As a Tarnished who has journeyed through the vast and mysterious lands of the Lands Between in 2026, I have encountered many enigmatic characters, but few are as fascinating and morally ambiguous as Preceptor Seluvis. His questline is a dense, interwoven thread in the grand tapestry of Elden Ring, one that forces you to confront some of the game's darkest secrets. At the heart of this narrative lies his infamous potion and the discovery of a hidden sanctum that reveals the true, unsettling nature of his sorcery. While exploring the new content in Shadow of the Erdtree is an incredible experience on its own, having completed quests like Seluvis's beforehand provides a deeper, richer context and makes the challenges ahead feel more manageable. This journey isn't just about progressing a story; it's about uncovering a hidden layer of the world that offers unique rewards and forces difficult, impactful choices.

The Path to Unlocking the Secret

My journey to find Seluvis's secret chamber was not a straightforward one. His quest is deeply entangled with the fates of other NPCs, most notably the warrior Nepheli Loux and the sorceress Ranni the Witch. The choices I made during these interactions felt weighty and consequential. As I progressed through his dialogue and tasks, Seluvis eventually granted me the privilege of purchasing powerful sorceries from him. It was at this pivotal moment that the possibility of accessing his secret room was first hinted at—a privilege that signified a disturbing level of trust or perhaps, more accurately, a shared complicity in his dark arts.

The key to finding the entrance lay not at Seluvis's own tower, but amidst the ruins near Ranni's Rise Site of Grace. I remember the atmosphere vividly: the perpetual twilight, the haunting silence broken only by the wind. Among several sets of ruins, I had to locate the specific cluster to the left of Ranni's Rise. It looked unremarkable, just another collection of broken stones. However, upon stepping into the center of these ruins, a spectral enemy materialized to guard the secret. After a tense battle, I was left standing on what appeared to be solid ground. Recalling obscure clues and whispers, I struck the stone floor with my weapon. To my amazement, the ground trembled and gave way, revealing a hidden staircase descending into darkness.

Descending into the Puppet Vault

Making my way down the revealed staircase felt like crossing a threshold into another world entirely. The air grew colder, and the glow of Starlight Shards embedded in the walls provided an eerie, magical illumination. This was Seluvis's Secret Puppet Room. The sight that greeted me was both magnificent and deeply unsettling. Rows of lifelike puppets stood in silent, perfect formation, their glassy eyes staring into nothingness. Among them, I recognized faces—characters I had met in my travels, now frozen in this artificial state. I tentatively tried to interact with them, but they offered no response, only the cold touch of crafted porcelain and enchanted wood.

My exploration didn't end there. A strange intuition, or perhaps a desire to leave no stone unturned, led me to strike the far wall of the chamber. With a grinding of stone, a hidden section of the room slid open, revealing an even more private collection. It was a stark reminder that Seluvis's secrets had layers, much like the man himself. When I next spoke to Seluvis after this discovery, his tone was one of cold acknowledgment. He presented me with one of his puppets, not as a gift, but as a tool—and a symbol of my involvement. This act transformed the secret room from a mere story location into a functional, albeit macabre, shop.

The Room's Purpose and Lasting Impact

This hidden sanctum served multiple crucial purposes in my adventure:

• A Macabre Marketplace: The primary function I unlocked was the ability to exchange Starlight Shards for different puppet companions. These weren't mere summons; they were former people, their wills subdued and repurposed. Each acquisition felt like a moral compromise, but the tactical advantages in battle were undeniable.

• Narrative Nexus: Discovering this room was the key to advancing Seluvis's questline and understanding his role in the grand schemes surrounding Ranni and the fate of the demigods. It provided essential context for the infamous Seluvis's Potion, revealing the horrifying truth of its ingredients and its intended use on Nepheli Loux.

• A Point of No Return: Regardless of the choices I made afterward—whether I followed his plans or betrayed him—finding this room irrevocably changed my relationship with the world. Knowledge of this place and its contents became a burden, influencing my interactions with every character tied to this web of conspiracy.

The room itself, with its silent, assembled army, is a powerful piece of environmental storytelling. It speaks volumes about Seluvis's character: his lust for control, his disregard for free will, and his view of other beings as mere instruments to be collected and used. Even years after my first playthrough, the memory of that chamber and the choices it presented remains one of the most defining moments of my time in the Lands Between. It exemplifies what makes Elden Ring so compelling—its willingness to hide profound, disturbing, and rewarding secrets just beneath the surface of its breathtaking world, waiting for a curious and persistent Tarnished to uncover them.