"You have no understanding! Of kind Miquella. Of St. Trina's love! Not the finest blade, nor the mightiest armor, will spare you life from the poison of Thiollier!"
`` Righteous Tarnished.. It appears that our interests have aligned.. A balm upon my soul it is that we do not meet today as enemies.. Now, my blade.. Watch closely.. ``
I've seen some people call Thiollier a simp, and I've got to say, it's one of the biggest Soulslike L takes I've ever seen. He's such a good character. My boy deserved a W, and damn did he get it.
@@SJ-di5zu Consort Radahn it's a test for answer the problem to make a boss difficult for all players. He's very difficult, but i like it. It's a real challenge, more harder than malenia from far
@@nahuel3433the difficulty of the fight depends on you doing npc side quest so I almost feel like it’s Miyazakis way of bullying players who skip dialogue and ignore npcs 😂 You only have to fight 2 or 3 of them compare to 5 if you do side quests for npcs and also can move 2 of them to your side, Ansbach and Thiollier if you do their quests. Really cool way to make side quests worth it both story and gameplay wise and you feel like it’s 2 factions facing one another when you do them. I had Ansbach, Thiollier and I versus Moore, Dane, and Leda Was a really cool experience as a 3v3 with dialogue mid fight Thiollier and Moore were taking mid fight and then Ansbach and Leda while I fought Dane with my own hand to hand that he taught me. So cool in my playthrough
@@trevorwalsh7196You killed Hornsent, didn't you? You can end up fighting him as well if you didn't do his quest whereupon he ends up invading you and die in the end
The fight is basically and literally Elden Ring: Civil War. Who fight with you and who fight against you depends on your previous actions. It’s rather sad tbh there could be some people you have to fight against although it breaks your heart since they are your friends.
Hornsent can fk off and Dane never said a word but Moore, and Freyja, "Be proud. You were fine warriors. Your only mistake was your choice of master. Let the winds lift you, to a higher place."
This is the best NPC gank fight Fromsoft has ever made, which isn’t a high bar but the fact that this is one of the best fights in the dlc says something. They finally figured out how to do it right. This is a very emotional fight, very much us vs them
100% the most emotionally charged track in the OST, you’re going against people who have been with you since the beginning of the expansion, folk who you’ve come to bond with, people who’ve been your allies in multiple occasions, but due to a difference in objectives, you now stand as enemies, you take arms against people who just a few moments before were your brothers and sisters in arms. Add in the bonus of certain NPC questlines ensuring that they’ll stand by your side during this fight, and you have basically a “NPC civil war”. People who once were united in common cause, now walk roads that will never cross again.
Ahh man I need to side with him in my next run. I sided with Leda because I was curious what would happen if I always choose her. Don't regret it with Hornsent. Ansbach.. he is a good man. He even says he is glad that Leda has a companion (when you invade) I did summon Thillior tho
I believe all the heroism and emotion on this song is directed towards the people you fight. They know that Miquella is doing something terrible, but also know he wants peace and a better world.
Yes. And then when you look at it directly from Leda’s perspective, someone so filled with hate and distrust of others, it almost feels like she’s just holding onto the hope that Miquella will make her feel compassion. Like she’s missing something, and Miquella is the only way to get that something; the only way to get her to care for others
I think part of the tragedy is that they really don't understand the implications of what Miquella is up to. Miquella never lied, he's undertaking a great sacrifice to make the world a gentler place, that's very true. They just don't really understand how or why.
@@Jackenack To be fair, Miquella did actually went too overboard on his plan, and it backfired, in St. Trina's area, near Miquella's "I discard here my love" cross, we see a ghost, a he straight up tells us that Miquella should have never discarded his compassion. I think the implication there is that, there, he lost his mind, and in a way himself, and became a self-indulging pawn in his pursuit of godhood, not because he was evil, but precisely because he was sacrificing himself in order to reach godhood. St. Trina essentially tells us to kill him because godhood was severely messing up Miquella. It's a sad, and tragic situation, for everyone involved, and I absolutely LOVE how this soundtrack encapsulates and conveys that feeling of a tragic battle between former friends, knowing no one there is actually a bad person, they are just clueless about Miquella's whole ordeal.
Tbh I am so sick with everyone saying Leda and Miquella are just straight up evil. And no. Leda is loyal to a fault and distrustful. Even a little paranoid And Miquella.. i truly believe he was a good Demigod and didn't charm everyone he met. But than to reach his goal did the wrong choices. Charmed Mogh so we was removed from the Haligtree. Which fucked that thing up. And then abandoning his everything and his love. Like the ghost says: it should have never been discarded
You’re the first man I thought of listening to Promised Consort. I don’t think I’ve been this excited to see your reaction since Proof of a Hero. Soooo can’t wait until you hear that OST.
This is a perfect song for these NPCs. None are villains, hell none are even heroes. They simply want what is best but fail to agree on that solution. Each has weighed the options and made their decisions. Freyja fights for Miquella knowing her lord can be reborn. Ansbach turns on them to restore dignity to his fallen ruler. Thiollier stands against those who shunned the one lord he truly loved while Moore hopes to bring peace to the down trodden. Dane seems to be similar, worshipping Miquella as a god in the hopes he will purify this world. Leda wants to finally bring Miquella to light in the hopes he can grant her the compassion she has always lacked. And finally, there is you. You are there to be the arbiter. The judge. The one sent to free the people of this world from the petty whims and quarrels of these gods. No longer can they be allowed to desecrate corpses, puppeteer souls, and scorch races. The age that will arise from your actions will not be an age of gods or an age of kings. It will be an age of men.
