PSA: Here's what 'Somewhere, a great rune has broken' means in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

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(Image credit: FromSoftware)

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree bosses - Messmer

So you were riding towards that forbidding looking shadow castle in the distance when suddenly you heard a sound like glass shattering. Two messages popped up on your screen in succession: “Somewhere, a great rune has broken” and then “And so too has a powerful charm”. You were likely soaring high after successfully smacking about a Furnace Golem, and now this happens. What the heck?

That’s right, they’re not there of their own free will, but have been coerced through the Empyrean’s supernatural ability to inspire devotion in others. If you’ve also been finding Miquella Crosses for Ansbach, you’ll know that Miquella is abandoning parts of himself across the Land of Shadow, with each cross marking a bit of him that’s dropped off.

Lore-wise, what “Somewhere, a great rune has broken” means is that Miquella has abandoned enough parts of himself that his connection to the Erdtree has broken, along with his great rune and its associated powers. What “And a powerful charm has been dispelled” means is thatthe charm that was cast on all of the Miquella companions has brokenand they have their free will back.

Image1of3(Image credit: FromSoftware)(Image credit: FromSoftware)(Image credit: FromSoftware)

Image1of3

(Image credit: FromSoftware)(Image credit: FromSoftware)(Image credit: FromSoftware)

(Image credit: FromSoftware)

Elden Ring Hornsent quest - Great rune breaking

(Image credit: FromSoftware)

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree - A powerful charm has been dispelled

(Image credit: FromSoftware)

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree - Speaking to Leda

Your next step, then? Head back and talk to all of the Miquella companions. This is the moment when their quests properly begin, so you’ll want to catch them all before they run off in their respective directions. You’ll find:

Leda, in particular, will help contextualise what’s going on, and she’ll ask you to make a choice, which we cover in detail in our Leda quest guide. You should also make sure to speak to Moore, since he poses a choice as well.

As for the other companions, it won’t necessarily fail their quests if you don’t speak to them, but if you continue progressing they will start to disappear, and if you haven’t talked to them you’ll have zero clue where they’re going next. Just as a reminder, we currently have quest guides for all of the NPCs except Moore, so if you are struggling to pick up the trail for one of the companions, please do take a look above.

So, while massive glass shattering noises that make you jump out of your chair and vaguely ominous messages may be scary, this one isn’t as cataclysmic as you might think. Just be sure to check up on your good friends in the host of now-unbrainwashed Miquella companions.

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