Anyone interested inElden Ring’s Lord of Frenzied Flame lore will findElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreeloaded with interesting additions to what is known about the Flame.The Frenzied Flame is a powerful force in the Lands Between and the Realm of Shadow, and its mythology, lore, and influence are heavily expanded throughoutShadow of the Erdtree.
The Frenzied Flame infects all those it can, forcing its desire and “cleansing” anyone and anything in its path, brainwashing victims into a state of madness. AsShabririwould say, “May chaos take the world!“The Shadow of the ErdtreeDLC takes the deep mythos of the Frenzied Flame established in the base game and builds upon it,filling in historical narratives and providing insight into the Flame’s mysterious origins. Here are 10 waysShadow of the Erdtreeexpanded on theLord of Frenzied Flame lore fromElden Ring.
The Item Describes The Untouchables
Torn Diary Page
This seemingly unimportant diary page contains a surprising amount of information regarding the Frenzied Flame. It’s one of just a few documents describing thenew enemies found in the Abyssal Woods known as the Aging Untouchables.
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The page “[bears] a passage written in a tremulous hand,” giving players a hint at how to defeat the Untouchables—a well-timed parry—but also providing a look into what purpose the Untouchables served for the Lord of Frenzied Flame.
“I touched him, but only once. When he thrust his staff in my face, I brushed it aside. It was then that I touched him.The aging untouchable.”
The word “aging” is significant, and acts as a clue into the nature of these mysterious, grape-headed enemies. Players will remember fromElden Ringthat the “grapes” making up these enemies' heads are, in fact, eyeballs, which act as an offering to the Frenzied Flame. Perhaps the untouchables' role includes collecting and “aging” these grapes in order to enhance the power of the Flame.
There Is A Connection Between The Three Fingers & The Frenzied Flame
Swollen Grape
Speaking ofgrapes inElden Ring’s lore, Tarnished will want to take the time to read theSwollen Grape’s item description to explorethe origins of the Frenzied Flame, and by extension, the Three Fingers. It turns out, the Three Fingers likely had a hand in creating the Frenzied Flame in its original form a while before the events of the game:
“An eyeball of the frenzied flame that has swollen from within. Material used for crafting items. Exceedingly rare to find.Marked with fingerprint burns, proof of having been touched directly by the Three Fingers' embrace.”
Tarnished will remember from the base game that the origins of the Three Fingers are quite ambiguous compared to the other Fingers. While it isn’t entirely clear,it’s possible the fingerprint burn marks on these eyeballs indicate the Three Fingers and Frenzied Flame are deeply bonded. One reading suggests that the Three Fingers were a manifestation of the Greater Will itself (just as Metyr was), created to correct the Greater Will’s mistake and make “all One again” through the Flame.
The Hornsent Abhored The Frenzied Flame
Surging Frenzied Flame
Yet another somewhat unassuming item, theSurging Frenzied Flame’s description has interesting details related to the Frenzied Flame’s power, as well as themotivations of the hornsent, a religious faction dwelling in the Realm of Shadow. The details of the consumable reinforce some previously established lore, such as the Frenzied Flame’s ability to melt away even spirits that should be “eternal” in the game’s lore:
“Spirits are eternal, and yetfrenzied flame melts them away regardless. No wonder the hornsent forbid the flame’s use.”
This consumable expands on the idea that the hornsent faction would haveforbidden the use of the Frenzied Flame and its powerful spirit-melting abilitiesas a means of self-preservation and what looks like a token of fear. Thehornsent’s condemnation of this powerwas so extreme that they formed a sect of Inquisitors who hunted down and eradicated those who dared embrace the flame, such asMidra Lord of Frenzied Flame.
The Weapon Hints At A Frenzied Flame-Touched Child
Nanaya’s Torch
This new torch fromShadow of the Erdtreedescribes a mysterious character named Nanaya. Not much is known about her, aside from what is included in this item’s details, a few interactions with NPCs, and a portrait inside Midra’s Manse of what seems to be Midra and Nanaya, whose hand is draped over her belly as if she is pregnant.Nanaya’s Torchmentions a “small spinal column” and the remains of a man being “cradled gently.”
“A torch made by attachinga dying flame of frenzy to a small spinal column.In a distant land, in an age long past, was born a man who failed to become the Lord of Frenzied Flame. All that remains of him is cradled gently by Nanaya.”
Is it possible thatMidra and Nanaya had a child who failed to become the Lord of Frenzied Flame? And if so, who? Many theories and hints from within the game suggest that the son they had was none other thanShabririhimself. However, as with allElden Ringlore, the specifics are shrouded in mystery and left largely open to interpretation.
The Weapon References The Hornsent’s Inquisition
Madding Hand
This unique fist weapon inShadow of the Erdtreecan be acquired after a madness-fueled brawl against an invader found near the Woodland Trail in the Abyssal Woods map. Interestingly, the fist weapon’s description outlines a “butcherous bloodbath,” referencing the hornsent inquisition that sought to eliminate any of those who embraced the Frenzied Flame.
“A glove stitched together from the flayed skin of the victims of a butcherous bloodbath. Forged of an unyielding, black impulse toward revenge fostered in those who were hunted down as heretics by their own brethren,these are the weapons of the utterly downtrodden.”
