Why does Blaidd become hostile? A tragic betrayal explained

As an avid Elden Ring player and gaming enthusiast, I was shocked when Blaidd, one of the game‘s most loyal allies, turned against me. In this post, I‘ll provide an in-depth explanation of Blaidd‘s tragic betrayal – delving into his backstory, the key triggers, and how it reinforces core themes in Elden Ring regarding fate and loyalty. Whether you‘re a fellow fan looking to understand Blaidd‘s downfall or a new player curious about one of Elden Ring‘s most emotional story arcs, read on for rare insights into this unforgettable NPC questline.

Blaidd‘s Origin as a Shadowbound Beast

To comprehend Blaidd‘s betrayal, we first need to understand his origins. According to in-game lore, Blaidd was created by Ranni the Witch‘s Two Fingers as a ‘shadowbound beast‘ – fused with the soul of a wolf and bound by fate to serve as Ranni‘s loyal protector.

As Ranni‘s confidante Iji explains:

"Blaidd was created by Two Fingers, as a shadowy companion for their Empyrean. But Blaidd‘s soul was warped by the very thing that conceived it. Eventually, he will turn against you. Follow the path before it leads astray."

This key piece of backstory reveals Blaidd was doomed from the start. The Two Fingers granted him wolf-like traits aligned with his role as Ranni‘s shadow – ferocity, loyalty, primal instincts. But in doing so, they also planted the seeds for his eventual madness, overriding his devotion.

The Curse That Sealed Blaidd‘s Fate

In addition to creating Blaidd as Ranni‘s faithful half-wolf guardian, the Two Fingers also placed a sinister curse upon him:

"If Lady Ranni, as an Empyrean, should thumb her nose at the Two Fingers and pursue a different path… Then Blaidd, too, would one day lose his way."

This curse ensured Blaidd would pay the ultimate price if Ranni defied the Greater Will and Two Fingers by abandoning her Empyrean destiny. His fate was forever bound to Ranni‘s – and to the whims of outer gods who demanded total allegiance.

Imagine being born to serve, only to have your loyalty rewarded with a curse that would one day force you to betray everything you held dear. That was the grim fate decreed for Blaidd from the start. A more tragic figure I‘ve rarely encountered in any video game.

Step-by-Step: How Blaidd‘s Betrayal Unfolds

Blaidd‘s hostility is not inevitable. Up until a certain point in Ranni‘s questline, he remains a stalwart ally. So what are the key triggers that unleash his cursed betrayal?

Here‘s a step-by-step breakdown:

1. Complete Ranni‘s Questline – Blaidd remains loyal as you assist Ranni in discarding her Empyrean flesh and defeating Radahn. His betrayal requires completing her questline up to the point where she abandons the Two Fingers.

2. Return to Ranni‘s Rise – After obtaining the Dark Moon Ring and completing the questline, teleporting back to Ranni‘s Rise triggers the next phase.

3. Speak to Iji – Iji will reveal that Blaidd has become unstable, overcome with bloodlust. This foreshadows the coming betrayal.

4. Find Blaidd Outside – Upon exiting Ranni‘s Rise, you discover Blaidd waiting outside – he immediately attacks on sight, beyond reasoning.

5. Put Him Down – Engaging Blaidd in battle is the only option. Once defeated, you obtain his Royal Greatsword and armor set.

Blaidd holds steady as your ally until Ranni defies her fate. By the time you return to her Rise, the curse has engulfed him fully, tragic as it may be.

Analyzing Blaidd‘s Death Scene

Returning to Ranni‘s Rise after finishing her quest, the site that greets you is grim:

• Blaidd, drenched in blood, stands over the corpse of Iji, another loyal ally.

This death scene conveys a great deal through environmental storytelling alone. It‘s clear Blaidd murdered poor Iji in an uncontrollable rage, a victim of the curse himself.

No words need be exchanged – Blaidd is too far gone. He charges you immediately, and the battle begins. It‘s a solemn reminder of the recurring theme in Elden Ring of those whose fates are edicts of the gods – fickle, cruel, and inevitably tragic.

