Siding With Sellen or Jerren: A Tarnished’s Dilemma in Elden Ring

The choice between assisting Sorceress Sellen or Castellan Jerren in Elden Ring is a significant one, impacting not only the storyline but also the rewards you receive. In short, assisting Sellen generally provides more valuable rewards, including Jerren’s armor set, a new weapon, and access to a new sorcery. However, siding with Jerren grants you an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone, Sellen’s Bell Bearing, and Sellen’s Witch’s Glintstone Crown. Your decision hinges on your preferred playstyle, whether you prioritize sorceries or smithing materials, and your tolerance for the moral ambiguity surrounding Sellen’s questline.

Understanding the Stakes: Sellen’s Questline

Sellen’s questline is arguably one of the most complex and morally grey in Elden Ring. It delves into the darker side of sorcery and the potential dangers of unchecked ambition. Sellen, also known as the Graven Witch, was exiled from the Academy of Raya Lucaria for her pursuit of forbidden knowledge and her association with the “graven school” of sorcery. The Graven-School Talisman, a testament to her studies, describes her school as “the nightmare of the academy.”

As you progress through her quest, you uncover her true form—a grotesque sphere of faces—and learn that she was experimenting with primeval currents, a dangerous form of sorcery that led to disastrous consequences for her and others.

The Moral Quandary

The ethical question at the heart of Sellen’s quest lies in whether her pursuit of knowledge justifies the means she employs. Is she a victim of a prejudiced institution, or is she a dangerous sorcerer whose ambition endangers others? Your choice to side with her or Jerren reflects your own moral compass within the Lands Between.

Rewards and Consequences: A Detailed Breakdown

Assisting Sellen: Embrace the Dark Arts

Choosing to assist Sellen involves helping her reclaim her place at the Academy of Raya Lucaria.

• Jerren’s Eccentric Set: After defeating Jerren, you will receive his full armor set.
• Lusat’s Glintstone Crown: You will have access to this powerful crown that boosts Intelligence at the cost of FP.
• Azur’s Glintstone Crown: Another powerful crown that further boosts Intelligence at the cost of FP.
• Spiral Shard: This item is obtained after completing the quest.
• New Sorceries: By assisting her, you unlock new sorceries for purchase.

Pros: Significant boost to sorcery capabilities, access to unique armor and crowns, and progression of a complex and engaging storyline.

Cons: Requires defeating Jerren, a loyal warrior, and potentially condoning Sellen’s morally questionable actions.

Assisting Jerren: Uphold Tradition and Order

Siding with Jerren means opposing Sellen’s ambitions and defending the Academy from what he perceives as a grave threat.

• Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone: Essential for upgrading unique weapons to their maximum potential.
• Witch’s Glintstone Crown: Sellen’s iconic hat, providing a modest boost to Intelligence and Faith.
• Sellen’s Bell Bearing: Allows you to purchase Sellen’s initial sorceries from the Twin Maiden Husks at the Roundtable Hold.

Pros: Obtain valuable smithing materials, uphold a sense of order within the Academy, and potentially avoid the disastrous consequences of Sellen’s unchecked ambition.

Cons: Miss out on powerful sorceries and armor, and effectively end Sellen’s questline prematurely.

The “Good” Ending? Unraveling Moral Ambiguity

It’s important to recognize that Elden Ring, much like other FromSoftware titles, rarely offers a clear-cut “good” ending. Both sides of the Sellen conflict present compelling arguments, and the consequences of your choice are far from black and white.

Some might argue that assisting Sellen, despite her morally grey actions, is justifiable in the pursuit of knowledge and the rejection of a stagnant, prejudiced institution. Others might believe that Jerren’s defense of tradition and order is necessary to prevent further catastrophe. Ultimately, the “good” ending is subjective and depends on your own interpretation of the events.

For a deeper understanding of the game’s themes and narratives, consider exploring resources provided by organizations like the Games Learning Society. Their research and analysis often shed light on the complex moral landscapes present in games like Elden Ring. You can find more at GamesLearningSociety.org.

The Fate of Sellen: No Happy Ending?

As the provided text states: “Sadly, choosing to side with the Castellan will also result in Sellen’s death, so it appears that there is no true happy ending available for the witch.” Unfortunately, Sellen’s questline is destined to end in tragedy, regardless of your choices.

FAQs: Navigating the Nuances of Sellen’s Questline

1. What happens if I kill Sellen with Jerren?

You will obtain Sellen’s Bell Bearing and the Witch’s Glintstone Crown upon defeating Sellen. Jerren will then reward you with an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone.

2. Should I kill Sellen after she transforms?

Unfortunately, you cannot kill her after she transforms. Her transformed state is considered the tragic end of her questline if you assist her.

3. Is there a way to save Sorceress Sellen?

You cannot “save” Sellen in the traditional sense if you want to complete her questline and receive all the rewards. The only way to potentially offer her some semblance of peace is to end her questline prematurely.

4. How do I get Sellen for Red Wolf?

If you’ve met Sellen and become her apprentice, her gold summon sign can be found outside the boss gate for the Red Wolf of Radagon fight. This will give the wolf a health and power buff, but Sellen will be a powerful ally.

5. How do I Untrap Sellen?

After defeating Radahn, you can progress in Sellen’s storyline to free her from her imprisonment at the Witchbane Ruins in southern Limgrave.

6. Where is Sellen’s real body?

Sellen’s real body is imprisoned at the Witchbane Ruins in southern Limgrave, on the Weeping Peninsula.

7. What happens if I accidentally hit Sorceress Sellen?

Striking Sellen will cause her to disappear. You can only bring her back through Atonement.

8. Why is Sellen chained?

Sellen was exiled from the Academy of Raya Lucaria for her forbidden research, resulting in her confinement at the Witchbane Ruins.

9. What do you get if you don’t side with Sellen?

Choosing to challenge Sellen and siding with Castellan Jerren gives you the Witch’s Glintstone Crown and Sellen’s Bell Bearing. Jerren will also reward you with an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone.

10. Why can’t I summon Sellen for Red Wolf?

You must progress both her and Ranni’s questlines to specific points to unlock her summon sign for the Red Wolf fight.

11. Should I give Sellen a scroll?

Giving Sellen scrolls, such as the Royal House Scroll, unlocks new sorceries for purchase, like Glintblade Phalanx and Carian Slicer.

12. Is Sellen the Graven Witch?

Yes, Sellen is known as the Graven Witch, a title associated with her pursuit of forbidden knowledge and connection to the “graven school” of sorcery.

13. Where is Sellen after she is killed?

After siding with Sellen and completing the questline, you will find her transformed body located between Ranni’s Rise and Renna’s Rise. You will need to break through an illusory wall to find her.

14. What to do with Sellen’s Primal Glintstone?

You will need to insert Sellen’s Primal Glintstone into her hidden body.

15. Which ending is considered the “best” in Elden Ring?

The “Age Of Order” ending, achieved by completing Goldmask and Corhyn’s side quest, is often considered one of the better endings. It focuses on repairing the Elden Ring and establishing a new order based on the principles of the Golden Order.