It was a clear, sunny day in the Stalgott Empire. People were buzzing about during their day to day. Though at the capital's center folks were gathered in the thousands. Gathered at the Sonnenhirn Academy of the arcane. Students were excited as today was graduation day. And none were as excited as the 10th year students who dedicated themselves to the growth of their mystic prowess since they could cast a few sparks from their fingers as children.

The headmaster, Konig Lauffeuer, a tall fire genasi, stood at the center of the stage giving a grand speech about the students of this ending school year and their accolades. As he spoke, faint embers danced around accentuating his movements.

"And yet there's one more of my outstanding students who is the only student in 25 years to complete the 12 year course." Headmaster Lauffeuer spoke as he took a few steps away from the crowd.

Atop the Academy was a purple skinned winged Tiefling hovering awaiting his que as he listened to the Headmaster give his speech, his familiar sitting comfortably on the headmaster's shoulder. His amethyst toned wings flapping steadily to keep the young mage aloft. It got to their agreed upon phrase before flying off in a wide arc, using produce flames to increase his speed a smidge.

"It is with great pleasure that I introduce our only graduating 12th year student… Y'vel the Shocking Stormfront!" As the Headmaster spoke the young mage barrelled through the open window and rolled to a stop on the stage. Lightning arced between his horns and across the crystalline growths on his forearms. As he stood straight his classmates and the audience clapped enjoying the entrance. Y'vel was given the floor as the Headmaster took a seat.

"Hello everyone, it's hard to believe that it's been 12 years. It's a great feeling to be graduating after putting so much work in over the years. Plenty of friends and memories were made." Y'vel spoke, getting a small applause from his fellow graduates in agreement. "We all have futures ahead of us whether we are plucked by the crown, or beginning an adventuring party to make our names known. But it couldn't be possible without you all. Parents Grandparents and all other Guardians. From the hearts of the graduating class of the 19th year of the 3rd millennium, we thank you, and know we will be forever grateful." After finishing his quick speech the Graduating class stood and gave a collective bow to their parents.

As the students and now their parents were bowing to each other suddenly the floor became incorporeal making everyone in the auditorium fall through it except Lauffeuer who watched as his feather fall charm took effect letting everyone drift 300 feet down harmlessly. When the students landed each of them were given a send off gift from the Headmaster personally. In the package was their diploma and badge of Identification, which was predominantly for the legal use of high caliber magics within the empire. Everyone also received a robe of useful items as well as 500 gold and a more specific item tailored to them. His specific item was a bloodwell vial, inside the package was a send off letter as well.

Y'vel decided to read his letter after landing on his favorite roosting spot on one of the nearby towers.

'Y'vel, my boy, congratulations on graduating. Watching you grow up has made my decision to take you on as one of my personal Arcanists. You'll have your normal duties in helping run the school. While also being able to do jobs that I technically cannot investigate personally whether it be the crown or the fact I can't really leave the Academy for long periods of time. And as your first mission, if you choose to accept employment, is to look into this anomaly that's appeared in the worship district. Every so often this odd rift appears in the sky strange noises come from the rift for hours before closing. I want you to try and close it. Be safe and I hope to see you soon'
~ Konig Lauffeuer

The letter was made from a strong almost magical parchment and written by burning in the lettering. Very on brand for the Headmaster.

He'd expressed wanting to be hired by Konig in the past. It was a good gig, especially for someone who had both natural talent for the Arcane arts as well as a being learned caster.

"Whelp, guess I oughta check this out sooner rather than later.." He spoke to himself before spreading his wings and taking off towards the worship district.

He glided over the massive temples that populated the area, 7 major Gods and Goddesses and about 10 minor ones with varying groups walking in and out of their temples. And a good 200 feet in the air was a ripple. As though someone's teleportation circle collapsed in on itself and flickers occasionally. He could feel the unstable magic pulsing from this gash in reality. He cast a spell and pulled his bag from his demiplane. From his Altered Bag Of Holding he produced 5 attunement crystals. He allowed his magical essence to connect to the crystals and then latch onto the rift. The crystals floated around the break and glowed faintly as he started mending the break.

Everything was going smoothly until he heard something, it was coming from the rift. Sounded like fighting. He didn't know what was on the other side of that break and he didn't want to find out. The wind began to pick around him as he sped up the mending of this break. And then a voice echoed out.

"The fallen leaves tell a story. The great Elden Ring was shattered."

'The hell is going on?! What is an Elden Ring?!'

"In our home across the fog the Lands Between."

It was at this moment, as he tried to sever his tie to this rift, Y'vel found that he couldn't pull away. The young mage was locked into this one-sided dialogue as his attunement crystals began to glow brightly as they orbited around Y'vel and the break. Folks below were starting to stare and some even started calling for guards.

