Summary
If you’ve completedElden Ring, you’ll know that the Tarnished becomesElden Lord, at least in most circumstances.
The Tarnished reigning overThe Lands Betweenis likely to have some major lore implications. With vindictive demi-gods unlikely to be vying for power, at least for the foreseeable future, Elden Ring fans have been using a combination of Elden Ring secrets, their own theories, and their big-brained ideas to figure outwhat would come next for the world’s inhabitants.
This article may contain spoilers for Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. If you’ve not completed the DLC yet, bookmark this page and come back later.
CURSE YOU BAYLE
It is highly likely thatShadow of the Erdtree’sBayle the Dread will still have a part to play in the future of The Lands Between.
You’d assume that, with the Tarnished and hisbrave warrior companion Igondefeating themonstrous Dragon, that would be the end of it. Think again.
According to theBayle’s Tyranny spell, “Even after being consumed, the throbbing heart of Bayle continues to resist its subjugation, never weakening. One day, the fire within will consume the very body and soul of its Communion devourer.”
The implication is that it wouldn’t be any time soon, but at some point, if the Tarnished consumed Bayle’s heart, they would succumb to the dragon, likely leaving the Elden Throne free and starting another all-out war for the rule.
The Spreading Of The Deathroot Continues
With Godwyn’s death, or “half death”, the Deathroot began to spread across The Lands Between, imprinting the face of the fallen Demigod in its wake.
A popular theory is that the “Deathroot continues to spread,” and that “all of The Lands Between live in death.”
It’s a logical conclusion that in all endings, apart from the Frenzied Flame (and potentially the Age of Stars), the Deathroot would continue to spread, given that the Tarnished doesn’t fundamentally change the make-up of the land.
However, others argue that Godwyn could truly “die now that destined death has been released again.” Something which, in theory, is possible; however, it’s speculated that he “won’t unless he’s killed again.”
Malenia Is Reborn, Challenges For The Throne
“I am Malenia. Blade of Miquella. And I have never known defeat” is a phrase likely to be etched into plenty of Elden Ring players' minds.
While proving one of the game’s biggest challenges, the expectation is that defeat to the Tarnished isn’t the end for her and that she will be “reborn from her flower” and challenge said Tarnished for the throne.
Some were surprised that this discussion was sodeep into the Reddit thread, given that “Malenia is clearly still alive, or at least has the potential to be.” This means that her story likely hasn’t ended.
Much like Bayle, she has the potential to come back later and wreak havoc, with a working theory that she’s currently “in a comatose state in her flower” and that rebirth will allow her to “embrace being the goddess of rot”.
Elden Ring
WHERE TO PLAY
With worldbuilding from Game of Thrones scribe George R.R. Martin and developed by FromSoftware, Elden Ring is a masterpiece in what has become known as the ‘Soulslike’ genre of action role-playing games.
