ELDEN RING (PART 10)

 ... so who is this Tarnished roaming in the Lands Between?

Scraps of information begin to emerge. He is often spotted at the Church of Elleh and appears to have an affinity with the nomad merchant there, Kale, who (unlike most of his peers) actually has a name. 

This Tarnished is recently sighted ... not in his usual Fire Monk outfit but his basic Prophet attire: 

-- the blindfold... "if the path leading to the future is clear, then just close your eyes, and walk"; 

-- the robe and trousers ... interesting this whole set can be bought off the hermit merchant at his shack in Leyndell Royal Capital, suggesting, perhaps, this is the area where these prophets were once based, before they were persecuted and forced into exile. The shackles around the neck "warn passerbys not to lend an ear to their [ominous] sermons".

However, what catches the eye (well, for those who dare stare at this figure of misfortune) is the weapon he wields: a metal whip that is clearly the Hoslow's Petal Whip. How this family loom from the illustrious House of Hoslow -- their tale is told in blood -- comes to be in his possession is a bit of a mystery, though it could be because The Tarnished had met one of -- if not both -- the Hoslow brothers, Juno and Diallos, while "serving" as a Rescusant (Tarnished assassin) at the Volcano Manor. 

In fact, the above scenario is extremely likely given this Tarnished has been seen also wielding the notorious Blasphemous Blade, a super powerful weapon that can only been obtained after defeating Rykard --- a demi-god; the son of Queen Rennala and Radagon and brother to Ranni and and Radahn (and later also step brother to Godwyn the Golden, Margott the Omen King and Mohg) --- at the Volcano Manor.

Also notable is that this Tarnished is skilled with Bloodhound Steps, which means he can "blink" (or teleport) between short distances, making him very hard to catch.  

But it'd be his incantations that can shed light on his identity and, perhaps, his backstory. He is skilled in both offensive and buffing spells.

Offensive

The class came with Catch Flame, which is described as "an anathema to the Erdtree... but prophets glimpse it within the faith all the same". 

Interestingly, he has also been seen casting OTHER types of fire-type incantations that could only be learnt from the Fire Monks, especially those for buffing (see below) and by slaughtering the Fire Giants, for the powerful Flame. Fall Upon Them incantation. So it is extremely probable that this Tarnished had infiltrated into the Fire Monks tribe with the sole intention to enhance his pyromancy prowess. 

What seems less likely is his devotion to any Dragon-related factions. The fact he can cast the superior Ekzykes' Decay incantation merely suggests the Tarnished is strong enough to kill the huge beast in Caelid before devouring its heart as an act of communion.  

More intriguingly, perhaps, is his ability to cast two very, very strong incantations that originated "from the maddening Three Fingers": Frenzied Burst and Unendurable Frenzy. His association with the Three Fingers, the Outer God of chaos, is yet emerge and to be played out. Perhaps this is the very fate that he foresaw long, long time ago and is simply on his path of a self fulfilling prophecy.    

Defensive  

The prophet class traditionally takes on the cleric role and this is no exception in Elden Ring. So one of the starting incantations is Heal -- "of the Two Fingers' faithful". His ability to cast this -- and the more potent Lord's Aid -- suggests this particular Tarnished was originally loyal to the Two Fingers before he turned to the Three Fingers... but why? That we don't know ... yet.

Golden Vow and Blessing of the Erdtree are two extremely good buffing spells and they seem to be "primordial" in nature. i.e. something that existed right at the beginning, like the Erdtree, and like the Aspect of the Crucible incantations. I imagine these are basic spells that a prophet in training would learn because .. well, clerics are known for their healing powers. (The primordial spells should not be confused with the Golden Order ones, despite their similarities in colours...) 

And, finally, the two buffing/debuffing incantations from the Fire Monks: Flame, Grant Strength and Flame, Cleanse Me. When dungeon crawling, with both Flame, Cleanse Me and Lord's Aid you have answers to status-build-ups including: poison, scarlet rot, blood loss and sleep. Surprisingly useful! 

A Tarnished who was once of the Two Fingers faith but renegaded to learn (heretic) incantations from the Three Fingers; one who infiltrated into the Volcano Manor as well as the Fire Monk factions to become a highly skilled caster; one who must now decide whether to sacrifice his own guiding light, Melina, or himself to rid of the Status Quo, or a future ruled by the Golden Order or Ranni and to embrace Chaos... but which one is it to be?

..to be continued...