Who Took the Rune of Death in Elden Ring? Unraveling the Night of Black Knives
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The question of who took the Rune of Death in Elden Ring is central to understanding the game’s complex and tragic narrative. The answer isn’t simple, involving multiple characters and betrayals that ultimately lead to the Shattering of the Elden Ring and the events of the game.
The short answer is that Ranni the Witch stole a fragment of the Rune of Death. However, this act was not in a vacuum, and its roots extend deep into the history of the Lands Between, involving Queen Marika and her loyal shadow, Maliketh. To fully grasp this, we must dissect the key moments and players involved.
Initially, the Rune of Death, also known as Destined Death, was removed from the Elden Ring by Queen Marika. This was done to ensure the immortality of herself and her demigod children. She then entrusted the Rune of Death to her loyal beast shadow, Maliketh the Black Blade, who was tasked with guarding it and ensuring its power was never unleashed again.
Later, in a pivotal event known as the Night of Black Knives, Ranni orchestrated the theft of a fragment of the Rune of Death from Maliketh. She achieved this through a fearsome rite, infusing this stolen fragment into the daggers of the Black Knife Assassins. These enchanted daggers were then used to assassinate Godwyn the Golden, one of Queen Marika’s most powerful and favored children.
Therefore, while Marika initiated the chain of events by initially removing and sealing the Rune of Death, Ranni was the one who actively stole a fragment, leading to the devastating Night of Black Knives. This act set into motion a series of cascading events that define the world of Elden Ring. It’s a tale of betrayal, ambition, and the desperate desire for freedom, making it one of the most compelling aspects of the game.
The Complex Web of Events Surrounding the Rune of Death
To fully comprehend the significance of the Rune of Death theft, it’s crucial to explore the motivations and actions of the key players.
Marika’s Removal of Destined Death
Queen Marika, the Eternal, was the vessel of the Elden Ring, the embodiment of the Golden Order. However, she sought to create a world where death for her and her lineage was not inevitable. This led her to remove the Rune of Death from the Elden Ring, effectively granting immortality to herself and her demigod children. By doing this, she essentially severed the natural cycle of life and death, which would later cause immense chaos.
Maliketh, the Guardian
Marika did not simply destroy the Rune of Death. Instead, she entrusted it to her loyal beast shadow, Maliketh. He was tasked with guarding it and ensuring that no one would ever use its power again. The Rune was essentially sealed within him, making it nearly impossible to access. This is why Ranni’s theft was so audacious and impactful.
Ranni’s Motivations and the Night of Black Knives
Ranni the Witch felt confined by her destiny as an Empyrean, a candidate to become a god. She saw the Golden Order as fundamentally flawed and sought to break free from its grasp. To achieve this, she orchestrated the Night of Black Knives. Ranni understood that Godwyn the Golden’s death would be a severe blow to the Golden Order and a major catalyst for change.
Ranni, using her considerable magical prowess, stole a fragment of the Rune of Death from Maliketh. She then performed a ritual to imbue the Black Knife Assassins’ daggers with Destined Death, making them capable of killing even immortal beings. She then sent these assassins to murder Godwyn, marking the beginning of the Shattering and setting the events of the game into motion.
The Consequences of the Theft
The theft of the Rune of Death and the assassination of Godwyn had profound consequences. Godwyn’s soul was killed, which began his slow descent into an unliving, cursed form. This act, along with other events, angered Marika and led her to shatter the Elden Ring, plunging the Lands Between into chaos.
Ranni also sought to break free from her destiny. By killing her physical form while killing Godwyn in spirit, she managed to escape the influence of the Two Fingers, further disrupting the established order of the world. The consequences of her actions are far-reaching, and players can either condemn her or aid in her new order.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about the Rune of Death in Elden Ring to further clarify the complex lore:
1. What is the Rune of Destined Death?
The Rune of Destined Death is the concept within the Elden Ring that governs natural death. It allows for things to perish and return to the Erdtree, following the natural cycle of life. When removed, it effectively grants immortality.
2. Why did Marika remove the Rune of Death?
Marika removed it to ensure the immortality of herself and her demigod children, hoping to create a Golden Order where death for them was not inevitable.
3. How did Ranni steal the Rune of Death?
Ranni stole a fragment of it from Maliketh through a ritual and used it to empower the Black Knives.
4. Who was Maliketh?
Maliketh is Marika’s loyal beast shadow and the guardian of the Rune of Death. He also goes by the name Gurranq.
5. What was the Night of Black Knives?
The Night of Black Knives was the event where Ranni’s assassins murdered Godwyn the Golden.
6. Why did Ranni want Godwyn dead?
Ranni wanted to kill Godwyn because he was her stepbrother and one of Marika’s children, his death was meant to weaken the Golden Order and initiate change.
7. Did Ranni and Godwyn die on the same night?
Yes, their deaths happened simultaneously. Godwyn died in spirit while Ranni died in body, transferring her spirit into a doll.
8. Who are the Black Knife Assassins?
The Black Knife Assassins are assassins who have their daggers imbued with the power of Destined Death.
9. Why is the Rune of Death sealed?
It was sealed by Marika, then within Maliketh to prevent its use and enforce a form of immortality on her family.
10. What happened to the Rune of Death after the Night of Black Knives?
A fragment of the Rune was used in the daggers, while the rest remains sealed within Maliketh.
11. Why does Maliketh have the Rune of Death?
He is Marika’s shadow and the protector of the Rune, charged with preventing it from being used again.
12. How does the Rune of Death affect gameplay?
The Rune is tied to specific attacks that can inflict permanent damage and are effective against even immortal beings.
13. Is Ranni the main villain?
While her actions caused immense chaos, her goal is to create a new order. Whether she is a villain or not depends on your point of view.
14. What did Ranni do to the Two Fingers?
Ranni uses the Fingerslayer Blade to slay her Two Fingers, severing her connection and changing her destiny.
15. What is the Cursemark of Death?
The Cursemark is a mark of death split between Ranni and Godwyn, which is needed for Fia’s ending.
Understanding the intricacies of the Rune of Death and the characters involved is crucial to fully appreciating the depth and complexity of Elden Ring‘s narrative. The theft by Ranni is a pivotal moment, setting the stage for a world teetering on the brink of destruction, waiting for a Tarnished to decide its fate.