What Happens If You Don’t Serve Ranni the Witch in Elden Ring?
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If you choose to decline Ranni the Witch’s offer of servitude in Elden Ring, the immediate consequence is that her questline will not be activated. While there are no direct negative consequences to your character in terms of stats or abilities, you forego the opportunity to engage in one of the most extensive and rewarding questlines in the game, including accessing a unique ending. You can still proceed with the main storyline of becoming Elden Lord by following the guidance of the Two Fingers and pursuing other Great Runes. However, rejecting Ranni cuts you off from significant lore, powerful items, and a radically different fate for the Lands Between.
The Road Not Taken: Missed Opportunities
Choosing not to serve Ranni isn’t simply about delaying content; it’s about opting out of a parallel narrative arc with profound implications. Here’s what you’ll be missing:
- A Unique Ending: The Age of Stars ending, achievable only by completing Ranni’s questline, is a departure from the traditional Elden Lord ending. It presents a vision of a new order for the Lands Between, one influenced by cosmic forces and independent of the Greater Will.
- Fia’s Questline Interruption: Although it might seem unrelated, completing Ranni’s questline is essential to progress Fia’s quest. Without it, you won’t be able to unlock one of the most unique endings.
- Powerful Rewards: Ranni’s quest offers a treasure trove of unique weapons, armor, and spells. These include iconic items like the Dark Moon Greatsword, a powerful weapon scaled with intelligence.
- Character Interactions and Lore: A significant portion of Elden Ring’s narrative depth is woven into Ranni’s story. Rejecting her means missing out on crucial interactions with characters like Blaidd, Iji, and Seluvis, who are integral to understanding the world’s history and motivations.
- Exploration of New Areas: Ranni’s quest takes you to hidden locations across the Lands Between, including Nokron, Eternal City, the Lake of Rot, and Moonlight Altar. These areas are filled with challenging enemies, valuable resources, and intriguing secrets.
Alternative Paths and Consequences
While declining Ranni’s offer doesn’t lock you out of the main game, it limits your choices and perspectives. You’ll likely pursue one of the other Elden Ring endings, each with its own implications:
- Elden Lord Endings: Several variations of the “Elden Lord” ending exist, each determined by the completion of specific NPC questlines (e.g., the Age of Order ending with Goldmask, the Age of Duskborn ending with Fia, or the Blessing of Despair ending with Dung Eater). These endings generally involve mending the Elden Ring in some way, perpetuating the influence of the Greater Will.
- Lord of Frenzied Flame Ending: This ending presents the most radical departure from the status quo, embracing chaos and burning the Erdtree to the ground. It requires the player to inherit the Frenzied Flame from the Three Fingers beneath Leyndell. Importantly, achieving this ending locks you out of Ranni’s ending unless you use Miquella’s Needle to purge the Frenzied Flame.
FAQ: Ranni the Witch and Your Choices
Here are some frequently asked questions about Ranni the Witch and the consequences of your decisions:
1. Can I start Ranni’s questline later if I initially refuse?
Yes, you can. As the provided snippets suggests, If the player somehow misses their first encounter with Ranni, this will not prevent her quest from being completed. She can next be found in the Liurnia region, at the top of Ranni’s Rise. This provides a failsafe, allowing players to reconsider their decision.
2. What happens if Ranni is not in her tower?
Concerning Ranni, assuming she really isn’t there sitting at the top of her tower, try using a grace to reset the area and check again.
3. Does killing Radahn prevent me from doing Ranni’s quest?
Yes, if you beat Starscourge Radahn before doing Ranni’s quest, an important character will end up not being available to you. This can prevent you from completing Ranni’s questline.
4. Is Ranni good or evil?
The game does not offer a clear distinction between good or evil, but Ranni is morally grey. Many argue that her ending is the “best possible outcome” of all the game’s endings. Deciding if she is good or evil is subjective and up to the player.
5. What are the requirements for Ranni’s ending?
To get Ranni’s ending, you must complete her questline and not inherit the Frenzied Flame (or use Miquella’s Needle to quell it).
6. Who killed Ranni the Witch?
Ranni sacrificed her physical body during the Night of Black Knives, transferring her spirit into a doll. This was done in conjunction with the assassination of Godwyn the Golden.
7. How do I become Ranni’s vassal?
You can become a vassal to Ranni the witch by doing the following: Rogier will send you back to Ranni in order to become a vassal and learn the location of her Cursemark by gaining her trust. Ranni isn’t fooled by this ploy but accepts your servitude nonetheless.
8. Why is Renna’s Rise blocked?
Renna’s Rise is initially blocked by a magical barrier, similar to those found in Sellia. You’ll need to progress through Ranni’s questline to unlock it.
9. Can I meet Ranni again after her quest?
Ranni’s final location is deep down in the Cathedral of Manus Celes in Moonlight Altar. This area is available after defeating Astel, Naturalborn of the Void. To fight the boss, go to the Baleful Shadow location, then walk forward to reach the Lake of Rot.
10. What race is Ranni the witch?
Ranni is the last princess of the Carian Family, one of the most influential groups in the Lands Between.
11. Does Ranni love the Tarnished?
In the Age of the Stars ending, Ranni refers to the Tarnished as her “lord” and her “dear consort”, which indicates a deep bond.
12. Is Melina the same person as Ranni?
Some theories suggest a connection, and that Melina is Ranni’s forgotten sister.
13. Should I summon Ranni or touch Marika?
If you are going for the Age of Stars ending, once you defeat the Elden Beast, do not touch Marika’s head as you would for every other ending. Instead, look for a blue summon sign on the floor. Use this to summon Ranni, making her the new Queen of the Stars, and you her eternal consort.
14. What is the Baleful Shadow?
The Baleful Shadow will not appear unless you have spoken to the Ranni doll a few times at a Site of Grace.
15. If I don’t complete Ranni’s quest, can I still finish Fia’s questline?
No, you must complete Ranni’s questline to progress Fia’s Questline, which unlocks yet another unique ending.
Ultimately, the decision to serve Ranni is a crucial one that shapes your experience in Elden Ring. While there’s no “wrong” choice, understanding the implications of your actions is essential for making an informed decision about the fate of the Lands Between.
For more insights into gaming narratives and design, consider exploring resources like the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.