It is said that this pustule came from the visage of the Prince of Death, he who used to be called Godwyn. As First Dead of the demigods, it's said he's buried deep under the capital, at the Erdtree's roots.
It is said that this pustule came from the visage of the Prince of Death, he who used to be called Godwyn. As First Dead of the demigods, it's said he's buried deep under the capital, at the Erdtree's roots.- Prince of Death's Pustule
Godwyn the Golden, also known as the Prince of Gold,[1] and later the Prince of Death,[2] is a character in Elden Ring.
The golden-haired Prince of Death has grown to immense size, developing a scaly fish tail and webbed forearms reminiscent of basilisks. Death Blight erupts from his body, drawing swarms of buzzing flies. His face has warped into a grotesque, fungal-like disk, and his eyes are drained of color. He remains locked in the posture of his death, as if still propped up by his assassins. He wears bracelets and a tattered blue robe adorned with red and gold floral patterns.
The dragon cult worshiped the ancient dragons and studied their lightning incantations. These practices were sanctioned by the Golden Order, as lightning and Gravel Stones were imbued with gold.[9] Godwyn learned to channel Fortissax's power to summon a storm of golden lightning.[10] His inner circle of elite ancient dragon knights formed his personal guard,[11][12] who received the largest amber medallions ever bestowed.[13]
Death[]
Godwyn is assassinated during the Night of Black Knives
Godwyn was the first Demigod to die, in recorded history, on the Night of Black Knives.[14] His stepsister, Lunar Princess Ranni, orchestrated the plot by stealing a fragment of the Rune of Death from Maliketh and imbued godslaying daggers with Destined Death.[15] The Black Knife Assassins infiltrated the royal capital and struck Godwyn,[16][17] carving the half-wheel centipede into his flesh while a matching mark was etched into Ranni.[18] The ritual caused both to suffer an incomplete death: Ranni's soul endured while her flesh destroyed; Godwyn's body remained, but his soul was gone.[2][19][2][19]
Prince of Death[]
Godwyn's soulless body became the Prince of Death
The soulless body of Godwyn the Golden was buried below Leyndell at the base of the Erdtree's roots, located in the Deeproot Depths.[20] However, his spirit could not return to the Erdtree because he did not experience a true death.[19] Godwyn's soulless body then grew and transformed into an unrecognizable, piscine aberration known as the Prince of Death.[21] Ancient Dragon Fortissax entered Godwyn's Deathbed Dream to fight against the Death within him, but was ultimately corrupted by the Death Blight.[22]
Through Godwyn, the Rune of Death seeped into the Greattree roots and spread throughout the Lands Between. Soon after, the Death-Prince's distorted visage manifested itself across the realm. His eyes peered out of tendrils and vines, and even his distorted face materialized in places of Erdtree burial. This corruption sprouted Deathroot, giving rise to Those Who Live in Death.[23] Later, the roots of the Erdtree were disconnected from those below.[23][24][25]
Wandering Mausoleums prowled the lands to recall the spirits of the soulless Demigod. Many lordsworn warriors protected these great Spirit Calling Bells, and willingly beheaded themselves in a Death rite to guard them eternally as Mausoleum Knights. Though the earth shook when the Mausoleums tolled, the spirit of Godwyn never returned.[26] In contrast, Godwyn's innermost circle embraced his death and became the Death Knights, who quested for a cadaver surrogate to bring about the Age of the Duskborn.[11][12][27]
Godwyn's downfall catalyzed the shattering of the Elden Ring and the subsequent Shattering War of the Demigods.[21] Later, the knights of Castle Sol and Miquella worked toward achieving an eclipse they believed would restore Godwyn's soul to his body.[28] Despite their efforts, the failure of the plan contributed to the doom of the Haligtree.[29]
Game events[]
Fia, Deathbed Companion was the guardian of Those Who Live in Death.[30][31] After recovering the half-wheel centipede taken from Godwyn's body, she makes her way to the Prince of Death's Throne.[32] If Fia acquires the cursemark from Ranni's body, she sleeps with Godwyn to transfer to him the strength of countless heroes and grant him a second life as the Prince of Death.[33][34] As a result of their union, Fia conceived the Mending Rune of the Death-Prince. She requests it be used to mend the shattered Elden Ring and usher in an Age of the Duskborn, introducing the principle of Life within Death into the Golden Order.[35]
Although the Prince of Death is the source of the Death Blight, the Prince of Death's Throne is harmless to the player.
