It is a story event in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, not a sign that your character’s Great Rune has broken. The paired messages point to Miquella’s Great Rune breaking and the charm over his followers ending. Guides place the trigger near the Shadow Keep; afterward, revisit the followers you have met to hear their changed dialogue and follow their quests.
What does the message mean?
The game displays two messages: “Somewhere, a great rune has broken” and “And so too has a powerful charm.” Guides from PC Gamer and Windows Central interpret the broken rune as Miquella’s, not one of the Great Runes your character can acquire.
The charm is the influence Miquella held over his companions. Needle Knight Leda describes its role in dialogue reproduced by the community-maintained Elden Ring wiki: “Were it not for the charm Kindly Miquella put upon us. This is what allows us to serve together.” That line supports the connection between the charm and the followers’ shared allegiance. The interpretation comes from game guides and reproduced in-game dialogue, rather than an official publisher lore explanation.
Why did this happen while I was exploring?
Guides report that the message is a scripted story flag encountered near the Shadow Keep region. It can appear as you approach the area along different exploration routes, so seeing it does not mean you made a wrong turn or damaged your character’s progression.
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- Playable on 21st June 2024.
- Pre-order now and get the following bonus content for the expansion: ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree Bonus Gesture
- Winner of hundreds of accolades including The Game Awards Game of the Year and Golden Joystick Awards Ultimate Game of the Year, ELDEN RING is the acclaimed action RPG epic set in a vast, dark fantasy world. Players embark on an epic quest with the freedom to explore and adventure at their own pace.
- The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion features an all-new story set in the Land of Shadow imbued with mystery, perilous dungeons, and new enemies, weapons and equipment.
- Discover uncharted territories, face formidable adversaries, and revel in the satisfying triumph of victory. Dive into the riveting interplay of characters, where drama and intrigue intertwine, that create an immersive experience to savor and enjoy.
The event marks a change in the story and in some followers’ dialogue and quest progression. It is not evidence that every NPC quest has automatically failed.
What should I do next?
- Return to followers you have already met. Talk to them again and check for new dialogue. Their reactions and quest paths can change after the charm ends.
- Continue following the conversations and clues they give you. The transition can advance follower quests, but the guides do not establish that every character has the same outcome or timing.
- If you were waiting to enter Stone Coffin Fissure, check its barrier. GamesRadar reports that the barrier is removed after this point; timing may depend on your progression state.
Is this a failure message?
No. It describes a narrative change affecting Miquella and his companions, not a player-owned Great Rune breaking. Use it as a prompt to revisit the followers whose stories you are tracking, rather than as a reason to reload a save or assume all optional quests are lost.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What do I need to play this DLC?
Shadow of the Erdtree requires the base game, Elden Ring. Bandai Namco’s 2024 expansion announcement listed PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Its August 28, 2026 announcement describes the Nintendo Switch 2 Tarnished Edition as including the base game and expansion; check current regional listings for availability.
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