The Tarnished follows the trail of Miquella, one of Marika's demigod children, who was seemingly abducted by Mohg, the brother of Morgott the Grace-Given. After slaying the demigod Radahn and subsequently killing Mohg in his lair, they discover that Miquella's spirit abandoned his body to pass into an area called the Land of Shadow. Entering the realm through Miquella's corpse, the Tarnished continues to track him by locating abandoned aspects of him scattered throughout the land. Optionally, the Tarnished can interact with Miquella's followers, who pursued their master: Leda, one of Miquella's knights; Dane, a monk who silently serves Miquella; Freyja, a soldier of Radahn; Hornsent, a Land of Shadow native; Thiollier, a worshipper of Miquella's female alter-ego, St. Trina; Sir Ansbach, a former follower of Mohg; and Moore, an armored merchant infected with a disease called the Scarlet Rot.
Miquella's trail leads the Tarnished to the Gate of Divinity, but they find it locked behind magical thorns, forcing them to confront and kill Messmer to burn them away using his power. Upon nearing the Gate, they are confronted by Miquella's followers, who had turned on each other after his affection-compelling charm came undone, with the survivors dependent on the Tarnished's choices. Confronting Miquella, it is revealed that he orchestrated his own abduction as a means to enter the Land of Shadow, and later used Mohg's corpse to revive Radahn as his ally and consort. Miquella attempts a ritual to become a god, though the Tarnished duels and kills Miquella and Radahn, thwarting the rite.
