Elden Ring: Best Things You Didn’t Know About Marika

Elden Ring: Best Things You Didn't Know About Marika

As a long-time Elden Ring enthusiast with countless hours spent exploring its rich lore, I can’t help but be captivated by the enigmatic figure of Queen Marika. Her reign is shrouded in mystery and speculation, leaving me pondering over every detail of her life.


Marika, hidden within Elden Ring, powerfully influences the actions of the game’s players. Her tale is intricate and sometimes elusive, but her impact on the Lands Between is immeasurable. Monuments and places of worship in every nook and cranny of the realm honor her memory. Several formidable foes for the player to confront are her offspring – demigods who each possess a fragmented piece of the shattered Elden Ring.

Marika’s reasons for acting remain unexplained, wrapped in enigma. Clues scattered in the main storyline and the “Shadow of the Erdtree” expansion offer pieces to the puzzle, allowing gamers to draw conclusions and imagine potential backstories based on these hints. While certain facts are common knowledge, such as her marriages to Godfrey and Radagon, or her establishment of the Golden Order, other aspects of Marika’s life remain less clear for those who are not deeply invested in the lore.

As an avid fan of Elden Ring, I feel it’s essential to give a fair warning before sharing information that might ruin the surprise for others. So, here goes:

6 Marika’s Numen Origins

Who Are Marika’s People?

Elden Ring: Best Things You Didn't Know About Marika

The Numen are believed to have originated beyond the Lands Between and share a common ancestry with Queen Marika. The enigmatic Black Knife Assassins may be Numen, although this connection is not definitively confirmed. It’s also suggested that they once inhabited subterranean eternal cities. This elusive race is known for their longevity and scarcity.

Marika has strong connections to the hidden Shaman Village in the Shadow Lands. Once open to the public, this village now lies concealed at Marika’s command. Within it lies an old and deserted settlement that offers glimpses into Marika’s past. It is believed that this area was among the first inhabited by Numen in the Lands Between, until a calamity forced its abandonment.

5 The Tragedy Of Shaman Village

What Happened To Marika’s Home?

Elden Ring: Best Things You Didn't Know About Marika

One significant discovery in the Shadow of the Erdree expansion was the Shaman Village, where Queen Marika grew up, concealed within the Shadow Realm. By exploring Bonny Village, players unearthed the heartbreaking truth behind its abandonment. Marika’s people were brutally taken and preserved in jars as a part of the gruesome Hornsent Ritual.

The Hornsent people revered the Crucible, an ancient living essence in the Lands Between, and held those bearing horns, tails, and similar features in high esteem. Marika’s harsh treatment of the Hornsent, as well as the Omen and Misbegotten, may appear cruel, but this background information sheds light on her motivation for hatred.

4 Marika’s Ascension To Godhood

Betrayal, Grafting, And The Golden Order

Elden Ring: Best Things You Didn't Know About Marika

The ancient Erdtree may appear everlasting, but this is a mere illusion. It’s been passed down that Marika’s ascent to deityhood involved deceit, yet the specifics remain unclear. To establish her Golden Age, Marika took the Rune of Death from Elden Ring, which had previously belonged to an Empyrean known as the Gloam-Eyed Queen. It is believed she was the Godhead of the preceding era.

Marika asserted control over numerous competitors as she strove for power. The subjugation of the Hornsent was likely the initial and most violent conquest – sharing this distinction with that of the Giants. She attached the Erdtree to the foundation of the ancient Great Tree, housing the Crucible and a representation of an earlier era. The intricacies of her rule are complex and invite much debate.

3 Marika’s Cursed Children

Cursed In The Face Of Her Perfect Order

Elden Ring: Best Things You Didn't Know About Marika

Marika’s ruthless victories resulted in a long roster of adversaries harboring a deep-seated desire to inflict harm on her. Among them was Hornsent Grandam, unexpectedly uncovered as an Empyrean, much like Marika herself. With a heated warning, Hornsent Grandam prophesied that Marika’s offspring would bear the Omen’s curse. This may account for Mogh and Morgott being branded as Omens, Messmer’s affliction by the Venomed Serpent, and Miquella’s enigma of eternal youth.

As a gamer, I once faced a heart-wrenching decision where I, Marika, had to give up my cursed offspring to their separate fates. Messmer, my forgotten one, was left in the depths of the Realm of Shadow. Mogh and Morgott were cast out, living in the despicable sewers beneath Leynell. But there was an exception, Miquella, who was granted the freedom to chase after his divine aspirations of becoming a God. Regrettably, it’s uncertain if my eldest son, Godwyn, was born under any curse. However, the cruelty of his fate might be the most pitiful among all my children.

2 Marika And Radagon

The Queen And Her Consort

Elden Ring: Best Things You Didn't Know About Marika

Discovering that Marika and Radagon are actually two distinct souls inhabiting the same body is perplexing enough. However, more queries emerge when examining the chronology of this situation. The paternity of Messmer’s father remains unclear, but his red hair fuels widespread conjecture, suggesting it could be Radagon. This supposition raises doubts about earlier timelines.

At first, it was believed that Marika and Radagon had no prior relationship before getting married, following Godfrey’s exile and Rennala’s divorce. However, if Messmer’s father was indeed Radagon, they might have been an item before Marika crossed paths with Godfrey. This possible past connection could shed light on why Radagon appeared to abandon Rennala so callously. Additionally, it’s important to mention that many fans speculate that Messmer’s sister is Melina, the enigmatic guide and maiden to the Tarnished.

1 The Greater Will

The Empyrean And The Fingers

Elden Ring: Best Things You Didn't Know About Marika

The extent of the Fingers’ control over Queen Marika, who embodies the Greater Will, is a subject of ongoing dispute. It isn’t always evident how much influence these deities exert on Empyreans, potential divine rulers. Ranni’s journey aimed to free herself from their grasp, a mission that demanded intricate strategies and significant sacrifices.

Marika’s shattering of the Elden Ring is supposedly what led to her imprisonment by the Greater Will, but what if this Outer God was never there to begin with? It is stated that the Greater Will has not spoken to the Fingers for eons, making the rule of Marika, the Fingers, and the entire Golden Order illegitimate. This also questions the role of the Elden Beast, originally seen as an envoy for the Greater Will.

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2024-07-15 18:33