How Do I Get My Dung Eater Back? A Tarnished’s Guide to Reconciliation
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Lost your favorite, albeit repugnant, NPC in Elden Ring? Don’t fret, Tarnished! Getting the Dung Eater “back” depends entirely on what you mean by “back.” If you’ve accidentally killed him, well, that’s a bit more permanent (unless you’re on PC and enjoy save scumming!). However, if he’s simply moved, usually due to quest progression, the answer is much simpler. Typically, the Dung Eater moves between the Roundtable Hold and his prison cell in the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds. Ensure you’ve met the initial trigger (reaching the Altus Plateau) for him to appear in the Roundtable Hold in the first place. If you’ve given him the Sewer-Gaol Key, check his prison. After releasing him, he’ll return to Roundtable Hold, leaving a message for you. Follow these steps, and the Loathsome Dung Eater should be back where you expect him.
Understanding the Dung Eater’s Questline
The Dung Eater’s questline is one of the most controversial and, let’s face it, disgusting paths in Elden Ring. Completing it leads to the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse, an item used for a specific ending. However, it’s crucial to understand the ramifications of this ending and the steps required to achieve it. Let’s break down the key components:
Initiating the Quest
- Reach the Altus Plateau: This is the fundamental requirement. Accessing the Altus Plateau, either by climbing the Ruin-Strewn Precipice or using the Grand Lift of Dectus, triggers the Dung Eater’s appearance in the Roundtable Hold.
- Speak to the Dung Eater: He’ll be in a locked room, accessible from the main Roundtable Hold area. Exhaust his dialogue.
- Find a Seedbed Curse: These are key items found on corpses cursed by the Dung Eater. Collect one.
- Return to the Dung Eater: Showing him the Seedbed Curse will prompt him to give you the Sewer-Gaol Key.
Freeing the Dung Eater
- Descend into the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds: This area is located beneath Leyndell, Royal Capital. Navigate the sewers until you find his cell.
- Use the Sewer-Gaol Key: Unlock the cell and speak to the Dung Eater. He’ll demand that you leave him alone so he can “defile” you.
- Return to the Roundtable Hold: The Dung Eater will have left, leaving behind a message challenging you to meet him at the outer moat.
- Dung Eater Invasion: You will be invaded by the Dung Eater in the outer moat of Leyndell. Defeat him.
Completing the Quest
- Collect more Seedbed Curses: You need a total of five Seedbed Curses to fully progress his quest.
- Return to the Dung Eater’s physical form in the Shunning-Grounds: He’ll be chained up in the same cell where you initially found him.
- Give him the Seedbed Curses one by one: He’ll consume them. Each time you give him a Seedbed Curse, exhaust his dialogue.
- Acquire the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse: After giving him all five Seedbed Curses, you will receive the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse.
The Ending
- After defeating the final boss, the Elden Beast: You’ll have the option to use the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse to mend the Elden Ring, triggering the Dung Eater’s ending.
The Moral Quandary: Good, Evil, and Everything in Between
The question of whether the Dung Eater is “evil” is complex. He’s undeniably repugnant, and his actions are horrific. He seeks to curse the entire Lands Between, ensuring that no one can ever truly be at peace. However, Elden Ring often explores the idea that there are no purely “good” or “evil” choices, only different shades of grey. Ranni, for example, is viewed by some as bringing about the “best possible outcome” yet her path is paved with morally questionable actions. Ultimately, the player must decide whether the Dung Eater’s vision of the future is one worth pursuing.
This complex decision-making in games, where players grapple with moral choices and their consequences, is a fascinating area of study explored by organizations such as the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. They delve into how games can simulate real-world dilemmas and promote critical thinking.
FAQs: Bringing Order to the Chaos of the Dung Eater
Here are some frequently asked questions about the Dung Eater, addressing common concerns and providing valuable information:
1. What triggers Dung Eater to appear in Roundtable Hold?
Reaching the Altus Plateau. This is the primary trigger. Without reaching this area, he won’t appear.
2. Where can I find Seedbed Curses?
There are six Seedbed Curses available in the game. They’re located in various areas, including Volcano Manor, Leyndell, Royal Capital, and the Miquella’s Haligtree. Look for them on corpses with the distinct Seedbed Curse mark.
3. Can I kill Dung Eater? What happens if I do?
Yes, you can kill the Dung Eater. If you kill him in the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds, he drops the Omen armor set (Omen Helm, Omen Armor, Omen Gauntlets). Killing him elsewhere will likely prevent you from completing his questline.
4. Can I kill Dung Eater after giving him Seluvis’s potion?
Yes, you can. If you give him Seluvis’s potion, kill him immediately to obtain his armor. If you reload the area, he’ll disappear, becoming a puppet.
5. How do I get the Dung Eater ending?
Complete his questline by giving him five Seedbed Curses and then using the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse after defeating the final boss.
6. Is the Dung Eater ending a “good” ending?
Subjectively, no. It’s generally considered one of the worst endings, as it curses the Lands Between and its inhabitants.
7. What is the hardest ending to achieve in Elden Ring?
The Lord of Frenzied Flame ending is often considered the most difficult due to its obtuse and easily missed requirements.
8. Why is the Dung Eater called “Dung Eater”?
The name comes from his execution, where he was covered in dung. It’s a fitting title for someone so loathsome.
9. Can I miss the Dung Eater questline?
Yes. Missing the trigger (reaching Altus Plateau) or killing him early will prevent you from completing it.
10. Why can’t I summon the Dung Eater puppet?
Ensure you’ve given him Seluvis’s potion, then purchase the Dung Eater puppet from Seluvis. You may need to advance Seluvis’s quest and offer him an Amber Starlight to unlock the option.
11. Do I have to do the Dung Eater ending?
No, it’s entirely optional.
12. Is Dung Eater the most evil character in Elden Ring?
That’s debatable, but he’s definitely one of the most repulsive and cruel.
13. What happens if I give the Dung Eater the Seedbed Curse?
He’ll tell you about his physical form imprisoned beneath Leyndell and give you the Sewer-Gaol Key.
14. What is the reward for completing the Dung Eater quest?
You receive the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse and can claim the Omen armor set.
15. Should I summon Ranni or use the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse?
That’s a matter of personal preference and depends on which ending you desire. Summoning Ranni triggers the Age of Stars ending, while using the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse triggers the Dung Eater’s ending. Consider the consequences of each choice before making your decision.
Navigating the intricacies of Elden Ring’s quests and characters, including the Dung Eater and his… unique perspective, requires careful consideration. Hopefully, this guide has illuminated the path for you. Good luck, Tarnished!