Navigating the Lands Between is about more than just defeating bosses; it's about the stories woven into its very fabric. For many Tarnished, the journey is defined by the characters they meet, from the tragic Irina to the enigmatic Ranni the Witch. As of 2026, the quests remain as intricate and rewarding as ever, offering alternate endings, legendary armaments, and profound insights into the world's lore. This guide distills the essential paths for over two dozen key NPCs, helping you avoid frustrating lock-outs and ensuring you don't miss a single piece of the epic puzzle. Think of these quests as fragile, interconnected spiderwebs—touch one strand carelessly, and the entire structure can collapse. Or, perhaps more fittingly, they are like a grand, multi-layered symphony where missing a single note can change the entire melody.

🗺️ Irina & Edgar: A Tale of Tragedy

This quest is a masterclass in FromSoftware's signature melancholy. It begins with a simple delivery but spirals into a heartbreaking story of loss and vengeance.

• Steps: Exhaust Irina's dialogue at the Bridge of Sacrifice, deliver her letter to her father Edgar in Castle Morne, defeat the Leonine Misbegotten boss, and then return to Irina. Finally, face the invader Edgar the Revenger at the Revenger's Shack.

• Key Rewards: Sacrificial Twig, Shabriri Grape, Banished Knights Halberd +8, and the iconic Grafted Blade Greatsword.

• Affects: This quest directly initiates Hyetta's questline. Failing to complete it before certain major events will lock you out of her story.

• Pro Tip: This quest is the first thread in a larger tapestry involving the Frenzied Flame. Handle it with care!

😷 White Mask Varré: The Path of Blood

Your first encounter with Varré is deceptively simple. His questline is a gateway to one of the game's most infamous and rewarding early-game areas, Mohgwyn Palace.

• Steps: Talk to him at The First Step, defeat Godrick or get a Great Rune, use the Festering Bloody Finger to invade three other worlds, then follow his bloody trail to the Rose Church and beyond.

• Key Rewards: The Pureblood Knight's Medal (teleports you to Mohgwyn Palace), Varré's Bouquet (weapon), the War Surgeon Set, and the Bloody Finger for unlimited invasions.

• Lock-Out: Progressing too far in the main story without starting his quest can close this path. It's a quest that demands early attention, like a rare orchid that blooms only under specific, bloody conditions.

🧵 Boc the Seamster: A Tailor's Dream

Everyone's favorite seamster offers one of the most useful services in the game: free armor alterations.

• Steps: Find him as a tree in Limgrave, defeat the boss of the Coastal Cave for him, give him the Gold Sewing Needle found in Leyndell, and finally, speak to him near Rennala. Crucial Choice: Give him a Larval Tear to reshape him, or tell him he's beautiful as he is.

• Key Rewards: Free armor alteration for the rest of the game, the My Lord gesture, and some mushrooms.

• Heads Up: Giving him the Larval Tear leads to his death. The kindest option is to reassure him of his worth.

👻 Roderika: The Spirit Tuner

A scared girl who becomes an invaluable ally at the Roundtable Hold.

• Steps: Meet her at the Stormhill Shack, optionally retrieve the Chrysalids' Memento from Stormveil Castle for extra dialogue, and then encourage her at the Hold to become a Spirit Tuner.

• Key Rewards: The Spirit Jellyfish Ashes early on, and her permanent services as a Spirit Tuner to upgrade your ashes. Later, she gives the Crimson Hood.

• Synergy: Her story is intertwined with Smithing Master Hewg, creating a poignant subplot at the Hold.

⚔️ Ranni the Witch: The Age of Stars

This is arguably the game's most extensive and rewarding questline, culminating in a major alternate ending.

• Steps: Meet her as Renna at the Church of Elleh at night, then find her at Ranni's Rise in Liurnia. You'll embark on a massive journey involving Blaidd, Iji, and Seluvis to retrieve the Fingerslayer Blade, Carian Inverted Statue, and the Cursemark of Death.

• Key Rewards: The legendary Dark Moon Greatsword, the Age of the Stars ending, and tons of lore.

• Major Lock-Out: DO NOT give Ranni the Amber Draught from Seluvis's quest. This will immediately end her questline. Also, progressing too far with the Dung Eater can conflict.

• It's a Marathon: This quest is a sprawling epic, a narrative labyrinth that requires patience and attention to detail.

🏺 Iron Fist Alexander: The Warrior Jar

A jovial, brave jar warrior on his own quest for strength. His journey takes him to the most dangerous battlefields.

• Steps: Find him stuck in the ground in Limgrave (you need to hit him to free him!), help him at the Gael Tunnel, summon him for the Radahn festival, find him bathing in lava in Mt. Gelmir, and finally, assist him in Crumbling Farum Azula.

• Key Rewards: Shard of Alexander (fantastic skill damage boost), Warrior Jar Shard, Jar Helmet, and Alexander's Innards (needed for Jar Bairn's quest).

• Lock-Out: Skipping the initial step in Limgrave can break the entire chain.

🔥 Hyetta: The Frenzied Flame

The continuation of Irina's story, leading to the most chaotic ending.

• Steps: Interact with Irina's body to start. Find Hyetta at various sites of grace in Liurnia and feed her Shabriri Grapes (three total). The final grape is the Fingerprint Grape from the Lord of Frenzied Flame's domain.

