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Ages ago, before the resplendent Erdtree graced the lands, a fierce conflict erupted between the Elden Lord Placidusax and Bayle, a dragon marked by a significant flaw—his absence of the stone scales that granted immortality to his kind. Fueled by mutual hatred, they clashed in an epic battle of flesh against stone. This tale unfolds as we delve into the rich lore surrounding the Dragons of Elden Ring, now illuminated by the revelations brought forth by the Shadow of the Erdtree. This new knowledge unveils deep truths about the Drakes, the Dragon Communion, and so much more.To begin our exploration, we must turn our attention to The Crucible, an ancient realm where all life once intertwined. Ordovis’s greatsword speaks of The Crucible’s red-tinted hue, a reflection of primordial gold—an essence intertwined with the very fabric of life itself. This primordial matter, as referenced in the description of the Gilded Great Shield, is believed to have eventually transformed into the magnificent Erdtree. Yet, a puzzling question arises: if The Crucible existed at the dawn of life in this world, prior to the emergence of the Elden Ring, how could it bear traces of gold? Shouldn’t this gold have originated from the Elden Ring, which arrived much later? This conundrum left me perplexed until the DLC offered a newfound understanding.Count Ymir’s revelations shed light on the birth of life from a cosmic rupture orchestrated by the Greater Will eons ago. We recognize that the Greater Will embodies gold as a fundamental aspect. Therefore, it seems that gold is innately woven into the primordial matter that constitutes our world, existing even before the Elden Ring’s descent and its subsequent entrenchment within The Crucible. From this perspective, the ancient dragons emerge as some of the earliest beings born from this primordial soup, manifesting the many facets of The Crucible—horns, tails, breath, wings, and fangs.When Metyr, the Mother of Fingers, arrived to survey this world, it stands to reason that the ancient dragons were among the first candidates for lordship. Shortly thereafter, the Elden Ring descended, taking the form of the Elden Beast, upon a golden star, bestowing a sense of order upon these primordial beings. The Elden Beast, a living embodiment of order, bears the internal name Nebula Dragon, closely resembling an ancient dragon in its form. Moreover, it breathes forth the same golden fire that Placidusax commands. While some may dismiss these parallels as mere coincidence, what if they hint at a deeper connection? What if the Elden Beast’s form was intentionally chosen to gain acceptance from the ancient dragons? Such musings spark intrigue.From the remembrance of the Dragon Lord, we learn that Placidusax was named Elden Lord. Yet, a lingering question remains: who was the god that served as the vessel for the Elden Ring? Was it truly the Elden Beast, or perhaps did he have a deity akin to Marika, who first appointed him as Elden Lord? Ultimately, the truth eludes us. What is clear, however, is that something disrupted Placidusax’s divine order, causing his god to flee, leaving him in eternal anticipation of their return. This deity may have been an Empyrean, a worthy candidate for divinity. Similar to the known Empyreans, it is conceivable that Placidusax’s god was also chosen by the Fingers. Such a notion leads me to ponder the influence of Metyr, the Mother of Fingers, during this Dragon Age. A notable reference to this period is embodied in the Cinquedea, a five-fingered dagger wielded by high-ranking clergymen from Azula, who dedicated themselves to the dragons.The Cinquedea celebrates a beast's five fingers, which are symbolic of the intelligence granted upon their kind. Now, this description doesn't mention who or what granted the beast's intelligence, but in an older version of this description, it does. Back in version 1.0, it was said to be the Greater Will that granted the beast's intelligence. So this mention of the greater will was removed by FromSoftware. And yet, it does make sense that the greater will would bestow intelligence upon the beasts. Considering Placidusax was Elden Lord at the time. So here's my theory on why it was removed. What if FromSoftware removed this mention of the greater will because they wanted to keep the lore a little bit more open ended? What if they wanted to leave room down the line for another character who might have been capable of bestowing intelligence on behalf of the greater will? This is just an idea. But what if it was Metyr who granted intelligence to the beasts through fingers? But however it happened, the beasts did gain intelligence. And a really great line on that topic comes to us from the description of bestial vitality, which reads, having gained intelligence, the beasts must have felt how their wildness slipped away as civilization took hold. The way this last line is worded is strangely sad. I feel like it highlights that while something was being gained here, thanks to the intelligence that was being bestowed upon them, a crucial part of the Beast's