Elden Ring: “Somewhere a Great Rune has broken” Explained

Let’s learn about the story behind Somewhere a Great Rune has Broken in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.

In Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, you can find a lot of interesting messages. Among those messages, you will find: “Somewhere a Great Rune has broken.” This notification is followed by another message: “And so too has a powerful charm.” If you are confused about these messages, then fear not. I am here to explain them.

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What Does the Message Mean?

When the message: Somewhere a Great Rune has broken appears, it’s an important moment in the Shadow of the Erdtree storyline. Here’s what you need to know:

1. Story Progression: As you approach the Shadow Keep in the Scadu Altus region, you will find this scripted occurrence. So, you don’t need to do anything to trigger the event.
2. Miquella’s Great Rune: The broken Great Rune belongs to Miquella. He’s an Empyrean and son of Queen Marika. You’ll find Miquella’s Crosses throughout the expansion. They represent fragments of his power that he’s been shedding.
3. The Broken Charm: The “powerful charm” refers to Miquella’s ability to compel devotion from his followers. When the Great Rune breaks, the enchantment on the followers is removed.

Consequences of the Broken Great Rune

Miquella’s Great Rune has several important effects on the game:

1. NPC Behavior Changes: Miquella’s followers will be free from his influence. Therefore, they will have new dialogues and altered motivations. I suggest you revisit characters like Needle Knight Leda, Hornsent, Thiollier, and others.
2. Quest Progression: Many NPC questlines will advance or change direction following this event. So don’t forget to speak with all the characters before you move on to the new story paths.
3. New Area Unlocked: The breaking of the Great Rune removes a magical seal from the Stone Coffin Fissure. The area was inaccessible before. You will get to experience new storylines.

What to Do After the Great Rune Breaks?

Here’s what you need to do after the Great Rune breaks:

1. Visit All NPCs: You should revisit the NPCs again, as you will get to see new dialogue options. Some NPCs are:
   • Sir Ansbach and Moore at the Main Gate Cross
   • Redmane Freyja at the Three-Path Cross
   • Thiollier at the Pillar Path Cross
   • Hornsent and Needle Knight Leda at the Highroad Cross
2. Explore the Stone Coffin Fissure: You should head to the southwestern part of the Cerulean Coast to find a new accessible cave. That area offers new story. You will get to know more about Miquella.
3. Make Important Choices: You need to make decisions that will impact the storyline for some characters. For example, Leda and Moore. So, choose carefully.
4. Keep an Eye on NPC Movements: Some characters in the game will relocate after this event. So, you need to know where they are going to continue their quests.

“Somewhere a Great Rune has broken” indicates the breaking of Miquella’s Great Rune. It’s one of the key moments in the story of Shadow of the Erdtree. You might be surprised at first, but this event opens up new storylines and areas to explore. I hope you learned something from my explanation.

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