Queen Marika from Elden Ring.
Like most Souls games, its narrative is not presented to you in the form of cutscenes or info-dumps from random NPCs. Instead, it is discovered though the descriptions of items, by looking around at the environment, or seeing quests through to their end.
The world of Elden Ring is no different and, like previous FromSoftware titles that have come before it, it is set in a world that is harsh and unforgiving and barely concludes with a happy ending for anybody you meet along the way. However, some of Elden Ring's most heartbreaking moments exist quietly throughout your time in the Lands Between, through NPCs you only spend a short time with or locations that could have otherwise gone unnoticed. Through quiet yet impactful storytelling and detailed world building, Elden Ring paints a sorrowful picture in moments that come together in moments of clarity. 10 Radahn's Horse The greatest warrior with the softest heart During his boss fight, Radahn is seen riding a very small horse, which at first glance is a hilarious scene, but it is soon discovered that the reason for this is quite heartbreaking. Named Leonard, Radahn's loyal stead is so beloved to him that he learned gravity magic in order to be able to ride Leonard without hurting him as a result of his growing size. "The Red Lion General wielded gravitational powers which he learned in Selia during his younger days. All so he would never have to abandon his beloved but scrawny steed." Having the ability to hold back the stars themselves, Radahn is considered one of Elden Ring's most powerful beings , but seeing that the formidable figure is so devoted to a defenseless animal will definitely bring a tear to your eye. 9 Godwyn's Head A less than clean death The events of Godwyn the Golden's death put the story of Elden Ring into motion, with Marika's grief over the death of her first child inevitably causing her to shatter the Elden Ring itself, an act which would change the state of The Lands Between forever. However, due to the way that Godwyn was killed courtesy of the schemes of Ranni the Witch, he did not die a proper death, meaning that whilst his soul died, his body did not and continued to exist in a grotesque form throughout the land. Whilst his body rests in the Deeproot Depths, it is below Stormveil Castle that players will discover this ghastly scene with his head forming a Lovecraftian-style scene which is hard to forget. 8 Latenna the Albinauric Another loyal companion Found in the Slumbering Wolf's Shack after completing the Lakeside Crystal Cave dungeon, Latenna is an Albinauric woman who players can recruit as a Summon to help them throughout the game. At first glance, many players are just happy to have a deft archer as a companion, but looking into one of Latenna's abilities feels like an arrow to the heart. Before we meet her, it is revealed that Latenna and her wolf companion Lobo set off on a journey to the Haligree, which was known as a sanctuary for her kind. However, along the way she is accosted by Sir Gideon who, after believing that she had a secret medallion that could unlock the way to the Haligree, slew her wolf and left her crippled. Now that nothing is left unfinished, I will join you in battle to the bitter end. And when the fighting is done, then you may lay me to rest. Beside Lobo, my dear wolf. Once joining you as a Summon, due to her disability, Latenna is only able to stay stationary, prompting the player to summon her in hard-to-reach places. However, what many players didn't know is that in the presence of Albinauric Archer Wolves that can be found scattered throughout the land, she will be able to ride one into battle, giving her a brief memory of her best moments with Lobo. 7 The Mystery of Nepheli Loux A golden lineage Introduced as the adoptive daughter of Sir Gideon, Nepheli Loux is a warrior NPC who can be summoned into various battles by The Tarnished. Raised as an orphan, Nepheli has no clue about where she came from or who her parents may have been, but her connection to another beloved Elden Ring figure seems too strange to be coincidental. That is because Godfrey, the first consort of Queen Marika, was once known as Hoarah Loux before he became the first Elden Lord. After being cast away once he became Tarnished, Godfrey still remained one of the strongest warriors in the land and I don't know about you, but that reminds me of a certain summonable NPC. Nevertheless, Nepheli being the potential daughter of Godfrey has never been confirmed, but it is still heartbreaking to hear that the pair never got to meet. 6 Aurelia the Jellyfish Yearning for home Summons aim to make your Elden Ring experience a lot easier, with each offering unique abilities which can turn even the most difficult fights in your favor. One of the first summons you receive is the Jellyfish, who is capable of tanking a lot of damage thanks to their vast HP bar as well as dealing poison damage. Whilst most players will summon the jellyfish and not think much of it, reading the description will reveal that they are called Aurelia.In her hidden quest, you will be able to return Aurelia to her home in Stargazer's Ruin, and it is here that she will be reunited with her sister. You will soon learn that Aurelia's sister promised to take her stargazing when she turned fourteen, but that the sister vanished before she had the chance to. Summoning Aurelia in front of her sister will see the pair reunite and share a heartbreaking exchange, making this one of the happiest endings in Elden Ring. 5 The Singing Bats A hymn about motherhood The Chanting Winged Dames, often referred to as The Singing Bats, are found littered throughout the Lands Between and players will know when they are near when the air is filled with the sound of their melodious singing. Sung in Latin, or at least some variation of it, players have taken the time to decipher what it is they are singing about, and the revelation is pretty heartbreaking. Not only do the lyrics depict the sadness that has washed over the Lands Between but, more specifically, it tells a tale of motherhood and how the colony will never be able to have their own children. With many themes in Elden Ring centering around motherhood, with many of the people you meet being the offspring of Marika herself, the Singing Bats represent the women who are not able to have their own children, making for a heart-wrenching discovery. 