This week’s episode concludes the Specimen Storehouse, and concerns itself mostly with the fight against Messmer and an exploration of what his whole deal was. What led to his genocide of the Hornsent, and how exactly did Marika screw him over?

After clearing Shadow Keep proper, we find ourselves in a tower dedicated to the study and preservation of living beings touched by the Crucible. This is… unexpected in the home of someone leading a genocide against the Hornsent. But as we climb, we learn more about Messmer, and also discover the horrifying truth of Miquella’s plans.

For this entire season we’ve been walking in the wake of Messmer’s works, a fiery genocide of the Hornsent people. But now it’s time to visit the home of Messmer himself and breach the Shadow Keep which looms large over landscape. We talk about the level’s intricate design, and advance some quests related to Needle Knight Leda and her treachery about treachery.

Charo’s Hidden Grave is a region that is true to its name, resting above, but out of reach from, the Cerulean Coast. But once you get up there, you learn a little bit more about this cosmology’s relationship with death, and find a dirty little secret that the Hornsent tried to hide away from themselves.

AREAS COVERED:

We can't believe their cheek! Miquella threw something away which he should not have, and we’re going deep into the Stone Coffin Fissure to find it. So dress appropriately for wading through hip-deep putrescence, and let your least secure friend know where you’re headed, and come with!

Wow, now THIS is blue.

Having broken a Great Rune somewhere in the Shadow Realm, we now head south toward the Cerulean Coast, a beautiful region littered with gigantic stone coffin ships. But the path leading there is anything but obvious.

Having broken a Great Rune somewhere in the Shadow Realm, we now head south toward the Cerulean Coast, a beautiful region littered with gigantic stone coffin ships. But the path leading there is anything but obvious.

This week we speak with Jeremy Greer, of Days of Future Cast and many other shows, about his experiences with the Shadow of the Erdtree. We also read your responses to Castle Ensis and Scadu Altus!

This week we head deep into the Scorpion River valley to explore the base of the Rauh Ruins, a.k.a. that one very hidden map marker. No, not that one. The other one. We end up hitting our final forge dungeon, and exploring a catacomb with a very goofy and deadly threat.

This week we turn our attention to Scadu Altus, the region north of Castle Ensis which Messmer’s armies call their home. This region is less populated with notable landmarks than its non-shadow counterpart, but we end up finding something pretty important in the grisly fort where the Crusade executed those who failed it.