Timeline of Events

Everything was once the “One Great” and was separated into smaller things. This event is described similarly to one for our world, the “Big Bang.” An entity known as the “Greater Will” is inferred to have created the universe. It is what is known as an “Outer God,” or a thing so unknowable that we could never truly understand it or its motivations. Outer Gods enact their plans through vessels or envoys that they send out. Outer Gods can also claim people or other living things as their avatars. The Greater Will and its associates represent the concept of order, while other Outer Gods represent concepts such as chaos, ruin, rebirth, or death. The Greater Will is inherently tied to what is known as the “Elden Ring.” The Elden Ring is a collection of shapes and patterns in a runic formation. It essentially serves as a set of guidelines for how reality ought to exist. Concepts such as gravity, relativity, thermodynamics, and others are the closest real-world counterparts to those found in Elden Ring. Unlike the real world, however, the Elden Ring is a single thing: a collection of those rules.

The world in which the game takes place is known as the “Lands Between,” appearing like a collection of islands or small continents upon a vast sea. It is said that all life was once blended together in what was known as the Primordial Crucible. The first sentient beings in the world were likely beasts with multiple affinities from different animals. Most living things had evolutionary traits such as horns, feathers, and scales, often excessively growing upon them. However, the first remnants of civilization would come to see these traits as divine. The race of the “Hornsent” was likely a developing civilization in the Lands Between at this point. They worshipped the Primordial Crucible and viewed those that it "blessed" as divine.

The first envoy that the Greater Will sent to the Lands Between was Metyr. Metyr is described as a “gleaming daughter” of the Greater Will but it is unknown if she physically resembles what it looks like or if the Greater Will has a physical appearance at all. She would birth all manner of creatures that would spread throughout the Lands Between and would commune with the Greater Will through a macrocosm she held in her tail. She and her children, the “Two Fingers,” would spread the influence of the Greater Will across the land. There were many pairs of Two Fingers born during this time. Metyr and her children functioned similarly to that of a broadcasting network, where Metyr received information and instruction from the Greater Will directly. She relayed this information to her children, who would then relay it to willing listeners. One day, Metyr would eventually lose contact with the Greater Will entirely. It is unknown if the Greater Will did this with or without intention. She could still communicate with it, but she would get no response. 

The "Ancient Dragons" were four-winged beasts that inhabited a domain called Farum Azula and established themselves as a ruling body in the Lands Between. In any empire or kingdom in Elden Ring, there exists an “Elden Lord” and a god that function as a pair to carry out the bidding of the Greater Will. During this point in time, an ancient dragon called Dragonlord Placidusax served as the de facto Elden Lord, but his partner (or his god) is still unknown. It’s hypothesized that it could have been Metyr or the Greater Will itself, but nobody knows for certain. One day, a dragon by the name of Bayle would emerge and challenge Placidusax’s rule. They would engage in a violent and brutal clash that would end in a stalemate as well as mutual grievous injuries. Placidusax had large gashes and chunks ripped off his body, necks, and wings. Additionally, two of his four heads were ripped off during the battle. Placidusax retreated into a domain that exists beyond time, as did the entirety of Farum Azula. 

The newly branded “Bayle the Dread” retreated into exile, where he would claim the Jagged Peak as his new home. Bayle suffered heavy damage as well. His wings were completely shredded down to the bone, leaving him flightless, and his left leg was ripped from his body entirely. Placidusax’s two severed heads would soon fossilize as they clung to Bayle’s back, their jaws still embedded in his scales. Some of the Ancient Dragons sided with Bayle during the conflict and followed him. All who were traitorous were renounced and given the title of “Drakes” as a way to separate them from their previous allies. Bayle would become the father of a new species of Drakes who paled in comparison to their ancestors. Every Drake would be hunted down by Placidusax’s allies, and their hearts would be harvested and used in “Dragon Communion.”

