Messmer the Impaler

Also, as the ancient texts have always said: "twincest is wincest". It is simply the truth. Messmer and Godwyn must be twins, then.

I found my crew!!! GodMessmer twins truthers, unite!!

I love how we act as if they're an unit. They must be twins, they must be together. DO NOT SEPARATE!!!!!!!!

It's called "heteropaternal superfecundation" and it's one of the coolest scenarios for them, because it's Marika's secret exposed right in front of everyone's salad and no one able to question it (before Goldmask's nosy ass).

What I love most about them being twins, it highlight these themes of duality so present in the game. Godwyn, the perfect child. Messmer, the cursed child. Sharing the same womb, the same blood. Which resembles Marika and Radagon, since he also resented the "curse of their kind", just like Messmer, while Marika takes the golden spotlight.

Also, some imagery in the game comes from a duality similar to Godwyn and Messmer. The Land of Shadow incantation mentions "its gold is accompanied by shadows." So, the Scadutree, for example, being two trunk entwined, its colors being gold and shadows. Messmer's own flames, have shadows and gold inside.

May I also point to the fact that Godwyn's waistcloth has a pattern of gold and red together????? SUS

Which also brings their similarities in their "curses". If Messmer was cursed in birth, we can say that Godwyn was cursed in death. Then, their accursed form take the shape of mythological creatures that are, in many ways, related. A fire serpent, in many tales, is a dragon. A mermaid, in some myths, can also be described as sea-serpents. Not to mention their features growing on other beings (Messmer's fire knights inherenting his hair, crabs inherenting Godwyn's, for example), eyes growing where shouldn't, curses with no deliverance.

And, of course, I should mention the Prince of Death's flames, described in the Eclipse Shotel's weapon art. Godwyn never bore a vision of fire, but somehow, in his death, he started producing a flame compared to a "lusterless sun", also accompanied by shadows.

I personally think it's Radagon and Marika, considering the butterfly pattern. And how his red hair, much to his dismay, prevails even over the black hair of the Carians. Yes, I know it sounds like ASOIAF ass logic of genetics.

However, I don't think Radagon had anything to do with his upbringing. I think it's very telling how Messmer hates his own fire like Radagon has resentment of his red hair. Perhaps Messmer born with red locks and a vision of fire was a reminder of the "curse of their kind" to Radagon. And part of Messmer's erasure and exclusion starts from an absent father, who's never mentioned, never considered.

Godfrey is the dad that stepped in!! /jk.

Although I don't think Godfrey was any better as a father, there's a clear influence of him around Messmer that Radagon lacks entirely. His army uses the double-edge axe, just like the Golden Order. His soldiers use war cries and stomps, just like Godfrey does as well.

Not to mention the talisman found inside Shadow Keep: No wonder Lord of the Erdtree casts a long shadow over the lands.

Obviously, I don't think Godfrey was an actual dad to Messmer, he wasn't to his own children. He always presented himself more as a warlord than a parent, but I think this figure of general, commander, etc, can fill the gap of a father figure to Messmer especially, someone who would become one himself.