Like his mother Marika, Godwyn is strung up and called a martyr.[3]
Godwyn was protected by a personal entourage in addition to the royal palace guard.[36]
After his death, Godwyn's closest allies did not agree on which Godwyn to aid. The golden knights served the Prince of Death,[12] but Fortissax fought to stop it.[22]
Godwyn's cadaver surrogates are thought to be his larger manifestations found at Fog Rift Catacombs, Scorpion River Catacombs, and Stormveil Castle.
↑ 2.02.12.2Cursemark of Death: "Cursemark carved into the discarded flesh of Ranni the Witch. Also known as the half-wheel wound of the centipede. This cursemark was carved at the moment of Death of the first demigod, and should have taken the shape of a circle. However, two demigods perished at the same time, breaking the cursemark into two half-wheels. Ranni was the first of the demigods whose flesh perished, while the Prince of Death perished in soul alone."
↑ 3.03.13.2Finger Reader Crone (Deeproot Depths): "Ohh... Oh, Lord Godwyn... Such cruelty, such humiliation... My poor, sweet lordling should have died a true death. As the first of the demigods to die. As a martyr to Destined Death. But why must it yet bring such disgrace? A scion of the golden bough, sentenced to live in Death... How could such a thing come to be..."
↑Golden Lightning Fortification: "An incantation of Erdtree Worship. This incantation was used by the knights of the Erdtree during the assault by the great ancient dragon Gransax, and the bitter War of the Ancient Dragons that followed."
↑Bolt of Gransax: "A great ancient dragon, Gransax once rained calamity upon the Royal Capital—the only time in historical record that Leyndell's walls have fallen. This marked the dawn of the war against the ancient dragons."
↑Sword Monument (Altus Plateau): "The Routing of the Ancient Dragons / Godwyn the Golden fought to the last, Earning the friendship of dread Fortissax"
↑Lightning Spear: "Long ago, Godwyn the Golden defeated the ancient dragon Fortissax, and befriended his fallen foe—an event that gave rise to the ancient dragon cult in the capital."
↑Gravel Stone Seal: "Sacred seal made from Gravel Stone thought to be an ancient dragon scale. Enhances Dragon Cult incantations of the Royal Capital. The worship of the ancient dragons does not conflict with belief in the Erdtree. After all, this seal, and lighting itself, are both imbued with gold."
↑Death Lightning: "Incantation that channels the power of the ancient dragon Fortissax, now corrupted by Death. It is said that this golden lightning was wielded by Godwyn, who befriended Fortissax."
↑ 11.011.1Death Knight Helm: "Golden helm of the Death Knights, whose own death masks served as the visards of their armor. Enhances skills and incantations of the capital's ancient dragon cult. The decayed golden wheel that adorns it represents their unbroken loyalty to Godwyn, he who became Prince of Death."
↑ 12.012.112.2Death Knight Armor: "Golden armor of the Death Knights, adorned with an antiquated depiction of the Erdtree. Enhances skills and incantations of the capital's ancient dragon cult. These knights, once Godwyn's personal guard, quested to find their transfigured master's cadaver surrogate—for the coming age of the Duskborn."
↑Crimson Amber Medallion +3: "These medallions, of the largest variety, were conferred to Godwyn's inner circle of distinguished golden knights."
↑Ranni the Witch (Elden Ring Story Trailer): "On a night of wint'ry fog, the rune of Death was stolen. And the demigods began to fall, starting with Godwyn the Golden."
↑Ranni: "I see. Quite the sleuth, aren't we. Indeed, I am the witch Ranni. I stole a fragment of the Rune of Death, and used it to forge the godslaying black knives through fearsome rite. I did it all."
