ELDEN RING - The Crow

Heads Up! (Author's Note)

The following is fanfiction of the infamous creation of Hidetaka Miyazaki - Elden Ring (Peace to all the broken-spirited gamers. May they find rest in the haven of animal crossing, or some other E-rated game - where neither multi-armed beast nor meteor-shooting war commander can harm them).

If you happened to stumble upon this book, which in my time writing this has currently no reads other than my own, you should know this doesn't follow the expected storyline of Elden Ring (speaking of the familiar pacing of "badass main character fighting boss after boss to become lord). Yeah, that isn't quite existent here. At least, that commonplace plotline is more of a loose guideline for this book's plot.

For one - it's not about the fighting. More lore is uncovered through the plot, while the enemies and allies alike get to trade dialogue with the main character in ways the game wouldn't allow, creating plot points we wouldn't expect from a souls-like that is formed from negotiation and manipulation. Again, I wanted this to go beyond fighting, as the MC is frail and inexperienced at the beginning.

I researched the Lore of the Lands Between and worked to include them in this Tale. However, as you know there's much gray area to explore that allows us to insert our take on the world, and there's details that should realistically alter the makeup of the sociological aspect of the game, yet don't for the sake of the gameplay experience. 

Here's some examples as to how I'm making this one a little different:

1. Since there are many Tarnished, some characters' questlines have already been completed, or partially completed because of other Tarnished that's not the protagonist - Soma. NPCs who probably don't canonically know each other are close friends OR enemies in the book since some characters are found in the same region (for instance - sorcerer Rogier and Nephili Loux stick closely together as friends for a time, as shown in the part where Soma tries approaching Godrick).

2. All Tarnished had a history in the Lands between, once serving under Godfrey's army but was then cast aside. Coming back, each Tarnished remembers their history under Godfrey's banner and in the lands beyond, thus bringing reason to their fighting expertise from the get-go and deepening their past.

3. The Tarnished operates in larger groups, forming little clans or tribes to gather strength and sanity. These groups are formed by people with similar goals of how they wish to reform the world once one of the party members becomes Elden Lord, the other members planning to become close allies and second-hand Rulers. As this happens, the number of Tarnished decreases, as many are thrown into insanity by the constant striving leading to nowhere. This leads them to be cast aside from grace and hunted down by the infamous "Confessors" and "Hunters".

In a tradition to lift morale and sanity, Tarnished would get together at roundtable hold to socialize, play music, and have a good time to memorialize what they're fighting for so they won't become insane - becoming a bloody finger or a recusant - the ones at war with the Tarnished who still remember their purpose.

4. Aren't the Tarnished and Demigods the only ones who communicate with the Greater Will, or are there others who are called by the Order? We know the second possibility to be true, since Marika wasn't always a diety, yet was chosen. This opens up the possibility of a separate group of lesser-known people who are chosen by grace, yet aren't tarnished. Lo and behold - this is none other than Soma, the main character. But she doesn't know why she's called to the lands between if she's not a Tarnished. But that to her, means nothing. She wants to become the Elden Lord regardless to reform the world into a kinder, safer place in honor of her father who held a similar goal in life.

*The tale will begin with the Epilogue revealing Soma beyond the Land's Between. However, this would be the only time when the world beyond the main setting is revealed, as there's not much lore to go off of. Let your imagination take you further!*

THAT'S IT!

I hope you enjoy the following story! At the moment, this is my secondary work of Fiction I'm working alongside my main original work that currently has me between a rock and a hard place. Should I storm through that chapter like a little tough guy, skip ahead, or add onto this fanfic? Sometimes, I choose that last one!