Duration 3:6

Elden Ring - The Agony of Immortality

by Zullie the Witch

1 688 972 watched

64.8 K

Published 18 May 2022

Attempting to ascend to a higher state of existence opens up a lot of opportunities for tripping yourself up on the way. Song used: Holy Forest - King's Field IV OST

Category

Comments - 2525

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@ZullietheWitch2 years ago In the Design Works interview for Dark Souls, Miyazaki describes how he personally acted out the movement for the dragon stone transformation, and how the awkward, jerky motion conveyed the exertion of a human trying to force themselves to become a dragon. ... 10980
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@someoneelse803last year You're wrong, becoming a dragon has a chance that eventually you'll get your own soundtrack, and there's a 47% chance it'll be a banger. Well worth the pain and agony 1864
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@Habitt52532 years ago I love that attempting to do anything in a souls game usually ends with extreme body horror, death or worse, immortality. 8269
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@SomeScruffian2 years ago This only makes Crossbreed Priscilla's existence more astounding, a true cross between human and dragon that seemingly went right. Makes sense why Seathe went out his way to ensure her safety, even if it meant sending her into a painted world. ... 5280
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@addictiontransfer37312 years ago Zullie: "Theyre just as unsightly as half-dragons in past games"
Priscilla: (starts to cry) 3345
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@mrhappyface41812 years ago "Ok you're a dragon that breathes fire and lives forever, but you can't fly. Here's a sword."
Magma wyrm got a pretty good deal. And a snack. 2926
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@scottbecker43672 years ago "The pursuit of immortality is typically framed as a hopeless, self-destructive endeavor in Miyazaki's games."
The player coming back to life for the thousandth time after walking off a cliff: ( 0_0) 3532
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@epsteindidntkillhimself692 years ago I know the description says the magma wyrms are "cursed", but they seem like a pretty massive success to me. They even drop legitimate dragon hearts. They can't fly, but I would still call that mission accomplished. ... 4261
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@bleachedbonez2 years ago I love how Miyazaki almost always shows immortality as a curse rather than a blessing. There are very few people who are immortal in his worlds who seem at all happy about it 894
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@switz61412 years ago Just wanted to give you praise for the clever shot of the DS3 dragon player model to represent one type of hybrid, who then pulls out a torch to illuminate the second type of hybrid behind them in the darkness. very elegant shot! ... 5917
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@realkingofantarctica2 years ago Reject becoming a dragon. Embrace becoming a tentacle. 1336
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@thomash84082 years ago An interesting thing to note:
Becoming a dragon through the means of using stones, blood, and hearts always seems to go wrong during the transformation.
But when a dragon hybrid is born rather than created through those means, they’re much better, and are kinda their own species. Not in any pain or disgraced.
Edit: I also remembered aldia’s dragon. It wasn’t a true dragon, but was very much the same size and power as one. ... 221
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@SeriesOC2 years ago Honestly I want to see a person in a souls game that truly transends into a dragon. The regrets of it, the pain, possibly even a bossfight that tugs at your heart. 598
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@repositoryforresponses41312 years ago Considering how dragons are pretty much the poster children of fantasy, it's interesting how much depth Miyazaki is able to lend them! 3217
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@Thesaurus_Rex2 years ago I just noticed that the Dragonkin also have roots around their necks, like Trolls do. Perhaps the Nox used Trolls as the starting template for their dragons? The four limbs, four wings, and use of lightning would seem to imply that they were particularly trying to emulate the ancient dragons, so they might have chosen not to use the weaker modern dragons as a template. ... 239
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@FossilF2 years ago This is similar to Rykard’s pursuit of power and transformation into/becoming part of the serpent. In the end, the lady is eating them so that they will become part of her or something along those lines. Rykard’s last words were “a serpent never dies.” ... 394
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@BigKevSexyMan2 years ago From arrested development:
"Did it ever work for these people?"