nature was being lost as well. Order had taken their wildness away, and just like with the aspects of the Crucible, such wildness and chaos would one day be looked back upon with scorn. But as we know from characters like Godfrey, the chains of order can be thrown off and wildness can be embraced. Just so aspects of the crucible can persist, even if they are suppressed. For these horns, feathers, fangs all according to the DLC, are interminable evolutionary gifts and symbols of primacy, seemingly baked into the DNA of all life, born from the crucible. This is why I think that at certain points in history, the crucible of life would randomly throw a curveball into the mix. A wild card that challenges the established order. In the golden age of the Erdtree, It was the omen and the misbegotten, and in the golden age of the Ancient dragons I'd like to propose that this curveball was Bayle, the dread. There is something that I think is really interesting about Bayle's heart. The first thing you'll probably notice about Bayle's heart is that it's fleshy and biatrial, as opposed to the hearts of the ancient dragons, which are literally made of stone. This, I think, was a part of a genetic mutation, one that made Bayle weaker in the sense that he was born mortal without the stone scales of the ancient dragons that twist time and make them undying. But I think it also made him stronger in the sense that he was filled with a mad hunger and a fierceness of spirit that you'd think could only come from one faced with the inevitable prospect of death. The other thing that's interesting about Bayle's heart is that it's "dotted with horn like gravel stones". Gravel stones, as you may know, are the compound stones that make up the stone scales of the ancient dragons, and gravel Stone is found within the hearts of all of the drakes. But what makes Bayles heart different is that the gravel stone in his heart is uniquely horn like, and considering the significance of horns in the DLC, the fact they spell this out must suggest a connection to the Crucible, right? I feel like there's no way this description is a coincidence. The beast horn item from the DLC explains that The Crucible has a particularly strong influence on the beasts of the Realm of Shadow, causing many to grow horns despite the characteristics of their species. It was in this land that the vitality of the crucible flourished, and so it is that I think Bayle's biatrial heart, dotted with horn like gravel stones and glistening with deep red liquor, was likely a mutation of the crucible. Thus Bayle, father of the Drakes, was born as the first of the ancient dragons lowborn descendants. These drakes are unique from the ancient dragons, whereas the ancient dragons have four limbs four wings, stone scales, red lightning and two horns. The drakes have two hind legs, two wings, and a single horn. Most importantly, though, they don't have stone scales, making them mortal and paltry compared to their forebears. But if Bayle was the father, then who was the mother? Well, it can only really be Greyoll, The great Mother of Dragons, who might have been born in a similar way to Bayle. Or perhaps she's even the product of Bayle mating with a different ancient dragon and continued Bayle's bloodline on her own. It's not completely clear. Whatever the case, as time went on, it seems Bayle's descendants became lesser not only compared to the ancient dragons, but compared to Bayle himself as well. And I say this because Bayle's later descendants are lacking a few of his key aspects. Take Bayle's magma aspect, for instance, according to The Talisman of Dread. This aspect was so strong that when Bayle roared, it would cause the jagged peaks molten fury to boil and churn. And I love this design choice for Bayle because it's so poetic. Bayle is born of the ancient dragons who were made of rock. And what is magma but molten rock? Bayle's fire is noted to be incredibly fierce, so if Bayle had any stone scales, perhaps they were melted away? I believe this fierce fire is also a defining trait of Bayle's kin as well. You'll note that every furnace column has a drake inside of its basket, and it's been speculated that these bodies might have played a part in fueling these monstrosities. Speaking of Bayle's fire, even Bayle's red lightning is touched by flame. It's explicitly called flame lightning, and it's unique not only to him, but also to a few of the other drakes on the Jagged Peak. This is significant because red lightning was a hallmark of the ancient dragons, and none of Bayle's later descendants have mastered lightning at all. Specifically, the drakes that can summon flame lightning are the jagged peak drakes encountered on your ascent up the mountain. These ones exclusively drop an item called Dragon Scale Flesh, which marks them as aged dragons. Bayle too is called an old dragon, so perhaps the older bloodline, being closer to the ancient dragons, explains this unique lightning that they've retained, something that their descendants have lost over time. I want to note also that Dragon Scale flesh mentions these jagged peak drakes have inverted