Tanith's Quest

Key takeawaysSpoilers

These are the decisions and actions most likely to affect a successful completion.

• Join Volcano Manor first Tanith must invite the player into Volcano Manor before the Drawing-Room Key and assassination letters become available.
• Read every letter in the Drawing Room The contract target and invasion location are revealed by the red letter placed on the table inside the Drawing Room.
• Complete contracts before Rykard Defeating Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy before finishing the manor contracts can terminate the normal contract progression and cost the associated rewards.
• Return to Tanith after each invasion The next contract and its reward are not handled entirely at the invasion site; speak with Tanith after each successful assassination.
• The targets are optional invasions The contracts are initiated from fixed red invasion signs in the target's region, so the player does not need to locate the target through ordinary exploration.

Tanith's Quest overviewSpoilers

Tanith's Quest is Elden Ring's central Volcano Manor questline, built around invading named Tarnished rather than following a conventional chain of combat objectives.

Tanith's Quest begins when the player reaches Volcano Manor in Mt. Gelmir and speaks with Tanith, the manor's proprietress. She offers membership in Volcano Manor, a faction opposed to the Erdtree and the Tarnished who serve it. Accepting the invitation grants access to the Drawing-Room Key, which opens the room containing the manor's letters and the red invasion signs used to begin each contract.

The quest progresses through a sequence of assassination contracts. The first target is Old Knight Istvan in Limgrave, followed by Rileigh the Idle in Altus Plateau and Juno Hoslow, Knight of Blood in the Mountaintops of the Giants. Each contract requires the player to inspect a letter in the Drawing Room, travel to the target's red invasion sign, defeat the target as an invader, and return to Tanith for the next reward.

The contracts matter because they combine faction progression with access to unique equipment. Tanith's rewards include Magma Shot after the first contract, the Serpentbone Blade after the second, and Taker's Cameo after the third. The quest also provides the route toward Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy, but confronting Rykard too early can end the contract sequence and prevent the remaining assassination rewards from being collected.

The final decision is mainly about timing rather than a branching dialogue choice. The player can complete the available contracts before entering the audience chamber and fighting Rykard, or can reach Rykard through Volcano Manor's interior and defeat him first. Completing the contracts before the boss is the safer completionist route because Tanith and the manor's inhabitants change their positions after Rykard's defeat, and unfinished contracts may no longer be available.

Where this sitsSpoilers

Requirements

Reach Volcano Manor and accept Tanith's invitation before entering the contract sequence.

• RequiredReach Volcano ManorTravel to Volcano Manor in Mt. Gelmir by exploration or one of the routes that leads to the manor.
• RequiredSpeak with TanithTalk to Tanith in the manor's entrance area and accept her invitation to join Volcano Manor.
• RequiredObtain the Drawing-Room KeyAfter joining, take the key from Tanith and use it to open the Drawing Room, where the letters and contract signs are located.
• RecommendedDelay RykardDo not defeat Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy until the three regular contracts and their rewards are finished.
• RecommendedPrepare for invasionsThe targets are encountered through red invasion signs and must be defeated in combat; healing, weapon upgrades, and a build suited to the target's arena are recommended.

ObjectivesSpoilers

1. Join Volcano ManorAccept Tanith's invitation and receive access to the manor's Drawing Room.
2. Defeat Old Knight IstvanUse the first letter to find his red invasion sign in Limgrave.
3. Defeat Rileigh the IdleUse the second letter to travel to the invasion sign in Altus Plateau.
4. Defeat Juno Hoslow, Knight of BloodUse the third letter to reach the invasion sign in the Mountaintops of the Giants.
5. Claim the manor rewardsReturn to Tanith after each successful invasion and collect the reward tied to that contract.
6. Choose when to confront RykardEnter the audience chamber and defeat Rykard only after deciding that no remaining contract reward is needed.

WalkthroughSpoilers

1. 01

   Find Tanith.

   Reach Volcano Manor

   Travel to Volcano Manor in Mt. Gelmir and enter the manor's main reception area. Tanith is seated near the entrance, so speak with her before exploring the rest of the building or attempting to find the contract room.

   Location: Volcano Manor, Mt. Gelmir

   TipIf you have not reached the manor naturally, the route through Mt. Gelmir is not the only possible approach; the important requirement is to meet Tanith inside the manor.

   Watch outDo not assume that reaching the region alone starts the quest; Tanith's invitation and the subsequent dialogue are required.

