Understanding the consequences and emotional impact of killing Elden Ring’s beloved Turtle Pope
Introduction to Pastor Miriel and NPC Importance
Elden Ring enthusiasts have shared heartfelt remorse after eliminating Pastor Miriel, the character affectionately known throughout the gaming community as ‘Turtle Pope.’ Their experiences serve as cautionary tales urging fellow players to reconsider similar actions.
A dedicated Elden Ring adventurer has publicly expressed deep regret following their decision to murder Pastor Miriel, the cherished ‘Turtle Pope.’ They now passionately encourage other players to avoid making the same tragic mistake.
Similar to other FromSoftware masterpieces, Elden Ring features an extensive cast of eccentric and complex NPC characters, each possessing intricate backstories and specific roles within your epic adventure. Pastor Miriel, popularly dubbed ‘Turtle Pope’ by online communities, arguably stands as the most unusual character among Elden Ring’s diverse NPC roster. Crucially, he remains entirely peaceful and offers substantially greater value to players when kept alive throughout their journey.
Veteran Souls series players consistently emphasize that attacking non-hostile NPCs typically represents a poor strategic decision. Such actions can permanently block access to valuable content while forcing players to endure negative consequences throughout their entire playthrough. One Elden Ring explorer recently discovered this painful lesson firsthand after slaying the innocent Pastor Miriel.
The Killing Experience: A Player’s Regret
Reddit community member VG_Crimson made the fateful choice to attack the gentle Turtle Pope during their visit to Elden Ring’s Church of Vows. They discovered to their surprise that Miriel possessed a more substantial health pool than anticipated, transforming what might have been a swift execution into an extended and emotionally draining confrontation.
After sustaining initial attacks, Miriel desperately begged the protagonist to cease hostilities. Even when reduced to half his maximum health, Turtle Pope continued pleading with the player to disengage, offering unconditional forgiveness for the unprovoked assault. Despite these merciful appeals, VG_Crimson persisted with their offensive, ultimately delivering the fatal strike that ended the gentle Miriel’s life.
The moment of Miriel’s death was marked by a piercing, sorrowful cry that deeply affected VG_Crimson, instilling profound guilt and remorse. Following this NPC homicide, the player reflected:
“I must now carry this burden upon my conscience indefinitely – please avoid this action. There exists no tangible benefit to gain, and you sacrifice not merely his convenient services but also compromise your own moral integrity.”
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You can explore VG_Crimson’s complete commentary regarding this distressing experience below:
I killed Pope Turtle, so you don’t have to.
byu/VG_Crimson inEldenring
Gameplay Consequences and Rewards Analysis
Eliminating Pastor Miriel fails to provide players with any significant or exclusive rewards. His death yields only basic turtle neck meat (readily available through alternative methods) along with his unique Bell Bearing item.
This Bell Bearing permits continued access to his merchandise inventory via the Twin Maiden Husks located at Roundtable Hold, but crucially eliminates the capability to provide him with prayer books that would normally expand his available wares. Consequently, murdering Miriel proves both morally disturbing and practically useless from a gameplay optimization perspective.
Strategic players should note that Miriel offers indispensable services including the ability to reset character attributes and absolve sins – functions that become permanently inaccessible upon his death. His role as a vendor for incantations and his unique dialogue providing lore insights represent additional valuable benefits lost forever.
Farewell to the beloved Turtle Pope, whose gentle invitation “Let’s learn together” symbolized his peaceful nature and willingness to assist all travelers.
Strategic Considerations and Alternatives
For players contemplating NPC interactions in Elden Ring, several crucial considerations should guide your decisions. First, always assess the long-term value each character provides versus any immediate rewards. Pastor Miriel represents one of the game’s most valuable non-combat NPCs, offering services unavailable elsewhere.
Alternative approaches include completing his questline naturally, which unlocks additional dialogue and potential rewards. The gaming community overwhelmingly recommends preserving friendly NPCs during your first playthrough, reserving experimental actions for subsequent New Game+ cycles where consequences carry less permanent weight.
Advanced players suggest creating separate save files before making irreversible NPC decisions, though this requires understanding Elden Ring’s save mechanics. The emotional narrative experience crafted by FromSoftware intentionally makes harming peaceful characters psychologically impactful, reinforcing the game’s themes of consequence and morality.
Community consensus strongly discourages attacking Turtle Pope, with many players considering him among the game’s few genuinely benevolent characters. His design as a knowledgeable, forgiving entity contrasts sharply with the hostile world, making his preservation both strategically sound and emotionally rewarding.
No reproduction without permission：SeeYouSoon Game Club » Elden Ring: Why you shouldn’t kill ‘Pope Turtle’ Pastor Miriel Understanding the consequences and emotional impact of killing Elden Ring's beloved Turtle Pope