Even if beckoned by the guidance of grace, war between the Erdtree kingdom and the fire giants was inevitable. The description for Fire’s Deadly Sin explains how burning the Erdtree is, naturally, the first cardinal sin — what greater sin is there than to destroy the divinity which your kingdom was built around? For Godfrey […]
Preface Thanks to the sheer scope of Elden Ring, it has become easier than ever for FromSoftware to hide its history in plain sight. So many crucial events go unmentioned, and none are as consequential as those establishing Marika and Godfrey as queen and king. But while the written narrative might have little to say […]
Preface I often joke about needing another decade before finishing an exhaustive analysis of Elden Ring. For a world as broad as in this game, getting a grasp on everything is a trying task. There is so much history, so much cosmology, that sifting through it can feel like a never-ending abyss. It is just […]
Preface We all love our heroes, but there is something inherently macabre about that dynamic. In a certain sense, heroism leeches off others’ suffering, profiting from their need to be saved. What does that mean then for those who aspire to become heroes, to seek fame for showing strength and valor? Elden Ring‘s director Hidetaka […]
The Fire Monks are supposed to keep watch from their mountaintop, and yet we find them in Liurnia. With camps to both the east and west, the warrior monks lead the thorn sorcerers in patrols around their area, the red tents and Prelate-head braziers confirming that these encampments weren’t taken over from local Cuckoos. They […]
Kaiden is home to the mercenaries we see mostly roaming the frontier. And while we don’t find even ruins of a settlement by that name, we shouldn’t expect to. The Kaiden are a hardy warrior culture, roaring before battle like barbarians down on the neighboring highlands; their helmet even bears similarity to those savages’ Leather […]
Preface Although Bloodborne‘s narrative was largely coherent before the introduction of The Old Hunters DLC, some major questions did remain. Who was Kos? Where did Laurence acquire his Third Umbilical Cord? How did Gehrman’s mysterious apprentice die? These were holes in the narrative which were thankfully filled with our new journey through the Hunter’s Nightmare. […]
As we approach Irithyll Dungeon, we are invaded by a familiar face, or rather name: Alva. Although never seen in person during the events of Dark Souls II, (DS2) there is no mistaking his iconic set of armor. Both protective and lightweight, it was perfect equipment for the man whom bards still extol as the […]
Preface Bloodborne, with few exceptions, focuses more on its web of factions than its characters. But given the writing style of Director Hidetaka Miyazaki, these factions in many respects are this game’s characters. There is perhaps no fictional institution better embodying the corruption, elitism, and dehumanization in modern medicine than the Healing Church. Presenting themselves […]
Catarina is the same as it has always been. It is a country characterized by its jolly disposition, the yang to Carim’s yin. The people’s big, wide-eyed smiles are matched by a hearty laugh cheering as they down a tankard of alcohol. They are straightforward and honest, never hiding their anger. After all, the honorable […]
Lokey Lore 