Space Noodlin' It

https://archiveofourown.org/users/TheUnkindledQueen

"She feels like Malenia."

First time I beat the game I assumed it was a classic George RR Martin style culling of our competition. We work with Ranni, Dungeater, or Fia, cause Ranni, Dungeater, or Fia work with us kinda deal. And the reason we fight all the other ones is cause they don't want us to sit on the throne instead of them. So we gotta deal with them.

Only to see the entire rest of the fandom did not have nearly the same interpretation of the Tarnished as I did.

In all fairness, people who invest time too deeply in fandom spaces can adapt to that mentality. I was also a part of that for a time and I think it can get very easy to get lost in such an echo chamber.

Thing of it is, I do believe people feel they need too much of a villain and hero character. But Soulsborne games don't have that excuse. Every character is a complicated mess in Elden Ring. Sometimes it takes many many gameplays to understand that when you don't think with the same fandom mentality as everyone else.

But sure, the naïve Demigod who thinks the world can be fixed with the power of what he deems as love is the real villain.

Umbrasax "Shadow Mountain"

Other names: "The Blue Eyed Devil", "Daughter of the Roots".

A dragon "Born Under an Eternal Night". Unlike most Ancient Dragons, she was born beneath the root of a great tree during a Dark and Terrible Night, bearing blue eyes which has many believed she is an ill omen. Her human form is that of a great, muscular woman bearing scars and hair on her arms and back. She is soft compared to most of her kin and prefers to take human form as they have accepted her most.

Frigussax "Icy Mountain"

Other names: "The Judge", "She Who Punishes", "Keeper of Names"

Frigussax is a much older dragon who slumbered as part of the mountains in the Forbidden Snowfield. She has taught the Zamor people and their ancestors magic, despite her opinions of mortals and mortal humans.

She values dragon harmony above all others and is known by dragonkind as one who upholds judgement. She is highly respected for this as even the most criminally depraved beasts honor her word.

Chaos is detestable to her and she loathes the slaughtering of kin. When a dragon dies or surrenders their immortality, their name is kept in her tomes. Every dragon who has ever existed or will exist is kept in her records. She believes in balance and takes the form of a wise old woman.

She takes this form because there is "something deeply fascinating about a wild animal who takes advantage of something they perceive as weak".