Left eye is constantly closed, right eye is prosthetic made with a seal of golden grace.
FEATURES:
Messmer has two long, red snakes that protrude from inside of his body. Located at his chest and hip, these snakes seem to have a mind of their own/ move of their own accord but dwell from within him. They each have a set of black bat-like wings on their lithe bodies.
DRESS:
Typical Eldin Ring Godly robes. Snake scale armour, long thigh-high boots, cape and helmet.
Messmer was the son of Marika the Eternal and the second Elden Lord Radagon. Upon facing him in the boss fight, we know Messmer as someone to be afraid of, a symbol of fear, exactly what his mother wanted him to be. However, he is a demigod you come to respect and pity if you look into his past and the events that unfold, leaving him abandoned in the Shadow Keep. Looking into Messmer's younger years, though there isn't much information on such, we know, for a fact, that he had friends and people who would fight for him as well as having relations with other demigods.
The remembrance of the Wild Boar Rider item description reads:
“Both were as elder brothers to the lion, and both were cursed from birth. In spite of, or perhaps because of this very reason, Gaius was both Messmer's friend and the leader of his men.”
The Lion referenced in this context is Starscourge Radahn who wore a red lion mane on his helmet and whose men were called The Redmanes. Radahn was an apprentice of the Alabaster Lord, learning gravitational magic from them along with Commander Gaius who rode the Wild Boar into battle.
Two item descriptions prove these ideas. Gaius’s Helm description reads:
“Gaius was the most senior disciple of the same Alabaster Lord who taught Radahn and Gaea gravitational technique.”
Blades of Stone sorcery description reads:
“Gaius and Radahn were good rivals in their youth, and this sorcery is a product of their friendly competition.”
Much like Messmer Gaius bore a curse, his was that he was an Albinauric who are cursed to lose their legs, (as they get old their legs start to fade, this is why, in his boss fight you do not see Gaius’ legs.)
Remembrance of the Wild Boar Rider suggests that Radahn saw Messmer and Gaius as elder brothers and suggests that Messmer was indeed loved and respected by others around him.
I think it's important to take a deeper look at someone Messmer loved dearly, as she would shape the man he was, into the man we know now. Messmer's life took a tragic turn when his mother, Queen Marika, ordered him to go to war. They called it a Crusade, a holy war against those Queen Marika deemed impure.
Crusade Insignia talisman item description reads:
“The warriors who fought in the crusade set aside both honour and mercy to wantonly impale and scorch those deemed impure.”
This crusade was terribly important to Marika, as she bestowed grace to those who participated in it. We learn this from Marika’s Rune item.
Description reads:
“Golden remnants of the grace personally bestowed by Queen Marika to the heroes who joined the crusade for her.”
This Crusade was of great personal importance to Queen Marika, targeting the people of the tower, also known as The Hornsent. Hailing from Bonny Village, a town filled with not only Hornsent but Jars and NPCs wielding giant knives, who wore an item called Caterpillar Mask.
Caterpillar Mask item description reads:
“Grotesque mask constructed from countless solidified caterpillars. A ritual implement of the greater potentates of Bonny Village. Used to ward off thoughts of impurity, doubt, temptation, and other wickednesses one is vulnerable to while absorbed in divine ritual.”
Caterpillar is a term used to describe the Hornsent, what they do, why they keep the jars in their village and why their denizens use such huge knives.
Bonny Butchering Knife item description says:
“Weapon of the greater potentates of Bonny Village. An outsize butcher's cleaver used to dismember human bodies in the making of the great jars stored in the gaols.”
This is all related and connected to Queen Marika and why she tasked her son, Messmer to undertake the Crusades as we learn of a small Shaman Village situated on a clifftop, which turns out to be the birthplace of Queen Marika. Unlike any other village or location in the base game or DLC, the village is beautiful! Covered in pretty flowers and meadows, with soothing music playing and a Minor Erdree (a much smaller version of the Erdtree) growing in the centre, with particles of golden grace floating around the air around the tree. In the flowerbed, an incantation called “Minor Erdtree” can be found beneath the Minor Erdtree, this incantation, unlike most of the other in the game that are used offensively, heals people around it, however, the village is devoid of life except for a few birds, not even a single humanoid being lingers here, we go further inside the village and find an another item called “Golden Braid.”
