The Death of Godwyn the Golden

In an event known as the Night of Black Knives, Queen Marika's firstborn son Godwyn the Golden was assassinated. This was orchestrated by Ranni the Witch in order to strip herself of the influence of the Greater Will.

After this event, Queen Marika shattered the Elden Ring herself, weakening the influence of the Greater Will over the Lands Between. Radagon, Queen Marika's consort, attempted to mend the Elden Ring, but failed.

The Greater Will, seeing that Queen Marika had turned against it, imprisoned her inside the Erdtree as punishment. However, it could not remove her from being its vessel, and thus called back the Tarnished in hopes of finding a new consort for her that could mend the Elden Ring.

Godwyn the Golden, however, still exists in the Lands Between. Due to Ranni's ritual, his soul was destroyed, but his body remains and is nestled in the Deeproot Depths, where he is sought by Fia and Those Who Live in Death. They seek to resurrect Godwyn and to reintegrate Death back into the Elden Ring.

The Great Runes and the Wars of the Shardbearers

The shards of the Elden Ring were scattered and some were claimed by Queen Marika's demigod children. These shards, now called Great Runes, gave them immense power and they desired to rule in Queen Marika's place. The demigods warred with each other, but none emerged as a winner.

Eventually, they settled on a tenuous peace to stay within their own regions. Other Great Runes also exist outside of the Elden Ring, though the origins of some are a mystery.

Defeating these shardbearers and claiming their Great Runes will allow the Tarnished to mend the Elden Ring.

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An Outer God From Another World

In truth, the Greater Will is an Outer God that came to the Lands Between and was responsible for the creation of the Elden Ring and the Erdtree. For some reason, it is unable to physically manifest itself in the Lands Between and thus needed a vessel.

That vessel was Queen Marika the Eternal, who served the Greater Will and spread its influence across the Lands Between. With her help, the Golden Order was established and its worship spread.

However, the influence of the Greater Will was lessened during the Shattering. In order to restore its influence and the Elden Ring, the Greater Will is said to have called back the Tarnished to the Lands Between.

No matter the actions of the Tarnished, they will find themselves being opposed by Radagon and the Greater Will when they finally arrive at the Erdtree. It's unknown why the Greater Will is determined to stop the Tarnished from claiming the title of Elden Lord, but after Radagon is defeated, the Elden Beast emerges from his body as a last ditch effort.

And with the Elden Beast defeated, the last influence of the Greater Will is banished from the Lands Between, leaving the Tarnished free to ursher in a new age.

How to Beat Elden Beast: Boss Fight Guide