Unraveling the Erdtree Mystery: My Journey Through Elden Ring Nightreign's Hidden Timeline

I've spent countless hours exploring the dark corners of Limveld, and I can't help but notice how this parallel world connects to the Lands Between we know from Elden Ring. The relationship between these realms has been a subject of heated debate among us players since Nightreign's release earlier this year. While wandering through a particularly eerie section of Limveld yesterday, I came across something that stopped me in my tracks – undeniable evidence that the Erdtree once existed in this world.

The Painting That Changed Everything

During one of my expeditions with fellow Nightfarers, we encountered the Executor, that imposing figure with Crucible-inspired armor. What caught my attention wasn't just the formidable opponent before us, but what stood behind them – a painting that clearly depicted the Erdtree towering over a landscape remarkably similar to Limgrave.

"Do you see that?" I whispered to my companions. "The Erdtree existed here once."

This discovery fundamentally changes our understanding of Nightreign's place in the timeline. If the Erdtree once stood in Limveld, then Queen Marika the Eternal and her Golden Order likely preceded the Nightlords' reign. The implications are staggering – we're not just playing in a parallel world; we're potentially experiencing the aftermath of events we're already familiar with.

Was Marika Overthrown Before The Shattering?

One theory that's been gaining traction among the community (and one I'm increasingly convinced of) suggests that Nightreign takes place after the Shattering – that devastating war following Marika's destruction of the Elden Ring. But there's another possibility that keeps me awake at night: what if the Nightlords usurped power before the Shattering ever occurred?

The absence of the Erdtree in present-day Limveld could support either theory. I've noticed during my nightly raids that the Elden Ring still exists here, manifesting in that swirling, miasma-like sky above us. It's both beautiful and terrifying – a constant reminder of what once was.

People Also Ask:

Are Nightfarers actually Tarnished from an alternate timeline?

While not confirmed, the presence of Sites of Grace throughout Limveld suggests we Nightfarers might be touched by Marika's Grace, similar to the Tarnished.

Did the Night destroy the Erdtree?

Evidence suggests the Erdtree disappeared when the Nightlords rose to power, but whether it was destroyed or simply faded remains unclear.

The Crucible Connection

What fascinates me most about the Executor is their connection to the Crucible. Their armor bears striking similarities to the Crucible Knights of Elden Ring, and their character description mentions "Primordial might" – a clear reference to the primordial crucible that preceded the Erdtree.

During one particularly challenging encounter, I noticed intricate patterns on the Executor's armor that reminded me of the ancient forces that existed before the Golden Order. Perhaps the Nightlords didn't just overthrow Marika but tapped into something even more primeval?

The Crucible represents life in its most raw, chaotic form – before the order imposed by the Erdtree. I wonder if the Night represents a return to that chaos, a rejection of the Golden Order's rigid structure.

Tracing Grace Through The Darkness

The Sites of Grace scattered throughout Limveld have been our salvation during countless expeditions. Without them, our repeated deaths would be permanent. Their presence raises profound questions about the nature of our existence as Nightfarers.

"Are we Tarnished?" I asked my companion as we rested at a Site of Grace after a particularly brutal encounter. "Or something else entirely?"

The Roundtable Hold in Nightreign features what appears to be a Table of Lost Grace – another connection to the world of Elden Ring. These similarities can't be coincidental. Marika's influence persists even in this night-shrouded realm, though perhaps in ways we don't fully comprehend yet.

A Shared History, Divergent Paths

The more I explore Limveld, the more convinced I become that Nightreign and Elden Ring share a common past. The Golden Order seems to have ruled both worlds at some point, with the arrival of the Night marking the divergence between the two timelines.

What caused this split? Was it inevitable, or did someone make a choice that altered the course of history? These questions haunt me as I traverse the ever-changing landscapes of Limveld.

FromSoftware has crafted something truly special with Nightreign. It's not just a bold departure from the traditional Souls formula – it's an expansion of the Elden Ring mythology that adds depth and nuance to an already rich world. The roguelite elements and cooperative gameplay might be new territory for the studio, but the storytelling remains as cryptic and compelling as ever.

The Mystery Deepens With Every Expedition

Each night, as I venture forth with fellow Nightfarers, I discover new clues about this world's connection to the Lands Between. Sometimes it's a fragment of lore in an item description; other times, it's architectural similarities between locations in Limveld and their counterparts in Elden Ring.

The mystery of the Erdtree's disappearance continues to drive my exploration. Was it destroyed in a cataclysmic event? Did it wither away when the Nightlords rose to power? Or did it transform into something else entirely – perhaps even the strange, twisted growths that dot the landscape of Limveld?

As I stand at the precipice of yet another descent into darkness, I can't help but wonder: if the Erdtree once stood in Limveld and has now vanished, what other elements of the Golden Order might still lurk in the shadows, waiting to be discovered? And more importantly, if we uncover the truth about the Erdtree's fate, could we potentially restore light to this night-consumed world – or would such knowledge only reveal that darkness was always meant to reign?