Romina, Saint of the Bud Lore & Story Explained - Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

Rellana, Twin Moon Knight Lore Video here: https://youtu.be/Nlth97VZP70

One disappointment of the DLC is that some bosses don't have cutscenes or dialogue, even for main story bosses.

Holy shit. That's Romina in the story trailer, kneeling and burning. Thats a great catch. I didn't even put that together.

Romina is the best outcome for scarlet rot. Because she embraces it she’s not just a rotting corpse but also she is reborn, hence the idea of “Decay and Rebirth in practice” literally

I wonder if the reason Romina's rot is more pink/purple almost than Malenia's is because blue is sort of a color tied with spirits and magic, and she is a priestess while Malenia is purely a warrior

5:16 She probably also is of the Numen race. Her flesh is fused with the two insects and Numen flesh is knwon to be compatible with other flesh. Those reborn via Jars are also reffered too as Saints I think.

Crazy theory - Romina has been able to have its bud bloom. However, they have been able to keep it under control no? The ruins aren't completely infected. The rot is kept at the pools and controlled Actual grass still grows. No spores out of control.

I love this boss. Not too crazy or fast. Solid big telegraphed attacks. It’s a nice break from some of the bosses in this DLC. Both are good. Though I wish she, along with other bosses had cutscenes. I feel like BAYLE, Rellana, and Romina deserved cutscenes.

Well that makes a lot more sense, I was just going off: “Hey Miyazaki, what’s Romina’s lore?” “She was in a burning church and found the scarlet rot.” “Is that it?”

3:18 The reason it is more pink is probably caused by the bud's natural color. Her remembrance states that"Romina discovered a twisted divine element, which she weaved into the baleful scarlet" and "Perhaps then, the buds might find somewhere to gain purchase". The description of the Scarlet Bud tells us that the Buds were not rotten from the start, which combined with the fact that she weaved the divine element shows her combining the rot and the buds. As to why the pests are pink-ish too, It's probably caused by their nature to adapt to their enviroment, example being them using the shells to make their weapons.

Wish the dlc had more cutscenes for these characters

3:20 i would argue that romina represents what scarlet rot represented before the removel of destined death. Both decay and rebirth are compromised to ner reach their final state.

The soundtrack of this boss is definitely one of the best in the entire game

Honestly I think one of the things Marika seduced at some point was a/the primordial snake...so much resurrection and rot, and a trail of shed skins/identities among her descendants...

Not for nothing, I also see some similarities with Aldrich from DS3. In the opening trailer, his title was "Saint of the Deep", just as Romina's is "Saint of the Bud". Not only that, but Romina's polearm is rather similar to Aldrich's Lifehunt Scythe. Their movements are similar as well, and when you consider that Aldrich became what he was by devouring and becoming imbued by Gods, while Romina is the amalgam of the forms of an Outer God, it stands out to me as someone who absolutely enjoyed DS3 and thought Aldrich was a very interesting character.

Her poleblade could use a buff.

I am glad they continued rot as a theme instead of only introducing new ones like Messmers Flame or heat lightning. Rot and Madness fascinate me alot and I was so glad we got more lore on both.

That Scorpion Stinger, called a relic of an Outer God (God of Rot obviously), maked me think the god of rot definitely somewhat resembles a scorpion. Now with the DLC, the scorpion enemies and the previously existing Kindred of Rot definitely points towards that type of creature. Even more so with the scorpion stinger wielded by Romina. I think in terms of what it would look like, Romina is the closest we are going to get as I got definite god of rot vibes from her. Obviously not the actual one but very similar perhaps. Like the longer she was in communion with the Rot, the more she transformed into a figure resembling the God of Rot

You got that Daviden Atenborough vibe going and I love it!

Maybe the original sin was when marika killed her daughter Melina bc she had the ability to burn the sealing tree as well as Mesmer and marika perceived Melina as a future threat, where as Mesmer was more easily controlled. Could be why Melina was actively trying to destroy the demigods of the erdtree, in defense instead of conquest