FromSoftware games, even with George R. R. Martin’s worldbuilding elements inElden Ring, have a lot of similar devices. This FromSoftware “formula” though is so nuanced that these connections are more often appreciated than not. For example,most Soulsborne gameshave some emphasis placed on fire, and all of itsSoulsgames take place in worlds that are past their prime.
Some of this, however, boils down to character building and story arcs too. No two characters, no matter how similar they are, are 1:1, but when looking at some ofBloodborneandElden Ring’s characters, a number of similarities can be drawn. One example isBloodborne’s Iosefka, the first and perhaps only friendly face the Hunter “meets” in the Waking World, andElden Ring’s fia, who offers to hold the Tarnished after making it to Roundtable Hold.
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Both characters are met super early in the game. In fact,Bloodborne’s Iosefka is first “met” behind a door in Iosefka’s Clinic—she won’t come out but she will wish the hunter well and provide them with a blood vial. She is skittish, but sweet with how she addresses the player; meanwhile, Fia can be met after Melina takes the player to Roundtable Hold. Her story will eventually progress, but after the hardship required to get to the Roundtable, someone offering to hold the player is a sweet gesture.
Elden Ring’s Fia and Bloodborne’s Iosefka: Their Blessings Are Not What They Seem
Unfortunately, the early blessings bestowed by these characters are not exactly what they seem. Fia holding the player actually puts adebuff on theElden Ringplayer, and because the game is not so forthcoming with what these things mean, players can go a serious chunk of the game without realizing it. It’s not inherently malicious on Fia’s end, instead tying back to her lore as a deathbed companion, but it shows the hug wasn’t out of the goodness of her heart (at least completely) either.
Meanwhile, players will eventually be able to send NPCs to Iosefka’s Clinic to keep them safe. While theinhabitants of Yharnamare not exactly welcoming of the player, it feels right to send players to her clinic; after all, she is so sweet and caring at first. If something feels off with Iosefka at this point, the player’s intuition will be right, as “Iosefka” will be experimenting on these characters.
Elden Ring’s Fia and Bloodborne’s Iosefka: A Betrayal (of Sorts)…
As players advanceFia’s questline inElden Ring, their actions will result in D’s death upon which Fia will make a decree against the player and The Roundtable Hold. “I am Fia, Deathbed Companion. Hark, Roundtable. Disturb not the Death of Godwyn the Exalted. We, who humbly live in Death…live in waiting, to one day welcome our Lord.” Those Who Live in Death are often hunted, maligned, and mistreated, and she seeks to end their persecution. Depending on the type of playthrough someone is aiming for, this is a betrayal and they will be able to kill her at Deeproot Depths.
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Or they can side with her, tell her they just want to be held again, and aid her in her quest to revive Godwyn, to bring respect and honor to Those Who Live in Death. The player can become theirElden Lord.
Meanwhile, when players enter Iosefka’s Clinic later on, they will discover her experiments on everyone they sent her way. It’s an absolute betrayal of the player’s intent to save as many folk in Yharnam as possible; depending on how they approach the situation, Iosefka will attack and she can die then and there. However, this isn’t a full betrayal. Whereas players can choose to side withFia inElden Ring, they’ll learn inBloodbornethat this isn’t the real Iosefka but an imposter. Thus, it is not Iosefka who is betraying the player, but an imposter using her name.
Bloodborne’s Iosefka and Elden Ring’s Fia Lives End Related to a Pregnancy
And then the end of their stories come to a similar end. With Iosefka, players will have to enter the Clinic near the end of the game and find her (the imposter, that is) bent over in pain. She is clearly pregnant, and ifBloodborneplayers kill her, they’ll get a piece of an umbilical cord. This will enable the player to defeat theMoon Presence and become a Great One—Gods of this world.
Fia, on the other hand, will sleep with Godwyn and bear a rune—players will need to enter the “Dream” anddefeat Lichdragon Fortissax, helping Fia conceive the Mending Rune of the Death Prince. This will allow players to fix the Elden Ring and protect Those Who Live in Death, becoming their Elden Lord. Fia and Iosefka play vital and similar roles throughout these stories and bring both games—BloodborneandElden Ring—to a satisfying end.
Elden Ringis available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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