Embracing the Dark Journey: A Comprehensive Guide to the Dung Eater Quest in Elden Ring

In the expansive world of Elden Ring, your journey is fraught with perils and mysteries, and the Dung Eater quest is no exception. Known as one of the most repugnant characters within the Lands Between, the Loathsome Dung Eater beckons you on a convoluted journey filled with dark undertones and hidden treasures. This quest not only offers the chance to unlock a unique ending that embodies pestilence and misery but also introduces players to some of the more grotesque aspects of the game’s lore. To navigate this unsettling adventure effectively, a comprehensive guide is invaluable, especially as key items are often hidden within the challenging late-game zones. Here, we will break down the Dung Eater quest into manageable segments, ensuring you’re equipped to embrace this foreboding narrative. Chapter 1: The Quest Begins Your odyssey with the Dung Eater commences at the Roundtable Hold, a sanctuary filled with lore and history. After you've acquired your first Great Rune, it is critical to explore every nook and cranny of this hub as new characters and events unfold. Among them is the Dung Eater, who will appear in a chamber beyond the Husk Maidens at some point in your journey. If Roderika, the Spirit Tuner, mentions sensing a foreboding evil, take it as your cue to seek out the Dung Eater. Enigmatic and disdainful, he will brusquely imply that you're not "tainted" enough for his liking, thus establishing your first task: to acquire a Seedbed Curse. Chapter 2: Seeking the Seedbed Curse Your initial Seedbed Curse can be located in the heart of Leyndell, near the East Rampart Site of Grace. After departing the Dung Eater's chamber, navigate to the ramparts, where you will find a dimly-lit chamber adorned with candles. Your path will descend through stairs and an elevator until you come face-to-face with various enemies. A crucial point in this quest is to climb a ladder and ascend a flight of stairs to discover the Seedbed Curse on a tormented corpse. Once secured, you must return to the Roundtable Hold to present this offering to the Dung Eater. Delivering the Seedbed Curse Upon returning to the Dung Eater, your progress will earn you his favor momentarily. He will instruct you to release his actual body imprisoned within the sewers of Leyndell, gifting you the Sewer Gaol Key—your ticket to progressing further in his twisted quest. Chapter 3: Navigating the Sewer Gaol The path to the Dung Eater’s cell is fraught with challenges within the chaotic maze that is the Leyndell sewers. Begin your expedition at the Balcony Site of Grace and execute a quick turnaround, heading downward. Jump off the balcony and into a manhole—this leads you into the Subterranean Shunning Grounds. Keep your bearings as you traverse, avoiding left descents to steer through expansive halls. Once you find the Underground Roadside Site of Grace, it serves as a valuable checkpoint in your darker journey. Moving further down the tunnels, a drop will lead you through a corridor populated with slow-moving rats. Don’t linger; continue straight, climbing another ladder until you reach a flooded chamber. Here, approach the barred door where the Dung Eater awaits your assistance. Interacting with him will allow him to flee from his cell, thereby advancing your quest. Chapter 4: The Outer Moat Encounter Purchase prawns from Boggart and, later on, find him once again near the moat, south from the road to the Draconic Tree Sentinel. Following this interaction, reload the area; the Dung Eater will invade upon your next entrance into the water. Some players have found that talking to Boggart is pivotal, suggesting it may unlock this crucial sequence in the quest. A Second Curse After successfully defeating the invading Dung Eater, search his body for another Seedbed Curse. This piece is essential as you will need multiple curses to help fulfill the Dung Eater's request to retrieve his original body. Speak with him once more at the Roundtable Hold, and he will reveal that five Seedbed Curses are necessary to procure his Mending Rune. Chapter 5: Gathering the Curses Now, you need to begin your hunt for Seedbed Curses. Should you have acquired the one from the Dung Eater's invasion, it provides some relief as you’ll only need four more. Each curse is typically found in locations rife with enemies, adding to the quest’s difficulty. Return to the Dung Eater's body with the collected curses, bestowing them upon him. The fifth curse will usher in the moment you’ve worked towards: the acquisition of the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse. The Grim Tail-End Once you have received the Mending Rune, you’ve reached a crossroads in your involvement with the Dung Eater. Those who wish to conclude this dark chapter can decide to end his existence, acquiring his armor as a trophy of sorts. If you choose to employ the Fell Curse rune on Marika’s remains after facing the game's final boss, you can trigger a profound transformation in the game world, ushering in the ominous Age of Despair that the Dung Eater so ardently seeks. This decision embodies the weighty themes of choice and consequence that permeate the narrative of Elden Ring. Conclusion: Embrace the Darkness The quest of the Dung Eater is undeniably one of the most macabre and intricate tales woven into the tapestry of Elden Ring. By following this guide, players will not only unlock a unique ending but delve deeply into the grim underbelly of the narrative. This side story exemplifies the game’s dedication to offering players branching pathways and morally ambiguous choices, encapsulating the very essence of the experience that awaits in the Lands Between. Prepare yourself, as every choice can lead to profound consequences, steering the fate of your character and the world alike.