Happy endings don’t come often in a world crafted by FromSoftware, including its latest world of Elden Ring. Most of the characters that players will meet an end in some sort of tragedy, usually their death. Many agree that Ranni’s ending is the best in Elden Ring, which is also on a happier note, but the presence of such a concept is rare in all areas of the Lands Between.
ELDEN RING SPOILERS AHEADBut, among all the terrible endings associated with Volcano Manor, perhaps there is some hope—if twisted hope—within. One way to enter Elden Ring’s Volcano Manor is through an invite by Rya, the scout, and as players explore her story, they might realize that it has its own twisted hope about it.
Elden Ring: Rykard’s Blasphemy
First, it must be addressed that Rykard is not all he seems. While players will meet Rykard after he has become one with Mt. Gelmir’s Elder Serpent, he was human before that. He is the son of Radagon and Rennala, and he at least had some knowledge about the Night of Black Knives as Ranni gave him traces of the Rune of Death (and many assume his role was much larger). Rykard would go to become one of the Shardbearers, but he chose not to seek the other Great Runes like his allies. He instead turned against the Golden Order and the Greater Will, drawing in tons of followers with his charismatic righteousness.
He would even defend his forces against the armies of Leyndell, earning him much respect among his people. However, he would soon lose his way, merge with the Elder serpent, and believe he could feed and grow until one day he could consume Elden Ring’s Outer Gods. His men would gather a weapon that could eventually kill him, and the Tarnished would use it eventually.
Before even all of that, though, Rykard would explore the worlds beyond the Lands Between and eventually take Tanith as his consort. Tanith would have a child, or adoptive child, based on which story she is telling, and that is the scout players first meet as Rya.
Elden Ring: Rya/Zoraya’s Quest Line
Elden Ring players may be used to speaking to NPCs with duplicitous names. Radagon is Marika, after all, and even Ranni introduces herself with a different name. When players first meet Zoraya, her name is Rya. She guides players to Volcano Manor, where eventually they can see her in a true form: that of a humanoid serpent. She tells players she is the daughter of Tanith and of a “kingly” or “noble” lineage. Tanith will, at first, claim to be the adoptive mother of Zoraya, and Zoraya will eventually question whether or not Tanith is her mother.
Ironically enough, based on their dialogue, Rya will believe Tanith is her mother when Tanith pretends otherwise. When Rya’s dialogue begins to question the validity of this, Tanith’s dialogue will assert herself as the mother. She’ll even remark how her lord could’ve known she would be a bad mother, but all of this, of course, begs a question of Zoraya’s father. Although the game leans into the fact that Zoraya had some sick, demented birth, that doesn’t negate the obvious: Rykard is her father.
Not only does it fit the “kingly” or “noble” lineage of Rykard’s background, but it would also explain Zoraya’s form. Two items support this theory in terms of Zoraya’s parentage: Daedicar’s Woe and Serpent Amnion. The former suggests that just like Zoraya goes by two names, Tanith perhaps does as well. Daedicar’s Woe bears the “disturbing likeness of a woman whose skin was flayed,” and it’s worth noting Tanith wears a mask. Assuming Daedicar is Tanith’s true name, the description adds “this woman…indulged in every form of adultery and wicked pleasure imaginable, giving birth to a myriad of grotesque children.”
It could be that Rykard saved Daedicar from this type of life from the lands beyond, and this would explain why Tanith is so obsessed with Rykard. Perhaps at the same time, their attractions were…as grotesque as imaginable. The second Elden Ring item, Serpent Amnion, is confirmed to be part of Zoraya’s birth: “Amnion from the mother’s womb which cradled the poor unwanted offspring of a repellant birthing ritual.” Whether Daedicar and Tanith are one and the same or not, this amnion suggests that Zoraya was not wanted (remember Tanith believed she would not be a good mother), was part of a birthing ritual (how else could Rykard procreate), and that it was repellant in nature, which adds up.
Rya’s parentage, what she knows, and what she believes is part of her questline in Elden Ring, and out of three possible outcomes, it seems Rya could get a happy ending.
Elden Ring: What to Choose for Zoraya
The first option is to kill Rya when she discovers the truth, which just brings the story to an end. Players can also give her a tonic of forgetfulness, which leaves her alone and isolated if not exactly miserable. She’s waiting for Tanith to return, who after devouring Rykard’s flesh, is not exactly likely to do that. The last outcome is to not give her the tonic, to defeat Rykard, and to return. Doing so unlocks Zoraya’s letter. It reads,
"I wish to set out on a journey.
So that one day, I can carry on Mother's work.
Be the proud daughter of Tanith of Volcano Manor.
Farewell
You've always been so kind. So uncompromising.
My champion."
It seems she intends to carry on the work of Tanith, likely related to the circumstances of her own birth, and move on from Volcano Manor. She sets out on a journey, one of spreading her beliefs and likely one of further self-discovery. It’s absolutely twisted, but as far as Elden Ring endings come for NPCs, it’s rather hopeful and happy all the same time.
Elden Ring is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.