What to do with Fia in Deeproot Depths: A Comprehensive Guide

So, you’ve navigated the treacherous paths of the Lands Between and found yourself in the ethereal Deeproot Depths, face-to-face with the enigmatic Fia. You’re probably wondering, “What am I supposed to do with her down here?” The answer is layered, and it involves progressing her questline to ultimately unlock a unique ending: the Age of Duskborn. In essence, in Deeproot Depths, you need to interact with Fia’s sleeping body to enter her dream, defeat Lichdragon Fortissax, and ultimately obtain the Mending Rune of the Death-Prince. This guide will walk you through each crucial step of this process, explaining why each action is significant and addressing potential pitfalls.

Understanding Fia’s Quest and Deeproot Depths

Fia’s questline revolves around the concept of Those Who Live in Death and her desire to give them a rightful place in the world, even if it means defying the Golden Order. Deeproot Depths serves as the culmination of her journey and provides the stage for a pivotal confrontation.

Key Steps to take with Fia in Deeproot Depths:

1. Give Fia the Cursemark of Death: If you haven’t already, you must obtain the Cursemark of Death from Ranni’s questline (specifically, from the Divine Tower of Liurnia after using the Carian Inverted Statue). Return to Fia at the Deeproot Depths Site of Grace, and choose to “Talk in secret” with her. Exhaust her dialogue options, then “Give her the Cursemark of Death”.

2. Rest at a Site of Grace and Return: After giving Fia the Cursemark, rest at a Site of Grace, then return to Fia. She will now be asleep.

3. Enter the Deathbed Dream: Interact with Fia’s sleeping body to enter the Deathbed Dream. This is a critical step that initiates the Lichdragon Fortissax boss fight.

4. Defeat Lichdragon Fortissax: Within the dream, you will face Lichdragon Fortissax, a powerful dragon imbued with deathblight. Defeating him is crucial to progressing Fia’s quest. Prepare yourself with lightning-resistant armor and spells or incantations that deal significant damage.

5. Obtain the Mending Rune of the Death-Prince: After defeating Fortissax, Fia will be dead. Interact with her corpse to obtain the Mending Rune of the Death-Prince. This rune is essential for unlocking the Age of Duskborn ending at the end of the game.

The Significance of the Mending Rune of the Death-Prince

The Mending Rune of the Death-Prince allows you to mend the Elden Ring with a focus on the principles Fia espoused. Instead of eradicating Those Who Live in Death, this ending acknowledges their existence and attempts to incorporate them into the existing world order. Choosing this ending is a significant decision that reflects your alignment with Fia’s vision.

Consequences of Your Actions

Successfully completing Fia’s quest in Deeproot Depths leads to the following consequences:

• Unlocking the Age of Duskborn Ending: The primary consequence is gaining access to a unique ending that offers a different perspective on the fate of the Lands Between.
• Death of Fia: A sad but necessary event to obtain the Mending Rune. Fia’s death is integral to her goal of providing a mending rune that legitimizes Those Who Live in Death.
• Acquisition of Powerful Rewards: Besides the Mending Rune, you acquire valuable items such as the Remembrance of the Lichdragon and the Death Prince’s Staff upon defeating Lichdragon Fortissax.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Does killing Fia matter?

Directly killing Fia before completing her quest in Deeproot Depths will prevent you from fighting Lichdragon Fortissax and obtaining the Mending Rune of the Death-Prince. So, do not attack her until after you beat Lichdragon Fortissax and pick up the Mending Rune.

2. What happens if I let Fia hold me?

Allowing Fia to hold you provides you with the Baldachin’s Blessing item, which temporarily increases your poise and physical damage negation but also decreases your maximum HP by 5% until the item is used. It is useful in a pinch, but the HP reduction can be detrimental, so use it cautiously.

3. Is there anything else important in Deeproot Depths besides Fia’s quest?

Yes, Deeproot Depths contains several important items, including the Marika’s Soreseal talisman, which boosts your stats but also increases damage taken. It also hosts other enemies, including Fia’s Champions, and provides access to other areas like the Mausoleum-Keeper’s Church and the Great Waterfall Crest.

4. What happens if you hug Fia in Deeproot Depths?

Hugging Fia in Deeproot Depths grants you the Baldachin’s Blessing item but also reduces your maximum HP by 5% until you use the blessing.

5. Can I get to Fortissax if I killed Fia?

No, you cannot fight Lichdragon Fortissax if you kill Fia before completing her questline. The boss fight is triggered by interacting with her sleeping body in Deeproot Depths after giving her the Cursemark of Death.

6. Can you stop D’s brother from killing Fia?

Yes. If you choose to hand over the Twinned armor set to D’s brother, he will kill Fia later. To avoid this, simply do not give him the armor. This will allow you to complete Fia’s questline uninterrupted. However, if you do give him the armor, he will kill her, but this does not seem to impact you getting her ending or not.

7. Can I do both Fia and Ranni’s quest?

Yes, completing Ranni’s questline is necessary to obtain the Cursemark of Death, a crucial item for progressing Fia’s quest. You need to do Ranni’s quest to progress Fia’s quest. You can do both and get both endings on different playthroughs.

8. Do I let Fia hold me in Deeproot Depths?

Yes, you should let Fia hold you. This grants you the Baldachin’s Blessing item. While the HP debuff can be annoying, the blessing can be useful in certain situations, and it is part of fully experiencing Fia’s story.

9. Do I give Fia the Cursemark of Death?

Yes, you must give Fia the Cursemark of Death to progress her questline and unlock the Lichdragon Fortissax boss fight and the Age of Duskborn ending.

10. What happens after Fia dies?

After the battle with Lichdragon Fortissax, Fia will die, leaving behind the Mending Rune of the Death-Prince. Picking up this rune is necessary to achieve the Age of Duskborn ending.

11. Does Fia sleep with the Tarnished?

While the game does not explicitly show Fia sleeping with the Tarnished, dialogue suggests that she gathers “vigor” from those she embraces, hinting at a deeper connection with them and potentially other Tarnished.

12. Is the Fia ending good?

Whether Fia’s ending is “good” is subjective. It supports Those Who Live in Death and seeks to integrate them into the Lands Between, which some may see as a positive change. However, it also accepts the existence of deathblight and its potential consequences, which may be seen as negative.

13. Is there a coffin in Deeproot Depths?

There is a coffin that acts as an elevator to Deeproot Depths, accessible after defeating the Valiant Gargoyles in Siofra Aqueduct. This coffin is one of the main ways to access the region.

14. Can you get to Deeproot Depths without killing Valiant Gargoyle?

Yes, it is possible to reach Deeproot Depths without defeating the Valiant Gargoyle. There is a hidden path in the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds, near the Frenzied Flame Proscription grace, that leads to Deeproot Depths. This path involves challenging platforming and requires the use of the coffin.

15. What is the secret boss in Deeproot Depths?

The secret boss in Deeproot Depths is Lichdragon Fortissax, a powerful dragon infused with deathblight. He is found within Fia’s Deathbed Dream.

Conclusion

Navigating Fia’s questline in Deeproot Depths requires careful attention to detail and a willingness to embrace a different perspective on the Lands Between. By following these steps and understanding the consequences of your actions, you can unlock the Age of Duskborn ending and experience a unique and thought-provoking conclusion to your Elden Ring journey. Remember, the choices you make in the Lands Between have profound implications, and Fia’s quest is a testament to the complex moral landscape of the game.

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