Part of what make's From Software games so attractive to players is their incredibly rich lore. Dozens of items, ranging from consumables to equipment to spells, each have their own written descriptions often hiding hugely consequential revelations found nowhere else in the game. Elden Ring is no different. Once recently virally popular example from Elden Ring helps explain a pivotal detail in the game's backstory revolving around the fight between Malenia and Radahn.
Fair warning, the following delve into Elden Ring's lore is going to be rife with spoilers. Since FromSoftware shares very little story or lore upfront, every detail is effectively a spoiler. As most Elden Ring players know, a cinematic trailer revealed that Malenia and Radahn fought each other in a culmination of the war known as The Shattering. This battle had no victor, nor a loser, though it did unleash the Scarlet Rot that scarred Caelid with poison. What may not have been apparent, however, is that both Malenia and Radahn survived this Battle of Aeonia.
Elden Ring players do discover what's become of both Malenia and Radahn as part of the game's story. Neither survived the fight unscathed, to say the least. One detail that's left ambiguous, however, is how Malenia survived. This has now been solved, care of the description on one of Elden Ring's Spirit Ashes. The ash for Cleanrot Knight Finlay explains that she, in an "unimaginable act of heroism," survived the Battle of Aeonia and personally carried the slumbering Malenia away.
The description on Cleanrot Knight Finlay's ash goes on to say that she fended off many foes as she retreated with Malenia. She then took Malenia to the Haligtree, a location with deep association to Malenia's sibling Miquella. There's no explanation as to why Finlay took Malenia here, though it can be assumed to have been a safe place for her or even a place of healing.
As revealed in the story, Malenia is implied to have remained at the Haligtree slumbering up until the player discovers them. Malenia was said to be waiting for the return of Miquella, who has their own awful fate for players to discover. As for Finlay, she's become Spirit Ashes, which can be found within the Haligtree.
Ultimately, Cleanrot Knight Finlay's Spirit Ashes provides a small but important detail within Elden Ring's lore. It helps establish what's happened to Malenia, a key character in Elden Ring's story, as well as the nature of her Cleanrot Knights and the aftermath of the Battle of Aeonia. It's just a small but wonderful glimpse into what players love about Elden Ring.
Elden Ring is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.