Players will find a lot of interesting characters throughout their Elden Ring adventure. Although the world itself seems incredibly hostile, there are still quite a few good-natured NPCs that find themselves caught up in the turmoil surrounding the legendary jewelry. The Tarnished, on a quest to become the Elden Lord, will come across many of these friendly (and fiendish) faces, but some have quest lines that are a bit more straightforward than others.
Those that spend a lot of time in the Liurnia of the Lakes region will likely have come across Rya, although it's incredibly easy to miss her in the expansive area. Speaking to Rya and completing her questline gives players access to a peculiar Elden Ring item, while simultaneously offering up a heartbreaking and engrossing storyline. Here's how players can find Rya and complete her subsequent quests.
How To Find Rya In Elden Ring
Finding Rya is pretty easy, so long as players know where to look. She's in a rather inconspicuous place for some, so it's easy to see why so many players may have rushed past her without a second glance. The easiest way to find Rya is for players to warp to the Laskyar Ruins Site of Grace and head to the North. Those that have picked up a map of the region should be able to spot a Birdseye Telescope above the Laskyar Ruins, which will make it much easier to reach Rya. She's standing in a gazebo-like structure with a statue, just near this telescope on the map. It can be rather difficult to see her, and it's entirely possible that players rode past this particular statue without ever noticing the scout.
Once players reach Rya, they can speak to her about her current troubles, which will start a short questline that goes through Volcano Manor.
Step One: Getting Rya's Necklace Back
After meeting the player, Rya will request that they help her retrieve a necklace from a brutish Tarnished. It seems that the man took the jewelry from the poor woman and is now hiding out in a shack not too far from her current location. After letting Rya know that they'll get her necklace back, players should head directly Northwest, just before the tree icons on the map, to find a Site of Grace at the Boilprawn Shack. Out front is a man that's cooking up some tasty-looking seafood. This gruff-looking Tarnished is the man that stole Rya's necklace, and players will have to barter with him to get it back.
Letting the man know that players are interested in snagging Rya's necklace will cause him to open a temporary shop, in which players can buy the missing necklace for 1000 Runes. Doing so and returning to Rya will complete the first part of her quest. She will inform the Tarnished that she works for Volcano Manor and give them an invitation that can be used later. Once this is done, Rya will move from the spot and appear at the Altus Plateau.
Step Two: Finding Rya At The Altus Plateau
The only way for players to reach the Altus Plateau is to piece together the Dectus Medallion and ride the Grand Lift of Dectus. Those that don't know where to find the pieces for the medallion can follow this handy guide.
Immediately upon arriving at Altus Plateau, players will be able to spot Rya standing on the left-hand side near a banister. Those that don't see her can walk out towards the massive axe-wielding Golem on the left to get a better look. Don't worry, as the Golem is looking out towards Altus Plateau and will only attack if provoked. Once players find Rya and speak to her, she will inform them that she has been waiting and wants them to seek counsel with her lady, Tanith, at Volcano Manor. Accepting the formal invitation will allow players to take Rya's hand and immediately warp to Volcano Manor, unlocking a handy Site of Grace in the process.
After arriving, players can speak to Tanith and receive the Drawing Room Key, which will allow them to proceed with Rya's questline.
Step Three: Completing The First Two Marks And Opening The Hidden Path
Once players have the Drawing Room Key, they can head down the nearby hallway and take the second door on the left, allowing them access to a room where Rya is waiting nearby the wall. Speaking to her again will inform players more about her role at Volcano Manor. From there, the Tarnished can snag a letter on the nearby table, which can be read by accessing it in the inventory. The letter will give players the name of a Mark they must kill. The first mark is north of the Warmaster's Shack in Limgrave, near the Colosseum. Players should head to the special Red Marking on the map and then invade the NPC Mark's world and defeat them. After doing so, they can return to Volcano Manor and speak with Rya once again.
This time, Rya will let the Tarnished know that she's been hearing some strange sounds outside the walls at night. Players should exhaust her dialogue and then speak to Tanith again. During this conversation, players can inquire about Rya and get more information from Tanith about the girl. Once they've done that, players can sit at the site of grace and progress time (or simply enter the menu and then exit it). From there, they should head back down the hallway, but this time access the door across from the Drawing Room. Inside, they'll find Rya in her true form. Speaking to her will give players a little more insight into what Rya is.