"No. It never does. I mean these people somehow delude themselves into thinking it might. But......it might work for us." 1119
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@fizzymilk22462 years ago The Dragonkin Soldier character design is so cool, I feel like the only way they could be better is if you put one in the middle of a giant swamp full of Scarlet Rot and give the player a terrible reward for beating them 1052
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@machinegunkeyboard59882 years ago "cursed to crawl on the earth on their bellies" is a surprisingly similar quote to Genesis 3:14. As the Bible goes, God cursed serpents to crawl on the ground for leading mankind astray in sin, when Adam was convinced to consume the forbidden fruit to become 'like God' (in the sense of knowing right and wrong). Guess these human heroes wished to become god-like by blurring the lines between themselves and the immortal dragons via dragon communion and were cursed for it. ... 643
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@riohudson96122 years ago Out of all the half-dragons in the elden ring and other Soulsborne games, I prefer the fate of the magma wyrms. Compared to the other misshapen lizards, the Magma Wyrms seem the most chill. They're just big lizards vibing in caves and magma flows. ... 147
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@_DioBrando_2 years ago It's kind of funny that Miyazaki always makes becoming a Dragon a dark and depressing endeavor even though mythology in Japan has romanticized the concept with the legend of the Koi that swam up a waterfall to become a Dragon. In that legend, becoming a Dragon can be achieved through ambition, perseverance and determination, but it's like Miyazaki makes of the concept in his games. ... 462
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@maxderrat2 years ago Without any knowledge of what awaits us beyond death... or in the age of dark... it is no wonder that some would turn to such a macabre measure as a way to escape unescapable oblivion. But as these games have shown us, there are some fates that are worse than death. ... 4607
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@DragonDoomLord2 years ago I have to say I feel there's 2 big points not mentioned in this about dragon transformation in the Souls Games. The first one is very interestingly: consent
The dragon transformations the player can take are the more orderly ones, least awkward. In DS1 and 2 you are either bestowed by a dragon themself, or by something related ot dragons, the stones to transform. In order to increase this transformation, one must partake in mutually consenting duels. One can't invade anotehr person without the other person accepting to partake in such a duel for the price of dragon scales themselves. In DS2 the other wellformed dragonkin we find are in the aerie protecting the ancient dragon, and serving as challengers, or safekeepers of a safe challenge, to meet the dragon.
In DS3, with seemingly all everlasting dragons dead, one must resort to searching out the remaining stones... but this also leads to something interesting. We find malformed dragonkin, but where are they? We find most of these at the Irithyl dungeon, where we know Oceiros was experimenting with people for his search of dragonhood. It clearly shows that those people were not willing to partake in that, and the results are sad. But there is also something very interesting about the results and source: Oceiros was trying to mimic Seath. Seath being the traitorous dragon who, through their envy of their lack of scales, aided in the outright genocide of dragons, for a chance to have as much time and information and resources as necessary to achieve his immortality. Oceiros was following after this particular dragon, whose search of the inmortality he didn't have lead him to be malformed, both of their researchs came out of the forceful conversion of others as well, so it makes sense that they both too, would be malformed.
The second point is: Escape
What we find is a topic of trying to escape the horrible cycle and world they currently exist in, through becoming dragons. How do you reach dragon peak in DS3? You need to meditate in a specific spot, looking at the peak, amongst other people in the same position that are slumped over, seemingly dead... and the player does slump over too before awaking at the peak, implying all the other people managed to escape too. Other elements in the prior games too seem to mention escaping through becoming dragonhood, altho I'm having it a bit harder to remember. The other part elaborated in DS3 is... all the dragonkin slumped over, lifeless, at thte peak. In buddihsm and other easstern philosophies, an important goal is escaping the cycle of suffering and rebirth, through something rather opposite to eternal life: ceasing to be reborn, often with one reaching oblivion. The fact that all the dragonkin we find are slumped over, lifeless... it could very strongly imply that they managed their goal: They escaped the horrible cycle of the world by ceasing to be entirely. But... didn't we and others awake at Dragon peak after meditating in said pose at the Dungeon too? It is very possible too, that instead of oblivion, the dragonkin simply managed to escape that world, their consciousness reaching elsewhere in the same manner... whether that place is better or worse than the current world, who can say.
