What Happened to Greirat in Dark Souls 3?
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Greirat of the Undead Settlement, the humble and resourceful thief, is one of the most tragic figures in Dark Souls 3. His story is interwoven with choices the player makes throughout their journey, and while his services are invaluable, his fate is often sealed with a grim inevitability. What happens to Greirat is complex and dependent on player actions, but, in short, Greirat dies. However, the when and why behind his demise are where things get interesting. He embarks on pillaging expeditions at the player’s request, venturing into dangerous territories to procure new items for sale. These expeditions are the crux of his story, determining whether he returns safely or meets his end. His fate is tied to both the player’s progress and the interactions with other key characters, namely Siegward of Catarina (Onion Bro) and Patches. Depending on how these interactions unfold, Greirat can meet his end in either Irithyll of the Boreal Valley or Lothric Castle. Knowing the conditions that lead to each outcome is crucial for any player seeking to maximize Greirat’s usefulness or, perhaps, attempting in vain to save him from his ultimate destiny.
Greirat’s Pillage Quests and Their Consequences
Greirat’s story hinges on three key pillaging expeditions that the player can send him on.
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First Pillage: After rescuing him from his cell in the High Wall of Lothric and giving him Loretta’s Bone, Greirat returns to Firelink Shrine and offers his services as a merchant. He can be sent to pillage the Undead Settlement, resulting in an expanded inventory. This trip is relatively safe, and he always returns.
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Second Pillage: Upon reaching Irithyll of the Boreal Valley, Greirat will request to pillage again. This is where things become complicated. His survival in Irithyll is dependent on the player’s interactions with Siegward and Patches. If the player enters the Irithyll Dungeon before Greirat returns, he will die in Irithyll. The common wisdom is that Siegward must be in Irithyll, near the Distant Manor bonfire, to save him. Alternatively, Patches can save him if Siegward’s armor is available for sale in Patches inventory. If neither of these conditions are met, Greirat will die in Irithyll. His ashes can be found in the drainage ditch area of Irithyll, guarded by Sewer Centipedes.
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Third Pillage: After successfully (or unsuccessfully) navigating the Irithyll scenario, Greirat will eventually ask to pillage Lothric Castle. Regardless of player actions, Greirat will always die in Lothric Castle. There is no known method to save him on this final expedition. His ashes can be found on the rooftops of the Grand Archives.
The Role of Siegward and Patches in Greirat’s Fate
The interaction between Greirat, Siegward, and Patches is a crucial element in determining Greirat’s fate during his second pillaging trip to Irithyll.
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Siegward’s Intervention: If Siegward is present in the kitchen area near the Distant Manor bonfire in Irithyll, he will intervene and save Greirat. This requires following Siegward’s questline, including freeing him from the well at the Cathedral of the Deep and exhausting his dialogue in Irithyll.
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Patches’ Intervention: If Siegward is not available (perhaps the questline was not followed, or he has already completed his arc), Patches can potentially save Greirat, but only if he has Siegward’s armor. If Patches is present in Firelink Shrine and Siegward’s armor is available for purchase in Patches inventory, buying the armor and giving it back to Siegward is not needed. If Patches is in Firelink Shrine and Siegward’s armor is available for sale, then he will act as the one who rescues Greirat. Some players find this hard to believe because Patches is an infamous trickster in the Dark Souls universe.
The Inevitable End: Lothric Castle
Even if Greirat survives Irithyll, his final journey to Lothric Castle always results in his death. This is a fixed event in the game’s narrative, and there are no known methods to prevent it. While this may be disappointing, it adds to the melancholic atmosphere of Dark Souls 3 and highlights the bleak reality of the world.
FAQs about Greirat
Here are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to provide additional valuable information for the readers:
1. How do I know if Greirat has died?
If Greirat dies during his pillaging travel in Irithyll, his ashes can be found on his body floating on a corner of the drainage ditch inhabited by several Sewer Centipedes. Once Greirat is killed during his pillaging travel in Lothric Castle, his ashes can be found along the rooftops of the Grand Archives.
2. How do I get Greirat back after sending him on a pillage?
At this point, the player must defeat an area boss in order for Greirat to return safely. The three earliest bosses available to accomplish this are the Curse-rotted Greatwood, Pontiff Sulyvahn, and the Old Demon King.
3. How long does it take for Greirat to return after a pillage?
Greirat will return after you defeat a boss. For the Irithyll trip, it’s often recommended to beat Pontiff Sulyvahn.
4. What happens if I give Loretta’s Bone to Greirat?
Giving Loretta’s Bone to Greirat of the Undead Settlement after he returns to Firelink Shrine will allow you to later ask him to plunder areas to bring back new items to sell.
5. Does it matter if Greirat dies?
Yes, it matters. You will miss out on his last batch of items. If Greirat died when he’s invading Pontiff Town, you did something wrong. He’s forced to die later, but if he dies before Archives something went wrong. The safest way is to have Siegward escaping his well confines and talk to him in Pontiff Town.
6. Why didn’t Patches save Greirat?
Patches needs something to save Greirat, which he is missing. This would imply that some Quest or Action will result in Patches getting additional Items for Sale on him or someone he has Access to. Also, Patches has to be Completed first to save Greirat. If Patches is present in Firelink Shrine and Siegward’s armor is available for sale, then he will act as the one who rescues Greirat.
7. Should I let Greirat go to Lothric Castle?
As most of you may know, sending Greirat to Lothric to pillage is futile, at least there is no confirmed way of him surviving yet. There is no way to save Greirat once you send him to Lothric Castle. He will die no matter what you do.
8. Can you save Greirat from Irithyll?
You either have to do the Onion Bro quest and save him from the well at Cleansing Chapel, or have Patches in Firelink Shrine with Onion Bro’s armour still for sale. If you didn’t rescue the Onion, have the armour on you with Patches in the Shrine (or not the in the Shrine) Greirat will die in Irithyll.
9. What triggers Greirat to ask to pillage?
Greirat will ask to pillage after you enter a new area, such as Irithyll of the Boreal Valley or Lothric Castle.
10. What items does Greirat sell?
Greirat sells a variety of items, including keys, weapons, armor, and consumables. His inventory expands after each successful pillage, offering more valuable and rare items.
11. Is there a way to get Greirat’s ashes if I missed them?
No, there is no way to get Greirat’s ashes if you missed them in their respective locations. You will have to wait until New Game Plus (NG+).
12. Does killing a boss immediately after sending Greirat affect his survival?
Killing a boss immediately after sending Greirat does not guarantee his survival. His survival depends on whether Siegward or Patches are in a position to save him in Irithyll.
13. What happens if I attack Greirat?
If you attack Greirat, he will become hostile. If you kill him, you can obtain his ashes, but you will lose access to his services for the rest of the playthrough.
14. Does Greirat’s death affect any endings?
Greirat’s death does not directly affect any of the game’s endings. However, it does impact the availability of certain items and indirectly affects the player’s experience.
15. What is the best strategy to maximize Greirat’s usefulness?
The best strategy is to complete Siegward’s questline to ensure he saves Greirat in Irithyll and buy as much as possible from Greirat’s inventory before sending him to Lothric Castle, knowing that he will not return.
In conclusion, Greirat’s story in Dark Souls 3 is a poignant reminder of the harsh realities of the game’s world. While players can influence his fate to a certain extent, his ultimate demise is unavoidable, underscoring the themes of loss and despair that permeate the Dark Souls series. Understanding the nuances of his questline allows players to make informed decisions and appreciate the tragic beauty of his character.
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