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The Shattering

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The Shattering (破砕戦争, Hasai Sensō) refers to the devastating and widespread war that broke out between Queen Marika the Eternal's offspring, and her demigod step-children, after the Elden Ring was shattered.

The Night of Black Knives[]

The assassination of Godwyn the Golden.

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 Black 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 slew body at the moment of Godwyn's death, causing the Cursemark to break into two half-wheels rather than form a circle.[3][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]

In preparation for the fallout of the Night of Black Knives, earlier that same night, Ranni met with her elder brother and co-conspirator, Praetor Rykard. She gifted him a slab of rock inscribed with traces of the Rune of Death, which was to serve as a last-resort foil to Maliketh, the Black Blade, in case a battle between Rykard and Maliketh came to pass.

The Shattering of the Elden Ring[]

Queen Marika shattering the Elden Ring

Queen Marika shattering the Elden Ring

Radagon repairing 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 other half, attempted to repair the Elden Ring, but in vain.[8] As punishment for her offense, Marika (alongside Radagon) was imprisoned within the Erdtree.[9]

Consequently, the shattering of the Elden Ring corrupted the Golden Order, and lead to a Great 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

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.

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.

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[]

Soldiers and march upon the Royal Capital

Soldiers and trolls march upon the Royal Capital

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 said conflict are not confirmed, however Godefroy's involvement may suggest that the remnants of the Golden Lineage were the attackers.

The Second Defense of Leyndell[]

Morgott fighting General Radahn

Morgott fighting General Radahn

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 engaged in conflict with Radahn.[39]

Whether Radahn was actually defeated by Morgott is unclear, as his description as the mighest hero of the demigods would suggest not. Regardless, while the walls of Leyndell did not fall, Radahn survived and his forces were repelled. Alongside what were apparently Radahn's forces, soldiers of Godrick and Stormveil Castle also took part in the battle[40].

The Assault on Volcano Manor[]

Said to have been the most appalling battle in the Shattering[41], 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.[42] The attackers brought the Jar Cannon to the assault, however it was discovered that nobody knew how to use it.[43] Most of the soldiers in Leyndell's army eventually became afflicted by Frenzy and seemingly resorted to cannibalism, consuming the bodies of the dead. Rykard's own men deserted him following this conflict, no longer able to abide the consequences of his blasphemy.[44]

Godrick vs Malenia[]

Godrick meeting a humiliating defeat by Malenia, Blade of Miquella.

Godrick meeting a humiliating defeat by Malenia, Blade of Miquella.

Scarcely deserving of being considered a balanced conflict on her journey to face Radahn in the Battle of Aeonia, Malenia and her Cleanrot Knights marched passed Stormveil Castle, where Godrick the Grafted and his own forces had been cowering from the Red Lion general. Apparently, Godrick did something to insult Melania, which led to a battle between the pair. Godrick was defeated, and rather than chosing to die in battle, he begged Malenia for mercy. Godrick was spared, and Malenia pressed on to meet Radahn.

The Battle of Aeonia[]

Malenia and General Radahn during the Battle of Aeonia.

Malenia and General Radahn during the Battle of Aeonia.

The last battle between General Radahn and Malenia, Blade of Miquella.[45] 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[46] 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,[47] and they were abandoned by the Greater Will.[48][49] Instead, the guidance of Grace was extended to the Tarnished[50], who were called to the Lands Between to claim the Great Runes, become Elden Lord, and restore the Golden Order.[51]

Nightreign[]

The Night emerging during the Shattering.

The Night emerging during the Shattering.

The events of the Shattering in the alternate timeline are likely the same though its aftermath is entirely different in comparison; In the aftermath of the civil war, a primordial cataclysm known as simply The Night and its harbingers Heolstor and the Nightlords emerged and descended on the Lands Between. As Marika's shattering of the Elden Ring and the Shattering had destroyed order itself, the Night, through the Night's Tide, began plunging the Lands Between into darkness and chaos, drawing forth all manner of monsters and beasts from different worlds and realms as perpetual rain threatened to wash away everything.

