Why is Everything Abandoned in Elden Ring: Unraveling the Shattered World of the Lands Between

The Lingering Echoes of a Lost Age

As a Tarnished, stepping into the vast, broken expanse of the Lands Between, one of the most immediate and profound impressions is the pervasive sense of abandonment. From crumbling castles silhouetted against a perpetual twilight to wind-swept plains dotted with the skeletal remains of forgotten civilizations, almost every corner of this world screams of desolation. But why is everything abandoned in Elden Ring? It’s a question that whispers on the wind, echoes in the ruins, and forms the very bedrock of the game’s melancholic and captivating atmosphere. The answer, as with most things in the Lands Between, is a tapestry woven from ambition, hubris, divine meddling, and ultimately, a cataclysmic event known as the Shattering.

My own journey through these lands was marked by this very feeling. I’d ride Torrent, my spectral steed, through what were clearly once bustling towns, now mere collections of empty homes and silent marketplaces. The lingering scent of decay, the rustling of unseen creatures in overgrown courtyards, and the distant, mournful cries of spectral inhabitants all contribute to a palpable sense of loss. It’s not just that these places are empty; it’s that they feel *emptied*, as if their inhabitants vanished in an instant, leaving behind only their stories etched into the very stones.

The core reason for this widespread abandonment stems from the fractured state of the Golden Order and the subsequent civil war that tore the Lands Between apart. The Elden Ring, the source of the Greater Will’s influence and the very fabric of order, was shattered. This act, perpetrated by Queen Marika’s children, unleashed a torrent of destructive power, warping the land and driving its inhabitants to madness or ruin. The demigods, driven mad by the shards of the Elden Ring, the Great Runes, turned on each other in a desperate, bloody struggle for power. This conflict, the Shattering, decimated populations, corrupted the land, and forced survivors to flee or perish.

The Cataclysmic Echoes of the Shattering

The Shattering isn’t just a historical event; it’s an ongoing, palpable force that continues to shape the Lands Between. Think of it as a massive, world-altering earthquake whose aftershocks are still being felt centuries later. The demigods, once rulers and guardians, became monstrous figures, each claiming a Great Rune and carving out their own desolate dominion. Their endless wars weren’t just battles; they were sieges and skirmishes that leveled cities, poisoned lands, and extinguished countless lives. The very air seems to carry the weight of this perpetual conflict, a heavy blanket of despair and decay.

Let’s break down the immediate consequences of the Shattering:

Demigod Rampage: The primary instigators of the Shattering, the demigods, became the primary agents of destruction. Each, empowered by a Great Rune, waged war against their kin, turning once-proud kingdoms into battlegrounds. Their corrupted forms and twisted desires reflect the madness that gripped the Lands Between.
Population Collapse: Wars of such magnitude naturally lead to mass casualties. The common folk, caught between warring demigods, had little chance. Many were undoubtedly slaughtered, while others likely fled to more remote or defensible locations, leaving their homes to the encroaching wilderness and the beasts that now roam them.
Environmental Corruption: The raw, untamed power of the Great Runes and the sheer violence of the conflict warped the very environment. Cursed lands, blighted swamps, and magically scarred landscapes became commonplace. This environmental degradation made many areas uninhabitable, forcing further abandonment.
Loss of Infrastructure: The constant warfare would have destroyed vital infrastructure – roads, bridges, granaries, and trade routes. Without these, communities would have become isolated, eventually dwindling and disappearing.

Consider the fate of Leyndell, Royal Capital. Even in its ruined state, you can see the grandeur of what once was. It was the heart of the Golden Order, a seat of power. Yet, it’s a ghost of its former self, a testament to the destructive forces unleashed. The same can be said for Caelid, a once-vibrant land now a festering wasteland due to Starscourage Radahn’s rampaging scarlet rot. These are not just abandoned places; they are places actively destroyed and rendered inhospitable by the actions of the powerful.

The Golden Order’s Fading Influence

The Elden Ring and the Golden Order, established by Queen Marika, were meant to bring order and prosperity to the Lands Between. However, their very foundation was built on a complex web of divine will, ambition, and hidden truths, ultimately leading to their own unraveling. The abandonment we see is also a consequence of the Golden Order’s collapse and its inability to maintain control.

