Starscourge Radahn

LOG · Elden Ring · Tome I · Starscourge Radahn

◈ CHARACTER

Commander General · Bane of the Stars

"General Radahn is cursed ever to wander. Eaten from the inside, by Malenia's scarlet rot, his wits are long gone. Now he gathers the corpses of former friends and foes alike, gorging on them, like a dog. Howling at the sky."
Festival of Combat

Radahn is the son of Rennala and Radagon, universally acknowledged as the strongest of all demigods in raw martial prowess. A general with bright red hair inherited from Radagon, he studied gravitational magic at Sellia, Town of Sorcery, during his youth for a singular and revealing reason: his beloved horse Leonard was a starved and frail steed, incapable of bearing him. Rather than ever abandon Leonard, Radahn mastered graviturgy to nullify his own weight and ride Leonard without crushing him. This devotion to his horse is documented across multiple item descriptions.

Nicknamed "Starscourge," he fought and defeated the constellations themselves, stopping the motion of the stars through his gravitational sorceries, a feat with decisive lore consequences, as it held Ranni's fate in stasis (Carian destiny is guided by stars). His Great Rune is described by Enia as "magnificent" and boosts all stats of the wearer. During the Shattering, he fought Malenia at Caelid in the most devastating duel of the war. The Scarlet Rot released by Malenia (forced by the battle's impasse) progressively devoured his brain, plunging him into madness. Driven insane, he roamed the Wailing Dunes of Caelid devouring the corpses of his former allies and enemies "like a dog," howling at the sky, described as such by Jerren at the Festival. The Radahn Festival at Redmane Castle was a war commemoration: champions came to fight the mad General and offer him the honorable death he could not give himself. The survivors of his army stayed in Caelid, protecting themselves from the rot with fire. Radahn's gravitational spells (Collapsing Stars, Starscourge Greatbow moves, Radahn's Rain) are his technical legacy from Sellia. The sheer scale of his armor speaks volumes: his mass required an oversized suit worn by a miniature horse made possible only by graviturgy.

◆ Sources

Boss Lore

Remembrance of the Starscourge

Remembrance of Starscourge Radahn, hewn into the Erdtree. The power of its namesake can be unlocked by the Finger Reader. Alternatively, it can be used to gain a great bounty of runes.

NPC DialogueThe Noble Goldmask (Dialogue)

Hmm... So Ranni's fate is kept in stasis by Starscourge Radahn... That reminds me of something I heard. There's a festival being held at the castle on the southern edge of the Caelid Wilds, east of Limgrave. It's a festival of combat. And I heard...that you can fight Radahn himself. He who was once called the strongest of all the demigods... Maybe it's just a coincidence, but I think it's worth investigating. I'll be on my way to this festival of Radahn then... You're coming too, right? To Radahn's festivities... I'll meet you at Redmane Castle in Caelid. The way ahead is pleasingly simple. And there's a festival of war being held at Redmane Castle in Caelid, where you can fight the man himself, once the strongest of the demigods. It's all coming together. Seems like Iji was on to something. Ah, there you are. Took your sweet time. You must have heard by now, right? That Starscourge Radahn holds Ranni's fate in stasis. But once he's out of the way, it will spring back into motion. So now, we stand against the demigod once known as the strongest of them all. Seems we're fated to keep crossing paths. Now, we find ourselves at a festival of combat, pitted against Radahn, once the strongest of the demigods. A path forged by sword and fang. Blaidd, warrior. Now, we find ourselves pitted against Radahn, once the strongest of the demigods. The way ahead is pleasingly simple; a path forged by sword and fang. Hm. What a sick way to fight, eh. The glory of the clash is shared, by Radahn and you. And hah! Did you see that, afterwards? A falling star, right before our eyes! I can't fathom how Radahn was holding back something of that scale. He was a living legend, if ever I saw one. And, the path has now been cleared. Hmph, what a sick way to fight, eh mate. And then a falling star, right before our eyes! Well, it's time I left.

NPC Dialogue

Old Albus (Dialogue)

By the by, do you know for whom this festival is being held? Well, it is none other than General Radahn himself! To think, I could face a great champion of the Shattering, a demigod in the flesh... In truth I quiver at the thought, such is his frightful repute. Do you know for whom this festival is being held?

NPC Dialogue

Boc the Seamster (Dialogue)

Now, that's a name I haven't heard for a while. Before taking up the banner of General Radahn, he was a guest of the Carian royal family. An expert swordsman, to be sure, but ever the eccentric. No surprise he'd get wrapped up in some festival. As is the fate of Lady Ranni, first heir in the Carian royal line. But General Radahn is the conqueror of the stars. Who stood up to the swirling constellations, halting their movement in a smashing victory. And so, if General Radahn were defeated, the stars would once again resume their movement. As would Lady Ranni's destiny. Perhaps, even, revealing the elusive path. Go with Blaidd to the festival grounds. Should General Radahn be defeated, the stars would once again resume their movement. Perhaps revealing the elusive path to Nokron. Ah, you've finally come. Blaidd told me everything. You've defeated General Radahn, unlocking the stars. The General was blighted by scarlet rot and driven to madness, but not long ago he was hailed as the mightiest demigod of them all. There is no parallel to your achievement. So that Lady Ranni may tread the dark path of the Empyrean. Now the festival is over, and General Radahn is defeated... Jerren's duties are finally fulfilled. Though we served different masters, I could see he was truly adept in his role. It's funny how things happen.

