Early into Elden Ring, the Maiden gives players the ability to travel to the Roundtable Hold. At the center is a large site of grace and a gathering place for the other Tarnished returning to the Lands Between. There is also the Two Fingers, here to guide those on their journey and commune with the Greater Will.
Later in the game, when exploring the capital, players find an identical Roundtable Hold, empty and without the large site of grace. It is clear that while these locations are incredibly similar, they are not the same.
Guiding The Tarnished
Before the events of the Shattering, the Tarnished were exiled from the Lands Between. After the stalemate between the demigods, the Greater Will blessed the Tarnished to return to the land in order to cause a change in the stagnating world. The Sites of Grace and the guidance they give are all provided by the Greater Will to help the tarnished on their quest.
The Greater Will then replicated the original Roundtable Hold, creating a new copy outside the regular world in order to help the Tarnished. The massive Site of Grace in the center and the Two Fingers show that this place is heavily connected to the Greater Will and was created to help and protect the Tarnished. This connection to the Greater Will can further be seen after the Tarnished burns the Erdtree, as it also burns the Roundtable Hold.
The Two Fingers is also located here in the new Roundtable Hold. The Two Fingers is able to commune with the Greater Will and be a direct connection between Greater Will and the Tarnished it has called back to the land. As the new Roundtable Hold is outside the regular world, this will further protect the Two Fingers from the outer gods who may be working against the Greater Will.
The Old Roundtable Hold
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The old Roundtable Hold is located in the capital city of the Lands Between. The Golden Order established the Old Roundtable under the first Elden Lord. The Golden Order aimed to reinforce the Greater Wills’ hold on the Lands Between and follow the guidance given by the Two Fingers.
After the Shattering, the Golden Order was decimated, and the Old Roundtable was destroyed. The Shattering hurt the Greater Will’s control through the now lack of the Golden Order’s power and influence. The Greater Will saw this and aimed to reestablish its influence on the Lands Between, protecting its followers simultaneously. The new Roundtable Hold was placed in another world to protect its inhabitants, the Two Fingers, and the Greater Wills’ influence on the world.
Inhabitants
Within the new Roundtable Hold, there are many NPCs to help the Tarnished, along with other Tarnished. Of the other Tarnished, they aim to become Elden Lord, being given the same quest from the Greater Will. The other inhabitants of the Roundtable Hold are those able to help the Tarnished, like Blacksmith Hewg. Hewg claims he is there paying off a debt, to who is unclear.
Hewg’s presence is a necessity for a Tarnished trying to become Elden Lord and represents another way the Greater Will created this place to help the Tarnished on their journey. Enia is also found in the Roundtable Hold and is a finger reader. While the Two Fingers don’t speak, Enia is able to interpret their messages to the Tarnished and, by extension, the messages of the Greater Will.
