[The camera continues to pan, showing the player character standing in the midst of the ruined landscape]
The intro script introduces players to a world shrouded in mystery, where the Erdtree, a massive tree said to be the source of life, stands tall. The player is greeted by Melina, a mysterious figure who guides them on their journey. The script expertly hints at the world's lore, including the Shattering, a catastrophic event that led to the downfall of the world. elden ring intro script
This establishes the player's identity. The Tarnished are a group of exiles who were stripped of the "Grace" (the light of the Erdtree) and banished. However, with the Ring broken and order lost, the grace has called them back from death. [The camera continues to pan, showing the player
The war reached a stalemate. The Demigods are still alive (mostly), but they have retreated to their strongholds, hoarding their power. The world is stagnant. This establishes the player's identity
This creates a paradox in the timeline. The "Shattering" refers both to the breaking of the Ring and the war that followed. The cinematic clarifies that the physical conflict was born from the metaphysical break. This war destroyed the landscape and left the Lands Between in ruins.
Due to the cinematic’s heavy reverb, many players mishear the script. Here are the top three corrections: