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And one other. Whom grace would again bless.
A Tarnished of no renown.
Cross the fog, to the Lands Between,
to stand before the Elden Ring.
And become the Elden Lord.

- Narrator — Elden Ring



The Tarnished is the protagonist of Elden Ring.

Compelled by the "Flame of Ambition", the Tarnished endeavors to brandish 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 their fellow Tarnished.

Overview[]

A Tarnished of no renown, called to cross the sea of fog to the Lands Between, having been blessed once more by the Grace once thought lost to their kind.[1] Their origins are unknown, as are their accomplishments prior to their arrival in the Lands Between.

The Tarnished begins their journey in the Chapel of Anticipation, off the western coast of Limgrave, where they find only the corpse of a Finger Maiden slumped against a wall. After a brief encounter with a Grafted Scion, the Tarnished falls from the precipice and washes up in the Stranded Graveyard. Although death seems inevitable[2], they are found by a mysterious woman riding a spectral steed. The woman grants the Tarnished two flasks: one of crimson tears and the other of cerulean tears. With these blessings, the Tarnished emerges from the damp cavern into the grasslands of Limgrave.

The Tarnished is reunited with the woman once more, and she introduces herself to them as Melina. Seeing that the Tarnished is maidenless, she offers to play the role of a Finger Maiden, allowing the Tarnished to convert the Runes they collect from their enemies into strength. In return, she requests that the Tarnished bring her with them to the foot of the Erdtree.[3] To aid them further, Melina grants the Tarnished a whistle which will allow them to call upon her spectral steed, who's name she reveals to be Torrent. Melina further explains to the Tarnished that she is searching for a purpose given to her by her mother inside the Erdtree long ago, and the reason she lives, despite her burnt and spectral state.[4] She advises the Tarnished to seek the Great Runes: shards of the shattered Elden Ring currently held by the Demigods.[5]

Early in their shared journey, Melina extends the Tarnished an invitation to Roundtable Hold, the gathering place of Tarnished champions.[6] Here, the Tarnished meets several of their fellow Tarnished, as well as Roundtable Hold's leader, Sir Gideon Ofnir, the All-Knowing.

The Tarnished claims a Great Rune from one of the Shardbearers scattered throughout the Lands Between, and is permitted audience with the Two Fingers; envoys of the Greater Will, and Finger Reader Enia. Interpreting the words of the Fingers, Enia explains to the Tarnished that the shattering of the Elden Ring has left the land in ruins[7], and instructs the Tarnished to hunt down the Demigods, who have been renounced by the Greater Will.[8] Gideon offers the Tarnished further advice, imparting his knowledge of the five Shardbearers known to Roundtable Hold.[9]

On their journey, the Tarnished may encounter Ranni the Witch, a Demigod and the perpetrator of the Night of Black Knives.[10] The Tarnished may choose to enter her service, aiding her as she treads the dark path of the Empyrean and attempts to establish her Order upon the world.[11]

After claiming two Great Runes, the Tarnished makes their way to Leyndell, Royal Capital, the home of Morgott the Grace-Given. Melina regains the ability to govern her own movement and bids the Tarnished farewell, leaving them with Torrent and the ability to convert Runes into strength.[12] The Tarnished proceeds to the Elden Throne and defeats Morgott, claiming his Great Rune, but when they attempt to pass through the door in the Erdtree's trunk they find the way obscured by impenetrable thorns. Melina appears before the Tarnished once more, and reveals that it is her purpose to help the Tarnished become Elden Lord. In order to do so, however, the Erdtree must be burned to remove the thorns.[13] And so, the Tarnished begins a new journey with Melina, to the Mountaintops of the Giants, upon which rests the giant's forge, and a flame which may burn the Erdtree.

The Tarnished may encounter a being named Shabriri, who reveals to the Tarnished that Melina must offer herself as kindling so that the Erdtree can burn.[14] Shabriri offers an alternative: the tarnished may take Melina's place as kindling and singe their own flesh instead.[15] To this end, they must descend below the Royal Capital and meet with the Three Fingers, setting themselves upon the path to becoming the Lord of Chaos.[16] Should the Tarnished accept this offer, they will make an enemy of Melina, who vows to hunt them down and kill them if they rise as Lord of Chaos.[17]

Whether through Melina's sacrifice or the power of the Frenzied Flame, the Erdtree is set aflame, and the Tarnished is transported to Crumbling Farum Azula; an ancient temple in the sky said to have been crumbling since time immemorial.[18] In Farum Azula, the Tarnished encounters and kills Maliketh, the Black Blade, releasing the Rune of Death upon the Lands Between.[19]

The Tarnished returns to Leyndell to find it coated in ash, the Erdtree glowing red above. The Tarnished makes their way through the ruined city, but their path is blocked by Gideon, who attempts to stop them from becoming Elden Lord.[20] The Tarnished kills Gideon, who asserts with his dying breath his belief that a Tarnished cannot become a Lord, for a man cannot kill a god.[21]

The Tarnished once again finds themselves at the Elden Throne. This time they find Godfrey, the First Elden Lord and former leader of the Tarnished.[22] Godfrey reveals that he has come to once more be granted audience with Queen Marika, the goddess of the Lands Between[23] The two Tarnished duel, and Godfrey is forced to tear the beast Serosh from his back and assume the role of Hoarah Loux.[24] Nevertheless, the Tarnished defeats Godfrey and approaches the Erdtree.

