GamesAction RpgElden RingShadow of the Erdtree’s “Somewhere a Great Rune has broken” message explainedWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesAction RpgElden RingShadow of the Erdtree’s “Somewhere a Great Rune has broken” message explainedWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Bandai Namco)

What does “Somewhere a Great Rune has broken” in Shadow of the Erdtree mean?
(Image credit: Bandai Namco)

The message that a Great Rune has broken in the Elden Ring expansionis a story flag that doesn’t affect you directly, but does change the questlines of certain characters.After you see this message, it might be worth going to speak toall the NPCs you’ve foundto see if they have anything new to say.
Don’t worry, the Great Rune they’re talking about isn’t any of theElden Ring Great Runesyou found in the core game, but another one in the world somewhere. We got this message when entering the area known as the Shadow Keep for the first time, just before the first encounter that players have with theShadow of the Erdtree Golden Hippopotamus.
Likewise, thePowerful Charmthat the game talks about straight after that is just a follow up to the message and is part of the same idea. We’ll cover the meaning of that below, butbe warned:some story spoilers ahead!
What is the Broken Great Rune and Powerful Charm?
(Image credit: Bandai Namco)

But that comes with consequences - namely, the “Powerful Charm”. Miquella’s biggest power is the ability to compel loyalty and affection from his followers, charm and hypnotise them into obedience. That’s why NPCs like Leda and the Hornsent are hanging around - Miquella has literally put them under a form of mind control to serve his interests. Now his source of power is broken, that control will disappear, and you can speak to those characters to see their behaviour and loyalties changing afterwards, progressing their quests accordingly,
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