Help me with the story?

[WhateverWorks]

Please correct me on points that are wrong. I'm trying to make sense of the story without just watching a plot dump on Youtube. This is just what little I understand of it so far. So Godwyn was Elden Lord, and there was eternal life across the board? And then when he was killed and the Ring was shattered, a cycle of endless death and rebirth began? Marika's other children then proceed to ruin the Lands Between in their warring for control of the Great Runes? Caelid is a dump because of Malenia and Radahn's fight, that much is explicitly clear. The ruins across Limgrave are from...the Farum Azula?

A tarnished, equivalent of a human in this world of deities and demi-gods, ends up destroying the current order of the universe either entirely or so that they can restructure it to their will.

The more I'm pondering the story, the more I feel like there's a discussion that can be had about it that Steam just wouldn't allow since it would guaranteed attract some toxic types.

[Old Captain Yon]

Well, you are almost right. Firstly, people COULD die (go back to Erdtree) when Rune of Death and Elden ring were intact, that's kinda the purpose of death, but when Marika removed it people stopped dying, turning into withered undead or just going insane from eternal life. Also, it is unclear what motives did some demigods (f.e. Malenia and Miquella) have, although some like Mohg or Rykard or Morgott are quite open about their goals. A tarnished is not exactly human, it's basically an undead of rare breed who can't die even if he is killed and is resurrected by grace (although SOME who lost the grace can't be ressurected and die like the rest, human npcs for example). Omens and Crucible lore is however much more convoluted

[buttchin]

Originally posted by WhateverWorks:

Please correct me on points that are wrong. I'm trying to make sense of the story without just watching a plot dump on Youtube. This is just what little I understand of it so far. So Godfrey was Elden Lord, and there was eternal life across the board? And then when he was killed and the Ring was shattered, a cycle of endless death and rebirth began? Marika's other children then proceed to ruin the Lands Between in their warring for control of the Great Runes? Caelid is a dump because of Malenia and Radahn's fight, that much is explicitly clear. The ruins across Limgrave are from...the Farum Azula?

A tarnished, equivalent of a human in this world of deities and demi-gods, ends up destroying the current order of the universe either entirely or so that they can restructure it to their will.

The most I'm pondering the story, the more I feel like there's a discussion that can be had about it that Steam just wouldn't allow since it would guaranteed attract some toxic types.

Zanzibart....forgive me

[Urist Microcline]

The story is that Radagon and Marika are the same person with 2 different bodies given god status by an alien god called the Greater Will so the Greater Will could vassalize the world. Radagon/Marika had some really ♥♥♥♥♥♥ up kids from their marriages and both the families fought each other and ruined the world. This all happened some time ago, it's not told how long. Judging by the state of the ruins of the world it's at least 1000 years ago.

Now you're trying to fix it and become the new God Vassal of the Greater Will, or not. You could ruin it even more too. Or just leave.

[HoboCop]

Don't think about it, or you'll go insane from wondering who the hell is Gloam-Eyed Queen and how could there be Godskins if there were no other gods. As per usual with Souls things, the game went through rewrites and rebuilds thus much of its lore/story wont ever make sense.

[Sato]

I would strongly advise you to watch the lore videos from SmoughTown and VaatiVidya.
That being said.
Godfrey was stripped of his status as elden lord by Marika herself, when he was of no more use to her she sent him off to the farlands.

Yes the ruins are from faarum azula, it was once connected to caelid, there is a broken bridge with a special golem you can find, that is potentially a connecting spot, seeing all the dragons around the area you can put one and one together.

Originally, death was controlled by the gloam eyed queen and her followers, deathbirds and godskins.
The greater will had plans though, at some point Maliketh was given to Marika as a bodyguard, he stole the rune of death after besting the queen in a fight, the same rune that Rani later stole and used to kill herself (body) so that the greater will had no power over her, but to achieve that she had to cheat death by killing a soul as well, that's where Godwyn comes in.
After Godwyn's death Marika shuttered the ring, to destroy the golden order and potentially give her children a chance to get stronger with the shards and mend the ring into a different order, for that she was imprisoned inside the erdtree.
Radagon tried to mend it as he was a follower of the golden order but it was unsuccessful.

The greater will started looking everywhere for someone worthy to become the next elden lord, giving grace to tarnished in hope that someone would rise to the challenge.
Vyke was the closest to becoming elden lord, but decided against it when he realised the sacrifice he would have to make, the three fingers showed him their truth, under their influence he lost it.
Years passed, then we come in.

That is just a brief explanation and I might have gotten some things somewhat mistaken but the basic idea is there.

[Lord Bob]

I believe you are mixing up Godfrey and Godwyn.
Marika and Godfrey had three children: Morgott, Mohgwyn and Godwyn the Golden.