The Enemy You Know: Other Allies Turned Hostile

While Blaidd‘s betrayal struck me as especially painful and profound, he is not Elden Ring‘s only ally that can turn against you under certain circumstances. Here are a few other notable cases:

• Seluvis – If Ranni‘s quest progresses too far against his wishes, the scheming puppet master Seluvis will mysteriously die.

• Nepheli Loux – Denied the chance to become Elden Lord, Loux loses herself to madness and becomes hostile when approached.

• Dung Eater – Pursuing this reviled figure‘s questline can turn the champions Fia and Goldmask against you.

• Fia‘s Champions – Each has triggers that can make them hostile, such as giving a certain item to Goldmask.

However, Blaidd stands apart in that betrayal seems woven into his very soul, foreshadowed from the earliest dialogue by those who created him. That makes it cut all the deeper when the day finally comes to put him down.

Blaidd‘s Fate and Themes of Destiny vs Free Will

Analyzing Blaidd‘s tragic tale, one interpretation could be:

• He was fated to one day betray Ranni, with or without the curse
• His wolf-like soul made him predisposed to madness
• The seeds of betrayal were planted in his creation

However, I choose to view Blaidd as Elden Ring‘s most striking example of destiny overridden by outside forces – and the heavy cost of allegiance.

Blaidd‘s fate was sealed not by any flaw or choice of his own, but by the binding curse placed on him by the Two Fingers. They shackled his devotion to Ranni with a curse, guaranteeing he would turn against her should she defy them and stray from the path they ordained.

In this way, Blaidd represents the anguish of following commands of fickle and controlling gods, robbed utterly of free will. His hostility was born of an external curse, not an internal failing. Tragically, his ultimate show of loyalty to Ranni came through betrayal against his will.

Few game characters have illustrated these themes of fate versus free will more poignantly than Blaidd for me personally. As a player, I could hardly have felt more powerless than when forced to slay the most loyal of hounds.

A Meta Perspective: Analyzing Blaidd‘s Narrative Role

Zooming out from an in-universe view, Blaidd as a character serves a few key functions in Elden Ring‘s overarching narrative:

1. Emotional Investment – Through accompanying the player extensively, Blaidd fosters a great deal of emotional investment and attachment. This makes his eventual betrayal all the more heart-wrenching.

2. Heightens the Stakes – By turning Blaidd hostile, the game ups the stakes, conveys the gravity of Ranni‘s quest, and emphasizes characters‘ lack of control over their fates.

3. Reinforces Themes – His tragic fate reinforces major themes of destiny vs free will, loyalty, madness, and the tyranny of outer gods over characters‘ agency.

4. Motivates the Player – His death can make the player more determined to complete Ranni‘s quest and defy the Greater Will that cursed Blaidd.

Analyzed from a narrative lens, it becomes clear why Blaidd‘s betrayal occurs from a storytelling perspective – it‘s utterly gutting. Few moments in any FromSoft game hit me harder than being forced to slay that loyal wolf.

Conclusion: A Loyal Compantion Fated to Turn

Blaidd‘s transformation from stalwart ally to bloodthirsty beast is a shattering moment that catches many players off guard. But analyzing his backstory and the curse placed upon him reveals his betrayal was woven into his destiny from the start by forces beyond his control.

For me, Blaidd represents one of gaming‘s most memorable and tragic cases of fate overriding free will – and shows the true cost of blind obedience to the whims of fickle gods. His story remains one of the most emotional and resonant NPC questlines in Elden Ring, underscoring themes that give the game such compelling depth.

Though it broke my heart, putting down my former friend was also a lesson in the limits of predestination, and how some paths, once followed, can never be returned from. As a fellow Tarnished guided by grace, I can only hope his spirit has found the peace in death that was denied to him in life.

What are your thoughts on Blaidd‘s tragic betrayal? Share your perspectives in the comments – I‘d love to discuss this unforgettable character.