Ohhh this one got me emotional while playing. It was one of those realization moments of what I'm actually doing in the story and how that's affecting the other characters in the story. Do your quests! Makes it much better having context for what's happening, who's involved, and why.
i think genuinely this is my favourite track from the DLC (spoilers) I summoned for every single encounter, even though for a lot of them it actually made the fight harder for various different reasons, but i did it mostly because I was invested in the NPCs of this world, this little ragtag band of otherwise random people. Doing their quests, and fighting alongside them for every step of the way - this was a gut punch, to have to now kill your short-lived friends united in a common goal. I knew Leda might eventually turn on me too, but I really never expected it to be such a.... barbaric? clash between every NPC. All of them were abandoned by Miquella when his great rune shattered. Without his charm wrapping around them like an intoxicating mist, all of them became lost or paranoid. The cohesion just collapsed under itself and all of us having our own reasons for following Miquella was destined to end in bloodshed. They kill for Miquella because they don't know what else to do, how else to cope without him. But ultimately, they would have ripped eachother apart as well, after the player, Ansbach and Thiollier. It's a tragic case where this group is so utterly attached to their ideals, and what makes them feel good, that they cannot even fathom the possibility that they may be in the wrong. Without Miquella they have no future. None of them are bad people at all, they were just used by Miquella. They just happened to be on the losing side of the war.
Leda actually says this exact same thing about the Hornsent who Messmer massacred. "I don't blame them, they were just on the losing side of a very tragic war." or something like that.
Realistically the tarnished, Thiollier and to some extent (vaguely) Ansbach are the only ones who really know what Miquella is up to, Leda is a devout paladin essentially to who she has always known as "Kindly Miquella," she's completely justified. Even without the charm Miquella has always been the compassionate one among his messed up family, dedicating most of his being to providing relief for the afflicted despite his own grievous afflictions. She has no reason to doubt his actions because the actions he's taking are still righteous, but the extents to which he's going to achieve his goal are completely lost on her. Dryleaf Dane, a peaceful devout monk, obviously a great guy who even went out of his way to teach the tarnished his martial fighting style. All of a sudden the four outsiders, one Hornsent, one who followed Mohg, one an outcast who practices war crimes, and one a direct competitor for the throne Miquella will be taking, are bum rushing the tower to slay Miquella. What choice does he really have in that case? Freyja, a warrior, also protecting her recently-revived General who she had originally come in search of. Also just a person who would never turn down a fight. Moore, who the tarnished explicitly tells to continue following Miquella, is probably confused as hell because now they're on the other side.
@proot8354 the quote was "they were never saints, they just happened to be on the losing side of a war" meaning that they would likely have done bad shit just like messmer (hornsent were the ones melting people together and putting them into jars for religious reasons)
5:10 im always so amazed by how accurately you can pick up on the story beats of these games through the music alone. Both a testament to the composers but also your musicianship. Always worth watching your content man, Souls or otherwise.
“I stand with blade aloft, blood afire. For the dignity of my lord and master, Mohg. A balm upon my soul it is, that we do not meet today as enemies. Now my blade. Watch closely.”
This is hands down my favorite fight in Shadow of the Erdtree. You feel like none of them truly want to fight, but are left with no other choice. "O, Miquella... Please...redeem our...clan..." "You were fine...in your part...Truly, a glorious battle...it was..." "Sad, forever?" "Kind Miquella... In godhood shall you rise..." "Kindly Miquella... Make the world... A gentler place..."
Hands down, the music along with the dialogue just carried this fight as one of the most memorable experiences in Elden Ring. Being so invested in characters, experiencing desperation, betrayal, duty, each fighting for what they think is right, tragic fate, etc. Makes me tear up a bit every damn time
People dislike this fight but I LOVE this fight. Doing all their quests, and having a timid but brave guy, and a former Redmane and a Pureblood Knight, is just a feeling I cannot describe. And the way it says, "They will be summoned when the time is right". People didn't do the quests, and refused to summon, then hated the fight cause it's a gank. But this is one fight in the game where the fight was DESIGNED in every single way to be done with your allies. The emotional stakes, the "right timing", the dialogue ("I am Ansbach of the Pureblood Knights...I stand with blade aloft, blood afire. For the dignity of my lord and master, Mohg"), even the difficulty is made around you making friends throughout your journey in the DLC and then having them back you up. I think Elden Ring, even in it's rather relatively depressing DLC, truly establishes the fact that our Tarnished is a hero. A leader. They will do what is best for the people of Lands Between. In all other Souls games, the main character is just a pawn, for whichever god that may be. But in Elden Ring, we truly ARE the hero.
When I started this fight I felt the EXACT SAME THING when I first fought the Sealed Vessel in Hollow Knight, like I was doing something extremely wrong for the one I was fighting against but I didn't know yet, only after learning the full lore. This song just got me in a really good way, I didn't want to fight any of them, at all.
This song has the most emotional impact on me in this DLC for the game. Your group of companions ends up picking sides and having to fight each other over what you believe is right. It's really sad but beautiful.
One of the most heartbreaking, emotional mournful soundtrack ever in fromsoftware games, the sheer tragedy of it all, from comrades to enemies torn apart because of a spell. Got all of the summons up and still broke my heart after the fight.
This track gains a ton by adding the dialogues you hears spoken by other characters during this encounter, similarly to how Bayle's track is enriched vastly by Igon's monologue.
I've been waiting for you to see this one! It's by far my favourite in the whole DLC. That entire fight I felt like I had butterflies in my chest because it felt so climactic and emotional.