Inside the Erdtree, the Tarnished find Marika hanging from a Rune, her body seemingly made of stone. Marika falls from the Rune and her body begins to warp as she assumes the form of Radagon of the Golden Order, the second Elden Lord. Radagon fights to protect the Golden Order from the Tarnished, but is bested. From his body emerges the Elden Beast, a vassal of the Greater Will and embodiment of Order[25] that became the Elden Ring long ago[26]. Despite its status as a god, the Tarnished fells the Elden Beast, and finally stands before the broken body of Queen Marika. Depending on the decisions they made on their journey, the Tarnished may now decide the fate of the Lands Between. They may repair the Elden Ring and rise as Elden Lord[27], go with Ranni on her thousand year voyage into the chill night[28], or become the Lord of Frenzied Flame and incinerate all that divides and distinguishes.[29]

Trivia[]

  • Within most media such as trailers and art pieces: the Tarnished is often seen wearing the Raging Wolf Armor set. With the weapons used by them being wide and varied.

References[]

  1. Narrator: "And one other. Whom grace would again bless. A Tarnished of no renown. Cross the fog, to the Lands Between. To stand before the Elden Ring. And become the Elden Lord."
  2. Flask of Crimson Tears
  3. Melina: "I can play the role of maiden. Turning runes into strength. To aid you in your search for the Elden Ring. You need only take me with you. To the foot of the Erdtree."
  4. Melina: "Me? I'm searching. For my purpose, given to me by my mother inside the Erdtree, long ago. For the reason that I yet live, burned and bodiless."
  5. Melina: "Upon the cliff, in Castle Stormveil, is a shardbearer. A demigod who inherited a fragment of the shattered Elden Ring. If the rays of grace signal the castle, then the Elden Ring beckons you. As an ally by pact, ...I pray that you are fit... To face the challenge presented by the Ring."
  6. Melina: "There is but one other thing I can do to offer you guidance. I can take you to the Roundtable Hold... Gathering place of Tarnished champions, guided by Grace..."
  7. Finger Reader Enia: "Great Elden Ring, root of the Golden Order. Anchor of all lands, giver of grace, wellspring of all joy. Until it was shattered. 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."
  8. Finger Reader Enia: "The Greater Will has long renounced the demigods. Tarnished, show no mercy. Have their heads. Take all they have left."
  9. Sir Gideon Ofnir, the All-Knowing: "You'll be after more Great Runes, now eh? Then as your fellow, allow me to divulge a little knowledge. The inheritors of the Great Runes; the shardbearers. We of the Roundtable know the location of five of them, including the one you defeated."
  10. 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."
  11. Ranni the Witch: "Mine will be an order not of gold, but the stars and moon of the chill night."
  12. Melina: "Here, I can govern my own movement. And thus, the accord is fulfilled. I shall depart to ascertain the purpose I was given. Farewell."
  13. Melina: "The only way to stand before the Elden Ring... and become the Elden Lord...is to pass the thorns. My purpose serves to aid in that very act. So I'd like you to undertake a new journey, with me. To the flame of ruin, far above the clouds, upon the snowy mountaintops of the giants. Then I can set the Erdtree aflame."
  14. Shabriri: "You are about to sacrifice something precious. The life of a fair maiden, that you would toss into the fiery forge. Only so that you may be Lord. What a horrible thing to ponder. Your ascendency requires her sacrifice, whether she wishes it or not. But how would the Lord, crowned so, be looked upon?"
  15. Shabriri: "Chosen Tarnished and would-be Lord, dare to tread the path of true rigor. Spare the poor girl, and singe your own flesh in her stead."
  16. Shabriri: "Chosen Tarnished, and would-be Lord Descend into the depths, far below the Erdtree Capital. Seek audience with the Three Fingers, and the flame of frenzy. If you inherit the flame of frenzy, your flesh will serve as kindling, and the girl can be spared. ...setting you on the righteous path of lordship. The path of the Lord of Chaos."
  17. Melina: "You...have inherited the frenzied flame. A pity. You are no longer fit. Our accord ends here. But remember... Should you rise, as the Lord of Chaos, I will kill you, as sure as night follows day."
  18. Old Lord's Talisman
  19. Finger Reader Enia: "The Rune of Death is unbound. and the Lands Between are shrouded by Death's dark fate. But the flames will also burn the impenetrable thorns. Farewell it is, then. You'll be Elden Lord, yet."
  20. Sir Gideon Ofnir, the All-Knowing: "Ahh, I knew you'd come. To stand before the Elden Ring. To become Elden Lord. What a sad state of affairs. I commend your spirit, but alas, none shall take the throne. Queen Marika has high hopes for us. That we continue to struggle. Unto eternity."
  21. Sir Gideon Ofnir, the All-Knowing: "I know...in my bones... A Tarnished cannot become a Lord. Not even you. A man cannot kill a god..."
  22. Axe of Godfrey
  23. Godfrey, First Elden Lord: "Alas, I am returned. To be granted audience once more. Upon my name as Godfrey, The first Elden Lord!"
  24. Godfrey, First Elden Lord: "That will be all. Thou didst me good service, Serosh. I've Given thee courtesy enough. Rrraaargh! Now I fight as Hoarah Loux! Warrior!"
  25. Elden Remembrance
  26. Elden Stars
  27. Narrator: "The fallen leaves tell a story Of how a Tarnished became Elden Lord."
  28. Ranni the Witch: "...The battle is over, I see. I do solemnly swear. To every living being, and every living soul. Now cometh the age of the stars. A thousand year voyage under the wisdom of the Moon. Here beginneth the chill night that encompasses all, reaching the great beyond. Into fear, doubt, and loneliness... As the path stretcheth into darkness... Well then. Shall we? My fair consort, eternal."
  29. Shabriri: "The path of the Lord of Chaos. Burn the Erdtree to the ground, and incinerate all that divides and distinguishes. Ahh, may chaos take the world! May chaos take the world!"
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