Minor Erdtree incantation description reads:
“Secret incantation of Queen Marika. Only the kindness of gold, without Order. Creates a small, illusory Erdtree that continuously restores the HP of nearby allies. Marika bathed the village of her home in gold, knowing full well that there was no one to heal.”
Golden Braid item description reads:
“A braid of golden hair, cut loose. Queen Marika's offering to the Grandmother. Boosts holy damage negation by the utmost. What was her prayer? Her wish, her confession? There is no one left to answer, and Marika never returned home again.”
Seeing as no one is left alive, we have to ask ourselves, how do we know the people of this village were shamans? How do we know they were the ones the Hornsent slaughtered and put in jars? Well, in Bonny Village, there is a run-down shack with a ghost nearby, talking to the ghost reveals to us all we need:
“... For pity's sake, your place is in the jar. Nigh-sainthood itself awaits you within. For shamans like you, this is your lot. Life were you accorded for this alone.”
The Tooth Whip item sheds more light into this, the description reads:
“As the wounds ripen they grow inflamed and ooze pus. The flesh of shamans was said to meld harmoniously with others.”
It appeared that some shamans ended up working with the Hornsent, and helped them in this sadistic ritual, be it by brainwashing them with the idea of sainthood or desperation.
Greatjar item description reads:
“A greatjar which fits comfortably over the head when upturned. Attire of the shamans who perform their worship at gaols. Increases the power of thrown pots of all sizes. They offer their prayers to the innards of the greatjars, such that they might be reborn one day into sainthood. This is the cycle of death and rebirth, taken into the hands of mortal men.”
While another ghost dialoge says:
“... Oh please. Not the jar... Anything but that! I promise. I won't ever do it again! I swear—a living saint I'll surely be! Please...you must forgive me. Forgive me, please.”
The ritual was horrendous, painful and grotesque but they did this in hopes of aspiring to something better, evolving into something holy or divine.
Fine Crucible Feather Talisman reads:
“Hornsent view the Crucible as sacred for the refinement wrought through its evolutionary gifts. Most prominently, their tangled horns.”
The shamans tried to mimic the effects of The Crucible, wanting to have an aspect of it, such as horns and wings, as at the times these deeds were done, having such aspects on your body was a showing of status.
Stalwart Horn Charm +2 item description says:
“Horns are sublime artifacts to hornsent, and their presence confirms the belief that they are a chosen people. Only the repeated sprouting of fresh horns can create a tangled horn, which is viewed as an irrefutable symbol of primacy.”
However, this all changed when Marika rose to godhood, advancing the Lands Between and its people with order. And as the civilization advanced, such aspects were deemed impure…
The Crucible Scale Talisman item description says:
“A vestige of the crucible of primordial life. Born partially of devolution, it was considered a signifier of the divine in ancient times, but is now increasingly disdained as an impurity as civilization has advanced.”
Because of the horrific way her people were being treated, chopped up and stuffed into jars with the hope of creating saints, Marika wanted revenge. This is where her son, Messmer comes into play.
Surging Frenzied Flame item description reads:
“Spirits are eternal, and yet frenzied flame melts them away regardless. No wonder the Hornsent forbid the flame's use.”
So in speaking of flames and fire, it is now time to talk about Messmer’s curse.
Remembrance of the Impaler reads:
“A malevolent snake writhed within Messmer, and so his very mother plucked out his eye and put in its place a seal of grace. Yet, having done so, her fear compelled her to secret away her child within the realm of shadow.”
