What are Tarnished?

The Tarnished are a cursed group of people returning to the Lands Between after being cast out. Read on to learn more about what the Tarnished are, what their purpose is, and how they affect the story of Elden Ring!

What are the Tarnished?

Refers to the Player Character

The Tarnished largely refers to the player's character, acting as their title throughout the course of Elden Ring. This is to how players in past FromSoftware games were referred to by a title, such as the Chosen Undead of Dark Souls, the Bearer of the Curse in Dark Souls II, and the Ashen One of Dark Souls III amongst others.

Outside of the player, however, the Tarnished is a title given to a group of people long ago cast out of the Lands Between.

Cast Out of the Lands Between

The Tarnished are those who have lost the grace of the Erdtree, causing the typical golden hue around their eyes to leave, thus giving them their title. These individuals were cast out from The Lands Between long ago and forced to endure an unending curse, now unable to die.

The Shattering

An untold amount of time since the exile of the Tarnished, the Elden Ring and the subsequent Golden Order it brings was destroyed – broken up into fragments that the Demigods across the Lands Between are now warring against each other for.

Tarnished Story Role

Player's Title

The starting point of Elden Ring centers on the return of the Tarnished to The Lands Between to reclaim their former grace and status. This occurs after a great battle between General Radahn and Malenia the Severed, which leaves the world of Elden Ring fractured.

Outside of the player's action in-game, it is unknown precisely what the role of the Tarnished is relative to the fractured remnants of the Elden Ring, with the only certainty being that they can now claim the Elden Lordship for themselves.

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