Elden Ring, developed by FromSoftware and directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki, is one of the most intricate and mysterious video game narratives ever created. With lore penned by George R.R. Martin, the game presents a vast, interconnected world filled with deep history, tragic characters, and an overarching theme of ambition, corruption, and destiny.
In this article, we’ll break down the major elements of Elden Ring’s lore, covering its world, the Greater Will, the Elden Ring, its major characters, and the ultimate fate of the Lands Between.
The World of Elden Ring: The Lands Between
The Lands Between is the setting of Elden Ring—a mystical, decayed kingdom ruled by demigods and influenced by divine forces. The realm was once a paradise, shaped by the Greater Will, an outer god that governs fate through the power of the Elden Ring.
At the center of the Lands Between stands the Erdtree, a massive golden tree that represents the power of the Greater Will. However, by the time the game takes place, the Lands Between is fractured, its golden age long past, with warring factions and shattered rulers vying for control.
The Elden Ring: The Source of Order
The Elden Ring is not a physical ring but rather a conceptual force that dictates order, life, and reality itself. It consists of Great Runes, which embody different aspects of existence—such as life, death, and power.
The Elden Ring was once whole, but it was shattered in an event known as the Shattering, which led to chaos, war, and the decline of the Erdtree’s influence.
The Greater Will: A Cosmic Power
The Greater Will is an Outer God, a cosmic force that seeks to impose its order upon the world. It granted power to Queen Marika, making her the Elden Lord, and through her, it established the Golden Order.
The Greater Will is not the only cosmic force at play. Other Outer Gods, such as the Frenzied Flame and the Formless Mother, also seek influence over the world, leading to conflicts over control.
Queen Marika and the Shattering
Who is Queen Marika?
Queen Marika the Eternal was the chosen ruler of the Lands Between, blessed by the Greater Will. She became the vessel of the Elden Ring and established the Golden Order, a system of divine law that dictated how life, death, and power functioned.
The Shattering of the Elden Ring
At some point, Marika shattered the Elden Ring for reasons unknown. Some theories suggest that she grew disillusioned with the Greater Will’s rule, while others believe she sought to test mortals by plunging the world into chaos.
Her act of destruction led to a great war between her demigod children, each vying for control over the fragments of the Elden Ring. This war, known as the Shattering, devastated the Lands Between and left its rulers broken and corrupted.
The Demigods: Marika’s Children and the Great Runes
Queen Marika had many children, each of whom claimed a fragment of the Elden Ring after the Shattering. These Great Runes granted immense power but also corrupted their wielders.
Godrick the Grafted
A cowardly, power-hungry ruler who grafted extra limbs onto himself to gain strength. He holds a minor fragment of the Elden Ring but is considered weak among the demigods.
Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon
Once a powerful sorceress, she ruled the Academy of Raya Lucaria but fell into despair after being abandoned by her husband, Radagon. Her legacy lives on through her study of magic.
General Radahn
A once-great warrior and master of gravity magic, Radahn was driven insane by the Scarlet Rot, turning him into a mindless beast.
Morgott, the Omen King
A son of Marika cursed with the Omen blood. Though shunned by society, he remained loyal to the Golden Order and defended the Erdtree against challengers.
Malenia, Blade of Miquella
A legendary warrior afflicted with the Scarlet Rot. Despite her sickness, she remains one of the strongest fighters in the Lands Between. She is also searching for her missing twin brother, Miquella.
Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy
Obsessed with power, Rykard fused with the god-devouring serpent and abandoned his divine heritage, becoming a monstrous entity.
The Tarnished: Who Are You?
The Tarnished are exiles, warriors who were stripped of the Erdtree’s blessing long ago. They were once favored by the Greater Will but were cast out of the Lands Between.
However, after the Shattering, the Tarnished were called back by Grace, a divine light that leads them toward the Elden Ring. The player character is one such Tarnished, seeking to repair the Elden Ring and claim the title of Elden Lord.
The Different Endings: The Fate of the Lands Between
Depending on the choices made in the game, Elden Ring offers multiple endings that determine the future of the Lands Between.
Age of Fracture (Default Ending)
The player repairs the Elden Ring and becomes the new Elden Lord, maintaining the status quo but without real change.
Age of the Duskborn
This ending removes the concept of death from the Greater Will’s control, leading to a new cycle of life and death.
Age of Order
A more extreme version of the Golden Order is established, creating a highly rigid and divine rule over the world.
Blessing of Despair
This dark ending spreads a plague across the world, leading to eternal suffering.
Lord of Frenzied Flame (Chaos Ending)
By embracing the power of the Frenzied Flame, the player burns the world in an act of total destruction.
Age of Stars (Ranni’s Ending)
Ranni, the Lunar Princess, rejects the Greater Will entirely, leading the world into an unknown future where mortals are free from divine control.
Conclusion: A Story of Ambition, Betrayal, and Destiny
Elden Ring’s lore is a tapestry of myths, power struggles, and existential themes. It tells the story of gods, warriors, and lost souls, all seeking meaning in a broken world. Whether the Tarnished restores order, embraces chaos, or seeks a new path, the fate of the Lands Between is ultimately in the player’s hands.
The game’s storytelling is intentionally cryptic, encouraging players to piece together its history through item descriptions, NPC dialogue, and environmental storytelling. This rich and layered approach is what makes Elden Ring one of the most fascinating narratives in gaming history.
