So you’ve been hugged. Don't worry, we’ve all been there. You walk into that dim room in the Roundtable Hold, see a woman sitting on a bed, and she asks if she can hold you. It feels like the only kind moment in a world that wants to impale you on a rusty spear. But then you notice that red square icon under your stamina bar. Your HP is lower. Suddenly, that hug feels a lot more expensive.
The Elden Ring Fia questline is one of the most polarizing and lore-heavy journeys in the game. It’s not just about a debuff or a strange ritual; it’s a massive, multi-zone odyssey that fundamentally changes how the world works. If you're looking for the "Age of Duskborn" ending, you're going to have to get comfortable with death. Very comfortable.
The Hug and the Hidden Dagger
Most players think the quest starts and ends with that Baldachin’s Blessing. Honestly, it barely even starts there. To actually trigger the meat of the story, you need to reach the Altus Plateau. Once you’ve rested at any Site of Grace in that golden region, head back to Fia. This time, when she holds you, she’ll whisper about a "favor."
She hands you a Weathered Dagger. It’s a broken, pathetic-looking thing. She wants you to find the owner.
Here’s the thing: the owner is sitting about twenty feet away. It’s D, Hunter of the Dead. He’s the guy in the gold and silver armor. Give him the dagger. He’ll act all mysterious about it, saying he knows who it belongs to.
The First Big Shock
Reload the area. Fast travel away and come back. You’ll notice D is gone from his usual spot. Walk past the blacksmith, Hewg, and look for the room that was always locked at the end of the hallway. It’s open now.
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Inside, D is dead on the floor. Fia is standing over him, and she’s not the shy, quiet woman she was five minutes ago. She gives a chilling speech about being a Deathbed Companion and then vanishes into thin air. You can loot D's Twinned Armor set and his Bell Bearing here.
The Ranni Connection (The Part Everyone Skips)
You can't finish Fia's story without progressing Ranni the Witch's questline. It’s a bit of a hassle, but they’re tied together by a specific item: the Cursemark of Death.
Basically, Ranni has the half of the mark that killed her body, and Godwyn the Golden has the half that killed his soul. To get the piece Fia needs, you have to:
- Progress Ranni's quest until she gives you the Carian Inverted Statue.
- Go to the Carian Study Hall in Liurnia and use the statue.
- Climb (or descend?) through the upside-down tower to reach the Divine Tower of Liurnia.
- Loot the Cursemark from the corpse at the top.
Without this, you’re stuck. Fia won't talk to you later if you don't have this mark in your pocket.
Deeproot Depths: The Path of Tears
Finding Fia again is the hardest part. You have two main ways to get to her final location, the Deeproot Depths, and neither is fun.
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- The Gargoyle Route: Defeat the Valiant Gargoyles in the Siofra Aqueduct. After the fight, jump into the stone coffin at the base of the waterfall. It’s a classic FromSoftware "I hope this doesn't kill me" moment.
- The Sewer Route: If you’ve survived the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds beneath the capital, there’s a hidden path behind a chest after the Mohg, the Omen boss fight. It involves a lot of platforming that will make you want to throw your controller.
Once you’re in Deeproot Depths, you need to climb the massive roots. Seriously, look up. You’re looking for a Site of Grace called Across the Roots.
Facing Fia's Champions
When you enter the massive arena at the top, Fia isn't alone. You’ll have to fight Fia's Champions. It’s a multi-wave NPC battle. You’ll recognize some faces, like Sorcerer Rogier and Lionel the Lionhearted.
After the fight, Fia will be sitting by a massive, disturbing fish-like corpse. That’s Godwyn. Don’t kill her! If you kill her here, the quest is over, and you miss the ending. Instead, talk to her. She’ll ask if you’re there to deny her. Choose: "No, I want to be held."
Give her the Cursemark of Death. She’ll be shocked you have it. This is where the lore gets heavy. She wants to lay with Godwyn and "give birth" to a new rune that will allow Those Who Live in Death to exist as part of the natural order.
The Final Boss: Lichdragon Fortissax
After giving her the mark, rest at the nearby grace. Talk to her again. Rest again. Eventually, she’ll fall into a deep sleep. Interact with her to "enter the Deathbed Dream."
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You’re now fighting Lichdragon Fortissax. It’s a spectacular fight—a four-winged dragon crackling with red lightning. Once he’s down, you’ll be warped back. Fia will be gone (or rather, her spirit is), and on her body, you’ll find the Mending Rune of the Death-Prince.
What about D's Brother?
Remember that Twinned Armor you got from D's corpse? If you gave it to his brother (found sobbing in the Siofra Aqueduct), he will show up at the very end. He’ll be standing over Fia’s body, ranting about vengeance.
It’s a grim ending to her story, but it doesn't actually stop you from getting the rune. If you want his sword, the Inseparable Sword, you can kill him or just reload the area after he’s done his speech.
Actionable Steps for Your Playthrough
If you're sitting at your desk wondering if you missed a step, here is the "no-nonsense" checklist to make sure you actually get the ending:
- Check your inventory for the Baldachin’s Blessing. If you have it, use it. That 5% HP penalty is real, and it stays until the item is gone.
- Don't ignore Ranni. You cannot finish Fia's quest without the Carian Inverted Statue. If Ranni isn't talking to you, go kill Starscourge Radahn first.
- The Valiant Gargoyles are Level 80+ content. Don't try to rush to the Deeproot Depths too early unless you're a parry god. Those twin gargoyles will wreck a low-level build.
- The "Secret" Dialogue: When you find Fia in the Depths, you must select "Talk in Secret" multiple times. Many players think the quest is bugged because they only talk to her once. Exhaust every single line of dialogue until she starts repeating herself.
The Age of Duskborn isn't the "good" ending or the "bad" ending—it’s just another way to mend a broken world. By incorporating death back into the Elden Ring, you’re stopping the cycle of "undead" suffering, but you're also making the Lands Between a much darker place. But hey, at least you got a cool dragon fight out of it.