Elden Ring may have a non-linear narrative and a huge world for players to explore, but its open-endedness often escapes the curiosity of many. When you look back to how the Tarnished journeys through the Lands Between, there’s little evidence to support the fact that they’re the hero after all.
Even though the Tarnished’s adventure is nothing short of a ‘hero’s journey’, when perspectives are shifted a little, they seem like the worst thing that could have happened to the Lands Between. Who knows, maybe players have a similar fate throughout the narrative of Shadow of the Erdtree, too.
If only the Tarnished could talk in Elden Ring…
For most of the encounters you have in the game, there’s no actual word between the Tarnished and NPCs, unless otherwise prompted. However, this isn’t even an option when you cross paths with the various bosses in the game. Imagine all the fights you could have settled otherwise if only two disturbed people had a rational conversation.
This has been brought up by the community many times. In a recent post shared on Reddit by user VictorSavage699999, where the notion of the game’s protagonist was considered to be a villain arc. It’s no news that the Tarnished has caused an absolute ruckus across the Lands Between, from disrupting entire communities to defeating Demigods.
Furthermore, these instances never gave the player the true choice, unless they were doing side-quests or choosing the ultimate fate of Elden Ring’s universe. All the different endings have something truly unique about them, but none of them really fall into a black-or-white theme.
Rather, it’s the intensity of interloping themes that define the player’s purpose and how they try to shape the world around them.
It is a matter of perspective, after all
Sometimes, even the people behind the games and the stories they create support this very theory. FromSoftware games have a reputation for leaving things in a vague sense of abstractness that is open to the interpretation of everyone who chooses to dive into these worlds.
Elden Ring is no different, and it truly comes down to the perception; do the Tarnished go through the rampage of murdering endless people and creatures to do the right thing, or to taste the power that makes them want to rule the world at their will?
There are other characters at play here, too. From the likes of Ranni the Witch to Melina, everyone has their own idea of what should be done with the fate of Elden Ring. The question is, whose side are you on? Or, are you here to chart your own path?
What are your thoughts on this Elden Ring theory? Let us know in the comments below.
