Elden RingandBloodbornedeveloper FromSoftware has a knack for creating unique protagonists. These characters seem to be devoid of life and direction at the beginning of their journey, but ultimately they determine the fate of their worlds.
Elden Ringintroduced players to the Tarnished, a character with no backstory or origin; all they know is they have been summoned to the Lands Between and are being gently pushed towards the Erdtree.Elden Ring’smain character bears similarity to that of another FromSoftware protagonist,Bloodborne’sHunter, who knows little behind the nature of Yharnam except that of the hunt. Both protagonists must journey through their new and mysterious lands to discover their true purpose.
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The Tarnished and Hunter’s Mysterious Backstories
Bloodborneallowed players to take control of a character known only as the Hunter. This character is given very little backstory or instruction; the only information is given right at the beginning of the journey. Through a conversation with a Blood Minister, the Hunter is told that the town of Yharnam is in a constant nightmare, and to successfully unravel the mysteries of the world, they must agree to receive a blood transfusion and sign a contract employing them as a Beast Hunter.
Little is known about the Tarnished at the beginning of their journey inthe world ofElden Ring. The only knowledge given to the player is that the Elden Ring was once an all-powerful force that ruled over the Lands Between, but it has been shattered, and now the world is in disarray. However, the Tarnished feels compelled to approach the Erdtree and discover what caused the Shattering.
The Hunter andthe Tarnishedshare a lot of similarities in their backstories. It is only through the guidance of others, pushing through the world, and discovering what is truly going on, that these characters are able to discover their true meaning and purpose.
It is also worth noting that both protagonists come from a long line of similar characters before them. There are a plethora of otherHunters inBloodbornethat have attempted to pursue the truth, only to go mad. Similarly, there are many Tarnished in the Lands Between that have also had their grace taken from them. These two main characters are the only ones of their kind who are able to break the cycle of their predecessors and achieve their goals.
Bloodborne and Elden Ring’s Guides
Only guided by vague notes and limited instructions from Gehrman and his companion, a living Doll, the Hunter must progress through their mysterious world before discovering the truth for themselves. After confronting different factions of the governing body of Yharnam, The Healing Church, the Hunter learns that the church is the reason the world has gone mad with blood and that they communicate with celestial beings known as the Great Ones.
The main guidance provided to the Tarnished is through the guidance of the Erdtree’s grace, which leads them to findMelina, a woman who acts as a finger maidenwho is supposed to help the Tarnished on their journey. Melina instructs the protagonist to pursue the Erdtree and defeat the Lands Betweens' most powerful figures in order to undo the shattering of the Elden Ring.
Both protagonists are guided by those who are attempting to stop the chaos that plagues their worlds. TheHunter is guided by Gehrmanand the Tarnished by Melina, as well as Marika to an extent. Both must also confront those who guide them and sacrifice or defeat them in order to truly succeed in their quests.
Bloodborne’sGehrman was once attempting to guide the Hunter to defeat the Great Ones, but once that goal was accomplished, he no longer had a need for the Hunter and offered them a way out of the nightmare, even though it meant Gehrman would stay trapped in the Hunter’s Dream.Marika is the one who originally banished the Tarnishedbut only did so knowing that they would return stronger and better fit to fulfill her plans.
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The True Purpose of Tarnished and Hunters
Throughout the game, the Hunter is eventually able to confront the Great Ones who have not ascended. These beings are the ones controlling the nightmare and their blood is what is plaguing the people of Yharnam, so the Hunter determines their goal is toslay the Great Ones and end the nightmare. However, the Hunter also learns that Gehrman is being used as a puppet by a Great One called The Moon Presence, and this being is the one who is truly in control and must be slain.
The Tarnished are people who have lost or been stripped of their grace and banished from the Lands Between. It is by getting closer to their goal of the Erdtree that the Tarnished learn the truth behind the Shattering of the Elden Ring and what they are meant to do. The Lands Between were once ruled byQueen Marika, who created the Tarnished by banishing the first Elden Lord, Godfrey. This discovery shows that the protagonist’s goal is to restore the Lands Between by undoing Queen Marika’s actions and becoming the new Elden Lord, though there are other options depending on how one interprets the lore.
However, just as the Hunter learned there was an outside force controlling Gehrman, the Tarnished discovers the Elden Beast waiting for them after defeating Radagon, the embodiment ofthe Greater Willthat Marika was attempting to defy. It must be defeated in order for the Tarnished to mend the Elden Ring.
Origins and End Goals
Though the two protagonists share similar, little known backstories, their true origins are learned through their adventures. Nothing is ever known about the Hunter except they have come to Yharnam to attempt to find a cure to the disease that plagues the area. The Tarnished do not originally know where they came from, but soon discover that they share the fate ofthe original Elden Lord.
The two discover they have different goals at the end of their journeys. The Hunter must defeat The Moon Presence and put an end to the nightmare once and for all, while the Tarnished is attempting torepair the Elden Ring and bring orderback to the world. That being said, both are given choices at the end of their quests that could alter the end goal. Both have the ability to choose a different ending that could alter the course of history and possibly put an end to the cycles that control their worlds.
Elden Ringis available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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