get it twisted

I've seen a few common interpretations of the horns and chains around Promised Consort Radahn's arms and legs. Many of them I like and agree with, but that doesn't mean I can come up with completely different ones!

At first I thought that these looked like chains binding Mohg/Radahn for Miquella to more easily control, but what if they're there to help/protect Radahn?

Normal animal horns grow in set patterns and only injure and interfere with the animal in unusual cases.

But Omen horns aren't a natural attribute. As a result of the Hornsent curse they grow erratically to the point of self harm. Despite the likelihood of death Omen babies have their horns cut off to increase their quality of life, even though theyre shunned and left in the sewers.

The Omen Bairns:

Mohg takes pride in his cursed blood, as a child of Marika bearing the Omen curse. Kidnapping war surgeons, worshipping the Formless Mother, spreading his blood; all serve to legitimize himself and his condition.

His horns are the clearest icon of his cursed but royal blood. He takes great pride in them and clearly maintains their appearance and health. Which also means he doesn't cut or even trim his horns to the point that it causes self harm. He probably sees himself as a sort of new divinity and is unwilling to do anything to defy that.

Much like a tree that grows without any outside intervention, such as too heavy branches, lopsided growth, a bent or twisted trunk and so on. That's why we have gardeners and arborist after all.

As a side note I see his identity being a combo of his bloodline (Marika's child) and his curse (which isn't actually associated with blood or relationships, bit possibly just chance). It's why his dynasty doesn't involve any other Omens.

Mohg doesn't actually venerate the Hornsent curse, he is propping up his unique combination as making him worthy of power and divinely appointed authority.

Morgott on the other hand hates himself, his curse, and all other Omens. To Morgott their suffering is well deserved. He keeps his fellows imprisoned in the sewers and allows the Omenkillers to act freely.

Morgott never (meaningfully) denies being an Omen himself though. He keeps his misshapen horns that are clearly unmaintained, but also has what looks like stumps of sawn off horns. He's doing the bare minimum to maintain his capabilities

The only horns he's removed are the ones above his eyes, likely self inflicted so he can at least see. Otherwise like Mohg he keeps his horns, though oit of self hatred rather than pride.

As for Miquella, let's take another look at the horns on Radahn's arms and legs.

Note the chains are only around the horns and don't even overlap his bracers. You can see that they're actually winding around and between individual horns.

We know that Omen horns don't grow in a natural pattern and can maim the Bearer without proper care.

Perhaps Miquella is using these chains to guide the horns growth in a healthy way. And though the horns are probably young they look to be in better shape than Morgotts.

Miquella is heavily associated with gardening, such as Lilies and the Haligtree. He's the middle ground between Mohg and Morgott. The former cares for and maintains his horns but puts no limits on his growth to the point of self harm, the latter hacks off his own for utility but doesn't maintain them. And here's Miquella caring for them by allowing them the grow in a safe and controlled way.

I'd go even further and say this is Miquella's and Radahn's way of showing respect towards Mohg. They could have hacked them off, or found a way to keep them from growing. This is in spite of Ansbach's words that they are disgracing Mohg. Ansbach is pretty conflicted himself about Miquella given his conversations and armor description.

Relatedly, I think that Mohg's soul hasn't yet fully left his body. If he was fully dead when Radahn's souls was placed in his body then there wouldn't be any horns left.

Morgott's corpse lacks horns to the point that there are holes in his skin where the horns were. That, and he shrunk down quite a bit, though that could be some gameplay or development contrivance to fit Godfrey's model.

I think, in lore, the horns are a physical manifestation of the curse, to the point that the horns grow out from the soul itself. Thus upon death the soul takes the horns with it, leaving said holes.

Perhaps some part of Mohg's soul was merged with Radahn's in the process, or pieces were left behind to be absorbed. Radahn can use 1 Bloodflame spell despite likely never encountering it before. Seems unlikely he could use said spells if Mohg's knowledge was completely gone.

The horns being present only on his limbs means his soul has mostly taken over Mohg's body. What little influence Mohg/the Omen curse has over the body has been pushed out to the limbs, and isn't likely to come back.

Perhaps some part of Mohg did get to be Miquella's Consort, in a way.