And about Elden Ring... I mean they are people who try to become dragons by searching and murdering docens of em... I think it's pretty clear one side ain't bieng exactly consentual in this situation now, aren't they. ... 381
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@WaterFlame30302 years ago The secret behind draconic immortality is dedication, and the will to go on, even if the path is an arduous one. You'll suffer, yes, it'll be painful as all hell, yes, you might end up a horrid monster, yes. If, at the end of the day, you're willing to take those risks, and go beyond them to become an ancient dragon, then there is no doubt of your success, no matter how long it takes. ... 22
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@hypethekomodo64952 years ago That's actually a really cool detail with the pupils. I love how your character goes through cosmetic changes as they perform certain actions to better reflect them. 1056
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@Orzacle2 years ago Of all the attempts at becoming dragons in Elden Ring and Dark Souls, the Magma Wyrms seem to least punishing interestingly enough 183
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@snazzyjovialwyrm33142 years ago I'd love to see a character arc where we come across someone who achieved immortality and became a true, regal dragon... but hated the transformation so much that they almost went completely mad and does not want anyone else to experience the pain and horror they themself went through. It would be a deviation from the usual trope of failed transformation from human to dragon that Miyazaki likes to do, while still carrying over the message that he's wanting to tell people, essentially a case of "this is what happens even IF you somehow succeed." Simply put, humans and numans have no business wanting to become dragons. They should be content enough with the dragon cult's existence. Learn from them, do not become them... ... 501
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@tottymcflurry37802 years ago A few things I've gather during my playthrough, these are just first-look observations so I'm happy to be proven wrong!
It's also implied that, beastial as they may be, the modern dragons of the lands between were both aware and actively hunting partakers of dragon communion. We can see an example of this right in front of the dragon cathedral with the rot dragon, who's title is Ekyzykes, dragon communion revenger. Before Malenia decided to nuke Caelid to have a chance for a stalemate against Radahn, he most likely prowled the area to hunt those who'd try to eat dragon hearts. His hatred was so great that he kept guarding the entrance even while he was decaying into nothing.
In the same vein despite not coexisting anywhere else in the game (as far as I know) both ancient dragons and their wyvern-like descendants seemed to fight against dragon communion. Although the hearts you eat are from regular dragons, you can see ancient dragon corpses in all the dragon churches, seemingly having crashed through in an attempt to destroy them.
Last thing, humans weren't the only ones able to eat dragon hearts (and ending up cursed by doing so, but can you really blame them, have you seen the RANGE on those dragon breaths?) the great magma wyrm Theodryx used to be a troll.
I also wonder what's up with the dragon powered banished knights. At first I thought they were partaking in communion just like the player, but you can also find them in crumbling Farum Azula, where they almost seem to be guarding the place. If that were the case, why would they wield dragon breaths when doing so was seen as taboo? ... 138
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@Frikcha2 years ago You make really wonderful videos, Zullie.
You completely replace the need for a descriptive voice-over or walls of text with super meaningful and informative imagery and its honestly very impressive. 1943
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@jeandelhugo68812 years ago i have remark that some of those "artificial dragons" have a distinct feature that stick out for me in particular. it's the two jaws, one inside the other, jaws that we can clearly see on the draconic soldiers in elden ring but also in demon souls with the dragon god. it's like they are wearing the skin of a dragon like some akward disguise and i find it realy interesting. ... 759
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@kalamander85632 years ago Kind of reminds me of the Dark Sun campaign setting from D&D. Arcane magic in that setting literally drains the life out of anything around it, the more powerful the spell the worse. And the end goal of most arcane magic users was to transform into an immortal dragon. ... 29
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@Cosmic-Sorceress-172 years ago This video really makes me think on my own Communion/Lightning based character: a reincarnation of a character of mine from previous Souls games named Kalise. In Elden Ring I made her Draconian and centered her entire spell and moveset around the dragons and their power. She doesn't worship dragons themselves, but more the power they have: Power she craves for herself, believing it to be her birthright as Draconian. Hers is a tale of self destruction to achieve ascension, becoming a goddess through draconic power and taking the title of Dragoness for herself. Her heavy partaking in Communion and hunting draconic creatures for their power also earns her the title of Dragon Eater: Literally devouring dragons of all forms to gain unimaginable strength.
When she eventually falls to the sin of Communion, I imagine she's going to become something truly terrifying. The Dragon Queen of the new age, destined to collapse under the weight of her own power. She believes she can avoid the fate of others who partake in Communion by incorporating the power of the ancient dragons into herself. She may get closer than anyone else ever could, but she will still fall short of becoming a true, ancient dragon. All the ferocity and power without the true majesty. ... 58
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@cojiro96162 years ago Just a PSA to anyone who wasn't aware. The Draconic eyes are not permanent, you can remove them at the cosmetic menu in the Roundtable Hold. There's a toggle called eye cosmetics or something that, when disabled, will return your eyes to their normal state. Works for the bloody eyes too. ... 702
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@ShiniesAreCool2 years ago My first reaction when my eyes went all dragon-y was, "I don't know what I did to cause this -- but it's awesome and I glad I did it".