Queen Marika’s motivations are shrouded in mystery, but her actions, particularly the shattering of the Elden Ring, were a direct assault on the established order. This act of defiance against the Greater Will, or perhaps a twisted interpretation of its will, plunged the world into chaos. Her lineage, the demigods, inherited her fractured legacy and their own ambitions, further accelerating the decline.

The Golden Order’s rigid dogma and its reliance on a singular source of power meant that when that power fractured, so too did the entire system. It’s like a meticulously constructed clockwork mechanism where one crucial gear breaks – the entire thing grinds to a halt and falls apart. The abandonment of towns and cities can be seen as a symptom of this systemic failure. When the divine mandate that once upheld society falters, so too do the structures that society relies upon.

Think about the various factions and demigods we encounter. Many of them are clinging to remnants of the old order, or trying to forge new ones, but their efforts are often desperate and localized. Godrick the Grafted, clinging to his perceived lineage and grafting body parts of fallen demigods, is a pathetic example of trying to reclaim power in a broken world. His domain, Stormveil Castle, is a fortress, yes, but also a place of immense cruelty and decay, filled with the desperate and the deformed, not a thriving community.

The religious and philosophical underpinnings of the Golden Order also contributed to the abandonment. The absolute faith placed in Marika and the Greater Will meant that when that faith was betrayed, when the divine order proved fallible, it left a spiritual void. Many survivors might have lost faith, become disillusioned, or sought solace in darker, forbidden paths, further fragmenting any semblance of unified society.

Here’s a look at how the Golden Order’s collapse directly contributed to abandonment:

Erosion of Authority: With the Elden Ring shattered and Marika absent, the central authority that enforced the Golden Order’s laws and protected its people collapsed. This power vacuum allowed for the demigods to seize control and wage their wars unopposed.
Spiritual Desolation: The faith that bound many societies together was shaken. When the divine plan seemed to fail, many lost hope and purpose, leading to a general apathy and an unwillingness to maintain or rebuild their settlements.
Rise of Heretical Beliefs: In the absence of the Golden Order’s dominance, alternative belief systems and darker magics, often deemed heretical, began to gain traction. This further fractured societies and could have led to internal conflicts and purges, contributing to abandonment.
Focus on Personal Survival: When the world is falling apart, people tend to focus on their immediate survival. The long-term prospects of maintaining a community, a farm, or a city become secondary to finding food, shelter, and protection from the ever-present dangers.

The Curse of Immortality and Its Aftermath

The Lands Between are populated by beings who are not entirely mortal. The Tarnished are resurrected, the demigods are blessed with extraordinary lifespans, and the very concept of death is malleable, particularly for those touched by the Greater Will or the outer gods. This peculiar form of existence, while seemingly advantageous, also carries a heavy burden that contributes to the world’s abandonment.

The most apparent example is the curse of the Undead, or those who are no longer truly alive but cannot die properly. Think of the skeletons that rise again, or the various creatures that seem to exist in a perpetual state of decay. This ongoing undeath and the inability to find true rest could have led to entire settlements becoming haunted, their former inhabitants unable to move on, thus driving the living away.

Furthermore, the demigods themselves, cursed with immortality and a hunger for power, became the architects of their own isolation and the isolation of their domains. Their endless feuds meant they were rarely concerned with the well-being of their subjects. Instead, they focused on their own ascensions and their territorial disputes. This self-absorption, coupled with their immense power, meant that any place they ruled was destined for neglect or outright destruction, not prosperity and growth.

Consider the story of Mohg, Lord of Blood. He established his bloody dynasty in the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds, a place literally beneath the earth, away from the eyes of the Golden Order and any semblance of civilized life. His followers are the forsaken, the shunned, and those who crave his twisted form of power. This demonstrates how the pursuit of forbidden desires and the rejection of societal norms leads to self-imposed exile and abandonment of traditional communities.

The pervasive sense of stagnation is also tied to this cursed immortality. For many, there is no true end, no natural conclusion to their suffering or their existence. This can lead to a profound ennui, a lack of motivation to build, create, or even maintain. Why bother building a sturdy house when you might live for centuries and see it crumble? Why cultivate a field when the next harvest might be ravaged by a demigod’s war?

