Lore
The narrative of Elden Ring is accumulated bit-by-bit and is largely told through environmental storytelling techniques.
This page summarizes the main story and lists the major factions, characters, and events in the Lands Between. This page allows users to easily locate parts of the text that offer insight into each topic. Please refer to the Lore category for a complete list of articles.
Story
Long ago, in The Lands Between, Queen Marika became a vessel for the Elden Ring. And so, in the name of the Erdtree, Marika conquered the Lands with the aid of her husband Godfrey — a mighty warrior and first Elden Lord — who fought alongside his warriors in the name of the Queen until his very last worthy enemy was defeated and Marika's reign was absolute.
Marika removed the Rune of Death from the Elden Ring and commanded her loyal shadow, Maliketh, to seal it away. Thus, she and everyone blessed by her Grace would live forever, granting her the title of Queen Marika the Eternal. However, this very same Grace was taken away from Godfrey and his army, whom she instructed to wage war and die abroad, with the promise that life and Grace would be returned to them when needed.
All those who were stripped of their Grace, as well as their descendants, became known as the Tarnished. True to Marika's promise, their Grace was returned to them after their deaths, and they were called back to the Lands Between to repair the shattered Elden Ring.
Will the new Tarnished heed the call, or perish and be forgotten?
Shadow of the Erdtree
Long ago, Queen Marika ordered a mass purging of the Realm of Shadow, a land now obscured by the Erdtree, and its inhabitants fell before Messmer's flame. Now, the Empyrean Miquella has journeyed into these forsaken lands, a cadre of loyal followers in tow. The Tarnished, urged on by a mysterious knightess, enters the Realm of Shadow and picks up the young Demigod's trail, all the while uncovering the lost history of the Realm of Shadow.
