn means child, and these items are dolls, their fetishes that
were fashioned to memorialize Omen children who are dead or who might as well be. The Omen Bairn's
description reads "Omen babies have all their horns excised, causing most to perish," and those
that survive live alongside those memorialized by the Regal Omen Bairn, which reads "Omen Babies
born of royalty do not have their horns excised, but instead are kept underground. Unbeknownst
to anyone imprisoned for eternity." So some concessions were made for omen as opposed to the
misbegotten. Two Omen children Mohg and Morgott were, after all, a part of the Golden Lineage,
So the royal omens weren't mutilated as long as their horns were out of mind and out of
sight. And speaking of sight, a horn seems to be responsible for Mohg literally being half blind,
as it has grown relentlessly into his eye socket. Incidentally, there's a bit of a trend with blind
characters in Elden Ring and in other Fromsoftware games as well, and it's that those blinded are
ironically able to see what sighted folk cannot. For example, in Elden Ring it was the exiled
prophets who accurately foresaw the Flame of Ruin burning down the Erdtree, and it was the guilty,
their eyes gouged by thorns, who glimpsed an Outer God in the darkness. There are lots of examples.
So I guess coincidentally or not, Mohg, half blind and wounded, eventually did come to stand
before an Outer God of his own as well, and he met her deep underground. This outer God was called
the Formless Mother and the Mother of Truth, a fitting choice for The Omen, whose true mother
had abandoned him we've talked about outer gods in other videos. But long story short, that these
cosmic Lovecraftian entities that are at once extremely powerful but also strangely limited
in how they could influence events in the Lands Between instead of getting involved directly,
they will often commune through envoys or vessels. And in the case of the Formless Mother,
her subject of communion, one of them at least, was Mohg. The Blood Boon incantation describes
Mohg's meeting with this outer god. It reads "The Mother of Truth craves wounds. When Mohg
stood before her deep underground, his accursed blood erupted with fire and he was besotted with
the defilement that he was born into." The text also describes what happens when you cast this
incantation. You "thrust your arm into the body of the Formless Mother, then scatter the bloodflame
to set the area ablaze." So there's a lot to break down with this one description. But let's start
with the fact that this outer god is at once both the Formless Mother and the Mother of Truth. So
what exactly do these titles mean? Let's start with the Formless Mother, because I feel like
that title is easier to rationalize. She is likely "formless" because Liquid blood is her essence.
And incidentally, the word formless is also used to describe the Dragon Communion seal in Elden
Ring, which is also made of blood. But let's cast our net beyond Elden ring to Bloodborne, where an
extremely relevant parallel to the Formless Mother exists in the character of Formless Oedon, which
is also an outer god of sorts. The Oedon Caryll Rune states that "blood is the essence of the
formless great one" Oedon. And while I absolutely think that the universe is of Bloodborne and Elden
Ring are separate, I'm confident that Fromsoftware are reusing a concept from Bloodborne here in
Elden Ring. So it is that I'm confident that blood is also the essence of the Formless Mother. That
said, the Formless Mother still has a body of sorts. We thrust our arm cross dimensionally into
it when we cast Bloodboon and when we rip our arms out, we scatter not just blood, but blood flame.
Thus, while I think the Formless Mother absolutely has an affinity for any blood, I think her essence
is more accurately blood flame. And she's not the only outer god with a flame of her own. The Fell
God has giants flame. Death has black flame and ghost flame. Frenzy has Frenzy Flame. And
you could even theorize that the Greater Will has the golden fire that spews from the mouth
of the Elden Beast and Placidusax. So flame is commonly a sign of an outer god's essence. And
I think the Formless Mother is no different with a blood flame that continues to threaten rupture
on those afflicted long after it touches their flesh. The Formless Mother's other title is The
Mother of Truth, and this title is a lot harder to interpret. The Mother of Truth... What truth? The
only character that we know of that the Mother of Truth has appeared before, is Mohg. So we're
kind of forced to judge her character through his. And while I guess it's possible that the
Mother of Truth venerates the absolute truth, a broader truth, the fact that she chooses to act
through Mohg is at least a little bit telling. We know that she bestows power upon accursed blood,
and I think this preference for accursed blood might be a part of the truth that she represents.
