As I wander the vast and hostile expanse of the Lands Between, a land marred by terrible tragedy and ruled by monstrous forces, the moments of quiet reflection with its inhabitants become precious. The world is sparsely populated, filled not with bustling towns but with beaten and downtrodden individuals, each broken in their own way by the cataclysm that shattered the realm. Yet, in this desolation, I am never truly alone. The various NPCs I encounter, though few and far between, offer more than just a friendly face; they are beacons of lore, quest-givers, and sometimes, reluctant allies. They bestow upon me vital items, unravel the tangled history of the land's ruin, and offer cryptic guidance on my perilous quest to become the Elden Lord. The journey to find them all feels like a quest in itself, a hunt to the very ends of this broken world to compile every last soul who still lingers.

The Scattered Few: Nearly 100 Souls to Find

You might scour every crumbling castle, every sunken ruin, and every blighted swamp and still wonder if you've met everyone. Surrounded by armies of hostile knights, terrible monsters, and the ever-looming threat of the next formidable boss, finding a being that doesn't immediately try to end your life is a rare and welcome reprieve.

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From my own extensive travels, I can confirm that you'll meet 92 distinct NPCs in the world. This number is staggering when you consider the ambient loneliness of the setting. Most of them are willing to help, in their own mysterious ways. They stand in stark contrast to the legions of foes, offering quests, upgrades, and fragments of understanding.

  • Static Guardians: Generally, many NPCs are relatively static, taking up residence in a single, often well-hidden location for the majority of the game. They become familiar landmarks in an otherwise shifting, dangerous landscape.

  • The Wanderers: However, there are plenty that travel throughout the Lands Between. Their journeys are typically triggered by key events in your own progression or the completion of their intricate personal questlines.

  • A Journeying Companion: A perfect example is the jovial Iron Fist Alexander. This living, talking jar warrior doesn't stay put; his questline sends him to multiple, often perilous locales, and encountering him at each stage feels like checking in with an old friend amidst the chaos.

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Echoes of the Past: The Spectral Inhabitants

Beyond the living (or at least corporeal) characters, the Lands Between is haunted by another type of presence.

Spirit NPCs Are A Little Different

These spectral forms are a haunting and poignant part of the world's fabric. You find them in forgotten corners, at sites of great tragedy, or simply along lonely roads. They are Ghostly And Confusing, translucent and ephemeral.

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Unlike their tangible counterparts, these spirits are not interactable in a traditional sense. You cannot trade with them or receive quests. Their purpose is almost purely expositional and atmospheric. They rarely do much other than moan about their past failures, lament their lost purpose, or talk about the fall of the Lands Between. Through their fragmented dialogues, they provide crucial, if cryptic, insight into the world's history and the personal costs of the Shattering. They are living (or rather, unliving) records of the realm's despair.

A peculiar note is that some of these spirits can be found in multiple locations, which can be disorienting. It blurs the line between a unique character and a recurring phenomenon, a ghostly echo that plays on repeat across the land.

The Greater Population: Bosses and Beyond

The count of 92 NPCs is just the beginning when considering the full population of the Lands Between. If you were to expand the definition, the numbers swell dramatically.

Entity Type Approximate Count Role/Consideration
Friendly/Lore NPCs 92 Quest-givers, merchants, story-critical characters.
Major & Minor Bosses 165+ From Erdtree Avatars to Demigods. Often have unique dialogue or lore.
Spirit NPCs Numerous Environmental storytellers, non-interactive.
Common Enemies Thousands Technically NPCs, but not considered "characters."

The game boasts more than 165 unique bosses, each with their own arena, mechanics, and place in the lore. If you added these to the friendly NPCs, that would bring your final total up to 257 named, unique characters you can encounter. Of course, there's plenty of debate about whether a boss like the Fell Omen or Starscourge Radahn should be considered an "NPC" in the same way as Merchant Kalé or Roderika. They serve a very different gameplay function, yet they are undeniably central characters in the world's narrative.

The same logic applies to the thousands of common soldiers, demi-humans, and beasts that fill the world. They are technically non-player characters, but they lack the individuality and narrative weight to be counted among the game's memorable faces. 😅

Either way, the total is immense. Between the 92 souls to seek out and converse with, the over 165 monumental challenges to overcome, and the countless spectral echoes whispering secrets, the Lands Between is utterly brimming with life, death, and everything in between. It's a world designed to keep a curious Tarnished like myself busy, searching, and utterly immersed for a long, long time. The feeling of discovering a new, friendly face in a hidden alcove, or finally deciphering the lament of a ancient spirit, remains one of the most compelling rewards this unforgiving world has to offer. The population may be sparse, but every single encounter is dense with meaning.