The Shattering (破砕戦争, Hasai Sensō) refers to the war that broke out after the Elden Ring was shattered.
The Night of Black Knives[]
The assassination of Godwyn the Golden.
Main article: Night of Black Knives
During the Golden Age of the Erdtree[1], a fragment of the Rune of Death was stolen by Lunar Princess Ranni, who used it to forge godslaying knives.[2] These knives were used by the Black Knife Assassins who, one night, entered Leyndell and assassinated Godwyn the Golden. As the assassins fled the capital, an assassin named Tiche was killed protecting her mother Alecto, the leader of the assassins.
Ranni killed herself[3] at the moment of Godwyn's death, causing the Cursemark to break into two half-wheels rather than form a circle.[4] While Ranni died in the flesh, Godwyn's soul alone perished, sentencing him to live in death.[5] His body was interred in the Erdtree's roots beneath Leyndell, where it mutated and warped. Later, the Rune of Death began to spread through the roots in the form of Deathroot, giving rise to Those Who Live in Death.[6]
The Shattering of the Elden Ring[]
Queen Marika shattering the Elden Ring
Radagon repairing the Elden Ring
The Night of Black Knives became the catalyst for the Shattering.[7] In response to Godwyn's death, Queen Marika the Eternal used her hammer to shatter the Elden Ring. Elden Lord Radagon, her alter ego, attempted in vain to repair the Elden Ring.[8] As punishment for her offense, the goddess Marika was imprisoned within the Erdtree.[9]
Consequently, the shattering of the Elden Ring corrupted the Golden Order, and lead to a Shattering War that would leave the Lands Between in ruin.[10]
The Shardbearers[]
Main article: Shardbearers
The shards of the Elden Ring, known as Great Runes[11], were inherited by Marika's Demigod offspring.[12] Tainted by the strength of the Great Runes, the Demigods warred[13], with the conflict becoming known as the Shattering.
Morgott, a Demigod of the Golden Lineage who was born as a graceless Omen[14], inherited a Great Rune known as the anchor ring which houses the base, proving his pedigree as a member of the Golden Lineage and as the Lord of Leyndell.[15] Taking on the moniker of the "veiled lord"[16], Morgott ruled over Leyndell, slaughtering countless champions in defence of the Erdtree under the guise of Margit, the Fell Omen.[17]
The Blasphemous Serpent devouring Rykard.
Praetor Rykard, whose noble ambitions had turned to gluttonous depravity[18], fed himself to the blasphemous serpent after obtaining his Great Rune.[19] His consort, Tanith, established the recusants of Volcano Manor, waging a war against the Erdtree in his stead.[20]
Godrick, a distant relation of Marika whose blood was sorely diluted[21], escaped the capital by hiding amongst the womenfolk[22], bringing with him a multitude of treasures including the Mimic's Veil.[23] He hid from General Radahn in Stormveil Castle, and later insulted Malenia, only to grovel for mercy after he himself was defeated at her hands.[24] He turned to the act of grafting in order to attain power, so that one day he could return to the capital.[25]
Malenia and Radahn, two of the shard bearers and the most powerful demigods.
General Radahn, famed as the scourge of the stars[26], led the Redmane Knights[27] during the Shattering. They were met in battle by Malenia, Blade of Miquella, and her undefeated army of Cleanrot Knights.[28] They fought to a standstill[29], until Malenia unleashed her Scarlet Rot, ending the duel inconclusively. Radahn was driven mad by the rot and was forced to wander the battlefield as a mindless beast, devouring the corpses of those who died during the conflict, whether they be a friend or foe.[30] Malenia, who became comatose, was carried back to the Haligtree of her brother Miquella by Cleanrot Knight Finlay, one of the few survivors of the battle.[31]
Mohg abducting Miquella.
Ranni, the instigator of the Night of Black Knives, is said to have cast aside her Great Rune[32], and its present whereabouts are unknown.
Mohg, known only as the Lord of Blood[33], began building his dynasty underground in secret.[34] To this end he abducted Miquella from his resting place in the Haligtree,[35] wishing to raise the Empyrean to full godhood and become his consort.[36]However, Miquella never responded to Mohg, no matter how hard the omen tried, and continued to remain asleep in his cocoon.
Conflicts[]
The First Defense of Leyndell[]
The First Defense of Leyndell was precipitated by the deterioration of a sovereign alliance.[37] Godefroy the Grafted was captured by Ancient Dragon Knight Kristoff during this conflict, earning the latter the honor of Erdtree Burial.[38] The belligerents of this conflict are not confirmed, however Godefroy's involvement may suggest that the remnants of the Golden Lineage were the attackers.
Morgott fighting General Radahn.
The Second Defense of Leyndell[]
During the Second Defense of Leyndell, Morgott, in the guise of Margit the Fell Omen, slaughtered many heroes in his defense of the Erdtree and got into conflict with Radahn, presumably defeating him.[39]
The Assault on Volcano Manor[]
Said to have been the most appalling battle in the Shattering[40], the conflict took place on Mt. Gelmir, seemingly between Praetor Rykard's army and the forces of Leyndell. The squalid, the sick, and the blasphemous are said to have participated in this battle, which went on without end.[41] The attackers brought the Jar Cannon to the assault, however it was discovered that nobody knew how to use it.[42] Remnants of Leyndell's army can be found at campsites around the volcano, with most of the soldiers afflicted by Frenzy and many seemingly consuming the dead. Rykard's own men deserted him following this conflict, no longer able to abide the consequences of his blasphemy.[43]
The Battle of Aeonia[]
Malenia and General Radahn during the Battle of Aeonia.
The last battle between General Radahn and Malenia, Blade of Miquella.[44] This conflict took place in the area south of Sellia, Town of Sorcery in Caelid, in the region now known as the Swamp of Aeonia. Malenia and her army of Cleanrot Knights marched southward[45] before arriving in Caelid, where they met Radahn's Redmane Knights in battle. The battle ended in a stalemate after Malenia unleashed her scarlet rot, driving the Redmane Knights to defeat while their leader was infected with the rot, which drove Radahn into becoming a mindless beast.[27]
Aftermath[]
Ultimately, none of the Demigods succeeded in becoming Elden Lord,[46] and they were abandoned by the Greater Will.[47][48] Instead, the guidance of Grace was extended to the Tarnished[49], who were called to the Lands Between to claim the Great Runes, become Elden Lord, and restore the Golden Order.[50]
References[]
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