"Elden Ring" is an action RPG developed by FromSoftware and co-created with George R. R. Martin, set in a vast, intricate world known as the Lands Between. Here's a detailed breakdown of its story:
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Mythos and Prehistory
•The One Great: The story begins with the concept of the "One Great," an original singular entity from which all life was born. This state of unity eventually gave way to differentiation and conflict.
•The Crucible: Before the Erdtree, there was the Crucible, an era where life was diverse and merged, characterized by the mixing of elements and forms, leading to the creation of creatures like Omen and Misbegotten.
•Dragons and Giants: The Lands Between were once dominated by dragons, with Dragonlord Placidusax as the Elden Lord, and later by the Fire Giants, who worshipped the Fell God, until their defeat by Marika and her consort.
The Golden Order and Marika
•Marika the Eternal: A Numen woman from the Land of Shadow, Marika ascends to godhood by becoming the vessel for the Elden Ring, an artifact that dictates the laws of the world. She creates the Golden Order, a religion and system of governance centered around the Erdtree, which grows from the Elden Ring's power.
•Godfrey: Marika's first consort and the first Elden Lord, known initially as Hoarah Loux, leads several wars to expand the Golden Order's influence, including campaigns against the Giants and the Storm Lord. His children include Godwyn the Golden, and the Omen twins, Morgott and Mohg.
•Radagon: After Godfrey's banishment due to the loss of grace, Marika takes Radagon, a red-haired warrior, as her second consort. Radagon also marries Rennala, Queen of Caria, bearing children like Ranni, Rykard, and Radahn, linking the royal families.
The Shattering
•Theft of the Rune of Death: The Rune of Death, one of the Elden Ring's aspects, is stolen by Marika's half-brother, Maliketh, to prevent death in the Lands Between. However, a fragment of this rune is later used by assassins, leading to:
•Godwyn's Death: The first Elden Lord's son, Godwyn the Golden, is killed in an event known as the Night of the Black Knives, orchestrated by Ranni to free herself from the influence of the Two Fingers. This act fractures the Elden Ring.
•The Shattering: With the Elden Ring broken, its fragments, called Great Runes, are claimed by Marika's offspring, the demigods. This leads to the Shattering, a devastating war where each demigod seeks to control the Lands Between, but none gain supremacy.
The Tarnished
•Exile and Return: The Tarnished are once-blessed individuals who lost the grace of the Erdtree and were exiled. With the Shattering, the grace returns, calling the Tarnished back to the Lands Between with the promise of becoming the next Elden Lord.
•The Player's Role: You play as one of these Tarnished, guided by grace to seek out the Great Runes. Your journey involves navigating through this fractured world, encountering various characters, and deciding the fate of the Lands Between:
•Melina: A mysterious woman offering guidance, she helps the player in their quest, eventually revealing her connection to Marika.
•Ranni: A demigod who seeks to overthrow the Golden Order, offering an alternative path to an ending where the age of the stars begins.
•Key Demigods: Characters like Godrick the Grafted, Morgott the Omen King, Malenia, Blade of Miquella, and others each control a Great Rune and have their own agendas.
Endgame and Endings
•The Erdtree: To mend the Elden Ring, the Tarnished must burn the Erdtree, either sacrificing Melina or embracing the Frenzied Flame. This leads to the final confrontation in the Crumbling Farum Azula, where the player must defeat Maliketh to unleash Destined Death, allowing entry into the Erdtree.
•Endings: Several endings are possible, each reflecting different philosophies or factions:
•Age of Fracture: The default ending where you become Elden Lord under the current order.
•Age of Duskborn: Focuses on death and rebirth.
•Age of Order: Seeks to impose strict order.
•Age of the Stars: Ranni's ending, moving away from the influence of the Greater Will.
•Lord of Frenzied Flame: A chaotic ending involving the destruction of the current world order.
•Blessing of Despair: An ending linked to the Dung Eater's curse, spreading despair.
Development Innovations
•Seamless Multiplayer Integration: While FromSoftware games have always included multiplayer elements, Elden Ring enhances this with seamless integration into the open world. Players can see ghostly apparitions of others, leave messages, summon allies, or invade other players' worlds at nearly any point, not just at specific locations or times, adding to the sense of a living, interconnected world.
•Dynamic Lighting and Weather Systems: Elden Ring features a dynamic day-night cycle and weather system that impacts both gameplay and atmosphere. This not only affects visibility but can also alter enemy behavior and the effectiveness of certain spells or stealth approaches.
Cultural and Narrative Elements
•FromSoftware's Style: The narrative is delivered through environmental storytelling, item descriptions, and fragmented lore, encouraging players to piece together the story, much like in the Dark Souls series.
•George R. R. Martin's Influence: Martin contributed to the mythos, providing a rich backstory that underpins the game's events, giving depth to characters and factions.
"Elden Ring" thus weaves a tale of ambition, betrayal, and the struggle for power in a world where the natural order has been disrupted, offering players both a personal journey and a chance to influence the future of an entire realm.
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