The Greater Will & the Outer Gods - Who are the true puppet masters?
Hey there, lore-lovers! Welcome back to Liandrug, the channel where we dive deep into the myth, mystery, and madness behind your favorite worlds. Today, we unravel the divine powers that shape Elden Ring--from the Greater Will's golden law to the Outer Gods' chaotic whispers. This isn't just lore--it's a war of cosmic ideologies. Let's step beyond the Erdtree's light... and see what's watching from the dark.
The Chronicle
Eons ago, the Greater Will initiated a profound transformation by fracturing the One Great, giving rise to births and souls. This act, while heralding creation, also introduced suffering, despair, and mortality. Some, like the adherents of the Three Fingers, view this as a grave misstep, attributing the world's afflictions to this primordial division.
To impose its vision of order, the Greater Will dispatched a golden star to the Lands Between, bearing the Elden Beast--a living embodiment of its concept of Order. This beast would later become the Elden Ring, the central force governing the realm's laws and realities. Alongside, the Greater Will communicated through envoys known as the Two Fingers, who conveyed its will via a cipher of light.
Before the age of the Erdtree, the Eternal Cities, inhabited by the Nox, rebelled against the Greater Will's dominion. In defiance, they donned mirror helms to shield themselves from its influence and wielded the Fingerslayer Blade against its vassals. In retaliation, the Greater Will unleashed Astel, a formidable being whose devastation forced the Eternal Cities into subterranean exile.
With the rise of Queen Marika the Eternal, chosen as an Empyrean by the Two Fingers, a new era commenced. Marika established the Golden Order by confining the Rune of Death, aligning the realm with the Greater Will's vision. However, her eventual shattering of the Elden Ring led to the dispersion of Great Runes among her demigod offspring, igniting a conflict known as the Shattering. Disillusioned, the Greater Will withdrew its favor from the demigods, seeking a new champion to restore order.
In the aftermath, the Tarnished, guided by the Grace of Gold, returned to the Lands Between. The Two Fingers, acting on the Greater Will's behalf, directed them to collect the scattered Great Runes and become Elden Lord by uniting with Marika. However, the path was obstructed by thorns barring entry to the Erdtree, prompting the Tarnished to consider drastic measures, including burning the Erdtree--a notion vehemently opposed by the Greater Will and its envoys.
Not all accepted the Greater Will's authority. Figures like Knight Bernahl, after the fall of Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy, vowed to challenge its dominion, rejecting the role of mere pawns. Others, like Ranni the Witch, sought to sever the realm's ties to the Greater Will entirely, aiming to usher in an Age of Stars, free from its influence.
The true essence of the Greater Will remains shrouded in mystery. Some perceive it as a cosmic parasite, manipulating life and death to serve its ends. Its silence, especially during pivotal moments, raises questions about its intentions and the extent of its control over the Lands Between.
Beyond the reach of Erdtree's light lie gods with no form and no mercy. The Outer Gods are not of order; they are hunger, corruption, and flame. Each one holds a divine element and seeks to shape the world in its image, often through chosen vessels or afflictions.
The Formless Mother is a god of blood and flame, her body pierced endlessly in rituals that summon the power of the Blood Oath. She desires wounds, craves cursed blood, and is worshiped in secret by Mohg, Lord of Blood, and his grotesque dynasty beneath the earth.
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The Outer God of Death once ruled over Destined Death and the cold Ghostflame wielded by Deathbirds and Gravebirds. Now forgotten, its presence lingers in the cursed transformation of Godwyn the Golden into the Prince of Death, and in the spectral powers that call spirits from beyond.
The Outer God of Rot festers beneath the Lake of Rot, its essence sealed long ago. Yet its corruption lives on in Malenia, in the Servants of Rot, and in relics like the scorpion's tail dagger--a piece of its divine form. Even Miquella fought to contain its influence with a golden needle driven into his sister's flesh.
Then comes the Frenzied Flame--the maddening yellow fire that seeks to end all. Its god is perhaps the most dangerous, a force of chaos that wishes to unmake the Lands Between, to return the world to One Great through destruction. The Three Fingers, buried and chained, act as its agents, infecting minds and eyes with blazing madness. It draws followers like Hyetta, Shabriri, and Vyke, each yearning to burn the Erdtree and free the world through fire.
Even now, Queen Marika, Melina, and the faithful suppress its cult, knowing it could unravel the world entirely.
The Unseen and the Unnamed
Not all divine forces have names etched in stone. Some linger in shadows, never fully confirmed.
The Dark Moon, discovered by Ranni the Witch, is a force of occult wisdom. In the Age of Stars, she invokes its power to usher in a cold new age, speaking of its intellect as if it were alive.
The Blood Star hides in eternal darkness, worshiped through pain and blindness. It fuels thorn sorceries that demand faith, and those who embrace its briars find ecstasy in suffering.
The Serpent Deity whispers through the blood of serpents and through Rykard's grotesque fusion with the blasphemous Great Serpent.
The Fell God, a being of primal flame, burned through the past and now lingers in curses and the fate of the Fire Giants, forced to guard a fire they once served.
A War of Wills
The Greater Will seeks to enforce a grand design--order, lineage, and divinity shaped by golden law. But the Outer Gods exist to break that order, to replace it with their own cruel truths: bloodshed, decay, madness, and death.
In this silent war of gods, the people of the Lands Between are pawns. Tarnished warriors, broken royals, and cursed children are their weapons. And you, the player, the wanderer, the Tarnished... are the fulcrum on which this divine struggle may turn.
So when you walk the golden paths or fall into rot-stained dungeons, ask yourself: which god do you truly serve?
Because in the Lands Between, no one escapes the touch of the divine.
Only the wise--and the mad--can tell which god whispers in their ear.
Closing Words
That's it for this deep dive into the Greater Will and the Outer Gods--two divine forces shaping a shattered world. If this lore stirred your curiosity or sparked new theories, like, share, and subscribe to Liandrug. And join our Discord to be part of a cozy, passionate community of lore-lovers just like you. Whether it's theories or debates there's always a fire burning in our little corner of the Lands Between.
Until next time--stay curious, stay sharp, and may Grace guide you.
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