The Greater Will (大いなる意志, Ōinaru Ishi) is a mysterious entity or force whose vassals are central to the Golden Order in the world of Elden Ring.
Contents
- 1 Overview
- 2 Trivia
- 3 See Also
- 4 References
Overview[]
Long ago, the Greater Will fractured the One Great, creating births and souls.[1] The adherents of the Three Fingers consider this action to be a mistake, because it resulted in torment, despair, affliction, sins, and curses.[1]
Together with a golden star, the Greater Will once sent a beast to the Lands Between that would later become the Elden Ring.[2] This beast was its vassal, and the living incarnation of the concept of Order.[3] The Greater Will has other vassals and envoys known as the Two Fingers,[4] who speak in a sign language of light.[5]
Before the age of the Erdtree,[6] the Nox invoked the ire of the Greater Will, leading to their destruction.[7] Their treason is proven by the Fingerslayer Blade which symbolizes their downfall, a blade born of a corpse that is able to harm the Greater Will and its vassals.[8] The Nox who were committed to high treason also used ritual implements known as Mirrorhelms to ward off the intervention of the Greater Will and its vassals.[9]
During the age of the Erdtree begun by Queen Marika the Eternal[10] and at least the era immediately preceding it, the Greater Will's envoy Two Fingers selected Empyreans to become the gods of the following age.[11] Queen Marika was one such candidate, and created the Golden Order by confining the Rune of Death.[12] However, Marika would eventually shatter the Elden Ring,[13] leading to her demigod offspring inheriting the Great Runes which in turn would trigger a war known as the Shattering.[14] The Greater Will abandoned the demigods following the Shattering, as none managed to claim title of Elden Lord.[15]
According to the Two Fingers, the Greater Will has not abandoned the realm, nor the life that inhabits it, proclaiming this is why the Tarnished have been extended the Guidance of Grace.[16] After the Tarnished returned to the Lands Between following the Shattering, the Two Fingers, at the behest of the Greater Will, bade them kill the demigods in order to claim their Great Runes to become Elden Lord by becoming Marika's consort,[17] as the Greater will had long since renounced the demigods.[18]
In the time of The Tarnished (Protagonist), it was discovered that the entrance to the Erdtree was blocked by impenetrable thorns, preventing anyone from becoming Elden Lord. This caused the Two Fingers to commune with the Greater Will in search of answers, which may take thousands or tens of thousands of moons.[19][20] When The Tarnished (Protagonist) suggested burning the Erdtree, which would unbind Destined Death and slay the world itself,[21] Finger Reader Enia exclaimed that the Fingers and the Greater Will would never allow it.[22]
After The Tarnished (Protagonist) caused the Volcano Manor's recusants to disband following the defeat of Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy, the recusant known as Knight Bernahl declared himself the inheritor of his comrade recusant's will. He declared their refusal to become the Greater Will's pawns and swore it would fall by his blade.[23]
Trivia[]
- It is often speculated that the Greater Will is an Outer God or equivalent due to its God-like standing in the world of Elden Ring. It is never directly referred to as one in the game's text, however.
