Elden Ring's Hidden Lore Unveiled: Unraveling the Mysteries behind Erdtree's Golden Eyes

Highlights

Gold-limned eyes in Elden Ring enemies indicate the influence of the Golden Order and its unclear goals, with characters beholden to its power.

At the center of The Lands Between, there looms the Erdtree, an enormous golden tree. The Golden Order seamlessly melds together philosophy, religion, and governance.

Those adorned with gold eyes run the risk of losing the favor conferred by the Erdtree. Curiously, numerous individuals belonging to various affiliations also share this unique trait, further deepening the enigma surrounding the intentions of the Golden Order.

Gold-rimmed eyes found amongst a surprising array of Elden Ring adversaries may shed light on the ambitions and influence of the Golden Order, as suggested by a recent theory. A video meticulously examines the character models of both enemies and non-player characters in Elden Ring, specifically focusing on whether they possess golden eyes. Those exhibiting this trait could potentially be under the control of the Erdtree. However, akin to much of Elden Ring's lore, little is definitively understood, leaving ample room for speculation.

The nature of the Erdtree, the Golden Order, and the Grace of Gold remains a topic of fervent debate. Broadly speaking, the Erdtree is an immense and resplendent tree situated at the very core of The Lands Between, whilst the Golden Order comprises a unique amalgamation of philosophy, religion, and governance. It wields the mighty power of the Erdtree, with its Queen Marika standing as a godlike figurehead. Nevertheless, the Golden Order possesses an elusive and enigmatic essence, capable of captivating and abandoning individuals in a manner akin to a gentle breeze.

The eyes of various enemies and NPCs in Elden Ring are scrutinized by Zullie the Witch, a game dataminer and YouTuber from FromSoftware. In the video titled "It's hidden in plain sight," Zullie uncovers that characters with gold-colored eyes are closely tied to the enigmatic Golden Order. Zullie suggests that the abundance of gold in their eyes indicates the extensive scope of the Golden Order's objectives, which may surpass the apparent narrative and lore of the Elden Ring game.

A key aspect of the theory is that the favor of the Golden Order, indicated by golden eyes, can be revoked. Those who have lost the grace of the Erdtree, known as the Tarnished, have been banished from The Lands Between. In Elden Ring, the player is a Tarnished individual who recovers the Erdtree's grace and is returned to The Lands Between for unknown reasons. While some of the game's endings clearly suggest the continuation of the Golden Order era, it is worth questioning if all of them do.

Considering that the Erdtree can withdraw its favor from anyone it deems unnecessary at any given time, individuals with golden eyes likely still possess some level of allegiance to it. In Elden Ring, adversaries such as common soldiers and mercenaries have golden eyes, which is understandable. However, this trait is absent in Albinaurics, Ancestral Followers, and most beasts, which also makes sense. Where things become unclear is the presence of golden-eyed entities like Omens, Rennala's scholars, Demi-Humans, the Misbegotten, Perfumers, the Fire Giant, the Fire Monks, and many others.

Certain characters in the Golden Order have ambiguous ties, as their eyes display various shades of gold. The Merchants, despite following the Frenzied Flame, possess golden eyes. On the other hand, the Godskins, who oppose Marika, have pale golden eyes. Demi-Gods Radahn and Rykard have exceptionally golden eyes, albeit infused with Scarlet Rot and blood, respectively. It is worth noting that Ranni's eyes are not her own. The intentions of the Golden Order in not forsaking these characters remain unclear. It is possible that the Erdtree desires for all of them to coexist, flourish, and engage in conflict with one another.

Elden Ring is now available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.