WARNING: This article contains potential SPOILERS for Elden Ring.An Elden Ring player discovered a clue in Volcano Manor suggesting that the Erdtree has burned before. Elden Ring recently won the prestigious Game of The Year title at The Game Awards, beating the likes of notable titles like God of War Ragnarok, Stray, and Horizon Forbidden West. The biggest reasons for Elden Ring's phenomenal success are its engaging gameplay, interactive open world, and intense combat. Besides these, Elden Ring's lore is one of the deepest in video game history, revealing the backstory of in-game entities like the mighty Erdtree.
The Erdtree is one of the central figures in Elden Ring, acting as a symbol of The Golden Order's dominance throughout The Lands Between. As per the lore of Elden Ring, the Erdtree is the physical embodiment of The Golden Order itself, and the player's goal is to destroy this giant tree to usher in a new age. However, the Erdtree is nearly indestructible and a special item is required to accomplish the task. But shockingly, one Elden Ring player has found a clue indicating that the Erdtree has burned before.
Reddit user MostAbsoluteGamer uploaded an image on the Elden Ring subreddit showing a wall painting in Volcano Manor, a unique legacy dungeon in Elden Ring where players are tasked with killing rebellious Tarnished from other worlds. Surprisingly, the painting shows the mighty Erdtree burning in flames, with a dark red glow, entirely different from its natural golden color.
This painting in Volcano Manor has given rise to many new Elden Ring theories, some of which are well founded. Volcano Manor is the seat of Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy, a shardbearer known for his hatred of The Golden Order and his attempt to overthrow it in the past. The two most well-received fan theories regarding the painting are that the Erdtree was burned down long ago, while another theory says the picture simply reflects the ultimate wish of Rykard to see the Erdtree burn. Elden Ring's lore does not mention the Erdtree's destruction before the game's events, and the developers also haven't said anything about it.
If the first theory about the Erdtree burning long ago is true, it raises more questions than answers. Some fans believe the painting could be related to Knight Bernahl and his maiden, who also attempted to burn the Erdtree once. Regardless, it's safe to say that Elden Ring is shrouded in questions, and fans continue to find intriguing details in the game world. One Elden Ring player discovered a strange landmass near Liurnia, hinting at more profound mysteries to uncover.
Elden Ring is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.