FromSoftware titles have always been known for their well-hidden but incredibly deep lore elements, and Elden Ring is far from an exception to this rule. Between item descriptions that reference important characters or events, locations whose names hold significance, and dialogue from bosses and other NPCs, Elden Ring's lore may be the richest and most extensive of FromSoftware's games.
However, a problem arises because of this: the descriptions are typically just a sentence or two long, and they can be found anywhere in the game, with seemingly no rhyme or reason to the order in which they are found. Thus, due to the sparse nature of the information players are given about the lore, much of a compiled lore for the game will be theories - much like the dicussion about what makes Elden Ring characters Empyrean.
The Potential Connection Between Trolls and Giants
This theory crafting of lore is what recently led one player to make a connection between the trolls and fire giants of the game, but the connection made is much like that of Elden Ring's Marika and the Numen: while some information is confirmed to be fact, much more of it is made up of theories. The theory is that the trolls may have once been giants themselves, but due to their betrayal of the giants, they cut out the face that can be seen on the giants' bodies.
Reddit user ogeronimogilgamesh was the creator of the theory, believing that the hole is where the face of one of Elden Ring's outer gods resided before being removed after the trolls' betrayal. Plus, there is ample evidence to support this theory. For one, the hole and the face itself. Two, the trolls and giants look strikingly similar in build and features; assuming the trolls are giants that have fallen apart over time, one could easily imagine trolls to be skeletal giants.
Reddit users seemed to agree with ogeronimogilgamesh, with some adding onto the theory with other ideas. One user pointed out the dragonkin enemies also have a hole in their stomachs, raising questions about whether there are connections between them and the giants/trolls. Another user lamented the lack of an ending where the player sides with the outer god of the giants. Perhaps the most interesting comment was from one user who noted that the giant hand enemies may have been the hands of the dead giants in the Mountaintop of the Giants area, connecting it back to the idea that they were cut off to prevent them from forging.
Whatever the case may be, ogeronimogilgamesh and other users offered solid points to connect the giants to their more decrepit counterparts. Plenty of information about the lore exists, such as Vaatividya's Elden Ring lore content, so perhaps players will confirm this theory and others in the near future.
Elden Ring is available now for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
