Deciphering Patches’ Peculiar Offering: Dancer’s Castanets and the Enigmatic Tanith
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The slippery and ever-untrustworthy Patches, that balding brigand we’ve all come to know and (grudgingly) love, plays a pivotal role in the winding narrative of Elden Ring. His questline, filled with betrayal, trickery, and surprisingly useful items, eventually leads to a rather… unusual request. At the culmination of his questline, Patches will give you Dancer’s Castanets to take to Tanith. This seemingly innocuous item carries significant implications for the story and Tanith’s ultimate fate.
Understanding the Significance of Dancer’s Castanets
The Dancer’s Castanets themselves offer no practical in-game benefit. They aren’t weapons, spells, or talismans. Their value lies solely in their narrative weight. They serve as a message, a darkly humorous jest from Patches to Tanith, the leader of Volcano Manor, who is deeply engrossed in consuming the remains of her beloved Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy.
Giving the castanets to Tanith while she’s feasting on Rykard’s corpse elicits a unique dialogue exchange, but doesn’t yield any further items. The implication is that Patches is mocking her devotion or perhaps acknowledging the strange, unsettling nature of her actions. After this exchange, you can choose to leave her to her morbid meal or end her life, a choice that affects the future of Volcano Manor.
Delving into the Nuances of Patches’ Questline
Patches’ questline is a masterclass in FromSoftware’s signature storytelling style: cryptic, consequential, and morally ambiguous. It begins in Murkwater Cave in Limgrave, where you can choose to spare him, initiating the quest. From there, his appearances are scattered throughout the Lands Between, each encounter offering new challenges and rewards.
The decision to spare Patches at the start is crucial. Killing him early on prevents you from accessing the later stages of his questline and obtaining key items. Sparing him allows him to set up shop as a merchant and eventually leads to his involvement with Volcano Manor and the acquisition of the Dancer’s Castanets.
Consequences and Choices: Tanith and Volcano Manor
The events surrounding Tanith and Volcano Manor present the player with a series of difficult choices. Joining Volcano Manor aligns you with a group dedicated to opposing the Erdtree and the Greater Will. This involves completing assassination contracts, plunging you into moral gray areas.
After defeating Rykard, the fate of Volcano Manor hangs in the balance. Tanith continues her grim ritual, and you’re left to decide whether to intervene. Giving her the Dancer’s Castanets is a fleeting moment in this larger narrative, a darkly comedic beat that underscores the twisted devotion and unsettling atmosphere surrounding Rykard and his followers. The option to kill her afterwards triggers an invasion by her Crucible Knight bodyguard, rewarding you with his armor and Ash of War.
Patches: Friend or Foe? A Recurring Enigma
Patches is a recurring character throughout the Soulsborne series, always playing the role of the trickster and betrayer. Yet, despite his deceitful nature, he often provides valuable items and services. His presence adds a layer of complexity to the world, forcing players to question their own judgment and moral compass.
His questline in Elden Ring is no different. It requires patience, forgiveness (or at least tolerance), and a willingness to navigate his intricate web of lies and half-truths. The rewards, both tangible and narrative, are well worth the effort for those who dare to engage with his chaotic presence.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Patches and Tanith
1. What items does Patches give you throughout his questline?
Aside from the Dancer’s Castanets, Patches offers a variety of items, including:
- Patches’ Emporium: After sparing him in Murkwater Cave, he becomes a merchant, selling items like Margit’s Shackle, which can be incredibly useful in the early game.
- Armor Sets: He plays a role in acquiring the Great Horned Tragoth armor set, one of the best poise armor sets in the game.
- Weapons: Upon death, he drops Patches’ Spear +7 and his armor set.
2. What happens if you kill Patches early in the game?
Killing Patches prevents you from accessing his questline and obtaining the Dancer’s Castanets and other rewards. However, he will drop his Bell Bearing, allowing you to purchase his inventory items from the Twin Maiden Husks at the Roundtable Hold.
3. Is Patches questline worth completing?
Yes, Patches’ questline is well worth it for the rewards, including access to valuable items, armor sets, and a unique narrative experience.
4. What happens if you refuse to join Volcano Manor?
Refusing Tanith’s invitation to join Volcano Manor blocks you from accessing the assassination quests and potentially other areas within the manor.
5. Does killing Rykard end Tanith’s questline?
Yes, defeating Rykard ends Tanith’s assassination questline as she is the one who gives you the contracts. You can still give her the Dancer’s Castanets, though.
6. Is there a downside to joining Volcano Manor?
There are no apparent negative consequences for joining Volcano Manor, despite the morally questionable nature of the assassination contracts.
7. What happens if you kill Tanith?
Killing Tanith will cause her Crucible Knight bodyguard to invade. Defeating him yields his armor and Ash of War. You will also obtain Tanith’s outfit.
8. What is the reward for killing Great Horned Tragoth?
Killing Great Horned Tragoth rewards you with the Bull-Goat armor set, known for its exceptional poise and physical defense.
9. What happens if you open the chest Patches puts down?
Opening the chest triggers a trap, teleporting you to Mistwood in Limgrave.
10. What happens to Rya after killing Rykard?
After defeating Rykard and returning to Volcano Manor, Rya can be found in her original location. Speaking to her and then reloading the area will reveal the Daedicar’s Woe talisman where she was standing.
11. Why is Tanith eating Rykard?
Tanith is consuming Rykard’s remains in an attempt to preserve his essence and potentially allow him to be reborn. Rykard himself stated that “A serpent never dies.”
12. Can you get Tanith’s armor?
Yes, you can obtain Tanith’s Consort’s Set (Lady Tanith Outfit) by killing her after defeating Rykard and giving her the Dancer’s Castanets.
13. Is there a downside to killing merchants in Elden Ring?
There are no apparent negative consequences to killing merchants, as they drop their Bell Bearings, allowing you to purchase their items from the Twin Maiden Husks.
14. Who is Tanith’s bodyguard?
Tanith’s bodyguard is a Crucible Knight, who will invade you if you attack Tanith.
15. Is Patches evil?
Patches is a complex character. While he is a trickster and often betrays the player, he also provides valuable services and items. Whether he is truly evil is a matter of interpretation. His actions are often self-serving, but he doesn’t necessarily act out of malice.
The world of Elden Ring is full of challenging quests, cryptic characters, and difficult choices. Patches embodies this complexity, forcing players to grapple with their own moral compass and navigate a world where trust is a rare and valuable commodity. The Games Learning Society explores such complex character choices in video games to understand the players’ moral compass and thought process; visit GamesLearningSociety.org to know more. The Dancer’s Castanets may seem like a small item, but they represent the larger themes of devotion, betrayal, and the ever-present ambiguity that defines the Lands Between.