Elden Ring Lore

Let's try to make sense of this mess, bros.

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kino

The key to grasping many parts of the lore and game plot is the realization that the Greater Will & Erdtree is not a benevolent, protagonistic force. Despite being associated with golden light and immortality, it’s merely one of many outer Gods fighting over influence in the Lands Between. The very name “Lands Between” suggests this: they’re lands torn between multiple cosmic, God-like entities.
Before the Greater Will arrived in the Lands Between, they were dominated by non-human beings, such as giants and dragons. The dragon Placidusax was the prehistoric Elden Lord, allied with an Outer God who existed outside of time. Since then, said outer God left the Lands Between and the dragons became a shadow of what they once were. Nonetheless, some humans worship dragons to this day. Astel, a malicious star that crashed in the Lands Between and destroyed the Eternal City, also predates the Greater Will. It’s possible all “bad omens” are related to Astels influence.
Then, the Greater Will sends the Elden Beast, a living incarnation of itself, to the Lands Between, which becomes the Elden Ring. Marika, a so-called Numen (humanoids from outside the Lands Between), becomes a physical vessel for the Greater Will and queen of humans. She marries Hoarax Loux, a powerful barbarian warrior, who takes on the more regal persona of Godfrey and becomes the first Elden Lord – a title that, from now on, refers to consorts of a ruling God-like being. Marika and Godfrey bear at least three children: Godwyn, Mohg and Morgott. Godwyn is beloved by everyone and even befriends the dragons, while the latter two are born ill omens and resented.

it was all a dream just like dark souls and bloodborne

The Greater Will views the giants and their flame as enemies to its rule, so Marika’s underlings conquer and outright genocide the giants. Godfrey personally fought many giants, finally slaying the Storm Lord, his “last worthy foe”. This is when Godfrey somehow loses the “golden glow in his eyes” (his will to fight, perhaps?) and the blessing of the Greater Will. Godfrey and his followers are exiled from the Lands Between in an event known as the Long March and become the (first) Tarnished.
Around the same time, Radagon also wages war against the Lunar/Carian Royal Family. Radagon is a champion of Marika, who is somehow related to giants through his red hair. The war finally ends when Radagon marries the Queen of Caria Rennala, uniting the kingdoms of Erdtree and of the Moon. They have three children: Radahn, Rykard and Ranni, who later all become adopted demigods.
The marriage doesn’t last, as Radagon is chosen by Marika as her next spouse, becoming second Elden Lord. Rennala is left heartbroken. Marika and Radagon gradually merge into a single being through unknown means, with a single body, but separate personalities. Their union produces the twins Malenia, Miquella, who are born Empyreans (prodigies, capable of superseding Marika as godly vessel), but also cursed with the scarlet rot and eternal childhood, respectively.

The Shattering is preceded by the tragic Night of the Black Knives, which ended up killing multiple demigods as result of a complex plot, orchestrated by Ranni. Despite being born an Empyrean, Renni rebelled against the Greater Will, her fate to become Marika’s replacement, and was captivated by the Moon instead.
Before the Night of the Black Knives, the demigods were immortal, as the Rune of Death was sealed away within Meliketh, a shadow/servant of Marika. Renni stole said rune and imbued them into knives, capable of killing the demigods. Assassins wielding these knives struck both Renni (destroying her Empyrean body, but leaving her soul behind) and Godwyn (killing his soul, but leaving a disformed body behind).
In an emotional breakdown over the apparent death of her favorite son, Marika shattered the Elden Ring with her hammer. For this act of defiance, she was sealed in the Erdtree by the Greater Will. With Marika/Radagon sealed away, the demigods begin to prey on each other in a struggle to conquer each others Runes (fragments of the scattered Elden Ring) become the next Elden Lord.

Mohg betrays the Greater Will, becoming a servant of the Flame of Frenzy outer God instead. He abducts and violates Miquella in an attempt to create a new God and become his consort, which fails and leaves Miquella in a comatose state. Godrick grafts limbs of Tarnished onto himself, in a desperate attempt to become stronger. Melania and Radahn fight to a standstill, with her inflicting him with the scarlet rot, but losing several limbs.
Nonetheless, none of the demigods manage to restore the Elden Ring and they’re abandoned by the Greater Will. Instead, the Tarnished receive grace again, as they’re the last hope to restore the Elden Ring. Enter you.

Isn't it heavily implied the Black Knives are working under Marika though?

So if I understood correctly, ur gey?

just like in every souls game i forget what npcs were saying 20 hours later and things will appear as if without context to me and I'm too lazy to draw notes. instead i will just watch a vaati lore video and be done with it. this is what 95% of players do