After finding out the terrible true nature and curse of my heart-eating deeds I... still regret nothing. ... 473
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@JallenMeodia2 years ago Is probably more of a From Soft thing than a Miyazaki thing. They did a similar concept in Eternal Ring where characters were cursed by their search for the powerful magic on the island, being turned into monsters that slowly lose they humanity. Most notably, powerful mages get turned into dragons. ... 19
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@TsukuyomiJones2 years ago I never played elden ring, but you guys in the comments are really in-depth about the subject and I love when a community can come together and have discussion board over various things. Keep rocking guys, plus the music is soothing ... 24
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@duskwalker68172 years ago I've always loved how immortality comes with a great price in Miyazaki's works, it makes things much more interesting when Godhood has negatives! 759
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@MasterSean-ql9xi2 years ago You know, we never got a “dragon form” like all dark souls games had. Given we know wyrms are humans that turned into dragons after consuming hearts, I think it’d be cool to have that ability when you consume all of them.
It’d be even more interesting if it made you quadrupedal too, though that seems like it would be a lot of work to do. ... 2479
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@anthonyporche81102 years ago This might be useful for my own worldbuilding. In my fictional world, there is a race of half dragons that originated as a experiments made by the dragons themselves. I haven't worked on that too much yet, but this might at least help inspire me. Thanks Zulie! ... 17
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@joshtownsend88072 years ago I love these videos - taking a series of what to me were disperate notions and ideas and putting them all next to each other in a clear and concise way, each part informing on the others - bringing coherence. It settles the rattling of the many little pieces in mind down into their proper places in the image in the mosaic ... 1
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@PierceArner2 years ago I really wish that the Dragonkin armor was an available set in the game.
The draconic transformation is echoed by the same flaw in Marika sealing away the Rune of Death to allow the Erdtree & Golden Order to perpetuate forever. It's chasing the Primordial Crucible for ancient power, without understanding what exists now.
That power becomes an addiction that you depend upon, and that changes you the more you use it. It's what Yura warns about and tries to stop with Eleonora. Even benevolent actions to combat helplessness against their kindling maiden's one's fate are why Bernhardt became a Recusant, and Vyke fell to the lure of the Three Fingers.
It's why I love how Elden Ring mixes that all with the balance between Regression & Causality. ... 1331
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@inanimatesum49452 years ago I also love Yura’s warning, that the path of using dragonkin magic is a slippery slope of corruption. And he’s right, a lot of us are enamored with the flashy devastation as we consume more, only we don’t get to see how that turns out besides the eyes. ... 139
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@titustavares3352 years ago In three minutes you managed to perfectly explain the lore and what it represents. I often think ahead too much. Death feels like it’s around every corner for me. But Miyazaki shows through his games that refusal to change with yourself and the world, will result in you becoming a hideous malformed monster. Great video bro 👍 ... 10
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@sinenomine34492 months ago Miyazaki has a very elegant way of conveying the price of hubris to his players 1
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@GuyWithAnAmazingHat2 years ago Becoming a dragon is a concept and idiom that originated from China, "望子成龍望女成鳳", "hoping your son will become a dragon, your daughter will become a phoenix".
It basically means hoping that your children will grow up to be successful, with a mythical reference to how the carp that leapt over a water fall to become a dragon, made well known in modern times by the Pokemon Magikarp.
This is such a common idea that Jackie Chan's CN name is 成龍/Cheng Long, which means "become a dragon", and also Yakuza's JP name, Ryu Ga Gotoku which means "Like a Dragon". ... 161
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@MatiasMapache13372 years ago And just like that, the words of Aldia resonates once again
"Men are props on the stage of life, and no matter how tender, how exquisite, A LIE WILL REMAIN A LIE" 223
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@MrGoodCat82 years ago Be grateful for the blessings you receive and dare not to ask for more. Love your videos so much. Thank you for the time, care and consideration you put into your work. 1
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@ThisGuitarPlayerGuy2 years ago Wanted to thank you for making your videos. I don’t play these games but the lore and character designs are so compelling that they’re just incredibly interesting to learn about. Your efforts are appreciated! Thank you!