Let’s explore the impact of this corrupted immortality:

Eternal Suffering: For many, immortality is not a blessing but a curse. They are trapped in a cycle of pain, madness, or servitude, unable to find peace. This creates a morbid and decaying atmosphere, repelling any who seek a normal life.
Stagnation and Decay: Without the natural cycle of life and death, there is less incentive for growth and renewal. Structures might fall into disrepair simply because there’s no impetus to maintain them, leading to a slow, inexorable decay of civilization.
Sanctuaries for the Damned: Places that were once vibrant might become havens for those who are immortal in a cursed sense – monsters, spirits, and corrupted beings. The living, naturally, would avoid such places.
Demigod Isolation: The demigods themselves, driven by their quest for power and immortality, became increasingly isolated from their people. Their focus shifted inward, on their own divinity and their rivalries, leaving their realms to wither.

The Greater Will’s Imperfect Design

The Greater Will, an unseen cosmic entity that seemingly influences the Lands Between through the Elden Ring, is a significant factor in the world’s current state. Its will, imposed through Empyreans and the Golden Order, was meant to be the ultimate arbiter of order. However, the fact that the Elden Ring could be shattered, and its order so thoroughly disrupted, suggests that the Greater Will’s design, or its implementation, was flawed or incomplete.

Perhaps the Greater Will’s vision for the Lands Between was too rigid, too absolute, failing to account for the complexities of life, ambition, and free will – even among demigods. Queen Marika’s eventual rebellion against the Greater Will, shattering the Elden Ring, is the most direct evidence of this conflict. It implies that Marika, perhaps an agent of another Outer God, or simply an Empyrean with her own agenda, found the Greater Will’s influence unbearable.

The abandonment of settlements can be seen as a consequence of the Greater Will’s withdrawal or weakened influence. When the divine hand that guides and protects is absent, or when its guidance leads to destruction, societies crumble. The Tarnished themselves are exiles, cast out from the Lands Between by the Greater Will for their lack of Grace, and are only now being called back. This suggests a history of divine judgment and the arbitrary nature of its favor, which would naturally lead to instability and abandonment.

Furthermore, the presence of other Outer Gods, who vie for influence with the Greater Will, adds another layer of complexity. The influence of the Formless Mother, the God of Rot, or even potential entities behind the Frenzied Flame, all represent forces that seek to disrupt or replace the established order. These external influences can drive people to madness, corruption, and ultimately, abandonment of their previous lives and societies.

Consider the Shardbearers. They are directly empowered by the Great Runes, fragments of the Elden Ring. Their very existence is a testament to the Greater Will’s fractured power. Each demigod’s domain reflects their warped interpretation of the Greater Will’s power and their own desires. For example, Rennala’s Academy of Raya Lucaria, while a center of learning, is also a place steeped in sorrow and regret, obsessed with a broken form of sorcery after the shattering of the Elden Ring and the departure of Radagon. It’s a place of knowledge, yes, but also of profound loss and ultimately, a kind of intellectual abandonment of the world outside.

Here’s how the Greater Will’s role contributes to abandonment:

Flawed Divine Mandate: The Greater Will’s absolute rule, as imposed through the Golden Order, may have been too rigid and unable to adapt to the organic nature of life, leading to a catastrophic breakdown when challenged.
Divine Withdrawal and Re-engagement: The Tarnished being exiles implies a history of divine intervention that could be capricious, leading to societal upheaval. The current re-engagement of Grace is an attempt to fix a broken system, but the damage is already done.
Conflict with Other Outer Gods: The Lands Between are a battleground for cosmic forces. The influence of other Outer Gods introduces chaos, corruption, and the disruption of established societies, pushing people to abandon their old ways and allegiances.
Empyreans’ Ambitions: The Empyreans, chosen to usher in the next age, are inherently ambitious and powerful. Their individual desires and struggles for the Elden Ring, even under the Greater Will’s purview, create conflict that devastates the world.

The Legacy of the Tarnished and Their Return

The Tarnished are the key to understanding why the Lands Between are in this state and why you, the player, are called back. The Tarnished were once banished, stripped of the Grace of gold, and exiled from the Lands Between. They were the outcasts, the imperfect, the ones deemed unworthy. Their banishment, and the subsequent absence of their potential influence, meant that the Lands Between were left to fester without their unique perspective or their role in the cycle of Grace.

