The Two Fingers in Elden Ring play a pivotal role in the game's lore, acting as emissaries of the enigmatic Greater Will, a cosmic force that exerts its influence over the world and the Golden Order. Though central to the overarching story, the Two Fingers are cryptic, often misunderstood, and have become symbols of both divine authority and cryptic silence. Their origins and intentions remain elusive, but their actions have a profound impact on the world of the Lands Between.

Role in the Golden Order

The Two Fingers are the envoys of the Greater Will, a mysterious force that presides over the Golden Order. They are the conduits through which the will of the Greater Will is communicated to the denizens of the Lands Between. In essence, the Two Fingers serve as the divine intermediaries, dictating the course of events and guiding the actions of those they deem worthy. Their mysterious presence is felt throughout the game, but their motivations and the full extent of their power remain largely obscured.

One of their primary functions is to choose an Empyrean a being of great power and importance whom they empower and guide. Each Empyrean is paired with their own set of Two Fingers, who serve to aid and sometimes control them. The Two Fingers are not just passive conduits of power; they have a tangible influence over the fate of the Empyreans, guiding their actions and ensuring that they remain aligned with the Greater Will's cosmic design.

The Two Fingers are also responsible for choosing the shadow-beasts that serve as protectors and enforcers of the Empyrean's will. These shadow-beasts serve as both guardians and remindersthey protect the Empyreans from external threats and keep them in check, ensuring that they do not stray from their designated roles.

The Withered Two Fingers

By the time of the player's journey in Elden Ring, the Two Fingers have become withered and weak, a far cry from their once-majestic stature. In their earlier days, they were more active, communicating with those who sought guidance and inspiration. Heroes would often come to the Roundtable Hold, the sanctum of the Elden Ring, to receive wisdom from the Two Fingers. However, this version of the Two Fingers is no longer present in the game. The Two Fingers in Elden Ring are senile, and their voices have all but disappeared.

The Tarnished, who are drawn to the Lands Between in search of their destinies, find the Two Fingers to be distant and unhelpful. The Two Fingers seem to harbor a growing disdain for the Tarnished, seeing them as intruders or even enemies. This shift in the Two Fingers' attitude has contributed to the rifts and conflicts between different factions in the game. Notably, Mohg, the Lord of Blood, and Rykard, the Lord of Blasphemy, have both come into conflict with the Two Fingers and the Golden Order, rejecting their influence and striking out on their own paths.

The Cipher Pata: A Weapon of the Two Fingers

The Two Fingers' once-pure words have now been twisted into weapons. The Cipher Pata, a unique weapon in the game, is one such example of how their power has been transformed. The Cipher Pata is an ancient artifact that was once a symbol of the Two Fingers' divine authority, used to communicate their will. Over time, however, the Cipher Pata has become a weapon of destruction, a shadow of its former self that can be wielded by the player.

This transformation represents the decay of the Two Fingers and their disconnection from their original purpose. What was once a tool of divine communication has become a tool of violence, signifying the corruption of the Golden Order and the loss of the Greater Will's pure intent. The Cipher Pata symbolizes not just the fall of the Two Fingers, but the larger disintegration of divine order within the world of Elden Ring.

The Two Fingers and the Great Runes

As envoys of the Greater Will, the Two Fingers hold the power to revive the Great Runes, the powerful artifacts tied to the Elden Ring. These Elden Ring Runes are critical to the restoration of the Elden Ring itself, as they are part of the puzzle that holds the world together. However, the Two Fingers' ability to perform this act of revival is weakened by their deterioration.

The Two Fingers' ultimate goal seems to be the restoration of the Elden Ring, but their inability to find a solution in time leads to their ultimate failure. As the story progresses, players will see the Two Fingers struggle, trying to communicate and understand how to clear the thorns surrounding the Erdtree the symbol of the Elden Ring's power. Despite their efforts, they are unable to find the answer soon enough, and they ultimately perish in fire, their bodies burned away as they fail to restore the Elden Ring. Given the context of the Two Fingers and their failure to restore the Golden Order, many Elden Ring items reflect the world's descent into chaos, as well as the player's ability to shape the future.