Highlights
- Elden Ring's lore and ambiguity have contributed to its status as an influential RPG. The upcoming Shadow of the Erdtree expansion is highly anticipated, but the base game's lore continues to captivate fans.
- Roundtable Knight Vyke is a significant NPC in Elden Ring who many players have fought against, but they may not be aware of his lore.
- Vyke's story is a mysterious one involving the Frenzied Flame, and it serves as a cautionary tale for players since his path mirrors that of the Tarnished.
Elden Ring is likely to be remembered as one of the most influential RPGs of the decade so far, and the layered lore at the core of the Soulsborne has played a big part in that lasting legacy. The rich world of The Lands Between is rife with lore to discover and interpret, but Elden Ring also succeeds in a form of ambiguity that keeps dedicated fans theorizing.
The upcoming Shadow of the Erdtree expansion for the game is likely to still be far off, but the base game has been more than enough to keep players speculating about its lore over a year after its release. Major characters like Ranni and Malenia have easily maintained the interest of fans with their compelling representations, but there are many subtle Elden Ring NPCs that have also made their mark. Potentially one of the most relevant of all, Roundtable Knight Vyke is a side character most players have, and he carries some foreboding lore.
The Mystery of Roundtable Knight Vyke
Encountered at the Church of Inhibition within Liurnia of the Lakes, the NPC invader known as Festering Fingerprint Vyke is likely a frustratingly familiar foe to many players. Appearing suddenly at what is typically a place of safety, Vyke relentlessly assails the player with lethal Frenzied Flame-based incantations. As is the case with many seemingly random characters found in Elden Ring, there is much more to him than is initially shown, but his connection to the lore is far greater than most. Still a surprise to many players, Vyke is actually the knight seen on the cover art of Elden Ring. A seemingly innocuous NPC related to the Frenzied Flame would be a strange choice for such a key piece of artwork, but he is far from that.
He may invade the player in Liurnia, but the apparent true form of Vyke seems to actually be found all the way in the Mountaintops of the Giants. Found trapped within the Contender’s Evergaol, the Vyke found later on doesn’t appear the same. Now known as Roundtable Knight Vyke, this regular version of the NPC utilizes the red lightning of Dragon Cult incantations, even dropping his own in the form of Vyke’s Dragonbolt. Named with the title of “Dragonspear” and said to have been favored by the dragon Lansseax in the time of the Golden Order, Vyke’s true story is that of a fallen hero.
Vyke's Fall and the Frenzied Flame
As indicated by the warped, burnt armor that adorns him along with his usage of specialized incantations, Vyke appears to have been consumed by the corrupting allure of the Three Fingers and the chaotic Outer God known as the Frenzied Flame. In a journey that mirrors the Tarnished’s, it seems that Vyke nearly ascended to the seat of Elden Lord, but was ultimately unable to bring himself to sacrifice his maiden in order to burn the Erdtree. Enticed by Shabriri into embrace the Three Fingers as an alternative, he would lose himself to the madness of the Frenzied Flame.
Considering the absolute destruction seen in the game’s Lord of the Frenzied Flame ending, it's likely that Vyke was imprisoned in his evergaol to prevent this outcome from happening. Between the reality of the dead maiden he seems to be protecting and Melina’s deep distrust of a path similar to his, some players have even theorized that Vyke could have even been the previous master of Torrent in the exact same role as the player. One of the most obscure stories within Elden Ring despite its significance, the fall of Roundtable Vyke is a cautionary tale for all who would follow the Three Fingers.
Elden Ring is available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
