Among the many captivating characters in Elden Ring, Ranni the Witch stands out as one of the most intriguing NPCs in the Lands Between. With her striking blue appearance and mysterious aura, Ranni not only enriches the game's lore but also grants players the invaluable ability to use the Spirit Calling Bell, unlocking access to Spirit Ashes—summonable allies that assist in combat. Beyond this powerful gift, Ranni's questline sends players on an unforgettable journey into the hidden depths of Elden Ring's world, culminating in an exploration of the Elden Ring Runes enigmatic Nokstella, Eternal City.

For many players, reaching Nokstella can be a daunting task. Its location is concealed beneath the surface, and the path is fraught with tricky puzzles, tough enemies, and labyrinthine corridors. However, those who persevere will find the journey richly rewarding, uncovering rare runes, powerful upgrade materials, and significant story revelations. This guide will walk you through how to access Nokstella, Eternal City, the key objectives within, and tips on making the most of this secretive underground domain.

Who is Ranni the Witch?
Ranni the Witch is first encountered in the region of Liurnia of the Lakes, where she resides in the Ranni's Rise tower within the Ranni's Rise site of grace. She is part of a larger narrative thread that intertwines with the greater story of Elden Ring's world and offers one of the game's most complex and rewarding questlines. Upon meeting her, Ranni introduces players to the Spirit Calling Bell, a crucial item that allows summoning Spirit Ashes—spectral allies that can turn the tide in many battles.

Beyond just combat utility, Ranni's questline delves into themes of fate, freedom, and rebellion against greater cosmic powers. Players who commit to her journey will find it richly rewarding both narratively and gameplay-wise.

How to Start Ranni's Questline
To begin the questline, players must first visit Ranni's Rise in Liurnia of the Lakes. Here, Ranni and her three servants, Blaidd the Half-Wolf, Seluvis the Sorcerer, and War Counselor Blaidd, await interaction. Upon joining her service, players are asked to swear loyalty and essentially become her agent in a grand plan.

Completing the initial requirements at Ranni's Rise will unlock access to a secret portal that transports players to the hidden domain of Nokstella, Eternal City.

How to Reach Nokstella, Eternal City
The entrance to Nokstella is located beneath Ranni's Rise. Once you pledge allegiance to Ranni, she will give you a key called the “Ranni's Dark Moon Ring.” Wearing this ring is essential as it changes your interaction with certain NPCs and areas and is the ticket to entering her secret domain.

Steps to enter Nokstella:

Reach Ranni's Rise and pledge loyalty: After speaking with Ranni and accepting to serve her, you will be asked to wait for an event that triggers her disappearance.

Enter the tower's elevator: Use the elevator inside Ranni's tower to descend to the basement levels.

Locate the hidden elevator: In the basement, you will find a hidden elevator shaft—activated only after the quest triggers. Use it to descend deep underground.

Proceed through the secret portal: After descending, you will reach a portal that transports you to Nokstella, Eternal City. This is a sprawling underground city filled with glowing blue waters, ancient ruins, and eerie architecture, giving it a mystical and haunting atmosphere.

Exploring Nokstella, Eternal City
Nokstella is not just a transit area but a vast underground realm teeming with lore, enemies, and valuable resources. The city's atmosphere is ethereal, bathed in a soft blue light that enhances its magical and mysterious feel.

Notable features of Nokstella:

Unique enemies: Nokstella is populated by spectral knights, mysterious sorcerers, and other challenging foes. Many have attacks imbued with magic, so prepare accordingly.

Hidden treasures: Scattered throughout the city are chests and secret nooks containing Elden Ring runes, crafting materials, and rare upgrade items necessary for enhancing your Spirit Ashes.

Lore significance: Exploring Nokstella reveals important story elements about Ranni, her lineage, and her rebellion against the forces that control fate in the Lands Between.

Valuable Resources in Nokstella
One of the key motivations for thoroughly exploring Nokstella is the abundance of valuable items that can aid your journey:

Elden Ring Runes: Many enemies in Nokstella drop generous amounts of runes. These are essential for leveling up and buying critical gear upgrades.

Spirit Ash Upgrade Materials: Nokstella houses rare materials like Ghost Glovewort and Somber Smithing Stones, which are needed to upgrade Spirit Ashes. Upgrading your Spirit Ashes is crucial for boosting their combat effectiveness, making your summoned allies much stronger in battle.

Unique Gear and Spells: There are also unique weapons, armor pieces, and sorcery spells that can only be found in this hidden city, adding to your character's build options.

Tips for Navigating Nokstella
Nokstella's layout can be confusing, and the enemies are formidable. Here are some tips to help you succeed:

Prepare for magic-heavy enemies: Equip magic resistance gear and consider using buffs or talismans that boost your magic defense.

Use Spirit Ash summons: Take advantage of your Spirit Ashes here to draw enemy aggro and assist in tough fights.

Explore thoroughly: Nokstella is filled with secrets—be sure to check every corner, break suspicious walls, and light up dark areas with a torch or spells.

Manage your stamina: Many enemies here have fast, punishing combos; careful stamina management is key to surviving encounters.

Progressing Ranni's Questline Inside Nokstella
Within Nokstella, your quest continues with a series of objectives involving exploration, combat, and interaction with key NPCs. These steps will push the story forward and eventually lead to some of Elden Ring's most memorable moments and endings.

Be prepared to:

Find and interact with Ranni's bodyguard servants as you piece together her fate.

Face challenging boss fights that test your combat skills.

Make critical narrative choices that influence the outcome of the questline and the world itself.

Conclusion
Ranni the Witch's questline and Nokstella, Eternal City, represent a highlight of Elden Ring's rich world design, combining deep lore, challenging gameplay, and rewarding exploration. While the path to Nokstella is hidden and treacherous, the treasures, upgrade materials, and story revelations found there make the journey more than worthwhile. By following this guide, you'll be well-prepared to delve into the depths of the Eternal City, strengthen your Spirit Ashes, and best place to buy elden ring items unravel the secrets of one of the Lands Between's most mysterious witches.