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E's a killer. Kills people and curses their souls... Does all sorts of shit to their corpses, to keep 'em cursed, forever. I ain't seen nothin' more disgustin' in all my years. |
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The Dung Eater is an character in Elden Ring.
Overview[]
A self-described "scourge upon the living," the loathesome Dung Eater is a Tarnished who revels in murder and defilement.[1] He places the Seedbed Curse on his victims to sever their souls from the Erdtree and its grace, trapping them in eternal torment.[2]
The Dung Eater has the heart of an Omen without the body to match. He wears a malformed set of hefty red armor with tufts of red hair emerging from the bleeding stumps of its severed Omen horns. His helmet has no opening except for a deep gash over the right eye. His heavy, sun-shaped medallion represents the guidance he once saw, and the ring to which it will one day lead.[3][4] He wields an accursed sword forged from the saw-like spine of the shrieking,[5] malformed giant Milos, whose perceived deformity mirrored his own.[6] This is his ideal form, and a reflection of the landscape of his mind.[7]
Background[]
The Dung Eater received Grace
The Dung Eater envisioned an Order that would place a "pox upon life itself."[3][7][8] He murdered and defiled countless victims in a reviled ritual that produced Seedbed Curses, severing the dead souls from the Erdtree and binding them to his own flesh.[9][10][11] Those cursed in this way were doomed to be reborn as Omen, passing the curse to their descendants for all eternity.[12] With each pox, the Dung Eater nourished and grew his own Seedbed Curse.[13] He personally cultivated thousands of these horn-strewn tumors across the realm.[14] The art was among the most vile things in the entire Lands Between.[2]
The Dung Eater was caught and imprisoned for his unspeakable crimes, but his work continued unperturbed, much to the horror of fellow inmate Blackguard Big Boggart.[15] Then, he was publicly hanged in front of an angry crowd beneath the sun. Upon his death, the Dung Eater received Queen Marika's grace.[16] The Dung Eater visited Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree, the Volcano Manor and Leyndell, Royal Capital after his revival.[verification needed] He was jailed with the noble Omen in the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds and eventually lost sight of his guiding grace.[3]
Game events[]
The Dung Eater at the Roundtable
The Dung Eater's red phantom appears at the Roundtable Hold when the Tarnished reaches the Altus Plateau. He sits on the floor among a pile of bodies in the room adjacent to Sir Gideon Ofnir's study. Though he does not respect his fellow Tarnished, he abides by the pact of non-aggression.[17][18] Roderika, Spirit Tuner senses the spirits trapped by the Dung Eater and warns the Tarnished of the curse.[9][4]
If the player collects a Seedbed Curse and speaks to the Dung Eater, the Dung Eater detects its presence. He produces a Sewer-Gaol Key and asks the Tarnished to release his corporeal body from the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds.[19] If he is released, the Dung Eater attacks and defiles Blackguard Big Boggart. When the player discovers the evidence, the Dung Eater invades them as well.[20] If repelled, Dung Eater exclaims something unexpected happened. Despite the curse stirring within, his blessing was warded off by the protagonist—a feat none had succeeded in before.[21]
The Dung Eater has a revelation: he was not the one who could curse the world as in his vision. He was just the means to get there; his flesh is the one that must receive the blessing.[22] He asks to be killed and defiled by the Seedbed Curse until his gestated Mending Rune of the Fell Curse coalesces.[23] If this Rune is added to the Elden Ring, it curses Order itself and ushers in the Blessing of Despair.[24]
The Tarnished may also choose to simply kill him, leave him in his jail, or turn him into a puppet with Seluvis's Potion.[14]
Character Information[]
Location[]
| Location | HP | Drops | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roundtable Hold | After reaching Altus Plateau | ||
| Subterranean Shunning-Grounds |  3,511 HP |  3,000 runesOmen Set, Sword of Milos | |
| Elden Throne | 2,652 HP | Summon sign for Morgott, the Omen King | |
| Cathedral of the Forsaken | 3,511 HP | Summon sign for Mohg, the Omen | |
| Capital Outskirts | 2,084 HP | 4,377 runes Furlcalling Finger Remedy x1 Sword of Milos | Invader |
Equipment[]
| Armaments | Armor | Items |
|---|---|---|
| Sword of Milos +3 | Omen Set | Flask of Crimson Tears x1 Regal Omen Bairn |
Quest[]
- Completing the Dung Eater's quest unlocks the "Blessing of Despair" ending.
- His quest intersects with Blackguard Big Boggart and Roderika, Spirit Tuner.