God this was my favorite part in the entire dlc, because I finished both npcs that help you during it quests, and everyone coming in, talking or debating each other while fighting, the death lines, my favorite thing in the dlc
Something this DLC has done that I absolutely adore is recontextualize the entire base game's story. It also managed to make all of the game's possible endings more meaningful. Absolutely incredible achievement in storytelling.
"Don't you dare approach Miquella the Kind. Needle Knight Leda, Dryleaf Dane, and our allies... Will never allow this." "I am the Redmane, Freyja. The time has come. I could not hope for a worthier foe. This is our moment. Let's Make it something to remember" -Redmane Freyja "Tis just as the woman said it would be. Lord of the Erdtree, Lord of Marika... You too deserve to face reckoning." -Hornsent "You and me fighting, a tragedy this is" -Moore "..." -Dryleaf Dane "I am sorry. For speaking to you as a compatriot. When we stood before the withered arm." -Needle Knight Leda "I am Ansbach of the Pureblood Knights...I stand with blade aloft, blood afire. For the dignity of my lord and master, Mohg..." -Ansbach
Another great vid Marco, this song definitely treats its happy tones in a longing kind of way, appropriate for a fight involving NPCs that at this point of the game you've gotten to know well enough, and I definitely felt a lot of emotions during that whole battle, really good pay off if you follow the quest lines.
I love this fight, because of how simultaneously heartbreaking and, as you put it, galvanizing it is. We have realized how utterly selfish and dangerous Miquella is, and resolve ourselves to do whatever it takes to stop him, regardless of who stands in our way- even if those who stand afore us wear the faces of friends.
Ah, I was looking for this theme. When it plays the piece stuck with me so much. It really accentuates the moment and hearing the piece is called "those united in common cause" makes it all the more impactful. Does a great job setting a mood and really...being appropriate for the moment given what it stands for.
What you talk about around 5:40, You're absolutely right, the emotional thing is that- Both sides in the fight *believe the exact same thing*. This theme is the most emotional i think any FromSoft ost has ever gotten me
This piece made me realise that the characters we met throughout this dlc were going to die, either now or a little later, their end was nigh, i shed tears during this fight as i grew so attached to these characters. It was a beautiful piece and a great end to all of the questlines. Leda could die for all i care about though, she is pure evil xD
This song made me tear up a little. Idk why but the second phase made me think i was like fighting my best friend who went down what i think is the wrong path, but to him its the righteous one.
I cried during this fight especially when the "2nd phase" started *EDIT* I've been waiting for you to react to this as well as Saint of the Bud and a few others
Spoilers for this fight. This fight was so epic and so sad at the same time. These friends and comrades you make along the way see how strong you are and think that they’re unstoppable with you on their side. And then Miquella’s enchantment breaks, and the bonds are broken. Leda realizes that your endless strength comes from the Erdtree’s grace, and the Great runes you’ve obtained. That you came to the Land of Shadow as a rival candidate for Elden Lord against Miquella and his consort. No matter the relationships and friends you made, Leda and her followers cannot let you stop Miquella. These characters have lived in this brutal war-torn world of Marika’s Golden Order, and they would rather have Miquella’s Age of Compassion where everyone’s forced to love each other against their will than take a chance with you. Not realizing that they are bringing in an age where their God will take away their free will. Or maybe they do, and they just don’t care. As long as the suffering in the world ends. “Pure and radiant, he wields love to shrive clean the hearts of men… there is nothing more terrifying.” You were really spot on with this analysis. It’s just that the music is more from the perspective of Leda and her followers than the player character.
Would love to see you react to the version that has the NPC back and forth dialogue. Soulsborne NPCs conversing with each other, even in a fight to the death, is such a refreshing thing to experience, especially with such a fitting track like this.
@@MarcoMeatball Awesome! Can't wait to see it. I love the reactions and analyses, you manage to garner a lot of the meaning and background that the songs convey. Idk how much you know about all the different lore but you do a fantastic job and have an incredible knack for understanding the deeper meaning behind the music. keep up the good work!
Anyone who disliked this “gank” fight probably didn’t summon NPCs for this encounter. The fight and this theme is literally me and my homie (ansbach) against the world
The fight was very memorable and one of the best highlights of the DLC. It was like an anime finale where all the main characters are fighting each other out of desperation.
Love to see you react to a piece I recommended! This is definitely one of my new favorite souls themes and it helps sell the heroism yet tragedy in an already emotionally charged fight.
This was definitely one of my favorite moments in the DLC for sure. Especially since I did everyone's quests. It was also at this moment that I cemented Ansbach as one of my favorite characters from Elden Ring.
After I killed Freyja and Leyda it was becoming very depressing. I never wanted this for any of them yet me and Ansbach had to put them all down. I should’ve known though, there is no happy endings in souls games.
5:00 (SPOILERS FOR DLC) Thats because it is exactly that....Its that you get allies by doing certain questlines but also some standing in your way. The fight is in short an clash between 2 sides with diffrent Belives of Godhood being you in what ever Lord you might become and Miqulla wanting become a God himself but in a diffrent Way. So you bassicly clash about the Orders you represents, your belives, your desigers whatever might cause you to fight for your standards. Thats why i love1. this theme and the boss so much because its simply brilliant from each perspective
This fight and OST were perfect imo. You are the lord of the Erdtree taking the path of Enir Ilim which is basically some sort of royal ascension towards godhood. The environment tells you this is the equivalent of a heavenly ascension and when you finally come across the fight it feels like everyone who is going to side with Miquella no matter what he is going to do is there to put a stop to YOU an old god that is on the way to fight a newborn god. Atop Enir Ilim two gods fought and only one descended.