2. 02

   Join Volcano Manor.

   Accept Tanith's invitation

   Exhaust Tanith's relevant dialogue and accept her offer to join Volcano Manor. This changes the manor's interaction state and gives you the Drawing-Room Key, which is the item needed to access the contract letters.

   Location: Volcano Manor entrance

   TipSpeak with Tanith again if the key or the next dialogue does not appear immediately; quest progression is tied to completing the conversation rather than simply entering the room.

   Watch outLeaving without accepting the invitation does not begin the assassination sequence.

3. 03

   Read the first Volcano Manor letter.

   Open the Drawing Room

   Use the Drawing-Room Key on the locked door in Volcano Manor. Inside, inspect the letter on the table to reveal the first assassination target and the corresponding red invasion sign on the world map.

   Location: Drawing Room, Volcano Manor

   TipThe letter is the reliable way to identify the current contract; do not search for an invasion sign before reading it.

   Watch outThe invasion sign is not a normal NPC marker. It appears as a red sign in the target's area and must be activated to begin the contract.

4. 04

   Assassinate Old Knight Istvan.

   Invade and defeat Old Knight Istvan

   Travel to the red invasion sign for Old Knight Istvan in Limgrave and activate it to invade his world. Defeat Istvan in the invasion encounter, then return to your world; the contract is complete when the invasion victory message appears.

   Location: Limgrave, near the first contract's red invasion sign

   TipTreat the fight as a player-style duel rather than a regular field encounter: preserve space, punish recovery animations, and avoid spending all healing or stamina during the opening exchange.

   Watch outDying ends the invasion but does not permanently fail the contract; return to the sign and activate it again. The target is not completed until the invasion is won.

5. 05

   Claim the first reward and read the second letter.

   Report the first success to Tanith

   Return to Volcano Manor and speak with Tanith after defeating Old Knight Istvan. Tanith provides the first contract reward, Magma Shot, and the next letter becomes available in the Drawing Room.

   Location: Volcano Manor and the Drawing Room

   TipCheck the Drawing Room after talking to Tanith rather than assuming the next contract appears in your inventory automatically.

   Watch outDo not proceed directly to Rykard if you want the later contract rewards; the second and third letters depend on continuing this sequence.

6. 06

   Assassinate Rileigh the Idle.

   Invade and defeat Rileigh the Idle

   Read the second letter, travel to its red invasion sign in Altus Plateau, and activate the sign to invade Rileigh the Idle. Win the encounter, then return to Volcano Manor and speak with Tanith to advance the quest.

   Location: Altus Plateau, at Rileigh the Idle's red invasion sign

   TipUse the terrain around the invasion area deliberately: keep enough room to react to Rileigh's attacks instead of allowing the fight to become a close-range scramble at the edge of the arena.

   Watch outIf the sign is not visible, confirm that the second letter was read and that Old Knight Istvan was defeated before searching the plateau.

7. 07

   Receive the Serpentbone Blade.

   Claim the second reward

   After defeating Rileigh the Idle, return to Tanith and receive the Serpentbone Blade. This is a unique katana reward, so collect it before moving on if you want the complete set of standard Volcano Manor contract rewards.

   Location: Volcano Manor

   TipThe reward is granted through Tanith's dialogue, not by looting the defeated invader's body in Altus Plateau.

   Watch outThe manor's boss progression can supersede unfinished contracts, so finish the dialogue and verify the third letter before entering the audience chamber.

8. 08

   Reveal the final regular contract.

   Read the third letter

   Enter the Drawing Room and inspect the third Volcano Manor letter. It identifies Juno Hoslow, Knight of Blood, and directs you to a red invasion sign in the Mountaintops of the Giants.

   Location: Drawing Room, Volcano Manor

   TipThe third target is reached much later in the world than the first two, so prepare for a dangerous region and make sure the Mountaintops route is available before leaving the manor.

   Watch outThe third contract is the most easily postponed by players who move directly to the manor's major boss.

9. 09

   Assassinate Juno Hoslow, Knight of Blood.

   Invade and defeat Juno Hoslow, Knight of Blood

   Travel to the red invasion sign for Juno Hoslow, Knight of Blood in the Mountaintops of the Giants and activate it. Defeat Juno in the invasion, then return to Tanith to finish the regular contract chain.