Thorns block our passage past Shadow Keep, similar to the impenetrable thorns we see at the entrance to the Erdtree. To be granted passage we need to burn them, this is the only thing that will destroy them and to burn them we need special kindling. The kindling comes in the form of Messmer’s flame which is just as unique to him as the serpent writhing inside him. The fire, however, is similar to Melina, Messmer's younger sister.
Messmer’s kindling item description reads:
“The kindling that burned inside Messmer the Impaler. A dark thing, eaten away at by a wicked serpent. Burns the sealing tree said to be found at the old Rauh ruins. Messmer, much like his younger sister, bore a vision of fire.”
Marika knew that the flames her son had would be akin to those of the frenzied flame or thought that they would be strong enough to do a similar job, considering they could burn the Erdtree if they decided to go to the forge of the giants. Now that only one fire giant remained, Messmer wouldn’t have any trouble if he wanted to burn the Erdtree down. Marika feared that Messmer would eventually tire of imposing her revenge and could use his kindling and burn the Erdtree to the ground.
The serpent and his flame were both a curse of his birth after all, and should this fact get out, Marika would face ridicule. So she abandoned her son to forever fight her war, sequestering him away in the Land of Shadow, never to return to him. Away he was sent, in front of a massive army of soldiers loyal to him, his mother making it seem that his sacrifice for her was an honour to be celebrated.
The Serpent Crest Shield item description says:
“A finely-made "redshield" featuring an engraving of a winged serpent. Excels at guarding against fire. Said to have been made to commemorate the beginnings of the crusade started by Messmer, son of Marika.”
Those loyal to Mariak saw Messmer's departing as a thing to be celebrated! People of the Lands Between hoped that Sir Messmer would bring them glory and victory. People from all walks of life rallied to help, as his army didn’t only consist of lowborn and upper class of Lands Between, and even the Carian Princess, Rellana herself, gave up her birthright and followed Messmer,
The remembrance of the Twin Moon Knight item description reads:
“Once a Carian princess, Rellana disavowed her birthright and chose to stand at Messmer's side instead, knowing full well that not even the brilliance of the moon could grant him succor. Before long, she became known as the Sword of Messmer.”
Not only did Messmer have a striking similarity to those who became his knights, but also he truly had a good relationship with them, his knights becoming friends who knew him best, as these items explain.
Fire Knight helm item description says:
“Each and every knight hailed from a renowned family of the Erdtree's upper echelons, but were shunned and chased from their homes after pledging allegiance to Messmer as their master.”
Fire Knight Armor description reads:
“These were the only ones who truly knew Messmer. His flames, like serpents. The painful fate that accompanied his accursed form.”
So Messmer started the Crusade against the Hornsent on his mother’s wishes. Scorching and impaling the impure in a bloodthirsty cleansing. His flame became the symbol of this Crusade, even the rank-and-file soldiers would wield it, and those who could not, would use fire incantations to show their allegiance to Sir Messmer.
Messmer’s army also had a branch called the Black Knights, who although joined his cause, soon changed their mind when they learned that Messmer was cursed and eventually turned against him.
Black Knight Commander Andreas spirit ash item description reads:
“The Black Knights were the primary force of Messmer's army. Their first leader was Andreas, a man endowed with great strength and command over the powers of the Crucible, and whose spirit in these ashes dwells. Though he remained a devout follower of Messmer after his flight from the Erdtree, he would rebel after learning of his liege's serpentine nature. His righteous stand was rewarded with imprisonment in an underground tomb.”
Andreas wasn't the only Black Knight that rebelled against his master, his son followed after him.
Black Knight Captain Huw spirit ash item description reads:
“The Black Knights were the primary force of Messmer's army. Second to their first Knight-Commander was Huw, a man with agile command of both twinblade techniques and the powers of the Crucible, and whose spirit in these ashes dwells. Though a champion of the divine beast hunt, he followed his father, Andreas, into rebellion against Messmer, and like his father, he too was imprisoned in an underground tomb. Messmer mourned the loss of a brother-in-arms.”