I had a samoyed in mind for the fur, with light brown socks. Love the Wolfen, hopefully the game restarting will mean more female Wolves, like the unreleased She Wolf of Ice.

In the meantime check out Ashan'Tyr from the Skirmish wargame Confrontation, by Rackham. Its a dead game admittedly but these models are nice.

I haven't played the game but I think she's pretty good.

She's my second attempt at NMM, and her fur I painted to be reminiscent of a doberman.

Miquella's Lilies, Rimed Crystal Buds, Loretta, and the Consecrated Snowfield

Set in the north of Liurnia, Caria Manor is/was the seat of power for the Carian family up until the Shattering. At some point the Academy rebeled against the family, likely when all but Rennala were indisposed. Large numbers of their Cuckoo Knights were sent to sack the Manor but were repeled by the Manor's defenders and traps. Chiefly Loretta either in spirit form or in the flesh.

Rimed Crystal Buds are found on corpses throughout Caria Manor. These plants are only found naturally in the north; none grow naturally in the south. The abundance of ice and frost themed items here is not surprising, except to note that the materials to make such items likely originated from the north in the Snowfield. Theres no snow nor ice in Liurnia.

The first place to look is the Kingsrealm Ruins at the outskirts of the Manor's lands. Here we find a corpse holding several Rimed Crystal Buds. It's in the ruined tower below, i gathered it previously but take my word for it.

Like the 1st Gen Albunaric found at the Temple Quarter this could be a gift from the north, or maybe from a supply of previously gathered materials held by the Carians.

Keep in mind that Iji mentions that Kingsrealm was destroyed first in the Cuckoo Knights attack on Caria Manor, so regardless how this corpse got the Buds, they likely died during this attack.

Located underground is also the Frozen Needle, the first of several frost themed equipment. Iji either forged this at the Snowfield or used materials gathered there.

Next let's look at Caria Manor itself. First image is mostly the locations of Rimed Crystal Buds, the second is of the MANY Miquella's Lilys around the Manor.

All of these Buds are found on corpses throughout the Manor, all the way to the doors of Loretta's arena, the Royal Moongazing Grounds.

The Manor is the largest collection of Rimed Crystal Buds outside the Consecrated Snowfield. The only other places are the single corpse in the Temple Quarter near 3 Miquella's Lilies and the corpse in Kingsrealm Ruins.

Given the Cuckoo Knights and Soldiers presence as spectral puppets in the Manor, it's likely many of these corpses carrying Buds and other items died during the attack. That or they died of some other means during the intervening time. An internal purge seems unlikely given the residents still mostly control the Manor despite the Fingercreepers on the lower level.

There are a total of 28 Rimed Crystal Buds throughout the Manor.

One hypothesis Ive had bouncing around is that Ranni met Renna the Snow Witch in the Consecrated Snowfield. The family as a whole originates from the Astrologers there, they possess an affinity for frost, they have a number of items/gifts originating from there, and snow isn't stated to fall nor exist in Liurnia.

Though the Snow Witch set days Ranni met her "in the woods" so perhaps not!

The Rimed Crystal Buds had to have come from somewhere, and they don't grow in Liurnia.

To me, at least, Caria maintains its connections to the north even as Miquella and Malenia establish their Haligtree in the Snowfield and their previous occupation of Castle Sol.

An interesting piece of scenery I noticed is that the chapel has a rug with Godfrey's icon of Serosh. There are identical rugs found in Stormveil and Redmane Castle.

The Carians venerate the Erdtree like everyone else in the Lands Between, but not the Golden Order. Having an icon of Godfrey in an active place of worship is a small act of defiance during the rule of Radagon; particularly on Radahn's part as he has an identical rug at Redmane Castle. That and they probably don't want any imagery of the man who left them.

I had 2 thoughts about these rugs, either Radahn had them made to order, or given the rug at Stormveil he acquired them somehow. I have several reasons to think he and maybe his siblings resided at the Fortified Manor which is covered in identical iconography. Perhaps Radahn acquired said rugs and other memorabilia while living there. Stormveil was once owned by Godfrey and now run by Godrick so there'd be far more momentos here than anywhere else.

This rug has little to do with Miquella, I just thought that it's an interesting enviromental design choice. Let me know if you see them anywhere else.

