Summary
FromSoftware’sElden Ringhas continued to capture positive attention since its release in 2022, and its newShadow of the ErdtreeDLC has reignited that sentiment.Shadow of the Erdtreehas received sterling reviewsfor enhancing the already weighty base game with hours of additional content, deepening the game’s lore and characters. Additionally, theShadow of the Erdtreeexpansion comes packed with over 70 new weapons, 30 new armor sets, andnew bosses that are as compelling (and difficult) as ever.
At first glance, a game likeElden Ringgets attention for its level of difficulty, and while there is certainly an audience for that genre, immersing oneself in the game’s intricate mythology can be time-consuming, and even overwhelming for some. The game grounds its world building by borrowing from various real mythologies from around the globe. Hallmarks of Norse, Celtic, and Greek legends, among many others, can be found woven throughout the entirety of the game’s story and character designs.Messmer the Impaler, one of the bosses introduced in theShadow of the ErdtreeDLC, embodies many of these borrowed mythologies.
Messmer The Impaler Reflects Many Real-World Legends & History
Get one look at Messmer, and some of the inspirations behind the character’s design are easy to see.Most obvious, perhaps, are Messmer’s similarities to one of history’s most feared rulers, Vlad the Impaler, also known as Vlad Dracula. Even Pope Pius II’s own legate was quoted describing Vlad as having a “cold and terrible appearance.” Translated from Romanian, the name “Dracula” means “son of the dragon.” Messmer has striking, dragon-like eyes that evoke this connection to the real historical figure’s association with dragons and serpentine creatures. Intentional or not, Messmer’s spear and fire serpent draw clear parallels to Vlad.
Aside from his great spear and serpent, Messmer wields fire magic with devastating results, an attribute that keenly aligns him with several global deities and legends. In the pantheon of Norse mythology is a figure named Surtr,a fire giant of immense destructive power who destroys the world with flame. A similar description can be applied to Messmer, a towering figure who harnesses fire magic to vanquish his foes, the most deadly being his Fire Grab attack. Fire is core to Messmer’s design, with his flame-red hair and cloak, which further match the red serpent that slithers across his body.
Surtr’s influence onElden Ringcan be felt even more in the base game’sFire Giant boss, which must be defeated before the Tarnished can burn the Erdtree, destroying a symbol of the world as it’s known under Marika’s Golden Order.
Messmer Was Likely Inspired By Myths Outside Of Europe As Well
Certain Japanese Yokai May Be Reflected In Messmer’s Design
The yokai of Japanese folklore have inspired characters across all media, and hints of famous yokai can be found in Messmer’s design as well. One of the most significant is Kasha, a demonic fire entity who is often portrayed as having cat-like features, but can also be humanoid or even resemble a chariot. Most often,they are depicted as coming to Earth to collect the souls of the damned, dragging them to hell as punishment for a sinful life. In some ways, this is reflected in Messmer’s hatred for the Tarnished, those who fell from grace after losing connection to the Erdtree.
Messmer also bears some resemblance to the Orochi of Japanese mythology, eight-headed snake entities of incredible size, complete with fiery red eyes. Much like Surtr, these creatures also symbolize chaos and destruction. The iconography of the serpent is closely tied to Messmer’s backstory, as it’s said he was born with a serpent inside of him, one he refers to as the “abyssal serpent.” Halfway through his boss fight, Messmer takes on his Base Serpent Messmer form.
Part of what makesElden Ringsuch an immersive experience is how well it borrows these various legends from the real world and uses them to create something original and fascinating to explore. Any character with the nickname “Impaler” will obviously be compared to the real Vlad Dracula of Romania, but these comparisons are merely surface level. Likewise, nearly every culture has myths regarding snake entities, be they heroic or villainous. The creators ofElden Ringhave masterfully woven the iconography of various mythologies and made something completely new.Shadow of the Erdtreeis the culmination of this ingenious world-building.
Players venture into the shadowed realm of the Land of Shadow to confront new biomes, dungeons, and formidable bosses. Guided by the enigmatic Miquella, they face the terrifying Messmer the Impaler and uncover the dark secrets shrouded beneath the Erdtree’s influence, featuring new weapons, magic, and challenges.