scales which actually look a lot like gravel stones. So perhaps these drakes really are supposed to be closer to the ancients in bloodline and nature, even if their models aren't any different than the other countless drakes in the game. Another interesting thing about Bayle's flame lightning incantation and his other Dragon Communion incantation is that they both require pure arcane to cast, as opposed to something like Placidusax's ruin, which is cast with pure faith. Placidusax having faith is easy enough to explain. Placidusax was Elden Lord to the greater will and retains his faith even in his place beyond time after being abandoned. So of course, his remembrance incantation also requires faith to channel. As for Bayle's arcane incantations, well, arcane is a little bit trickier to explain as a stat, but basically, arcane relates to one's innate qualities. The arcane weapons of eochaid, for example, can be swung through the air via the wielders will alone, and the albinauricss born of primordial dew are said to cast sorcery with their innate arcaneness. So when it comes to Bayle, of course, he would have incantations that require the highest arcane investment because he's a character defined by his unwavering will and fury. But why? Why was Bayle so furious? Well, one clue might come from the hornsent Phantom in the elders hovel, who implores Bayle to hurry and lay it all to waste. To lay waste to the proud, the conceited each. Every last one of that arrogant lot. To be clear, this elder hornsent Phantom might be calling on Bayle to lay Marika and her kin to waste specifically since they purged his kind. But I think there's a parallel being drawn between the Golden Order and the Ancient Dragon Order here. I think this elder considers them all a part of the same arrogant lot, a defining trait of the greater wills orders across every age we know of, After all, is a pride among those in power and their dismissal of those seen as lesser in the age of the Erdtree, the lesser were those touched by the crucible, the tarnished, and many more besides. And in the age of the ancient dragons, the lessons were the beasts who the dragon priestess actually insults as foul and lowly in the DLC, and then eventually the Drakes too were considered foul and lowly, and the ancients would go on to have intense hatred for them as they considered them their lowborn kin. So yeah, I think there's a parallel between the ancient dragon's order and Marika's, and I think this is why the Elder Hornsent Phantom is calling on Bayle to lay waste to all of it. Now, the ancient dragons might be excessively prideful in all of their depictions, but I do want to note that Bayle was likely once on their side because, as we've discussed with Marika, being called a traitor suggests that there was a kinship originally at some point. So Bayle might have had a kinship with the ancient dragons as well. It might not have been a great kinship, but he must have been considered a part of their order at least. But then the ancient dragons would label him a tyrant. And it all suggests that Bayle went against the established order and an established peace, harbinging destruction upon it all as retribution for their conceit and their discrimination Perhaps, I think, just like with Seathe the scaleless from Dark Souls, Bayle sought revenge upon his prideful, immortal kin. There's a huge parallel between these two characters, but unlike Seathe, who switched sides to find his advantage, Bayle took a way more direct approach and challenged the Dragon Lord himself. According to the talisman of the dread, Bayle's challenge to the ancient Dragon Lord ended in grievous mutual injury, which has forced his weight to now be supported by his tail, and he lost a talon, which now terminates in a sharp bone that's wreathed in lightning. And as for Placidusax's wounds, His body is covered in scars and gashes, his tail has been cut, and most notably three of his five heads have been severed, two of which are still clenched upon Bayle's body to this day. The Dragon Priestess notes that after inflicting and suffering these grievous wounds, Bayle made a hasty retreat, but the damage was done clearly, and I reckon we could even speculate that perhaps Bayle's assault even played a part in why Placidusax's God fled, or perhaps a part in why Placidusax decided to hide away safe in this place beyond time. This part of the timeline is still unclear to me, but I think Bayle's tyranny did do damage. Whenever it was that it occurred, and after this, it inspired Placidusax to hatch a plan, for as he did with Bayle, he saw in man a fierce spirit and insatiable hunger the very things that he thought might one day fell Bayle, the dread, and his Drakes, who would become sacrifices all. "In a time long past, Bayle turned upon the dragon Lord. The foul traitor assailed our master and inflicted a grievous wound only to make a hasty retreat, becoming a sworn enemy of the brood. Since that day, Bayle and his bloodline, the Drakes, have served as sacrifices for Dragon Communion." This is Florissax, the Dragon priestess, and here at the Grand Altar, she explains