I think she might prefer to act through those who are unfairly cursed. Like The Omen, like Mohg,
and I say unfairly cursed because that's kind of what curses are always in fromsoftware games.
Curses are always the domain of the gods, and they're always delivered pretty heavy handedly.
Take Dark Souls, for example, where Gwyn, a god, refused to relinquish his age of fire,
opting instead to curse humanity with undeath. So that they might fuel his fire until the world
turns to ash. Pretty over the top, right? And Queen Marika is actually very similar to Gwyn in
that she's a God who arrogantly thinks her order is perfect to the point where she'll do anything
to try and preserve it. Her hubris is alluded to in the Mending Rune of Perfect Order description,
which states that "the current imperfection of the Golden Order or instability of ideology,
can be blamed upon the fickleness of the gods no better than men." And it's the same hubris that
led to the scorn of the Crucible and I think the curse upon The Omen as well. To make things even
more unfair for the Omen. Their curse appears to largely be one of perception. Ff hate. The
Omen Bairn description conflates these two things and speaks from the perspective of an Omen child
who pleads "Please don't hate me, or curse me. Please." I also think this notion of curses being
unfair is explored further in the Dung Eaters questline where the Dung Eater goes around
defiling others and spreading the Omen curse. He calls this defilement his cursed blessing because
if he defiles everyone, in the end everyone will be cursed and therefore no one will be. Thus,
in his ending, a sort of cursed justice is restored to the world. Elden Ring has this
consistent theme where characters turn their curse into their strength. And I think the Dung
Eater and Mohg are perfect examples of that. And this is just my theory, but I think the
Mother of Truth might bestow power upon the accursed, because the truth is that curses
of the gods are unfairly given. There should be nothing wrong with being born with omen horns,
Right? It's just this genetic trait, a vestige of the primordial crucible that was once even
considered divine. But thanks to the Golden Order, these creatures are now considered omens instead,
So I'd like to argue that this unfairness is why the Mother of Truth bestows power upon accursed
blood. But of course, this is just my theory, and I welcome any challenges to it in the comments. I
think challenging each other respectfully is how we can get a bit closer to the truth. Speaking of,
I saw arguments ages ago that stated that the Formless Mother is responsible for the curse of
the Omen. But I'd like to challenge that idea. I'm not sure it can be correct. For one, it's stated
that Mohg first stood before the Formless Mother underground, and he was only down here because he
was already banished here for being omen. So he must have been omen before this meeting. What's
more, when he did stand before her, it's stated that his accursed blood erupted with fire. Thus,
his blood was already accursed when it erupted with fire. Finally, it says Mohg was besotted with
the defilement that he was born into. Thus, he was born omen, like all of the other Omen children
born to be shunned in a wretched mire underground. But I think there's a reason that people argue
that the Formless Mother created The Omen. And I think one of the arguments is that Morgott,
Mohg's brother, also has blood flame attacks just like his brother. So I think people reason that
blood flame is therefore synonymous with having accursed blood and that all omen have it. But
that's not true because only Mohg and Morgott seem to have blood that was set ablaze. It's
clear Mohg's was set ablaze in item descriptions, and it's clear Morgott weaponized his own flaming
blood by recanting it. But no other omen fight with blood flame. So I reckon they both received
this blood flame from the Formless Mother. I think the Formless Mother appeared before not just Mohg,
but Morgott as well, even though that's never mentioned. Only difference was Mohg embraced
this power and Morgott spurned it. Indeed, Morgott only uses blood flame against us in his boss fight
as a last resort. Morgott's blood flame became a curses sword that reads "Weapon of shifting hue
used by Morgott, The Omen King. The accursed blood that Morgott recanted and sealed away,
reformed into this blade." For him to have this I think, proves that it wasn't just Mohg that
was approached by the Formless Mother. It was Morgott as well. They were both underground,
assumedly sealed in the same place after all. So I think both of them had their accursed blood
set aflame. I think the Mother of Truth, like so many other outer gods, attempted
to influence a demigod. And I think they failed with Morgott, but succeeded with Mohg. In the end,
both Mohg and Morgott weaponised their trauma. For Mohg, We can look at the Cursed Blood Pot,
for example, which you "throw at enemies to douse them in accursed blood, causing someone's spirits
to assail them with a rabid fervor." A childhood memory of the Lord of Blood. It's basically saying
that Mohg remembers being attacked for his accursed blood as a child, and considering the
blood specifically motivates spirits to attack. It might be referencing Mohg's experience of
being haunted by evil spirits. According to the Omensmirk mask. Evil spirits haunt the Omen in
their nightmares. So with this cursed blood pot now, Mohg could give others a similar experience.