This track was emtionally tolling during the fight. You'll freak out when you listen to the new Radahn soundtrack, its a play off the original without the 'corrupting' notes you mentioned.
The music really sets the tone of "destructive conclusion". In this bossfight you have to face your former friends in arms. There's no hate involved in this fight, there's just duty. Together we could take the whole Land of Shadows and Lands Between, but Miquella's fate does not align to ours. We do this for St.Trina, Lord Mohg and Lady Ranni.
“I answer to neither Marika or the Erdtree. I simply wish to see these lands freed of the Gods’ whims as Elden Lord. They shall slumber unto eternity in the flames of Destined Death.” -Elias, Successor of the Black Blade
It's almost like the choir is watching the fight. Every "AHH" is the choir reacting to the Tarnished hitting the NPC characters. They're watching their favorite people fight till the die right in front of them, but they HAVE to keep singing.
"I am Ansbach of the Pureblood Knights...I stand with blade aloft, blood afire. For the dignity of my lord and master, Mohg..."
Me and the boys marching up to the fight for Mohgs coming dynasty
"You have no understanding! Of kind Miquella. Of St. Trina's love! Not the finest blade, nor the mightiest armor, will spare you life from the poison of Thiollier!"
`` Righteous Tarnished.. It appears that our interests have aligned.. A balm upon my soul it is that we do not meet today as enemies.. Now, my blade.. Watch closely.. ``
Now.
My blade...
Watch closely.
Based af. He’s the best character in the series
"Sad, forever...."
When I saw him spawn I was like "No, brother... Don't make me do this!"
"Yes my dear friend... Sad Forever... Goodbye..."
@@jgkmoff "No! I don't want to hurt you!" *hurls a massive rot pot at me* "Ok it's sooo on now"
"You and me fighting, a tragedy this is"
I lost the fight cause I started sobbing 😭
People united here in a cause. Might not be the exact same cause.
They might fight each other.
@@Kodaemon might be a spoiler
@@davidnainggolan6763 might be a teaser
@@davidnainggolan6763 Me when there is fighting in my souls game 😧
@@VanLeathermanme when I do the quest line of a character I like and they end up dying in a souls game: 🫨😢
“Not the finest blade, nor the mightiest armor… will spare your life. From the poison of Thiollier.”
Such a badass moment for my boy Thiollier
I've seen some people call Thiollier a simp, and I've got to say, it's one of the biggest Soulslike L takes I've ever seen.
He's such a good character. My boy deserved a W, and damn did he get it.
@@mr.kittysavestheworld695 it's only a simp if the love is unrequited, we're never told if it was one sided so I like to think that it was mutual
Two things for sure in this dlc is
1.The best dragon fight and
2.The best npc gank fight
You can't convince me otherwise
you forgot to add the worst final boss fight into the list
@@secktuss9610
You doesn't beat it, I think x)
@@Klei_01I beat it solo, but it’s still pretty bad. Idk if it’s the worst, but Gael and Orphan absolutely crush it, Manus clears as well.
@@SJ-di5zu I think it's the best boss they've ever made. Stop saying ''it's bad'' as if that's anything other than your skill issue riddled opinion.
@@SJ-di5zu
Consort Radahn it's a test for answer the problem to make a boss difficult for all players. He's very difficult, but i like it. It's a real challenge, more harder than malenia from far
RIP Moore.
Forage in heaven big man. I'm sorry i ran you through with my greatsword.
sad...forever?
Marco the Meatball will help us forget
glad to hear I didn't mess up having all those enemies.
Fuck that guy he tried to kill us why feel bad ?
That nigga can rest in the scarlet rot, didn't seem it was such a tragedy for him to throw all those fucking pots at me
Honestly one of the highlights of the whole DLC, even though on paper it's just a big NPC slugfest.
The dialogue of the NPC really adds up to the epicness of the OST
Its a good moment. But fuck this fight, it is so easy for them to blindside you and stunlock you all together.
@@nahuel3433the difficulty of the fight depends on you doing npc side quest so I almost feel like it’s Miyazakis way of bullying players who skip dialogue and ignore npcs 😂
You only have to fight 2 or 3 of them compare to 5 if you do side quests for npcs and also can move 2 of them to your side, Ansbach and Thiollier if you do their quests.
Really cool way to make side quests worth it both story and gameplay wise and you feel like it’s 2 factions facing one another when you do them.
I had Ansbach, Thiollier and I versus Moore, Dane, and Leda
Was a really cool experience as a 3v3 with dialogue mid fight
Thiollier and Moore were taking mid fight and then Ansbach and Leda while I fought Dane with my own hand to hand that he taught me. So cool in my playthrough
@@trevorwalsh7196You killed Hornsent, didn't you? You can end up fighting him as well if you didn't do his quest whereupon he ends up invading you and die in the end
@@areszeudion5153 I did his quest and he invaded me, as well. Probably figured out who we actually are
This is the most emotional i've ever felt during a From game, man, what i would give to experience this moment in the game again.
It's been a few days lmao the feeling should still be fresh in your mind xD
I can't, there's no more elden ring....
@@naga8756 look forward to what they're gonna do next!
@@ShikiRyougi05 YES!
im gonna feel empty once i finish ER,such great memories
The fight is basically and literally Elden Ring: Civil War. Who fight with you and who fight against you depends on your previous actions. It’s rather sad tbh there could be some people you have to fight against although it breaks your heart since they are your friends.
