Godrick The Grafted

Godrick The Grafted's History

Godrick was a scion of the Golden Lineage, tracing his descent from Queen Marika the Eternal and the first Elden Lord, Godfrey. However, many generations separated Godfrey and Godrick, and his divine blood was sorely diluted.[1] After Queen Marika shattered the Elden Ring, Godrick claimed one of its shards, a Great Rune known as the anchor ring.[2] When war broke out between the demigods over possession of the Great Runes, Godrick was hounded from the Royal Capital, which he escaped by hiding among the fleeing womenfolk and taking several priceless treasures with him, including the Mimic's Veil.[3] At some point, Godrick would end up in Stormveil Castle, in the region of Limgrave, and would become its ruler. He became widely known as Godrick the Grafted due to seeking power through the grotesque practice of grafting.[4] He preferred to be known as Godrick the Golden, seeing himself as the rightful lord of "all that is golden". Even though he invoked the lion imagery and strength of his ancestor and the patriarch of the Golden Lineage, Elden Lord Godfrey, in both words and symbols,[5] he would remain a feeble man who commanded little respect from his soldiers and servants. He hid from General Radahn in his castle,[6] and managed to insult Malenia the Severed,[7] after which the two dueled near the Gatefront Ruins. Malenia defeated him with ease and he was forced to grovel at her feet for mercy. She would leave Godrick humiliated, but alive. [8] Godrick began capturing Tarnished and grafting their limbs onto his body,[9] as well as augmenting his own servants, and even acquired the corpse of a dragon which he planned to graft, all in the vain hope of gaining power and respect, and living up to the glory of his forefathers. Though he had long ceased venturing outside the walls of Stormveil Castle, Godrick dreamt of triumphantly returning to the Capital one day. Unfortunately for this last dreg of the Golden Lineage, he met his match in a Tarnished warrior, who defeated him and claimed his Great Rune for their own. When the Tarnished champion returns to the area after resting at a site of grace, they will find the remains of Godrick’s corpse laying in the dirt, with Gatekeeper Gostoc mocking and cursing him while stomping in his head.