The Mother of Truth craves wounds. She desires bloodshed. Swarm of Flies, Bloodboon, Bloodflame.
Everything to do with her is designed to let the blood flow. So the Mother of Truth's base desires
are quite simple. But does she want more? Where do her goals end? And where do Mohg's begin? Well,
beyond specifically wanting to empower the accursed and beyond craving bloodshed, the
Mother of Truth doesn't seem to want much. Take Mohg's sacred spear, for example. It's called an
"instrument of communion with an outer God." And all it seems to do is pierce the Formless Mother
coating the blade in her blood flame. That's it. That's the communion. What's more, this sacred
spear is a design that will come to symbolize his dynasty, not the Formless Mother's dynasty. Mohg's
Dynasty. The Formless Mother might enable this, but at the end of the day, she is behind Mohg's
dynasty, But she's not the face of it. So the most you could say, I think, is that she has ambition,
Yes, but she's not interested in being this god That's worshiped. I think that's very fitting for
an outer god, actually. Instead, it's Mohg's ambition that we should talk about. And it's
Mohg's ambition that led him to leave the sewers long ago. Probably as soon as he could overpower
the shackles that bound him here. This battle you have down here with Mohg is actually with
an omen illusion, not unlike the fight that you have with Morgott's illusion. Omen Have this
ability to conjure illusions. We can sort of infer that from the soundtrack, which calls them omen
illusions. Morgott uses his illusion to hinder the tarnished. His is pretty easy to understand,
but it's kind of hard to understand why Mohg's illusion is down here in the sewers. Mohg's
true location is a bit of a mystery, so maybe he put the illusion here to throw trackers off the
scent and sort of pretend that he was still in the sewers. Or did he leave it here to prevent access
to the Frenzied flame because his brother Morgott does something similar down here. After all,
this illusion of Mohg might even be conjured up by Morgott, because I just noticed that it seems
to erupt into golden particles when it's defeated. Still, it's impossible to know for sure. Anyway,
Nearby you can find an Omen Shackle. These shackles have lost most of their power now.
And indeed, Mohg has long escaped the sewers. And not even the all-knowing knows where to find him.
But he's here somewhere underneath the land of Caelid, a so-called "Lord of Blood" who rules
in the ruins of an ancient civilization, which he has decided will be the seat of his coming
dynasty. This place is drenched in blood, swarming with Mohg's servants, and the crumbling palace
itself is awash with the Formless Mother's blood flame. But it was not always this way. The map of
Mohgwyn Palace reads "In the lightless depths lies the cave of an ancient civilization. It is here,
Mohg, The Lord of Blood, is building his palace to be the seat of his coming dynasty named Mohgwyn."