Messmer showed that he really did care about his soldiers, by mourning Huw. He saw them as brothers in arms rather than a disposable soldier,
The winged serpent was their token creature. A creature to represent both the Fire Knights and Messmer himself.
The winged Serpent Helm item description reads:
“Helm of Kood, captain of the Fire Knights. A winged serpent perches atop it. Enhances Fire Knight skills. The winged serpent is the token creature of Messmer's military forces. It is a wise friend which keeps the base serpent at bay and holds its power in check.”
The two types of serpent that reside within Messmer play an important role in his curse. The Abysal serpent gives him his power, whereas the twin-winged red snakes keep the Abysal serpent at bay, keeping its devastating power in check. Messmer was hated for what he had done, especially by the Hornsent. They cursed Messmer, his family, and his mother Queen Marika.
Despite being driven out, having his eye plucked out, and shunned by his mother, Messmer still took the blame for what he had been asked to do. Marika's orders were grim and violent, but Messmer loved his mother and would do anything for her. Even if he thought it was wrong, even if he despised his own flames.
Messmer’s Armor item description reads:
“On his mother's wishes, Messmer made himself a symbol of fear, undertaking the cleansing crusade she desired. "Direct thy maledictions, thine ire, and thy grief towards me alone."
Messmer’s Orb item description reads:
“Messmer despised his own fire. Time and time again he hoped to rid himself of it, but ever did it burn.”
Messmer remained loyal to his mother's wishes, even if he hated himself for the bloodshed and fire he spread, and even as it was rubbed in his face that he had been abandoned, still, he fought on in her name. Marika truly betrayed her son and his soldiers, she wanted to hide her shame, hide the sin and the curse of her son and so stripped his men of grace. This act was devastating as Grace was a blessing given to people throughout the Lands Between by the Elden Ring, it represented the Erdtree that symbolizes its presence.
To be stripped of such as taking away their hope and meaning for fighting. So, it fell to Erdtree priests, to keep the soldiers brave. They invented the Iris of Grace, something that would mimic Grace’s effect if only briefly.
Iris Of Grace item description says:
“Place on the eye of another to grant them the light of grace as a fleeing blessing. Can also be used to receive the blessing of an equipped Great Rune. In the realm of shadow, this artifice was employed by the priests of the Erdtree to quell the fears of their flock to magnificent effect.”
The soldiers and people who followed Messmer were in denial of his abandonment, one ghost we meet doesn’t want to believe that Marika would abandon her son.
Ghost:
“... No, such a thing is utterly inconceivable... We have not been abandoned. Messmer is the son of Queen Marika... Her Grace would never abandon her own flesh and blood...”
At this point Messmer accepted his fate, that he would be cursed forever… Hiding himself away in his Shadowkeep while the fires burn on, while what's left of his army fights and kills, lost and alone. This is when we encounter him, upon his throne angered by our approach, after all, how could his mother stip his men of grace, yet allow one as lowly as a Tarnished to be blessed by it?
Messmer:
“Mongrel intruder. Thou'rt Tarnished, it seemeth. Mother, wouldst thou truly Lordship sanction, in one so bereft of light? Yet...my purpose standeth unchanged. Those stripped of the Grace of Gold shall all meet death. In the embrace of Messmer's flame.”
In the middle of the fight Messmer is beaten, panting and desperate, he looks at the statue of his mother, Queen Marika, holding in her arms a baby, symbolizing Messmer. After he apologizes to her, he plucks out the seal of grace placed inside his eye socket by Marika, and breaks it, letting the Abysal Serpent loose…
His final words, for the first time ever, was a curse, towards his own Mother, the woman he became a monster for, the woman he became a tyrant for, the woman who he remained loyal to right until the end.
Messmer:
"I will not suffer... A lord devoid of light. O'Mother, forgive me. Soon, Tarnished. Wilt thou be taken in the jaws... Of the Abysal Serpent, Shone of light."
And upon defeating Messmer he says:
"Mother Marika, a curse upon thee."
