NPC questlines in Elden Ring and most FromSoftware games are enigmatic, lengthy, and complex. Players' choices during these questlines often result in different outcomes, like in Dark Souls 3 where progressing the questline of Yoel of Londor was necessary for an alternate ending.
However, unlike most RPGs, Elden Ring doesn't provide players with a Quest Journal, Map Objectives, or anything that could help progress the story of the game's many NPCs. One questline that can be started very early is for Irina, a near-blind maiden whose carriage was ambushed by rebelling servants while escaping Castle Morne.
To Start Irina's Questline, Head To The Bridge of Sacrifices
The Bridge of Sacrifices is in east-southeast Limgrave, just above the Mistveil Woods and Castle Morne. Follow the path leading out from Limgrave proper and you will eventually cross this bridge, but be careful of the ballista and the small army of soldiers guarding it. There is a Site of Lost Grace right after the bridge, too.
Follow the road leading South from the Bridge of Sacrifices to find Irina sitting on the ground near a few corpses of Godrick Soldiers. Talk to her to reveal some backstory on Castle Morne, after which she asks you to deliver a letter to her father Edgar, the Commander of Castle Morne, to make sure he knows she's alive.
Bring Her Letter To Edgar, Commander Of Castle Morne
Castle Morne is a short ride south from Irina. Guarding the entrance to Castle Morne is a Smouldering Giant wielding a massive bow. Take out his legs and dance around his slow (but strong) attacks to get rid of this nuisance. There is a Site of Lost Grace right inside the entrance to the Castle.
Edgar can be found right at the top of the Castle on top of a tower. Head into the courtyard from the Lost Grace, and either defeat or sneak by the horde of demi-humans to find a ladder leading upwards. Go across the walkway here, killing the two flying enemies and demi-humans on the way, and you will see a path leading left through a skirmish. Beyond this skirmish, Edgar sits alone on top of a tower. Deliver the letter to him and exhaust his dialogue.
Get The Grafted Blade Greatsword From The Boss, And Return To Edgar
Edgar is intent on staying at Castle Morne to defend it to his dying breath, as was his order from Godrick. He says that his duty is to not let the sword of Castle Morne fall into the enemy's hands, subtly telling players to find it for themselves. Head back through the skirmish and look for a drop-down to a Site of Lost Grace. Behind this site of Lost Grace is a scalable cliff.
Head down the cliff and jump down the rooftops all the way to the bottom, where you will find a number of passive Jellyfishes and a large fog door. Behind this fog door is the Leonid Misbegotten, a demi-human boss wielding the Grafted Blade Greatsword. Defeating the Leonid Misbegotten rewards this Greatsword. You will have to fast travel to the first Lost Grace in Castle Morne to get back to Edgar and relieve him of his duty.
Go Back To Irina To Find Edgar, Who Vows Revenge
After Edgar decides to forfeit Castle Morne, you can find him at the spot where Irina once sat. The word "once" is used here because Irina is, in fact, dead. This is the end of her questline, which ties into Edgar's questline as he vows revenge on the people who took his daughter's life.
For one of the first NPC questlines in Elden Ring, this one hits you hard. Irina could barely understand what was happening as the servants rebelled, and Edgar has to live with immense regret for committing to service rather than his daughter. Before leaving Castle Morne, he even says he plans to spend the rest of his days with her – but this peaceful future wasn't meant to be.
Elden Ring is available now for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S.