the origins of Dragon Communion that there is a mad hunger and fierceness of spirit that only flows from those young and short of sight, and that after being wounded, Placidusax saw in mankind these qualities that could one day bring about Bayle's doom, this hunger, unfathomable to the ancient dragons, would be weaponized. And so the ancients tempted the Drake warriors with the hearts of the Drakes, who, were their lowborn kin, turned foe. To me, this is one of the most satisfying lore points of the DLC. Previously, we only knew that Drake Warriors were driven to consume Dragon Hearts and pursue the strength of dragons for the sake of the sublime beauty and awe that the dragons inspired. And that was reason enough. But it's such a great unexpected twist that Dragon Communion was founded to tempt Drake warriors to consume the heart of Bayle, in what the Dragon Priestess calls the purest form of communion, the fullest sating of hunger and consummation as a dragon whole. And speaking of Dragon Communion, origins from the Rock heart, we learn that the first partakers of Dragon Communion were humans who actually consumed the rock hearts of ancient dragons, not the fleshy hearts of drakes. These rock hearts of the ancients were consumed in the ancient original form of dragon communion. Turning the humans into a new form for the first time. So one thing I've been wondering is why the original form of Dragon Communion required this consumption of ancient Dragon Hearts Specifically, were these test subjects of sorts, or perhaps a showcase of what Drake Knights could aspire to? As far as I can tell, there are three stone hearts in game. One belongs to the ancient Dragon man in the Dragon pit. One, I assume, would belong to whoever left it behind upon the jagged peak. And the last belongs to the Dragon Priestess. According to her heart, The priestess was once an ancient dragon herself, but sacrificed that form for feeble flesh to aid in the destruction of Bayle, the dread. She assumed human form to share dragon communion with the world, and to this end she attends the grand altar, bestowing the favor of the Dragon Lord Upon the Drake warriors who passed through here in that pursuit of Bayle. The fact that Florissax attends a site of Dragon Communion makes me wonder if the two ancient dragons with rock hearts might have sacrificed their original forms in a similar way, giving up their hearts to take over the bodies of the first partakers of dragon communion. And this is just speculation, But there is a dead ancient dragon at each of the two sites of Dragon communion in the lands between. So what if these were the two ancient dragons who gave up their rock hearts? That's a fun theory, I think/ the idea that these rock hearts were given up willingly is supported by the fact that we know the first partakers of dragon communion were loyal to the ancient dragons, and dedicated to their cause. For evidence of this, let's analyze the ancient dragon men starting with the dragon Hunter's katana that he drops. This katana is bristling with a spine of gravel stone, and has what is called a jagged gravel stone aura, which is akin to the aura that the dragon communion basins give off. Fittingly too for this agent of the ancient dragons, his weapon, like all gravel stone weapons, has an anti dragon effect, but his role wasn't solely to hunt the drakes. His katana reads Formerly a Dragon Communion Warrior. The ancient Dragon Man was once arbiter of those worthy to devour Bayle. That is, before you killed him and took his weapon for your own hunt. And incidentally, the ancient Dragon Man's death might be what allows Igon to progress in his quest. "I am sorry. I repent. Oh, come no closer. Oh the horror! Please savage me no further." So this pleading from Igon could be directed at Bayle, who does haunt him. And who is a dragon one should dread. But his begging for mercy could also be directed at the ancient Dragon man, whose red phantom is just down the way. Acting, as we mentioned, as a judge of those worthy to devour Bayle, the dreaded one. But Igon, wounded as he is from a previous encounter with Bayle, he's in no state to challenge the ancient Dragon Man, let alone Bayle himself. Fittingly, it's been showcased by Zlofsky2nd that the ancient Dragon Man's human visage is draconian in origin, and as per the character creation screen, Draconians have the stony face of the people of the ancient dragons. As mentioned in our previous video on dragons, there is evidence of humans being within the ancient dragons culture upon farum Azula. So perhaps the man who consumed this dragon heart was once loyal to their order. Alternatively, if you're in the camp of those who believe that this face was never meant to be seen, you could opt to believe that the ancient Dragon Man was once from the Land of Reeds. Given he wields a great katana, Dragon Communion warriors are commonly from the Land of Reeds, It seems. You can look to Yura and Eleonora, or even the Great katana looted near the Ghost Flame Dragon in the gravesite plains, as more proof of that. But whoever the ancient dragon man was, now he occupies the