So this ancient civilization existed long before Mohg. What was this place? This ancient dynasty
isn't given a name, but everything here should look very familiar. The underground woodland
evokes the one found in Siofra. The statues depict the same bearded figure as the statues in Uld and
Uhl. These are the remains of an ancient dynasty that can be found all over the Lands Between. And
Mohg has very intentionally started to build his dynasty on the remains of their own. Mohg calling
his rule a dynasty is intentionally evocative of the ancient dynasty. We know about this ancient
dynasty because of the Oracle bubbles, which are the sorceries of the claymen who served as
priests in the ancient dynasty. The description goes on to state the claymen searched for lost
oracles within their bubbles. and theres a whole video to be had on this topic, So I won't go too
deep into this for now. Especially since their culture doesn't really seem relevant to Mohg
at all. Because I don't think Mohg is intent on reviving the old dynasty or continuing it. Rather,
item descriptions stress that his is a new dynasty and if there's anything from the old dynasty that
he does use, like the architectural remains of the palace or even possibly the antiquated Latin that
he speaks, I feel he might be trying to evoke the old dynasty because he might have envied
how widespread the old dynasty was. And I think he wants his dynasty to have this heir of legitimacy,
something it sorely lacks at the moment. Mohg's new dynasty is very different from the old. The
Swarm of Flies Incantation sums it up well and reads "the new palace of the Lord of Blood lies
in a swamp of festering blood." These flies can be cast as a blood oath incantation, which are spells
directly linked to Mohg's own power. But aside from the incantation, these flies also spawn from
the blood tainted excrement that you can loot in this area, which contain "dense colonies of tiny
eggs of unknown but assuredly revolting origin." The roped fly pot elaborates, stating "the maggots
found in waste feed on blood and turn into vicious flies that are pitiably short lived. Their fangs
inflicts countless lacerations on the victim while the grating sound of their wings assails
their sanity." And specifically, these flies spawn from the excrement of carnivorous beasts,
of which there are now many in the new dynasty, all festering with these bloody pustules and being
even tougher than their kin on the surface. So, yeah, not a great place. And yet many
disenfranchised beings still seem to choose to reside here. Soaking in the festering blood swamp.
Which brings us to the Albinaurics here. In a way, the Albinaurics themselves have accursed blood.
Not unlike The Omen. The Albinauric Bloodclot reads "Albinaurics are lifeforms made by human
hands. Thus many believe them to live impure lives untouched by the Erdtree's grace." Now,
this is just my own speculation, but we know that the Formless Mother bestows power upon a cursed
blood. So do you think maybe it's fitting that of all the creatures in this blood soaked land, many
of the Albinaurics have found a way to weaponize the blood. I think they've accepted Mohg's tainted
blood quite well. The Red Albinaurics stand apart from their silver kin, who sit dejectedly upon
the cliff face. The red ones patrol the area and fight with attacks that are actually unique from
every other Albinauric in the game. Even their model is a little bit unique beyond just being
red. Look at their heads and you'll see these tiny little omen horns sprouting. Personally,
I believe this is because they've been soaking in blood. Specifically, I think they've been tainted
by Mohgs omen blood. We know from the seedbed curse icon and the dung eater questline that
it's possible to spread omen horns, or at least that horns are an aspect of a defilement that can
be spread. So I think that explains why they're sprouting horns here. And there is also evidence
that reveals Mohg was attempting to share his accursed blood with others. This leads us to Varre
and the war surgeons who were abducted by Mohg, who wanted to see if they could tame the accursed
blood as you enter the Mohgwyn Palace Grounds. Three white robed invaders assail you, one after
the other. These are the nameless White Masks and the kind of have fascinating lore to speak of. The
White Masks wear the War Surgeon Gown, which marks them as war surgeons who were effectively mercy
killers. The dagger talisman elaborates, stating that "the white garbed field surgeons come to the
aid of friend and foe alike, by dealing a final deadly thrust to spare them from the prolonged
agony of a mortal wound." So their name is a bit misleading as there isn't really any
surgery occurring here that could save someone's life. Their favored weapon is the Miséricorde,
a dagger with a name that translates to mercy. And it reads" Dagger favored by military physicians
in white. medicine is mercy, and mercy upon the battlefield is ruthless." The White Mask's weapon
is found in a storage quarter of Stormveil and the Talisman is found in Volcano Manor. So it's kind
of difficult to say which faction they served, if any. After all, they delivered death equally to
friend and foe, so they were probably a common sight on the battlefields of the shattering,