↑Rogier: "Someone stole a fragment of the Rune of Death from Maliketh, the Black Blade. And on a bitter night, murdered Godwyn the Golden."
↑Fia: "When Godwyn died, a hallowbrand scored his flesh. But another exists. Another mark in the shape of the half-wheel wound of the centipede. And I must find it. Before the time comes we receive our Lord."
↑ 19.019.119.2Prince of Death's Cyst: "A fetid, overgrown cyst taken from facial flesh. [...] It is said that this cyst came from the corrupted visage of one unable to die a true Death. Indeed, it comes from the Prince of Death, scion of the golden bough and First of the Dead among the demigods."
↑Prince of Death's Pustule: "It is said that this pustule came from the visage of the Prince of Death, he who used to be called Godwyn. As First Dead of the demigods, it's said he's buried deep under the capital, at the Erdtree's roots."
↑ 21.021.1Rogier: "The misshapen corpse under Stormveil? That is a sacred relic. Of the black knives plot. As that famed night of assassination is known. It happened during the Golden Age of the Erdtree, long before the shattering of the Elden Ring. Someone stole a fragment of the Rune of Death from Maliketh, the Black Blade. And on a bitter night, murdered Godwyn the Golden. That was the first recorded Death of a demigod in all history. And it became the catalyst. Soon, the Elden Ring was smashed, and thus sprang forth the war known as the Shattering."
↑ 22.022.1Remembrance of the Lichdragon: "After Godwyn the Golden became the Prince of Death, the ancient dragon fought long and hard against the Death within its companion. Alas, victory was never achieved and its only reward was corruption."
↑ 23.023.1Deathroot: "A source that gives rise to Those Who Live in Death. [...] On the night of the dire plot the stolen Rune of Death enabled the first Death of a demigod. Later, the Rune of Death spread across the Lands Between through the underground roots of the Greattree, sprouting in the form of Deathroot."
↑Lhutel the Headless: "Spirit of a headless knight who leads the mausoleum soldiers. Wields a lance enrobed in Death and hurls spectral lances at foes. Lhutel sacrificed her life so that in Death she could continue to protect a soulless demigod until their revival, earning her the hero's honor of Erdtree Burial."
↑Death Knight's Twin Axes: "The knight, once the personal guard of Godwyn, was also the protector of the Prince of Death's cadaver surrogate."
↑Golden Epitaph: "A sword made to commemorate the death of Godwyn the Golden, first of the demigods to die. Infused with the humble prayer of a young boy; 'O brother, lord brother, please die a true death.'"
↑Stranded Soul (Castle Sol Rooftop): "Lord Miquella, forgive me. The sun has not been swallowed. Our prayers were lacking. Your comrade remains soulless... I will never set my eyes upon it now... Your divine Haligtree..."
↑Fia: "I am the guardian of Those Who Live in Death. They call me a foul and rotten witch."
↑Fia: " I see. Then you must kill me. For I am the companion of Godwyn, Prince of Death. I wished to be a mother to Those Who Live in Death. So it is, that any loathing, any hatred that overshadows them... I must bear, as a matter of duty, with my own flesh."
↑Fia: "This...is the other hallowbrand. How did you... Oh, my utmost thanks. With this, Godwyn can take his rightful place as First of the Dead. And claim a second, illustrious life. You are my-- our true champion. And though I can't be of any use to you... Can I hold you tight, if only for a moment?"
↑Fia: "I will soon lay with Godwyn. And it will surely stir within me. [The] new life of the golden prince, and first Dead of the demigods, as the rune of Those Who Live in Death. Please, do one thing for me. Brandish this child, my rune, and take for yourself the throne. Stay the persecution of Those Who Live in Death. By becoming our Elden Lord."
↑Fia: "I was known as a Deathbed Companion, where I come from. After I received the warmth and lifely vigour from a number of champions, I lay with the remains of an exalted noble, to grant him another chance at life. To do so is the purpose of my being."
Prince of Death's Throne, located in a shallow pool of purple water at the base of a tainted root in the Deeproot Depths.
