The Rune of Death goes by two names; the other is Destined Death. The forbidden shadow, plucked from the Golden Order upon its creation… Unleashing the rune now would be unthinkable... The Fingers would never permit it. Nor would the Greater Will. ... ... Of the demigods, only I, Miquella, and Malenia could claim that title. Each of us was chosen by our own Two Fingers, as a candidate to succeed Queen Marika, to become the new god of the coming age. But I would not acquiesce to the Two Fingers. I stole the Rune of Death, slew mine own Empyrean flesh, casting it away. Which is when I received Blaidd. In the form of a vassal tailored for an Empyrean.

Rrarrgh! Marika... Is this...what it is...to sin? Will things...never be the same...again? ... Farewell. O Marika... What...happened? Was I...myself the fool? Or was I tricked...by thee? Why wouldst thou...relinquish... Why... ... ... ... ... Cower. Before Maliketh, Marika's Black Blade. Witless Tarnished... Why covet Destined Death? To destroy what? Forgive me, Marika... The Golden Order...cannot be restored. I must consume more... Marika...why... wouldst thou...gull me? Why...shatter... I am Malenia. Tarnished Warrior. 'Twas nobly fought. Dearest Marika... I am returned. A crown is warranted with strength! I will take thee in mine arms once more! Brave Tarnished... But one day, without fail, you will have your wish. So please, grant me forgiveness, Queen Marika... Those words were not meant for you. I may be prisoner to you Tarnished lot. And their god. Queen Marika herself wishes it so. You seek better weapons still? Very well. That is all that I have lived for. And my promise to Q-queen Marika. But do me a favor, and do look after the girl. I can't hold on much longer.

An ill-omened symbol that should not be. Someone, or something, threatens the sanctity of the Golden Order. And must be eradicated. What is it? Prince of Death, take a good long look! See the wrath of the Golden Order! The Order's justice, writ in blood! This is what's become of your precious witch! The rotten witch is dead. The Golden Order, unsullied. Now I can look my brother Darian in the eye. Honeyed rays of gold, deliver my spirit. I think you've earned this. The power of the Golden Order, to aid the hunt of Those Who Live in Death. Did you need something else? Ah, hello there. Is a path not to be trod without ample resolve. I serve the Golden Order. That I might put this crooked land to rights. Following only the guidance of the great Elden Ring. Those Who Live in Death fall outside the principles of the Golden Order. Their mere existence sullies the guidance of gold. Tainting its truth. Then you are a blight. A defiler of the Golden Order, and murderer of my brother! Die! I feel like I'm really coming to grips with spirit tuning of late. I can see how and why immortal essence exists as spirit under the Golden Order. I can understand their yearnings, what they become drawn to... Master Hewg said it himself, actually, that I'm no mere prentice any longer. Though I can't help but think of it as a curse. A fearsome curse, put on him by Queen Marika. And if that's the case, I'm not sure there's anything we can do... Ah. So slay her, with the weapons he smithed. Slay the god, Marika, who cursed us all. You're...giving it to me? I've never had alcohol before... To deny us, and our ways? Like the dogmatic brutes of the Golden Order? I see. Then you must kill me.