It appears this item was created from the flayed skin of those murdered for their embrace of the Frenzied Flame, and was likely used by madness-wielding zealots to fight off the hornsent Inquisitors. Whether the item description is focused on a specific event fromElden Ringlore is unclear, though it seems likelythe “bloodbath” is connected to the massacre of the Shamans at Marika’s village,the birthplace of the hornsent ritual of stuffing heretics into jars for a rebirth ritual.
This Enemy May Have Hunted The Frenzied Flame’s Worshipers
Jori, Elder Inquisitor
Deep in the Abyssal Woods, Tarnished will come across a difficult and powerful enemy calledJori, Elder Inquisitor, who carries theBarbed Staff-Spear. It’s clear from the staff’s description and his name thatJori is among the most powerful of the hornsent Inquisitors, and a prominent leader:
“The tip bristles withgolden barbs symbolic of the inquisition’s torture, allowing one to wield the staff as a greatspear. "
However, further hints about Jori and the inquisition can be seen in theInquisitor Ashes, a brand-new Spirit ash found in the DLC. The ashes re-emphasize the cruel nature of the inquisitors' barbed weapons, as well as the hierarchical seniority structure they followed:
“The inquisitor hags wield barbed candlesticks.Inquisitions often perplexed the minds of the uninitiated, and so seniority was viewed as an asset.”
Clearly, Jori stands among the top-ranking of the hornsent inquisitors. But the ashes, as well as theGolden Horn Tender’s description, imply that this inquisition consists of honorable, conflicted members who question the morality of the cause. Therefore,Jori inElden Ring’s DLCmay also be among themost ruthless of the inquisitors, unfazed by the brutality that the inquisition demands.
4The Abandoned Church
The Location Has A Connection To The Frenzied Flame
After taking down Jori, Tarnished will find themselves in The Abandoned Church and get their first look at The Abyssal Woods. They will also collect theFrenzyflame Perfume Bottlefrom a dead corpse in the corner, which indicates that this church may have been a key location during the inquisition. The location of this perfume bottle, anew weapon type in the DLC, impliesthe Frenzied Flame was collected from this church by wandering perfumersin search of “new aromatics.”
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The church itself is designed much like Marika’s churches, but has some clues connected to Midra’s Manse that imply this may have been Midra’s church,where his followers came to worship and indulge in Chaos. Much likeMidra’s Manse in theElden RingDLC, the building is dilapidated and in a state of decay, likely abandoned after the hornsent inquisition.
3The Abyssal Woods
The Map Is Engulfed In Frenzied Flame
The Abandoned Church is merely the first introduction players will have to the larger madness-riddled area, the Abyssal Woods. Tarnished will experience madness here unlike anything they’ve seen prior, and will need to be cautious as they explore due to the many threats therein. Lore-wise, the madness and presence of the Frenzied Flame in this area can be seen in the area’s map description:
“At the east of the Gravesite Plain.A thick forest sprawls at the depths of the ravine that is untouched even by sunlight.Known as the sanctum of Sage Midra, and is a region forbidden by the hornsent.”
Players will learn from the above that Midra is, in fact, a “Sage,” implying a greater depth to his relationship with the Frenzied Flame than pure insanity and destruction. In many ways,the Abyssal Woods are illuminated by madness in lieu of sunlight, and it’s possible Midra may have chosen this area for that specific reason,orthat Midra himself is responsible for imbuing the area and its inhabitants with the Frenzied Flame.
2Aged One’s Exultation
The Talisman Cites Worshipers Of Midra
TheAged One’s ExultationTalisman can be acquired if Tarnished pull off a difficult parry against one particular Untouchable enemy in the Abyssal Woods.The item emphasizes the role that the aging Untouchables play in these haunted woods, which includes ripening grapes/eyes for the Lord of Frenzied Flame.
Aged One’s Exultation
“Gift your madness to our Lord.Bless our brethren with grapes.Take care that they fully ripen.”
It would seem the Untouchables' role is to “age” these grapes for the Lord of Frenzied Flame so that they are “fully ripened.“The Untouchables also appear to belong to a brotherhood of sorts, possibly the followers of Midra, and use the grapes as a blessing to spread the Flame to the other worshipers in their midst. It’s no coincidence that this talisman drops from the Untouchable enemy nearest to the Abandoned Church inShadow of the Erdtree, where Midra likely held ceremonial worship for the Flame.
1Midra, Lord of Frenzied Flame
The Boss Is The Epitome Of The Frenzied Flame Lore
Of all the Frenzied Flame mythology included inShadow of the Erdtree,legendary boss Midra, Lord of Frenzied Flameexpands the lore most comprehensively. Midra is the through-line in all the above connections to the Frenzied Flame, and his story is as tragic as it is terrifying. A detail in theMad Craftsman’s Cookbook [1]shows that Nanaya was Midra’s lady of the Manse, and she left him conflicted about embracing the Flame outright, as seen in his dialogue:
Midra Lord of Frenzied Flame
“Enough… I have endured…more than enough…I ask you forgive me, dearest Nanaya . . .”
Midra is a complex character who ultimately fails to embrace the Frenzied Flame and become its Lord. The Abyssal Woods is clearly a “sanctum” for his failed endeavor, whether the madness was there before him or not, and his Untouchable brethren actively work to advance his cause.
He ultimately suffers a terrible fate “like no other,” impaled upon a barbed sword for his astounding crime. There is no enemy with a backstory as rich in Frenzied Flame lore and mythology asElden Ring:Shadow of the Erdtree’s Midra, Lord of Frenzied Flame.
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.