MOOREEE💔💔
I was so sad I had to fight Freyja, Moore and Hornsent 😭
Hornsent can fk off and Dane never said a word but Moore, and Freyja,
"Be proud. You were fine warriors.
Your only mistake was your choice of master.
Let the winds lift you, to a higher place."
This is the best NPC gank fight Fromsoft has ever made, which isn’t a high bar but the fact that this is one of the best fights in the dlc says something. They finally figured out how to do it right. This is a very emotional fight, very much us vs them
I just wish I had a better partner lol all I had was the random Sanguine Noble
@@endub6551 I think if you do Ansbach's quest, he will help you out
@@endub6551 You take that back, Sir Ansbach is not just some random Sanguine Noble. He is a pure-blood knight and a friend.
@@Echo_ohc3 if you dont have Ansbach you get a random Sanguine Noble.
@@leadfaun Really? Damn.
100% the most emotionally charged track in the OST, you’re going against people who have been with you since the beginning of the expansion, folk who you’ve come to bond with, people who’ve been your allies in multiple occasions, but due to a difference in objectives, you now stand as enemies, you take arms against people who just a few moments before were your brothers and sisters in arms. Add in the bonus of certain NPC questlines ensuring that they’ll stand by your side during this fight, and you have basically a “NPC civil war”.
People who once were united in common cause, now walk roads that will never cross again.
"almost a happy elden ring piece" Is a perfect way to describe this theme's events
This fight broke my heart.
Edit: yeah it's a 2 phase fight. The 2nd phase starts when you see the corspes of people you once called friend.
Absolute tragedy 💔
Rest in peace my Friends, you fought well, it has been an honor, now a god needs to return to ethernal sleeps
Hell yeah Ansbach was awesome here. Best NPC in the game.
Ahh man I need to side with him in my next run.
I sided with Leda because I was curious what would happen if I always choose her.
Don't regret it with Hornsent.
Ansbach.. he is a good man. He even says he is glad that Leda has a companion (when you invade)
I did summon Thillior tho
The only one that didn't backstabbed you
I believe all the heroism and emotion on this song is directed towards the people you fight. They know that Miquella is doing something terrible, but also know he wants peace and a better world.
Yes. And then when you look at it directly from Leda’s perspective, someone so filled with hate and distrust of others, it almost feels like she’s just holding onto the hope that Miquella will make her feel compassion. Like she’s missing something, and Miquella is the only way to get that something; the only way to get her to care for others
I think part of the tragedy is that they really don't understand the implications of what Miquella is up to. Miquella never lied, he's undertaking a great sacrifice to make the world a gentler place, that's very true. They just don't really understand how or why.
@@Jackenack To be fair, Miquella did actually went too overboard on his plan, and it backfired, in St. Trina's area, near Miquella's "I discard here my love" cross, we see a ghost, a he straight up tells us that Miquella should have never discarded his compassion. I think the implication there is that, there, he lost his mind, and in a way himself, and became a self-indulging pawn in his pursuit of godhood, not because he was evil, but precisely because he was sacrificing himself in order to reach godhood. St. Trina essentially tells us to kill him because godhood was severely messing up Miquella. It's a sad, and tragic situation, for everyone involved, and I absolutely LOVE how this soundtrack encapsulates and conveys that feeling of a tragic battle between former friends, knowing no one there is actually a bad person, they are just clueless about Miquella's whole ordeal.
Meanwhile Freyja: Finally, a worthy opponent!
Tbh I am so sick with everyone saying Leda and Miquella are just straight up evil.
And no. Leda is loyal to a fault and distrustful. Even a little paranoid
And Miquella.. i truly believe he was a good Demigod and didn't charm everyone he met.
But than to reach his goal did the wrong choices.
Charmed Mogh so we was removed from the Haligtree. Which fucked that thing up.
And then abandoning his everything and his love. Like the ghost says: it should have never been discarded
You and I, fighting. A tragedy, this is.
You’re the first man I thought of listening to Promised Consort. I don’t think I’ve been this excited to see your reaction since Proof of a Hero. Soooo can’t wait until you hear that OST.
The Promised Consort is one of the best boss OSTs in souls and really in gaming. This dlc has such good music
@@anabenskywalker122 That second phase was breathtaking. Like something John Williams composed.
This is a perfect song for these NPCs. None are villains, hell none are even heroes. They simply want what is best but fail to agree on that solution. Each has weighed the options and made their decisions. Freyja fights for Miquella knowing her lord can be reborn. Ansbach turns on them to restore dignity to his fallen ruler. Thiollier stands against those who shunned the one lord he truly loved while Moore hopes to bring peace to the down trodden. Dane seems to be similar, worshipping Miquella as a god in the hopes he will purify this world. Leda wants to finally bring Miquella to light in the hopes he can grant her the compassion she has always lacked. And finally, there is you. You are there to be the arbiter. The judge. The one sent to free the people of this world from the petty whims and quarrels of these gods. No longer can they be allowed to desecrate corpses, puppeteer souls, and scorch races. The age that will arise from your actions will not be an age of gods or an age of kings. It will be an age of men.
Ohhh this one got me emotional while playing. It was one of those realization moments of what I'm actually doing in the story and how that's affecting the other characters in the story. Do your quests! Makes it much better having context for what's happening, who's involved, and why.
