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An Alden Ring fan has suggested that the Erdtree may be based on the Western Australian Christmas tree.
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Not only do they look very similar, but both trees house the spirits of the dead.
The most iconic image of Alden Ring is, of course, Erdtree. Clearly styled on the World Tree from Hideta Miyazaki's often drawn Berserk manga, it can be seen spreading its branches across the sky in the Lands Between.
The World Tree is inspired by Yggdrasil and the Bodhi Tree from Norse mythology and Buddhism, from which the Alden Ring also seems to draw inspiration.
But Reddit user Independent-Design17 thinks there's another inspiration we're missing out on – the Nuytsia floribund, AKA the Western Australian Christmas tree.
Even at Christmas, Alden Ring fans dig deep into lore
As they point out, it looks a lot like Erdtree, especially the miners. But there are similarities much deeper than mere beauty.
In Eldon Ring, we learn that the souls of the dead were formally shepherded to the Erdtree, so we find catacombs built around its giant roots. Demigods and champions are also remembered as “cut down by the Erdtree”. The cycle of life and death is a key part of its mythology, and Nuytsia has similar cultural significance.
As writer Sharna Watson explains on the Margaret River Town website, the indigenous Wadandi know the nuitsia as a “spirit tree,” with each flower representing the soul of a person who has died. Given its bright, vibrant color, it often appears as a sunset. And so it is believed that spirits travel across Australia, through “caves and oceans”, to finally rest, as they do in the Alden Ring.
Another connection drawn by Independent-Design17 links to a popular theory among Elden Ring fans. It is often argued that the ardtree is a parasite that infects the roots of the original, primitive great tree. It is believed that this great tree held the crucible, the melting pot of all life. Similarly, Nuitsia is a hemiparasite, stealing water and minerals from surrounding plants to survive.
However, it is worth noting that the parasite theory is hotly contested. For one, the 'great tree' mentioned in various item descriptions does not exist. This is the result of a mistranslation (as pointed out by LaMi_1). In reality, the translation should be the “great root” of Erdtree. However, some still believe that it is a parasite, and that it was planted by the Greater Will for evil purposes.
However, there are some striking similarities between Erdtree, visually and thematically, and Nuitsia. Whether intentional or not, only FromSoftware can confirm. But anyway, it's a fun excuse to replay Alden Ring at Christmas, right?
With the world-building of Game of Thrones author George RR Martin and developed by FromSoftware, Elden Ring is a masterpiece of what is known as the 'Soulslike' genre of action role-playing games.
