▣ INCANTATIONFire's Deadly Sin
The prophecy of the burning Erdtree, the first cardinal sin, no domain of mere men
Fire's Deadly Sin
Fire's Deadly Sin is an incantation 'originating from a deeply ominous prophecy', and it behaves like no other flame in the canon : cast, it 'sets both the caster and the surrounding area ablaze with raging flames', and the caster's own body 'will remain engulfed in flame for a while, burning them and any who draw near'. The description preserves the prophecy itself. A prophet 'despaired, looking up at the Erdtree, for soon the kindling would burst into flame, bringing ruin', and the words of that despair are quoted directly : 'The burning of the Erdtree is the first cardinal sin. That is not the domain of mere men.'
This cursed fire must be distinguished from the black flame of the Godskin Apostles, which has its own history and its own mistress. The Gloam-Eyed Queen, 'an Empyrean chosen by the Fingers', led the apostles ; the black flame they wield 'could once slay gods', channeled from her Godslayer's Greatsword, and the apostles were 'once said to serve Destined Death', until the Queen was defeated by Maliketh the Black Blade, 'Queen Marika's loyal half-brother', whose blade was imbued with Destined Death. 'When Maliketh sealed Destined Death, the true power of the black flame was lost.' The black flame is a weapon, a god-killing instrument with a known chain of custody. Fire's Deadly Sin has no order, no prayerbook, no teacher : it is the sin itself in miniature, a flame that begins by burning the one who calls it.
The prophecy is fulfilled by the Tarnished's own hand. To breach the thorns, the Erdtree must burn : 'You must find kindling', Melina teaches, and at the Forge of the Giants she closes the search, 'I shall see to the kindling', before giving herself to the flame. When Maliketh is slain and the Rune of Death unbound, the death-rune's text is exact : 'Black flames have devoured the Erdtree, and the Lands Between are shrouded by Death's dark fate. But the flames will also burn the impenetrable thorns.' The first cardinal sin is committed with black flames, at the very moment Destined Death runs free, the fire of prophecy and the fire of the Gloam-Eyed Queen's order converge on the same tree.
A reading, widely held but nowhere confirmed, binds these threads to Melina herself. The clues are textual. Her warning outside the Three Fingers' door, 'The one who walks alongside flame, shall one day meet the road of Destined Death', and her vow to the Lord of Frenzied Flame, 'I will seek you, as far as you may travel... To deliver you what is yours. Destined Death', both claim for her the exact power that was the Gloam-Eyed Queen's : Destined Death as a thing she can deliver. The Godskin Swaddling Cloth, meanwhile, speaks of the Queen in the present tense : she 'cradles newborn apostles swaddled in this cloth'. The texts never join the two names ; they only refuse to close the distance between them.
'That is not the domain of mere men.' The prophecy's last line is borne out on every road that burns the Tree. On the road of gold, the kindling is Melina, 'I shall see to the kindling'. On the road of frenzy, Hyetta tells the would-be Lord what the Three Fingers demand : 'If you inherit the flame of frenzy, your flesh will serve as kindling.' Whoever lights the fire, the price is a person. Fire's Deadly Sin, the one form of this ruin a Tarnished may hold in their own hands, keeps the rule honestly : it burns its caster first, a rehearsal in miniature of the sin that ends the world's order.
Incantation originating from a deeply ominous prophecy. Sets both the caster and the surrounding area ablaze with raging flames. The caster's body will remain engulfed in flame for a while, burning them and any who draw near. The prophet despaired, looking up at the Erdtree, for soon the kindling would burst into flame, bringing ruin. "The burning of the Erdtree is the first cardinal sin. That is not the domain of mere men."
Superior black flame incantation of the Godskin Apostles. The Gloam-Eyed Queen led the apostles. It is said that she was an Empyrean chosen by the Fingers.
A black flame incantation of the Godskin Apostles. The black flame could once slay gods. But when Maliketh sealed Destined Death, the true power of the black flame was lost.
Godslayer's GreatswordSacred sword of the Dusk-Eyed Queen who controlled the Godskin Apostles before her defeat at the hands of Maliketh. The black flames wielded by the apostles are channeled from this sword.
Maliketh's ArmorBeast's armor made of black iron and decorated with gold. Worn by Maliketh the Black Blade. Maliketh, Queen Marika's loyal half-brother, bore a blade imbued with Destined Death, and there was not one demigod who did not fear him.
Godskin Apostle BraceletsBlack bracelets of the Godskin Apostles. The apostles, once said to serve Destined Death, are wielders of the god-slaying black flame.
Sacred cloth of the Godskin Apostles, made from supple skin sewn together. The Gloam-Eyed Queen cradles newborn apostles swaddled in this cloth. Soon they will grow to become the death of the gods.
Blade of CallingDagger given to one who set out on a journey to fulfill her duty long ago. The power of its former owner, the kindling maiden, is still apparent. The one who walks alongside flame, Shall one day meet the road of Destined Death.
The Rune of Death is unbound. Black flames have devoured the Erdtree, and the Lands Between are shrouded by Death's dark fate. But the flames will also burn the impenetrable thorns.
Lord of Frenzied Flame... I will seek you, as far as you may travel... To deliver you what is yours. Destined Death.
