The Tarnished's goal to reach the Erdtree is the main driving force in Elden Ring. To this end, players traverse the Lands Between, explore its locations, and fight hordes upon hordes of its inhabitants. But though this is the primary narrative, it is far from the only story in the game.
Multiple storylines are intertwined with Elden Ring's core tale. Almost all the characters have their own stories, some of which take place even before the events of the game. One such tale is that of Maliketh, whose double life only serves to amplify its sadness.
Maliketh Is A Sworn Servant Of Queen Marika
The half-brother of Queen Marika the Eternal, Maliketh, The Black Blade serves as the queen's shadow-bound beast. Similar to how Blaidd protects and serves Ranni the Witch during the events of the game, Maliketh was duty-bound to carry out Marika's demands no matter what they may be. The most important task bequeathed unto him by Marika was to protect the Rune of Death - a piece of the Elden Ring that governs the power of true death. Once held within Maliketh's Black Blade, a piece of the rune was stolen by Ranni. With it, she created the Black Knife Assassins who murdered Godwyn the Golden and started the string of events that eventually lead to The Shattering. Unable to bear the weight of his ineptitude to protect the Rune of Death and carry out Marika's wishes, Maliketh seared what was left of the rune onto his flesh and took on the name of Gurranq, the Beast Clergyman.
Life As Gurranq Isn't Kind To Maliketh Either
As Gurranq, Maliketh stays in the Bestial Sanctum in Caelid. It is here where players most likely meet him for the first time, hungering for Deathroot. This lust for Deathroot is most likely due to Maliketh bearing the Rune of Death on his person, as he routinely asks those who visit him for more of the item to satiate his hunger. As players slowly progress Maliketh's questline by feeding him more Deathroot, they can hear him muttering about his past life. Maliketh talks to himself about failing to protect the Rune of Death and asks Marika about what it is to sin, all while providing the Tarnished with beastly seals, incantations, an ash of war, a warhammer, and an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone as a final reward. Maliketh clearly isn't over his past transgressions even as he tries to get away from Marika's place of office, Leyndell.
Maliketh's True Feelings Are Shown Outside of Time
Even if players never meet Gurranq in the Bestial Sanctum, they will eventually come face to face with him as a boss in Crumbling Farum Azula. Since the area exists outside of time, Maliketh can freely express how he feels both as Gurranq and as himself. As Gurranq, he does not want to part with the Rune of Death again and attacks anyone who dares take it from him. After he takes on his true form as Maliketh, the character can be seen swearing his allegiance to his queen, as he sometimes calls himself "Marika's Black Blade" when he defeats players. Finally, Maliketh's final words when defeated ask Marika for forgiveness, as he fails once again to protect the Rune of Death from being taken.
Maliketh's plight is so sad because, despite it all, Marika does not seem to care about her shadow-bound beast. She never talks about him (though this may be to keep his existence a secret) and there is no mention of her presence after the piece of the Rune of Death was stolen from Maliketh. Worst of all, it was Marika who shattered the Elden Ring after Godwyn the Golden was murdered - an act that only amplified Maliketh's failure. To treat someone as loyal as Maliketh so harshly (even indirectly) is unjust of Marika. Unlike Ranni and Blaidd, Maliketh never seems to forge a deeper relationship with his charge and is treated more like a beast than anything else.
Elden Ring is available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