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@SmileytheSmile2 years ago The characters in Miyazaki's games are ready to pay any cost they can, just to be anatomically compatible with Priscilla so that she can become their waifu. 117
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@with_outany_videos61822 years ago Its remarkable in Sekiro - most of "bad" want to reach immortality (Genichiro, Owl, many of monks and others) on the other hand - "good" characters are not afraid of death and accept it calmly and with dignity. Isshin asks Sekiro to cut his head when he is defeated, immortal warrior seeks for death... and other characters ... 208
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@umdadvocate2 years ago As usual, your videos are my favorite way to learn the lore of this game! 2
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@anothertarnishedone59602 years ago - Mom, I want a dragon
- We have dragons at home
The dragons at home: 3
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@joshs27342 years ago This is what makes you such an important and beloved figure in the Souls community Zullie. You don't just show us cool behind the scenes stuff or mess around with code and animations. You focus on these fascinating little mini pockets of Miyazaki's worlds and shine a light on it, or show us something new, some new way of thinking about it. It's always so fascinating. You have people like illusory wall or Limit Breakers, who are on the technical side. On the lore side you have SinclairLore, Lokey, Vaati obviously (even if his own success has diluted the content a bit). But you're this unique mix of both sides of the coin and constantly come out with great content. ... 25
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@kelthuzad21002 years ago Other interesting item descriptions about Magma Wyrms
Those who have performed the Dragon Communion will find
their humanity slowly slipping away. Once they fully succumb to their fate, they are left no more than wyrms that crawl the earth
It's said these land-bound dragons were once humans heroes who partook in dragon communion, a grave transgression for which they were cursed to crawl the earth upon their bellies, shadows of their former selves.
Once known as a great warrior, Theodorix has succumbed to the power of Dragon Communion, transforming into a malformed Wyrm. It is capable of using its sword, along with its magma breath on anything that dares to awaken it
The name of the ancient troll warrior Theodorix lives on — as a hero of the War against the Giants. ... 155
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@Azur_Vita2 years ago love how this channel digs up
data-mined,
sometimes obscure,
sometime revealing,
sometimes purely mechanical, sometimes lore
Information ... 2
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@dillonshantz23352 years ago Loved some of these angles and camera pans, especially the Dragonkin Soldier's guts to the wings. Also really like this format, written content w no audio besides game style music is nice. Feels like gamer content 2
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@smugbastard66732 years ago A little bit of trivia on the whole dragon degeneration.
One of the magma wyrms, Theodorix is bigger than usual and that’s because he was a troll before the transformation. Some believe this is a small reference to the Norse story of Fafnir who was a dwarf who succumbed to greed and became a dragon.
Considering the themes of pursuit of immortality at the cost of humanity seems like a good time to bring up also bloodbornes pursuit of insight and later madness. ... 25
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@dabinbuh2 years ago Dragonkin soldiers are some of my favorite boss/field boss, thematic and imposing, but they felt a lil underused, I hope there's more on them in dlc or just the lore surrounding them 308
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@arbiter-2 years ago I think the Dragonkin Soldiers are my favorite repeated bosses in the game. The first one I saw was underground just past the entrance in the Mistwood, it killed me many times before I decided I'd come back. Ended up fighting the one that uses Ice lightning then coming back for revenge. Such a cool design, when that one pulled out the blue Bloodborne lightning it floored me. ... 2
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@licenk98642 years ago Not sure if you read all the comment but thank you always for your interesting and informative videos. Obviously lore and the thoughts behind the theme is a very interesting and fun part of Souls-series. I love your videos cause it's not only insightful but by going through behind the scene, cut contents, you guess and show the glimpse of what could've been. ... 1
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@ItsmeInternetStranger2 years ago This might explain why they use the title "Flying Dragon" for some boss like Flying Dragon Agheel. To help distinguish a true dragon capable of majestic flight from a would be dragon like a magma wyrm that has to crawl. ... 66
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@matthewwesley43202 years ago I really hope whenever they bring the DLC that they include a dragon transformation. Kind of like how they added the beast transformation in the Old Hunters DLC. Or at least more change besides just the eyes. 121
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@iconicchronic30842 years ago The thing with the torch at was very clever, your videos are always so well put together, thanks 2
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@Youshallbeeatenbyme2 years ago The magma wrym's are the coolest rendition of this dragon ascension depicted in Fromsoft's games. They're the closest we've actually seen to Miyazaki actually allowing some humans in the lore to be as close to a dragon as they probably can get. Plus they look cool as shit. ... 5
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@thekingbelow2 years ago Miyazaki's struggles with the concept of immortality have contributed to his now immortal status as the genius behind our favorite games. 183
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@cruggs07302 years ago The item description on Great Wyrm Theodorix's magma breath describes how his name is that of a great troll which also suggests he was once a person, a troll who fought in the war against giants. I was wondering the same thing about this after, if they were once people beforehand and this video really helps shed light on that, thank you. ... 59
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@thezzajman29042 years ago Marika also tried to achieve imortality by removing the rune of death. Food for thought 3
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@jasonpettway72412 years ago Love these kinds of videos from you a lot. Background music fit so well. Gave me ffvll ffx vibes 👌
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@raccoonofmotivation202 years ago Dragons dogma has an interesting idea like this, upon defeating the dragon you often become one yourself. You can be essentially a fully formed powerful dragon, but can't escape that fate.