The fact that the Tarnished are now returning, guided by the faint remnants of Grace, suggests a critical failure in the existing order. The Greater Will, or its agents, must have realized that their current setup wasn’t sustainable and that the Tarnished, despite their exile, held a crucial role in the eventual restoration or reshaping of the Lands Between. This implies that their absence, and the power vacuum it created, contributed to the world’s decline and abandonment.

Consider the isolation of many Tarnished NPCs you meet. They are often alone, struggling to survive, clinging to their own quests and motivations. This reflects the broader theme of isolation and abandonment that permeates the world. Even those who are meant to be chosen are often left to their own devices, having to carve their own path through the desolation.

The very nature of the Tarnished – their resilience, their ability to be resurrected, their inherent connection to the lost Grace – makes them uniquely suited to explore and potentially mend a broken world. However, their return is not a sign of immediate healing, but rather an acknowledgment of how dire the situation has become. The abandonment is so profound that only those who were once cast out are deemed capable of facing it.

The cycle of Tarnished exile and return highlights:

A Divine Failure: The Greater Will’s inability to maintain order without the Tarnished points to a fundamental flaw in its divine plan.
The Weight of Exile: The Tarnished’s long absence from the Lands Between meant that the world was left to its own devices, leading to the widespread ruin and abandonment we witness.
The Role of the Imperfect: The narrative suggests that perfection, as embodied by the initial Golden Order, can lead to stagnation and fragility. Imperfection and resilience, as found in the Tarnished, are necessary for true renewal.
A World Waiting for a Catalyst: The return of the Tarnished isn’t a restoration; it’s the introduction of a variable that could lead to drastic change, a breaking of the cycle of abandonment through decisive action.

Specific Examples of Abandoned Locations and Their Stories

To truly grasp why is everything abandoned in Elden Ring, we must look at specific examples within the game world. Each abandoned location tells a micro-story, a snapshot of the larger tragedy that befell the Lands Between.

Stormveil Castle

Stormveil Castle, the ancestral home of the Godrick family, is a fortress perched precariously on a cliff face. It’s a place of strategic importance, commanding views over a vast swathe of the Lands Between. Yet, it is far from a thriving seat of power. It’s filled with grotesque grafted abominations, imprisoned servants, and the ever-present threat of Godrick himself, a pathetic tyrant desperate to reclaim his perceived legacy.

Reason for Abandonment: While not fully abandoned in the sense of being empty, its original purpose as a glorious ancestral home has been corrupted. The true inhabitants have either been enslaved, mutated, or are engaged in constant struggle. The fear instilled by Godrick and the decay of its former glory have rendered it a place of dread, not prosperity.
Lingering Signs of Past Life: Banners, feast halls (albeit now filled with bones), and defensive structures speak of its former glory. However, the oppressive atmosphere and the presence of monstrous entities are constant reminders of its current, depraved state.

Raya Lucaria Academy

The Academy of Raya Lucaria was once a beacon of magical learning, a place where sorcerers from across the Lands Between gathered to study the arcane arts. Now, it’s a place haunted by the ghosts of its past, its scholars locked in eternal, fruitless pursuits or driven mad by their obsession. The very curriculum seems to have become stagnant, focused on outdated theories and arcane rituals.

Reason for Abandonment: The Academy’s isolation, coupled with a refusal to engage with the outside world and its evolving realities (especially after the Shattering), led to its decline. The obsession with pure, detached magical theory over practical application or moral guidance meant that the scholars became detached from the world they were meant to serve, eventually leading to their own forms of madness and stagnation.
Lingering Signs of Past Life: Grand libraries filled with ancient texts, lecture halls, and laboratories all point to a once-vibrant academic community. The spectral sorcerers still practicing their arts, however, are a sad testament to their inability to move on.

Caria Manor

Caria Manor, the former seat of the Carian royal family, is now largely deserted, inhabited only by loyal knights and the sorceress head, Royal Knight Loretta. The once proud lineage has fractured, with figures like Ranni leaving the manor behind in pursuit of their own destinies, leaving the physical structure to fall into a state of quiet decay. The magic that once protected it now seems more like a mournful guardian than a vibrant defense.