regardless of their allegiance. Their choice of white clothing is curious as well. In war,
white is the color of truce, which is appropriate for these somewhat neutral characters. And
incidentally, I think white also shows bloodstains a lot more starkly. And maybe that's why the color
was chosen as well. These characters definitely got their hands dirty as they delivered their
mercy, but constantly delivering mercy would eventually cause them to turn depraved. The dagger
talisman ends with the line, "a sense of mercy is a catalyst for bloodlust," and the weapon,
warns one, to "beware the killers clothed as men of compassion." So the war surgeons inevitably
developed this taste for blood, and it was this very fact that eventually led to them
being targeted and abducted by Mohg. The war surgeon gown reads "of the surgeons that were
abducted by the Lord of Blood. None were able to tame the accursed blood. None but Varre. That is;
though he was an exception" therefore the war surgeons, These nameless white masks that assail
you in Mohgwyn Palace, ended up here because they were unexpectedly abducted by the Lord
of Blood. This reveals that Mohg was searching for potentates who might be able to control the
accursed blood that he had been graced with. It's more proof that he was looking to share
his accursed blood with others and considering these surgeons now invade on behalf of Mohg,
it seems clear that they were happy on some level to have this new violent outlet for
their bloodlust. Though only one of their number actually manages to tame the accursed blood as
Mohg desired. And that's Varre. But what does that really mean? To tame the accursed blood? Well,
earlier we speculated that the Albinaurics are growing horns because they've been doused not just
in blood, but in Mohg's accursed omen blood. And I really do think that there's a lot of evidence
that Mohg is trying to find worthy recipients who can tame his essence. Because instead of
the phrase tame the accursed blood, the original Japanese actually says something a bit closer to
accept the accursed blood. Which brings me to this interaction with Varre, where he gives you a wound
and you accept what is assumedly Mohg's noble blood. "Give me your finger. This noble blood will
be an immutable badge of honor. Once it settles inside of you. good heavens. Clench your teeth or
something." The bloody finger item, which is your finger, I might add, reads Glistening blood has
been siphoned into the nail of this finger. Its sickly pale skin feels nothing now, but the nail
still aches with the sweetest pain. "Never forget that feeling of agony, for it is what binds you
to luminary Mohg. to all of us." And with a fresh infusion of this accursed, noble blood, you can
invade other tarnished and sate your bloodlust materializing out of blood in other worlds,
just like Mohg does. But that's not the only way that you can invade with what is assumedly Mohg's
blood. You can also do so with a festering bloody finger. These are consumable items and their not
your finger This time. And three of them are given to you by Varre and he gives them to you as a test
of sorts. "I have a gift for you. Something fit only for the wise. A means for circumventing the
draw of the Two Fingers. Give it a try, won't you?" Varre is hoping that you'll use these to
fuel a blood lust of your own, thereby distracting you from the allure of the Two Fingers. Who have
other plans for you as a tarnished. And if you prove this blood lust to Varre,
you'll be inducted into the order and you'll have blood infused into you. Perhaps as he and other
war surgeons once received. "I knew it from the very start. You have a taste for noble blood" as
opposed to the bloody finger. You can receive these consumable, festering bloody fingers are
blackened with blood congestion. And if you look closely, what look like omen horns appear to be
writhing at the end, reinforcing the idea again, that it's Mohg's accursed blood that had been
injected into these fingers before they were cut off. The description goes on to state that these
festering fingers "have been chopped off rather unceremoniously." The lack of ceremony indicates
a measure of disappointment with the owner of these fingers, I think. And that's why I think
these fingers once belonged to other inductees. Just like the nameless war surgeons who failed
to accept the infusion of Mohg's blood. Note this dialogue from Varre. If you deny him,
"you will die nameless without ceremony." So the nameless war surgeons are likely also those whose
fingers were unceremoniously chopped off It seems. They're a warning of what could happen to you if
you listen to Varre's speech, which is enticing in its splendor but full of deadly consequence.
Despite this harsh treatment of his subjects, Mohg is different to the Two Fingers, according
to Varre at least. And one of the key differences apparently is love. In his dialogue, Varre
laments that the Two Fingers have no love for the Tarnished, but Mohg does, He says. incidentally,
the Tarnished are kind of related to Mohg via Godfrey In a way. We're all of the same bloodline,
So I guess it is true that we are at least somewhat alike, Varre really is very loyal Mohg.
