A grizzled survivor hidden deep within Belurat, Tower Settlement, Hornsent Grandam is one of the most enigmatic figures in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. Her questline weaves vengeance, cryptic dialogue, and unique rewards into a side story that’s easy to miss-but impossible to forget. If you’re ready to unlock her secrets and claim her coveted Gourmet Scorpion Stew, this walkthrough will guide you through every step, from finding her locked chamber to navigating the perilous encounters that define her tragic legacy.
Hornsent Grandam is also not to be confused with Hornsent, who is another NPC you’ll encounter regularly throughout the Realm of Shadow.
Our Elden Ring DLC guide will walk you through where to find Hornsent Grandam, and all the steps you’ll need to take to complete her questline.
Hornsent Grandam location
Hornsent Grandam can be found in the Storeroom of Belurat, Tower Settlement, which is located in the northwest part of Gravesite Plain in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. To reach her, start from the Small Private Altar Site of Grace within Belurat. Exit through the northwest door, immediately turn left onto a bridge guarded by two enemies, and at the end of the bridge, look for a locked door on the left-this is the entrance to the Storeroom where she resides. You will need to find the Storeroom Key elsewhere in Belurat to unlock this door and begin interacting with Hornsent Grandam. She remains in this location throughout her questline, making her easy to revisit as you progress through the DLC.
You’ll find Hornsent Grandam as you explore Belura. You’ll to meet her after you find the Storeroom Key.
Hornsent Grandam first meeting
Your first encounter with Hornsent Grandam takes place in the Belurat, Tower Settlement, one of the initial legacy dungeons in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. To reach her, you must first obtain the Storeroom Key, found in the upper areas of Belurat after the Private Altar Site of Grace. Once you unlock the storeroom, you’ll find Hornsent Grandam inside, where she initially mistakes you for a follower of Messmer the Impaler and refuses to engage in meaningful conversation. At this stage, she offers limited dialogue, and her questline cannot progress further until you defeat the Divine Beast Dancing Lion boss elsewhere in Belurat.
Use the Storeroom Key to unlock a door to the south of the Small Private Altar Site of Grace. Inside, you’ll meet Hornsent Grandam. There’s nothing to do with her yet, but she’s creatively insulting.
Return after defeating the Divine Beast Dancing Lion
After defeating the Divine Beast Dancing Lion in Belurat, Tower Settlement, return to Hornsent Grandam’s room in the storeroom. To progress her questline, equip the Divine Beast Head you obtained from the boss and speak with her-this will finally prompt her to open up, offering new dialogue and lore about her people and the aftermath of Messmer’s assault. She will reward you with the Watchful Spirit incantation and Scorpion Stew. You can speak to her again (without needing to wear the head) after reloading the area to receive another Scorpion Stew, which she will continue to provide whenever you don’t have one in your inventory. This marks a key turning point in her quest, unlocking further interactions as you progress deeper into the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.
After you defeat the Divine Beast Dancing Lion, you’ll get the (ridiculous) Divine Beast Head helmet. Head back to Hornsent Grandam and put on the helmet before you talk to her again. Importantly, you have to do this before defeating Messmer the Impaler at Shadow Keep.
This time, she’ll have a lot of new dialogue for you and you’ll get the Watchful Spirit spell. Head back to the site of grace and then return again. This time, she’ll give you some Scorpion Stew.
After Castle Ensis, you’ll meet Hornsent in his second location at the Highroad Cross Site of Grace. You can give him the Scorpion Stew for a little more dialogue (but it doesn’t seem to have any real effect).
You might also notice that Hornsent Grandam asks you to take her son into battle with you – presumably Hornsent – but doing so doesn’t seem to affect her questline.
Return (again) defeating Messmer the Impaler
After you’ve finally overcome Messmer the Impaler in Shadow Keep-a pivotal late-game boss-return to Hornsent Grandam in the Belurat Tower Settlement storeroom to complete her questline. She will immediately sense Messmer’s defeat, expressing deep relief and joy that vengeance for her people has been served. If you equip the Divine Beast Head while speaking to her, she’ll reward you with Gourmet Scorpion Stew, a unique consumable that signifies the conclusion of her story. Speak to her again for additional dialogue, and after resting at a Site of Grace, you can return to find her asleep, allowing you to collect another Gourmet Scorpion Stew. This marks the end of Hornsent Grandam’s quest, tying up her narrative of loss and retribution within the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion.
Once you’ve defeated Messmer the Impaler at Shadow Keep, return to Hornsent Grandam again (with or without the helmet on). This time, you’ll get the Gourmet Scorpion Stew, which works as a healing item and restores your health over time.
After that, she’ll doze off and you won’t get anything else out of her until after you’ve defeated the DLC’s final boss.
What secrets does Hornsent Grandam reveal about the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC
Secrets Hornsent Grandam Reveals in Shadow of the Erdtree
Hornsent Grandam’s role in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is subtle but significant, offering insights into the history and suffering of the Hornsent people, and revealing the deep animosity toward the Erdtree and its influence.
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Hornsent Grandam, along with other Hornsent NPCs, exposes the longstanding enmity between her people and the Erdtree. She makes it clear that the Erdtree is considered an enemy of the Hornsent, who have suffered under its influence and the forces that serve it.
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Through her dialogue and questline, players learn that the Hornsent were once respected or held power in the Land of Shadow, but their status was stripped away as Marika rose to godhood and the Erdtree’s influence spread. This context is reinforced by the presence of Hornsent motifs in ancient dungeons, which were later replaced by symbols of Marika.
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The questline also touches on the theme of vengeance and loss. Hornsent Grandam and her kin are driven by a desire for retribution against Messmer and those associated with the Erdtree, highlighting the cycle of violence and the cost of divine ambition.
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By interacting with Hornsent Grandam and completing her quest, players gain a deeper understanding of the suffering inflicted on the Land of Shadow’s original inhabitants, and the broader consequences of the Erdtree’s dominance.
In summary, Hornsent Grandam’s secrets center on exposing the Hornsent’s tragic history, their oppression by Marika and the Erdtree, and the enduring bitterness that shapes their actions in the DLC.
What hidden truths about the Hornsent’s past does she share
Hornsent Grandam reveals several hidden truths about the Hornsent’s past in Shadow of the Erdtree, casting light on a tragic and complex history:
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The Hornsent were once the rulers of the Land of Shadow, holding power over the region before Marika’s rise to godhood.
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They cruelly oppressed the Shamans (Marika’s people), subjecting them to torture, whipping, and ritualistic practices such as stuffing them into jars in an effort to create “saints”. These brutal rituals left a legacy of suffering and gave rise to the Jar Innards creatures found in the Land of Shadow.
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Marika, originally from the oppressed Shaman group, infiltrated Hornsent society-possibly as their “Jar Saint”-and eventually betrayed them. This betrayal is remembered as a pivotal moment, as Marika used the Hornsent’s trust to ascend to godhood and then waged a genocidal war against them.
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The Grandam’s dialogue and the lore uncovered in the DLC reveal that Marika’s path to divinity was paved with vengeance against the Hornsent for their cruelty, and that she later rewrote history to conceal these dark deeds.
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The Hornsent’s legacy is marked by tragedy, pride, and a sense of betrayal, with their downfall tied directly to Marika’s rise and the subsequent dominance of the Erdtree.
Through Hornsent Grandam, players learn that the Hornsent’s past is defined by both their own brutality and the ultimate retribution brought upon them by Marika, whose actions reshaped the fate of the Land of Shadow.