   Location: Mountaintops of the Giants, at Juno Hoslow, Knight of Blood's red invasion sign

   TipJuno uses a distinctive chain weapon and benefits from controlling the distance, so avoid repeatedly attacking into the weapon's effective range and punish the end of his committed actions.

   Watch outA failed invasion is recoverable by trying again, but defeating Rykard before this step can remove the normal contract progression.

10. 10

    Claim the third contract reward.

    Collect Taker's Cameo

    Speak with Tanith after the victory over Juno Hoslow, Knight of Blood and receive Taker's Cameo. Taker's Cameo is a talisman that restores health after defeating enemies when its effect activates, making it the final standard reward for the three-contract sequence.

    Location: Volcano Manor

    TipEquip the talisman through the equipment menu if you want to use its healing effect; simply receiving it does not activate it.

    Watch outConfirm that Taker's Cameo is in your inventory before treating the contract chain as complete.

11. 11

    Choose whether to confront Rykard.

    Decide whether to enter the audience chamber

    Once the three contracts are complete, follow the manor's route toward the audience chamber if you want to challenge Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy. The boss encounter is separate from the individual invasion contracts, so finishing the contracts first preserves the most rewards.

    Location: Volcano Manor audience-chamber route

    TipIf your goal is a full Volcano Manor completion, use this point as the safe handoff: complete every available manor conversation and contract before starting the boss.

    Watch outDefeating Rykard changes the state of Volcano Manor and can prevent unfinished Tanith contracts from being completed.

Mission mechanicsSpoilers

The core mechanic is the red invasion sign. Unlike a normal map marker or an ordinary NPC encounter, the sign is a summon-style interaction placed at a specific location in the target's region. Activating it transports the player into the target's world as an invader; victory completes that contract, while defeat returns the player to the normal world and allows another attempt.

The letters create the sequence, but the player still has to manage the return trip. After a successful invasion, go back to Volcano Manor, speak with Tanith, collect the reward, and inspect the Drawing Room for the next letter. Skipping the return conversation can make the next objective appear to be missing even though the previous invasion was won.

The quest is also connected to the manor's major boss state. Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy is accessible through Volcano Manor, but the boss should be treated as a point of no return for the contract sequence. Completing the invasions first avoids losing the rewards and dialogue associated with unfinished letters.

What works and what does notSpoilers

Contract encountersSpoilers

1. 1

   Old Knight Istvan

   Starts: Activate the first red invasion sign after reading the first Volcano Manor letter.

   Not specified

   The first contract is a named invasion in Limgrave. The encounter teaches the player to fight a target who uses player-like spacing and timing rather than a conventional group of enemies.

   • Close-range weapon attacksTell Istvan advances into melee range before committing to his weapon swings.Answer Maintain room to retreat and attack after the end of his committed sequence rather than trading every hit.
   • Use the invasion arena's open space to avoid being cornered.
   • A defeat is not a permanent quest failure; activate the sign again for another attempt.
2. 2

   Rileigh the Idle

   Starts: Activate the second red invasion sign after defeating Old Knight Istvan and reading the next letter.

   Not specified

   The second contract takes place in Altus Plateau and presents a more demanding duel against Rileigh the Idle.

   • Ranged and close-pressure attacksTell Rileigh can pressure the player from outside immediate melee range before closing distance.Answer Do not chase every retreat; wait for a committed approach and punish the recovery instead of attacking into the opening projectile or feint.
   • Keep the fight away from the edge of the encounter area so a missed dodge does not become a fall or a trapped position.
   • Return to Tanith after victory to unlock the contract reward and continuation.
3. 3

   Juno Hoslow, Knight of Blood

   Starts: Activate the third red invasion sign after reading the third letter in the Drawing Room.

   Not specified

   The final regular contract sends the player to the Mountaintops of the Giants to duel Juno Hoslow, Knight of Blood.

   • Chain-weapon attacksTell Juno's chain weapon gives his attacks unusual reach and makes close-range assumptions unreliable.Answer Watch the weapon's full arc, dodge through or away from the committed swing, and attack only after the chain's recovery.
   • Prepare for the Mountaintops journey before leaving Volcano Manor, because the contract is not located near the manor.
   • Finish the report to Tanith after victory so Taker's Cameo is not missed.

