U4GM - How Elden Ring’s “Tarnished” Interact with Runes Lore-Wise
In Elden Ring, the concept of the “Tarnished” and their relationship with runes is central to both gameplay and the game’s deeper lore. Runes, often referred to as the source of life and power in the Lands Between, are more than just a currency or experience point system. Lore-wise, they embody the very essence of existence, linking all beings to the Erdtree’s divine order. As a Tarnished, a being exiled from grace and then called back by mysterious forces, the use and accumulation of Elden Ring Runes is a direct reflection of one’s return to power and pursuit of becoming the Elden Lord.

The Tarnished interact with runes not just by collecting them from fallen enemies, but also through absorbing the spiritual remnants of life itself. Every rune acquired is a fragment of a story—a piece of vitality stolen from the defeated. According to in-game descriptions and item lore, these runes…