Along with their children, and their children's children, heh, for all time to come… Uur...urgh... Curse you, Golden Order. One day, you'll get what's coming. Ah...argh... Then you would do well to remember the first words of grace given to you. Stand before the Elden Ring, and become the Elden Lord. If those words held any meaning to you... Follow the guidance of grace, lay low the shardbearers, and claim for yourself a Great Rune. I am known as Gideon Ofnir. As a Tarnished who wishes to stand before the Elden Ring and become Elden Lord, I am accumulating knowledge. To be all-knowing. You now belong to a select group of fellows. But the Two Fingers forbid us from venturing there. Until we've acquired enough Great Runes to repair the Elden Ring. Set your sights elsewhere for the time being. The Veiled Monarch can wait. But Rennala herself is no demigod. She is merely the recipient of an amber egg, given to her by Radagon, Her beloved, Radagon, left her to become Queen Marika's second husband, taking the title of King Consort. The Great Rune dwells within the amber egg that was Radagon's gift to her. There are four more demigods yet to be located. If you should learn anything of these matters, I'll trade your findings for a hidden treasure, or a long-lost rite, known only to me. We both desire to stand before the Elden Ring, and become Elden Lord. As such, I hope we are compelled to work together. I'll trade your findings for something rather special. You may be our best hope. Find your way to the Elden Ring. For we are Tarnished. And we must answer the call of grace. General Radahn, the famed Red Lion and scourge of the stars, is a ferocious warrior. He fought Malenia and her rot to a standstill in the Caelid Wilds to Limgrave's east. The Academy of Raya Lucaria lies to Limgrave's north, towering over the mist-laden lands of Liurnia. Rennala is the queen of the Carian royals, who govern the academy. All my knowledge is for the sake of guidance. That a Tarnished might stand before the Elden Ring, and become Elden Lord. It doesn't have to be me, my fellow. If you're heading to the forge of the flame of ruin, in the snowy mountaintops of the giants. What do you think, as one who aspires to become Elden Lord? Sir Gideon Ofnir, the All-Knowing Ahh, I knew you'd come. To stand before the Elden Ring. To become Elden Lord. What a sad state of affairs. I commend your spirit, but alas, none shall take the throne. Queen Marika has high hopes for us. That we continue to struggle. Unto eternity. They were conceived at the great Academy of Raya Lucaria, to the north of this castle. In the past, they obeyed laws which contravened the Golden Order, or so I'm told. Fascinating, isn't it? That the Golden Order was pliable enough to absorb practices that contradicted itself in the past. With the Order broken, twisted, and in need of repair, such adaptability is more important now than ever. Of course. As that famed night of assassination is known. It happened during the Golden Age of the Erdtree, long before the shattering of the Elden Ring. Someone stole a fragment of the Rune of Death from Maliketh, the Black Blade. And on a bitter night, murdered Godwyn the Golden. And it became the catalyst. Soon, the Elden Ring was smashed, and thus sprang forth the war known as the Shattering. I once wished to become a scholar, you see. I've spent many an hour scouring the archives for knowledge of that fateful plot. Don't fret, it is entirely in accordance with the guidance of grace. If you seek to stand before the Elden Ring and become Elden Lord, The answers you find will surely bolster your chances. I have some idea of Ranni's potential whereabouts. There's a manor to the north of the Academy of Raya Lucaria.

I'm Corhyn, a man of the cloth. I teach incantations, the strength granted us by the Two Fingers, and explore the secrets of the Golden Order. So that one day, if a Tarnished of the Roundtable Hold should become Elden Lord, I might counsel them, ensuring order regains its proper form, righting rule over men. By the way, do you still see it? Would you like to learn an incantation? May the Golden Order shine through you. There's something I should mention to you, as well. I'm thinking of leaving the Roundtable Hold. Though he was but a Tarnished, living outside the Lands Between, he was a great scholar, who foresaw the coming guidance of grace. And now, I hear he has come to the Lands Between alone, to contemplate the Golden Order... I wish nothing more than to seek his instruction, and perhaps even help him in his research. Ah, I had been waiting for your return. Of course, of course, I knew he would be close by. Bless the Golden Order, and its benevolent rays. And to you too. My sincerest thanks. The master is always deep in contemplation. While I frantically attempt to record his wisdom; the movement of his finger. I know that this, this is my life's calling. The Golden Order has bestowed me, talentless as I am, the great duty of documentarian. Master! What ever is the matter? What matters this issue of Radagon, really? The Erdtree, heart of the Golden Order, lies before our very eyes! Why must these qualms come to you now? We were on the very cusp! Now the master is facing quite the puzzle. The Golden Order is founded on the principle that Marika is the one true god. However... The name of Marika's second husband, King Consort Radagon, also appeared... Who exactly was Radagon? The master is stumped. So I'd like to pass this on to you instead. A glimpse into the heart of the Golden Order, documented by yours truly. To think, that Radagon was Marika herself. Or at least, such is all I can interpret from the rhythm and calculus of his finger. How would such a thing even have been possible, I wonder. But oh, how important could it really be? I've…been gripped by a terrifying thought. The rhythms and calculus of the master's finger... betray a suspicion of the holism of the Golden Order. A conceit, I am afraid, that cannot be overlooked. Oh, but how could this be? Tell me, have I simply lost my head? Only, if the master were true to the Golden Order, why would he think to breach this forbidden mount of fire?