The Night of Black Knives
A single strike that severed the Golden Order and birthed a new age of death.
The Night of Black Knives stands as the darkest hour in the recorded history of the Lands Between. It refers to the treacherous assassination of Godwyn the Golden, Marika the Eternal's son and firstborn demigod. This singular act shattered the peace of the Erdtree and plunged the world into the chaotic Age of Fracture.
- Victim
- Godwyn the Golden
- Perpetrators
- Black Knives (Ranni's conspirators)
- Weapon
- Daggers infused with Destined Death
- Outcome
- The Shattering War begins
- Status of Victim
- Soul destroyed, body preserved in Erdtree
- Key Consequence
- Birth of Those Who Live in Death
Lore & Background
The death of Marika's child drove her to madness. In a fit of grief and rage, she shattered the Elden Ring itself, scattering its Great Runes across the Lands Between. This fragmentation allowed other demigods to claim power, leading to the Shattering war that defines the game's setting. The event also released death back into the world, creating the Greyoll lineage of Those Who Live in Death.
In Their Own Story
The festival lights flickered against the golden bark of the Erdtree. Godwyn laughed among his kin, unaware of the shadows gathering beneath the canopy. A figure clad in dark mail moved silently through the revelry, a blade humming with forbidden power. With one swift motion, the Black Knife pierced the Golden Order's heart. There was no scream, only the sudden silence of a soul extinguished while the body remained whole.
Reader's Guide
The Night of Black Knives is the inciting incident for the entire conflict players witness. Before this night, the Golden Order reigned supreme under Marika and Radagon. The assassination targeted Godwyn specifically because he was beloved and central to the lineage. By using a dagger forged from stolen Destined Death, the conspirators bypassed divine protection. This act caused Marika to shatter the Elden Ring in grief and rage, scattering Great Runes across demigods who then fought for dominance. For players, understanding this event clarifies why death returned to the Lands Between. The Those Who Live in Death are a direct result of Godwyn's soulless corpse lingering within the Erdtree. Ranni's questline further reveals her personal stake; she orchestrated the murder to escape the Two Fingers' control over her fate. When exploring Leyndell or speaking with scholars, references to this night explain the deep scars on the world. It is not merely history but the wound that bleeds into every battle fought in the game today.
Did You Know?
- Godwyn's physical body remains alive inside the Erdtree as a bloated corpse.
- The Black Knives were created using Destined Death stolen from Maliketh.
- Ranni orchestrated the event to sever ties with the Greater Will's Fingers.
- This night is the reason death exists freely in the Lands Between again.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is the Night of Black Knives?
This event marks the treacherous assassination of Godwyn the Golden by conspirators wielding daggers infused with Destined Death. It stands as the darkest hour in Lands Between history, shattering the Erdtree's peace and triggering the chaotic Age of Fracture.
Who was killed during this night?
The sole victim was Godwyn the Golden, Marika the Eternal's firstborn son and a revered demigod. While his physical body remained preserved within the Erdtree, his soul was utterly destroyed by the unique blades used in the attack.
How did the assassins manage to kill an immortal demigod?
The Black Knives utilized daggers that contained Destined Death, a power Marika had previously excised from the world. This forbidden magic allowed them to bypass Godwyn's immortality and sever his soul in a single strike.
What major consequences resulted from this assassination?
Godwyn's death directly caused the Shattering War as demigods fought over the fractured Great Runes. Additionally, the mingling of his preserved body with the Erdtree gave rise to Those Who Live in Death, creating an undead plague across the lands.
Who orchestrated the Night of Black Knives?
The attack was a conspiracy led by Ranni the Witch and her allies known as the Black Knives. They orchestrated the murder to free themselves from Marika's influence and alter the course of destiny in the Lands Between.
More in Lore & History
Elsewhere in the Elden Ring universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record