"Now, Queen Marika the Eternal is nowhere to be found, and in the Night of Black Knives, Godwyn the Golden was the first to perish."

Y'vel was panicking, as a golden light began to spill out… Followed by Hands? Dozens and dozens of flailing hands that were reaching towards anything.

"Soon, Marika's offspring, demigods all, claimed shards of the Elden Ring. The mad taint of their newfound strength triggered the Shattering."

The building wind was circling him now and began to pull him in. Y'vel strained and struggled against the magical tethers before he felt the first fingers grab hold of him. He attempted to cast a subtle spell: Misty Step but it merely fizzled in the face of this growing cyclone.

"A war which bore no Lord to take the throne. A pointless war that led to the inevitable abandonment by the Greater Will."

Twenty excruciating minutes passed as he fought to close this rift like he has done to others. And now he was being pulled into a mass of hands. It was then that Headmaster Lauffeuer appeared, worry plastered on his face that was suddenly replaced with horror as blood splattered onto his face.

Blood…

His blood stained both his and the Headmasters' clothes as a golden sword skewered through Y'vel…

And at that moment he knew what needed to happen as the blood started to fill his lungs and leak from the corners of his mouth. Just as his eyes began to gloss they steeled for a few moments."Arcane Override:... Power Word-... Seal." Is what he choked out as he was pulled through the rift followed by a resounding thud as though a set of heavy double doors slammed shut. Though that could just be chalked up to being his fading heartbeat.

Darkness, a void without light. A night with no sign or hint of day.

"Arise now, ye Tarnished! Ye dead, who yet live."

But suddenly there was a speck, a small golden glimmer.

"Horah Loux, chieftain of the badlands." A sense of orientation returned to him… He was falling.

"The ever-brilliant Goldmask." Next to return to him was auditory sense, waves crashing onto the shore, He was falling towards a beach.
"Fia, the Deathbed Companion." Cold… Not numbness, the chill of falling, the wind racing around him. And the smell of the sea breeze and… crab?

"The horrendous Dung Eater." Most powerfully did the taste of his own iron rich blood fill his mouth.

"And Sir Gideon Ofnir, the All-knowing!" 'Alive… Wait, am I alive?' Was all he could think as his eyes opened as he flew through a powerful updraft forcing his wings open and for him to begin to glide still quasi out of control.

"And one other. Who would be given grace. Cross the mists, to the Lands Between. To stand before the Elden Ring."

It was a haze, he'd hit something during his descent. Several things but most notably a body then the sands beneath him. He laid there for a time, the world spinning slowly.

"And become Elden Lord!"

As he layed there head pounding and vision hazy he could see a form. Someone on horseback, they were speaking to him but he couldn't understand them. The night sky made it impossible to get a good look at the person before him. And as quickly as they appeared they rode off.

The Lands Between, a shattered collection of kingdoms fallen to different Lords and Ladies of the lands. The demigod children of Marika the Eternal, doing nothing but bickering with one another. Well some did. Others still retained their sense of family, some barely had any sense at all.

Willingly separating from their empyrean flesh. Or allowing its consumption by the God Devourer. Succumbing to the Scarlett Rot, be it for the better… or worse. Being born as an omen deemed a monster to be hidden to not besmirch the image of Marika's perfection. Or making one's self a monster through the horrors of grafting.

And their respective soldiers that remained loyal in the aftermath. Never really staying down since Destined Death was stolen. The civilians of these broken kingdoms are just trying to regain some sense of normalcy. But the people of Limgrave still had Godrick and his soldiers occupying their homes, even taking small towns for themselves. This has led to some pent up aggression between the people and the occupying army. Though dealing with their presence was more preferable than incurring their wrath. With death not really sticking, the sadistic and creative side of the soldiers of Godrick to be put to practice.

The guard town that sat at the foot of the Stormgate was quiet for the most part. Soldiers patrolling the area, others slacking off and shirking their duties. The esteemed Commander Aldrick sat in his home, his fingers drumming away on the wood of his desk. As he read through a missive from Lord Godrick the Golden. He was requesting more folks for grafting, as well as creatures like the giant bats or the land squirts. Just when the Commander thought his lord couldn't stoop any lower. He was going to start making actual nightmares.

"I'd rather deal with the misbegotten than serve this petulant fool." He spoke to himself while pinching the bridge of his nose. His attention was grabbed as one of his soldiers entered his chamber.

"Sir, the soldiers in the cave have fallen. Including your brother Brendan. We do not know who attacked. But we suspect that a Tarnished has appeared in the lands between." The soldier spoke with urgency.

Commander Aldrick stood up and ran his fingers through his hair.

"Stalton, have the surrounding soldiers start patrolling further up the roads. Also anyone who passes through will be brought to me to be questioned." The Commander barked, clearly frustrated and furious.

Stalton gave a salute and ran off to fulfill his orders.