At launch, some gamers complained that Elden Ring was a graphically unimpressive game, citing games that looked more photorealistic to put down its art style. However, many more gamers came to the defense of Elden Ring, claiming that its art style is extremely unique and beautiful; the game is full of breathtaking landscapes and awe-inspiring views.
However, perhaps just as impressive as its landscapes are the game's NPCs, specifically the non-hostile ones. The diverse roster of characters one runs into on their journey through The Lands Between makes the journey all the more interesting and varied. For example, many players have made art of Elden Ring's Ranni, dedicating their works to one of their favorite characters from the game.
One of these memorable characters is the game's first merchant; found just past the daunting Elden Ring Tree Sentinel, Kale can be found in the ruins of a church that provides a safe haven from the Tree Sentinel and other nearby enemies. Along with his donkey and his campfire, the merchant is a warm, comforting presence when compared to the rampaging golden boss and the scathing sarcasm of Varre. Recently, an Elden Ring player decided to put their artistry to the test, creating an incredible art piece featuring Kale and his donkey.
Reddit user Groomgrim created the piece and posted it to the site. Besides the background, which features what looks to be Elden Ring's Stormveil Castle, the piece is dedicated almost entirely to Kale and his donkey. The level of detail in the piece is very high, showing off many small details that help to bring the piece together, such as Kale's wares laid out in front of him. The fire serves as a welcoming contrast to the dark background of the picture, as does Kale himself.
Many players took to calling Kale Santa due to his getup as well as his function; he is a cheery-looking fellow who seems entirely out of place with the surrounding dangerous wilderness, offering a reprieve from violence as well as gifts (for a price, of course). Apparently, the merchants of Elden Ring had a darker storyline originally, and were tied to the Frenzied Flame ending of the game; frankly, Kale fits better as Santa than as a potential Elden Lord.
However, it would be incredibly interesting to see what Kale could have been; while the madness questline seems quite out of place for the merchants, perhaps it would've also fleshed out their backstory. Conversely, it probably made Kale evil, and considering how loved of a character he is currently, perhaps it is best for the community that the storyline never reached the final game. Conversely, a Groomgrim piece with Kale as the Lord of Frenzied Flame would be nothing short of incredible; here's to hoping.
Elden Ring is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.