As the world was alternated and consumed by the Night, the Golden Order cease to exist. Queen Marika seemed to have disappeared from the Lands Between, as she and the Elden Ring are no longer prayed to, though a few churches remained standing. Meanwhile, the Erdtree itself had vanished completely from the Lands Between and its golden radiant hues are no longer visible in sight. Its disappearance, along with it the Grace of Gold, prevented the Tarnished from being beckoned by its call to return. The fate of many of the demigods are unknown but have presumably died out during the Shattering while very few, that being Morgott and Godrick, were left alive.

In response to the growing darkness, a group of warriors from other lands known as the Nightfarers chose to stay in the Lands Between with the goal of slaying the Nightlords so as to end the Night.

Belligerents[]

Morgott's Forces (The Golden Order)[]

Morgott and his armies consisted primarily of those who served the Erdtree, both willingly, and some unwillingly.

Rykard's Forces (The Recusants)[]

Rykard and his forces were those who wished to oppose all the Erdtree stood for. His armies were assisted by legions of automatons like the Abductor Virgins, the Marrionettes and the Avionettes. After Rykard's transformation into the Lord of Blasphemy, almost all of his non-automaton forces abandoned him, no longer able to abide by the depravity his once rebellious ambitions had become. In their place, to support his gluttonous cause, the sacrilegious union of Rykard and the God-Devouring Serpent brought about the emergence of the Man-Serpents.

Radahn's Forces (The Redmanes)[]

Radahn's soldiers were a revered and well trained fighting force that served their lord with unfailing loyalty. Unlike their contemporaries, Radahn's armies were very linear, in the sense they were entirely Redmane soldiers, and were supported by little to no other different forces. However, in the event of the battle of the Second Defense of Leyndell, they were apparently able to coordinate with the forces of Stormveil Castle and Godrick.

Miquella's Forces[]

The armies of Miquella followed their lord as he parted ways with the Erdtree. They were supported by the elite Cleanrot Knights, under the command of Miquella's twin sister, Malenia. She was completely loyal to her brother, and despite her own Empyrean selection, chose to support Miquella's assent to godhood.

Godrick's Forces[]

Much like the nature of their lord, the armies of Godrick the Grafted were a decrentralised force of numerous warriors and creatures. Many humanoid soldiers were not organised under his banner, with large sections of consisting of Exiled Soldiers and Banished Knights. Kaiden Sellsword mercenaries were also employed by Godrick to fight for him.

Gallery[]

References[]