Also doing the side quests is the only way to not be absolutely bewildered by the final boss.
i think genuinely this is my favourite track from the DLC (spoilers)
I summoned for every single encounter, even though for a lot of them it actually made the fight harder for various different reasons, but i did it mostly because I was invested in the NPCs of this world, this little ragtag band of otherwise random people. Doing their quests, and fighting alongside them for every step of the way - this was a gut punch, to have to now kill your short-lived friends united in a common goal. I knew Leda might eventually turn on me too, but I really never expected it to be such a.... barbaric? clash between every NPC. All of them were abandoned by Miquella when his great rune shattered. Without his charm wrapping around them like an intoxicating mist, all of them became lost or paranoid. The cohesion just collapsed under itself and all of us having our own reasons for following Miquella was destined to end in bloodshed. They kill for Miquella because they don't know what else to do, how else to cope without him. But ultimately, they would have ripped eachother apart as well, after the player, Ansbach and Thiollier.
It's a tragic case where this group is so utterly attached to their ideals, and what makes them feel good, that they cannot even fathom the possibility that they may be in the wrong. Without Miquella they have no future. None of them are bad people at all, they were just used by Miquella. They just happened to be on the losing side of the war.
This is actually tragic to understand that
Leda actually says this exact same thing about the Hornsent who Messmer massacred. "I don't blame them, they were just on the losing side of a very tragic war." or something like that.
@@proot8354 i may have been somewhat inspired by that ;)
it's a damn good line though.
Realistically the tarnished, Thiollier and to some extent (vaguely) Ansbach are the only ones who really know what Miquella is up to, Leda is a devout paladin essentially to who she has always known as "Kindly Miquella," she's completely justified. Even without the charm Miquella has always been the compassionate one among his messed up family, dedicating most of his being to providing relief for the afflicted despite his own grievous afflictions. She has no reason to doubt his actions because the actions he's taking are still righteous, but the extents to which he's going to achieve his goal are completely lost on her.
Dryleaf Dane, a peaceful devout monk, obviously a great guy who even went out of his way to teach the tarnished his martial fighting style. All of a sudden the four outsiders, one Hornsent, one who followed Mohg, one an outcast who practices war crimes, and one a direct competitor for the throne Miquella will be taking, are bum rushing the tower to slay Miquella. What choice does he really have in that case?
Freyja, a warrior, also protecting her recently-revived General who she had originally come in search of. Also just a person who would never turn down a fight.
Moore, who the tarnished explicitly tells to continue following Miquella, is probably confused as hell because now they're on the other side.
@proot8354 the quote was "they were never saints, they just happened to be on the losing side of a war" meaning that they would likely have done bad shit just like messmer (hornsent were the ones melting people together and putting them into jars for religious reasons)
5:10 im always so amazed by how accurately you can pick up on the story beats of these games through the music alone.
Both a testament to the composers but also your musicianship. Always worth watching your content man, Souls or otherwise.
🫶🫶🫶
I WAS IN TEARS DURING THIS FIGHT,KEEP TELLING TO MY SELF I DIDN'T WANT TO DO THIS
THOSE MUSIC,DIALOGS ITS MASTERPIECE AND MY TRUE FINAL BOSS FIGHT
“I stand with blade aloft, blood afire. For the dignity of my lord and master, Mohg. A balm upon my soul it is, that we do not meet today as enemies. Now my blade. Watch closely.”
Rest in Peace Ansbach you were the Realest of them all, A true Man and a True Ally
This is hands down my favorite fight in Shadow of the Erdtree. You feel like none of them truly want to fight, but are left with no other choice.
"O, Miquella... Please...redeem our...clan..."
"You were fine...in your part...Truly, a glorious battle...it was..."
"Sad, forever?"
"Kind Miquella... In godhood shall you rise..."
"Kindly Miquella... Make the world... A gentler place..."
Wake up, everyone! Marco's posted more Shadow of the Erdtree!
One of my favorite pieces of game OST's. When you hear it during the fight while you've done all the npc quests... It really made me emotional ngl...
Hands down, the music along with the dialogue just carried this fight as one of the most memorable experiences in Elden Ring. Being so invested in characters, experiencing desperation, betrayal, duty, each fighting for what they think is right, tragic fate, etc. Makes me tear up a bit every damn time
I cried when this started to playing and I had to go against everyone I enjoyed all my hours in the DLC with.
People dislike this fight but I LOVE this fight.
Doing all their quests, and having a timid but brave guy, and a former Redmane and a Pureblood Knight, is just a feeling I cannot describe. And the way it says, "They will be summoned when the time is right".
People didn't do the quests, and refused to summon, then hated the fight cause it's a gank. But this is one fight in the game where the fight was DESIGNED in every single way to be done with your allies. The emotional stakes, the "right timing", the dialogue ("I am Ansbach of the Pureblood Knights...I stand with blade aloft, blood afire. For the dignity of my lord and master, Mohg"), even the difficulty is made around you making friends throughout your journey in the DLC and then having them back you up.
I think Elden Ring, even in it's rather relatively depressing DLC, truly establishes the fact that our Tarnished is a hero. A leader. They will do what is best for the people of Lands Between. In all other Souls games, the main character is just a pawn, for whichever god that may be. But in Elden Ring, we truly ARE the hero.
A gank fight done absolutely right!
no
there's no such thing as a gank fight done right. They've sucked in every entry they've been in
@@boingo762Nah not this one cuz you got your bots with you. Plus they come in one at a time to start.
@@boingo762 you get to side with your own team based on your quests, and along with the music, the dialogue and arena, it 100% great.
