One of my most cherished activities around the release of FromSoftware games is the discovery process. As both veterans and newbies get involved in the game, we as a community discover everything from the most obvious hints to unimaginable quirks.
This also applies to the game’s dense lore, as our own interpretation what actually happened in these worlds began to form. Eldon Ring continue this trend. And, due to its sheer size compared to past FromSoft games, it hides a lot of information that would make legendary demons coveted – I just wish the damn names weren’t so confusing!
The main players in the Elden Ring world, past and present, have names that begin with G, R, or M. I always thought this was a little weird until someone pointed out to me that these were the initials of author George RR Martin. Of course, Martin created a lot of Elden Ring’s backstory, and then handed it over to the team at Miyazaki and FromSoft to build the game world around it.
Then it all made sense!
What kind of idiot would deliberately make the names of the demigods they created spell their initials? I wish I could blame localization for this, but a native English speaker came up with this!
Of course, if you’re the famous writer behind one of fantasy’s most iconic works, you’ve gotten a little tour of yourself. But the fact that everyone — presumably including Miyazaki — was involved in this cruel joke makes it all the more disturbing.
It’s not even Bandai Namco and company. Revealed before release as a sort of “haha, isn’t that fun?” – we only realized it after playing it.
It took me a while to figure out why it was so hard to keep the main characters in Elden Ring in my head. One of them can even change the name, from one that starts with an M to something like that…also starts with an M.
Below are some of those names, in no particular order or family relationship.
- Godwin.
- Godfrey.
- Gideon.
- Ladagon.
- bin Laden
- Lanny.
- marika.
- Malix.
- mog.
Who was assassinated again, and the plot of the game started again? Was Godwin the first Lord of Aiden? Or Godfrey? Is the key mother named Rennala or Ranni? Which of the first boss’ names is real, Margit or Morgot? What was the name of the demigod who went mad in the Caelid wasteland, Radagon or Radahn? Good luck trying to make these connections in your mind quickly without stumbling.
I’m thankful that the place names in Elden Ring aren’t like that, because even Miyazaki isn’t that cruel.