What to Do After Killing Old Knight Istvan in Elden Ring: A Tarnished’s Guide
You’ve felled Old Knight Istvan, the first target assigned to you within the shadowy halls of Volcano Manor. Congratulations, Tarnished! But the quest is far from over. Killing Istvan is just the beginning of a tangled web of intrigue, assassination, and potentially, some pretty cool loot. So, what’s next? The immediate aftermath involves reaping your reward and progressing further down the path of the Volcano Manor questline, but the ramifications of your actions extend beyond that.
Claiming Your Reward and Continuing the Quest
Back to Tanith
Your first order of business is to return to Volcano Manor and speak with Tanith, the enigmatic leader of the recusants. Upon informing her of your success in eliminating Istvan, she will reward you with the Scaled armor set. This medium-weight armor provides decent protection and a striking aesthetic, fitting for a burgeoning assassin. More importantly, she will also bestow upon you the Magma Shot sorcery. This spell is particularly useful for those who dabble in Faith and Intelligence, allowing you to hurl globs of molten rock at your enemies.
The Next Letter
With your rewards in hand, return to the drawing room within Volcano Manor. Remember that previously locked door you unlocked? Head back there. You’ll find another letter, this one detailing your next assassination target. Accepting this letter initiates the next phase of the Volcano Manor questline.
A Branching Path
Killing Istvan effectively opens up the primary gameplay loop within Volcano Manor: receive a letter, track down the target indicated in the letter, eliminate the target, return to Tanith for a reward, and repeat. This process will continue for a limited number of assassinations, rewarding you with unique weapons, armor, and spells along the way. Think of it as an ongoing side quest that offers significant rewards and lore implications.
Long-Term Implications and Considerations
The Morality of the Manor
Engaging with the Volcano Manor questline isn’t just about acquiring gear; it’s about choosing a side in the ongoing conflict within the Lands Between. You’re siding with a group actively rebelling against the Erdtree and the Golden Order, and your actions have consequences, albeit mostly in terms of available questlines and items. Consider the moral implications of your actions and whether aligning with the Volcano Manor fits with your character’s story. The Games Learning Society, at GamesLearningSociety.org, constantly explores how game mechanics and narratives intertwine to shape player choices.
The Fate of Volcano Manor
Ultimately, your choices within Volcano Manor will lead to a confrontation with Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy. Defeating Rykard marks a significant turning point. Killing Rykard locks you out of any remaining Volcano Manor assassination quests. It’s a one-way door. So, if you want all the rewards and to see the full extent of the questline, complete all the available assassination targets BEFORE challenging Rykard.
Tanith’s End
After defeating Rykard, return to Tanith. Her dialogue will reflect a certain…unenthusiasm for your victory. Exhaust her dialogue, then leave the area and return. You’ll find Tanith in Rykard’s boss arena, feasting on his remains. You then have the option to kill her, acquiring her armor and triggering a fight with her Crucible Knight bodyguard. Killing Tanith has no bearing on the game’s ending, so it’s purely a matter of choice and loot acquisition.
Other NPCs within the Manor
Remember Rya, the young woman you first encountered near Liurnia’s Birdseye Telescope? She has her own storyline interwoven with Volcano Manor. Killing Istvan doesn’t directly impact Rya’s questline, but completing the Volcano Manor quests before Rykard’s demise is crucial for triggering certain events related to her fate. And then there’s Bernahl, a fellow recusant who sells powerful weapon arts. Killing Istvan unlocks new Ashes of War for sale in his store. Don’t forget Patches; completing the Volcano Manor quests is critical to completing the Patches questline.
A Final Note
The Volcano Manor questline is a complex and rewarding part of Elden Ring. Killing Istvan is simply the first step on a potentially dark and morally ambiguous path. Consider your choices carefully, as they will ultimately determine the fate of the Manor and its inhabitants.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I still do Volcano Manor quests after killing Rykard?
No. Killing Rykard immediately locks you out of any remaining assassination quests offered by Volcano Manor. Make sure to exhaust all available quests before facing the Lord of Blasphemy.
2. What happens to Tanith after killing Rykard?
After defeating Rykard and exhausting her dialogue at the Volcano Manor, she relocates to Rykard’s boss arena, where she can be found feasting on his corpse.
3. Should I kill Tanith after Rykard? What are the consequences?
Killing Tanith grants you her armor and triggers a fight against her Crucible Knight bodyguard. There are no significant consequences to killing Tanith, and it does not impact the game’s ending. It’s purely a matter of personal choice and loot acquisition.
4. Is there a downside to joining Volcano Manor?
The Volcano Manor quests require you to assassinate other Tarnished, which some players may find morally objectionable. However, there are no story-related downsides or negative consequences for joining the Manor in terms of affecting the game’s endings. You do gain access to unique weapons, armor, spells, and content.
5. What do I do with the Magma Shot sorcery that Tanith gives me?
Magma Shot is a Faith/Intelligence scaling sorcery that launches globs of magma at your enemies. Equip a staff capable of casting sorceries and ensure you have the required stats (14 Faith, 14 Intelligence) to cast the spell. It’s effective against enemies weak to fire damage.
6. Where is Rya after killing Rykard?
After defeating Rykard, Rya will return to her original spot in the drawing room, and later where she was standing, you can find the Daedicar’s Woe talisman. You must speak to her and reload the area. Her questline can have multiple endings depending on your dialogue choices.
7. What happens if I kill Istvan without joining Volcano Manor first?
If you kill Istvan without first receiving the letter from Volcano Manor, you will not receive the Scaled armor set or the Magma Shot sorcery. You’ll also miss out on the subsequent quests and rewards offered by the Manor.
8. Can I get Rykard’s Great Rune if I skip Volcano Manor entirely?
Yes, you can still fight Rykard and obtain his Great Rune even if you bypass the Volcano Manor questline entirely. You can simply find your way to Mt. Gelmir through alternate routes.
9. Is Rykard a mandatory boss?
No, Rykard is an optional boss. While defeating him grants you a powerful Great Rune and access to various rewards, you can technically complete the game without ever encountering him. However, you would miss out on his Remembrance and related items, as well as other items in that area.
10. Does killing Istvan affect any other questlines besides Volcano Manor?
Not directly. However, completing the Volcano Manor questline can indirectly impact other questlines, such as Rya’s, Patches’, and potentially others, depending on your actions and choices.
11. Can I bring NPCs back from the dead if I accidentally kill them?
Not all NPCs. Some key quest-givers like merchants drop bell bearings when killed, allowing you to buy from them at the Twin Maiden Husks in the Roundtable Hold, but other NPCs are permanently gone if killed. There is no way to revive Tanith if you choose to kill her after the Rykard fight.
12. Is there a level recommendation for tackling the Volcano Manor quests?
The Volcano Manor quests are generally recommended for players around level 60-80. The enemies on Mt. Gelmir and the assassination targets are typically challenging at this level range.
13. Where can I find more information about completing all the Volcano Manor quests?
Numerous online guides and wikis provide detailed walkthroughs for the Volcano Manor questline, including maps, enemy locations, and item locations. Refer to reputable sources such as the Elden Ring Wiki or well-known gaming websites.
14. What are the benefits of using Rykard’s Great Rune?
Rykard’s Great Rune restores HP upon defeating enemies, which is useful for exploring challenging areas.
15. Why is Tanith eating Rykard?
Tanith believes that Rykard is immortal and will eventually revive through her. By consuming his remains, she hopes to provide a vessel for his rebirth. Rykard does, after all, say “No one will hold me captive. A serpent never dies”.