4 Boc the Seamster A chance at redemption After being cast out by his demi-human tribe, Boc can be encountered calling out to the Tarnished in Limgrave and explains that after being ostracized, he tried returning to his home but is later found injured outside the Coastal Cave. Admitting that he despises his appearance and very existence and wishes to be"reborn", many players don't know that you can help Boc by gifting him with a sewing needle which can be found in the nearby cave and defeating the Demi-Human Chiefs. Once he has the needle, Boc finds a new lease of life after admitting that he wanted to take up the role as the Tarnished's seamster in honor of his late mother. Following this, Boc can be found at Roundtable Hold, and it is here that you will be able to use his abilities to get yourself some improved gear. Put simply, he is a good boy and being able to make his life feel worthwhile as well as giving him a home, is a must-do in Elden Ring. 3 Morgott, The Omen King Cursed from birth Imprisoned from birth due to being part of the Omen race, a race which is ostracized from birth, both Morgott and his twin Mohg are locked beneath Leyndell for many years before their eventual escape. However, what makes Morgott's story even sadder is that despite being rejected by the Golden Order through no fault of his own, he remains the most faithful to it and dedicates his life to guarding its symbol, the Erdtree, even though its grace does not touch him. Screen Rant Report: Subscribe and never miss what matters Dive into the world of movies and TV shows with Screen Rant, your source for news, reviews, and exclusive content. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. Ultimately, the Tarnished must defeat Morgott in order to access the Erdtree after it refuses to grant Morgott Elden Lord status, and it is just another boss fight that feels bittersweet after learning of his childhood and cursed life. Loving something that will never love you is not a predicament anybody wants to be in, but it seems as though Morgott never knew what love felt like to begin with. 2 Lichdragon Fortissax A dedicated friend After being defeated by none other than Godwyn the Golden himself, instead of delivering the final blow, the Golden Lord instead decided to befriend the dragon and his kind, with their bond going on to found the Ancient Dragon Cult. With Godwyn inheriting Fortissax's lightning abilities, the two formed an unlikely friendship which continued after the former's death. After Godwyn was assassinated, his body began to be overtaken by the death blight, which his companion fought long and hard to fight off, refusing to leave his friend's body. However, Fortissax was too overtaken by the blight, putting him in the state he is when we find and battle him at the foot of Godwyn's remains. The dragon and the golden prince are one of the most unlikely friendships in Elden Ring, but also the most heartbreaking and one that is easily missed. Trying to stave off death itself for a friend is a limit that not many people would go to, but Fortissax seemed to think that Godwyn the Golden was worth it. 1 The Shaman Village Found in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, the Shaman Village is an area which takes a lot to get to and upon learning its history, it is easy to see why: Queen Marika herself wished to keep it secret, guiding only the trusted Tarnished to its gold-seeped landscape. The village in which Marika was born, the Shaman Village, is unlocked by using the"O Mother" gesture, and although it is mostly barren, protected only by a duo of Tree Sentinels, it holds a lot of history and acts as a way to invoke sympathy for an otherwise infallible figure.What was her prayer? Her wish, her confession? There is no one left to answer, and Marika never returned home again. It is revealed, that after Marika was swept away to become a god, her fellow Shamans were imprisoned by the Hornsent, who tortured them and even used them for experiments, resulting in the jars of flesh all Elden Ring players will know. However, what makes this discovery all the more heartbreaking, is the revelation that Marika returned to the village many years later, after it had been left abandoned. Whilst there, she cast a healing spell that bathed the land in gold, although it was too late. Then, she cut off her braid and offered it to the village's Grandmother as a final offering. We may never know what she prayed or wished for, but we do know that she never returned. 10/10 Elden Ring Like Follow Followed RPG Action Systems OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 95/100 Critics Rec: 98% Released February 25, 2022 ESRB M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence Developer From Software Publisher Bandai Namco Entertainment, From Software Engine Proprietary 6 Images Close
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