When exploring the world of Elden Ring and especially the first Legacy Dungeon, Stormveil Castle, you may have heard about “a sinister secret hidden deep within the Stormveil Castle.” Here’s an explanation about it.
The sources for the lore can be found when you read item descriptions and talk to NPCs.
Intriguing Item Descriptions
Marred Leather Shield:
Leather shield of Stormveil soldiers. Much like the castle,
it is marred by mottling and thorns.Some say it is the curse of grafting which causes such affliction,
The Item Description of the Marred Leather Shield
while others talk of its root being something altogether more
sinister hidden deep within the castle.
This shield is very easy to find because they’re dropped by the Exile Soldiers inside Stormveil.
Prince of Death’s Pustule
A fetid pustule taken from facial flesh.
Raises vitality.
(Vitality governs resistance to the effects of Death.)It is said that this pustule came from the visage of the Prince of Death, he who used to be called Godwyn. As First Dead of the demigods, it’s said he’s buried deep under the capital, at the Erdtree’s roots.
The Item Description of Prince of Death’s Pustule
It’s hidden deep underground in Stormveil and the way is guarded by an Ulcerated Tree Spirit. This Item can be found next to a “face with tentacles”. So it’s somewhat difficult to come across.
RELATED STORY: Elden Ring: The Tarnished, explained
Sorcerer Rogier’s Ailment
After you cleared Stormveil Castle and return to the Roundtable Hold, you can find Sorcerer Rogier sitting on a chair on the balcony. He is unable to move because he’s infected with the Death Blight.
He comments about the corpse under Stormveil and that it’s the reason for his ailment.
The misshapen corpse under Stormveil? That is a sacred relic. Of the black knives plot. As that famed night of assassination is known.
Sorcerer Rogier on Godwyn’s corpse under Stormveil.
It happened during the Golden Age of the Erdtree, long before the shattering of the Elden Ring. Someone stole a fragment of the Rune of Death from Maliketh, the Black Blade. And on a bitter night, murdered Godwyn the Golden.
Summing up the Secret of Stormveil Castle
It’s clear that the Secret of Stormveil Castle is the Death Blight caused by Godwyn’s corpse and the Tree Spirit. It’s affecting the soldiers and the castle itself.
But how did that corpse get into the castle? It’s still a mystery.
Check out this video by Zullie the Witch about Godwyn’s strange shape:
You can find out that the Exile Soldiers also have Thorns on their bodies.
Like most locations in Elden Ring, there are a lot more lore and secrets about the Stormveil Castle, and it isn’t uncommon for them to connect to this secret.
Overly explaining things might ruin the experience of the game for you. So I implore you to explore and uncover these sinister secrets yourself!
