Godwyn the Golden, also referred to as the Prince of Death in Elden Ring, was the Demigod son of Marika and Godfrey. Unlike other known Demigods, Godwyn was a pure-born being without any curses, making him a seemingly perfect deity. Furthermore, his renown magnificence was not only well-known by his subjects but also by hostile Dragons. Legendary Dragon Fortissax, in particular, was subdued by Godwyn, which resulted in the two deciding to form a friendship. This lore is revealed in the description for the Dragon Cult Incantation, Honed Bolt. Nevertheless, not all would end well for Godwyn, as his stepsister Ranni would soon devise his death in Elden Ring.
Understanding Godwyn the Golden’s Lore In Elden Ring
Lunar Princess Ranni assassinated Godwyn with the help of her Black Knife Assassins, causing Queen Marika to shatter the Elden Ring in her distress. However, striking down a Demigod isn’t easy, which is why Ranni imbued the Assassins’ Daggers with the Rune of Death, stolen from Maliketh.
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Ranni slew her stepbrother Godwyn to free herself from being a servant of the Greater Will, the Outer God responsible for creating the Elden Ring and the Golden Order of the Erdtree. Godwyn’s corpse was buried at the base of the Erdtree in Deeproot Depths. However, because of Ranni’s ritual, Godwyn’s corpse was branded with one half of the Cursemark of Death, causing him to become Elden Ring‘s Prince of Death, first of Those Who Live in Death. This curse resulted in the forming of Deathroot within the Erdtree.
Tarnished adventurers can find what’s left of Godwyn’s body and the aspect of the Prince of Death in Elden Ring beneath Stormveil Castle and within Deeproot Depths. Fia, the Deathbed Companion, plays an important role in reuniting the Cursemark halves with Godwyn, which can be done during her questline in order to acquire the Mending Rune of the Death-Prince. This Rune is the item required to achieve the Age of the Duskborn ending in Elden Ring. This ending proclaims that death has now returned to the Lands Between as a natural force, a power that was previously sealed away during Marika’s reign.
Elden Ring is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5,
