Half-Wolf Blaidd

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“	Let's give them a show to remember, eh. Just don't you go dying on me. For Ranni's sake too.	„
	~ Blaidd, the Half-Wolf, participating Radahn festival

Blaidd, the Half-Wolf Man (Japanese: 半狼のブライヴ (Hanrō no Buraivu)) is the supporting non-player character in Elden Ring. He was a Shadowbound beast who is a loyal bodyguard to Ranni the Witch. He was actually created by The Two Fingers not only as her bodyguard, but also her assassin throughout Ranni's questline, if Ranni follows the path of an Empyrian defying The Greater Will.

Ensemble Dark Horse
Full Name	Blaidd
Alias	Blaidd the Wolf-Man Half-Wolf Blaidd Blaidd the Half-Wolf Baleful Shadow (Possibly)
Origin	Elden Ring
Powers/Skills	Greatsword Proficiency Wolf-Man Physique
Family	The Two Fingers (Creator) Rennala, Queen of the Full-Moon (Step-mother) Lunar Princess Ranni (Step-daughter)
Allies	War Counselor Iji Merchant Kale The Tarnished
Enemies	The Tarnished (Determinant) Bloodhound Knight Darriwil Preceptor Seluvis Starscourge Radahn (Nominal Enemy)
Goals	Aiding and Protecting Ranni Kill The Tarnished (Depending on the progress)
Why Do People Love The Character?	His loyalty with Ranni and Rennala, the latter appointed him as her stepbrother and the bodyguard. He also develops friendship with The Tarnished and Merchant Kale. He is very aware of Preceptor Seluvis because of how nasty bastard he is, despite being one of Ranni's team. His revelations of being created by The Two Fingers as her bodyguard and her assassin conflicts his loyalty, driving him into insanity. Tragically, the Tarnished had to kill him. He's a formidable enemy as Baleful Shadow.
Type of Ensemble Dark Horse	Tragic Bodyguard

He's voiced by Scott Arthur.

What Makes Him Ensemble Dark Horse?

• Continuing the Fromsoftware's tradition of Guts expies since Knight Artorias, Blaidd is a wolf-man knight in furred cape, wielding a greatsword, and coexists with another Guts expy who was a major boss, Maliketh the Black Blade, who is loyal to Queen Marika. Additionally, his close association with Ranni brings the fanbase about Guts & Schierke.
  • Because of being a humanoid wolf-man, Blaidd (Along with Maliketh) won the hearts of the Furry Fanbase. Scott Arthur, Blaidd's VA also reacts to the Elden Ring Tweets from the fanbase of how they're have a thirst for him and acknowledges Blaidd the DILF.
  • Interestingly, he also broke the trend of Guts expy for being not a major boss but npc (also mini boss if Blaidd possibly ressurected as Baleful Shadow).
• He may be a menacing wolf-man knight, but he has hidden heart of gold with genuinely undying loyalty. Audience adores his close relations with Ranni as her stepbrother since they're childhood friends. He also develops friendship with Merchant Kale and War Counselor Iji.
  • However, as for his enemies, Blaidd has a vendetta against Darriwil for his treachery and he's very aware of Preceptor Seluvis because of his perverted nature and his obnoxious manner towards others. 
  • Audience loves the heartwarming odd-friendship with him and Merchant Kalé.
• Blaidd can assist The Tarnished to fight Bloodhound Knight Darriwil and participate Radahn festival to fight Starscourge Radahn, as summonable npc. It also proves that he was a very competent ally, even when resurrected as Baleful Shadow, he's much stronger than Blaidd in-life because of the royal greatsword imbued with Destined Death, an unobtainable variant.
• Tragically, the revelations of him being created by The Two Fingers not only as Ranni's bodyguard, but also her assassin if she defies The Two Fingers makes his loyalty conflicting between the Two Fingers and Ranni (& also Rennala), driving him insane as a result. War Counselor Iji had to imprison him in evergaol out of fear of he would kill Ranni when she went path of Empyrian. Iji, knowing that Blaidd doesn't take his betrayal well, hopes to accept his apology to him before being overwhelmed by the Black Knife Assassins.
  • It's highly implied that The Two Fingers have cursed him before his death, as the encounter of the Baleful Shadow, an enemy Shadowbound beast happens when Ranni's questline is almost complete, it's likely Blaidd resurrected as one and the last of Baleful Shadow. 
• When the Tarnished frees Blaidd from Evergaol, the next encounter has him manage kill the Black Knife Assassins slightly untouched since they're in his way. You'll find him surrounded by the bodies of the Black Knife squadron, near the end of Ranni's questline. 
• Players having forced to kill the helpful and loyal Blaidd (as Baleful Shadow, whether Baleful Shadow and him were counted as same character) after the Two-FIngers drove him insane led to an emotional gut punch moment.
• Ironically, despite his close relations with ice witch Ranni and having his weapon enhanced with ice, Blaidd himself dislikes cold, and his long-furred cape kept him warm.
• The Manga adaptation of Blaidd has a comic relief element for having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and No-Sense of direction. 
• He was ranked 3rd in Famitsu Popularity Poll after Alexander and Ranni in the most popular NPC of Elden Ring.

Trivia

• In Welsh, Blaidd's name means "Wolf".
• Blaidd, Alexander Warrior Jar, Rya the Scout, White Mask Varre, Blackguard Big Boggart, Dung Eater, Millicent, Sorceress Sellen, and Cleanrot Knight Finlay are known Elden Ring Ensemble Dark Horses in the base game.