By Gozie Ibekwe
Few characters in Elden Ring fight against the odds the way Blaidd does, and his story of succumbing to fate is one of the saddest in the game.
Elden Ring has an unparalleled way of compelling its audience through its challenging gameplay, rich lore, and engaging scenery. The carefully crafted storyline and well-meshed battle mechanics propelled it to international stardom upon its release in 2022, winning it a wide range of nominations and awards at renowned organizations. Its magical charm was not the sole reason for its far-reaching success, as Elden Ring sports a few characters with sad tunes to their backstories, and Blaidd's story is one of the most tear-jerking tragedies in the game. His troubled past and unfortunate death can elicit emotion from even the most stoic gamers, as the hero endures his painful fall from grace before the eyes of those who grew fond of him.
Every generation-defining game needs a compelling storyline, and Elden Ring transfixes its players with the methodical debasem*nt of Blaidd, much to the audience's horror. Players meet Blaidd for the first time in the Mistwood Region of Limgrave, where he is pursuing Darriwil, and he plays a fundamental role in assisting the Tarnished in killing the absconded Bloodhound Knight.
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Blaidd's Uphill Battle Against Fate Endears Him to Players
Blaidd's destiny is tied to Ranni the Witch in his role as her stepbrother and a Shadow. Shadows are eternally loyal to their Empyreans, and unfortunately for Blaidd, do not control their destiny. Elden Ring's Empyreans, beings that are essentially candidates to become Gods - are faced with a choice; to obey the Greater Will or to betray the path. Ranni elects to forsake her destiny, and Blaidd is cursed to go feral, becoming consumed with bloodlust and eventually losing himself.
A slave to fate, Blaidd is incarcerated by Blacksmith Iji at the Forlorn Hounds Evergaol, a magical prison, in preparation for his descent into inevitable insanity. The Blacksmith does this to prevent him from going on a killing spree, trying to stop the Half-Wolf from betraying the mistress he pledged his allegiance to. However, Iji's good-hearted intentions are all for naught when the Tarnished frees Blaidd from his cell, with Blaidd's tale culminating at the end of Ranni's questline after players grant her the ability to betray the Greater Will.
Black Knife assassins were sent by the Two Fingers to prevent Ranni from turning her back on the Greater Will, and Blaidd performs his duty as her guardian by dispatching every single one of them. Unfortunately for the Half-Wolf, the defense of Ranni has fed his bloodlust to the point of insanity, driving him madder with every kill. Blaidd is heard reaffirming his loyalty to Ranni, proving his bond with his stepsister was stronger than the curse that demanded his betrayal. However, he can't fight against his other fate - going mad - and he launches himself at the Tarnished in a feral rage, forcing players to put him out of his misery once and for all in a teary-eyed battle to the death.
The story of Blaidd the Half-Wolf is rooted in tragedy, and the character's lack of influence over his own fate is a sad sight for gamers to behold. Despite Ranni dooming him with her choices, which in their own right were a form of rebellion against the tyranny of the Greater Will, Blaidd never showed any ill feelings toward the stepsister he had sworn to protect. In a display of unmatched will, the Half-Wolf doggedly refuses to harm Ranni, defying the curse of the Two Fingers. Although he succumbed to the curse that made him go insane, this act sums up Blaidd as a character in Elden Ring - undying loyalty and an indomitable spirit, a tragic hero in every sense.
Elden Ring is out now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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