The Hornsent Grandam questline in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC is a hidden gem among side quests, offering players a mix of cryptic lore and unique rewards. From unlocking a mysterious storeroom to manipulating a bitter NPC for rare consumables like Scorpion Stew, this walkthrough guides you through every step of her intriguing journey. But beware—timing is crucial, as missing key milestones can permanently close the door on this enigmatic tale. Will you uncover the secrets of Hornsent society and claim the Gourmet Scorpion Stew, or will the shadowy Erdtree leave you in the dark?
Where to find the Storeroom Key?
To find the Storeroom Key in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, head to the Belurat Tower Settlement at the Small Private Altar Site of Grace. From the site of grace, proceed up the stairs and turn left, climbing two more sets of stairs past a samurai enemy. You’ll reach a ledge overlooking a waterfall. Circle around the right side to find a room near the waterfall with a ladder inside. Climb the ladder, and at the top, you’ll discover the Storeroom Key on a corpse.
The first step you’ll need to take before being able to start Hornsent Grandam questline will be finding the key to her room. Once you’ve made it to Belurat, start exploring it and continue until you encounter Small Private Altar site of grace. This is a great spot to start looking for the key.
Leave the site of grace room through the exit on the right. After the second set of stairs, turn right into a small alley.
Follow the laid-out path until you reach the sewers. Go along with the current for a while, then enter the room right from the waterfall and chasm. Climb the ladder found inside.
In the upper area, you’ll find a corpse next to the door. Approach it to find the needed Storeroom Key.
Where to find Hornsent Grandam?
Hornsent Grandam can be found in the Belurat Tower Settlement, specifically in a locked room near the Small Private Altar Site of Grace. To access her, you must first locate the Storeroom Key. From the Private Altar Site of Grace, head west into the upper area of Belurat, avoiding or defeating enemies along the way. Look for a wooden-paneled room with a ladder near a yellow waterfall stream; the key is on the second floor. Once unlocked, Hornsent Grandam will initially be hostile but becomes a crucial NPC for progressing through her questline.
With the key obtained, you can now return to Small Private Altar site of grace, but this time go through the exit on the left.
After crossing a bridge, there will be a door on the left wall of the building. Interact with it, and your hero will open it using the key. Inside, there will be an old woman sitting at the table.
If you do not talk to Hornsent Grandam before defeating Messmer, her questline will be canceled. So try to talk to the old lady as early as possible.
How to get Hornsent Grandam to talk?
To get Hornsent Grandam to talk in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, you must first defeat the Divine Beast Dancing Lion, located near the top of Belurat Tower Settlement. This boss drops the Divine Beast Head, a key item required to interact with her. After acquiring the headgear, return to the Storeroom where she resides and equip the Divine Beast Head before speaking to her. Initially dismissive, Grandam will recognize you as a “sculpted keeper” and share insights about her people and their plight. She will also provide the Watchful Spirit Incantation and later request vengeance against Messmer the Impaler.
During the first interaction, the older woman will not be willing to talk, mistaking you for one of Messmer’s minions. However, with the right disguise, you can get her to respond.
For this, you’ll need to first defeat the main boss of Belurat – Divine Beast Dancing Lion. After defeating, the Dancing Lion drops a special helmet – Divine Beast Head – which when worn, will make the old woman cooperate. For a walkthrough and tips for this fight, visit How to defeat Divine Beast Dancing Lion boss? page of our guide.
Return to the storeroom and equip the Divine Beast Head. With this headwear, the old woman will be more willing to talk. She will share her thoughts on the situation, and give you the Watchful Spirit Incantation.
If you now “reset” the location by resting at the site of grace and return to Hornsent Grandam again, she will give you a consumable – Scorpion Stew. By consuming it, you’ll receive a temporary boost to physical damage negation and health regeneration. At this stage, you can return to the woman any number of times for a new consumable, but remember that you can carry only one unit of Stew at once with you.
If you deliver the Scorpion Stew to Hornsent, he will give you 3 units of Furnace Visage – a very rare crafting material that is used to create Hefty Pots useful in fights against Furnace Golems (more on this process on the How to fight Furnace Golems? page).
Finishing the quest of Hornsent Grandam
Finishing the Quest of Hornsent Grandam
To conclude the Hornsent Grandam quest in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, players must return to her after defeating Messmer the Impaler, a key boss in the Shadow Keep Storehouse. Upon speaking with her, she will provide the Gourmet Scorpion Stew, a special consumable item. Exhaust all her dialogue to gain additional lore insights. After fast traveling and revisiting her location, you’ll find her asleep, having left behind another Gourmet Scorpion Stew as a final reward. This marks the end of her questline, offering both narrative depth and unique items for dedicated adventurers.
Return to Hornsent Grandam after defeating Messmer (more on this fight can be found on How to defeat Messmer the Impaler? page our guide). Having her revenge, the woman will give you Gourmet Scorpion Stew, a better version of the consumable. After this interaction, the old woman will fall into deep slumber, thus concluding this questline.
What makes Hornsent Grandam’s questline so intriguing
Hornsent Grandam’s questline in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree stands out for its enigmatic narrative, layered mechanics, and rewarding exploration. Here’s what makes it so intriguing:
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Cryptic NPC Interaction: Hornsent Grandam initially refuses to speak, mistaking the player for an enemy. Progressing her story requires defeating the Divine Beast Dancing Lion and wearing the Divine Beast Head helmet, a unique mechanic that deepens the mystery surrounding her character.
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Rich Lore and Ties to the DLC’s Themes: As a member of the Hornsent people, Grandam’s dialogue reveals her vengeance-driven motives and connections to key figures in the DLC. Her story intertwines with the overarching themes of betrayal and loss in Shadow of the Erdtree.
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Unique Rewards: Completing her quest grants exclusive items like Scorpion Stew, which boosts physical damage negation, and Gourmet Scorpion Soup, a rare consumable with enhanced effects. These rewards add tangible value to an already compelling narrative.
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Dynamic Quest Progression: The quest evolves based on player actions, such as revisiting her after defeating Messmer the Impaler or reloading areas to unlock new interactions. This dynamic structure keeps players engaged and encourages exploration6.
Hornsent Grandam’s questline is a perfect blend of mystery, lore, and gameplay challenges, making it a highlight of the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion.
What is the significance of the Divine Beast Head in Hornsent Grandam’s quest
The Divine Beast Head is a crucial item in Hornsent Grandam’s questline in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. It serves as the key to unlocking communication with her, as she initially mistakes the player for an enemy and refuses to speak. By defeating the Divine Beast Dancing Lion boss at Belurat Tower Settlement, players obtain the Divine Beast Head helmet. Wearing this helmet when interacting with Hornsent Grandam allows her to recognize the player as connected to her people, enabling dialogue and quest progression.
This connection is hinted at by the presence of another Divine Beast Head in her storeroom, symbolizing a relationship between the boss and Grandam. The helmet also ties into her lore, as she sees it as a representation of vengeance against Messmer the Impaler, who destroyed her people. Without equipping the Divine Beast Head, players cannot access her rewards or advance her storyline.