NPC Dialogue

War Counselor Iji (Dialogue)

Lady Ranni has explained everything. You've defeated General Radahn, unlocking the stars. A grand reward, justly procured by any measure. Again, I am Iji ❞. The pleasure is mine.

NPC Dialogue

Gatekeeper Gostoc (Dialogue)

Godrick must have an idea. About the vengeance sought by General Radahn, to whom I swore my oath. ...Yes, Godrick's corpse will know what to do... Godrick must know. That of all the grudges born of the Shattering, Malenia the Rotted is the object of the most profound. Ahh, my head is throbbing, everything is bright red... Master Radahn, is this how it feels to ferment with vengeance? I can hardly keep from trembling... Well, well, you've made yourself a target of vengeance.

NPC DialogueEdgar the Revenger (Dialogue)

But when the stars align, we celebrate. A war festival honoring the last battle and death of General Radahn, the mightiest demigod of the Shattering, and bearer of a Great Rune. Well, good. As you should. Then you must serve Princess Ranni? The next time you speak to Iji, tell him this: The festival of Radahn will surely set Ranni's fate back into motion. By the by… Is that old fool still hammering out weapons? His enormous frame, cramped in that little place... The festival is nigh! General Radahn, mightiest demigod of the Shattering, awaits you! Champions, prepare for battle! Defeat the General, claim glory, and grab that Great Rune! A celebration of war! The Radahn Festival! Are you good and prepared, young chum? The festival begins! The celebration of war! You will find the field of battle past the church ahead, upon the shore under the fort. General Radahn is there, even now. Divested of his wits, devouring corpses… And howling at the sky... I see... The celebration was spectacular. General Radahn is surely pleased. Festering with rot, and crippled by madness, all he wanted was an honourable death. Finally, my work is done.

NPC DialoguePotentate Diallos (Dialogue)

And the fate of your mistress, Ranni. But long ago, General Radahn challenged the swirling constellations, and in a crushing victory, arrested their cycles. Now, he is the force that repulses the stars. If General Radahn were to die, the stars would resume their movement. And so, too, would Ranni's destiny. My apprentice, what happened to your nail?

NPC Dialogue

Shabriri (Dialogue)

Don't make me laugh. First he hid himself amongst the womenfolk to flee the capital, then hid from Radahn in that castle... Then he insulted Malenia, lost to her in battle, only to lick her boots rather than die like a man. Has he no shame, the big girl's blouse?

NPC Dialogue

Dung Eater (Dialogue)

Godrick the Grafted, Lord of Stormveil. General Radahn, who fought Malenia and her rot to a standstill in the Caelid Wilds. Praetor Rykard, Lord of the Volcano Manor of Mt. Gelmir. His castle lies upon the cliff to Limgrave's northwest. ...but I suspect you know that well enough already. 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. And now Caelid has been engulfed by the scarlet rot, even approaching the region is no mean feat. I've heard survivors of Radahn's army are still in the wilds, staving off the rot with fire. And if it's true, I suspect Radahn is still there as well, in Caelid. Though I doubt he much resembles his former self anymore... Praetor Rykard is the Lord of the Volcano Manor on Mt. Find your way to the Elden Ring. And by my reckoning Radahn remains there, even now. Morgott the Grace-Given is Lord of Leyndell, the capital city. I'd expect to find Malenia there. She who fought Radahn to a standstill. Well, if the scarlet rot hasn't eaten her away completely. But...with the Haligtree as it is... One of the children born to King Consort Radagon and his first wife, Renalla. Demigod and sister to General Radahn and Praetor Rykard. Her's was the name I discovered in the imprint. Truly, you have my thanks.

NPC DialogueReeling Rico (Dialogue)

Though rather vexingly, I realise that if I still had my sword arm, I could have aided you in battle. Now, I'm tracing the path Malenia took, after unleashing the power of the scarlet rot, during her battle with General Radahn, in the Caelid Wilds. I should like to meet her, this vanished woman. I think she's in the north.

NPC Dialogue

Millicent (Dialogue)

The dignity, the sense of self, that allowed her to resist the call of the scarlet rot. The pride she abandoned, to meet Radahn's measure. There is something I must return to Malenia. The will that was once her own. A new god to forge a new Order. Since Malenia fought Radahn, and the great scarlet flower blossomed in Aeonia, I have dedicated myself to her. And to the resplendence of the Order of Rot. The cycle of decay and rebirth.

NPC DialogueScribe Corhyn (Dialogue)

Convene the festival of war. Honor General Radahn, with a warrior's glory. It's in your hands, Sir Jerren... ... Let me see it, if only one last time.

Starscourge Radahn

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