FishWithLipstick: I read a theory that said that Executor is a story of a mistaken identity, EVEN though I do think this theory is fragmented I think it could have atleast a bit of semblance.

All the nightfarers have "forgotten" who they were and their memories are fragmented due to an endless cycle of death and resurrection in order to fight the Nightlord. Initially, all the executor remembered was that he was from the Land of Reeds, washed up on the shore of the Lands Between, inspired by the Erdtree so he wanted to capture its magnificence in a painting. But whenever he would go to put his brush to a canvas in the roundtable, something was "missing".

As his remembrance progresses, he realizes that he is in fact not the painter, but he was the crucible knight that was sent to kill her (The painter who I think might be from the lands between). But instead of killing her he fell in love with the painter and was enamoured by the stories from the Land of Reeds. He learned more and then instead of killing her, he let her live under the conditions that she could live UNTIL she finished her painting. The Golden Order sent another crucible knight after realising the Executor failed his duty, which got him marked as a traitor. Executor left her alone for a little while and then came back to find her dead with a crucible knight gazing over the painting, which led to him killing the crucible knight and committing Sepukku with HER katana.

theredknight9314: All the characters are so sad

AuntySocialQueen: The theory I subscribe to is that Executor is a fusion of the Crucible Knight and the Painter into one body and that's why their identity is so fragmented in the remembrance entries.

Likely the Knight was dispatched to execute the Painter but couldn't bring themselves to do it for whatever reason. Then later another Knight was dispatched to do it, mortally wounded the Painter and then was killed by the Executor, who proceeded to Seppuku for failing to protect the Painter and for killing his own comrade. His blade becoming cursed by these acts is what fused the Executor, Painter and the armour together

This also would explain why one of the Executor's skins is Yuria from DS3

BuckeyeMando: Beating Vaati to the lore vids

tyomega9939: I honestly think Executor and the lady, who is the actual painter and Reedlander, had their corpses fused and reborn into a conjoined, singular being, done due to potent connection with the Crucible that Crucible Knights have.

It explains why Executor's memories are so jumbled and they refer to themself as the painter, guest/executioner, and when the Executor refers that they have two faces.

Also explains how they have such a deep, scruff, masculine voice, but their actual face is fairly soft and feminine.

ImJustClaire: Can’t wait for the other characters, I love these videos. Crazy how you managed to cover nightreign lore before even Vaati!

tomjames9681: I do like the typical approach to souls storytelling, but is it wrong for enjoying the slightly more direct approach taken with the nightfarers? I love each and every one of them and was both pleased and surprised with how cleanly presented each story was.

Yes, there’s plenty of lovely room for interpretation, but I don’t need to rely on filling massive swaths of missing character with inferences from one line or vague character progression.

The writing in the journal is also lovely. The Wylder and Duchess story is such an obvious one for a setup revolving around people fightning beside each other so long that they forget their histories, but it sure works well.

Really appreciate the approach to the writing and presentation in this game. New team did very well. Even down to having CLEAR QUESTLINE DESIGN HALLELUJAH!!!

callmewulfie: definitely the coolest nightfarer. i love that his chapters in the journal are basically haikus. also i wasn't expecting an ncis style crime scene examination in a lore video but it was actual cinema. great video big ups.

orom6581: god thank you, i havent watched it yet but i havent seen a proper in depth nightreign lore vid yet holy im thirsty

babymordred121: I wonder if Executor somehow took on an aspect of the painter herself in his "death." Many characters in Elden Ring have achieved a duality of becoming two people (Marika/Radagon, Miquella/Trina, Melania/her daughters), while others have fused together (the grafted jar saints, Godrick). Perhaps his contact with the crucible allowed himself and his painter friend a new chance at life as a single, entwined entity in a desperate attempt to fix something beyond repair. His various identities and shifting perspectives would therefore be him untangling the jumble of memories from his other selves, and his battle with the other Executor in his mind is symbolic of defeating the false persona he created in order to mask and protect himself from the ugly tragedy of his entwined origins. However, like Guts says in the later chapters of Berserk: "i guess even if you force back what was lost, it still wont be the way it was."

DizzyDeez: WE LOVE YOU CHALICE

_Azulite_: I believe the Executor and the Painter became one. The maiden at the shack was said painter. The executor slew his comerade for striking down the maiden, then did seppuku for failing to save her. Why did he feel this way? We can only guess.

The crucible is all about the melding, blending, and transition of life and nature. The executors armour is melded and fused to himself. He can meld into the form of the beast, which also bears some of this melded armour.

The scattered memories of the executor are because of the two perspectives melded together. He refers to himself in the 3rd person as such - as his being is made up of more than himself.

