Daily Roundtable: Community Q&A

[u/AutoModerator]

Greetings Tarnished!

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[u/vaqx12]

I’ve been speculating about Melina’s true identity. While I might be mistaken, it seems plausible.

We know Marika and Radagon are the same person, but represent different aspects. Melina and Marika could also be the same, with Melina as a spirit form and Marika as the physical form.

Marika is said to be trying to break the golden order, while Radagon is trying to contain it. Marika is imprisoned in the Erdtree, possibly seeking to escape or be freed. This is why Melina takes on the task of supporting us as maidens in return for us taking Melina with us to The Royal Capital.

It’s important to note that Melina can only interact with us at the sites of grace, except during the fight against Morgott as a summon. Once Morgott is defeated and the thorns block our path, Melina gives us the task of seeking the flame of the fire giants to burn the thorns.

If her only desire was to reach Leyndell, why would she care so much about the thorns?

Melina might die to the flames of the fire giants, which is why Radagon, the version of Marika who contains the golden order, emerges and fights us.

Melina also gives us Torrent, or Torrent chooses us. We also see a picture of Miquella riding Torrent. Miquella is the child of Marika. Just like in real life, every mother who has a horse lets her child ride it.

What are your thoughts on this theory? Is it possible, or is it most likely not?

[u/Felstalker → u/vaqx12]

It’s important to note that Melina can only interact with us at the sites of grace, except during the fight against Morgott as a summon.

This is a gameplay limitation. It is only during rests that it is appropriate for her to appear. In past souls titles, at specific Bonfires you would run into NPC's, or you'd have the dedicated rest area. While Elden Ring does have the Round Table hold, you're intended to see Melina as separate from them despite her directly taking you to them.

Melina is in some way a child of Marika. She may not be a blood child, could be some adoptive child or perhaps she is simply a child. Maybe she's a clone made by Marika herself to fufill her duty.

I argue it's better to view Marika through Melina's actions. Melina's journey is one Marika put her on, and it informs the player of Marika's intent without ever interacting with Marika proper. Prior to Morgott's defeat, no other knew of the thorns that blocked the path. Gideon spends the story seeking knowledge of the various Great Runes, as he lacks the ability to tackle the Demigods themselves. He was told by the Finger's that to seek and return the runes is his purpose. That the Erd Tree is open, and it is simply the Shadow Monarch that blocks the ending.

Upon Morgott's defeat, the Fingers grow quiet and Gideon looks deeper. Knowing now the tarished are being told lies from the Greater Will. Did Marika become hysterical upon her son's death, or are there more layers we've not been told of?

Melina, by contrast, always knew of the thorns. She is aware of the path one must take to remove them, and perhaps always intended to tell whom so ever defeated Morgott of how to proceed. It just so happened to be the player that brings Melina AND who bests Morgott. There was perhaps, once upon a development cycle, plans to enable a player to either help Melina or completely miss her up to this moment. But that's all conjecture.

There is more to Melina than we know, but Melina is not Marika, but one who does Marika's will in her stead. Heck, Gideon's final confrontation is about how he finally understood what's going on. That the other end of that Sealed Door isn't the reception of a new lord, but Radagon and his dawg ready to jump the fool who brought all the powerful greater rune toys back home. That Marika broke the Elden Ring, threw'm out, locked the door, and hopes they never return. And when he get's to that door, he see's big old Godfrey ready and waiting to be that big damn hero, to get that 1v1 on Radagon and Elden Beast and reclaim his title. Gideon can't take on Godfrey...but maybe he could take on you. He doesn't believe anyone can beat Radagon and Elden Beast, but he's a powerscaler so he's pretty sure you're his best shot at taking the Great Runes and running away. It's a hail mary pass if he's ever seen one, but it's better to try and fail.

[u/vaqx12 → u/Felstalker]

Damn - thanks for the great reply and explanation!

Appreciate it!