I suppose there, it's less about malformed creation and more about the loss of will. ... 154
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@finnshuster36232 years ago Reminds me of the line from Berserk about how a dragon is something that is fundamentaly beyond humans, and what it means to be able to kill one 9
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@teakettle70212 years ago Your videos are always informative, but this one was a work of art. Like poetic analysis.
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@randompersonontheinternet55142 years ago I Love the Magma wyrm Design so much.
I also Like the Implication that the Player might end Up becoming one of Them over time, If the Player partakes in Dragon communion.
In my opinion the Dragon communion is the best Version of Fromsoftware's Dragon Player Idea so far. ... 4
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@ashencometmom52912 years ago what if the dragonkin soldiers are transformed trolls? they have similar sizes and proportions, though shifted a bit by the transformation, and they share traits like the hollow abdomen and the root-like growths 51
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@rainbowkrampus2 years ago It's also implied that at least some of the magma wyrms were crucible knights. Possibly implying that there was some division among their ranks at some point. We even find one crucible knight staring at the corpse of a dragon, almost wistfully, like the havel knight from DS3.
This may explain why they aspects of the crucible incantations all offer dragon like abilities. Maybe they were all off on a journey to become dragons.
I'm not sure we can say that any of them succeeded but I will say that winged horned lizard is a pretty close attempt. I'm down with the lava lizard bois. ... 96
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@donnymcjonny65312 years ago I've only ever played DS1 but your videos keep me in a trance and are addictive 2
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@Innes12 years ago I didn't know much about the dragonkin or the magma wyrms, as I hadn't read many descriptions related to them, but this was really insightful and interesting. I really like how Miyazaki brings familiar concepts through the games, and always the unique and fascinating ones too. ... 2
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@gunnarsoderhielm34252 years ago I love these lore focused videos of yours and how you often integrate it by bringing up coding and small or hidden features to strengthen your argument. Keep it up 47
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@commaJim2 years ago wow. I designed my prophet character with a blindfold in the character customization, so I never noticed the change of the eyes. that's awesome. I want to be wyrm. 8
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@JannahSWT2 years ago The whole “story” of transforming into a elevated being seems to be extremely sad and frequent in FromS games, from Ds1 to Bloodborne, Ds3, Sekiro and now Elden Ring we see a lot of sceneries like that, even Godrick is a good example somehow.
There’s a lot of majestic beings may it be the great old ones or Dragons, there’s always some folks that dream of a higher existence with a greater purpose of life, like longing to become a Dragon, a majestic yet untouched being that is visibly on a higher plane, to a point where a lot of Factions want to pursue the Goal to become said entity by enduring great pain, loss and suffering but still ending up being pitiful waste. I think that miyazaki kind of wants to tell that there’s a strict line between “us” and elevated beings, if you’re not born a Dragon, you’re not meant to be one, try it and you will end up as a shell of something in between. ... 66
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@splitdragon30042 years ago Becoming a magma wyrm is close enough and a win in my book 2
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@ZweiofPembroke2 years ago You made me launch elden ring for the express purpose of looking at my eyes. God, I love your channel and FromSoft 43
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@chronomage132 years ago Being cursed to change into a magma wyrm sounds like a pretty good deal to me. Dragon communion sounds even more awesome now. 10
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@rustedbranch2 years ago "as unsightly as past games" You take that back! the DS1 Dragon form was beautiful and you know it!
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@dumpsta-divrr3652 years ago I love these videos that cover topics spanning multiple games.
