Farum Azula is the Enir Ilim of a previous age
Lots of pictures so if you are mobile you can just skip to the TLDR.
So one thing that the DLC established is that to reach godhood (or possibly just to achieve vast amounts of power), you need a lot of bodies.
We see this in other areas like the Eternal Cities, but as far as we know they didn't succeed
We also see that Enir Ilim is constructed of almost almost entirely of bodies
Anyway I was looking around Farum Azula because I was looking for a symbol that caught my eye but ended up noticing something else. Stay with me for a quick moment
Hmmm interesting the place is made up of beastmen corpses. I think most of us chalked up Farum Azula to being something close to a mausoleum so didn't think too much of it. The bodies are arranged in a pretty organized fashion compared to Enir Ilim and the Eternal cities so it's not all that convincing. The pillars beastmen look more Enir Ilim bodies "Ah I'm in pain" look though and the area above the older Elden Ring has some bones on it. Still nothing conclusive
Well that's the end of that I though and went looking for that symbol I was originally looking for. Then something stuck out
Remember these dragon corpses? Before the DLC a theory was that they were part of Placidusax's body and heads after he had died (since we reverse time to meet him and all). Well it never really added up because there are multiple dragons, and we find out in the DLC his missing heads are actually stuck on Bayle's body. The ancient dragons we fight though like Lansseax are gold so these bodies are probably of ancient dragons.
Okay so there's a couple dragons in the rocks, big deal. But doesn't the surrounding rock have something though? A tinge of gold? This item confirms that the gold here is likely part of the ancient dragons scales.
Gravel Stone Seal: Sacred seal made from Gravel Stone thought to be an ancient dragon scale.
Okay that seems like a good link but they just make up the rocks it's not like Enir Ilim where they make up the buildings too-
Now this last one isn't as conclusive so feel free to tune it out but look at these arrow symbols.
Where have we seen something similar?
Back at Enir Ilim
These upward arrow motifs are found all over the place in Belarut towers and Enir Ilim only. Speculating only, the upward arrow motif in Enir Ilim and Farum Azula symbolize ascension to godhood.
So in summary, the Beastmen were a red herring, its all ancient dragons corpses. We know that Placidusax had a god and he was Elden Lord. The Farum Azula is the Enir Ilim of dragons and made up entirely of dragon corpses and likely what Placidusax's god used to ascend to godhood. Placidusax's arena may even be their version of the gate of divinity.
Side notes that are somewhat related
Rykard was also doing something similar. These pillars? Made up of snakes and bodies. Speculation: He wanted to be a god but couldn't because he's not an Empyrean so he took things into his own hands and used Eigaly. He was also kidnapping everybody and instead of using Shamans, using the albinaurics and serpents (there are dead serpents in there and from the great serpent seems like they meld with things too) as glue. What is Farum Azula using as glue? I dunno, maybe you don't actually need glue so ignore that.
On another potentially unrelated note, this particular upward arrow is also found in Farum Azula in various areas and in this one it's coincidentally next to one of the banished knights in the area.
It's also found in the throne room of Stormveil behind Elden Jack
What's it mean? I dunno could be just reused asset? There are banished knights in Stormveil. Perhaps original Stormveil was constructed in the same era as Farum Azula? Who knows.
TLDR: Farum Azula is made up entirely of Ancient Dragon corpses (and some beastmen), it's what Placidusax's god used to ascend.
Posted Aug 19, 2024, 3:01 AM UTC