Messmer suffered a lot in his long and agony-filled life, he had to hide away his curse, he was leading a Crusade against others who were similar to him, those who had afflictions, and he had to withstand the hate and persecution of others, just because he followed his mother’s orders. Only to eventually be shunned and abandoned. He took all of the blame, and couldn’t even bring himself to let others hold his mother responsible for what happened. And all the while she drove him away, forever cursed and abandoned alone in a realm far away from his home and family, without Grace.
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shornoflight) wrote2024-07-14 04:59 pm
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History & Lore (part 1)
Looking into Messmer's younger years, though there isn't much information on such, we know, for a fact, that he had friends and people who would fight for him as well as having relations with other demigods.
The remembrance of the Wild Boar Rider item description reads:
The Lion referenced in this context is Starscourge Radahn who wore a red lion mane on his helmet and whose men were called The Redmanes. Radahn was an apprentice of the Alabaster Lord, learning gravitational magic from them along with Commander Gaius who rode the Wild Boar into battle.
Two item descriptions prove these ideas. Gaius’s Helm description reads:
Much like Messmer Gaius bore a curse, his was that he was an Albinauric who are cursed to lose their legs, (as they get old their legs start to fade, this is why, in his boss fight you do not see Gaius’ legs.)
Remembrance of the Wild Boar Rider suggests that Radahn saw Messmer and Gaius as elder brothers and suggests that Messmer was indeed loved and respected by others around him.
I think it's important to take a deeper look at someone Messmer loved dearly, as she would shape the man he was, into the man we know now. Messmer's life took a tragic turn when his mother, Queen Marika, ordered him to go to war. They called it a Crusade, a holy war against those Queen Marika deemed impure.
Crusade Insignia talisman item description reads:
This crusade was terribly important to Marika, as she bestowed grace to those who participated in it. We learn this from Marika’s Rune item.
Description reads:
This Crusade was of great personal importance to Queen Marika, targeting the people of the tower, also known as The Hornsent. Hailing from Bonny Village, a town filled with not only Hornsent but Jars and NPCs wielding giant knives, who wore an item called Caterpillar Mask.
Caterpillar Mask item description reads:
Caterpillar is a term used to describe the Hornsent, what they do, why they keep the jars in their village and why their denizens use such huge knives.
Bonny Butchering Knife item description says:
This is all related and connected to Queen Marika and why she tasked her son, Messmer to undertake the Crusades as we learn of a small Shaman Village situated on a clifftop, which turns out to be the birthplace of Queen Marika. Unlike any other village or location in the base game or DLC, the village is beautiful! Covered in pretty flowers and meadows, with soothing music playing and a Minor Erdree (a much smaller version of the Erdtree) growing in the centre, with particles of golden grace floating around the air around the tree. In the flowerbed, an incantation called “Minor Erdtree” can be found beneath the Minor Erdtree, this incantation, unlike most of the other in the game that are used offensively, heals people around it, however, the village is devoid of life except for a few birds, not even a single humanoid being lingers here, we go further inside the village and find an another item called “Golden Braid.”
Minor Erdtree incantation description reads:
Creates a small, illusory Erdtree that continuously restores the HP of nearby allies.
Marika bathed the village of her home in gold, knowing full well that there was no one to heal.”
Golden Braid item description reads:
Boosts holy damage negation by the utmost.
What was her prayer? Her wish, her confession? There is no one left to answer, and Marika never returned home again.”
Seeing as no one is left alive, we have to ask ourselves, how do we know the people of this village were shamans? How do we know they were the ones the Hornsent slaughtered and put in jars? Well, in Bonny Village, there is a run-down shack with a ghost nearby, talking to the ghost reveals to us all we need:
For pity's sake, your place is in the jar.
Nigh-sainthood itself awaits you within.
For shamans like you, this is your lot.
Life were you accorded for this alone.”
The Tooth Whip item sheds more light into this, the description reads:
It appeared that some shamans ended up working with the Hornsent, and helped them in this sadistic ritual, be it by brainwashing them with the idea of sainthood or desperation.
