The NPCs called Ymir and Jolán have a secret side questline in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. This walkthrough shows the full solution. Completing this questline makes it possible to ring the bells at the Finger Ruins and you unlock various items as a reward.
This is the only NPC questline that can still be done after the story. Both Ymir and Jolán remain in the game after burning the sealing tree (Point of No Return). You can do this questline at any time.
Walkthrough
Step 1: Talk to Count Ymir in Cathedral of Manus Metyr. He sits on the throne in the Cathedral. He gives you Hole-Laden Necklace and Ruins Map, which you need to ring the bells at the Finger Ruins. You reach the Cathedral through Moorth Ruins (southeast of Shadow Keep) > Bonny Village.
Step 2: Sound the bell in Finger Ruins of Rhia. You go there through the coastline in the southeast of Cerulean Coast.
Step 3: Talk to Ymir again. He gives the 2nd Ruins Map. In the same room, on the right side, talk to Knight Jolán. She is also part of this questline. Exhaust all dialogue with her.
Step 4: Collect “O Mother” gesture in Bonny Village. It’s on the cliffs in the northeast of Bonny Village. You need it to reach the 2nd Finger Ruins in the northeast region.
Step 5: Go to “Shadow Keep, Back Gate” site of grace. To the right of the site of grace use the “O Mother” gesture in front of the statue with praying hands. The statue will go away to open the path to the northeast region “Hinterland“. To use gestures: open the menu > scroll over the right side where it says “Gestures” > click “Switch” > choose “O Mother” > click “Test now”.
Step 6: Sound Bell in Finger Ruins of Dheo.
Step 7: Return to Ymir. Exhaust all dialogues with Ymir and Jolán. Missable: buy all spells from Ymir, he goes away after this! If Ymir is already gone (can happen if you previously exhausted all his dialogues), then simply talk to Jolán and proceed to next step.
Step 8: Fast travel again to Cathedral of Manus Metyr site of grace to reload the area. Ymir should be gone from the throne. Now you can interact with a button on his throne to reveal a ladder below the throne.
Step 9: Climb down the ladder under the throne. It leads to the Finger Ruins of Miyr. Ring the bell there. It will teleport you to a boss fight.
Step 10: Defeat Metyr, Mother of Fingers boss.
Step 11: Return to Ymir’s Throne. Jolán will spawn and attack you, defeat her. Then Count Ymir, Mother of Fingers spawns. Kill him too. This is the normal outcome here, they are always hostile.
Step 12: Fast travel to the Cathedral again to reload the site of grace. Jolán will be sitting on the right side where you talked to her before. You can now give her either an Iris of Grace -or- and Iris of Occultation. You can only do one or the other. This will decide which reward you get, one locks you out from the other. Make a backup save if you want to try both endings so you can reload and retry.
Iris of Grace:
- Reward received from Jolán: Swordhand of Knight Jolán (Ashen Spirits you can summon)
- Location: Shadow Keep > Storehouse, First Floor – from the site of grace go left and down the elevator. Go to next room downstairs to find it on the altar.
Iris of Occultation:
- Reward received from Jolán: Sword of Night (Katana melee weapon)
- Location: Scadu Altus > Moorth Highway, South > Fort of Reprimand – after entering Fort of Reprimand turn left and jump down the hole, it leads to a dark underground room with strong dual-sword wielding enemy. Defeat this enemy, he drops the Iris.
After you decided what reward you want, give the correct Iris to Jolán. She will then disappear from the game and leaves behind the chosen reward. This finishes the questline of Ymir and Jolán.
For all other NPC questlines refer to Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree – All Side Quests.
