The magnum opus of FromSoftware, Ancient Ringleft us all praising the Erdtree and questioning our sanity in equal measure. But while most of us were busy getting our butts handed to us by Malenia for the umpteenth time, some intrepid souls dared to look beyond the veil of endless deaths and question the narrative.

And boy, did they find some doozies. From identity crises of cosmic proportions to entire kingdoms seemingly forgotten by the game’s history keepers, Ancient ring’The plot holes are as numerous as the “YOU DIED” screens we all know and love.

So grab your Mimic Tear (nerve be damned) and join us as we explore three puzzles that even the most dedicated knowledge hunters are still stumped on. Miyazaki, we demand answers!

(#1) The enigma of Melina’s true identity

Melina, our faithful companion and impromptu Finger Maiden, remains one of the Ancient Ring‘the most intriguing mysteries. From the moment she offers us a deal, players fervently theorize about its true nature and origins.

Is she the dark-eyed queen? Marika’s long lost daughter? Ranni’s alter ego? Or maybe it’s just an elaborate prank by Miyazaki to keep us guessing for eternity. The theories are as wild and varied as the creatures inhabiting the Caelid.

What we know is unfortunately little. She claims to have been born at the foot of the Erdtree, but has no physical form. She has a strangely closed eye which, when opened, reveals a rather disturbing purple tint. And let’s not forget his penchant for self-immolation at the Forge of Giants.

Even after the release of Shadow of the ErdtreeMelina’s true nature remains more elusive than ever. The DLC teased us with more cryptic dialogue and vague allusions, but in true FromSoftware fashion, it raised more questions than it answered. At this point, it may be easier to decipher the meaning of life than to solve the enigma that is Melina.

(#2) The curious case of the missing Finger Maidens

In a world where every Tarnished is supposed to have a Finger Maiden, their absence is more visible than Godrick’s grafted limbs. Our own maidenlessness is presented as remarkable, but as we travel through the lands between, we quickly realize that we are not alone in our maidenless state.

Throughout the game, we meet a total of four Finger Maidens: two who died (including ours), one who became a puppet (poor Dolores), and one who decided to switch teams and work for the Three Fingers instead. It’s as if the Finger Maidens decided to strike just as the Tarnished were called back to the Between Lands.

This rarity raises some embarrassing questions. Where are the young girls for all the other tarnished ones we meet? Did Vyke and Bernahl keep them all for themselves? Or does Miyazaki just forget to include them, like we often forget to Vigor level?

The absence of Finger Maidens not only creates a narrative inconsistency but also leaves us wondering about their true role in the grand scheme of things. Are they really essential guides to the Tarnished, or just an elaborate excuse for why we can level up at the Sites of Grace?

(#3) The Land of Shadows: The parallel world that no one talks about

Shadow of the Erdtree made us discover the Land of Shadowa vast parallel world that somehow wasn’t mentioned throughout the base game. This omission is about as subtle as Radahn’s meteor landing.

What’s truly baffling is how characters like Gideon Ofnir, the self-proclaimed “All-Knowing”, seem to have missed the memo about an entire realm existing alongside the Lands Between. You would think that someone who prides himself on knowing everything would have at least a footnote about a parallel world in his vast libraries.

Melina’s silence on the matter is even more confusing. We literally kill her brother in the DLC, and when we return, she greets us with all the concern of someone asking for the weather. It’s as if the Shadowland exists in a narrative bubble, completely disconnected from the story of the main game.

This disconnect raises serious questions about the nature of reality in the world of Ancient Ring. Is the Shadowland truly a distinct realm, or is it a manifestation of a deeper metaphysical aspect of the Lands Between? And if it’s the former, how did an entire world manage to slip under the radar of even the game’s most competent characters?

Ultimately, perhaps these plot holes are intentional – a meta-commentary on the futility of seeking absolute truth in a world as complex as the Lands Between. Or maybe Miyazaki is just sitting in his office, laugh at our desperate attempts to make sense of it all.

What do you think, Comrade Tarnished? Do these plot holes drive you to seek out the Frenzied Flame, or do you revel in the ambiguity? Share your theories and canons in the comments below!