Queen Marika the Eternal, a figure of immense power and mystery in Elden Ring, is known for one cataclysmic act above all others: the shattering of the Elden Ring. This act plunged the Lands Between into chaos, setting the stage for the Tarnished’s journey. But why did Marika, seemingly a benevolent ruler and vessel of the Greater Will, commit such a destructive deed? Item descriptions and in-game lore provide fragmented clues, painting a picture of rebellion, hidden agendas, and perhaps, a desperate attempt to reshape destiny.
Marika’s origins as a Numen, beings from “outside the Lands Between,” immediately sets her apart. The “Numen’s Rune” description hints at a lineage distinct from the established order of the Lands Between, stating they are “of the same stock as Queen Marika herself.” This outsider status could be key to understanding her motivations. Did Marika, upon ascending to godhood and becoming the vessel of the Elden Ring, begin to question or even resent the influence of the Greater Will? The “Marika’s Hammer” description, stating it’s a “Stone hammer made in the lands of the Numen, outside the Lands Between. The tool with which Queen Marika shattered the Elden Ring and Radagon attempted to repair it,” directly links her Numen heritage to the act of shattering, suggesting a deliberate and personal choice.
Further deepening the mystery is Marika’s connection to the Black Knives assassins. The “Black Knife Armor” description reveals, “The assassins that carried out the deeds of the Night of the Black Knives were all women, and rumored to be Numen who had close ties with Marika herself.” This Night of the Black Knives was pivotal, resulting in the death of Godwyn the Golden and the first cracks in the Elden Ring’s order. If these assassins were indeed “Numen who had close ties with Marika,” it implies a level of control or at least influence Marika held over them. “Black Knife Tiche Ashe’s” description adds another layer, mentioning Tiche’s role in slaying Godwyn and her lineage to the Black Knife Ringleader, Alecto. This connection suggests Marika was not merely a passive observer but an active participant in the events that destabilized the Golden Order.
The story of Ranni the Witch, another Empyrean demigod, provides a potential parallel to Marika’s rebellion. Ranni, in her dialogue, speaks of her own defiance against the Two Fingers, stating, “I would not acquiesce to the Two Fingers. I stole the Rune of Death, slew mine own Empyrean flesh, casting it away. I would not be controlled by that thing.” Ranni’s “successful escape from fate and the Greater Will” could have served as inspiration or even a catalyst for Marika’s own drastic actions. Both sought to break free from the predetermined path laid out by the Greater Will and the Two Fingers. The connection to the Eternal City, hinted at by the “Nox Swordstress Crown” description, “Crown worn by the swordstresses of the Eternal City… Long ago, the Nox invoked the ire of the Greater Will, and were banished deep underground. Now they live under a false night sky, in eternal anticipation of their liege. Of the coming age of the stars,” further links Ranni’s ambitions to a potential alternative order, one that Marika might have also been seeking.
Finally, the cryptic figure of War Counselor Iji and his “Mirrorhelm” offer another piece of the puzzle. The “Iji’s Mirrorhelm” and “Nox Mirrorhelm” descriptions are strikingly similar, both stating they are “Helm fashioned from a crystal looking-glass… Worn by those committed to high treason, it wards off the intervention of the Greater Will and its vassal Fingers.” Iji, a loyal servant to Ranni, ultimately meets his demise at the hands of Black Knife assassins after Ranni departs. This suggests that even those seeking to evade the Greater Will’s influence, like Iji, could be targeted. The question then arises: were the Black Knives sent after Iji by Radagon, Marika’s other half and seemingly a staunch supporter of the Golden Order? If Radagon is indeed acting as the Greater Will’s “main surrogate,” as the original text suggests, then the conflict within Marika herself, embodied by her two halves, could be another layer to the shattering.
In conclusion, the shattering of the Elden Ring appears to be a complex act rooted in Marika’s unique origins, her potential rebellion against the Greater Will, and perhaps influenced by Ranni’s own defiance. Whether it was an act of despair, a calculated move to usher in a new order, or a desperate attempt to break free from a predetermined fate remains open to interpretation. The item descriptions and lore hints paint a picture of a god grappling with her own destiny and the cosmic forces shaping the Lands Between, ultimately choosing to shatter the very foundation of her world.
