Tracking Ranni: Finding the Witch After the Ring
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After besting Astel, Naturalborn of the Void and retrieving the Dark Moon Ring, you’re probably itching to know: Where is Ranni after you get the ring? The answer is that you must return to the Cathedral of Manus Celes. This is Ranni’s last location, and you can find her there after defeating Astel. After lighting the Site of Lost Grace, head southeast and jump down on the small platforms. You’ll eventually find a bloodied doll, which is Ranni’s true, deceased body. That’s where you’ll place the ring.
Deep Dive into Ranni’s Journey After the Ring Ceremony
Once you place the Dark Moon Ring on the doll that represents Ranni’s physical form in the Cathedral of Manus Celes, a significant event unfolds, permanently changing the trajectory of your game.
The Ritual Completion and Its Immediate Aftermath
The act of giving Ranni the ring finalizes the Age of Stars ending. After the cutscene that follows the placement of the ring, she is no longer physically present in the Cathedral. This moment solidifies your bond with Ranni, designating you as her consort and setting the stage for the new order she intends to usher into the Lands Between. It’s a crucial turning point; you are no longer just a Tarnished seeking the Elden Ring, but a key player in a cosmic shift.
Preparing for the Endgame: What Happens Next?
While Ranni herself vanishes from the Cathedral of Manus Celes after the ritual, her influence remains and this sets the stage for the game’s climax. Your immediate goal is to prepare for the final battles, including the confrontation with the Elden Beast.
The Final Decision: Summoning Ranni
After you beat the Elden Beast, the final boss of Elden Ring, a summoning sign will appear. Using this sign will trigger the Age of Stars ending. The Age of Stars ending is a permanent choice, thus ending the game the way that Ranni intends for it to end.
The Age of Stars and Ranni’s Vision
After summoning Ranni, she will reveal more about her plan for the Age of Stars. This plan involves taking the Elden Ring away from the influence of the Greater Will and ushering in an era of cold, cosmic solitude, guided by the wisdom of the moon. This ending is seen by many as the “best” ending because it is the only ending where the Lands Between end up in a better place than it started.
What To Expect From Ranni After Placing the Ring
After placing the ring and before defeating the final boss, you won’t have further direct interactions with Ranni in the traditional sense. Her presence is more of an guiding force. The culmination of your quest is the Age of Stars ending, the last scene where you will be able to interact with Ranni.
The Significance of the Dark Moon Greatsword
As a reward for placing the Dark Moon Ring, you receive the Dark Moon Greatsword. This weapon is iconic and heavily connected to Ranni and the Moonlight Greatsword from other FromSoftware games. It is an amazing weapon for Intelligence-based builds.
FAQs: Delving Deeper into Ranni’s Quest and Lore
Here are some Frequently Asked Questions to further expand your understanding of Ranni’s questline and her whereabouts in the game.
1. Can you talk to Ranni after beating Elden Ring?
Yes, but only in the cutscene associated with the Age of Stars ending, which is triggered by using the summon sign that appears after defeating the final boss. This dialogue is the culmination of her quest and reveals her vision for the new age.
2. What happens if you beat Radahn before meeting Ranni?
If you beat Starscourge Radahn before meeting Ranni, an important character will end up not being available to you. You can free this important character from captivity, but then he seems to disappear completely. Because of this, you cannot complete Ranni’s quest.
3. Where is Ranni after you first meet her?
You first meet Ranni, disguised as Renna, at the Church of Elleh in Limgrave. She gives you the Spirit Calling Bell and Lone Wolf Ashes. After this encounter, she disappears until you find her again in Ranni’s Rise in Liurnia.
4. Is Ranni good or evil?
Whether Ranni is good or evil is subjective and depends on your interpretation. Some consider her actions morally gray, but believe her ending provides the “best possible outcome” for the Lands Between. While some claim that the most “good” ending is the Age of Stars ending, some believe the Age of Order ending is better.
5. Why is Blaidd the half-wolf hostile?
Blaidd is initially Ranni’s loyal shadow, tasked to protect her. However, the Two Fingers cursed Blaidd such that if Ranni ever abandoned her destiny, Blaidd would lose himself, becoming bloodthirsty with an uncontrollable urge to kill.
6. What happens if you don’t join Ranni?
If you decline Ranni’s offer to help, you can continue with other questlines and endings. There are no direct negative consequences for refusing her, but you will miss out on the Age of Stars ending and the associated rewards.
7. Why is Renna’s Rise blocked?
Renna’s Rise is initially blocked by a magical barrier. To remove the barrier, you must start Ranni’s quest by speaking with her in Ranni’s Rise, which is the central tower of the three. She will then charge you with uncovering Nokron the Eternal City with her servant, Blaidd.
8. Does Ranni love the Tarnished?
In the Age of the Stars ending, Ranni refers to the Tarnished as her “lord” and “dear consort,” showing that she acknowledges you not only as Elden Lord but also as her spouse. Whether this constitutes love is open to interpretation.
9. Can you meet Ranni again after her quest?
You won’t encounter Ranni physically after completing her quest until the final choice to trigger the Age of Stars ending. After completing the questline, you will not be able to talk to her again until triggering the ending.
10. Who was killed by Ranni?
In the Night of Black Knives, Ranni orchestrated the death of her own body, transferring her spirit into a doll. The assassins simultaneously murdered Godwyn the Golden in spirit, leading to significant consequences for the Golden Order.
11. Is Melina the same person as Ranni?
There are theories suggesting a connection between Melina and Ranni, with some believing Melina is Ranni’s forgotten sister. Both have ties to Queen Marika and exist as spirits, adding fuel to this speculation.
12. What is the hardest ending to get in Elden Ring?
The most difficult ending to achieve in Elden Ring is the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending. To get this ending, you need to undertake a pretty difficult and esoteric quest, meaning you might not ever come across it over the course of your standard play.
13. Is Ranni the Tarnished wife?
In the Age of the Stars ending, Ranni refers to the Tarnished as her “lord” and her “dear consort”, showing that she has not just acknowledged them as being Elden Lord, but has also acknowledged their own spouse by her side. This alludes that Ranni and the Tarnished are husband and wife.
14. What is the best Elden Ring ending?
Most believe the “best” Elden Ring ending is the Age of Stars ending. Other great endings are the Lord of the Frenzied Flame ending, the Age of Order ending, and the Age of the Duskborn ending.
15. Where is Ranni after she disappears?
The Cathedral of Manus Celes is Ranni’s last location, and she can be found there upon defeating Astel. Light the Site of Lost Grace, and then head southeast and jump down on the small platforms. Down there, players will find a bloodied doll, which is Ranni’s body. After placing the ring, she is in the doll and cannot be found again until the end of the game.
Conclusion: Ranni’s Everlasting Impact
The journey with Ranni is one of the most intricate and impactful questlines in Elden Ring. While her physical whereabouts become less crucial after the ring ceremony, her influence on the game’s world and its ending remains profound. By understanding the events following this pivotal moment, players can fully appreciate the depth and complexity of her character and the choices they make along the way. For more insights into the world of gaming and learning, visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.