And indeed amongst all the war surgeons, Varre is actually the only one that's capable of incanting
bloodflame blade. The spell that coats his weapon with what we know is the essence of the Formless
Mother. Varre has been granted strength beyond any other character in Mohg's dynasty, it seems, and
Varre is no doubt eventually very disappointed in you when you teleport to the palace early before
the new dynasty has even begun. This is what leads to an optional confrontation with Varre and his
death. "Oh... Luminary Mohg Please grant the strength you promised. I have given everything"
you can teleport to Mohgwyn Palace early with the Pure Blood Knights medal, which is something Varre
gives you If you prove yourself to him. "I've gone out of my way to provide one to you. But
you mustn't use it just yet. The meeting must wait until the Mohgwyn Dynasty commences. Luminary Mohg
yet slumbers beside the divinity." Now that we've been inducted, we start to see Mohg's
Luminary Vision and can learn how Mohgwyn Dynasty is supposed to come about. The Lord of Blood's
exultation Talisman explains Reading "Render up your offerings of blood to your Lord. Drench my
consort's chamber. slake his cocoons thirst. His awakening shall herald the dawn of our dynasty."
So he's specifically saying that others should make offerings to Miquella. And I think the ones
he's telling to make the offerings would be his bloody fingers. By invading and killing I think
we might just be making offerings of others. And I think also these offerings would be made by the
sanguine nobles who are just as aggressive as the bloody fingers are If you find them out in
the open world. for example, this is one of many sanguine nobles and you fight them here at the
Rose Church in Liurnia. It's likely named after the Blood Rose, which is an item deeply related
to all things bloody. And the building itself is a sort of parish. It's a church that operates in
a foreign land. And it's no coincidence that it's here that Varre attempts to recruit you. In fact,
the enemy inside the church is supposedly a recruiter as well, although I kind of question
their recruiting techniques. The sanguine noble hood is" worn by nobles who serve the Lord of
Blood" and Reeds, "known to strike from pools of blood. These assassins are missionaries come to
share the gospel of accursed blood." just like the red Albinaurics, the sanguine nobles have
started to grow omen horns, and their rank seems to exceed that of the Albinaurics As
can be inferred by the Noble in Mohgwyn Palace, who stands before a crowd of Ablinaurics. Again,
rather than being true omen, I think this is another instance where being infused with Mohg's
accursed blood has led to their horns growing a cursed blessing as The Dung Eater would say. The
robes go on to read "The grand metallic pattern on the shoulder is a signifier of the noble rank they
intend to claim upon the advent of the new dynasty they are working to install," and their weapons
are designed to "rip the flesh with sickening efficacy," suggesting that they really are working
to install this new dynasty via the blood loss of others. Making offerings for Miquella's cocoon.
And again, I think the bloody fingers are the same way. Yura calls the bloody fingers "tarnished held
in thrall by excess blood zealots who stalk their own." "If it isn't Nerijus, the bloody finger. The
end is nigh for you." Yura is familiar with many such bloody fingers. None more so than Eleanora,
who is the one he loves. And she's the one who he considers to be the deadliest bloody finger
of all. I'm dying to see "Eleanora violent bloody finger." In the end, though, Eleanora kills Yara
here at the Second Church of Marika. And this church is interesting because despite being a
church of Marika, there's clearly been an attempt by Mohg's adherence to usurp it. Note the blood
roses, the sanguine noble who appears here, the hound here festering with blood. And of course,
Eleanora herself. Eleanora is one of Mohg's bloody fingers, the most dangerous of them all if Yura is
to be believed. Perhaps it's for this reason that Mohg might have entrusted her with the purifying
crystal tear an item that can nullify the effect of Mohg's right of blood attack. Either that or
she has somehow procured this purifying crystal here because she has a secret plan to attack Mohg.
