Elden Ring Lore: Godwyn The Golden

Godwyn the Golden is quite an enigmatic character in #EldenRing who we don't know that much about. However, from the mentions of him in Elden Ring gameplay we can figure out his relationship with dragons, his past, and his legacy, which Zoe Delahunty-Light will explain so you can know just why Godwyn was so beloved. #EldenRing

[kagachi]

The face under Stormveil Castle is more likely a very matured Deathroot, which spreads through the Erdtree's roots from Godwyn's body. You can see numerous Deathroot sprouts in Summonwater Village and in underground tombs, and they all bear some parts of Godwyn's visage, his eyes in particular.

[tarnished]

Godwyn sounded soo cool, would've been awesome to see him in his prime, decked in golden armor fighting dragons or heck seeing him in the current events not as a giant death fish would've been cool.

[rwberger]

The most horrifying thing about Godwyn's death is that his body isn't exactly dead (hence his eye reopening in the cinematic). He and Ranni had one complete death shared between them, Ranni's body and Godwyn's soul. This was part of Ranni's plan to escape the control of the two fingers and greater will as it allowed her soul to be free of her demi-god+imperium body while also giving a major middle finger to them by taking away their literal golden boy. Now of course this not-dead but not-exactly-alive body of Godwyn seems to be transforming into something kinda eldrich uner the tree's roots.

[matthewhall]

Godwyn's for some reason reminds me of Rhaegar, especially since George R. R. Martin was involved in Elden Ring lore. Great warrior that held the affections of all whose unfortunate death leads to a chain reaction that totally changes everything and also the fact that, that death happens before the viewer (or chosen tarnished) gets a chance to encounter them and witness their greatness for ourselves.

[cb-]

I love the concept for his character, you kill a shard bearer you get a remembrance and their physical body dies. But with Godwyn the opposite happened, they destroyed his Soul/Remembrance. Leaving his dead body to turn into a mindless parasite, he better play a big part in the DLC

[AMubher]

Black Knife Armour description: "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 strongly suggests that Marika had something to do with Godwyn's death.

[TheBaguetteSpy]

So, Ranni is the true villain all along. Basically she's responsible for death/suffering of countless people and along with many being cursed, and the Lands in-Between being a wasteland.

[IMGBrk]

I still wonder how they managed to catch Godwyn off guard. As a demigod he must be very powerful.

[sojiah]

My theory is that godwyn originally had tge ability to compel affection from others, and that was why he was referred to as "golden" and as marikas favored child. Marika and ranni targeted godwyn during the night of the black knives in order to trigger the warring of the demigods as it was very possible that godwyn could have stopped the warring singlehandedly. After the night, and godwyns death he became the first of those who live in death followed by miquela studying how to give him a proper death. I believe that it was here where miquela was able to steal godwyns affection ability and adopt the mantra "st. Trina". The reason I think je didn't have this ability until now is that it was never stated until way after he left the golden order that he had any sort of affection ability at all, leading me to believe that it was something that he had to aquire, and this theory made the most since to me. Another piece of evidence to this is that godwyns most famous accomplishment is fighting the dragons and befriending the dragon lord which further points to godwyn having this ability. And it would make since that after that victory that most likely didn't involve much bloodshed, godwyn would pretty much be sidelined, as the greater wills objective is to cause bloodshed and death in order to power the Erdtree.

[TheTurnipKing]

It goes back way before the death of Godwyn. Godwyns death is merely the trigger for The Shattering

[toufiq]

its seems everyone in Elden ring world loved, respected, admired and/or was jealous of Godwyn. Crazy that we never actually get to see him.

[CreativeUsernameEh]

Godwyn makes me so sad. By all accounts he was awesome and loved by everyone... And with his death, everything fell apart. What confuses me is why Ranni chose to kill him instead of the most cruel and evil Rykard?

By the way thank you for another awesome lore video Zoe!!

[WhatDaFurk]

In Summonwater Village you can also see apparitions of Godwyn in exposed roots (you kinda have to tilt your head and look hard to see it). It’s implied that since Godwyn is without a soul as he now lives death, his remains cannot be properly absorbed by the erdtree thus his form having a deformed visage unlike the bodies you find in erdtree catcombs.

Another thing to think about with Godwyn are the Black Knives. Being Numen like Marika, doesn’t that mean they have more of a connection with Marika than Ranni? I personally don’t think it’s a massive reach to assume Marika had a hand with the Night of the Black Knives.

[alejandrorodriguez]

Miquella always being the kindest soul

[femtokun]

4:25 Objection! Speculation :)
The original Death rune fragment might have been stolen from Maliketh by Godwin himself...under the wisdom gained from befriending Fortissax. He is refferd to in the game as The Prince of Death, his betrayal might have been the event that put in motion the events that led to the Shattering.
Ranni might be the one who stole it...as she states so herself but who knows for sure.
It might also be that the entire conflict stands on a converging of more intentions to overthrow the Greater Will, of all Demigods, Marika and even Rennala herself. They all gained the knowledge of the best way to kill a God...and the complex sequence of events that follow might just be a series of interconnected events...or a masterplan put in place by Marika herself. Each one of them plays an important role in this destiny overthrowing machine, Tarnished included. At one moment it might seem one of them put in place all this plan and controls everything, in another them looking like another puzzle piece, or a tool manipulated by another one of the characters.
Marika might not even have been pushed to shatter the Ring because of Godwin's Death, but just an accumulation of factors culminating with the fact that all of them wanted to escape the influence of the Greater Will.
Destined Death was plucked from the Ring under the instruction of the Greater Will, and hidden under the guard of Maliketh, thus ensuring a neverending cycle of syphoning souls, and keeping order and control over the whole world.
Godwin's body is inflicted with death blight...and corrupts the Erdtree from the Roots Up. The face wee find under Stormveil castle is a pustule, originating from Godwin's infected degrading and transforming body entwined into the Trees Roots.
Godwin befriended Fortissax long ago, after he fought him in Lyndell, with respect, and hid his essence deep within him. This might be the source of him gaining all the knowledge and wisdom about Destined Death and what it meant for the ancient denizens of the Lands Between. Destined death was one of the Ancient Gods revered and worshipped by the Numens. It was an essencial part of the Crucible that held the fabric of reality in balance, ensuring a natural cycle in which free will existed.

Every one of them wants to shape the world into their own vision..but most of all all of them want to escape the Greater Will, and this is a common goal, to be able to exercise free will.

[herjakob]

Great video but I don't think Marika cared about her children as much as you say. There's evidence that suggest she was involved or planned the night of the black knifes.

[evanmorris]

Placidusax was elden lord, yes. But not under the Greater Will. Placidusax was elden lord during the age of the crucible.

[readingsbyreece]

One thing if not two things I would love for you to cover is the lore of Sorcerer Selen and the primeval current which has some amazing and deep lore implications!!

[darlacorazone]

i wish GRR Martin writes a novel for elden ring!!!

[MorbidGames]

Either he moves through the roots or it's an empty husk and that thing sheds like a snake. Both nasty