What is the Meaning of “Lands Between”? Unraveling the Heart of Elden Ring
The term “Lands Between” refers to the expansive and central setting of the critically acclaimed video game Elden Ring. More than just a geographical location, it’s a realm steeped in lore, history, and profound thematic significance. At its core, “Lands Between” signifies a place existing between states of being, a convergence point of opposing forces, and a testament to a fractured world struggling to restore its shattered order. It is the space between the heavens and the depths, life and death, peace and war, and the old and the new. The name itself, as described by game director Hidetaka Miyazaki, serves as “an invitation to this mysterious new land,” hinting at its enigmatic nature and the secrets it holds within.
The Lands Between isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a character in itself, directly influencing the narrative and the player’s journey. Its very name implies a liminal space, a transition zone caught between different realities. This concept is deeply woven into the game’s fabric, reflected in its fractured history, the struggle of its inhabitants, and the player’s own quest to become the Elden Lord.
The Liminality of the Lands Between
A Fractured History
The name “Lands Between” also speaks to the state of its being. It’s not a unified land, but a collection of regions each ruled by a demigod – figures once unified under the banner of Queen Marika the Eternal, but now fractured by the Shattering of the Elden Ring. This event created a land torn apart by war and ambition, with the powerful demigods vying for control of the Great Runes – fragments of the broken Elden Ring – that once maintained order and harmony.
The game’s lore hints that the Lands Between were once a peaceful place, with strong cities and states that kept people safe. However, this state of stability crumbled with the Shattering, leaving the land in ruins and vulnerable to the ambitions of the demigods. Thus, the “Lands Between” represents not just a geographical in-between, but also a temporal one – a place between a golden age and its subsequent decline.
Between Order and Chaos
The Elden Ring, a powerful force that manifested itself as the concept of order, was shattered by Queen Marika. This act plunges the Lands Between into chaos, and the world’s rules become corrupted, leading to the current state of ruin and conflict. The Tarnished, players characters, are guided by Grace to restore the Elden Ring, thereby bringing order back into this fragmented realm.
The Lands Between are therefore a battleground between order and chaos, a place where the legacy of the past and the possibility of a new future collide. It is in this chaos that the Tarnished finds themself, navigating a world where traditional power structures have collapsed and where the choices of one individual can drastically alter the destiny of the realm. This constant tension is also another interpretation of what it means to be ‘between’ things.
A Purgatorial Space
Furthermore, there’s an argument to be made that the Lands Between also act as a purgatory, a corrupted space where souls are trapped after death, a place where the cycle of life and death has been disturbed by the removal of the Rune of Destined Death. This rune, which was part of the Elden Ring, ensured the natural order of death. With its absence, many inhabitants of the Lands Between have become effectively immortal, not in a graceful way, but as restless spirits, trapped in a cycle of torment and strife. This aspect highlights the liminal quality of the Lands Between, where even death seems to be a transition rather than a finality.
Beyond the Borders of the Lands Between
The “Lands Between” is not an isolated world. Other lands are mentioned, such as the Land of Reeds, which is described as being similar to feudal Japan and is the origin of various samurai-inspired weapons and armor found in the game. These external references emphasize that the Lands Between are not the entire world, and thus it is indeed a place ‘between’ other known locales. The existence of these other realms expands the scope of Elden Ring, hinting at a larger and more intricate universe beyond what is immediately accessible to the player.
The Underground World
Another compelling interpretation comes from the fact that the game’s geography is comprised of the surface world – The Royal Capital and its surrounding lands, and the vast underground network of caverns and cities like Siofra and Ainsel. Therefore, the surface is literally “the Lands Between” – between the sky and the subterranean world.
The concept of “Lands Between” is multilayered, encompassing geographical location, historical context, thematic elements, and the very essence of liminality itself. It’s a world in flux, a place of shattered divinity, and an arena for both personal and cosmic struggles. It’s a land that has much more meaning than just a name, but a core component that defines the experience that is Elden Ring.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who rules the Lands Between?
The Lands Between are ruled by various demigods, each controlling a vast area of the world. They are the children of Queen Marika the Eternal. Their infighting and constant conflict has fractured the region.
2. What is the Elden Ring?
The Elden Ring is a powerful force that governs the natural laws of the world. Its fragmentation is the primary cause of the chaos and decay in the Lands Between. It is considered a symbol of order in the world.
3. What caused the Shattering?
The Shattering was caused by Queen Marika, who shattered the Elden Ring with her hammer. This act destabilized the entire world.
4. What are the Great Runes?
The Great Runes are fragments of the shattered Elden Ring. They are held by the demigods and grant significant power to their wielders.
5. What are the goals of the Tarnished?
The Tarnished are guided by Grace to restore the Elden Ring by collecting the Great Runes and becoming the Elden Lord.
6. What is the significance of the Erdtree?
The Erdtree is a massive golden tree that symbolizes the power of the Elden Ring. It is considered a sacred and revered entity in the Lands Between.
7. Why are so many people immortal in the Lands Between?
The Rune of Destined Death was removed from the Elden Ring by Marika, disrupting the natural cycle of life and death and causing widespread, and often painful, immortality.
8. Is the Lands Between post-apocalyptic?
Many describe the Lands Between as a “post-apocalyptic heaven,” having been a glorious place before the Shattering and has decayed.
9. Are there other lands besides the Lands Between?
Yes, there are other lands mentioned in the game’s lore, such as the Land of Reeds, which is similar to Japan during its Warring States period.
10. How do you get to Miquella’s Haligtree?
Miquella’s Haligtree can be accessed by using the secret medallion at the Grand Lift of Rold. This region is hidden and accessible after specific events are triggered.
11. What is the purpose of the Mountaintop of the Giants?
The Mountaintop of the Giants is the homeland of the Giants, natives of the Lands Between, who worshipped their own fire god and lived in solitude.
12. Is Elden Ring a purgatory?
The Lands Between can be considered a corrupted purgatory due to the disruption of the life-and-death cycle, and the fractured nature of the world.
13. What does it mean to become Elden Lord?
Becoming the Elden Lord means restoring order to the Lands Between by fixing the Elden Ring and becoming the new ruler.
14. What is the subterranean network beneath the Lands Between?
The Royal Capital and its surrounding lands are above a vast network of caves and cities, like Siofra and Ainsel, which contribute to the name of the region being the “Lands Between”.
15. What is the final boss of Elden Ring?
The final boss of Elden Ring is the Elden Beast, encountered after defeating Radagon of the Golden Order.