Quest items[]
| Image | Name | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
 | Seedbed Curse | Collect five from corpses. |
 | Sewer-Gaol Key | Speak to him after retrieving one Seedbed Curse |
 | Mending Rune of the Fell Curse | Looted from his corpse after delivering the fifth Seedbed Curse |
Questline progression[]
- Liurnia of the Lakes (Laskyar Ruins)
- Head north-west from the Site of Grace to find Rya the Scout inside a gazebo and talk to her.
- Move to north-west again from here to find Blackguard Big Boggart at the Boilprawn Shack and talk to him: select Give me the necklace and then Deal to be able to buy Rya's Necklace from him for 1000 Runes.
- After purchasing the item, he'll start selling an infinite supply of Boiled Prawns. Purchase at least one to progress his questline: you'll receive the "Spread Out" gesture and, in turn, Boggart's summon sign will appear at the Ruin-Strewn Precipice Overlook to aid you against Magma Wyrm Makar.
- Roundtable Hold
- After touching any Site of Grace in Altus Plateau, the Dung Eater will appear in the western quarter of the Roundtable Hold, past Gideon's study. Talk to him with at least one Seedbed Curse in inventory to receive the Sewer-Gaol Key.
- (Optional) Talking to Roderika, she'll now have a new dialogue option "There's something you should know" to warn you of the danger of the new arrival.
- Leyndell, Royal Capital (Underground Roadside)
- Drop down the open grate to the left exiting the room and follow the path past the Miranda Flowers to reach the Dung Eater's cell, which is guarded by a Large Fingercreeper hidden underground and some smaller ones hanging from the ceiling. Open the cell and talk to him, selecting Leave your gaol!.
- Leyndell, Royal Capital (Forsaken Depth)
- (Optional) The Dung Eater can now be summoned to aid you against Mohg, the Omen.
- Leyndell, Royal Capital (Queen's Bed Chamber)
- (Optional) Alongside Melina, the Dung Eater can now be summoned to aid you against Morgott, the Omen King.
- Roundtable Hold
- (Optional) The Dung Eater has disappeared from the Hold, leaving behind on his spot a message that reads: "I'll defile you next. Come to the outer moat."
- (Optional) Talking to Roderika, she'll now have a new dialogue option "About the spirits' voices" to express her relief for the Dung Eater's departure.
- Leyndell, Royal Capital (Outer Wall Battleground)
- Visit the moat to the south-east below the capital's ramparts to meet again with Boggart, who now sells an infinite supply of Boiled Crabs too. Talk to him and select About the Dung Eater.
- Reload the area to find Boggart moribund and, after talking to him, collect Seedbed Curse, Blackguard's Bell Bearing, Iron Ball, and Blackguard's Iron Mask from his cadaver. Shortly after, the Dung Eater will invade you and, once defeated, will drop his Sword of Milos.
- Roundtable Hold
- The Dung Eater will have now returned to the Hold. Talking to him, he'll instruct you to defile his corpse with the Seedbed Curse.
- (Optional) Talking to Roderika, she'll now have a new dialogue option "About the spirits' voices".
- Leyndell, Royal Capital (Underground Roadside)
- (Optional) If you don't intend to follow his questline, you can select Administer Seluvis' Potion to turn the Dung Eater into a puppet. After his screams have ceased, you're free to kill him to collect his loot without failing the Preceptor's questline.
- After collecting all five Seedbed Curses, return to him and select Use the Seedbed Curse, then collect the Mending Rune of the Fell Curse from his body. Reloading the area, you'll be able to collect the Omen Set too.
