It’s no secret that FromSoft is a champion of action RPGs and dark fantasy settings. With every souls-like created, FromSoft raises their own bar when it comes to developing rich environments full of tantalizing lore. Many of these IPs often tuck lore behind item flavor text and contextual NPC interactions that leave players speculating about storytelling, but the critically-acclaimedElden Ringoffers some of the most unambiguous lore we’ve seen in a souls-like title. The title calls upon a plethora of game assets to create the Lands Between – from robust flavor text to numerous NPC questlines with varying solutions. Yet one amazing element persists that breathes an extra layer of mythos into the title as players fight their way to the Elden Throne: intentional musical composition that carries important context in this world. Through the soundtrack, and additional musical assets, Elden Ring reminds us that music has the power to transform settings and characters. The whole integration of music into the title gives us an extra window into the Lands Between and even helps shed light on the practices of this world, further immersing players into the action. Singing bats, violin-playing nomads and trumpet-wielding cloth monsters (no one actually knows what they’re made of) all serve a purpose in creating atmosphere. Similar composition of themes to connect characters, NPC musical elements and even enemy chants allow players a deeper look into the plot and setting. It’s a testament to FromSoft’s dedication to storytelling when so many musical details are seamlessly woven into the action. Elden Ring beckons us to sit and listen to the sounds of the Lands Between, so let’s take a look at some of the title’s most memorable lore compositions. This Checking the Score will delve deep into Elden Ring lore, so beware of spoilers, Tarnished One.
Whether we’re making our way through dilapidated ruins or galloping across the plains, players are bound to encounter all sorts of threats. Yet there are some enemies we may hear first before their appearance becomes known to us. When they’re not trying to kill us, quite a few threats in the Lands Between carry about their own business – adding even more life to the world around us. We may inevitably kill these threats for resources (gotta level up somehow), but there’s a beautiful sadness that sometimes accompanies these moments. Usually perched in rocky outcroppings, if we listen closely we can hear the tale of a bygone era. There is the soft, mournful sound of a woman’s voice supported by the creaking of ancient wood and rusted gears as a lift carries the player up to a cliff face. The words are difficult to make out, but become clearer as we approach. A grief echoing off the canyon walls in Latin emanates from a chanting Winged Dame. The poem itself follows the same structure found in classic Latin poetry, called elegiac couplets. Shakespeare had a fondness for using pentameter as classical Latin poetry uses pentameter and hexameter. Meaning it plays off of more syllables and sounds in a single line. Usually this form of poetry expressed grief, mourning or love.
Composed by the mind behind Bloodborne’s soundtrack, the “Song of Lament” by Tsukasa Siatoh is a haunting acapella melody that gives us insight into the world before The Shattering (the event that sparks the entirety of the game). The interesting elements of this song are not only the out of place areas in the Lands Between where you find them, but also the small insight to the history before Marika broke the Elden Ring itself. Grotesquely corrupted, these humanoid bat creatures cry out at their plight:
Alas, that land, once blessed, now had diminished
We, destined to be mothers, now become tarnished.
We have lamented and we have shed tears.
But no one consoles us.
Golden one, at whom were you angry?
As is typical with FromSoft games, especially souls-like, information about the world is almost earned rather than learned. Usually discovered in the flavor text of items that you pick up, this hint is sang to you – providing you can translate it. The Dame’s physical ability to not only articulate words, but also be able to have breath support and shift vocal tone with melody. We know that birds and bats often have a different sounds of more animalistic vocalization, but the context of the world, translation and diminished-scale melody are a grade above what we would get from a senseless animal. That leaves us with only a few possibilities towards the reason why it’s in the game at all. Either these creatures who were once the humans of the Lands Between, with heavy implications towards the Bat-like creatures being predominantly female, did not support Marika’s decision in breaking the Elden ring as we are lead to believe from the Golden Order. Or, these bat-creatures are descendants of the people from the Lands between that were transformed as part of the curse from Marika breaking the Golden Ring, and this song is so ingratiated into their communication structure as a species, that it’s just their ‘natural’ sound, similar to a bird call warning for danger. Either way, the way the melody is structured to place certain emotional emphasis on words, especially with the ascending note-scale for implying hope. It then switches to descending scale and ends the song on a lower note to implicate that the hope was dashed, let down, or “is no more.” From this we can be safely assume an important perspective in the world in Elden Ring: contrary to the words of the living, Marika’s decision to break the Elden Ring, like many governing persons, was not something supported by the masses. It also seems to be something that had further-reaching and destructive consequences.
