It seemed almost impossible for FromSoftware’sElden Ringto live up to its own hype. For years before release, fans of the developer’s previous works likeDark SoulsandDemon’s Soulswere eager to see the latest iteration of FromSoftware’s notoriously challenging format, and anticipation was high forElden Ring. This was only increased by glimpses of the game, which detailed the vast setting, impressively detailed character creator, and flexibility of combat.Elden Ringpromised much, and it seems to have mostly delivered.
Typically,FromSoftware games feature a level of attention to detailthat not a lot of other titles can measure up to. Their worlds are littered with lore and scattered with secrets to uncover, with the majority of narrative detail revealed incidentally and through environmental elements. The stories of many characters that populate the world in games likeElden Ringare sometimes similarly shrouded in mystery, but once players do discover them they can be incredibly nuanced and bittersweet. AmongElden Ring’s cast of characters are some tragic figures, but few more tragic than the wolf-like Blaidd.
RELATED:Elden Ring New NPC Jar-Bairn Explained
Elden Ring’s Many NPCs
Hidetaka Miyazaki and his team of developers are pros at creating memorable characters. Most of these fall under the umbrella of bosses or enemies, and are one of the many elements that FromSoftware games are best known for. Players aren’t likely to forgetDark Souls 3’s encounter with The Nameless King and his wyvern, or the incredibly challengingLady Maria fromBloodborne’s Old Hunter DLC. The creatures and characters that inhabit the worlds created by FromSoftware give them life as well as lore, andElden Ring’s characters help elevate it.
ThroughoutElden Ring, the NPCs that players meet can help to guide them through the strange world with pertinent information, directions, or even quests. Characters also tend to move about as players progress, with their locations helping to provide context and significance to aspects of their personal narratives. It can be ahard to keep track of NPCs inElden Ring, especially as the Lands Between is on a much larger scale than settings like Yharnam or Drangleic. But if players persevere in tracking down NPCs and resolving their storylines, some of them can provide the most heartbreaking tales in the game.
Why Elden Ring’s Blaidd Stands Out
The first glimpse people had ofElden Ringmade a big impression thanks to the game’s beautiful vistas, new mechanics, and detailed designs, but some aspects stuck out. Despite only appearing briefly inone ofElden Ring’s earliest trailers, the Half-Wolf warrior Blaidd was quickly spotted by fans. His distinctive werewolf look, impressive sword, and intimidating stature all combined to make Blaidd a unique character that made players want to know more.
Once players encounter the wolfman early on in theirElden Ringadventure, they discover there was much more to him than a massive sword and a great head of hair. His calming voice, sense of fairness, andloyalty to his mistress Ranni the Witchall make Blaidd an interesting character, but his selflessness truly sets him apart from other NPCs. Unlike many others inElden Ring, Blaidd’s actions are driven by his loyalty to another, not out of his own self-interest.
Blaidd can become imprisoned by the gentle giant Iji, who feared Blaidd would turn on his mistress when he learned of her defiance of the Greater Will. Players can release Blaidd, and the Half-Wolf is insistent that he is not capable of such a betrayal. Ranni’s quest is one of the longest inElden Ring, but players who manage to work their way through it canencounter Blaidd for a final time at Ranni’s Risein Liurnia of the Lakes. Here, they witness Blaidd succumb to madness and attack the player after he protected Ranni from a Black Knife attack.
That Blaidd has to meet such a fate is sad enough, but as with many FromSoftware titles, the true story lies in item descriptions. After players defeat the hostile warrior, he will drop theRoyal Greatsword, Blaidd’s Armor, Blaidd’s Gauntlets, and Blaidd’s Greaves. Blaidd’s armor reveals that “the pelt serves as a cape, protecting from cold,” as “the cold bothered him anyway.” This slightly bizarre reference to Disney’sFrozenalso shows the depth of the Wolf-Man’s devotion, as his very sword was imbued with cold magic thanks to his undying loyalty to the ice-loving Ranni, even though he wasn’t immune to its effects.
RELATED:Expect Elden Ring to Have an Impact on Future FromSoftware Games
FromSoftware’s Tragic Characters
While Blaidd may be one ofElden Ring’s most tragic characters, his story is just one among many harrowing tales. Most might pass players by, hidden in item descriptions or in areas that not many can manage to find. As the majority of storytelling in series likeDark Soulsorstandalone titles likeBloodborneandSekiro: Shadows Die Twiceisn’t conveyed in conventional ways, it can be easy to miss the narrative nuances. But there are still a few characters whose fates make a lasting impression thanks to the healthy dose of tragedy.
Characters like Solaire, whose seemingly impenetrable optimism and fondness for the sun are slowly poisoned by the challenging and dark world he inhabits, are a good example. Or the heartbreaking fight between the player’s Wolf and the fabled warrior Owl inSekiro. But the pinnacle of distressing storytelling is perhaps the fate of the Gascoigne Family inBloodborne, as the father turns into the very evil he tries to fight, and his children wait at home for parents who are never coming back.
Elden Ringis available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
MORE:Elden Ring: Radahn’s Relationship with His Horse is More Touching Than You Think
