Highlights
- Elden Ring's compelling world and hidden lore keep fans engaged and searching for meaning even a year after its release.
- Malenia, the iconic boss, is characterized not just by her appearance, but also by her morally complex backstory and the role of a minor character in her survival.
- The Cleanrot Knights were Malenia's loyal followers, sacrificing themselves to serve her in battle against the curse, with Finlay playing a vital role in carrying her to safety.
Elden Ring has maintained relevance well over a year after its release largely due to its compelling world of The Lands Between, with fans of FromSoftware’s latest fantasy RPG still unpacking the meaning of details hidden throughout the game. A game that centered around exploring a ruined world years after its prime in typical FromSoft fashion, some of Elden Ring’s most compelling bits of lore have to be actively discovered by the player.
One of the most iconic bosses of Elden Ring, the infamously difficult Malenia, Blade of Miquella has become a known figure in the mainstream of gaming. A morally complex demigod responsible for Caelid’s ruin, Malenia is a character that has become defined by much more than her actual appearance within the game. With one of the fiercest reputations earned leading the brutal battles that lead up to the events of Elden Ring, some players may be surprised to learn that a lesser-known minor character played a major role in her survival.
Malenia's Cleanrot Knights
Appearing as corrupted remnants of their former glory, the enemies known as Cleanrot Knights were Malenia’s most loyal followers during her conquests. A strange sight to see patrolling the toxic swamps of Caelid, these knights are one of the most unique spins on the genre’s archetype. Her forces in battle as she defeated Godrick’s kingdom of Limgrave and then ultimately gave in to her Scarlet Rot in Caelid, the duty of the Cleanrot Knights came with an inherent sacrifice implied by their name.
The personal army of Malenia during her struggles against the curse an Outer God has afflicted her with, the knights by her side served knowing that they would slowly succumb to the Scarlet Rot. Their mere presence being a testament to the loyalty she earned from them, the undead Cleanrot Knights walk the Swamp of Aeonia as if they still fight for their lost leader. One knight in particular, however, truly represents the inspiration that Malenia’s followers found in her.
Cleanrot Knight Finlay's Vital Role in Malenia's Lore
Found in the form of one of the game’s many Spirit Ash summons, the Cleanrot Knight known as Finlay could be considered responsible for the presence of Malenia within Elden Ring. Following the defeat of Radahn at the cost of the Scarlet Aeonia bloom that destroyed Caelid, Malenia was left utterly incapacitated and vulnerable. Remaining by her master's side even after this event, Finlay took it upon herself to single-handedly carry the weakened demigod all the way back to Miquella's Haligtree. Fighting off countless foes along the way, Finlay completes her mission and leaves Malenia to heal in the state that the boss is encountered in during Elden Ring.
The unimaginable heroism of Finlay is likely one of the hardest feats in the history of FromSoft’s worlds, but there is still tragedy to the fact that her actions were never celebrated. A true unsung hero, the modest grave of Finlay can be discovered in the Haligtree, a testament to her lack of proper recognition. While the Blade of Miquella never would have lasted into the events of Elden Ring without her help, the Cleanrot Knight Finlay is likely to never even be known by Malenia. Just another of the sorrowful tales to be found across The Lands Between, the story of its most underrated warrior can be seen as one of the truest symbols of the themes of glory and corruption at the core of Elden Ring.
Elden Ring is currently available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