Enemies may haunt us with their melodies, but NPC Merchants offset this by providing a bit of warmth to us. While most Merchants are not immediately next to a Site of Grace (Souls Bonfire for all intents and purposes), we often stumble upon them in the most sequestered locations – usually sitting by a bonfire of their own and playing their violin-like instrument. It brings warmth to us as we scale the side of the mountain or delve into the deepest caverns. Serving as humble helpers, these nomadic people have been displaced in the Lands Between. Found all over, there are actually different melodies played on their instrument depending on their locations. Their lore suggests their worshipping of the Three Fingers was considered blasphemous and they were persecuted for it. If players can grab the Nomadic Merchant Set, they’re treated to additional lore in the form of flavor text, “These merchants once thrived as the Great Caravan, but after being accused of heretical beliefs, their entire clan was rounded up and buried alive far underground. Then, they chanted a curse of despair, and summoned the flame of frenzy.”
It seems to be implied that the merchants are responsible for the Frenzied Flame, as the Three-Fingers is connected to Madness. We also find a Merchant note (denoted by the little feathers attached to it) in a town overrun by Tarnished suffering from the frenzy of madness that notates where to find the Three-Finger’s avatar. We can connect this piece further by finding an entire room full of their dead bodies on the way to completing the Frenzied Flame questline, deep underground. We see a decrepit nomad playing an oddly calming, delicate bonfire tune that builds lore for the horrific scene around us. Entitled “Song of Despair,” it’s easy to see how this decaying fellow might have mentally cracked while in this catacomb. How long has this lonely nomad been living amongst the piles of their dead brethren? Unable to crawl out from the underground exile, the solitary nomad plays to a different tune than that of other nomad merchants seen throughout the world. This small touch to have different melodies played by different nomads in varying locations reveals the backstory of a terrifying inquisition long ago. It’s an amazing detail to hear these beautiful notes and to watch closely as nomads are animated to touch the exact notes on their string instrument. These are intricate pieces of lore that, once found out, could even potentially alter the player’s decisions within the game. Once I learned of their horrendous experiences, I followed the Frenzy Flame myself and hoped to stick it to The Golden Order for following Marika as the “true god” (despite her blowing everything up out of spite).
There are so many musical lore elements that can be found out in the world, but we can also hear the connections in major themes as well. One noticeable example can be seen in the way the soundtrack connects two very important characters in the game. Early into the playthrough, we stumble upon a major boss on our way into Stormveil Castle. Introducing himself as Margit, the Fell Omen, we assume we’ve seen the last of him once defeated. Yet we inevitably learn that Omens are not so easy to put down. He appears to us again much later on, this time shedding his disguise and reintroducing himself to us as Morgott, the Omen King. Omens are reviled as impure accursed beings during this time and are often killed. Yet Omens of noble birth may live, so long as they are hidden from the world. Depending on where players travel, some may find themselves deep underground, knee high in a lake of blood. Clearing the area leads us to a boss fight where we encounter a familiar-looking Omen. A difference in color, however, indicates that this isn’t Morgott at all. Instead we have stumbled upon the kingomd of Mohg, Lord of Blood.
While their character designs are similar and varying lore cues around the game also confirm that Morgott and Mohg are twin brothers, we can feel an additional layer confirming this in the way each one’s theme is composed with similar structures. Utilizing the same choral and orchestral components, both their themes have slight variations to delineate the brothers. And because we mess around with music and find out here, if one were to play both themes at the same time overlapping each other, it’s difficult to tell the two apart by the middle of each theme. They both seem to be complimentary to each other, but also discordant – where one fills the intervals of the other. Listening to this sounds like a clash between brothers, which very well could be the case. Morgott gets to shine on the surface and guards the Elden Throne. Since Omens are born without the Grace of the Erdtree, they’re unable to become Elden Lords on their own. While his brother babysits the throne, Mohg is stuck deep underground babysitting the slumbering heir to the throne, Miquella. By sequestering him away, Mohg hopes to lay legitimate claim to the throne by using Miquella. Perhaps this could be something explore in the future expansion announced by FromSoft. Take a listen to Mohg’s hostility below and listen toMorgott’s triumphas a follow up.
The lore of Elden Ring is deep and abundant. Behind every creature, behind every location and every boss fight is a piece of lore that creates a living world. But beyond flavor texts and readings we find strewn about a key element that synthesizes these assets. Without the proper soundtrack, so much of the world-building would be lost. Epic themes that we just didn’t have time to discuss truly make a difference in so many Elden Ring experiences. The use of a full orchestra and ethereal vocals tie the game to its FromSoft predecessors while still maintaining its own identity through lore-based composition. There are so many musical components within the game that it truly showcases the attention of detail gone into development. These musical components not only provide structure to world-building, but they also work to give players a sense of direction. Elden Ring’s OST is composed in a way that gives players insight into the world. We can tell when something is an enemy based on the way it sounds. We can tell if we’ve found a friendly NPC by how they play their music. We also can hear the struggle of gods and kings every time we fight a boss. Elden Ring’s music is truly a masterclass in blending musical composition with storytelling. Here’s hoping the eventual expansion brings us even more themes steeped in Elden lore.
