Gowry’s Talisman: Why Isn’t It Dropping? A Comprehensive Guide
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The elusive Flock’s Canvas Talisman, a coveted item for Faith-based builds in Elden Ring, is often the source of frustration for players attempting to acquire it from Sage Gowry. The primary reason Gowry isn’t dropping the talisman upon death is simple: you must complete Millicent’s questline to the point where Gowry is in a state of despair and ready to die. Killing him prematurely will only result in him respawning, preventing you from obtaining the talisman. Furthermore, if you choose to side with Millicent instead of betraying her, Gowry will not drop the talisman until after Millicent’s quest is complete.
Understanding the Gowry and Millicent Quest Interplay
Gowry’s fate is inextricably linked to Millicent’s questline. He is deeply invested in her journey and acts as both a guide and, arguably, a manipulator. His dialogue, actions, and even his eventual demise are all dictated by your choices in Millicent’s story.
- Initial Encounters: You first meet Gowry in his shack in Caelid, where he tasks you with finding Millicent and curing her of Scarlet Rot.
- The Valkyrie’s Prosthesis: Progressing the quest requires obtaining the Valkyrie’s Prosthesis and giving it to Millicent. This allows you to purchase the Pest Threads incantation from Gowry.
- The Choice: The crucial point is after defeating the Godskin Apostle in the Dominula, Windmill Village. You will find Millicent at the Ancient Snow Valley Ruins Site of Grace in the Mountaintops of the Giants. After exhausting her dialogue, she moves towards the Haligtree. There you will have to choose between aiding Millicent or betraying her by invading her world near the Prayer Room Site of Grace in Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree.
- Helping Millicent: Siding with Millicent involves defeating her four invading sisters, and then choosing to assist her, leading to her death with her purpose fulfilled.
- Betraying Millicent: Siding against Millicent results in her death as an invader, in which case Gowry will cry in his shack and ask you to kill her.
- Gowry’s Despair and Death: Only after Millicent’s questline is fully resolved – either by assisting her or betraying her – and Gowry expresses his despair in his shack, will he drop the Flock’s Canvas Talisman upon being killed. If Millicent has achieved her wish and faded away you will find Gowry dead in his shack with the talisman on the floor.
Common Mistakes and Misconceptions
Many players rush to kill Gowry without fully understanding the quest’s nuances. Here are some common mistakes that prevent the talisman from dropping:
- Killing Gowry too early: As mentioned, killing him before completing Millicent’s questline will simply cause him to respawn.
- Killing Millicent early: This might seem like a shortcut, but it disrupts the intended quest progression and prevents Gowry from reaching his final state.
- Not exhausting dialogue options: Ensure you exhaust all dialogue options with both Millicent and Gowry at each stage of the quest. This is crucial for triggering the next steps.
- Misinterpreting quest triggers: The quest progresses based on specific actions and dialogue choices, not just location or time.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why can’t I buy Pest Threads from Gowry?
You can only purchase Pest Threads from Gowry after giving Millicent the Valkyrie’s Prosthesis. Before that, he won’t offer the incantation.
2. At what point can you safely kill Gowry for the talisman?
You can kill Gowry to obtain the Flock’s Canvas Talisman only after Millicent’s questline is fully resolved and he is found crying or dead in his shack.
3. Where is Gowry located after I finish a certain part of Millicent’s quest?
Gowry remains in his shack in Caelid, located between the Sellia Gateway and Sellia, Town of Sorcery, throughout Millicent’s questline, always returning there after other interactions.
4. What do I do after giving Gowry the Unalloyed Gold Needle?
After giving Gowry the Unalloyed Gold Needle, fast travel to a nearby Site of Grace and return. Gowry will have “cured” the needle, returning it to you and providing a clue about treasure in Sellia.
5. What happens if I kill Gowry prematurely?
Killing Gowry before he is ready to die due to the progression of Millicent’s quest will only cause him to respawn. You will not get the talisman, however you will still get the bell bearing.
6. Do I need to kill Malenia to complete Millicent’s quest?
Yes, you need to defeat Malenia to obtain the Unalloyed Gold Needle from the flower left behind in her arena, a critical item for Millicent’s questline.
7. Is Millicent related to Malenia?
The game heavily implies that Millicent is either a daughter, clone, or “offshoot” of Malenia, the Goddess of Rot. Gowry seems to confirm this, but the exact nature of their relationship remains somewhat ambiguous.
8. Is Gowry Millicent’s father?
Gowry found Millicent and her “sisters” in the Swamp of Aeonia and raised them. He sees them as buds, hoping they will bloom into scarlet valkyries. He acts as a father figure, but his true motives are more complex.
9. Is Gowry secretly a servant of the Rot?
While Gowry initially appears to be helping Millicent, his ultimate desire is for her to become a vessel for the Scarlet Rot. This suggests he might be a servant of the Outer God associated with the Rot.
10. Does killing Tanith affect Millicent’s quest or Gowry’s talisman?
No, killing Tanith has no impact on Millicent’s questline or Gowry’s talisman. The two questlines are completely independent.
11. Does Gowry have a bell bearing?
Yes, killing Gowry, after he is ready to die, will drop Gowry’s Bell Bearing. Offering this to the Twin Maiden Husks at the Roundtable Hold unlocks his shop inventory.
12. Can I “cheese” the Elden Beast fight to get to Malenia quicker?
While strategies exist to simplify the Elden Beast fight (like using the Mimic Tear), they don’t directly impact or speed up Millicent’s quest. You still need to defeat Malenia legitimately to progress.
13. Where does Millicent move to after killing her sisters in the Haligtree?
After killing Millicent’s sisters in the Haligtree, you will have to reload the area. Millicent will be there and can be summoned for a boss fight. After that Boss fight you will have to choose to betray or help Millicent.
14. Is Millicent’s quest worth completing?
Yes, Millicent’s quest is highly rewarding. It unlocks access to different endings. It gives you access to the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia talisman.
15. How do I learn more about the lore surrounding Elden Ring’s characters and quests?
Delving into the lore of Elden Ring is a fascinating experience. Resources like the Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org) offer insights into the game’s design and narrative, helping you appreciate the intricacies of characters like Gowry and Millicent. The Games Learning Society provides a platform for exploring the deeper meanings and connections within the game’s world.
In conclusion, obtaining the Flock’s Canvas Talisman from Gowry is a matter of patience and diligent quest progression. By understanding the nuances of Millicent’s questline and avoiding common mistakes, you can ensure that Gowry finally drops the coveted talisman upon his demise. Good luck, Tarnished!