dragon pit, which from the environment, you can figure out, is actually a bastion of those in service to the ancient dragons in the realm of shadow. And I say this because in the lead up to the Dragon Pit, you'll find a ton of ancient dragon statues. Though they've all fallen into disrepair. Additionally, in the dragon pit itself, you'll find fire breathing beast men who we know were servants of the ancient dragons and the basins here are filled with what I can only assume is the blood of Drakes. This is a place that serves the process of dragon communion. And there's even a magma wyrm here that resides. As you would have learned from our last video on the dragons. The magma wyrms were once Dragon Communion warriors. According to the Magma Breath incantation. Those who have dined on the hearts of Drakes will find their humanity slowly slipping away, and once they fully succumb to their fate, they are left no more than wyrms that crawl the earth. So when a Drake warrior eats a Drake heart, they inevitably, it seems, turn into magma wyrms. And I think we can finally understand why. By talking about what happens to us when we consume Bayle's heart at the grand altar and harness his power, his incantations both read: Even after being consumed, the throbbing heart of Bayle continues to resist its subjugation, never weakening. One day, the fire within will consume the very body and soul of its communion devourer... one day. So could this never weakening resistance not also be true for the hearts of dragons that Drake warriors consume? As mentioned by the Magma Breath incantation, it is the fate of those who partake in Dragon Communion to succumb and become a magma wyrm, which I think finally makes sense because Bayle is a magma dragon and the Drakes are his kin who have inherited his heat. Even before the DLC, the Magma Wyrms scalesword was hinting to us that Dragon Communion is a grave transgression for which the Magma Wyrms were cursed, cursed to crawl the earth upon their bellies as shadows of their former selves. And finally, with the DLC Dragon Communion being called a curse Makes sense. Once consumed, I think these Drake hearts still beating are resisting their subjugation. Just as Bayle's heart describes, and they eventually overwhelm their devourer, turning their vessel not into a glorious dragon, but into an accursed land bound wyrm instead. So the sacrifice rituals that the Drake warriors were performing in awe of the dragons were having dubious results. And yet the warriors continued to indulge their appetites, all according to the Dragon Lord's plan. Such a grave transgression also retroactively helps to explain Ekzykes, who was the Dragon Communion revenger who was so furious at the Drake Warriors that he did not forget his hatred even as he succumbed to the Scarlet Rot. But how many Drake warriors have they really been over the ages? Well, to understand that, let's read the description of the Dragon's Calorbloom, which you'll find on your ascent of the Jagged Peak. This flower is dotted with gravel stone and has an uncanny shape coursing with hot blood. Its description reveals that a single flower is said to blossom only once from the hearts of dead warriors who oft partook of Dragon Communion. So every time you loot this, you're actually plucking it from the bodies of dead dragon Communion warriors, which is a fact that really helps to tell a story. This Drake warrior likely died to this dragon. Six Drake warriors died on their way up the peak, and this one got hit by the most telegraphed boulder of all time. What's more, Calorbloom might also actually help to explain what arteria leaves are, which are also found on human bodies and are also coursing with blood. So I bet these grow from the hearts of dead warriors as well. But let me take my speculation on Calorbloom one step further. So Calorbloom's wide red leaves are essentially identical to the leaves on these plants, right? So I think that might mean that these plants might be Calorbloom as well. They just don't have the flower anymore because the flower is said to blossom only once. And these plants blanket the earth in really appropriate places for the story here at the grand altar of Dragon Communion, for example. And here at the Jagged Peak summit, which is Bsyle's domain, where all the Dragon Communion warriors are coming to challenge him. So the fact that his arena might be carpeted in Calorbloom, and the fact that this arena does feature a ton of skeletons is meant to convey, I think that Bayle has seen many challenges and that all have failed to take him down. But what about the plants at the Grand altar? Did a great battle take place here as well between Drake and Drake Warrior? Well, I think there's evidence that it did. As if the gargantuan dead Drake, with what looks like its heart missing from its chest, wasn't enough to walk upon its wing, and you'll be able to loot Dragon Communion harpoons, which I can only assume you're pulling out of its flesh. These were tools of the old Dragon Communion warriors. At the key word there being old, which, in addition to the harpoons sporting sharp gravel