This just makes so much sense to me. Even his face under the helm looks quite androgynous and soft for a battle hardened ex-crucible night with a gruff voice.

Boreasnorm6391: This type of game opens up a whole new avenue of lore. Instead of having these deep and intricate stories being tied to a NPC, they are tied to people you can actually play as. Instead of cosplaying, you are now everything they are. Past and future.

hahaalexasendthistorodrick: My personal interpretation is this: The first 7 journal entries were from the perspective of the maiden, who i believe to be the painter. She is visited by the crucible knight, who was sent to execute her, but he hesitated and did not kill her, perhaps because she was painting the erdtree. The crucible knight is "the guest". He could also be the friend who says not a word, since executor very noticeably almost never speaks. Then, one day another crucible knight was sent to kill him (i personally believe this second crucible to be represented by the other you that you duel), and he strikes the painter. The painter runs off to the shack, and then the crucible knight kills the other crucible knight, then returns to the painters side. Seeing her dead, he takes his own life via seppuku, and then somehow he fuses with the painter, creating the executor. This would fit very well with the crucible theme of conjoining life! The only thing im confused about him is if he can turn into a crucible beast, used to be a crucible knight and gets a holy aura on his sword after deflecting, why does he only have a D in faith?

SpiderMan-xw8wh: I personally think executor was, indeed, someone from reeds. He washed ashore, and upon seeing the Erdtree, he seeked to be closer to it by becoming a crucible knight. In which he does so with ease, being a excellent swordsman.

Afterwards, he becomes an executor of the Erdtree, doing its bidding. He does its bidding for some time, until being tasked to kill the lady, or the painter.

Upon arriving at her shack, he is struck by her nature. He sees nothing wrong, maybe even falls in love, and so, can't bring him self to kill her.

Being bound by duty, and noticing her artistical skills, he decides to "cheat", and asks her to make a painting of the Erdtree, saying to himself "he wouldn't kill her, until she completes the painting".

And so, time goes, he checks on her every once in awhile, she even paints him. Maybe starts to like him aswell, forming a relationship. But a prohibited one, one with his target.

The ones who commanded him of his task, noticing the delay, they pressure him, and finally notices his betrayal, sending him to jail. During this time, the artist was left defenseless, and with the failure of the duty of the first executioner, they send another, and this one won't fail.

This triggers the Executor, who breaks out of prison, in a desperate attempt to guard her safety. Only to find the blood stained crucible knight. He was too late.

And so they duel.

The Executor wins, investigates the shack, but she was already dead.

In an emotional outburst, failing his duty, he ends his own life.

But he lives? Now conjoined with the armor, probably as an attempt to save his life by the painter, he lives on carrying his blade, who holds her essence.

She never really wanted to end her painting. Being in love with her silent guest, she kept dragging on and on, never completing it. And so, he carries her will, to one day complete it.

Definitely, one of my favorite night farers.

captaincalto: In some different warrior cultures, each warrior would treat their weapons as if they were a friend, family member or lover, to deepen their bond with it and be able to wield it better.

There is a possibility that, the painter maiden was slain but wanted to finish the painting of the Erdtree and so the wanting to completer her last wish, he mingles her blood and his into his sword, carrying her with him. A possible reason that's his 'old friend'.

I really love the tragic love stories that From Soft does, and this one is a very poetic one.

Great work again Chalice! Your readings of the haikus makes me think you'd do well at audio book narration.

Jay_Tsunami_: There’s actually a lot more lore than I expected there to be.

I didn’t expect ANY tbh. Let alone for it to tie in to the base game somehow.

ongabonga4378: Before the remembrances, the Executor doesn't know who he is, or why he paints the Erdtree. He writes Haikyu in his journal from the point of view of himself, the painter, and the guest as he remembers these characters from the scene at the painter's shed. After completing all of the remembrances you receive the Executor remembrance skin that reveals a seppuku scar in his armor-plated flesh, and the Executor remembers who he is. He finishes the painter's painting, and hunts the nightlords for the promise to gaze upon the Erdtree once again.

Hubb990: I finished his quests recently glad this video came out it explains his story so well.

Amazing video!

PlanetDrewpiter: Love seeing a new Chalice post!!

oddyssi: i love you miss Chalice

mcgeedarion: Question: What happened to the Erdtree?

Answer: I burned it.

VonG-j3d: The intro is pure poetry

ColtonGamingTV: The final fight took me a few attempts before I realized I needed to play it like Sekiro

KingWhoShallReturn: I love this breakdown style!

I'm anxiously sitting in the Revenant waiting room

Jun 17 2025

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