Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree introduces new lore to the base game, and along with it another big question: why was Messmer the Impaler left behind in the Land of Shadow? Messmer is the son of Queen Marika the Eternal and was initially in the Land of Shadow on her orders as he was assisting in her crusade against the Hornsent. The Hornsent were the regions former rulers who had lorded over Marika before her ascension to godhood. Though this explains why Messmer came to the land, why he couldnt leave isnt as easily apparent.