stone, might suggest these warriors had the ancient dragons favor back when the ancients were taking a direct hand in wiping out the drakes. As for what actually killed the gargantuan Drake, if you go behind it, you'll notice an enormous spike jutting out from the nape of its neck. And if you travel over the Drake's head, you'll actually be able to get up there and get a close look down at the thing. So through the center of the object is this straight piece of what looks like metal, around which some sort of stone growth has formed. What's more, the metal has a blue green tinge to it. So what is this thing? My first impulse was just to call it a huge dragon communion harpoon. The metal rod down the center might have simply corroded over time, and the smaller harpoons do actually have a bit of a green tint to them as well. And green rust is common to metals like copper and brass, After all. On that note, I've seen some speculation online that the green could indicate that the metal is verdigris, which, according to the Verdigris Discus, is a corroded metal known for its heft. This is a great theory, and it really helps to tie the harpoons to crafting techniques that would have become unique to the realm of shadow. But to play devil's advocate. None of this really explains the rounded stone growths around the metal, which aren't sharp gravel stone like you'd think they should be on a harpoon. One theory I came across that's really cool is that this stone build up might be fulgurite Which apparently is a sort of fossilized lightning that can occur from lightning strikes. Therefore, another theory is that this giant steak might actually be the remnant of a lightning strike, or perhaps more accurately, a dragon communion harpoon that has been imbued with lightning. I feel like that combines all of the theories together. Full credit to user EDUTY for dropping this geology knowledge on us. But for this giant Drake to have been struck down by lightning, that would suggest that the ancient dragons were around to smite it down. So is there evidence for the ancient dragons being a part of this battle? Well, maybe an item called Sharp gravel stone is found nearby on the corpses of lesser drakes. The description reveals that this sharp gravel stone is actually the scale of an ancient dragon that has supped on the blood of lesser dragons, suggesting ancient dragons were here, I think, and that they were feasting upon the drakes. What's more, red Fulgurbloom is found on the south coast of the jagged peak and is said to bloom where the red lightning of the ancient dragons strikes the earth. This description seems to suggest this flower was in fact not set to bloom by the flame lightning that assails the peak, but rather by the red lightning of the ancient dragons. And this is probably a good time to mention that there are ancient dragons upon the Jagged Peak, who are not hostile to Bayle. So it might not have even been the hostile ancient dragons that generated the Fulgurbloom, or supped upon the drakes. It might have been friendly ones. This brings us to ancient dragon Sennesax. Who, among other ancients is actually on Bayle's side, And it's very interesting to note that these ancient dragons saw some merit in Bayle's challenge to Placidusax. For them to switch sides You'd think there really must have been some injustice in the Dragon Lords persecution of their lowborn kin. Either that, or perhaps these traitorous ancients simply believed that Bayle was stronger than the Dragon Lord, and maybe they believed that might makes right. It's impossible to know for sure. We learn about these traitorous ancient dragons from the hefty red lightning pot, which does this lightning AoE where it strikes and reads the ancient dragons who betrayed their lord to side with a tyrant. Were known for wielding branching red lightning. At first I thought that the branching red lightning would be this attack. But it can't be. These are actually called lightning stakes, and they're the hallmark of other dragons who definitely are not on Bayle's side. Thus, I think the branching red lightning is instead this sort of chain lightning that is characterized by its ability to branch out and chain between enemies. This is the same lightning that Sennesax and the new lightning consumables generate. One fascinating thing that happens after you defeat Sennesax is that when you reload the area, the space Sennesax occupied will instead be filled with a number of these slimes that are imbued with red lightning. The implication being, I think that Senensax's flesh has degraded into this form. Fun fact in the DLC Early Access, these were accidentally silver tears imbued with red lightning, which they quickly corrected to these fleshy variants instead. Upon release. And I think it's a significant change because in the game's data, this variant of slime is called wriggle carrion and carrion is explicitly defined as a dead animals decaying flesh. You might not think that the ancient dragons would have flesh, but they do. They can bleed. They can be poisoned, they can rot, and they can die if they are severely wounded. So