Reason for Abandonment: The departure of the Carian royalty, particularly Ranni’s choice to reject the Golden Order and the fate of her siblings, left the manor in a state of suspended animation. The true heart of the family moved on, leaving the physical remnants guarded but essentially empty of its former life and purpose.
Lingering Signs of Past Life: The impressive architecture, the magical defenses, and the presence of loyal retainers speak of a once-important seat of power. However, the absence of the royal family themselves creates a profound sense of emptiness and longing.

Redmane Castle

Redmane Castle, under the stewardship of General Radahn and later Jerren, has seen better days. While it served as a gathering point for the battle against Radahn himself, its history is marred by conflict and a grim pragmatism. The castle is a military outpost, not a thriving civilian center, and its abandonment by many of its original inhabitants, fleeing the encroaching dangers or the grim reality of war, is evident.

Reason for Abandonment: Redmane Castle has been a focal point of conflict and a symbol of the ongoing struggle for survival. The constant threat of war, the grim duties of its inhabitants, and the ultimate collapse of its most famous leader, Radahn, have led to its current state of sparse occupation and evident decay.
Lingering Signs of Past Life: The well-maintained but stark barracks, training grounds, and defensive ramparts show a history of military purpose. However, the pervasive sense of melancholy and the grim atmosphere suggest a community that has seen too much hardship and loss.

Volcano Manor

Volcano Manor, the stronghold of Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy, is a place of profound corruption and twisted loyalty. While it is certainly inhabited, it is abandoned in terms of its original purpose. It was once a place of learning and perhaps even sanctuary, but under Rykard, it has become a cultish den of assassins and those seeking dark power. Those who join are, in a sense, abandoning their former lives and identities.

Reason for Abandonment: The manor has been fundamentally transformed into a hub for blasphemous rituals and assassinations. It is abandoned by any semblance of ethical or normal society, existing as a self-contained, degenerate entity fueled by forbidden desires and the consumption of others.
Lingering Signs of Past Life: The architecture hints at a grander, more legitimate estate. However, the pervasive lava flows, the grotesque statues, and the presence of abhorrent creatures immediately erase any sense of its past normalcy.

The Metaphorical Abandonment

Beyond the physical decay and the literal emptiness of once-populated areas, there is a deeper, metaphorical sense of abandonment at play in Elden Ring. It’s the abandonment of hope, the abandonment of innocence, and the abandonment of even one’s own identity in the face of overwhelming despair and corruption.

Characters throughout the Lands Between are grappling with their own forms of abandonment. Nepheli Loux, abandoned by her father, seeks recognition and purpose. Roderika, haunted by the souls of the dead, feels abandoned by her ability to truly help them. Diallos, searching for his lost brother, feels abandoned by the lack of answers and the pervasive chaos.

The Tarnished, too, are figures of abandonment. Exiled and stripped of Grace, they are returning to a world that has forgotten them, a world that has moved on without them. Their quest is not just about becoming Elden Lord; it’s about finding a place, a purpose, and a connection in a world that has seemingly abandoned them all.

This metaphorical abandonment is arguably the most potent reason for the pervasive atmosphere of melancholy and decay. It’s not just the buildings that are empty; it’s the hearts and minds of the inhabitants who are left behind, struggling against their own internal desolation. They are abandoned by their dreams, by their loved ones, and by the very order that was meant to guide them.

Frequently Asked Questions About Abandonment in Elden Ring

Why are so many NPCs in Elden Ring alone and seemingly abandoned?

Many NPCs in Elden Ring are solitary figures because the cataclysmic events of the Shattering and the subsequent collapse of the Golden Order have fractured societies and scattered populations. These characters are often pursuing their own quests, haunted by past traumas, or seeking lost loved ones in a world where connection and community are rare commodities. Their isolation is a reflection of the broader theme of abandonment that permeates the Lands Between. For instance, Roderika, the Spirit Tuner, is deeply affected by the lingering spirits of the dead and feels a profound sense of responsibility and isolation, struggling to find peace for herself and for them. Diallos, the hospitable noble, is desperately searching for his missing brother, Liar, and his journey takes him through desolate lands, constantly encountering fragments of his brother’s past but rarely the man himself. This pursuit, born from a desire to overcome his own feelings of abandonment by his brother, highlights the personal tragedies that contribute to the world’s desolation.

