Should You Accept Sorceress Sellen in Elden Ring? A Comprehensive Guide
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The question of whether to accept Sorceress Sellen’s offer of tutelage is a pivotal one for any aspiring mage in the Lands Between of Elden Ring. The decision directly impacts not only your access to powerful spells but also sets you on a complex and emotionally charged questline. So, should you accept Sorceress Sellen? The short answer is a resounding yes, especially if you are playing a Sorcerer or are interested in exploring the full potential of magic in Elden Ring. Accepting her offer is crucial to initiate her questline, unlock unique spells, and ultimately experience one of the game’s most intriguing storylines. Refusing her offer will simply lock you out of this content.
Why Accepting Sellen is Crucial
Triggering Her Questline
The primary reason to accept Sellen is that it is the only way to trigger her questline. This is not a minor side quest; it’s a substantial narrative arc filled with intriguing characters, ethical dilemmas, and significant rewards. Without agreeing to become her apprentice, you will miss out on this entire experience.
Access to Unique Sorceries
Sellen isn’t just a quest giver; she is also a powerful merchant of sorceries. Throughout her quest, she will provide you with new spells each time you present her with a suitable scroll. This is a tremendous benefit for any mage, as it expands your arsenal of offensive and utility spells. This is especially useful for Sorcerer class builds.
Unlocking Dialogue and Lore
As you progress through Sellen’s quest and purchase her spells, she will share more about her history, motivations, and the intricacies of glintstone sorcery. This adds depth to the world of Elden Ring and allows you to understand the lore surrounding magic and the Academy of Raya Lucaria better. Her dialogue, often cryptic, is rich with implications for the wider story of the game.
Understanding Sellen’s Quest
Meeting the Graven Witch
Initially, Sellen introduces herself as the Graven Witch, a name that hints at her controversial approach to sorcery. She seeks to restore the primeval current of glintstone sorcery, a method deemed heretical by the Academy. This immediately positions her as a character operating outside the conventional norms of the Lands Between.
Key Quest Stages
Sellen’s quest requires you to progress through different areas of the game, often involving interactions with other NPCs and boss fights. The next major step involves finding a new body for her in the Three Sisters area. You’ll need to find her Primal Glintstone, transplant it, and eventually defend her from an old adversary, Jerren.
A Complex Moral Choice
The quest culminates in a crucial choice: siding with Sellen or with Jerren. This choice impacts the quest’s ending, your rewards, and the fate of several characters. Understanding the implications of these choices is important for experiencing the full breadth of the quest.
Rewards for Siding with Sellen
Choosing to side with Sellen, which includes defeating Jerren, offers a unique set of rewards:
- Jerren’s Eccentric Armor Set: You’ll receive this armor set after defeating Jerren.
- The Glintstone Kris Dagger: Sellen gifts you this powerful dagger, which is excellent for magic-based builds.
- Shard Spiral Sorcery: She will begin selling this potent spell.
- Unique Quest Ending: Sellen’s questline concludes with her blessing of the Tarnished as Elden Lord and her remaining in the Grand Library.
Potential Drawbacks and Considerations
The “Bad” Ending
It’s worth noting that there is no true happy ending for Sellen. No matter which side you choose, her fate is tragic. If you side with Jerren, she will be killed. Even when you side with her, her questline ends with her being trapped in a new, unnatural form, leaving players with a sense of unease. This outcome highlights the often bleak and morally grey tone of Elden Ring.
The Alternative: Siding with Jerren
If you choose to side with Jerren, you will receive Sellen’s Bell Bearing and the Witch’s Glintstone Crown upon defeating her. Additionally, Jerren will give you an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone. However, by choosing this path, you will miss out on Lusat’s and Azur’s armor sets, as they become inaccessible.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I miss Sellen’s questline?
Yes, you can miss her questline if you don’t accept her offer to study sorceries when you first meet her at the Witchbane Ruins. This is a fundamental requirement for initiating her entire storyline.
2. Does Sellen give me spells only when I give her scrolls?
Yes, Sellen’s inventory will expand when you give her specific scrolls found throughout the game. These scrolls unlock new spells for purchase, making her an invaluable resource for magic users.
3. What if I accidentally attacked Sellen?
If you attack Sellen, you will need to seek absolution at the Church of Vows with Celestial Dew to restore her as a friendly NPC. Otherwise, you won’t be able to proceed with her quest.
4. Why is Sellen imprisoned initially?
Sellen was exiled from the Academy of Raya Lucaria for her attempts to restore the primeval current of glintstone sorcery, which the Academy views as heresy. This imprisonment is a key plot point in her story.
5. What is the “Primal Glintstone” for?
The Primal Glintstone is essential to Sellen’s quest. You need it to transfer her essence to a new body, allowing you to proceed with her storyline and unlock the final parts of her quest.
6. Where do I find Sellen’s new body?
Sellen’s new body is located in the Three Sisters area, hidden behind an illusory wall near the ruins where you find the giant head. You will need to explore this area thoroughly.
7. Who is Jerren, and why does he hunt Sellen?
Jerren is an NPC who vowed to kill Sellen. He was a guest commander under General Radahn and made this promise due to Sellen’s history as a heretical sorcerer.
8. Can I save Sellen from her fate?
Unfortunately, there is no truly “happy” ending for Sellen. Either side will lead to a tragic or bittersweet end, highlighting the dark themes in Elden Ring.
9. How does siding with Jerren affect the game?
Siding with Jerren leads to Sellen’s death and grants you her Bell Bearing and Witch’s Glintstone Crown. You will also receive an Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone from Jerren. You lose out on unique loot associated with Sellen.
10. What is the significance of the term “Graven Witch”?
“Graven” refers to the school of sorcery that Sellen follows, which is considered heretical. This explains why she is an outcast and reviled by the Academy.
11. Can I bring Sellen back to life if I kill her?
You cannot bring Sellen back to life in the traditional sense. Once she’s gone, she’s gone. The ending you get at the end of her quest is the true outcome.
12. Do I need to give Sellen all scrolls to complete her quest?
While giving her scrolls is not directly necessary to complete her questline, doing so will unlock essential sorceries for your build, making your character more powerful and providing a richer narrative experience.
13. Is it worth completing Sellen’s quest for the rewards?
Yes, it is absolutely worth completing Sellen’s quest. The rewards, like the Glintstone Kris dagger, the Eccentric Armor Set, and unique spells, make it beneficial. Even if the end is not ideal, the narrative experience makes it a must for any Elden Ring player.
14. What happens to Sellen in the “Sellen ending” of the quest?
Sellen remains in the Grand Library, but her physical form has become grotesque, and she is seemingly trapped within it. It’s a melancholy ending that emphasizes the tragic nature of the game.
15. Does accepting Sellen lock me out of other storylines?
No, accepting Sellen does not prevent you from doing other storylines, although it does lock you into a specific path related to her. It only influences the final outcome of her personal quest.
Conclusion
In conclusion, accepting Sorceress Sellen is not just recommended, it’s crucial for those wanting to experience the full spectrum of Elden Ring’s magic and lore. Her questline is captivating, emotionally resonant, and offers tangible benefits in the form of new spells and powerful gear. Despite the lack of a truly happy ending, the narrative richness and character depth make her a central figure that no player should ignore. Embrace the path of the Graven Witch, and discover what secrets and spells await in the depths of the Lands Between.