too, apparently, can they become undying carrion imbued with red lightning. Now, it is a bit weird that these are the only ancient dragons to turn into this sort of carrion. However, maybe it only happens to Sennesax and her brood because they wield that branching red lightning that we talked about. Maybe that's how the carrion inherited this red lightning, at least. Anyway, I think FromSoftware implemented this carrion spawn because they wanted to signpost other areas where ancient dragons like Sennesax would have once stood upon the jagged peak. So now we know that where there's carrion, there was once an ancient dragon. And sure enough, wherever you find this red, lightning infused carrion, you'll also commonly find ancient dragon smithing stones nearby, which are the scales of these beasts. Therefore, I think that in these places ancient dragons died. But whether they were allied with Bayle and died to Drake warriors, or whether they were allied with Placidusax and died assaulting the Jagged peak, I think is up to you to decide. "Curse you, Bayle! What a sight. A warrior true if ever one there was. A fellow drake warrior!" in Igon's second encounter, he's somehow made it to the base of the peak. Despite his injuries. I suppose that by defeating the ancient Dragon Man, in a way, you cleared the path for him That he could not conquer himself because of you. He can go down and out of the chasm that requires the Dragon Communion Warrior to be brave and show no fear. "Igon. Piteous Igon. Do you not remember? Conjure your past? how once you were. When fear was yet foreign to you! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!" "Ah, Drake Warrior. Dear friend, grant me this one wish. Take this finger. My finger. scale the jagged peak face Bayle the dread. And when you do, summon me, summon my soul, my limbs are limbs no more. My heart is twice over filled with fear. But a Drake warrior, I remain. And my soul yet lies on the mountain." With this you bring you Igon on your quest. Or rather, he brings you on his. Igon's bell bearing that you loot here can be used to craft Igon's harpoons which can be fired from his bow, which is imbued with Igon's obsession. The harpoons read the broken Drake warrior Igon made these one by one, in the midst of his agony, so that Bayle the dread himself, would know fear. But I think Bayle has already known fear at the behest of a great enemy who he fled from after suffering his grievous wounds, which included the loss of a leg. It's the same as what happened to Igon. "I remember that name well. The broken Drake warrior, driven by bottomless hunger and fiery ambition. Precisely what the Dragon Lord envisaged for men who partake in dragon communion, the mad hunger and fierceness of spirit that only flows from those young and short of sight. He rather reminds me of Bayle, In fact. such thoughts are unfathomable to ones as old as we." So it's clear that Igon was designed as a parallel to Bayle, someone who is wounded. "My arms, my legs!" Furious. "Bayle! Vile Bayle!" Terrified. "AHHH" But unbowed. Defined by an unrelenting will. "There is life in me yet! I will soon feast upon your heart!" That will is present in Bayle's descendants as well. We can look to the ghost Flame Dragon in the Realm of Shadow for proof of this ghost flame breath reads the Land of Spirit. Graves is home to all manner of dead, and even the corpses of fallen dragons found their way there. Several of them were endowed with such vivacity that even in death they could not fully die. Speaking of the realm of shadow, I wonder, has Marika's veil over this land had any effect upon Bayle? When Bayle challenged the Dragon Lord, it would have been back when the realm of shadow was still a part of the lands between and only then, long after, Bayle retreated to the jagged peak would the Realm of Shadow have been split off from the rest of the world, becoming a land where death flows to, but not from, but perhaps this doesn't matter at all to Bayle, because things between Bayle and Placidusax are at a standstill. The elder Phantom asks, oh, Bayle, do your wounds yet ache, and has been waiting endlessly for Bayle's fury to crest it's zenith. But clearly Bayle has done little in this time. The only evidence we have of Bayle striking against Placidusax at all, if you can call it that is the presence of the Drakes flying all around Farum Azula. Given this new context of a mutual hatred between the drakes and the ancient dragons, I wonder, are these drakes flying around in some sort of suppression of Farum Azula? Or is their presence this environmental set piece that we were never supposed to look too far into? I'd love to know if anyone has any good speculation on this. Perhaps there's little these drakes or Bayle can do to reach the Dragon Lord, because Placidusax, as mentioned in our last video, has long dwelled in his seat at Farum Azula in his place beyond time, waiting for his god to return. So maybe he can't even be reached there physically at least "my dear Lord Placidusax. Tonight, like every night, My solace is yours. May it grant you sleep in your place beyond time." Somehow the