@@TheLastGame666 none of that matters when it’s 5 7k hp NPCs who can heal and can one shot you
When I started this fight I felt the EXACT SAME THING when I first fought the Sealed Vessel in Hollow Knight, like I was doing something extremely wrong for the one I was fighting against but I didn't know yet, only after learning the full lore. This song just got me in a really good way, I didn't want to fight any of them, at all.
gives off sort of a "Final Stance" or "Final Push" type of vibe. Absolutely brilliant..
This song has the most emotional impact on me in this DLC for the game. Your group of companions ends up picking sides and having to fight each other over what you believe is right. It's really sad but beautiful.
One of the most heartbreaking, emotional mournful soundtrack ever in fromsoftware games, the sheer tragedy of it all, from comrades to enemies torn apart because of a spell. Got all of the summons up and still broke my heart after the fight.
Promised consort definitely next, its so goood
And this is the OST for a Gank Figth
PEAK FICTION
This track gains a ton by adding the dialogues you hears spoken by other characters during this encounter, similarly to how Bayle's track is enriched vastly by Igon's monologue.
I've been waiting for you to see this one! It's by far my favourite in the whole DLC. That entire fight I felt like I had butterflies in my chest because it felt so climactic and emotional.
honestly this song stands out in sounding particularly beautiful.
God this was my favorite part in the entire dlc, because I finished both npcs that help you during it quests, and everyone coming in, talking or debating each other while fighting, the death lines, my favorite thing in the dlc
It actually plays during a super sad, almost disappointed scene
Disappointed?
Because the fight is shit or the realisation how many stand against you
@@fabi3790quest skipper?
@@riccardozampini2634 hä? No
Do Midra next...it's a haunting one
Yea I love Midra’s ost aswell
He's dangling it in front of us because he knows we want it badly.
I’m actually just going in order of what I filmed. So, it’s next.
@@MarcoMeatballdo you do all of these in one day?
@@MarcoMeatball Midra's theme is so.. bloodborne ?
Remember that this is when you fight all of your friends. Such power through both their dialogue and the music. Got me in tears ngl (Especially Moore)
Something this DLC has done that I absolutely adore is recontextualize the entire base game's story. It also managed to make all of the game's possible endings more meaningful. Absolutely incredible achievement in storytelling.
"Don't you dare approach Miquella the Kind. Needle Knight Leda, Dryleaf Dane, and our allies... Will never allow this."
"I am the Redmane, Freyja. The time has come. I could not hope for a worthier foe. This is our moment. Let's Make it something to remember" -Redmane Freyja
"Tis just as the woman said it would be. Lord of the Erdtree, Lord of Marika... You too deserve to face reckoning." -Hornsent
"You and me fighting, a tragedy this is" -Moore
"..." -Dryleaf Dane
"I am sorry. For speaking to you as a compatriot. When we stood before the withered arm." -Needle Knight Leda
"I am Ansbach of the Pureblood Knights...I stand with blade aloft, blood afire. For the dignity of my lord and master, Mohg..." -Ansbach
Another great vid Marco, this song definitely treats its happy tones in a longing kind of way, appropriate for a fight involving NPCs that at this point of the game you've gotten to know well enough, and I definitely felt a lot of emotions during that whole battle, really good pay off if you follow the quest lines.
6:38 he nailed it!
Ansbach and Thioller giving a few words before carrying me in the gank
first time i seen this dude sing ost?! it took Miquella of the Haligtre, the Kind, The Tender of 1000 years of Compassion to make him sing.
I'm ready for Lord of Frenzied Flame and Promised Consort, both are insane pieces I'm gonna be listening to for a while
I love this fight, because of how simultaneously heartbreaking and, as you put it, galvanizing it is. We have realized how utterly selfish and dangerous Miquella is, and resolve ourselves to do whatever it takes to stop him, regardless of who stands in our way- even if those who stand afore us wear the faces of friends.
Hands down the most emotional fight I’ve ever had in Elden Ring.
Even if the fight solo is one of the most painful fights, the music and story and meaning of the battle is so beautiful, Miyazaki did not dissapoint
Ah, I was looking for this theme. When it plays the piece stuck with me so much. It really accentuates the moment and hearing the piece is called "those united in common cause" makes it all the more impactful. Does a great job setting a mood and really...being appropriate for the moment given what it stands for.
What you talk about around 5:40, You're absolutely right, the emotional thing is that- Both sides in the fight *believe the exact same thing*. This theme is the most emotional i think any FromSoft ost has ever gotten me
This piece made me realise that the characters we met throughout this dlc were going to die, either now or a little later, their end was nigh, i shed tears during this fight as i grew so attached to these characters. It was a beautiful piece and a great end to all of the questlines. Leda could die for all i care about though, she is pure evil xD
Not the finest blade, nor the mightiest armor... will spare your life, from the poison of Thiollier
"The Lord Of Frenzied Flame" next please!! An absolute must, a banger. The most horrifying of them all.
This is easily one of my favorite moments in any fromsoft game.
This song made me tear up a little. Idk why but the second phase made me think i was like fighting my best friend who went down what i think is the wrong path, but to him its the righteous one.
I cried during this fight especially when the "2nd phase" started
*EDIT* I've been waiting for you to react to this as well as Saint of the Bud and a few others
Spoilers for this fight.
This fight was so epic and so sad at the same time. These friends and comrades you make along the way see how strong you are and think that they’re unstoppable with you on their side. And then Miquella’s enchantment breaks, and the bonds are broken. Leda realizes that your endless strength comes from the Erdtree’s grace, and the Great runes you’ve obtained. That you came to the Land of Shadow as a rival candidate for Elden Lord against Miquella and his consort. No matter the relationships and friends you made, Leda and her followers cannot let you stop Miquella.