Furthermore, the very nature of the Tarnished’s journey involves a degree of solitude. They are exiles, returning to a land that has largely forgotten them. While they encounter various individuals and factions, their primary path is often a solitary one, fraught with danger and self-discovery. This mirrors the isolation of many NPCs, who are left to fend for themselves in a chaotic and unforgiving world. Their loneliness is not just a narrative device; it’s a direct consequence of the world’s broken state, where trust is scarce and survival often means going it alone.

How did the Elden Ring’s shattering directly cause abandonment?

The shattering of the Elden Ring was the catalyst that directly led to widespread abandonment by igniting a devastating civil war among the demigods. When Queen Marika’s Elden Ring was broken, its power fragmented into the Great Runes, which were then claimed by her offspring. These demigods, driven mad by the immense power and the corrupted influence of the runes, turned on each other in a brutal and relentless conflict known as the Shattering. This war, which raged for an indeterminate period, would have decimated populations, destroyed infrastructure, and rendered vast swathes of the Lands Between uninhabitable.

Imagine a kingdom where the king’s children, each wielding immense, corrupting power, suddenly begin to wage war on each other for control of the throne. Their battles would not be confined to specific arenas; they would tear through cities, scorch farmlands, and poison rivers. The common people, caught in the crossfire, would have no choice but to flee their homes in search of safety. Many would undoubtedly perish, while others would seek refuge in remote areas, abandoning their ancestral lands permanently. The very fabric of society, built upon the stability of the Golden Order, would unravel, leaving behind a landscape of ruins and scattered survivors.

The environmental devastation also played a significant role. The raw, uncontrolled magical energies unleashed during the Shattering warped the land itself. Areas once fertile became blighted swamps or scorched earth, incapable of sustaining life. This physical destruction made many regions inhospitable, forcing further abandonment. For instance, Caelid, once a vibrant land, was transformed into a desolate, scarlet-rot-infested wasteland by the influence of Starscourage Radahn and the Great Runes. This illustrates how the direct consequences of the demigods’ wars made entire regions uninhabitable, forcing any remaining inhabitants to abandon them.

What is the role of the Outer Gods in the abandonment of the Lands Between?

The Outer Gods, cosmic entities that exist beyond the known reality of the Lands Between, play a crucial role in the ongoing cycle of conflict and abandonment by vying for influence and power. The Greater Will, an Outer God that established the Golden Order through the Elden Ring, sought to impose its vision of order. However, the existence of other Outer Gods, such as the Formless Mother, the God of Rot, and potentially the entity behind the Frenzied Flame, means that the Lands Between are a battleground for competing cosmic agendas. These forces do not seek harmony; they seek dominion, and their methods often involve corruption, madness, and the manipulation of mortals.

When an Outer God gains a foothold, it often leads to the perversion or destruction of existing societies. The Scarlet Rot, for example, a blight associated with an Outer God, has turned Caelid into a festering wasteland, a testament to the destructive potential of these entities. Similarly, the Frenzied Flame represents an Outer God’s desire for utter oblivion, promising to burn the world and everyone in it. The pursuit of these alien powers often requires individuals to abandon their former lives, loyalties, and even their sanity. Mohg, Lord of Blood, who serves an Outer God associated with blood and perhaps dominion over the forsaken, has established his own ignoble dynasty in the subterranean depths, attracting only those who are outcasts or embrace depravity, thus abandoning the surface world.

The machinations of these Outer Gods can drive individuals or entire groups to madness, transforming them into monsters or cultists. This corruption leads to internal strife, fear, and the eventual abandonment of once-thriving communities. The promise of power offered by these entities often comes at the cost of humanity and societal order, ensuring that their influence is a force of disintegration and abandonment. The very existence of these competing cosmic forces ensures that no single order can truly endure, perpetuating a cycle of rise, fall, and abandonment across the Lands Between.

Is there any hope for reclaiming these abandoned places in Elden Ring?

Yes, there is a form of hope for reclaiming and reshaping the abandoned places in Elden Ring, but it is a complex and often ambiguous hope. The player character, the Tarnished, is called back to the Lands Between specifically to mend the broken Elden Ring and become Elden Lord. This quest implies a potential for restoration and the re-establishment of order. By defeating the Shardbearers, gathering the Great Runes, and ultimately reaching the Erdtree, the Tarnished can usher in a new age. The nature of this new age, however, is not predetermined and depends on the choices the player makes.

