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Foul Tarnished, In search of the Elden Ring. Emboldened by the flame of ambition. Someone must extinguish thy flame. - Margit the Fell Omen to the Tarnished — Elden Ring
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The Tarnished is the player character and protagonist of Elden Ring.
Compelled by the "Flame of Ambition", the Tarnished endeavor to retrieve the Elden Ring and become Elden Lord. In their journey throughout the Lands Between, they encounter various demigods, bearers of Great Runes as well as those likewise Tarnished.
Background
Their origins are not known, and can be anything the player wants. However, they are one of the many "Warriors" striped of their Graces and hounded from the Lands Between alongside Godfrey, by order of Queen Marika. The reason why the Tarnished were banished from her Kingdom was so that in Marika's own words, "They could wage war in foreign lands and grow strong through hardship and death." The exact reason why she chose to raise them so is not yet completely understood but may have something to do with her rebellion against the Greater Will.
References
- Melina's dialogues.