Heading back to the Drawing Room will give players access to another Volcano Manor Letter with another Mark to take care of. This one is found on the road North of the Erdtree Gazing Hill. After once again invading and eliminating the Mark, players should return to Volcano Manor and speak to Rya again, this time exhausting her dialogue. Players are free to once again talk to Tanith, receive a reward, and then inquire more about Rya's true form.
After this is all done, players can head back to the hallway and enter the room that is directly to the right of the room that Rya is in. Walking over to a nearby portrait (close to a corpse) and walking into it will cause a secret passageway to open. Players can continue through this passageway (it's dark, so a torch is recommended) until they reach a Site of Grace for Prison Town. It's also important to note that there is a Bloodhound Knight on the way to the Site of Grace, and the players are free to fight him (he drops a claw weapon) or run past.
Step Four: Retrieving The Serpent's Amnion
From the Prison Town Site of Grace, players will need to progress through the zone until they come to a balcony-like area with two small hanging cages. These cages have elevator switches inside of them. Taking the one that goes down will lead to a fight against an angry Magma Wyrm, while the second will ascend upward and continue through Prison Town. Along the way, players will find a building and the Guest Hall Site of Grace. From there, they'll need to continue their journey until they spot a massive gap and a large lever that will activate a drawbridge. Doing so will give players access to the original Prison Town Site of Grace, and it's recommended to replenish flasks as a boss fight lies ahead.
Next to the drawbridge is an entrance into a large church and players will immediately be met by the Godskin Noble. This boss can be downright devastating for those that are unprepared, and it's recommended to use Mimic Tear Ashes to help divide the boss' attention if the Tarnished finds themselves struggling to dodge the Noble's quick attacks. At 50 percent health, the Godskin Noble will "buff up" causing him to use a painful rolling attack and hit for additional damage. Once players have successfully finished off the boss, they can head to the altar of the church and snag the Serpent's Amnion. From there, they'll head back to Rya, tell her the truth about Volcano Manor, and give her the key item.
Step Five: Rya Goes Missing
Players will want to leave Volcano Manor and come back after giving Rya the Serpent's Amnion, or simply pass time at the Site of Grace. When they return to the room where Rya was, they'll notice she's gone, and talking to Tanith will confirm that she's missing. Speaking to Tanith again will show that she's concerned about Rya's mental state, and she'll give players a Tonic of Forgetfullness, suggesting that the Tarnished give it to Rya to help ease her suffering.
From there, players should head back to the Temple of Eiglay where they fought the Godskin Noble and take the elevator that's to the right of the altar. Players should then run around to the middle of the balcony and look over the edge, where they will spot a pathway that leads up a lava-filled hillside. Once at the top of the path, players will encounter an Abductor. Just past the enemy is an arch that contains a doorway. It's across a large pool of lava and players will need to roll as quickly as possible to make it across the gap. Once across, they'll be able to enter the room and speak to Rya.
At this point, Rya expresses her anguish and asks the Tarnished if they will kill her to end her pain. Players will also be given the choice to hand Rya the Tonic of Forgetfulness. Players also have a third option, not listed, which is to simply walk away from Rya and ignore her request, while simultaneously not giving her the potion. After doing so, they can return to Volcano Manor, complete the quest by dealing with Rykard, and then return to Rya once more. This will cause Rya to thank the player for sparing her.
All Outcomes For Rya's Questline
There are three ways that Rya's questline can end and players will receive the same reward no matter which path they choose. Here's a look at what happens during each "ending."
Killing Rya
If players kill Rya, she will thank them for ending her suffering with a final breath before turning back into her serpent form and leaving behind the Daedicar's Woe talisman.
Giving Rya The Tonic
If players give Rya the Tonic of Forgetfulness, she will seemingly forget all about what she learned and return to Volcano Manor. Unfortunately, after the player deals with Rykard, Volcano Manor will end up empty and Rya will find herself alone. Players will still receive the Daedicar's Woe when Rya eventually leaves too.
Sparing Rya's Life And Avoiding Giving Her The Tonic
If players choose not to kill Rya nor give her the tonic, she will thank them for sparing her life. After players deal with Rykard and the loose ends of the Volcano Manor quest they can head back to Rya's hiding spot to find that she's gone. She will have left a thankful letter for the Tarnished, as well as the Daedicar's Woe.
That wraps up Rya's entire questline in Elden Ring. For those curious, the Daedicar's Woe is Elden Ring's version of the Calamity Ring, a well-known accessory that makes the game even harder by doubling the damage that a player takes.