Serving the Lunar Princess: A Deep Dive into Ranni’s Questline in Elden Ring
Choosing to serve Ranni the Witch in Elden Ring is a pivotal decision that unlocks one of the game’s most intricate and rewarding questlines, leading to the Age of the Stars ending. Agreeing to her request opens a door to a vast new area of the map, introduces a host of compelling characters, and ultimately grants access to unique gear, spells, and a profound impact on the future of the Lands Between. It’s a commitment to a path far removed from the Golden Order, a journey into the mysteries of the moon and stars, and a partnership with a powerful Empyrean seeking to reshape the world. The quest involves uncovering secrets, battling formidable foes, and making crucial choices that determine not only Ranni’s fate, but the fate of the entire world.
The Path of the Empyrean: Embracing Ranni’s Quest
The Initial Agreement and Immediate Consequences
Upon reaching Ranni’s Rise in the Three Sisters area of Liurnia of the Lakes, Ranni will present the Tarnished with a proposition: to become her champion and aid her in her grand design. Accepting this offer is the catalyst for her entire questline. Saying “yes” immediately enlists you as a member of her retinue, granting access to her objectives and setting in motion the chain of events that follows. There are no immediate negative consequences to agreeing; only the potential for great reward and the shifting allegiances that will unfold.
The Retinue Assembled
Once you agree to serve, Ranni tasks you with enlisting the aid of her spectral advisors: Blaidd the Half-Wolf, War Counselor Iji, and Preceptor Seluvis. This initial task establishes the foundation of Ranni’s plan and sets the player on a course to investigate the eternal city of Nokron. Each of these individuals will have a unique and important role to play as you progress through the main storyline.
Uncovering Nokron and the Fingerslayer Blade
The next crucial step is to discover a way to reach Nokron, Eternal City. This involves defeating Starscourge Radahn at Redmane Castle in Caelid. Radahn’s defeat causes the stars to align, quite literally, creating a path to Nokron through a falling meteor. Within Nokron, the Tarnished must navigate the treacherous city and ultimately retrieve the Fingerslayer Blade, a weapon capable of defying the Greater Will. This artifact is essential for progressing Ranni’s quest.
The Dark Moon Ring and the Lunar Altar
After presenting the Fingerslayer Blade to Ranni, she will grant access to new areas, including the Cathedral of Manus Celes through the Lunar Altar. This area is reached by venturing through the Lake of Rot and defeating Astel, Naturalborn of the Void. Within the Cathedral, you will find a miniature Ranni doll which you need to interact with multiple times at a site of grace. These interactions will then lead to a mini-boss battle against Baleful Shadow. After defeating Baleful Shadow Ranni will bestow the Dark Moon Ring. Finally, you must present the Dark Moon Ring to Ranni’s true form in the depths of the Cathedral. This will be followed by a cut scene effectively making you Ranni’s consort.
The Age of Stars Ending
The culmination of Ranni’s questline arrives after defeating the final boss, the Elden Beast. Instead of mending the Elden Ring to restore the Golden Order, a blue summon sign will appear on the ground. Interacting with this summon sign allows the Tarnished to summon Ranni, ushering in the Age of the Stars. This ending sees Ranni becoming the new god of the Elden Ring, instituting a new order under the influence of the moon and stars. In this ending, the Tarnished is effectively her consort, bound to her for eternity as the Elden Lord of the new order.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does serving Ranni lock you out of other quests?
Yes and no. Agreeing to serve Ranni will eventually lock you out of completing Seluvis’s questline, and, by extension, aspects of Nepheli’s, Sellen’s, and the Dung Eater’s quests. However, you can still complete other quests, such as Fia’s questline. This also leads to another unique ending.
2. Should I give Ranni the ring?
Yes! Giving Ranni the Dark Moon Ring is essential for completing her questline and unlocking the Age of the Stars ending. Doing so will reward you with the legendary Dark Moon Greatsword and set the stage for the final act of her plan.
3. Does finishing Ranni’s quest end the game?
No, finishing Ranni’s questline simply unlocks the option to trigger the Age of the Stars ending after defeating the final boss. You are not forced into this ending; you can choose to mend the Elden Ring and pursue one of the other endings if you prefer.
4. Should I summon Ranni at the end?
If you wish to experience the Age of the Stars ending, then yes, you should summon Ranni by interacting with the blue summon sign that appears after defeating the final boss. This initiates the cutscene that depicts the ushering in of the new age.
5. Should I summon Ranni or touch Marika?
Do not touch Marika’s head if you intend to pursue the Age of the Stars ending. Instead, look for and interact with the blue summon sign on the floor to summon Ranni. Touching Marika will lock you into one of the standard Elden Lord endings.
6. Which ending is best in Elden Ring?
The “best” ending is subjective and depends on your personal preferences. However, the Age of the Stars ending is often considered one of the most impactful, as it represents a significant shift in the world’s order and a complete departure from the Golden Order.
7. Does Ranni love the Tarnished?
While “love” is a complex concept, the Age of the Stars ending strongly implies a deep connection between Ranni and the Tarnished. She refers to the Tarnished as her “lord” and “dear consort,” suggesting a bond that transcends mere servitude.
8. Where does Ranni go after you marry her?
Ranni’s final location is in the Cathedral of Manus Celes in the Moonlight Altar region, deep beneath Liurnia. This area is only accessible after progressing significantly through her questline and defeating Astel, Naturalborn of the Void.
9. What ending does Melina want?
Melina ultimately desires the Tarnished to become Elden Lord and restore the Golden Order by mending the Elden Ring. Her ending is achieved by interacting with the fractured Marika after defeating the Elden Beast, without using any of the special summon signs for alternate endings.
10. Why is Renna’s Rise blocked?
Renna’s Rise is initially blocked by a magical barrier to direct the player toward Ranni’s Rise and initiate her questline. Once you start Ranni’s quest, Renna’s Rise becomes accessible later in the storyline.
11. Do you have to beat Rennala to meet Ranni?
No, you do not need to defeat Rennala to meet Ranni and begin her questline. However, defeating Rennala is essential to progress further into the game, so you will eventually need to defeat her regardless.
12. Can I do both Fia and Ranni’s quests?
Yes, you can complete both Fia’s and Ranni’s questlines within the same playthrough. Completing both quests simply unlocks access to two additional endings after defeating the final boss. You can chose one of the endings to initiate by interacting with the correct trigger.
13. Can you still do Ranni’s quest after killing Radahn?
Yes, you can still do Ranni’s quest after killing Radahn. However, killing Radahn is required to progress Ranni’s questline, as his defeat opens the path to Nokron, Eternal City.
14. Is Ranni evil or good?
Ranni’s morality is ambiguous. While she seeks to overthrow the Golden Order, her motives are not necessarily malicious. She believes in freedom from the influence of the Greater Will, even if it requires radical change. Whether she is “good” or “evil” depends on your own interpretation of her actions and goals. The Games Learning Society often analyzes these complex character motivations in the context of game narratives.
15. Is Melina and Ranni the same?
No, Melina and Ranni are not the same person. While there are theories about their potential connections, they are distinct characters with separate goals and backstories. They may have a family relationship based on game lore, but they are not the same individual. For more about the intersection of learning and video games, you can visit GamesLearningSociety.org.
Serving Ranni is more than just completing a quest; it’s about embracing a new philosophy and shaping the world according to your own vision. It’s a journey filled with peril, discovery, and ultimately, the power to define the very nature of reality in the Lands Between.