These characters have lived in this brutal war-torn world of Marika’s Golden Order, and they would rather have Miquella’s Age of Compassion where everyone’s forced to love each other against their will than take a chance with you. Not realizing that they are bringing in an age where their God will take away their free will. Or maybe they do, and they just don’t care. As long as the suffering in the world ends.
“Pure and radiant, he wields love to shrive clean the hearts of men… there is nothing more terrifying.”
You were really spot on with this analysis. It’s just that the music is more from the perspective of Leda and her followers than the player character.
Never been this early before. I love the OST in this DLC.
Same
I started crying at the start of second phase while being rotted by pot boy Moore, a fight I surely wont forget.
Would love to see you react to the version that has the NPC back and forth dialogue. Soulsborne NPCs conversing with each other, even in a fight to the death, is such a refreshing thing to experience, especially with such a fitting track like this.
Next week!
@@MarcoMeatball Awesome! Can't wait to see it. I love the reactions and analyses, you manage to garner a lot of the meaning and background that the songs convey. Idk how much you know about all the different lore but you do a fantastic job and have an incredible knack for understanding the deeper meaning behind the music. keep up the good work!
This music makes me feel like a standbarer rushing alongside the other soldiers (must we remain sad forever...)
Anyone who disliked this “gank” fight probably didn’t summon NPCs for this encounter. The fight and this theme is literally me and my homie (ansbach) against the world
You know what would be another great piece of music to enjoy for you?
"Cantata Mortis & God In Fire" from "Dissidia Duodecim"
Oh bro
That would be so good
The fight was very memorable and one of the best highlights of the DLC. It was like an anime finale where all the main characters are fighting each other out of desperation.
I played through the entire dlc with two friends with seamless coop and it's peobably one of the most beautiful moment of our playthrough
Love to see you react to a piece I recommended! This is definitely one of my new favorite souls themes and it helps sell the heroism yet tragedy in an already emotionally charged fight.
"You and me fighting.A tragedy tis is..."
This phrase from Thioller perfectly sums up these battle for me.
that’s from moore
This was definitely one of my favorite moments in the DLC for sure. Especially since I did everyone's quests. It was also at this moment that I cemented Ansbach as one of my favorite characters from Elden Ring.
You should listen to the version with Dialogs, it's poetry.
Love your insights Marco, keep up the great work.
I love your reactions videos Marco, keep reacting more !!👏👏👏
After I killed Freyja and Leyda it was becoming very depressing. I never wanted this for any of them yet me and Ansbach had to put them all down. I should’ve known though, there is no happy endings in souls games.
Leda is a psycho, I had 0 qualms there. Freya and Moore though, damn. Did not like that
Motivating is the keyword to this song. It's a huge clashing of wills.
Been listening to this piece all day today! Such an intense, epic, amazing theme that has a sense of almost history and reflecting over events
5:00 (SPOILERS FOR DLC) Thats because it is exactly that....Its that you get allies by doing certain questlines but also some standing in your way. The fight is in short an clash between 2 sides with diffrent Belives of Godhood being you in what ever Lord you might become and Miqulla wanting become a God himself but in a diffrent Way. So you bassicly clash about the Orders you represents, your belives, your desigers whatever might cause you to fight for your standards. Thats why i love1. this theme and the boss so much because its simply brilliant from each perspective
This fight and OST were perfect imo. You are the lord of the Erdtree taking the path of Enir Ilim which is basically some sort of royal ascension towards godhood. The environment tells you this is the equivalent of a heavenly ascension and when you finally come across the fight it feels like everyone who is going to side with Miquella no matter what he is going to do is there to put a stop to YOU an old god that is on the way to fight a newborn god. Atop Enir Ilim two gods fought and only one descended.
"By way of apology I shall show you the marrow of my blade. It's needles shall stitch you into death"
"You and I. Fighting. A tragedy this is."
One of two fights in the game where I advocate summoning, it’s so good thematically if you do
Loooove this one. Such a perfect track to go with the fight it accompanies
I'm just so happy we got new Elden Ring music! So far my favorite boss themes have been of the Dancing Lions and Bayle. Ohh, please do Bayle next?
we need messmer next
his theme is so good
my absolute favorite from the entire DLC
This track was emtionally tolling during the fight. You'll freak out when you listen to the new Radahn soundtrack, its a play off the original without the 'corrupting' notes you mentioned.
This Scene Hits Harder when you really into the each character story
The music really sets the tone of "destructive conclusion".
In this bossfight you have to face your former friends in arms.
There's no hate involved in this fight, there's just duty.
Together we could take the whole Land of Shadows and Lands Between, but Miquella's fate does not align to ours.
We do this for St.Trina, Lord Mohg and Lady Ranni.
“I answer to neither Marika or the Erdtree. I simply wish to see these lands freed of the Gods’ whims as Elden Lord. They shall slumber unto eternity in the flames of Destined Death.”
-Elias, Successor of the Black Blade
Who knew you could have a beautiful, emotionally-charged gank fight
This is my favorite bit of music in the whole game
It's almost like the choir is watching the fight. Every "AHH" is the choir reacting to the Tarnished hitting the NPC characters. They're watching their favorite people fight till the die right in front of them, but they HAVE to keep singing.
Best emotionally resonate fight in the entire game and DLC.
"i am the Redmane, Freya! the time has come, this is our moment. let’s make it something to remember."
"Not the finest blade, nor the mightiest armor will spare your life from the poison of Thiollier"
never fails to send a shiver down my spine.
The Feeling I get from this Song:
"The Heroes have assembled!" and now everyone of them is going to die...