Loretta

The spirit, or Remembrance of Loretta that protects Caria Manor long after she left for the Haligtree.

While Ill cover her more when I get to the Haligtree, I'd just like to say that this is an active spirit defending Caria Manor. She's the one firing on the player when they run up the path to the Manor, and the real Loretta hasn't fully abandoned the Carians.

While the spirit is identical to the real woman, meaning you can argue that Loretta keeps it "updated" or even controls it, I'll keep it simple and say that's a gameplay contrivance. Her later equipment does say that she doesn't really make many changes to her armor though.

Miquella's Lilies

Here is the big one, Miquella's Lilies! There are a whopping total of 10 here (or 11, as I'm about to argue).

The first Lily the player will find is almost immediately to the left of the entrance to the Manor. Fight through a small gauntlet of enemies up a hill to find this one near a corner of the walls next to a tree all on its own.

The player can also reach it by getting to the Chapel Site of Grace and dropping down from the outside ledge to it.

This spot is technically a little isolated. It's a dark corner of the Manor but also next to the likely second most frequented location in the Manor, just a short walk away from the Chapel.

Perhaps Miquella comes here after services if he's visiting the Carians? Or maybe he comes here after entering the Manor?

The second Lily is just to the right of the stairs leading to the Royal Moongazing Grounds.

It cant be seen from the base of the stairs, you have to walk around to the right and towards the corner to see the Lily behind the tree.

What sort of memories or events was Miquella commemorating here?

Outside the Royal Moongazing Grounds where the Carian Family performed their rites and rituals

The deepest part of the Carian Manor living spaces

Hidden away, a bit out of sight next to 2 Herba.

You cant even see this Lily unless you come looking for it here in this dark corner of the Manor. Was he meeting with members of the Carian household here? Plotting with Malenia? Observing Carian/Sorcerous rites and rituals? Or perhaps he visited the Manor so frequently that this became his favorite spot.

3 Miquella's Liliys at this Crystal outcropping just outside Renna's Rise. And directly down the path from the Royal Moongazing Grounds.

Something to note that Renna's Rise contains a portal to the Underground, and following Ranni's quest requires the player to pass through the Lake of Rot to reach Astel.

There aren't too many places in game that clump together Miquella's Lilies like this, right here next to the Carian Moongazing Grounds and amidst the Three Sisters. What was he commemorating here? Was he participating or observing Carian rituals?

Perhaps Ranni, Rennala, or even the entire family had something to teach him?

Theres a large Stone Astrolabe here - and this isn't the only one that Miquella planted his Lilies at.

Perhaps another field of research Miquella might have learned of is soul manipulation. Sellen and Ranni both have their souls moved into new bodies; Ranni to a puppet and Sellen to an obstinantly organic body created by Selvius/Pidia.

With the DLC all 3 siblings undergo a form of soul transposition:

Ranni's body burns to free her soul for the doll bodies modeled on her secret mentor

Rykard's body is consumed by the serpent, so that his soul may slowly consume the serpent's and morph it's body to reflect his apperance

Radahn's soul is placed in Mohg's body and molded by Miquella to resemble his younger self

In the Carian Graveyard are a set of 5 Lilies. This spot makes a total of 10 Lilies at Caria Manor, and quite anstrange spot it is.

The only way to reach this spot from the Dectus Lift by foot is circling around Liurnia through the Academy and going all the way through the Manor.

Although, it is possible that there was a way to cross the ravine either through a bridge or other means which I'll cover a bit below.

This area is guarded by a Lesser Red Wolf of Radagon, descendants of the pets Radagon left with the Carians; either as an affectionate parting gift or callously left behind in assuming his new position. For this post I'd say it doesnt matter.

I suspect that not only are Carian family members buried here, but their retainers and Carian Knights too.

Many of those buried here could be from when Leyndell attacked the Carians in 2 attempts to subjugate them.

The graveyard is positioned such that it's the first thing one would see coming down the Dectus Lift from Atlus Plateau. To me this is a statement from the Carian family, forcing any delegation from Leyndell to pay respects to the defenders that held the Golden Order to a standstill.

So why are 5 of Miquella's Lilies here? He could be planting them here as a sign of respect to Caria's fallen and to curry favor with the family, specifically Rellana.

