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Elden Ring Runes, FromSoftware’s masterpiece, is filled with hauntingly beautiful landscapes, challenging gameplay, and deep, interconnected lore. However, one of the most emotional aspects of the game is its NPC quests. These quests often explore themes of loss, betrayal, and tragedy, leaving players with a sense of melancholy long after they’ve moved on to new areas. Some NPCs even go through journeys that are so heart-wrenching, they leave us with lingering questions about fate and the consequences of our choices.

Let’s take a look at some of the saddest NPC quests in Elden Ring, and uncover the painful lore behind their stories.
1. Blaidd the Half-Wolf: A Curse of Loyalty

Blaidd, the half-wolf who serves under the mysterious Radahn, is a tragic figure in Elden Ring. He is a noble, loyal character who’s cursed with the relentless loyalty to his master, and throughout his quest, players see him struggle with his purpose. Blaidd’s connection to Radahn is a symbol of the personal cost of servitude and loyalty, especially when it involves monstrous acts.

His fate takes a grim turn after players complete key events in the questline. Ultimately, Blaidd ends up fighting against the player in a tragic battle, and his eventual demise is one of the most gut-wrenching moments in the game. It’s a sad tale of a warrior bound by loyalty, with his ultimate goal of freedom never quite realized.
2. Ranni the Witch: A Betrayal of Love

Ranni the Witch is one of Elden Ring’s most mysterious characters. As a key figure in the story, Ranni has a tragic backstory filled with betrayal, manipulation, and an overwhelming desire for freedom. Her questline is one of the longest and most detailed in the game, and it reveals the extent of her loneliness and her willingness to sacrifice anyone in her pursuit of power.

Ranni’s betrayal of her allies and her manipulation of the player are difficult to reconcile, but there’s an undeniable sadness to her quest. She represents the destructive power of ambition, where no one—whether friend or foe—is safe from the consequences of one’s choices. Her ending is bittersweet, leaving players to ponder the price of ambition and the loneliness that often accompanies it.
3. Sellen: The Price of Magic

Sellen, the sorceress who helps players learn powerful magic, also has one of the saddest questlines in Elden Ring. Her backstory reveals a deep sense of betrayal by her fellow mages, and her quest to find a new home for herself is filled with painful decisions. Over the course of her journey, Sellen is forced to face the harsh reality that the very people she trusted have turned against her, and ultimately, she is left in a position where she must make sacrifices to survive.

Her fate is deeply tragic, and it’s clear that her devotion to magic has cost her the only thing that matters: the ability to trust others. Sellen’s questline is a reminder that, in Elden Ring, the pursuit of knowledge and power often comes at the expense of personal connections and happiness.
4. Alexander, the Iron Fist: A Warrior’s Final Fight

Alexander, the lovable and boisterous warrior, is a fan favorite in Elden Ring. His questline, while lighter in tone than some of the other NPCs, takes a very dark turn. Alexander seeks out the player to aid him in his search for the "ultimate battle," and though his intentions are pure, the eventual confrontation with his fate is tragic.

As he faces his final challenge, the player can’t help but feel the sorrow of a warrior who’s spent his life seeking the next great fight. His journey is one of honor, but it ends with him facing the ultimate price—a tragic reminder that not all warriors are destined for a glorious end.
5. Patches: A Tragic Fool

Patches, the trickster NPC, is a staple in FromSoftware’s games, and Elden Ring is no exception. Known for his deceptive nature and schemes, Patches brings a certain levity to the game. However, behind his antics lies a deeply sad story. Patches is a man who has lived a life of self-serving deception, but the loneliness and lack of real connection have clearly taken their toll on him.

Over the course of his questline, players witness a character who, though comedic, is ultimately trapped in a cycle of betrayal and regret. Patches is an individual who’s only ever out for himself, but his antics conceal a deeper sadness—a realization that his trickster ways have led him to a lonely and hollow existence.
The Role of Elden Ring Runes and Buying Runes Elden Ring

One common thread that runs through these NPC quests is the pursuit of power. Players will often find themselves in situations where they need to acquire more Elden Ring runes to continue progressing, whether it’s for leveling up, purchasing new equipment, or acquiring magic. While the buying runes in Elden Ring is a shortcut some players take to speed up their journey, it also highlights the underlying theme of greed and the desperation for power—something many of the NPCs in the game experience.

The need for Elden Ring runes reflects the game's core mechanic but also emphasizes the characters' desire for control and security, even at the cost of their humanity. Whether it’s Blaidd seeking to escape his servitude, Ranni trying to carve out her own destiny, or Alexander searching for the ultimate battle, the power of runes is often sought to achieve personal goals, often with tragic consequences.
Conclusion

Elden Ring’s world is brimming with emotion and depth, and the quests of its NPCs are no exception. From Blaidd’s cursed loyalty to Sellen’s betrayal and Alexander’s tragic final battle, the game’s lore is rich with stories that tug at the heartstrings. The powerful symbolism of Elden Ring runes serves as both a literal and metaphorical reminder of the lengths to which characters will go for power, control, and freedom, often at the cost of their own well-being.