For example, if the Tarnished becomes Elden Lord under the Golden Order’s principles, it suggests a restoration of a form of order, potentially leading to the rebuilding or at least the pacification of certain areas. However, Elden Ring also presents alternate endings that depict radical departures from the established order. The Age of Stars, guided by Ranni, suggests a future where the influence of the Greater Will is rejected, leading to a new cosmic alignment. This could mean a different kind of reclamation, one where the old structures are dismantled and replaced with something entirely new, though perhaps not necessarily a return to a former glory.

Then there is the Age of the Lord of Frenzied Flame, which represents the ultimate abandonment and destruction of all life. This ending signifies not a reclamation, but an eradication, a complete erasure of what was. This is the antithesis of hope for these abandoned places, as it ensures they will remain eternally empty and forgotten, a consequence of the ultimate act of despair.

Even in smaller ways, certain NPCs offer glimpses of hope. For example, if the player helps Roderika, she eventually finds a measure of peace and purpose at the Roundtable Hold, tending to the spirits. Similarly, if the Tarnished guides Nepheli Loux to her rightful place, it offers a personal resolution and a potential for a more just rule in her own sphere. These individual triumphs, while not world-altering, represent pockets of resilience and the possibility of overcoming the pervasive sense of abandonment, even if only on a small scale.

What does the abandonment of the Lands Between signify thematically?

The abandonment of the Lands Between is not merely a backdrop for the game; it is a central theme that explores profound philosophical and existential ideas. It signifies the decay of divine order and the consequences of ambition and corruption. The world’s desolation serves as a visual metaphor for the spiritual and moral decay that has occurred. When the Golden Order, meant to be the ultimate source of guidance and prosperity, fractures, it leaves behind a void that is filled with ruin, madness, and despair. This abandonment speaks to the fragility of established systems and the devastating impact when those systems fail.

Furthermore, the theme of abandonment explores the individual’s struggle for purpose in a meaningless or chaotic world. The Tarnished are exiles, literally abandoned by the Grace of gold, and they return to a land populated by characters who are themselves lost, broken, or seeking something they have been denied. Characters like Fia, who seeks to comfort the dying and grant them a peaceful rest in death, are in a sense trying to combat the world’s abandonment by offering a form of solace. The quest for meaning in the face of overwhelming emptiness is a recurring motif.

The pervasive sense of melancholy and decay also touches upon the idea of entropy – the inevitable decline of order into disorder. The once-great kingdoms and civilizations have succumbed to the passage of time, the ravages of war, and the corrupting influences of Outer Gods. This makes the Lands Between a poignant reminder that even the most powerful and divinely ordained systems are not immune to collapse. The abandonment, therefore, is a grand, cosmic tragedy, illustrating the ultimate futility of unchecked ambition and the inherent vulnerability of all creations to ruin and oblivion.

Conclusion: A World Defined by Its Emptiness

So, why is everything abandoned in Elden Ring? The answer is multifaceted, a complex interplay of divine failure, catastrophic war, corrupted power, and the lingering curses of immortality and cosmic influence. The Shattering, the civil war waged by the demigods, is the most direct cause, decimating populations and leaving behind a landscape of ruins. But beneath this lies a deeper story of a fractured Golden Order, a flawed divine design by the Greater Will, and the insidious reach of other, darker cosmic forces.

The Lands Between are not just empty; they are echoes of what once was, haunted by the specters of ambition, betrayal, and loss. Every crumbling castle, every wind-swept ruin, every silent village serves as a monument to a civilization that has failed to sustain itself. The abandonment is a consequence of the choices made by the powerful, the inherent instability of divine mandates, and the raw, untamed forces that exist beyond mortal comprehension.

As the Tarnished, your journey through this desolate world is not just about claiming the Elden Ring; it is about confronting this profound sense of abandonment, understanding its roots, and ultimately, deciding the fate of what remains. Will you restore an old order, forge a new path, or usher in an era of ultimate oblivion? The emptiness of the Lands Between is a canvas upon which your choices will paint the final chapter of this broken, yet endlessly fascinating, world.

Why is Everything Abandoned in Elden Ring: Unraveling the Shattered World of the Lands Between