The logic of the Painted Worlds isn’t fully explained, so much of how they work is merely speculation. One theory is used to suggest how Elden Ring connects to Dark Souls and Caligo Nightreign FromSoftware's other games. At the end of Ashes of Ariandel , the player finds someone called the Painter. She sits in front of a blank canvas awaiting the return of Gael, who will bring the paint she’ll use. After completing The Ringed City , the player acquires this paint, which is actually an item called Blood of the Dark Soul, the description of which says it is " used as pigment [...] to depict a painted world ." When the player gives this to the Painter, she says, " I will assuredly finish the painting. Of a cold, dark, and very gentle place. One day, it will make someone a goodly home.