The Tarnished in LOTR with Elden Ring

Redmane Castle's location was chosen near the Greyflood River on the eastern side of Minhiriath. Following the waterway south, one could reach Lond Daer harbor in less than two days.

This way, Lond Daer harbor, where the Misbegotten lived, would no longer be isolated and helpless.

If they truly encountered attacks they couldn't handle, Redmane Castle could provide swift support.

Similarly, if Redmane Castle came under attack, the Misbegotten of Lond Daer harbor could quickly provide assistance.

Though Tarnes didn't think Redmane Castle would need support if attacked...

Unless he later summoned Malenia the Valkyrie or Morgott the Grace-Given and they faced off against Radahn again.

But Tarnes certainly wouldn't let such a situation occur.

If anyone had been near where Tarnes decided to summon Redmane Castle, they would have seen a massive city weathered by the vicissitudes of war rising abruptly with golden light.

As the golden light faded, walls built of dark red sandstone stood upon the earth.

The walls were covered with lava-like cracks, golden-red light seeping from the fissures. Broken arrow towers and bronze cannons were frozen throughout the city, as if time had been paused.

Twelve battle banners faded to brown still fluttered fiercely atop the walls, the remaining lion emblems on their surfaces bearing scorch marks from flames.

The battlements bristled with broken lances, their shafts wound with dried ceremonial ribbons, as if one could still hear the roars and slaughter of warriors from that festival day.

Redmane Castle lay crouched like a slumbering lion, waiting for its master's return.

On Tarnes' side, with Redmane Castle successfully summoned to Minhiriath's soil, Starscourge General Radahn's name lit up as promised.

Tarnes immersed his mind within it, choosing without hesitation to summon Radahn.

In Stormveil's courtyard, the moment Tarnes confirmed summoning Radahn, the twin Erdtrees suddenly burst with blinding radiance, then erupted with purple light in the next breath.

Amethyst-colored strange light swam through the brilliant golden glow. Looking closely at those dancing purple rays, web-like spatial cracks floated at each light beam's edge.

As if countless transparent fangs were gnawing at reality's curtain, twisting light into broken kaleidoscopes, even the tree shadows cast on the ground were torn into fragmented ripples.

But ultimately gold overcame purple. The entangled golden-purple light condensed into a mountain-like humanoid form, finally landing before Tarnes.

The light faded, and Starscourge General Radahn appeared in Stormveil Castle's courtyard, his massive form blocking the light that had been illuminating Tarnes, casting him in shadow.

Tarnes stood quietly before Radahn, looking up at him without words.

The crushing pressure of shattered stars seeped from gaps in Radahn's heavy golden armor. Compared to Tarnes' form, Radahn's body seemed as towering as a mountain.

He gazed down at Tarnes with eyes like flowing molten gold, pupils burning with never-falling stars. His sword-like eyebrows swept into his temples, his fire-red hair was bound by golden rings, and his red lion helmet truly seemed like a roaring lion.

Radahn also silently watched him, arms crossed.

The two faced off like this for a long time, the air seeming to freeze between them.

After an unknown duration, until the sun set and moonlight first rose, when the Erdtree's radiance once again bathed them both, Radahn finally asked in a low voice: "How long do you plan to stand here with me? Summoning me..."

Wait, he can speak?

Surprise flashed in Tarnes' eyes as he blurted out: "You can communicate?"

Then he saw a speechless expression in Radahn's eyes, who sighed heavily: "Did you originally plan to summon a reason-lost madman?"

Tarnes coughed awkwardly: "Because I summoned the you from Redmane Castle, not the you revived by Miquella. So I assumed your sanity would still be trapped in madness due to scarlet rot's influence. I originally planned to summon you then have a fierce battle to use the Erdtree to suppress the scarlet rot in your body... but apparently that's unnecessary?"

Radahn stretched his body, his shoulder guards shifting as the golden lion armor rang brightly: "I don't understand what happened to you or what you experienced, but my current body is free of that troublesome scarlet rot. Much more comfortable indeed."