Dialogue[]
| English dialogue |
| Introduction in Roundtable Hold |
|---|
| Have you ever felt the curse, with your whole being? |
| The pox upon life itself, feared and despised by all. The reviled blessing. |
| ... |
| Apparently not. |
| You are but a lamb. A stranger to defilement. Ignorant of your own ignorance. |
| You no longer interest me. |
| I've been long without peace. Don't spoil my quietude. |
| If talked to again |
| I asked you not to disturb me. |
| Be thankful of the Hold's serenity. |
| It is all that keeps your death and defilement at bay. |
| If talked to after finding a Seedbed Curse |
| No, wait. |
| ... |
| You have felt the curse. |
| I can smell it on you. The pox, yet tender. |
| Apparently my seedbed is ripe and waiting. |
| Twas a brief respite, I must say. |
| Go, and unshackle my corporeal flesh. |
| Trapped in the sewer gaol, below the capital. |
| I can kill you, and defile your corpse. |
| Then the pox will truly be your own. |
| If talked to again |
| Go, and unshackle my corporeal flesh. |
| Trapped in the sewer gaol, below the capital. |
| I can kill you, and defile your corpse. |
| Then the pox will truly be your own. |
| When approached in the Subterranean Shunning Grounds |
| ... |
| Let me out! Let me out of here! |
| Must eat more! Defile more! |
| Everything that matters to you! |
| For generations to come! |
| I am the Dung Eater! |
| A scourge upon the living! |
| If talked to in his cell |
| Who are you? |
| "Do nothing" |
| I am the Dung Eater. |
| A scourge upon the living. |
| I must eat more. Defile more... |
| "Leave your gaol!" |
| I've been here long enough. |
| I will kill again. And defile each corpse with care. |
| Just to be sure. That when they're reborn… |
| They'll be cursed. Along with their children, and their children's children, for all time to come… |
| If talked to again |
| I will kill again. And defile each corpse with care. |
| Just to be sure. That when they're reborn… |
| They'll be cursed. Along with their children, and their children's children, for all time to come… |
| When invaded in Altus Plateau |
| I will kill you, and defile your corpse. |
| Then the pox will truly be your own. |
| If the player is killed during invasion |
| I'll give you a good blessing. |
| You'll be nourishment for the pox. |
| If talked to in Roundtable Hold after invasion |
| There you are. |
| You warded off my blessing. |
| Despite the curse stirring within you. |
| No one has succeeded in that before. |
| How? I thought. Then it hit me. |
| That you are, in fact, me. And I...am the Dung Eater. |
| It is my flesh that must receive the blessing. |
| If talked to again |
| Give me your blessing. |
| Defile my flesh with the seedbed curse. |
| Again and again. Until it is done. |
| Until a cursed ring coalesces, that may one day defile Order itself. |
| Countless, I have killed. And countless, I have defiled. |
| And soon the fruits will be borne. |
| Hundreds will be reborn cursed, and they'll bear thousands of cursed children, who'll bear tens of thousands more. |
| A few of those will be born just like me, and they'll kill, and defile, and bless in my stead! |
| The rotten fools. My fate was the grandest, most brilliant of them all! |
| If talked to again |
| My corporeal flesh lies in the sewer gaol beneath the Capital. |
| Give it your blessing. Defile my flesh with the seedbed curse. |
| Until a cursed ring coalesces, that may one day defile Order itself. |
| If talked to in his cell after talking in Roundtable Hold |
| Uur...urgh... |
| A curse... A curse upon them all. |
| They'll be born cursed, all of them. |
| Along with their children, and their children's children, heh, for all time to come… |
| After giving Dung Eater the fifth Seedbed Curse |
| Unleash it upon them! A cursed blessing to all! |
| Administer Seluvis's Potion |
| Ah...argh... |
| No... I am... the Dung Eater... |
| I am... |
| ... |
| Japanese dialogue |
| Introduction in Roundtable Hold |
|---|
| …お前は、呪いを感じたことがあるか |
| 恐れ、忌み嫌われる生命の宿痾。その醜い祝福を |
| ... |
| …どうやら、違うようだな |
| お前は孺子だ。穢れを知らず、知らぬことも知らぬ |
| そんな者に用はない |
| 久方ぶりの静寂だ。…邪魔をするな |
| Note: 宿痾 means "dwelling disease" or "innate illness" translated as "pox." |
| Note: 忌み嫌われる means "to detest", "to abhor", and it features the same kanji 忌み used to refer to the Omen (忌み子). |
| Note: 醜い祝福 means "ugly grace", using the same kanji of the "Guidance of Grace" (祝福の導き). |
| Note: 穢れ is a form of "pollution" in shintoism, caused by contact with death or disease. This term keeps appearing as the verb 穢す in his dialogues, translated accordingly to "defile". |
