Elden Ring introduced the gaming community to the massive world known as the Lands Between. Despite it taking the beloved Souls formula to a new genre that added in plenty of new game design elements, the core of what FromSoftware has built its legacy on remained.
The game features dozens of friendly non-playable characters who each have their own stories and questlines. Paying attention to and following through on these quests will often lead to beneficial rewards and plenty of narrative reveals. Many of them are missable so it's important to know which ones to make a priority.
8 The Return Of Patches
Patches is a character that has appeared in all of the Dark Souls games, as well as Bloodborne. It's a reoccurring character that serves as an in-world troll for you as the player. In Elden Ring, he can be found in Murkwater Cave as he confronts you for opening up his chest and trying to steal his stuff. This will trigger a boss fight with him, but once you bring him to fifty percent health he'll beg you to stop fighting.
Doing so will make him turn into a merchant in this location following your next seat at a Site of Grace. He sells some interesting items and provides an additional source of NPC dialogue – it's just never clear if you should fully trust him.
7 Yura, Bloody Finger Hunter
Yura is an individual who specifically hunters Bloody Finger members. You'll first come across him in the river leading to Murkwater Cave near the center of Limgrave – he'll aide you in your fight against an invader NPC named Bloody Finger Nerijus that spawns in the river.
Like most stories created by FromSoftware, Yura's isn't exactly inspiring. Players who help him in his journey across the Lands Between will see some neat rewards for their efforts, but it's also unclear what his connection is to the Dragon Cult, as he has more than a passing knowledge of it.
6 Irina & Edgar
The Weeping Peninsula is an area a lot of players miss in Elden Ring, despite it being accessible from the very beginning of the game. Once you cross the Bridge of Sacrifice in southeast Limgrave and enter this peninsula you'll come across a young woman named Irina. She'll tell you that her castle was overrun by vandals and her father stayed to protect it.
Irina asks you to deliver a letter to her father, Edgar, and that she hopes it'll convince him to leave. He isn't easy to find, so most players never go through with this quest, but can be accessed via a hidden path located near the second Site of Grace you'll find while exploring Castle Morne, the home of Irina and Edgar.
5 Nepheli, The Tarnished Warrior
Nepheli Loux is the closest analog to yourself that you'll find in the Lands Between. She is a fellow tarnished who you can first meet right outside of the Godrick the Grafted boss fight. She's a brave warrior who showcases her ability by helping you take down Godrick if you choose to use her summon sign. Her questline is a bit involved, but if done right will resolve several NPC storylines including that of Kenneth Hait/Fort Hait, Seluvis, and Gatekeeper Gostoc who was last seen stomping on Godrick's lifeless body.
4 Ranni's Summoning Bell
Ranni has a large questline that covers many parts throughout your time in Elden Ring, but your first interaction with her is one many players simply miss. This first introduction is crucial as she gives you the Spirit Bell that allows you to call on Spirit Ashes in battle. All you'll need to do is fast travel at night to the Church of Elleh Site of Grace and she'll be there waiting to have a conversation.
Do this directly after sitting at the Gatefront Ruins Site of Grace where you're gifted your rideable mount named Torrent from the maiden known as Melina.
3 Give Fia A Hug
At the Roundtable Hold, you'll come across a woman who asks for the warm embrace of a hug that comes with both benefits and drawbacks. Like many other NPC characters in Elden Ring, she has her very own questline you as the player can try and complete.
Not only does her quest result in multiple different rewards for you, but it weaves in other NPCs such as Lionel, Ranni, Rogier, and D, Hunter of the Dead. Most of her questline revolves around speaking to her following events, but as it goes on it changes the way the Roundtable Hold operates and which rooms become accessible to you.
2 Roderika's Purpose
Roderika, a woman you'll encounter near the Stormhill Shack, offers a sobering tale. She tells you that she stayed back as she feared being grafted into some sort of monstrosity. You'll eventually find her back at the Roundtable Hold near the fireplace. Talking to both her and the blacksmith who resides inside the Roundtable Hold will eventually open up her ability to upgrade your Spirit Ashes and make them more competent in battle.
This is the reward for convincing both the blacksmith and Roderika that she is capable of providing some unbelievable services and is skilled enough to pull it off.
1 Blaidd, The Half-Wolf
Blaidd is a fun character you can first meet and interact with within the Mistwood Ruins located to the east of the beginning Limgrave area. You'll likely see him first though, as he appears as a rather interesting and popular loading screen. You'll want to talk to Kale, the merchant at the Church of Elleh about him after hearing his howling and exploring the Mistwood Ruins.
You'll get a snapping gesture, that when used near Blaidd, will cause him to descend to the ground and talk to you. In addition to having one of the more beloved designs in regards to Elden Ring's NPC characters, his quest will showcase and define who he is at his core.
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