Then he looked up at the moon that maintained its color even under the Erdtree's radiance, saying: "Speaking of which, though my memories are somewhat hazy, during the summoning process, besides the Erdtree, I seemed to first encounter someone. It seems that person purged the scarlet rot from my body, then my consciousness appeared within this Erdtree's blessing to condense physical form."

"Then you stared at me with hostility, saying nothing, glaring at each other for hours."

Tarnes waved his hand: "The last part was completely unnecessary."

Radahn turned in the courtyard, looking at the Erdtree with his back to Tarnes, then turned back to ask gravely: "This Erdtree... I never expected you to acknowledge the Haligtree's existence. Just this point alone differs from the Lands Between. Nameless Tarnished, who defeated me multiple times, never fearing or yielding to my force, what drives you now to become Elden Lord and accept this mess?"

Tarnes replied without hesitation, his tone firm: "I became Elden Lord for the people of the Lands Between."

After hearing this, Radahn's expression remained unchanged: "That's what Mohg, that Blood Lord, told you before dying, wasn't it... You need not refute anything. I'm not denying your meaning. The path you practice, as long as you believe in it and walk it consistently, needs no explanation to others."

Tarnes shrugged: "You don't need to tell me. I know that already."

Then he looked at Radahn hesitantly, asking: "So do you still want to fight me?"

Radahn shook his head directly: "My memories have already shown me your skills need no elaboration, nor need you prove them to me again."

Summary: You've beaten me so many times and won. I'm not stupid.

Only then did Tarnes say: "This isn't the place to talk. Let's go to the lord's hall. Speaking of which, since you don't want to fight me again, why didn't you speak directly when first summoned?"

Radahn was silent for a moment: "At that time, a flood of memories suddenly rushed into my brain. No time to speak."

Tarnes: "…Alright... follow me."

So Radahn followed behind Tarnes, his massive form causing slight tremors with each step.

"This is Stormveil Castle, right? Has that coward Godrick already been summoned before me?" Radahn recognized the location from the buildings, asking Tarnes.

When mentioning "Godrick's" name, Tarnes could hear the disdain in Radahn's voice.

Then Tarnes remembered he seemed to have always forgotten that Stormveil Castle had another master named Godrick the Grafted.

Despite being a demigod like the others, Godrick was subconsciously overlooked by Tarnes. Truly pitiful.

After summoning Radahn's army, if sufficient golden grace remained, he'd summon Godrick too.

Regardless, Godrick was still a demigod in the Lands Between. Having him lead support forces should be manageable, right?

While thinking this, Tarnes replied: "No, Stormveil Castle's current master is a descendant of the Storm Lord lineage named Nepheli Loux, also the Erdtree's current deputy lord."

Radahn's face showed confusion. Clearly he hadn't heard this name.

Tarnes introduced concisely: "She's fought alongside me, facing First Elden Lord Godfrey's axe."

Radahn immediately understood her strength and couldn't help but praise: "Then she must be a very outstanding warrior indeed."

Along the way, many Storm Knights and maidservants noticed the situation with Tarnes, discussing it among themselves after the two left.

It was hard not to notice, given Radahn's massive form was like a small moving mountain.

"Am I seeing correctly? Is that small giant beside Lord Tarnes the General Radahn, called the strongest demigod in the Lands Between?"

"Red hair, golden lion armor, and that massive form. You guessed right, definitely General Radahn."

"Sigh, this makes things difficult."

"What's difficult? Why do you look disappointed?"

"Since Lord Tarnes summoned General Radahn, this expedition's army will definitely choose those Redmane guys."

Watching the patrolling soldiers and cleaning maids bow to them along the way, Radahn said: "You indeed occupy a very important place in their hearts."

Of course. In their eyes, I'm a walking, talking avatar of the Erdtree.

Tarnes made polite conversation, then entered the lord's hall.

