Metalmark (Caria castalia), family Riodinidae, Napo, Ecuador

photograph by Catalina Tong

Late Roman stone mosaic from the Greek city of Halicarnassus, Caria (modern Bodrum, Turkey), dated 4th century AD, now in the British Museum. A coloured laurel wreath encloses a Greek inscription with the following words:

ΥΓΙΑ "Health" ΖΟΗ "Life" ΧΑΡΑ "Joy" ΕΙΡΗΝΗ "Peace" ΕΥΘΥΜΙΑ "Happiness" ΕΛΠΙϹ "Hope"

🏛️: © The Trustees of the British Museum

Sadie: Relax, just act mature. She likes that.

Carter: Mature. Got it.

*Later, on a date*

Zia: So what do you like to do for fun?

Carter, in a deep voice: Taxes.

Something I’ve appreciated about Elden Ring is it’s use of less prominently heard UK regional accents in its English dub.

Ranni and Iji sounding Welsh makes me headcanon that the Carian accent in general is Welsh. I’d love to hear Radahn’s singing voice.

Godrick and Godfrey sound very West Country and it makes me hope that Godwyn sounded like a farmer.

And of course, the icing on the cake, Brummy Dung Eater which is complete perfection. Rodericka also has a midlands accent so I wonder if they come from similar locations originally?

Hey just like a lil teeny tiny Elden Ring Detail™️ I noticed on my second go around -

When Rani slays her two fingers and discorporates, all of her closest allies are attacked by Black Knives - you know, the VERY SAME group of assassins SHE armed and commissioned to help slay two demigods. When Blaidd dies by our hand, Warmaster Iji hints really strongly at the fact that he would be joining Blaidd soon.

I think my first time around I was so blindly captivated by Rani that I never thought to question if she truly would bear any cost to bring about her order. Maybe she really did want all loose ends to be tied, maybe she wanted to leave no trace behind of those who served her, who knew her deepest secrets. I mean I love that all interpretations can be argued for, depending on how you HC Rani. My first time around as a Sorceress I swore immediate fealty to Caria but this time around as a Dragon Hunting Mercenary… I’m less inclined to trust the machinations of those foul sorcerers… can’t trust mages ever

Fascinating, isn't it? That the Golden Order was pliable enough to absorb practices that contradicted itself in the past.

- Sorcerer Rogier

..

Lion statue of Mausoleum at Halikarnassos

* Halikarnassos, Caria

* About 350 BCE

* British Museum

London, July 2022

Character Bio: Rennala of the Full Moon

Rennala is the queen of the House of Caria and governor of the Academy of Raya Lucaria. She is the first wife of Radagon and the mother of Rykard, Radahn, and Ranni.

“The young astrologer gazed at the night sky as she walked. She had always chased the stars every step of her journey. Then she met the full moon — and, in time, the astrologer became a queen.” - Stargazer Heirloom

Rennala was once an astrologer, most likely living in the Mountaintops of the Giants. As an astrologer, she studied the movements of the stars, but upon encountering the full moon, Rennala gained power that would allow her to “bewitch the academy (Rennala’s Full Moon). 

“In her youth, Rennala was a prominent champion who charmed the academy with her lunar magic, becoming its master. She also led the Glintstone Knights and established the house of Caria as royalty.” - Remembrance of the Full Moon Queen

The influence of Rennala’s lunar magic in the Academy can be found in the Lazuli Conspectus, which specializes in Carian sorceries and sees “the moon as equal to the stars” (Lazuli Robe). Carian sorceries are often offensive and summon magic swords to attack enemies. These sorceries were used by the Glintstone Knights that Rennala led. Rennala’s knights were extremely effective in battle, and she led them in both of the Liurnian Wars that were fought against the forces of the Erdtree. Then, at the end of the Second Liurnian War, Rennala married Radagon, who had led the golden host against her. At the Church of Vows, Radagon “repented his territorial aggressions” (Miriel) and peace was made through this marriage.

Radagon and Rennala had three children together: Rykard, Radahn, and Ranni. Each of them inherited their father’s red hair, and Rykard and Radahn both displayed this symbol of their lineage proudly on the armor of their knights. During this time, Radagon studied sorceries and forced the royal preceptors to swear themselves to secrecy regarding all of their matters.

“When Rennala, head of both the Academy of Raya Lucaria and the Carian royal family, lost her husband Radagon, her heart went along with him. And then, those at the academy realized. That Rennala was no champion, after all.“ - Queen’s Crescent Crown

After Godfrey was exiled from the Lands Between, Radagon left Rennala to return to Leyndell and marry Marika, becoming King Consort and Elden Lord. He left Rennala with an amber egg, which contains the Great Rune of the Unborn. Rennala was heartbroken when Radagon left and she lost her mind in her grief. It was at this point that the Academy rebeled against the Carians and Rennala was locked away in the Grand Library. Rennala barely seems to notice this, as she is too focused on her amber egg, through which “she devotes herself to it through forbidden rite; the grim art of reincarnation” (Miriel), rebirthing juvenile scholars over and over again. Those who are reborn, however, are imperfect. They don’t appear to have fully-formed legs and they are childlike without much of a mind.

Although she may have once been a champion, Rennala is now broken. It is unclear if she even knows she is in possession of a Great Rune, or if she understands what is happening outside of the walls of the Academy.

Gold Sewing Needle

Sewing needle made of gold. Unique item made to alter demigod attire.

One of the tools brought by Radagon when he entered into marriage with Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon, and joined the Carian line.

Green Mantle (Caria mantinea lampeto), family Riodinidae, Caranavi, Bolivia

photograph by Pamela Sai

Because of reasons I googled “Old German Gilrs’ names”

and I stumbled across “Rena”

Short form of “Renate”, and can translate to “Reborn one”

LOOKING AT YOU, RENNALA WITH YOUR REBIRTHING EGG

Sadie: that shirt looks good on you

Zia: thanks

Sadie: but it would look better on Carter’s floor

Zia: are you flirting with me for him?

Sadie: someone has to help

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

Hecate: Triple-Bodied Greek Goddess of Witchcraft and Keeper of Keys | Ancient Origins

Hecate: Triple-Bodied Greek Goddess of Witchcraft and Keeper of Keys | Ancient Origins

https://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends-europe/hecate-0010707

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