The era of peace shattered when stole a fragment of the Rune of Death. On the "Night of the Black Knives," assassins used this power to slay Godwyn the Golden , Marika’s firstborn. His soul died, but his body lived on as a rotting husk beneath the capital, birthing "Those Who Live in Death". Driven to grief or madness, Queen Marika shattered the Elden Ring with her hammer, scattering its powerful fragments, known as Great Runes , among her demigod children. The Shattering and the Tarnished

“The point is you're not spoon fed a narrative or ideology to model yourself after. There's no good endings. It's just using a well crafted lore and making you explore this cool world.” Reddit · r/EldenRingLoreTalk · 1 year ago Elden Ring's Lore: Explained! : r/Games

Personal accounts from the community highlight the emotional weight of this fragmented narrative:

This event, called , sparked a brutal war as the demigods fought to claim the fragments and become the next Elden Lord. None emerged victorious, and the Greater Will eventually abandoned them. In desperation, the Guidance of Grace was extended to the Tarnished —exiles whose ancestors had lost their golden light and were banished long ago. The Journey of the Tarnished

: Defeat corrupted legends like the grafted Godrick and the star-scourge Radahn to reclaim their Great Runes.