She probably would not be too receptive to having her ex-husband's children hanging around after all. Showing respect to the people who battled his family would go a long way

If there was a way to cross the ravine then this would be the actual entrance to the Manor. Then would these be an offering, or would he spend most of his time out here before eventually being allowed into the Manor proper?

And I only mention a ravine crossing because there is one more Lily on the other side, down the path from the Dectus Lift.

From this Lily the only thing of note i can seeis the graveyard, in fact the exact same spot that has the previous 5 Liliys.

Even excluding this Lily, that makes 10 at Caria Manor, tying with the Perfumer Ruins, Leyndell, and surpassed by the Haligtree for volume. All these other places have obvious reasons for Miquella's presence, so what's the reason for Caria?

Sure he serves Mohg and fights Miquella at the end of the DLC, but I think the equipment you obtain after his death is either ignored by fans or handwaved away.

To me, Ansbach is a very classic character archetype, the "My Master Right or Wrong" trope done with lots of style. Hes loyal to Mohg for any number of reasons, but that loyalty is sentimental and not borne of any rational reasoning. He probably couldn't tell you why Mohg's dynasty would be better for the world.

I think that, even to his death he believes that Miquella is still the better person than Mohg. If not, Ansbach would at least feel some righteous sense of retribution rather than just a sense of duty. The same sense of duty compels him to oppose Miquella despite his armor saying he has nothing to gain from it.

Otherwise he'd probably stand aside or even stop The Tarnished from confronting Miquella.

The Tarnished is the only person he can support without an internal conflict. Otherwise he'd walk up to the final battle fully intending to die and accomplish nothing.

If his helmet isn't referring to some unspecified part of his pre-Mohg backstory, then he may actually fear Mohg/The Formless Mother/the Dynasty emerging victorious.

I appreciate Corvus Belli toning down the cheesecake-ieness of their female models, and at least giving the Morat women defined and muscular bodies. I'd be a bit embarrassed if I'm trying to get a woman to play Infinity N5 and they saw the old female models compared to the new ones, like the Oznat design is a fantastic improvement.

I mean they still have a way to go but at least they're improving.

I've been asking friends to keep their eyes open, these guys are no longer made so they might be floating around in retail somewhere.

There's some on ebay but those are either for the wrong game version, the bad prepainted ones, or wildly expensive.

The packs I'm looking for should look like these, with square bases, not round ones.

The first image is from version 1.0, likely written before the changes made to incorporate Mohg into the story. The second is our current canon version.

So what changed? Gone is:

Radahn

The cats color

The act of jumping and falling it enjoyed

Leyndell

And the cat's ageing

And what's been added is:

The cat is named Lacrima meaning "tear"

It's a fable

It's a "faerie" "cat"

These changes were done purposefully, but I can't really say why. It went from a real cat to a possibly fictional one. Ita no longer tying Leyndell and Raya Lucaria together, and it may not age at all.

Why is it called Lacrima? The great belltower is reached through Academy Crystal Cave, which contains the Crystal Staff, Crystal Release, and then Terra Magica at the top of the belltower.

The only enviromental bells in the game, not just belltowers, are in Raya Lucaria, the Church of Vows, the Four Belfries, Nameless City, and the Haligtree.

Cats are rare, appearing only as a headpiece for imps and the Burial Watchdogs even though those are dogs. There are Lion Guardians, but I'm not sure about counting those as cats.

And finally the only other reference I can find to a fairy is the Blue Dancer Charm. Various hints around the game and real world historical and mythological examples indicate that the Blue Dancer is in fact the Siofra River.

Thought to be beloved by Miquella ... in his youth? Strange thing to say given his "curse" of nascency. Is it saying his mind/personality grew normally? Is this omniscient narrator referring to certain phases of his life? And ironic joke about his affliction?

They signify faith in the Haligtree, so could this description imply he lost faith in his Haligtree overtime?

What does this mean for all his other Lilies, like this one at Redmane Castle?

I was gonna do some art but I left my tablet pen at home lol

Didn't do Kerry's chain cause I was running out if steam, and skipped Rivers cause he's a cop. Let Songbird go free even if her fate is uncertain.