Do NPCs Forgive You in Elden Ring? A Tarnished Guide to Absolution
Yes, NPCs in Elden Ring can indeed forgive you for your transgressions, provided you seek absolution through the proper channels. This intricate system allows players to rectify mistakes, such as accidentally striking a friendly NPC or outright attacking them. It’s a welcome feature in a game where misclicks and aggressive fauna can lead to unintended consequences. Understanding how to achieve this forgiveness, and the nuances surrounding NPC relationships, is crucial for any aspiring Elden Lord.
Understanding NPC Hostility in The Lands Between
Before delving into the mechanics of absolution, it’s essential to understand what causes an NPC to turn hostile in the first place. There are generally three main reasons:
- Accidental Attacks: A stray swing of your colossal sword or an ill-aimed spell can easily aggro an NPC, especially in close quarters.
- Questline Choices: Some quests have branching paths, and certain decisions can lead to NPCs becoming hostile, sometimes permanently.
- Outright Assault: Deliberately attacking an NPC, particularly one integral to the story or other quests, will almost certainly result in hostility.
Once an NPC becomes hostile, they will typically attack you on sight, rendering them unavailable for quests, dialogue, or trading. This can significantly impact your playthrough, especially if the NPC offers valuable services or is central to a particular ending.
The Church of Vows and the Path to Absolution
The key to achieving forgiveness in Elden Ring lies within the Church of Vows, a serene sanctuary nestled in the Liurnia of the Lakes region. This location is presided over by the wise and gentle Miriel, Pastor of Vows, often affectionately nicknamed “Turtle Pope” by the community.
To atone for your sins and reset NPC hostility, you’ll need the following:
- Celestial Dew: This rare consumable item is the currency of absolution. It can be found in various locations throughout The Lands Between, often in chests, purchased from merchants, or as a reward for defeating certain enemies.
- Interaction with the Statue: Inside the Church of Vows, you’ll find a massive statue at the altar. Interact with this statue while possessing Celestial Dew to trigger the absolution process.
Using Celestial Dew
When you interact with the statue, you’ll be prompted to use a Celestial Dew. Consuming this item will trigger a cutscene, signifying that your sins have been forgiven. After this process, any previously hostile NPCs who are not dead (more on that later) will revert to their neutral or friendly state. Speaking with Miriel is not required, but it’s highly recommended, as he provides valuable lore and context.
Limitations and Considerations
While the absolution system is incredibly useful, it’s not a cure-all. Here are some important limitations to keep in mind:
- Death is Permanent (Mostly): Absolution does not revive dead NPCs. If you’ve killed an NPC, using Celestial Dew will not bring them back to life. There are a few exceptions to this rule for specific characters like Boc the Seamster whose death can be prevented if you complete a quest and tell him you want to keep his form, however, in most cases, if they are dead, you can’t atone for it.
- Quest Progression: Some questlines are irreversibly altered by certain actions. Even if you restore an NPC to a friendly state, it might not undo the consequences of your past choices within their quest.
- Specific NPC Behaviors: Certain NPCs, due to their role in the story or their unique personalities, might react differently to your actions even after absolution.
- Bosses Cannot Be Revived: Do note that using a Celestial Dew will not revive bosses that you’ve killed.
- Cost and Availability: Celestial Dew isn’t an infinitely renewable resource. Manage your interactions carefully to avoid constantly needing to seek it out.
The Ethical Question: Is Killing NPCs Ever Justified?
Elden Ring presents players with a complex moral landscape. While the game discourages indiscriminate killing, there are instances where players might consider eliminating NPCs. For example:
- Acquiring Unique Items: Some NPCs drop unique weapons, armor, or spells upon death that may not be obtainable otherwise. However, weigh this against the potential loss of their services or questline rewards.
- Roleplaying: Some players enjoy embodying morally ambiguous or outright villainous characters, making NPC killings a part of their roleplaying experience.
- Accidental Aggression: The player might accidentally attack a friendly NPC in the game.
It’s generally recommended to avoid killing NPCs on your first playthrough, as you’ll likely miss out on valuable content and lore. However, the choice ultimately rests with the player, reflecting the freedom and agency that define Elden Ring’s gameplay. You may even find research and studies on game design, narrative, and player agency on the Games Learning Society website at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Where can I find Celestial Dew in Elden Ring?
Celestial Dew can be found in various locations: purchased from certain merchants like the nomadic merchant in Ainsel River, obtained from chests in underground areas, or dropped by specific enemies like the Tibia Mariner.
2. Can I revive Boc the Seamster with Celestial Dew?
While Celestial Dew cannot revive Boc if he has died, his death can be prevented by helping him embrace his beauty as a human.
3. Does using Celestial Dew undo my progress in an NPC’s questline?
No, using Celestial Dew only resets NPC hostility. It doesn’t undo any progress you’ve made (or failed to make) in their questline.
4. What happens if I kill Miriel, Pastor of Vows?
Killing Miriel is generally not recommended. He provides valuable lore and allows you to respec your character’s stats. While Celestial Dew is not needed for respec, it will be needed if you attack him and need forgiveness. If you kill him, you cannot respec.
5. Can invaders be forgiven if they turn hostile towards me?
The Celestial Dew and Church of Vows are not designed to forgive invaders in your game, it is for NPCs that have become hostile towards the player.
6. Are there any NPCs that cannot be forgiven?
While most NPCs can be pacified with Celestial Dew, some quest-related choices might permanently alter their disposition towards you, even if they are no longer outright hostile. This could come in the form of different dialogue.
7. How many Celestial Dews do I need to forgive all hostile NPCs?
One Celestial Dew is enough to forgive all hostile NPCs at once. You don’t need multiple dew drops.
8. Does the Church of Vows offer any other benefits besides absolution?
Yes, the Church of Vows also allows you to respec your character’s stats by offering larval tears.
9. Is there a limit to how many times I can use Celestial Dew?
No, there is no limit to how many times you can use Celestial Dew, provided you can acquire the item.
10. Does absolution affect my standing with different factions in the game?
No, absolution through the Church of Vows only affects individual NPC hostility, not your overall standing with different factions like the Volcano Manor or the Golden Order.
11. What are some strategies for avoiding accidental NPC aggro?
Be mindful of your surroundings, especially in tight spaces. Use targeted spells and avoid wide-swinging weapons when near friendly NPCs. And when using torrent, dismount when close to NPCs.
12. How do I know if an NPC is permanently dead and cannot be revived?
If an NPC drops their unique item upon death, it’s a strong indication that they are permanently deceased and cannot be revived through absolution.
13. Is it possible to complete Elden Ring without killing any NPCs?
Yes, it is possible to complete Elden Ring without killing any NPCs, though it might require careful planning and some compromises in terms of item acquisition.
14. If an NPC is not outright hostile, but dislikes me, can Celestial Dew improve my relationship?
Celestial Dew only addresses active hostility. If an NPC simply dislikes you due to your actions or quest choices, the dew won’t change their underlying attitude.
15. Does Celestial Dew bring back memories?
No, a celestial dew will bring back NPCs to a friendly state, it will not bring back the characters memories of the event that caused them to become hostile.