In a small town nestled within the fields of the Hinterlands, a child would be born. Marika was born as a Numen and a member of the Shaman. She would come into contact with the Two Fingers, likely through the ruins that lay just beyond her village. Both Metyr and her children, lacking direction from the Greater Will, helped Marika on their own faulty accord. The Two Fingers recognized Marika as an “Empyrean,” or a being who had the capability of ascending to godhood. With the finger’s shaky guidance, she would begin to gain notoriety, especially among the Hornsent. The Hornsent had long persecuted her people, crucifying them and using them as “material” for twisted experimentation. She would soon ascend to the city of Enir-Illim and betray the Hornsent, using their Divine Gate to ascend to godhood. She was able to accomplish this through ritualistic means and by her right as an Empyrean. In doing so, her body would become a vessel for the Elden Ring. Two colossal trees would sprout during this event: the Erdtree and the Scadutree. The latter grew upon the same island that Marika ascended to godhood, and this and this region would come to be named the "Realm of Shadow." Either out of fear or confidence for her future, Marika would remove a small but important piece of the Elden Ring: the Rune of Death. This would cause the concept of death to become obsolete in the Lands Between, and souls of the dead would be reborn through the power of the Erdtree.

Marika would establish the Golden Order, a singular religion and a kingdom with her ruling as its Queen. She took a renowned warrior by the name of Hoarah Loux as her king consort. This warrior would take the name of Godfrey and become a demigod as well as the first Elden Lord. Marika sought to wage war against all opposing factions in the Lands Between. With her approval, Godfrey and their forces waged war against the Fire Giants atop the frigid northern mountains. The Fire Giants worshipped the “Fell God,” an Outer God that dwelled within the Flame of Ruin upon the highest mountain. Its capability of burning the Erdtree to the ground was what sealed the fate of the Fire Giants. They were all slaughtered without mercy, and only one was spared so that he might guard the flame and tend to it. Upon the Golden Order’s victory, they erected the Royal Capital of Leyndell beneath the Erdtree and sealed off the northern mountains, deeming the land forbidden. The Rune of Death would fall into the hands of another Empyrean known as the Gloam Eyed Queen, who would channel its power into a “god-slaying” Black Flame. She and her disciples began a hunt against the Gods, but she would be swiftly defeated in battle by Maliketh. Marika entrusted the Rune of Death to Maliketh for him to guard. The surviving disciples of the Gloam-Eyed Queen would appoint Maliketh as their new leader and master. 

Marika and Godfrey would have three demigod children, the first being Godwyn. Godwyn, being the firstborn, was a skilled warrior and would help to defend Leydell against a siege by the Ancient Dragons. Godwyn would best one by the name of Dread Fortissax in battle, but spared its life. This act would spark a friendship between the two, and with the help of another Ancient Dragon, Lansseax, Godwyn would establish the Ancient Dragon Cult, a branch religion of the Golden Order. The twin brothers, Morgott and Mohg, were their second-born children. The twins were born afflicted with traits from the Crucible, and while their relationship with their brother and father was normal, their mother felt ashamed. Marika would banish the twins to the sewers beneath Leyndell out of grief, ashamed that they resembled her persecutors from long ago. They, as well as all other children born with aspects of the Crucible, were deemed “Omen” and were shunned by society. Morgott, despite his circumstances, used this time to hone his skills as a warrior. Utilizing all manner of golden weapons conjured from the golden power of the Erdtree, Morgott likely sought to prove his worth as a demigod. Mohg, on the other hand, embraced his nature as an Omen and would establish contact with an Outer God through his accursed blood. This Outer God was known as the Formless Mother and would bestow Mohg with alchemical blood magic.