Rykard, Lord of BlasphemyEnding spoilers

• Location
  Audience chamber beneath Volcano Manor
• Health
  Not specified

If choosing to end the manor arc, enter the audience chamber and pick up Serpent-Hunter before committing to the fight. Its long-range attacks make it possible to damage Rykard from outside the lava around his body; prioritize learning the timing of the weapon's attacks and avoid standing in the lava or remaining in front of his largest attacks. Complete Tanith's three assassination contracts before this fight if you still need Magma Shot, Serpentbone Blade, or Taker's Cameo.

Choices and consequencesEnding spoilers

• Accept Tanith's invitation to join Volcano Manor.

  The Drawing-Room Key and the assassination-contract progression become available.

• Decline the invitation or leave without joining.

  The normal Tanith contract sequence does not begin until the invitation is accepted.

• Complete the three contracts before fighting Rykard.

  The player can collect the regular contract rewards: Magma Shot, Serpentbone Blade, and Taker's Cameo.

• Defeat Rykard before completing the contracts.

  Volcano Manor's state changes and unfinished regular contracts may no longer be available, which can permanently cost their rewards on that playthrough.

  Spoiler
• Fight Rykard after the contracts are complete.

  The player preserves the contract rewards and can then resolve the manor's boss-related progression without using the boss as an interruption to the assassination chain.

  Spoiler

ChecklistSpoilers

• Speak with Tanith at Volcano Manor.Accept the invitation to join the manor.
• Take the Drawing-Room Key.The key is required to access the letters.
• Read the first Volcano Manor letter.This reveals Old Knight Istvan's contract.
• Defeat Old Knight Istvan.Activate the red invasion sign in Limgrave.
• Return to Tanith and claim Magma Shot.Then inspect the Drawing Room for the next letter.
• Read the second letter.This reveals Rileigh the Idle's contract.
• Defeat Rileigh the Idle.Activate the red invasion sign in Altus Plateau.
• Return to Tanith and claim the Serpentbone Blade.Confirm the reward before continuing.
• Read the third letter.This reveals Juno Hoslow, Knight of Blood's contract.
• Defeat Juno Hoslow, Knight of Blood.Activate the red invasion sign in the Mountaintops of the Giants.
• Return to Tanith and claim Taker's Cameo.This completes the three regular contracts.
• Only then defeat Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy.Skip this until all desired manor contracts are complete.Optional

Failure conditionsSpoilers

• Defeat an invasion target's summoned versionThe contract is not complete until the target is defeated in the red-sign invasion. Dying or abandoning the invasion requires another attempt.
• Fail to return to TanithA successful invasion does not replace the manor conversation. Return to Tanith to receive the reward and advance the sequence.
• Search for the next target without reading the next letterThe next red sign and target are introduced through the Drawing Room letter; inspect the table after each reward.
• Defeat Rykard before finishing the contractsThe manor changes after the boss is defeated, and unfinished regular contracts can become unavailable. This is the main permanent missable state in Tanith's Quest.

RewardsSpoilers

• Magma Shot
  A sorcery reward from Tanith after the Old Knight Istvan contract. It casts a magma projectile and is the first unique reward in the regular contract sequence.
• Serpentbone Blade
  A katana awarded after the Rileigh the Idle contract. It is a weapon reward rather than a consumable, so it can be equipped and upgraded for a suitable character build.
• Taker's Cameo
  A talisman awarded after the Juno Hoslow, Knight of Blood contract. Its effect restores health after defeating enemies when the talisman's condition is met, making it more useful for sustained exploration than for a single isolated duel.
• Volcano Manor contract progression
  Completing the three invasions advances Tanith's faction storyline and leaves the player free to confront Rykard after collecting the standard assassination rewards.

Characters in this missionSpoilers

• Rykard, Lord of BlasphemyThe major boss whose defeat changes Volcano Manor's quest state.

AftermathEnding spoilers

TriviaSpoilers

• The three regular targets are encountered through red invasion signs rather than ordinary overworld fights, making Tanith's Quest one of Elden Ring's clearest faction-based invasion sequences.
• The target progression deliberately moves from Limgrave to Altus Plateau and then to the Mountaintops of the Giants, mirroring the player's broader journey through the Lands Between.
• Juno Hoslow, Knight of Blood is connected to the Hoslow family and to Diallos's wider character arc, so the final contract has significance beyond its reward.
• Volcano Manor has additional related contracts involving other characters, but those should not be confused with the three regular letters that define Tanith's Quest.

Relationships