At this time in the lord's hall, others had already left, returning to their posts.

Only Nepheli Loux and Kenneth Haight remained, as these two needed to discuss provisions-related matters.

"G-General Radahn... good evening. I truly didn't expect you to arrive here safely. Lord Tarnes really accomplished this. Truly the Erdtree's blessing." Kenneth Haight, seeing the massive figure behind Tarnes, immediately recovered his noble bearing after a brief surprise, greeting Radahn elegantly and politely.

Radahn's golden eyes looked over, nodding slightly to Kenneth Haight: "Ah, Mr. Kenneth Haight, I'm pleased to meet you again here. Are you still dedicated to getting demi-humans to work for you?"

Kenneth Haight nodded proudly: "Of course! General Radahn! Some demi-humans have also been summoned by Lord Tarnes, and facts prove they can indeed accomplish many things. Our previous views about demi-humans clearly had many errors."

Nepheli Loux interrupted Kenneth Haight's excited words: "Enough, we can discuss these things later. Tarnes bringing General Radahn here clearly indicates more important matters to explain."

Tarnes introduced: "This is Nepheli Loux I mentioned earlier."

Radahn nodded, glancing around the lord's hall and finding no seats suitable for his size, simply standing: "So why exactly did Tarnes summon me here? Is there some great enemy even he finds troublesome, or does he simply want to play house with Lands Between reunions?"

Nepheli Loux shook her head: "Neither. Let Tarnes explain it himself."

When Radahn's gaze turned to him, Tarnes pointed to the Middle-earth map spread on the council table: "Due to certain circumstances, our allies will soon face a war. Besides us, they're isolated and helpless. Therefore, we too must face a support operation. I summoned you precisely because I value your military command abilities. I hope you can lead your Redmane Legion to support our allies and win this war."

When Radahn saw the council table's map, his eyes blazed with light. He stepped forward and leaned over the table, hungrily memorizing the patterns on the map.

Before being a demigod, he was a general.

Radahn couldn't refuse the opportunity to achieve merit and make his name known in a new world.

So he asked Tarnes a series of questions: "Who is the enemy? What is their power source?"

Tarnes pointed to the Lonely Mountain's location on the map: "The enemy is a creature called 'Orcs,' individually weak in combat, similar to our auxiliary troops' fighting ability. But their numbers are extremely large, truly massive. Besides that, there's also a giant dragon that can fly around in the sky and breathe fire. I believe this dragon is the main trouble we'll face."

Radahn sneered: "A dragon? Is it a drake or an ancient dragon? It doesn't matter either way. Whether drake or ancient dragon, they'll have to lie down obediently before me."

Tarnes warned: "Neither. It's this world's dragon, approximately 140 meters long from what I know, with dragon flame that can easily melt steel."

Radahn nodded. No matter how much he verbally disdained dragons, he took them extremely seriously in his heart.

After all, that was a dragon, not some cat or dog to be slaughtered at will.

He said: "I've noted that. What else? How are those Orcs distributed, and what are their numbers? What are their weaknesses? What's the battlefield terrain like? Are there positions we can use to our combat advantage?"

"How are our soldiers' conditions? Do we have sufficient supplies and support?"

"What are the weather and environmental factors at the Lonely Mountain? Will they affect combat?"

"What are our strategic objectives? Help allies eliminate enemies, or occupy some key stronghold? If the former, do we first eliminate the enemy's main force or first cut off their supply lines?"

"Also, might other factions intervene? Friend or foe? How would they affect combat?"

"Of course, more importantly, if combat fails, what's our retreat plan? Soldiers following orders need not consider failure's consequences, but we commanders must think of this. I won't blindly assume we'll definitely achieve victory. Thinking toward the worst prevents many soldiers from dying in vain."

This barrage of questions made Tarnes feel his head had grown several sizes. He quickly said: "Stop, stop, wait. Let's take one question at a time. I'll explain slowly."