While it is not explicitly stated, both Messmer and his sister Melina were likely born during this time. Their mother is explicitly stated to be Marika, but their father is unknown. The most likely candidate is Radagon, who was a rising champion of the Golden Order at the time. Alternatively, the two demigods could have also been born through means of immaculate conception. Messmer was born with an affliction and an incredibly dangerous power. His body served as a vessel for an Outer God known as the Abyssal Serpent. Messmer was also born with an elemental flame that served as a way to satiate the serpent’s hunger. Messmer learned to hone this flame as a tool in battle, but his mother would seal away the Abyssal Serpent when Messmer was still a child by replacing his only eye with an enchanted seal. In order to retain his vision, Messmer utilized a pair of winged serpents infused with his body in order to see. Both Messmer and his sister, Melina, were born with a “vision of fire,” and this vision is what likely led to their status as being secret children of Queen Marika.

Marika would wage war over a region of the Lands Between known as Liurnia, ruled over by the Carian Royal Family. The Carian's mastery of glintstone and magic would result in a drawn-out series of battles with the Golden Order. A warrior by the name of Radagon led the forces of Leydell throughout the many battles during the war. Queen Rennala of the Carian Royal Family led the opposing forces alongside her sister, Rellana the Twin Moon Knight. At the apex of the clash, Rennala and Radagon locked horns in combat. In this battle, ironically, the two of them would fall in love with one another, and their marriage would end the war of Liurnia, merging the Golden Order and the Carians under one empire. Renalla and Radagon would have three children: Radahn, Rykard, and Ranni. With her empire secure, Godfrey would slay his final batch of opposition to the Golden Order. In doing so, it was said that the hue of battle within his eyes faded. Marika would banish Godfrey and his kinfolk from the Lands Between, revoking their “Grace.” Grace is a blessing that is bestowed upon every being in the Lands Between by Marika. Godfrey and his kinfolk would become the first of the “Tarnished” and begin a long pilgrimage to distant lands. They would wage battles in which they fought and died, believing that one day, their Grace would be bestowed upon them once more.

When she knew the time was right, Marika would bestow an army upon her son, Messmer, and command him to exterminate the Hornsent and their culture out of revenge for their past misdeeds against her people. As “Messmer the Impaler,” Messmer would obey his mother’s command. Utilizing his elemental flame, Messmer and his army would utterly massacre the Hornsent throughout the Realm of Shadow. Both their bodies and souls would be scorched away. It was a horrific and unsightly war, but Messmer demanded that all blame be placed upon his shoulders. Rennala’s sister, Rellana, would pursue Messmer during his crusade. Either out of duty, love, or a mix of both, Rellana would accompany Messmer as his sworn ally throughout the battles to come. As her son waged her battles, Marika would utilize a magical veil and drape it over the Realm of Shadow. This veil completely obscured the land as well as all who resided there from the outside world, and Marika would completely cease all contact with her forces and her son. Messmer and his army, Rellana, the Scadutree, Bayle, Metyr, the Hinterlands, Enir-Illim, and the Divine Gate, as well as all others who remained in the Realm of Shadow, would be trapped forever with no way to communicate or contact the outside world. Although it was a drastic measure, Marika utilized the veil as an opportunity to hide away her most dangerous child as well as her past secrets and sins from the rest of the Lands Between.

With her king consort banished, Radagon would abandon his wife Rennala to ascend to demigod status and claim the title of second Elden Lord. Rennala was utterly devastated. Racked with grief, Rennala sealed herself within the grand library at her Academy of Raya Lucaria. Her only memory of Radagon would be a golden egg that he gifted her upon their parting, with a rune of the Elden Ring embedded inside. Radahn, Rykard, and Ranni would become demigods through their father’s new partner and would join their family as step-children. In secret, Radagon and Marika would merge into one being. Able to inhabit the same body or two separate bodies, this union would be known to very few and was kept as both Marika and Radagon’s utmost secret. Whether they were destined to become one being or if they had always been that way is a mystery that remains unsolved to this day. Radagon and Marika would have two children. A pair of twins named Miquella and Malenia. Both were born with afflictions, possibly due to the nature of their parents. Despite this, the two would grow inseparable because of it. Additionally, Miquella and Malenia were both born as Empyreans, with the only other Empyrean being Ranni.

