Major Elden Ring and Shadow of the Erdtree spoilers ahead.
Summary
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreemay contain some well-hidden hints narrowing down the identity of the Gloam-Eyed Queen, according to a newly surfaced fan theory. Its findings present a compelling train of thought that serves as a counterpoint to some of the lore-related criticism of the critically acclaimedElden Ringexpansion.
The Gloam-Eyed Queen is one of the most mysterious figures in theElden Ringlore. She is only mentioned as part of the base game’s backstory, with various item descriptions characterizing her as an Empyrean, a title bestowed upon candidates for godhood, who led the Godskin Apostles and wielded Destined Death via the power of the Black Flame. She’s known to have rivaled Marika until her defeat at the hands of Maliketh. Many fans were hoping to learn more about the Gloam-Eyed Queen inShadow of the Erdtree, but the recently released expansion contained no direct references to her, prompting disappointment and even some criticism among the fandom.
Shadow of the Erdtree Might Hint at Connection Between Gloam-Eyed Queen and Hornsent
And while it never mentions her by name, thecritically acclaimedElden Ringexpansionmight still be hinting at her identity. That’s according to a theory by Reddit user strangebloke1, who recently uncovered a string of circumstantial evidence suggesting that the Gloam-Eyed Queen was a member of the Hornsent race. The fan has identified multiple indicators pointing to that possibility, starting with the fact that the Greater Potentates found around Bonny Village look slightly reminiscent of the Godskin Apostles due to their pale skin tones, almost as if they were the precursors of the ancient order’s members.
Secondly, the base game likens the Godskin Apostles' ability to assimilate “inhuman physiology” to that of the crucible, the primordial form of the Erdtree. The crucible also happens to be the source of the Hornsent’s magic, including the knowledge ofturningShadow of the Erdtree’s shamans into “saints” by blending them in jars. That horrific ritual, which involves whipping the subjects until they effectively turn into amorphous blobs, can also be described as a process of assimilating inhuman physiology. It thus serves as another piece of circumstantial evidence suggesting that the Godskin Apostles have emerged from the Hornsent.
Ditto for the fact that the Hornsent iconography features a plethora of spirals, believed to be associated with the crucible, much like multiple Godskin Apostle weapons from the base game. The Bonny Village outskirts also contain a giant snakeskin, and as it so happens, the base game already establishes that the Godskin Apostles are heavily associated with snakes.
The Hornsent Hints Challenge 2 Popular Gloam-Eyed Queen Theories
Even thoughElden Ringfans may never get definitive answers about the Gloam-Eyed Queen, these findings do present some interesting food for thought. Most notably, if she was indeed a member of the Hornsent race, that would effectively dispel two fairly popular fan theories implying her to either be Melina or another aspect of Marika, like Radagon is.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
WHERE TO PLAY
Shadow of the Erdtree is the first and only DLC expansion for FromSoftware’s groundbreaking Elden Ring. It takes players to a whole new region, the Land of Shadow, where a new story awaits the Tarnished.
