In the Lands Between, the open-world setting of FromSoftware's newest RPG, a lowly Tarnished hero (that is to say, this author's Elden Ring sorcerer PC) ventures into inhospitable climes - halfheartedly searching for the fabled Elden Ring but wholeheartedly searching for new secrets of Glintstone Sorcery. In previous chapters of Ascalon the Astrologer's tales, the novice Glintstone Sorcerer got pulped by a clockwork chariot, learned sorcery from the mysterious Sellen, and explored the depths of the underground Siofra River. After confronting the ancient and elk-like Ancestor Spirit, Ascalon the Astrologer's adventures continue in the scenic vista known as Liurna of the Lakes, where he delves into the mysteries of the ancient Carian civilization - and holds a palaver with a talking turtle.
Ascalon the Astrologer, a fictionalized version of the author's Glintstone Sorcerer build, made their first appearance in the "Elden Ring's Early Game Secrets" Screen Rant article, a viewpoint character who could catalog and chronicle interesting lore details the author found in the early parts of Elden Ring. Future "Elden Ring Secrets" articles fleshed out the character of Ascalon more, portraying him as a scholarly magician interested in learning new Glintstone Sorcerer spells and re-discovering the long-lost arts of divination practiced by the stargazing sorcerers of old.
In the "Elden Ring's Limgrave Secrets" article, Ascalon uncovered strange clues and relics hinting at the existence of ancient civilizations predating the Erdtree-worshipping culture of the Golden Order. After descending into the depths of the Siofra River Well (a tale recounted in the "Elden Ring Siofra Secrets" article), Ascalon stumbled across an archaeological treasure trove - the ruins of an underground city, a metropolis of magic sprawled underneath a subterranean sky with impossible stars. In the next phase of Ascalon's journey, the lowly Astrologer, increasingly skeptical about the righteousness of the long since shattered Golden Order, makes his way north to Liurna of the Lakes, the homeland of old Caria and the Raya Lucaria academy of sorcery in the Lands Between...
Sorceries And Sorcerers In Elden Ring's Liurna Of The Lakes Area
Half of the friendly faces Ascalon had encountered – Melina, the White-Faced Varre, and more – had urged him towards the Elden Ring and Stormveil Castle, aiming him towards the limb-hoarding demigod Godrick the Grafted like an arrow nocked to a bowstring. And truthfully...something about it felt wrong to the young Astrologer. Was this the only worth Tarnished possessed in the eyes of the Two Fingers and their precious Greater Will? Assassins of Demigods who could rise again after every death?
And so Ascalon the Astrologer, upon reaching Stormveil Castle, urged Torrent down a rightward path, forging through vegetation and rocky slopes until they found a secret route around the massive fortress. Galloping past the slumbering packs of wolves before they could stir, Ascalon and Torrent finally reached an outlook with a splendid view of a forest-shrouded pool of water.
Liurna. The bosum of old Caria, home to the esteemed Academy of Raya Lucaria. Not doubt many obstacles lay between Ascalon and that esteemed school of magic. Still, Ascalon's heart swelled with excitement as they rode into the nearby church, mind abuzz with thought of meeting an actual Conspectus Sorcerer and learning their unique school of magic...
"You're Tarnished, aren't you?" The meek, bareheaded church-dweller with blue robes coughed and waved. "Then, perhaps you could spare some runes?"
Players of Elden Ring who don't want to tackle Stormveil Castle right away can find a secret route that leads to Liurna of the Lakes, an area with many interesting resources for Glintstone Sorcerer or Enchanted Knight builds. Near the first Site of Lost Grace players can unlock, there's a Elden Ring's mysterious Sorceress Sellen, Thops will also express great iration for her skill and reject the rumors of her delving into heretical magic.
The Church Of Vows' Origin In Elden Ring's Liurna Of The Lakes
The Academy Scroll Ascalon found was full of small revelations – useful variations on the Glintstone projectile spells the Astrologer already knew. And yet it wasn't enough. Ascalon could sense a vastness to Glintstone Sorcery beyond mere conjured projectiles, and he intended to uncover it.
The Tarnished rode through the night, urging the spectral steed Torrent past packs of enemies when he could, unleashing his newly gleaned Glintstone spells at foes he could not evade, all the while searching. From this search came a few strange discoveries; a shield formed out of ethereal jellyfish plasm, a sword that could manifest a larger blade of Glintstone energy...
...and a truly massive turtle wearing a Pastor's hat.
"You're Tarnished, aren't you? I welcome you, to the Church of Vows."
Correction, Ascalon thought to himself with a bemused grin. A talking turtle wearing a Pastor's hat.
Miriel, Pastor of Vows, a giant turtle and custodian of the Church of Vows, is anElden Ring NPC worth visiting as soon as possible. To start with, he helps players unlock the Church of Vow's special ability to resurrect Merchant NPCs from the dead, a boon for players who killed useful vendors accidentally. Miriel is also a trainer of both Glintstone Sorceries and Incantations who can accept any of the Sorcery Scrolls or Prayerbooks players acquire on their journeys through the Lands Between.
Finally, Miriel, if asked, will tell players about the tragic romance between Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon, and Radagon of the Golden Order. Said tale reveals how Radagon led an army into battles against Rennala's realm of Caria, only to make peace with Rennala and become her husband. Miriel also discloses in this dialogue how, after Godfrey the first Elden Lord's Tarnishing and exile from the Lands Between, Radagon left Rennala in order to wed Queen Marika the Eternal in the Erdtree Capital. Following this, Rennala, heartbroken after this betrayal, was imprisoned by her own subjects in Raya Lucaria's library, using the Rune in a gifted amber egg to try and bring a loved one back to life. It is also made clear that Radagon himself apparently harbors a great secret, known only to a sculptor hired to craft a giant statue in Radagon's likeness, which remains somewhere to be found in the Lands Between of Elden Ring.
Secrets Of The Carian Study Hall In Elden Ring's Liurna Area
When Ascalon the Astrologer discovered the abandoned, servant-less Carian Study Hall, he explored it from top to bottom – paging through the mostly useless books, cleaving through the crawling hands, ghostly apparitions, and rats with sword and spell, frantically hunting down the teleporting assassin who kept bombarding him with conjured explosive arrows.
Time and again, he would return to the Hall's entrance and the strange artifact located on the central table. A brass-ringed orrery, much like the astrological tools Ascalon's old instructor once used. This orrery, however, did not chart the movements of the planets or stars, but served as the cradle for a round, stone-carved depiction of the moon. When Ascalon examined the finely worked shadows, craters and basins of that man-made moon, he could almost fancy himself flying towards its expanse, in defiance of gravity...
When players of Elden Ring first enter the Carian Study Hall area in Liurna of the Lakes, the rewards they gain from exploring it will be minimal, if useful. A Golden Rune, a new Glintstone staff, a Talisman that boosts FP recovery from Cerulean Flasks, and a bombardment spell acquired after defeating the hostile NPC called Preceptor Miriam. The Lunar Orrery object near the Study Hall's entrance (first seen in the "Rise, Tarnished" trailer for Elden Ring) is also capable of transforming the Carian Study Hall in a very profound way, provided players acquire the item needed to activate it after exploring Caria Manor. (But that is a story for another day.)
