Summary
SeveralElden Ringplayers seem to have misunderstood the game’s real protagonist, as a fan notes Vyke is supposedly the real hero of the game. In fact, Vyke also features in theElden Ring’scover art, which many fans had presumed to be The Tarnished all this time.
Elden Ring’s expansive world is filled with secrets, and fans have been discovering new details even after almost three years since the launch of the game. For instance, one fan recently spotted how players can outsmart theFallingstar Beast’s most frustrating attack usingElden Ring’s Stormcaller ability. Meanwhile, some fans have discovered another detail about the game’s lore, particularly regarding the main protagonist, that many might have missed.
In a new post on theElden Ringsubreddit, user ateadoor asks the community who the character on the game’s cover art is, and whether it is The Tarnished. Fans were quick to note that it is Vyke, who happens to beone of the most important characters inElden Ring, though many aren’t aware of him. As Redditor The_Toe_Thief explains, Vyke was a Tarnished warrior who came closest to achieving the status of Elden Lord. Vyke was reluctant to sacrifice his maiden to gain entry to the Erdtree, so he embraced the Frenzied Flame instead. However, due to the death of his maiden, he eventually succumbed to the Frenzied Flame and was unable to become the Elden Lord. That’s when players step in as The Tarnished to achieve what Vyke couldn’t.
Elden Ring Borrows the Failed Hero Premise From Other Soulsborne Games
SeveralElden Ringfans seem to have missed this crucial part of the lore, that Vyke was supposed to take the place of The Tarnished and be the Elden Lord. Notably, players pointed out that other Soulsborne games also follow a similar premise. For instance, inDark Souls 3, the first boss that players fight, Gundyr, was originally supposed to rekindle the First Flame, but he failed. Likewise, Oscar’s family was supposed to be the ones to ring the Bells of Awakening, but theAsylum Demon inDark Souls 1played spoilsport.
Players can actually fight Vyke inElden Ring. He can be found in theLord Contender’s Evergaol in the Mountaintop of Giants inElden Ring. It should be noted that this version of Vyke is from before he was affected by the Frenzied Flame. However, fans who are keen to fight his Frenzied Flame version can do so by heading toward the Church of Inhibition, where they will be invaded by Festering Fingerprint Vyke on the way.
Elden Ring
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ELDEN RING, developed by FromSoftware, Inc. and BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG adventure set within a world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin. Danger and discovery lurk around every corner in FromSoftware’s largest game to date. Hidetaka Miyazaki - President and Game Director of FromSoftware Inc. Known for directing critically-acclaimed games in beloved franchises including Armored Core and Dark Souls.George R.R. Martin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including the acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire - A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast For Crows, and A Dance with Dragons. As a writer-producer, he has worked on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and pilots that were never made. He lives with the lovely Parris in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