| If talked to again |
| …邪魔をするなと、言ったはずだな |
| 円卓の非戦に感謝することだ |
| ただそれ故に、お前は殺されず、穢されぬのだ |
| If talked to after finding a Seedbed Curse |
| …いや、まて |
| ... |
| お前、呪いを感じているな |
| ぷんぷんと臭っているぞ。生乾きの宿痾が |
| …どうやら、我が苗床は十分に熟したようだ |
| 思えば短い静寂であったわ |
| …お前、我が身体を解放するがよい |
| 王都地下、下水の牢に囚われた、我が身体を |
| そうしたら、お前を殺し、穢してやる |
| その宿痾を、本当にお前のものにしてやるぞ |
| If talked to again |
| …お前、我が身体を解放するがよい |
| 王都地下、下水の牢に囚われた、我が身体を |
| そうしたら、お前を殺し、穢してやる |
| その宿痾を、本当にお前のものにしてやるぞ |
| When approached in the Subterranean Shunning Grounds |
| ... |
| 出せ！ここから出せ！ |
| もっと喰わせろ！穢させろ！ |
| お前たちのすべてを！ |
| お前たちの未来を！ |
| 俺は「糞喰い」だ！ |
| お前たち皆の呪いだ！ |
| If talked to in his cell |
| …お前、誰だ？ |
| "Do nothing" |
| 俺は「糞喰い」だ |
| お前たち皆の呪いだ |
| もっと喰わせろ。穢させろ… |
| "Leave your gaol!" |
| …出る。ここを出る |
| …殺してやる。念入りに穢してやる |
| みんなみんな、次は呪われて生まれるように |
| 子も、孫も、その先も、ずっと呪いが終わらぬように |
| Note: "So that everyone will be born cursed" - it does not mention anything about being reborn, but rather "the people born next". |
| If talked to again |
| …殺してやる。念入りに穢してやる |
| みんなみんな、次は呪われて生まれるように |
| 子も、孫も、その先も、ずっと呪いが終わらぬように |
| When invaded in Altus Plateau |
| …お前を殺し、穢してやる |
| その宿痾を、本当にお前のものにしてやるぞ |
| If the player is killed during invasion |
| …さあ、祝福してやる |
| 宿痾の苗床となるがよい |
| Note: He says you will be a 苗床 "seedbed", rather than nourishment. |
| If talked to in Roundtable Hold after invasion |
| …待っていたぞ |
| …お前は、祝福を拒んだ |
| 呪いを感じている、お前が |
| 誰も拒めなかった、祝福を |
| 何故だ？…俺はやっと分かった |
| お前は、俺だ。そして俺は「糞喰い」だ |
| 我が身体を、祝福するときがきたのだ |
| If talked to again |
| …俺を、祝福してくれ |
| 苗床の呪いで、我が身体を侵してくれ |
| 何度でも、何度でも、そうしてくれ |
| いつか、律を穢す、呪いの輪がもたらされるように |
| …俺はたくさん殺した。俺はたくさん穢した |
| そして、それは結実する |
| 数百の呪いが生まれ、数千の呪われた子が生まれ、数万の呪われた孫が生まれ |
| そこから幾人もの俺が生まれ、永遠に殺し、穢し、祝福し続ける |
| …ざまあみろ。我が導きは、かくも素晴らしきものであったわ |
| Note: No mention of "rebirth" in the first line, just that "hundreds will be born cursed". |
| Note: He says 導き meaning "guidance", as in, the guidance of grace, rather than "fate". |
| If talked to again |
| …我が身体は、王都地下、あの下水の牢にある |
| 祝福してくれ。苗床の呪いで、我が身体を侵してくれ |
| いつか、律を穢す、呪いの輪がもたらされるように |
| If talked to in his cell after talking in Roundtable Hold |
| …うう、ううう… |
| 呪う。呪ってやる… |
| すべてが、呪われて生まれるように… |
| 子も、孫も、その先も、ずっと呪いが終わらぬように… |
| After giving Dung Eater the fifth Seedbed Curse |
| す、すべてに！呪いの祝福あれーっ！ |
| Administer Seluvis's Potion |
| …うっ、ううっ… |
| やめろ…、俺は、俺だ…、「糞喰い」だ… |
| 最後まで… |
| ... |
Notes[]
- Roderika cautions the spiritual harm done by the Dung Eater's Seedbed Curse is worse than Godrick's grafting.[9]
- The Dung Eater possesses a fate.[24]
- During the intro cinematic, the Dung Eater is hung by an iron chain in a gallows, silhouetted against the bright Erdtree or sun. A faint golden Grace near his chest illuminates the sun medallion, visually linking it to the haloed backdrop.
- He was confined to the same prison as nobleborn Omen beneath the streets of Leyndell.[25][26] Like the Omen, his body also contains cursed spirits.[11]
- Two Seedbed Curses are found at Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree, regardless of whether he is freed. This suggests he was among (or descended from) the Tarnished who remained in the Lands Between.[27]
- The Dung Eater's right eye is visible through the gash in the Omen Helm in the Dung Eater concept art.
Trivia[]
- Like all human NPCs, the Dung Eater has a custom face. He has wild red hair and eyes that are spaced too widely apart, giving him an almost deformed appearance. He is the only character who looks this way.[28]
- The Fell God is described as being "malformed," and is also associated with giants, horns, red hair, and the sun. It was ousted by Queen Marika during the War Against the Giants.
- Milos is also described as grotesque.
- The Dung Eater’s name and methods may draw inspiration from an old Japanese myth in which a person’s soul was believed to reside in a special organ located inside the anus. Known as the shirikodama (尻子玉), this mythical sphere was said to be extracted by demons to steal their victim’s soul. The Dung Eater’s grotesque ritual may symbolically mirror this act, as he seizes the souls of his victims by defiling them to their core.
- The Headless can steal the shirikodama in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. These enemies are physically similar to Omen, though they are bloated and hornless. Like the Dung Eater, they were previously executed for great crimes.
Gallery[]
Dung Eater concept art
Dung Eater unmasked
See also[]
References[]
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