Godfrey was Marikas first husband and held the title of First Elden Lord, whereas first is a bit debated as other sources claim Placidusax to be Elden Lord long before the Age of the Erdtree, under the guidance of an entirely different deity than the Greater will.
He and his kinfolk were eventually exiled and banished out of the Lands Between, making them the first Tarnished.

Godwyn the Golden was killed in the night of the Black Knives, which eventually lead to the Shattering.

[Lord Bob]

Originally posted by Satose:

-snip-

Not only Vyke, Bernahl was also mentioned to potentially become Elden Lord if I remember correctly. Or at least be worthy of it or something like that, I don't recall the exact quote.

[HoboCop]

And def don't watch lore explaining stuff unless you're really-really into unsolvable messy puzzles. Good stories never were what Souls games are about (and never will, as ER proved). Enjoy the artstyle, breathe the atmosphere, conquer the gameplay. The rest doesn't matter.

Originally posted by Satose:

I would strongly advise you to watch the lore videos from SmoughTown and VaatiVidya.

[Norm Macdonald's Ghost]

Originally posted by WhateverWorks:

Help me with the story?

Let me just stop you there. Now, before we get this thread started, we need to make it clear that lore =/= story. Lore = back story. Lore can be told within a story, but it isn't the story itself. If story was a hamburger, lore would be the cheese and the special sauce, and maybe a couple slices of bacon, and maybe some of that spicy mayo, and the sesame seeds on the bun. Sorry, what was the question?

Originally posted by WhateverWorks:

...The more I'm pondering the story, the more I feel like there's a discussion that can be had about it that Steam just wouldn't allow since it would guaranteed attract some toxic types.

Nah, lore threads are just not as popular on Steam boards. Go figure.

[Sato]

Originally posted by P3N15:

Good stories never were what Souls games are about (and never will, as ER proved). The rest doesn't matter.

Agree to disagree, lore is for those who care to look into it, clearly the poster is interested.
I think the stories are fantastic and if someone can put the puzzle together then that shows it is not just random mess.

It's okay if you personally don't want to dive into it but don't discourage someone who is interested.

[Sephylon]

Originally posted by WhateverWorks:

Please correct me on points that are wrong. I'm trying to make sense of the story without just watching a plot dump on Youtube. This is just what little I understand of it so far. So Godfrey was Elden Lord, and there was eternal life across the board? And then when he was killed and the Ring was shattered, a cycle of endless death and rebirth began?

He wasn't killed, he and his warriors were sent away to a distant land to fight an eternal war. Thats were he died.
"Very well. In Marika's own words.
My Lord, and thy warriors. I divest each of thee of thy grace.
With thine eyes dimmed, ye will be driven from the Lands Between.
Ye will wage war in a land afar, where ye will live, and die.
Well? Perhaps that might serve you in lieu of a maiden's guidance."

You might be thinking of Godwyn, 1st of the demigods to die.

Marika's other children then proceed to ruin the Lands Between in their warring for control of the Great Runes?

They were specifically told to do so

In Marika's own words.
Hear me, Demigods. My children beloved.
Make of thyselves that which ye desire. Be it a Lord.
Be it a God.
But should ye fail to become aught at all, ye will be forsaken.
Amounting only to sacrifices...

Caelid is a dump because of Malenia and Radahn's fight, that much is explicitly clear. The ruins across Limgrave are from...the Farum Azula?

Yes

A tarnished, equivalent of a human in this world of deities and demi-gods, ends up destroying the current order of the universe either entirely or so that they can restructure it to their will.

Yes and no, a tarnished is a little more than "just a mere human" as they recieved grace once more, hence why you respawn at sites of graces.

The more I'm pondering the story, the more I feel like there's a discussion that can be had about it that Steam just wouldn't allow since it would guaranteed attract some toxic types.

I mean, you're not entirely wrong, especially with how open ended and vague the story is, people tend to make their own theories and start arguing over which os the truest one

[WhateverWorks]

Originally posted by Lord Bob:

I believe you are mixing up Godfrey and Godwyn.

I was, I fixed it. Godric, Godwyn, and Godfrey all get name dropped early on and I still mix up the names but do know who is who of those three lol.

[WhateverWorks]

Originally posted by Satose:

Agree to disagree, lore is for those who care to look into it, clearly the poster is interested.
I think the stories are fantastic and if someone can put the puzzle together then that shows it is not just random mess.

It's okay if you personally don't want to dive into it but don't discourage someone who is interested.

Agreed, it's not spoon fed to us but it's absolutely not just a random mess either. There's actually a VERY fascinating story underneath this game, particularly if you're familiar with real world theology and mythology. Some of these responses are great and go a long ways towards better understanding the game world. This games story/lore/back-story (or whatever term you decide you want to apply here) is more interesting to me than 99% of games coming out these days.