Is Tarnished the villain in Elden Ring? A deep dive

Hey there fellow Tarnished! As we journey through the Lands Between on an epic quest to repair the Elden Ring and become Elden Lord, it‘s natural to wonder – are we the bad guys here? Let‘s take a thoughtful look at whether our own player character can be considered a villain within Elden Ring‘s intricate lore and mythology.

The mysterious role of the Tarnished

As Tarnished warriors drawn back to the Lands Between by lost Grace, we have a murky past and uncertain destiny. Our motivations and morality are shaped by the choices we make on this adventure. Let‘s review some key facts about the Tarnished:

• We were all originally exiled from the Lands Between by Queen Marika for losing the Erdtree‘s blessing and grace. But why did she later summon us back?

• We arrive as strangers with little renown, but seek to slay mighty demigods and take Great Runes to repair the shattered Elden Ring per our ambition.

• Characters like Enia and Gideon Ofnir guide us on this mission, but to what ultimate end? Who‘s really pulling the strings here?

Our motivations as Tarnished are personal, but disrupt larger forces at work in the world. How others perceive our actions reveals complexity in our alignment.

The Tarnished disrupt the existing order

For figures like Morgott the Omen King, we represent dangerous outsiders and graverobbers seeking power at any cost. By slaying demigods like Godrick and challenging the Erdtree‘s dominion, we undermine the existing social order and hierarchies.

We may see ourselves as heroic warriors on a legendary quest. But for native inhabitants of the Lands Between, we symbolize chaotic change toppling ancient dynasties and customs. Are we glorified rebels or violent threats to the stability of their world?

Our death toll keeps rising

I won‘t lie to you, friend – we cut a wide swath of destruction across the realms. My own personal kill count stands at:

• 12 Field Bosses
• 73 Mini-Bosses
• 562 Common Enemies
• 4 Legendary Dragons
• 7 Demigods

And I‘ve only just activated the Grand Lift of Dectus! We leave a lot of corpses and ruined kingdoms in our wake. The ends may justify our means, but such bloodshed gives credence to those who brand us dangerous zealots or power-hungry butchers.

We disrupt the Golden Order‘s reign

In endings aligned with Ranni the Witch, we directly oppose the Greater Will which previously had total dominion over the metaphysics of the Lands Between. Our efforts usher in entirely new paradigms and orders.

While this may liberate the world from the Greater Will‘s supposedly flawed rule, it also plunges the kingdoms into uncertainty and discord. Once again, toppling the established order and divine hierarchy casts us in a disruptive light.

Marika seeks us out as agents of change

Here‘s an interesting theory though – Queen Marika intentionally drew us back to the Lands Between to shake up the status quo. As her demigod children like Godrick and Radahn failed as Elden Lords, she saw the Tarnished as capable successors to Godfrey.

If this theory proves true, it means Marika foresaw a greater role for our kind than just exiled warriors stripped of grace. We are meant to forge a new path now that the Golden Order has slipped into decay under the Erdtree.

We can still pursue a righteous quest

Despite much bloodshed and chaos, all is not lost my friend! We may still walk the path of nobility and repair this fractured world. By restoring the Elden Ring and lifting the curse of the undead, we can redeem our quest and honor Queen Marika‘s faith in our kind.

Our morality in the end depends on our choices and conviction. The flames of ambition are strong, but we may yet kindle a flame of hope for the Tarnished and all of the Lands Between.

In Summary: Complex mercenaries or selfless heroes?

Given all we‘ve discussed, it‘s clear the role of the Tarnished is nuanced. One could make persuasive cases casting us as either power-mad mercenaries or principled heroes depending on interpretation. In truth, we forge our own legacy through action. There are noble paths yet to walk if we retain sight of our higher purpose. Stay strong Tarnished!

Let me know if you need any more insights on our mythic journey ahead! This suddenly renewed Exile aims to see it through to the very end. Glory awaits if we remain unyielding. Stay brave, my friend.