Elden Ring, like all FromSoftware titles, is full of hidden secrets and obscure design details that connect to the game’s story and lore. These details can be so well hidden in plain sight that players will often scan right past them without taking in the implications of these designs. But through reading item descriptions and deciphering the game's cryptic dialogue, a sense of the games deep lore does start to take shape.
Elden Ring’s world is full of so many characters and bosses, each with such significance to the lore of the Lands Between. Furthermore, almost all of these encounters fall under the category optional content for the player.
One of the story’s most important characters is never even fully seen in game. The Empyrean Demi-God named Miquella is the twin brother of Malenia. Miquella is referenced at multiple points by other characters and in item descriptions, but players may not even realize he can be found in-game, as he is the character inside the cocoon found in Mohg, Lord of Blood’s boss room. Now an Elden Ring fan on Reddit has pointed out another interesting design detail about this character and how they appear in game.
Reddit user ashen one has shared an image of the Empyrean Cocoon noting that it appears to be resting on a giant pelvic bone. Normally this could be brushed off as a piece of interesting fantasy set design, but given the backstory for the cocoon’s resident, there could be more to this detail. Miquella was born cursed with eternal youth, and after being confined to the Haligtree he entered a slumber which returned him to the body of an infant. Miquella was then stolen at some point out of the Haligtree by his half-brother Mohg, who planned to awaken Miquella and rebuild the Mohgwyn Dynasty. Malenia returns to the Haligtree to look for Miquella - this is where players will find her for one of the most difficult boss fights in Elden Ring.
Miquella being such a lore centric and supposedly powerful character that doesn’t have a boss fight make him a popular prediction for being the subject of the rumored DLC for Elden Ring. These rumors are bolstered by an NPC named Sir Gideon Ofnir, who upon killing Mohg will remark “I wonder what comes next, if he continues his slumber within the cocoon all will be well...” before noting that it could be safer to destroy the cocoon, which it isn't possible for the player to do.
Whether Miquella will be the subject of Elden Ring’s DLC is uncertain, but it is still an interesting design choice to rest an indefinitely gestating cocoon upon a pelvic bone, as though it were a fetus. Perhaps this could be a hint at what's next for players in Elden Ring, or it could just be a thematic metaphor from FromSoftware.
Elden Ring is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
