Elden Ring: Putrefaction of Gold

Assembly of the Demigods

The assembly of the Demigods took place under the canopy of the Erdtree.

Radahn waited out by the walkway where he hoped he might catch Ranni before they made it to the assembly. Previous attempts to talk with her were all, understandably, turned away.

He understood how she felt. To hear her whole life how fate, her fate, was written in the very stars and to see them halted in their path might call into question her ability to succeed Marika at all. He understood Rykard's concern that without Ranni able to fulfill her destined purpose, the Golden Order was one more step closer to disposing of the lot of them in the name of their own self-preservation.

Radahn had a long conversation with his father about these concerns and Radagon offered, what Radahn hoped, was at least a token that the Golden Order had no intent to dispose of the Carian siblings.

"She could be so stubborn sometimes," sighed Radahn.

Radahn had, for some time, gone over the entire conversation in his mind and what he would say to Ranni. But even as he spotted her walking toward the throne room in the company of Godwyn, he felt apprehension.

Though she didn't look it, Ranni was dangerous. She held secrets that Rykard and himself only speculated, and Godwyn seemed blissfully unaware. Whatever it was she knew, or thought she knew, it was enough to cause Marika to conceed for Ranni to have her so-called "Age of Stars" when she ascended, whatever that meant. And like all good secrets, Ranni was wise enough not to reveal it to anyone else.

"I chased meteors across the skies and I can't even bring myself to speak with my own sister," laughed Radahn.

Radahn spotted young Miquella walking in front of his brother and sister with his head lowered. Radahn approached him first. He knelt down in front of Miquella and put his hands on the boy's shoulders, "How are you doing?"

"I'm fine," said Miquella.

"It's okay not to be fine after what happened. I tell you what? Leonard needs a bit of exercise and I think you'd be just the perfect person to help. Would you like that?" Radahn asked.

Miquella absently nodded but didn't look up at his brother.

"Hadn't thy horse exercise enough in chasing after a few wayward stars?" said Ranni.

"Lunar Princess Ranni," said Radahn.

"Captain Radahn," Ranni replied.

"What I did, I had to do. It's not just you, but for everyone," said Radahn.

"If it's the lives of others that concern thee, then why not ask Queen Marika to weave them back into being with a bit of grace as she claims she can bestow? Or has she less power over it and the Elden Ring as she'd have us believe," said Ranni.

Even Godwyn started to look uncomfortable and scratched the back of his head to keep himself from saying anything.

"That wouldn't stop what was about to come," replied Radahn.

"I think you should go," suggested Godwyn.

Radahn's calm temperament fell away in a surge of anger.

"I see you're nothing like your father," growled Radahn.

"You didn't know my father," Godwyn replied.

"I know enough to understand that he was a man who created and left you a great legacy. It's a shame his son is more interested in sticking his cock in my sister than he is in carrying on what his parents had built," said Radahn.

"And thou wouldst have everything the same for how it serves him," said Ranni. She held Miquella close to her, "But look to those whom the order does not benefit. Look at our half-sister who is suffering. Look at our half-brother who never grows. All the secrets it requires us all to keep, lest we place a small spot of blemish on that pristinely polished gold leaf. But go ahead. Take thy titles and stature as thou covetest. Pretend all that this illusion of order is sustainable while the tree rots from its roots."