The first trailer forShadow of the Erdtreesent a bolt of electricity through theElden Ringfanbase when it dropped back in February. The trailer finally gave fans of the game a better idea of what to expect from the highly anticipated expansion, though not without raising some new questions, primarily about the DLC’s setting and new lore elements, not the least of which being thepowerful and intimidating Messmer, who is positioned asShadow of the Erdtree’s main antagonist.
Elden Ringbenefits from the same rich and complex lore as FromSoftware’s previous titles, though it’s perhaps even grander and more sprawling than the likes ofDark Souls, due in part to the involvement ofGame of Throneswriter George R.R. Martin. The game’s world is full of warring factions, incomprehensible Lovecraftian entities, dissenting schools of magic, and power-hungry, enigmatic leaders. At the center of much of the game’s conflict is a messy family of demigods, highly powerful beings with varying struggles and ambitions. Some ofElden Ring’s demigod characters are:
Spoilers for Elden Ring ahead.
How Messmer Ties Into Elden Ring’s Demigod Family
Messmer is one ofShadow of the Erdtree’sbiggest mysteries. Despite not being mentioned at all inElden Ring’s base game, he is speculated to be directly related to the Golden Order and the Erdtree, as the trailer includes lines of dialog like “[t]hose stripped of the Grace of Gold shall all meet death in the embrace of Messmer’s flame,” heavily implying that Messmer is connected to Marika and Radagon’s family and conflict. If this is true, then Messmer has the potential to recontextualize much of what players know about this shadowy group of powerful figures.
In a now-iconic late-game twist, it’s revealed thatMarika and Radagon are the same person. This revelation makes it difficult to define the motives of various Golden Order members, as Radagon is seemingly in favor of protecting the Erdtree while Marika is apparently against it, as she shattered the Elden Ring.
Messmer’s Design Is Rife With Character References and Iconography
Setting aside the weighty questions posed by the trailer’s snippets of dialog, Messmer can be read as explicitly connected to Radagon and Marika’s demigod family thanks to his character design. The most obvious connection between him and Radagon is his striking red hair—so far, virtually everyElden Ringcharacter with hair that color has been a child of Radagon.Looking at Messmer a bit closer, he appears to have some sort of connection with a snake, potentially linking him to Radagon and Rennala’s son Rykard, who famously fed himself to a serpent god while chasing power and immortality. Messmer’s affinity for fire magic may also be a link to Rykard or perhaps even Mohg, Marika and Godfrey’s son, who is well-versed in Bloodflame spells.
There’s also the matter of the name Messmer itself. All of Radagon and Marika’s children have names that begin with the letter M (as do Mohg and Morgott, Marika and Godfrey’s Omen twins), so introducing a new M-name character with so many obvious visual links to the godly couple seems like a clear signal that he is some sort of secret child of theirs. Fans have also pointed out the significance ofElden Ring’s three butterfly crafting materials: the Aeonian Butterfly and Nascent Butterfly are clear references to siblings Malenia and Miquella, so the Smoldering Butterfly may connect to fiery Messmer—another possible hint regarding his parentage.
While it seems undeniable that Messmer is somehow connected toElden Ring’s demigods, exactly what role he plays in the game’s lore remains less clear, so fans will have to wait untilShadow of the Erdtreereleases to learn more. Then again, knowing FromSoftware, Messmer’s true nature and backstory might never be cut-and-dry.
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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.