You could definitely speculate in that direction as well. I think if you wanted to. Eleanora wields
a twin Naginata a weapon that's forged in the land of Reeds, which is a place "locked in civil war
that has become alienated from the culture of its neighbors. Little Wonder. It is said that
the entire nation has succumbed to blood soaked madness." It's on this note that I'd again like
to return to the description of formless Oedon in Bloodborne, specifically the part that says
"both Oedon and Oedon's inadvertent worshippers surreptitiously seek the precious blood." Earlier,
we established that Oedon and the Formless Mother clearly have some overlap, and I speculate
that this overlap could extend to Oedon's inadvertent worshippers as well. Inadvertent
means unintentional or accidental worship, In this context. and I think that the Formless
Mother might have many, many children because I think you can make a good case for her having many
inadvertent worshippers of her own. After all, the blood soaked madness of the Land of Reeds
has led more than one of their number directly to Mohg, introducing Okina, who is a demon of a
swordsman. His blood lust led him into combat with Mohg himself, and his sword tells of this story,
stating, When Mohg, the Lord of Blood, first felt Okina's sword and madness upon his flesh,
he had a proposal to offer Okina the life of a demon whose thirst would never go unsated. So it
was that Okina became a bloody finger of Mohg, cutting down his enemies with rivers of blood,
a cursed sword which has felled countless men. Weapons like these are really powerful when paired
with the Lord of Blood's exaltation Talisman, which gives you an attack boost if blood loss is
triggered in the vicinity. And one amazing little detail is that this captain of Godrick actually
gets the attack power buff whenever there's blood loss nearby, hinting that he's actually carrying
the Lord of Blood's Exaltation talisman and that he is thus and adherent of Mohg. The weapon art
he uses, Bloody Slash, also suggests as much, as it is a "blood oath skill granted by the Lord of
Blood." So it seems this Stormveil captain has either defected or is secretly loyal to Mohg,
or he has a dual allegiance. I love that it's left open to your interpretation. The talisman
itself is dropped by Esgar, a priest of blood found in the catacombs below. Leyndell, the same
place where Mohg first met the Mother of Truth. He wears the robes of an adherent of Mohg, except
for his great hood, which reads "a burial shroud of sorts for those who discover at long last the
truth they sought." I think this could be hinting that Esgar found the Mother of Truth here below,
but it's hard to say for sure. Speaking of which, it's unclear if Mohg has ever shared the fact that
he communes with the Formless Mother at all. Most worship of her appears to be really indirect and
bloodshed for the sake of bloodshed seems reason enough for her and those that perform it as well.
Perhaps it's for this reason that the all-knowing casts doubt on Mohg's title, calling him the
"so-called Lord of Blood." "so that's where the so-called Lord of Blood was hiding himself."
Perhaps this lack of clarity about Mohg's rule is why even item descriptions cast doubt on Mohg,
Who is "the reigning and high rank of the coming dynasty of Mohgwyn. Or perhaps a raving lunatic"
After all, can blood offerings really lead to the awakening of Miquella? The Remembrance of
the Blood Lord Does state that "no matter how much of his bloody bedchamber he tried to share,
he received no response from the young Empyrean." But Mohg needs Miquella to awaken because Mohg
doesn't just want to be a ruler. He wants legitimacy in the eyes of the world. And since
Miquella is an Empyrean eligible to be the God of this world, he could give Mohgwyn a legitimacy
that might match even the Golden Order, which is structured in a similar way. It has a Lord and a
God at the forefront. So it's time to finally talk about Miquella. For if he does awaken,
then it's very likely that this will lead to the coming dynasty named Mohgwyn and whatever
nightmares that may bring whatever nightmares that may bring is an extremely ominous line,
especially considering Miquella has a dreaming alter ego. So to explain that quickly. Like many
other characters in the game, Miquella has a duality to his character. On one hand you have
Miquella, the unalloyed who helped his sister resist the effects of the Scarlet Rot, who grew
a home for the low and the meek, and who is cursed with eternal youth. But then, on the other hand,
Miquella is also Saint Trina, a mysterious character that has powers relating to sleep