Where Does Elden Ring Take Place

One of the most fascinating parts about the beloved FromSoftware masterpiece, Elden Ring, is wondering where does Elden Ring take place? Well, the short answer is that the entire game takes place in The Lands Between, a unique continent with a rich and vibrant history.

The Lands Between is a location that is set under and around the Erdtree, a massive magnificent landmark that is the central piece of this world. It is a glorious tree with powers that dictate much of what occurs in the land. The lands set around this tree are where the player traverses in Elden Ring.

The Lands Between is one of the most unique and highly detailed locales that FromSoft has ever come up with, with an intense level of history behind it. This location was created in part by legendary series director Hidetaka Miyazaki, but also in collaboration with Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin.

the lands between

Elden Ring Setting Details

Elden Ring is seemingly separate from everything that FromSoft has created before, having its own original setting of The Lands Between. This high fantasy and colorful world is one that is filled with gods that walk among men. These demigods are effectively the rulers of the world.

Players will find various forests, underground locations, ruins, castles, and more throughout the lands. There is a rich diversity to The Lands Between, with many surprising places popping up throughout your adventure and time in trying to restore the Elden Ring.

The Lands Between Inspiration

The person credited with the creation of The Lands Between and even the name of the continent is none other than George R.R. Martin himself. The Game of Thrones creator was brought on by the developers at FromSoft to come up with a special premise and lore for this game alone.

In the process, Martin created The Lands Between as this unique fantasy realm filled with magic, demigods, and wonder. He doesn’t have a specific inspiration for designing this land, as it is rather unique and different from even his own previous settings, like Westeros in Game of Thrones.

In a way, though, it could be said that George R.R. Martin could be the actual inspiration for this setting. As its creator, he brings such flair and detail to this setting, unlike anything else featured in a Soulsborne game.

the lands between dark moon

Erdtree Explained

At the center of The Lands Between is the Erdtree, a massive looming golden glowing tree that can be seen from nearly all five major regions of the landmass.

The Erdtree may be the magnificent symbol of the entire world in Elden Ring, but it is not the source of its setting. Instead, that would be the titular Elden Ring itself. This magical ring is the determining factor of who rules the lands, and the Erdtree is a result of its power.

Every person and living being in this world is dictated to and powered by the Erdtree itself. They are all tied to one another, even resulting in the deaths of the most potent beings being literally added to the glory of the Erdtree’s brilliant light so that they are remembered forever.

The one major possible inspiration for Elden Ring’s setting can come from the Erdtree itself. If you have heard the story of a massive tree that is in the middle of the entire world before, you wouldn’t be wrong. The story of the World Tree is a classic fantasy tale used many times in the past.

The idea is of a world that surrounds an unbelievably massive tree. This tree has many possible legends surrounding it, such as the god of the world being at the top and the ruler living there in a secret palace. There may even be legends about how it is impossible to reach the top of the World Tree or that it would take more than a lifetime to climb it.

All of these legends surrounding the World Tree stories seem to be inspirations for the Erdtree itself. This tree is, after all, behind much of the beauty and radiance of the world and is even where Queen Marika is imprisoned after the events that happened to her.

erdtree

Elden Ring Regions Explained

There are many lands that have popped up and grown in their own distinct environments around the Erdtree. Here are the five regions that mostly make up the world of The Lands Between but keep in mind that there are some slight spoilers for many of the major destinations you visit in this game:

  • Limgrave
  • Liurna of the Lakes
  • Caelid Wilds
  • Atlus Plateau: This is the location in which it is closest to the Erdtree, and the people born here are designated as unique.
  • Mountaintops of the Giants

Even then, that still doesn’t do the entire world justice, as vast caverns and underground regions add to the depth of this enormous and surprising location. Here are some of the underground locations you’ll visit when you venture into this magical realm:

  • Ainsel River
  • Deeproot Depths
  • Siofra River

History of the Lands Between

George R.R. Martin played a direct role in developing the lore and history of The Lands Between. As such, it is a surprisingly detailed storyline for a game in which you don’t have the traditional 10-hour cutscenes and all of that.

Instead, we have to look at the few details revealed throughout Elden Ring and the conversations with some key characters to hone in on what is truly happening in The Lands Between. The history of this world is quite long, going back to the war between the giants.

After a time, Queen Marika appeared, and she brought order and peace to The Lands Between as its ruler. She used the Erdtree’s power to bless the five regions of the world with abilities and gifts. In turn, she and the tree were worshiped in the many churches you can find in the game.

After a time, Queen Marika shattered the ring for unknown reasons and was imprisoned in the Erdtree. At this point, there was no longer a ruler, so her children, the demigods, began fighting over the right.

queen marika

Who Is the Tarnished in This World?

The player in Elden Ring plays as the Tarnished, an exile from The Lands Between, who returns after the ring is shattered, and Queen Marika disappears. It is your job to find the pieces of the Elden Ring and put them back together.

To do this, you have to venture throughout The Lands Between and take on the various demigods vying for the place of power in the world. If you are able to find all of the pieces of the ring and bring them back together, you’ll be able to become the new Elden Lord of the world.

This is the exact premise of Elden Ring that is at the heart of the game itself and why you take on such powerful bosses that are challenging to defeat.

FAQs

Question: What time period is Elden Ring in?

Answer: The exact time period of Elden Ring in its history is uncertain. It doesn’t take place in the real world if that’s what you want to know. That said, Elden Ring takes place well into the world’s history and just after the shattering of the Elden Ring itself and the imprisonment of Queen Marika.

Question: Is Elden Ring connected to Dark Souls?

Answer: It’s uncertain if Elden Ring is connected to Dark Souls in such a way that they may share the same universe. There are hints to the Dark Souls universe in Elden Ring, but these are minor hints that could ultimately mean nothing.

Question: Does Elden Ring take place in the Age of Dark?

Answer: The biggest possible connection of Elden Ring to Dark Souls is that it could be taking place in the Age of Dark. After Dark Souls 3’s End of Fire ending, it seems that Elden Ring could be taking place in the Age of Dark that follows, seen in the Death Blight.

Follow Millicent’s Quests for Deeper Lore

elden ring the lands between

The setting of The Lands Between in Elden Ring is, for many, including myself, the best locale that FromSoftware has come up with for one of its games. This magical land is well worth experiencing with its glorious open-world nature.

The Lands Between is so rich in lore and history, and you can certainly see the hand of George R.R. Martin in its creation. This is by far one of the most memorable settings ever to be featured in a video game, and it is a huge reason for people praising this as one of the greatest games ever made.

But the lore of the world of Elden Ring goes so much deeper than just talking about the setting. There are also the people that inhabit the world, too. I suggest finding Millicent and going through her quests to find out a whole lot more about the world of Elden Ring.

Looking for more interesting readings? Check out:

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top