Is Sellen a Puppet in Elden Ring? Unraveling the Sorceress’s Fate
The question of whether Sorceress Sellen is a literal puppet in Elden Ring is complex. While she doesn’t start the game as a physical puppet controlled by external forces, her ultimate fate and the transformations she undergoes certainly blur the line. By the end of her questline, Sellen transforms into a grotesque cluster of Glintstone heads, effectively becoming a grotesque, immobile figure. While not a puppet in the traditional sense of strings and a puppeteer, she is undeniably manipulated by ambition, ancient magic, and perhaps even the influence of others, ultimately losing her original form and agency. This makes her a tragic figure, whose pursuit of knowledge leads to a horrifying and irreversible transformation, leaving players to question the true cost of power in the Lands Between.
Sellen’s Questline: A Descent into the Arcane
Understanding Sellen’s situation requires a deep dive into her convoluted questline. The Tarnished first encounters Master Sellen imprisoned in the Waypoint Ruins in Limgrave. She is a powerful, albeit disgraced, sorceress shunned by the Raya Lucarian Academy. From this initial meeting, the Tarnished is tasked with finding and assisting Sellen in her forbidden studies.
Finding Sellen’s True Body
The initial Sellen encountered is merely a projection. Her true body, imprisoned by the Academy, is hidden deep beneath the Witchbane Ruins in the Weeping Peninsula. Unlocking her seal requires the aid of another sorcerer, Lusat, locked away in the Sellia Hideaway. Freeing her true body reveals the depth of the Academy’s fear and contempt for her dangerous sorceries.
The Exile: Lusat and Azur
Sellen tasked the Tarnished to seek out two primeval current sorcerers Lusat and Azur. Master Lusat and Master Azur were both ostracized for their unconventional, and arguably dangerous, pursuit of knowledge. They represent the extreme lengths to which sorcerers will go in the pursuit of understanding the arcane arts. Finding them and learning their powerful sorceries further underscores the theme of forbidden knowledge and its perilous consequences.
The Choice: Witch-Hunter Jerren or Sorceress Sellen?
The culmination of Sellen’s questline forces the Tarnished to make a critical choice. Will you side with Witch-Hunter Jerren, who seeks to end Sellen’s research and protect the Academy from her perceived threat? Or will you defend Sellen, allowing her to claim her rightful place as head of the Academy?
Choosing Jerren leads to Sellen’s demise. He confronts and defeats her, ending her ambitions and restoring order (of sorts) to the Academy. Choosing to side with Sellen and defeat Jerren allows her to take control of the Academy, but it comes at a horrifying cost.
The Ball of Faces: The Tragic End
After siding with Sellen and reloading the Academy, players will discover Sellen transformed into a grotesque ball of Glintstone heads in the Raya Lucarian Grand Library. This horrific transformation is the result of her hubris, her reckless pursuit of power, and potentially the influence of the primeval current, or perhaps even meddling from external forces like Rennala.
What caused this transformation?
The exact cause of Sellen’s transformation is debated. Several factors likely contributed:
- Excessive Glintstone usage: Sellen delved deeply into ancient and dangerous forms of sorcery, potentially overloading her body with Glintstone.
- The Primeval Current: The overwhelming power of the primeval current, the source of sorceries, may have proven too much for her to handle.
- Academy meddling: Some theories suggest that the Academy, knowing her ambition, may have subtly sabotaged her attempts to take control, leading to her transformation.
- Loss of Control: Sellen’s relentless pursuit of power may have led her to push past the boundaries of her abilities, culminating in a loss of control over her body and the arcane energies she was manipulating.
Puppet Master? The Unseen Influences
While no character explicitly controls Sellen like a traditional puppet master, several factors suggest subtle manipulation:
- The Two Fingers: The Two Fingers are known to guide and manipulate individuals in the Lands Between, though their influence on Sellen is not directly confirmed.
- The Greater Will: Similar to the Two Fingers, the Greater Will could be indirectly influencing events and individuals, including Sellen, to achieve its own inscrutable goals.
- The Academy: The Academy’s initial imprisonment of Sellen and its subsequent attempts to thwart her ambition can be seen as a form of indirect control.
FAQs: Delving Deeper into Sellen’s Lore
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify Sellen’s situation and the nuances of her questline:
1. Can Sellen be saved from her fate?
No, Sellen’s transformation into the ball of Glintstone heads is an unavoidable consequence of siding with her. There is no way to prevent this outcome within the game.
2. What are the benefits of siding with Sellen vs. Jerren?
Siding with Sellen allows you to purchase powerful sorceries from her transformed state, including some of the most potent spells in the game. Siding with Jerren rewards you with an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone and completes Jerren’s questline.
3. Is Sellen’s true body dead after transferring her essence?
No, Sellen’s original body remains alive, albeit imprisoned. Transferring her essence allows her to project her consciousness and pursue her research through other means.
4. What is the significance of Lusat and Azur?
Lusat and Azur represent the extremes of sorcerous exploration. They pushed the boundaries of arcane knowledge, even at great personal cost. They teach powerful primeval current sorceries like Stars of Ruin and Comet Azur.
5. Does Sellen remember me after her transformation?
Yes, Sellen retains her memories after her transformation. She recognizes the Tarnished and continues to offer her services as a sorcery merchant, though her dialogue is tinged with sadness and regret.
6. Can I still access the Raya Lucarian Grand Library after Sellen’s transformation?
Yes, the Raya Lucarian Grand Library remains accessible. Rennala can still be re-fought there after completing her main fight.
7. What is Glintstone, and why is it important to Sellen?
Glintstone is the source of sorceries in Elden Ring. It contains arcane energy that can be manipulated by skilled sorcerers. Sellen’s research revolves around understanding and mastering Glintstone and its applications.
8. Is there any way to reverse Sellen’s transformation?
No, there is no known method to reverse Sellen’s transformation within the game’s current content.
9. How does Sellen’s questline impact the ending of Elden Ring?
Sellen’s questline does not directly affect the available endings in Elden Ring. However, it provides valuable lore and insights into the world’s magic system and the ambitions of sorcerers.
10. Is Witch-Hunter Jerren truly evil?
Jerren’s motivations are complex. He believes that Sellen’s research poses a threat to the Academy and the world. His actions, while seemingly ruthless, are driven by a desire to protect others from the potential consequences of her forbidden sorceries.
11. What are the implications of Sellen becoming head of the Academy?
Sellen’s ascension to head of the Academy represents a shift in the institution’s philosophy. She embodies a more radical and experimental approach to sorcery, potentially leading to new discoveries and dangerous consequences.
12. Why does Sellen refer to herself as a ‘witch’?
The term “witch” is often used in Elden Ring to describe sorcerers who practice forbidden or unconventional magic. Sellen embraces this label, highlighting her rebellious nature and her willingness to defy the established norms of the Academy.
13. Are there any other characters who undergo similar transformations in Elden Ring?
Yes, several characters in Elden Ring undergo physical or mental transformations due to their pursuit of power or their exposure to powerful forces. Ranni the Witch is one prominent example.
14. What is the significance of the Primeval Current?
The Primeval Current is considered the wellspring for sorcerers who wish to harness the most dangerous magics. It has the power to both elevate and destroy.
15. Does Sellen have any connection to Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon?
While not explicitly stated, there are hints that Sellen may have been inspired by Rennala’s own unconventional approach to sorcery and her rejection of the Golden Order. Both characters represent a departure from the traditional values of the Lands Between.