dragon priestess devotes her sleep to Placidusax, an act that likely makes his eternity of waiting easier to bear. And yet he would abandon her in a mere instant. Should she drink Thiollier's concoction and falter in her duty. "I have broken my pledge. I succumb to the deep slumber that was meant for my Lord. T'was a craven act of a foul and lowly beast. Forgive me, good warrior, my lord will no longer look upon me. I have fallen from grace. An old dragon no longer. go, Leave me be" Here, Florissax laments that she has fallen from grace, which I feel like might be wording that intentionally draws a parallel with losing the grace of the Golden Order. The Dragons did once have the Elden Ring, after all, so it makes sense that the ancient dragons could have once had Grace. But now Florissax has lost Placidusax's grace. And she lost it just like that. I think this serves to prove just how painfully prideful the ancient dragons are. "I may be fallen, but I need not surrender my honor. On second thought, I believe you do owe me something for the transgression. On a mere whim, you stripped me of my one and only Lord. As such, I require another... you. One day, may you become a dragon whole. A Lord of your own making. Lead me, and I will follow my good Lord. As you embark on this quest, Florissax’s affection blossoms, echoing the ancient bond that once existed with Vyke. The love of the ancient dragons, profound and fierce, becomes evident in the dragon bolt bestowed upon you. Its inscription resonates with the weight of history, a relic of a time when dragons soared with grace and power.There was a time when the priestess existed in a world untouched by love, her heart locked away, never feeling the warmth of affection. However, under the reign of Placidusax, that has changed. Through her profound bond with you, she has transformed; she not only possesses a human form but has also awakened to the sensations of a human heart. Yet, this newfound love hangs by a thread, conditional on your success in slaying Bayle.As the imminent clash approaches, the jagged peaks surrounding you serve as a grim reminder of the past. The base is littered with the dried remnants of molten rock, a testament to the volcanic fury that once raged here, though it lies dormant for now. Amidst the desolation, countless dead drakes lay scattered, many adorned with sharp gravel stones, bearing witness to the brutal conflicts they endured. While the descriptions suggest they were feasted upon, a lingering suspicion arises—could it be that they fell victim to one another in their relentless competition? Surrounding you are jagged peak drakes, some in fierce confrontation with each other, embodying the primal spirit of survival that once ruled the Crucible.Life in those ancient times was indeed a crucible of competition, where only the fiercest thrived. A revelation from the newly discovered bear communion incantation suggests that it is only through desperate battles with the untamed wild that one can discover a personal God. Returning to the very essence of the Crucible, it becomes evident that this wildness, so intrinsic to its nature, still persists in the drakes, despite the semblance of order that was once imposed upon them. Yet, the greatest threat to Bayle does not arise from his drakes; it emanates from you and Igon. Once nothing more than a mere scavenger roaming the battlefields, Igon found honor and purpose through Dragon Communion."Curse you, Bayle! I hereby vow that you will rue this day!" he bellows, his voice echoing with righteous fury. "Behold, a true warrior stands before you! I am Igon, your fears made flesh!" From Igon's impassioned words, an intriguing truth emerges—the phantoms of the fallen embody the very essence of the soul, inviting you to join him in a battle he could not triumph over in his former life. As the confrontation escalates, Bayle’s fury reaches a fevered pitch. In a dramatic display, he conjures wings of pure flame and lightning, evoking the second set of wings that he was denied at birth.Now, as the battle nears its climax, the air crackles with tension, the stakes higher than ever. "You may be a foul dragon," Igon declares defiantly, "but I will pierce your rotten hide with a hail of harpoons! With every last drop of my being, I will fight!" The determination in his voice ignites a fierce resolve within you, the two of you standing united against Bayle's dreadful form. The final confrontation looms, an epic struggle that will determine the fate of all. With the spirit of the Crucible guiding your actions, you charge forth, ready to seize your destiny and inscribe your names into the annals of history.As the dust settles and the echoes of battle fade, the legacy of bravery and honor will endure, a powerful testament to the warriors who dared to defy the might of a dragon. This tale of courage and determination will be recounted for generations to come, a shining beacon for those who seek to carve their own paths in a world forged by the fires of conflict. In the end, it is not just a battle; it is a journey, a transformation, and a legacy that transcends time itself.
tkank