Greatjar item description reads:
Increases the power of thrown pots of all sizes.
They offer their prayers to the innards of the greatjars, such that they might be reborn one day into sainthood. This is the cycle of death and rebirth, taken into the hands of mortal men.”
While another ghost dialoge says:
Oh please. Not the jar... Anything but that!
I promise. I won't ever do it again!
I swear—a living saint I'll surely be!
Please...you must forgive me. Forgive me, please.”
The ritual was horrendous, painful and grotesque but they did this in hopes of aspiring to something better, evolving into something holy or divine.
Fine Crucible Feather Talisman reads:
The shamans tried to mimic the effects of The Crucible, wanting to have an aspect of it, such as horns and wings, as at the times these deeds were done, having such aspects on your body was a showing of status.
Stalwart Horn Charm +2 item description says:
Only the repeated sprouting of fresh horns can create a tangled horn, which is viewed as an irrefutable symbol of primacy.”
However, this all changed when Marika rose to godhood, advancing the Lands Between and its people with order. And as the civilization advanced, such aspects were deemed impure…
The Crucible Scale Talisman item description says:
Because of the horrific way her people were being treated, chopped up and stuffed into jars with the hope of creating saints, Marika wanted revenge. This is where her son, Messmer comes into play.
Surging Frenzied Flame item description reads:
History & Lore (part 2)
Remembrance of the Impaler reads:
Thorns block our passage past Shadow Keep, similar to the impenetrable thorns we see at the entrance to the Erdtree. To be granted passage we need to burn them, this is the only thing that will destroy them and to burn them we need special kindling. The kindling comes in the form of Messmer’s flame which is just as unique to him as the serpent writhing inside him. The fire, however, is similar to Melina, Messmer's younger sister.
Messmer’s kindling item description reads:
Burns the sealing tree said to be found at the old Rauh ruins.
Messmer, much like his younger sister, bore a vision of fire.”
Marika knew that the flames her son had would be akin to those of the frenzied flame or thought that they would be strong enough to do a similar job, considering they could burn the Erdtree if they decided to go to the forge of the giants. Now that only one fire giant remained, Messmer wouldn’t have any trouble if he wanted to burn the Erdtree down. Marika feared that Messmer would eventually tire of imposing her revenge and could use his kindling and burn the Erdtree to the ground.
The serpent and his flame were both a curse of his birth after all, and should this fact get out, Marika would face ridicule. So she abandoned her son to forever fight her war, sequestering him away in the Land of Shadow, never to return to him. Away he was sent, in front of a massive army of soldiers loyal to him, his mother making it seem that his sacrifice for her was an honour to be celebrated.
The Serpent Crest Shield item description says:
Said to have been made to commemorate the beginnings of the crusade started by Messmer, son of Marika.”
Those loyal to Mariak saw Messmer's departing as a thing to be celebrated! People of the Lands Between hoped that Sir Messmer would bring them glory and victory. People from all walks of life rallied to help, as his army didn’t only consist of lowborn and upper class of Lands Between, and even the Carian Princess, Rellana herself, gave up her birthright and followed Messmer,
The remembrance of the Twin Moon Knight item description reads:
Before long, she became known as the Sword of Messmer.”
Not only did Messmer have a striking similarity to those who became his knights, but also he truly had a good relationship with them, his knights becoming friends who knew him best, as these items explain.
Fire Knight helm item description says:
So Messmer started the Crusade against the Hornsent on his mother’s wishes. Scorching and impaling the impure in a bloodthirsty cleansing. His flame became the symbol of this Crusade, even the rank-and-file soldiers would wield it, and those who could not, would use fire incantations to show their allegiance to Sir Messmer.
Messmer’s army also had a branch called the Black Knights, who although joined his cause, soon changed their mind when they learned that Messmer was cursed and eventually turned against him.
