Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreeis full of mysterious and beautiful new regions in the Shadow Realm for the Tarnished to explore. Oneparticularly enchanting, ominous area is the Cerulean Coast, a blue-flowered graveyard of sorts scattered with gigantic stone coffins that look a lot like ships. In true FromSoftware fashion, the area is equal parts haunting and mystifying, and there’s an inherent mystery in what those coffins are exactly. Some theories suggest that these coffin-ships are actually clues about the origins of the Lands Between, and could be evidence of a particularly devastating, cataclysmic event that washed them ashore.
Various clues about these coffins can be found in the nearby area, such as the numerous sculptures and engravings found on the stone walls of each ship. For example, Tarnished will be able to collect a total of fiveGreat Grave Glovewortfrom the altars found at the top of the coffins, giving them a hint as to who or what these coffins contained. As with mostElden Ringlore, the details are never cut and dry, so here’s all that is known - and unknown - about the coffin-ships found on the Cerulean Coast in theShadow of the Erdtreeexpansion.
What Is Known About The Cerulean Coast Coffins
These Coffins May Hold The Key To Understanding Elden Ring’s Ancient Lore
While many theories about the coffins' intended purpose exist, the only facts Tarnished can know for certain are what’s found in item descriptions such as theMap: Southern Shore, detailing the"colossal stone coffins of unknown origin that seemingly drifted to this place.“Further, the presence of the Great Grave Glovewort could indicate these were placed there in tribute to heroic spirits, as seen in the Glovewort item description:
“Since times of old, large gloveworts were used to comfort heroic spirits. Given in tribute to those who died the most glorious of deaths, in the hope their stories would become legend.”
Tarnished will also notice the nearby tower overlooking the Cerulean Coast, known as theSuppressing Pillar. Perhaps not by coincidence,the Suppressing Pillar is adorned with engravings from the age of Uhl, an ancient dynasty from a time before the Lands Between. The pillar bears the following message:
“The very center of the Lands Between. All manners of Death wash up here, only to be suppressed.”
Another important clue about these coffin-ships is that they are made of stone, literally called the “colossal stone coffins” as shown above. One popular Elden Ring theorist, YouTuberThe Tarnished Archaeologist, believes these coffins hide the story ofElden Ring’s past, andstone was used so they would float atop lava during a great flood that happened long ago.Environmental hints, pointed out neatly by Reddit usernpcompl33t, suggest that the ancient Uhl Dynasty likely had a hand in creating these coffin vessels as well, implying the ships were used for a type of pilgrimage.
Why The Coffins Matter To The Lands Between
The Cerulean Coast Coffins Are Responsible For The Creation Of A Legendary Boss
No matter where the Cerulean Coast coffins came from or who sent them, it is clear that when the Tarnished comes across them,they are leaking putrescent fluid into the Stone Coffin Fissure, one of the many enormous legacy dungeons inShadow of the Erdtree. This putrescence has seeped to the bottom of the fissure and given birth to one of the DLC’s legendary fights, thePutrescent Knight boss. At some point, the coffins' contents ended up as “tainted flesh,” as pointed out in theRemembrance of Putrescence, and reiterated in theCongealed Putrescenceitem description:
“Found underground in the land to where stone coffins drift. The putrescence is what remains of the impure lives kept within the stone coffins.”
The coffins along the Cerulean Coast are essential to understanding the origins of the Lands Between. However, the above details only give a vague picture of its genesis, so fans are left to speculate. One thing is certain:the coffins arrived from some mysterious place outside the Lands Betweenand leaked a tainted, impure fluid into a deep fissure, birthing a powerful foe. Perhaps the Tarnished will never know exactly where the coffins came from, or why the souls inside them became impure, but these are the mysteries that keep them exploring the vastness ofElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.
Elden Ring
Elden Ring is a popular game released by From Software, creators of games such as Armored Core, Dark Souls, and Bloodborne. Players assume the role of a Tarnished, a being once exiled to the Lands Between and has returned to repair the Elden Ring after the events of “The Shattering.” “The Shattering” occurred when the offspring of Queen Marika battled to claim the shards of the Elden Ring, known as Great Runes. Their war has brought lawlessness, destruction, and chaos to the land, and the player will challenge them with the assistance of a Maiden known as Melina as they travel towards the great Erd Tree to face their destiny and to become the one true Elden Lord. Players can tackle the game how they choose and can adventure across realms as they build their character how they want - be it a powerful magic caster or a brutal swordsman - they will have complete control over their build.