  1. ↑ Sorcerer Rogier: "It happened during the Golden Age of the Erdtree, long before the shattering of the Elden Ring."
  2. ↑ Ranni the Witch: "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."
  3. ↑ Cursemark of Death
  4. ↑ Ranni the Witch: "But sadly for thee, the cursemark thou seekest is not to be found here. I have slain the body I was born into, and cast it away. And it is upon that flesh the cursemark is carved."
  5. ↑ Finger Reader Crone: "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..."
  6. ↑ Deathroot
  7. ↑ Sorcerer Rogier: "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."
  8. ↑ Marika's Hammer
  9. ↑ Finger Reader Enia: "Queen Marika is the vessel of the Elden Ring, carrier of its vision. A god, in truth. But after the Elden Ring's shattering, she was imprisoned in the Erdtree. A grim punishment for shattering the Order, despite her godhood."
  10. ↑ Finger Reader Enia: "The tragic corruption of the Order has taken its toll. Across the realm, life lies in ruin. Fallen to pieces. Foul curses and misery spread, unabating."
  11. ↑ Finger Reader Enia: "Brave Tarnished, your Great Rune is a handsome  shard of the Elden Ring."
  12. ↑ Finger Reader Enia: "Ahh, Great Runes are the stuff of demigods: the children of the goddess, Queen Marika."
  13. ↑ Finger Reader Enia: "Tainted by the strength of their runes, her children warred, but none could become Elden Lord."
  14. ↑ Remembrance of the Omen King
  15. ↑ Morgott's Great Rune
  16. ↑ Sir Gideon Ofnir, the All-Knowing: "Set your sights elsewhere for the time being. The Veiled Monarch can wait."
  17. ↑ Fell Omen Cloak
  18. ↑ Gelmir Knight Armor
  19. ↑ Rykard's Great Rune
  20. ↑ Tanith, Volcano Manor Proprietress: "f the Erdtree, and indeed the very gods, would debase us so, then we are willing to raise the banner of resistance, even if it means heresy. We at the Volcano Manor, under Lord Rykard, have sworn no rest until it is done."
  21. ↑ Finger Reader Enia: " Godrick the Grafted was but a distant relation... The runt of the litter, his divine blood sorely diluted"
  22. ↑ Kenneth Haight: "First he hid himself amongst the womenfolk to flee the capital"
  23. ↑ Mimic's Veil
  24. ↑ Kenneth Haight: "then hid from Radahn in that castle... Then he insulted Malenia, lost to her in battle, only to lick her boots rather than die like a man."
  25. ↑ Remembrance of the Grafted
  26. ↑ Sir Gideon Ofnir, the All-Knowing: "General Radahn, the famed Red Lion and scourge of the stars, is a ferocious warrior."
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Redmane Knight Armor
  28. ↑ Cleanrot Armor
  29. ↑ Sir Gideon Ofnir, the All-Knowing: "Ahh, so the secret medallions led you to the land of the Haligtree? I'd expect to find Malenia there. She who fought Radahn to a standstill."
  30. ↑ Castellan Jerren: "General Radahn is cursed ever to wander. Eaten from the inside, by Malenia's scarlet rot, his wits are long gone. Now he gathers the corpses of former friends and foes alike, gorging on them, like a dog. Howling at the sky."
  31. ↑ Cleanrot Knight Finlay
  32. ↑ Sir Gideon Ofnir, the All-Knowing: "Ranni is said to have cast aside her Great Rune"
  33. ↑ Sir Gideon Ofnir, the All-Knowing: "And the one only known as the Lord of Blood."
  34. ↑ Map Mohgwyn Palace
  35. ↑ Sir Gideon Ofnir, the All-Knowing: "I heard speculation Miquella embedded himself in the Haligtree, but before he could finish, someone cut the tree open and absconded with his infant form."
  36. ↑ Remembrance of the Blood Lord
  37. ↑ Sword Monument: ""The First Defense of Leyndell A sovereign alliance rots from within Traces yet remain of bloody conspiracy"
  38. ↑ Ancient Dragon Knight Kristoff Ashes
  39. ↑ Sword Monument: "The Second Defense of Leyndell The Fell Omen stacks high the corpses of heroes Yet the Erdtree remains unshaken"
  40. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_03kFqWfqs&t=92s The Official Story trailer shows soldiers sieging Leyndell with the coat of arms of Godrick forces at 1:54 (see Tree-and-Beast Surcoat). In addition the banners left on the field before Leyndell's walls depict a hawk, historical symbol of Stormveil and still used on the castle's weapons.
  41. ↑ Sir Gideon Ofnir, the All-Knowing: "The volcano, Mt. Gelmir, lies in the west of the Altus Plateau; the realm of the Erdtree. It was the stage of the most appalling battle in the entirety of the Shattering."
  42. ↑ Sword Monument: "The Assault on Volcano Manor The squalid, the sick, the blasphemous; a wretched, unending war with no glory"
  43. ↑ Jar Cannon
  44. ↑ Stranded Soul: "Lord Rykard... If this putrid field of death is what your blasphemy would bring, then I can no longer abide. No one can."
  45. ↑ Map Caelid
  46. ↑ Sword Monument: "This marks Malenia's southward march The Blade of Miquella and her Cleanrot Knights Grant her wings never to be clipped"
  47. ↑ Finger Reader Enia: " Tainted by the strength of their runes, her children warred, but none could become Elden Lord."
  48. ↑ Narrator: "The mad taint of their newfound strength triggered the Shattering. A war from which no lord arose. A war leading to abandonment by the Greater Will."
  49. ↑ Finger Reader Enia: "The Greater Will has long renounced the demigods."
  50. ↑ Finger Reader Enia: "And so grace was extended, to your kind, the Tarnished"
  51. ↑ Finger Reader Enia: "So it is that the Tarnished are guided by grace. Called to act. Brave Tarnished, your Great Rune is a handsome  shard of the Elden Ring. Seek another of its kind. To become Elden Lord, and restore the Golden Order"


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