Black Knight Commander Andreas spirit ash item description reads:
Andreas wasn't the only Black Knight that rebelled against his master, his son followed after him.
Black Knight Captain Huw spirit ash item description reads:
Messmer mourned the loss of a brother-in-arms.”
Messmer showed that he really did care about his soldiers, by mourning Huw. He saw them as brothers in arms rather than a disposable soldier,
The winged serpent was their token creature. A creature to represent both the Fire Knights and Messmer himself.
The winged Serpent Helm item description reads:
Enhances Fire Knight skills.
The winged serpent is the token creature of Messmer's military forces. It is a wise friend which keeps the base serpent at bay and holds its power in check.”
The two types of serpent that reside within Messmer play an important role in his curse. The Abysal serpent gives him his power, whereas the twin-winged red snakes keep the Abysal serpent at bay, keeping its devastating power in check.
Messmer was hated for what he had done, especially by the Hornsent. They cursed Messmer, his family, and his mother Queen Marika.
Despite being driven out, having his eye plucked out, and shunned by his mother, Messmer still took the blame for what he had been asked to do. Marika's orders were grim and violent, but Messmer loved his mother and would do anything for her. Even if he thought it was wrong, even if he despised his own flames.
Messmer’s Armor item description reads:
"Direct thy maledictions, thine ire, and thy grief towards me alone."
Messmer’s Orb item description reads:
Messmer remained loyal to his mother's wishes, even if he hated himself for the bloodshed and fire he spread, and even as it was rubbed in his face that he had been abandoned, still, he fought on in her name. Marika truly betrayed her son and his soldiers, she wanted to hide her shame, hide the sin and the curse of her son and so stripped his men of grace. This act was devastating as Grace was a blessing given to people throughout the Lands Between by the Elden Ring, it represented the Erdtree that symbolizes its presence.
To be stripped of such as taking away their hope and meaning for fighting. So, it fell to Erdtree priests, to keep the soldiers brave. They invented the Iris of Grace, something that would mimic Grace’s effect if only briefly.
Iris Of Grace item description says:
In the realm of shadow, this artifice was employed by the priests of the Erdtree to quell the fears of their flock to magnificent effect.”
The soldiers and people who followed Messmer were in denial of his abandonment, one ghost we meet doesn’t want to believe that Marika would abandon her son.
Ghost:
No, such a thing is utterly inconceivable...
We have not been abandoned.
Messmer is the son of Queen Marika...
Her Grace would never abandon her own flesh and blood...”
At this point Messmer accepted his fate, that he would be cursed forever… Hiding himself away in his Shadowkeep while the fires burn on, while what's left of his army fights and kills, lost and alone. This is when we encounter him, upon his throne angered by our approach, after all, how could his mother stip his men of grace, yet allow one as lowly as a Tarnished to be blessed by it?
Messmer:
Yet...my purpose standeth unchanged. Those stripped of the Grace of Gold shall all meet death. In the embrace of Messmer's flame.”
In the middle of the fight Messmer is beaten, panting and desperate, he looks at the statue of his mother, Queen Marika, holding in her arms a baby, symbolizing Messmer. After he apologizes to her, he plucks out the seal of grace placed inside his eye socket by Marika, and breaks it, letting the Abysal Serpent loose…
His final words, for the first time ever, was a curse, towards his own Mother, the woman he became a monster for, the woman he became a tyrant for, the woman who he remained loyal to right until the end.
Messmer:
Soon, Tarnished. Wilt thou be taken in the jaws... Of the Abysal Serpent, Shone of light."
And upon defeating Messmer he says:
Messmer suffered a lot in his long and agony-filled life, he had to hide away his curse, he was leading a Crusade against others who were similar to him, those who had afflictions, and he had to withstand the hate and persecution of others, just because he followed his mother’s orders. Only to eventually be shunned and abandoned. He took all of the blame, and couldn’t even bring himself to let others hold his mother responsible for what happened. And all the while she drove him away, forever cursed and abandoned alone in a realm far away from his home and family, without Grace.