All demigod children and step-children of the Golden Order would grow up over time. Rykard’s affinity for serpents and the occult would lead him to establish the Volcano Manor as his primary place of residence. Radahn would grow in admiration of both his father as well as Godfrey, mastering the art of gravitational magic and halting the movement of all stars and celestial bodies in the sky. Miquella was born with eternal nascence, meaning that he would never grow to be an adult and would forever remain a child. However, that did not stop him from achieving greatness. Miquella was also born with the ability to charm people into doing his bidding. Miquella and Radagon would establish Golden Order Fundamentalism, but Miquella would leave the order because of their strict tolerance against accursed beings such as the Omen. Either through his own will or through Miquella’s charm, Radahn would swear a vow to Miquella that he would rise to become consort should Miquella ever ascend to godhood. Miquella would grow his own tree, the Haligtree, to be his new home as well as a haven for others. Throughout both their lives, Miquella would tend to his twin sister Malenia. Malenia possessed the power of an Outer God known as the Scarlet Rot. Incurable and ever-present, the Scarlet Rot would slowly eat away at her body during her lifetime and, if left unchecked, would consume her entirely. Malenia would be outfitted with prosthetic limbs crafted by her twin over the course of her life. Through their shared suffering, Malenia and Miquella would become inseparable, and she would pledge herself to be his sworn blade. Despite her circumstances, Malenia would become one of the most feared demigods for her mastery of swordsmanship and her status as being undefeated

Ranni would soon grow obsessed with breaking free of her place as a demigod among the pantheon. Her will was not her own, and she resented the Two Fingers for it. Ranni would begin to plan a scheme. Through ritualistic sacrifice, her soul could be freed from her body and the influence of the Two Fingers. This plan was to be of utmost secrecy. Only Ranni’s most trusted allies would ever know what happened. And so it was that on the Night of the Black Knives, a shard of the Rune of Death was stolen from Maliketh. This shard was splintered, and its essence was channeled into several ritualistic daggers. To complete the ritual, Ranni would need to sacrifice both the flesh and the soul of a demigod. Ranni would sacrifice her flesh to help complete the ritual. Her body would be slain, but her soul was left untouched. Under the cover of darkness and with cloaks that fooled the eye, a group of assassins would infiltrate Leyndell and slay Marika’s son, Godwyn. Godwyn’s soul would perish, but his body still lived. Therefore, he could not die a “true death” and was buried beneath the roots of the Erdtree shortly thereafter. Ranni, now free from both her body and her destiny, would come to inhabit a doll she had crafted for the occasion.

Godwyn’s death was the first recorded death of any demigod in history, and it would no doubt drive his mother into grief. Godwyn’s death would serve as the catalyst that would trigger an apocalyptic war among the demigods called “The Shattering.”  Either out of grief, rage, or some ulterior motive, Marika smashed at the Elden Ring with her hammer. Radagon, sensing what was happening, would attempt to take control of Marika’s body to repair the Elden Ring. The two clashed before Marika would completely shatter the Elden Ring, scattering millions of fragments throughout the Lands Between. This event was felt by everybody near and far and would also return the Grace Marika had once gifted back to Godfrey and his fellow Tarnished, who would begin their long pilgrimage back to where they had been banished from. Radagon and Marika were imprisoned within the Erdtree, and all demigod children would soon come to wage war with one another. They fought over control of Leyndell as well as large, powerful shards of the Elden Ring known as “Great Runes.” Rykard would embrace his blasphemous ways and feed himself to the God Devouring Serpent that resided beneath the Volcano Manor. Ranni would slip into the shadows and wait for new plans to come to fruition. Morgott would ultimately seize control of Leyndell and rule as its veiled monarch for the foreseeable future. Miquella would cocoon himself within the Haligtree while his sister would venture to fight in her most difficult battle to come.