• Key Rewards: The Frenzied Flame Seal and access to the Lord of the Frenzied Flame ending.

• Prerequisite: You must complete Irina/Edgar's quest to start this.

• Consequence: Embracing the Three Fingers for this ending will cause Melina to leave you and vow to kill you.

💀 Fia: The Deathbed Companion

A quest steeped in death and those who live in defiance of it.

• Steps: Embrace her multiple times at the Roundtable Hold to receive a Baldachin's Blessing and unlock her quest. Retrieve the Black Knifeprint for Rogier, then give the Weathered Dagger to D. Later, champion her cause against the Dung Eater and face Lichdragon Fortissax.

• Key Rewards: Mending Rune of the Death-Prince (for an ending), Fia's Set, and powerful spells.

• Lock-Out: Reaching Crumbling Farum Azula before completing her quest will lock you out of the Fortissax fight and her rune.

🧙 Sorceress Sellen: The Graven Witch

A quest of sorcerous ambition and betrayal at Raya Lucaria Academy.

• Steps: Find her imprisoned in two locations (Waypoint Ruins and Witchbane Ruins). Free her and bring her to the Academy. You'll be tasked with finding other sorcerers like Lusat and Azur. Ultimately, you must choose to side with her or Witch-Hunter Jerren.

• Key Rewards: Side with Sellen to get the Witch's Glintstone Crown. Side with Jerren to get his armor. Both paths offer unique spells.

🌸 Millicent: The Valkyrie's Choice

A touching quest about a woman afflicted with the Scarlet Rot, seeking her purpose.

• Steps: Get the Unalloyed Gold Needle from Gowry after defeating Commander O'Neil. Cure Millicent, then aid her at multiple locations: Windmill Heights, Dominula, and the Haligtree.

• The Final Choice: At the Haligtree, you can either assist Millicent against her sisters or invade and kill her. This is one of the game's most morally significant decisions.

• Key Rewards: Assisting her grants Miquella's Needle (which can undo the Frenzied Flame), the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia, and the Millicent's Prosthesis talisman. Invading her gives the latter talisman earlier.

🎭 Seluvis: The Puppet Master

A sinister preceptor with dark ambitions. Tread carefully, as his schemes can ruin other quests.

• Steps: As part of Ranni's quest, he will ask you to give a potion to Nepheli Loux. You can give it to her, give it to the Dung Eater instead, or simply not do it. Explore his secret laboratory beneath the Three Sisters to discover his puppet obsession.

• Key Rewards: The Magic Scorpion Charm and the ability to purchase powerful puppet spirit ashes.

• CATACLYSMIC LOCK-OUT: If you give his potion to Ranni, her entire questline ends immediately. This is a point of no return.

🏔️ Latenna: The Albinauric Archer

A simple, linear quest with a powerful reward for summoner builds.

• Steps: Find her in the Lakeside Crystal Cave after speaking to Albus in the Village of the Albinaurics. Promise to take her to the Haligtree. Once you have both halves of the Haligtree Secret Medallion, summon her at the Apostate Derelict in the Consecrated Snowfield.

• Key Rewards: Latenna the Albinauric Ashes, a unique spirit summon that fires arrows continuously, and a Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone.

• Lock-Out: Getting the left half of the medallion from the Castle Sol before meeting her can potentially bug the quest.

🏰 Tanith & Volcano Manor: The Recusants

A questline that runs parallel to the main story, offering unique rewards for acting as an assassin.

• Steps: Join the Volcano Manor and complete the first two written assassination contracts. After completing the second, you'll receive a key to a room with a third, special contract. Important: Complete ALL assassination contracts (the written ones and the special one) BEFORE defeating the area boss, Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy.

• Key Rewards: Serpentbone Blade, Taker's Cameo (talisman), Magma Shot (spell), and the Raging Wolf Set.

• Lock-Out: Defeating Rykard ends all Volcano Manor quests. Do your contracts first!

🕵️ Gideon Ofnir: The All-Knowing

The leader of the Roundtable Hold rewards you for uncovering the world's secrets.

• Steps: After major story milestones (defeating Radahn, Mohg, Malenia, etc.), return to Gideon and tell him what you've learned ("I've heard another of the demigods' fates").

• Key Rewards: Various valuable cookbooks and powerful incantations like Black Flame's Protection.

• Lock-Out: If you defeat Maliketh, the Black Blade, in Crumbling Farum Azula before reporting all your findings, you'll miss out on his final rewards and a unique boss fight phase.

💎 Final Tips for the Aspiring Lord

1. Exhaust Dialogue: Always talk to NPCs until they start repeating themselves.

2. Check the Hold: After every major event, return to the Roundtable Hold. Many quests advance there.

3. Lock-Outs are Real: Major story progress (like burning the Erdtree) can permanently end many quests. If you're a completionist, finish NPC stories first.

4. Journey vs. Destination: Some of the most memorable moments in Elden Ring aren't the rewards, but the stories themselves—like Boc finding his confidence or Alexander seeking glory. Enjoy the path as much as the prize.

The Lands Between is a world alive with stories waiting to be uncovered. With this guide, you're equipped to experience every tragic, triumphant, and twisted tale it has to offer on your path to becoming Elden Lord. Now, go forth, Tarnished, and weave your own legend! ✨