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@0m3GAARS3NAL2 years ago Man I hope we get some wildly modified animations and movesets/transformations for Elden Ring like bloodborne got to have. Even if it was just a simple "hold this weapon and equip this rune" type deal, I'd love to see a more grotesque and realized dragonkin transformation, and maybe an Omen one, or some outer god shit. ... 17
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@templar924912 years ago I can't wait for the day we are able to fight a true ascended form of man and dragon in these games. Something that has achieved that perfection. And I hope it obliterates us over and over until we find what can bring it down. ... 12
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@ninpot27652 years ago I haven't played elden ring but have really been enjoying your content Zullie, thank you! 1
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@everlastingdragon4520last year You could also read the "humans trying to turn into dragons and failing" motif as a metaphor for the hopeless pursuit of perfection.
Bonus: One could argue that even if you manage to become a full dragon, this parallel still holds because we know that dragons can be killed by outside forces. They're not invincible, ie. not perfect. ... 2
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@Majin_Xavierras2 years ago I would like an NPC in a Fromsoft game who's goal is to become something even greater, even godlier then gods and dragons. He would progress with his research the more we meet him and he would likely interact with other NPC's who are remotely smart and can help him. At the end, in one of the final locations, after clearing it, we can come back to one of the bosses arena's just to find our friend there, turned into a holy amalgamation of dragon and something angel-like, and becoming a secret boss. After defeating him we would get a quest item which we then can use in the first location we met him to recieve a powerfull spell which would act like a dragon stone from Dark Souls, but will turn us into something similar to him, with same kind of abilities. In the end, he would lose his sanity by becoming what he always wanted to achieve, with a tbought what he probably will not meet a sussec on the first try and go mad, he saved this item to give us, only for us to become a better version of what he wanted to be, somethin greater. After that, we would unlock a new ending where we would give this kind of ascension gift to the rest of the world, like Ranni's ending. ... 34
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@jeremyrm72 years ago The tightrope of two worlds falls to unimaginable depths 5
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@LazaVanta2 months ago Man, the Magma Wyrms got lucky. At least they are not horribly misshapen and seem to be fully functional organisms. Plus they seem to enjoy a long lifespan unlike the dragonkin who are said to have died shortly after their creation. ... 2
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@Gottaloveaxolotls2 years ago I've never really thought about it to hard so this is a cool and somewhat eye opening video. thanks and words of encouragement for more good content!
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@leebard93352 years ago :30 to :36 is a beautiful way to present both models and your point simultaneously. Always love the atmosphere you create with your videos! 43
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@kevincorr33322 years ago Really like the origin story of the magma wyrms, as it sounds like a blending of the Norse story about Fafnir, a dwarf whose greed for gold turned him into a dragon, and the Judeo-Christian story of the Fall, how the serpent was cursed to writhe upon the ground for causing paradise lost. ... 18
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@kirkgregor56132 years ago I find it interesting how the Magma Wryms being stuck to the ground share a similar connection with the devil in the book of Genesis, who had his form as a snake forced to crawl upon it belly on the dirt as a sign of Satans eternal humiliation. These humans who through pride sought the forbidden arts of dragon communion were laid low and humiliated in their transformations. ... 5
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@edithasd2806last year I love your videos. I have to watch them twice, one to read, and second to see the models
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@TheGreatHohenheim2 years ago What do you make of the Draconic Tree Sentinels? In games lore reveals "After the great ancient dragon Gransax attacked, the sentinels had an epiphany. The only way to truly protect the Erdtree was to become dragons themselves." My presumption is that, unlike other attempts to integrate or infuse the power of a dragon into a mortal body - the Sentinels essentially forged their armor with fragments of the petrified Gransax. Given the "Bolt of Gransax" comes with the weapon skill Ancient Lightning Spear and the Draconic Sentinel uses a lot of lightning-based abilities - I wonder if that is a tacit association that they're wielding a malformed variant of Gransax's own draconic power. It is interesting how the Draconic Sentinels fit into the traditional themes and representation of dragons and draconic lore in the games. They essentially circumvent the profanity (stark contrast to Godfrey whose grafting of the dragon head was portrayed as something grotesque) against the Golden Order by infusing their armor with dragon scales rather than their corporeal body. ... 8
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@riemaennchen2 years ago I'm still sad we can't become one in Elden Ring. We just get cool eyes. Well maybe in the DLC if/when we get one. 11
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@malingrant57942 years ago Your videos are 🔥 just saying.
They are so simple but at the same time very deep and informative. With a good choice in music.
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@pizzaluvah1982 years ago I don’t know why but just the closeups you showed of the Dragonkin was the most unnerved I’ve ever been by a Souls creature/monster. I think the music punched me right in my soul with unease