Elden Ring, like many Souls video games earlier than it, could be a little coy in terms of offering you with necessary info. Working example, you’ve most likely observed a peculiar icon under your well being, magic, and stamina bars depicting a crimson sq. with a down arrow. “The place the heck did that come from?” chances are you’ll be asking your self, to which I reply, “Have you ever hugged any unusual ladies currently?”
Upon reaching a sure level in Elden Ring’s early recreation—it 100% happens after defeating the primary main boss, Margit the Fell Omen, however some of us are reporting it occurring beforehand as properly—you’ll be invited to the Roundtable Maintain. This hub space features a ton of facilities, like retailers and a blacksmith who improves your gear greater than you may by yourself, however essentially the most fascinating NPC is a girl named Fia, launched within the recreation’s intense intro as “the Deathbed Companion.”
At first, it doesn’t appear to be Fia does an entire lot. She affords to carry you, a uncommon second of heat within the Souls style, and supplies you with Baldachin’s Blessing, a novel merchandise that will increase poise at the price of a few of your magical power, earlier than sending you again in your means. The entire scene, whereas touching, comes and goes and not using a second thought. However because it seems, there’s a value to pay for proving to Varré as soon as and for all that you simply’re not as maidenless as he thinks.
Assume again to the primary time Fia asks to carry you. Keep in mind the half about sharing a few of your “lifely vigour” and “stout-hardedness” in trade for her embrace? That wasn’t only a flowery little bit of dialogue on her half: Her hug actually decreases your most HP by 5%, a debuff indicated by the mysterious crimson sq. icon I discussed earlier than. It might not appear to be quite a bit, however consider me, you’ll be wishing you had that 5% again on the tail-end of a troublesome boss combat regardless of how helpful the blessing she offers you in return occurs to be.
Luckily, regaining that misplaced HP is so simple as utilizing the Baldachin’s Blessing in your stock.
Is Fia’s health-sapping, pseudo-sexually transmitted illness a clue to the Deathbed Companion hiding one thing extra sinister additional into Elden Ring’s marketing campaign? I can’t say for now, however over a decade of Souls expertise has taught me that you would be able to’t belief everybody you meet in these video games. I definitely wouldn’t put it previous FromSoftware to make use of one thing as good as somebody providing free hugs on the finish of the world to facilitate some kind of vile plot twist.
