Summary
A rare sight inElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreeseems to prove, beyond all doubt, that the Tarnished is actually the bad guy. Morality is complicated in the Lands Between, and indeed, in the Land of Shadow: many ofElden Ring’s most brutally difficult bosseshave been subject to horrific tragedies themselves. That doesn’t excuse their actions, especially in the case of tyrannical rulers likeElden Ring’s lords, but it does put them in the context of a wider cycle of violence. And the player is guilty of perpetuating it.
When a player is on their fiftieth attempt against one ofShadow of the Erdtree’s bosses, wondering how they’re supposed to avoidRellana’s impossibly long and inscrutable sword slash combos, it’s hard to feel like anything but a victim. Thedifficulty ofElden Ring’s DLChas been a common point of criticism for some players, and seems to prove the point that the Tarnished is fighting a noble battle. The enemies are just too bent on destroying the player, focused solely on inflicting grievous harm, to be anything but villains - right?
Players Have Spotted Stone Golems Petting Lava Slimes In Elden Ring’s DLC
Good Boy!
Reddit usertamba98spotteda stone golem petting a lava slime in one ofElden Ring’s DLC dungeons. If they’re sneaky enough, players can spy this unlikely pair in Taylew’s Ruined Forge. This adds a lot of humanity to these utterly infuriating enemies: the stone golems are resistant to most forms of damage unless the player hits their weak point, which, of course, is located inconveniently on the smalls of their backs. Lava slimes go down much more easily, but they can strike players from miles away with fiery spears. This brief moment of interspecies bonding is uncharacteristically sweet, and reveals a great deal about these two monsters' joined internal lives. But inevitably, it’s cut short when the Tarnished chooses to attack.
If the player manages to kill the lava slime before they’re noticed, the stone golem will continue petting the empty air for a moment before turning on them.
Why The Tarnished Is The Real Villain
This interaction between a stone golem and a lava slime confirms thatboth are much more than mindless obstacles to the player’s progress. They’re actually more comparable to humans: they have a home, they do jobs, and they keep pets. In fact, aSpirit Ashfound within the forge -Taylew the Golem Smith- reveals that these creatures have always been associated with smithing. Thinking aboutElden Ring’s monsters in this way completely recontextualizes their interactions with the Tarnished. The player is entering the golems' and slimes' home, which they’re only trying to defend. Sometimes, they do so successfully, only for the player to return, again and again, until they finally kill the monsters and steal their valuables. That makes the Tarnished the worst kind of villain - a persistent one.
Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree’s Community Is Working Together Against Brutal Difficulty
Elden Ring DLC players are begging for help - and some of them are getting it, thanks to one overlooked mechanic. But its actual usefulness varies.
It can be easy to get wrapped up in the myth of the Tarnished’s heroism when so few ofElden Ring’s enemies talk, and those who do generally just monologue about their own power before launching themselves at the player, full tilt. ButShadow of the Erdtree’s nonverbal monsters are capable of expressing their own humanity, even if they only do so subtly, when they think no one’s watching. That doesn’t excuse the player’s actions against them, though - it only confirms how scared they are when a random Tarnished bursts into their home and starts waving their sword around.Shadow of the Erdtreeproves, without a doubt, that the player is a bad guy inElden Ring.
Elden Ring
Elden Ring is a popular game released by From Software, creators of games such as Armored Core, Dark Souls, and Bloodborne. Players assume the role of a Tarnished, a being once exiled to the Lands Between and has returned to repair the Elden Ring after the events of “The Shattering.” “The Shattering” occurred when the offspring of Queen Marika battled to claim the shards of the Elden Ring, known as Great Runes. Their war has brought lawlessness, destruction, and chaos to the land, and the player will challenge them with the assistance of a Maiden known as Melina as they travel towards the great Erd Tree to face their destiny and to become the one true Elden Lord. Players can tackle the game how they choose and can adventure across realms as they build their character how they want - be it a powerful magic caster or a brutal swordsman - they will have complete control over their build.
