Summary
I’ve always been enamored byElden Ring’s NPCs. There’s just something magical about the way the game approaches its characters: from Melina’s quiet rage, to Ranni’s smirking mystique, to Alexander’s triumphant courage, each of them portrays an admirable trait that begs countless questions, and always leaves me looking forward to the next encounter.Shadow of the Erdtreeis no exception, and I was immediately endeared toLeda’s devotion,Thiollier’s pathos, and Moore’s obsession. NPCs are a major part ofthe FromSoft Soulsborne formula. Their personable, and often funny, demeanors bring a lot of humanity to the despairing worlds they inhabit.
But sometimes, a particular NPC becomes an icon simply because players find them relatable. Think of the joy Solaire takes in defeating hardy foes alongisde his allies, or Siegmeyer’s propensity for getting into trouble.Shadow of the Erdtreehas a similar player surrogate, but his journey is unlike any other. It’s engrossing, touching, even inspiring, but most importantly, it’s incredibly relevant to my own, and countless other players', experience withElden Ring’s DLC.
We Can All Relate To Elden Ring’s Igon
Igon Suffers From Shadow Of The Erdtree’s Difficulty, Too
As I wandered the Land of Shadow, exploring the first chunk ofElden Ring’s DLC mapbefore finally launching my invasion of Castle Ensis,I began to hear a heart-rending wail of pain. Despite my curiosity, I was hesitant to approach, imagining that whatever beast caused these cries wasn’t far off, and that, if I stopped to aid this ailing traveler, I would become its next target. But I mustered my courage (and rested at the nearby Site of Grace) before approaching. There, I metIgon.
It was hard to tell whether Igon was aware of my presence, or whether he was merely continuing his lament as he railed against someone named Bayle, cursing his name and the ceaseless pain he’d caused. But, in true Soulsborne fashion, I listened to his spiel, exhausted his dialogue, and was about to move on, when I noticed countless messages sprouting up from the ground around him. I read them all: “seems familiar… Ahh, Elden Ring,” and “Tarnished ahead.” I immediately understood that, intentionally or not,Igon parallels theElden Ringplayer- not just the Tarnished, but the one holding the controller, you and I.
It’s no secret that, like Igon, manyplayers have been destroyed byElden Ring’s DLC. Many claim it’s just too difficult, even subjecting its Steam page to a campaign of review bombing. But still,what unitesElden Ringplayers is our love of a challenge. Like Igon, we may find ourselves battered, bruised, yet all but defeated: just as Igon rises again to throw himself at Bayle, we’ll try, try again.
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Triumph Over Bayle
I’ve also been struggling withElden Ring’s DLC. But funnily enough, it’s notRellanaorMessmerwho haunts my dreams:it’s a familiar enemy from the base game, the Ulcerated Tree Spirits. I hate those things with a passion. I’ve probably beaten at least five of them (though it feels like more), but I’ve just never gotten used to their attack patterns. The way they slam their heads down on the ground, then coat the battlefield with the status effect du jour - it’s gotten to the point that, when I see one, I turn around and walk the other way. It’s just not worth the runes, especially the one you have to fight in the Belurat poison swamp.
I was putting off that fight when I first found Igon, and he gave me the perfect excuse to continue in another direction. I shortly made my way to Dragon’s Pit, and, once I clapped eyes on the terrible majesty of Jagged Peak, decided to explore that region instead.I came upon Igon again, who seemed a bit calmer as he asked me to summon himin the fight against Bayle. And before long, I found myself outside a fog gate.
You can only access Jagged Peak by taking a leap of faith down the hole at the bottom of Dragon’s Pit.
Bayle was neither the hardest nor the most important enemy inShadow of the Erdtree, although to Igon, he was clearly both. Generally, my strategy when summoning NPCs is to let them control one side of the battlefield while I strike at the enemy from behind. But not with Igon. Maybe it was just how big Bayle is, or maybe it was something more meaningful, but as we fought the dread dragon, I noticed that Igon seemed to stick closely by my side.It was the first time I felt genuinely united with a summoned NPC, not just married of convenience. No matter how many times he’d been trounced by Bayle, I knew we could overcome anything together.
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It took a few tries, but we finally felled Bayle. The sound of the dragon’s final clap of thunder, paired with Igon’s roar of victory, activated a familiar sense of glee deep within me. I grinned from ear to ear as Igon gloated over his foe’s dead body: “You shall haunt me no longer!” I realized thathe was experiencing the same overwhelming satisfaction as I do when I finally beat a difficult boss. Unwavering courage, sustained effort, and jolly cooperation had finally paid off.
Completing this quest line grants you theHeart of Bayle, which can be exchanged for draconic power at the Grand Altar of Dragon Communion. A familiar-looking body can also be found outside the arena and looted forIgon’s Armorset.
Igon’s final triumph was one of the greatest emotional highs I’d ever experienced inElden Ring. After I’d claimed the spoils, I had to sit with it for a while as my heart rate fell, and I looked back on the experience. I realized there was only one way to chase the dragon as I mounted Torrent and headed for Belurat. Once again,I descended into the poison swamp and steeled myself against the Ulcerated Tree Spirit. I’d like to tell you I beat it on the first try, but of course I didn’t. It took me several tries and countlessNeutralizing Bolusesbut, at long last, I won. For a moment, I felt just as Igon must have when we beat Bayle together. Proud, overjoyed - but most of all, relieved.
As more and more players become part and parcel of his story, Igon has gradually become a mascot for theShadow of the Erdtreeplayer. He’s emblematic of theElden Ringexperience, and a Soulsborne veteran through and through: his defeat is our defeat, his joy is our joy. His eventual victory is nothing short of inspiring, and if the messages that surround his every appearance are any indication, the community has accepted him as one of our own. As for me personally, I know I’ll think of Igon every time I slay a difficult boss inElden Ring.
Elden Ring
Elden Ring is a popular game released by From Software, creators of games such as Armored Core, Dark Souls, and Bloodborne. Players assume the role of a Tarnished, a being once exiled to the Lands Between and has returned to repair the Elden Ring after the events of “The Shattering.” “The Shattering” occurred when the offspring of Queen Marika battled to claim the shards of the Elden Ring, known as Great Runes. Their war has brought lawlessness, destruction, and chaos to the land, and the player will challenge them with the assistance of a Maiden known as Melina as they travel towards the great Erd Tree to face their destiny and to become the one true Elden Lord. Players can tackle the game how they choose and can adventure across realms as they build their character how they want - be it a powerful magic caster or a brutal swordsman - they will have complete control over their build.
