During the Shattering, the Volcano Manor was the home of Praetor Rykard and his Recusant, fierce warriors who waged war against the Erdtree. Following Rykard's transformation into the Lord of Blasphemy, the remaining Recusants deserted him and left the Volcano Manor. Afterwards, Rykard's consort, Lady Tanith, continued to maintain the Manor as the base of operations for a new generation of Recusants. After their return to the Lands Between, Tarnished considered strong and merciless towards their kin, were extended invitations to join the Volcano Manor and are given contracts to hunt other Tarnished in service of the Roundtable. Tarnished who prove themselves are offered an audience with what has become of Praetor Rykard, the Lord of Blasphemy, which will inevitably end with the serpentine demigod devouring them for their strength.
Even after the Shattering, the Volcano Manor is still besieged by the forces of the Royal Capital. Camps of Leyndell soliders dot the perilous assent of Mt. Gelmir.
Walkthrough[]
The Volcano Manor is one of the game's most complex locations. It can be reached in multiple ways and you can progress through from different directions.
The fastest, but most gimmicky way to reach it is by letting the Abductor Virgin at the bottom of the Raya Lucaria Academy grapple you to death. You will still drop your runes, but be respawned right within the Volcano Manor area. From here there are two paths that are each a point of no return. One leading to the rest of the manor, the other brings you to the Abductor Virgin duo bossfight and back to the Altus Plateau. For the Abductor Virgin boss, search for the cave with multiple drop-down platforms. To progress deeper into the manor, jump down the lava waterfall. If you die here before reaching a grace, you will be respawned where the Abductor Virgin dropped you within Volcano Manor. From here you can explore the area, defeat the Godskin Noble and either make it back to the manor entrance with Lady Tanith and the other npcs, or skip their quests and head straight to the gateway portal leading to Praetor Rykard.
The regular paths to enter the manor are either on foot/horseback across Mt. Gelmir, or to be teleported right to the Volcano Manor entrance grace by Rya once reaching the Altus Plateau. You won't be able to reach the bosses or explore the rest of the area from here unless you accept Lady Tanith's offer to get the Drawing-Room Key. If you join the manor, a list of NPCs become available there: Bernahl, Patches, Rya, Diallos Hoslow. To get all the content out of the manor, you have to wait with fighting Rykard until reaching the Mountaintops of the Giants, so that you can do all of the following NPC invasions for the manor: Old Knight Istvan, Rileigh the Idle, Great Horned Tragoth, Vargram the Raging Wolf + Errant Sorcerer Wilhelm, Juno Hoslow, Knight of Blood. After defeating Juno Hoslow, Tanith offers to send you to Rykard, where you can then start the boss fight. Remember to complete Rya's quest before defeating Juno Hoslow, Knight of Blood, otherwise you'll be locked out of Tanith's dialogue regarding Rya.
