Elden Ring: A Startling Turn of Events and the Erdtree's Scadutree's Shadow
The eagerly awaited expansion pack for the critically acclaimed action role-playing game, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, has left players even more perplexed and bewildered by the secrets of the Lands Between. With locations like the mysterious Land of Shadow, the mysterious Scadutree, and the complex mythology behind Queen Marika's offspring, the expansion has caused the Tarnished to speculate endlessly. Among these, a particularly interesting notion concerns the Scadutree and suggests an unsettling twist with respect to the original Erdtree.
Exposing the Scadutree's Claim
There are many mysteries and eerie images within the Land of Shadow, a place that Marika has closed off. The eerie ambiance and ghostly tombstones provide a terrifying window into Marika's past, but the Scadutree is the main attraction. Numerous interpretations have resulted from its intimidating presence and startling likeness to the Erdtree in the Lands Between.
The Grim Grip of the Scadutree
According to a convincing idea put out by Reddit user u/echolog, the original Erdtree is actually being strangled by the Scadutree. This notion is based on a number of hints that are dispersed throughout the game's story.
First of all, the tree entangled with the Scadutree in the Land of Shadow bleeds golden sap, whilst the Erdtree in the Lands Between is characterized as spectral. This is consistent with the description of the Blessed Dew Talisman, which speaks of the old Erdtree's sap. The Minor Erdtree Incantation also demonstrates Marika's capacity to conjure false trees.
The Greattree's Legacy and the Deeproot Depths
The description of Root Resin, which claims that the Greattree's roots were formerly connected to the Erdtree and that catacombs were built around those roots, lends more support to the theory. These catacombs are quite similar to the Deeproot Depths, which are full of enormous tree stumps and were once home to the Crucible Knight Siluria, who was probably in charge of watching over the Crucible's remains.
Oddly enough, if you overlay the maps of the Lands Between and the Land of Shadow, the largest stump in Deeproot Depths corresponds with the position of the Scadutree. It is more likely now that the Scadutree is actually choking the Greattree, the original Erdtree, inside the sealed Land of Shadow, as this alignment confirms.
Marika's Sad Deed
Still unanswered is why Marika would conceal the real Erdtree. According to the argument, Marika acted in order to hide her previous crimes and possibly limit the potency of the Erdtree's sap. The phrase "An affair from which gold arose" appears in Shadow of the Erdtree advertising materials. "And so too was shadow born," appear to corroborate this theory.
One could argue that Marika used the Scadutree to conceal the Greattree and its powerful sap. Her fear of others gaining power to seize her kingdom or take retribution may have motivated her acts. As an alternative, she may have aimed to curtail the power of the Greater Will, since the phantom Erdtree is said to symbolize "the kindness of gold without Order."
Untangling the Complex Lore of Elden Ring
The lore of Elden Ring is an elaborate tapestry with many nuanced elements and deeper implications. Despite the lack of conclusive evidence, this theory offers a convincing and logical explanation for the Scadutree's existence in the Land of Shadow. According to the hypothesis, FromSoftware frequently incorporates substantial meaning into seemingly unimportant aspects, which entices players to explore Elden Ring's universe and learn about its mysteries.
Though it is still unclear if this idea is correct, it does speak to the rich and fulfilling experience that Elden Ring provides. With its intriguing ramifications, the Scadutree keeps players guessing and expanding the mysteries of the Lands Between, making them eager to learn the real story behind Marika's deeds and the mysteries of the Land of Shadow.
