Hey there, fellow Tarnished! It's me again, your friendly neighborhood lore-hunter. I've been thinking a lot about Sorcerer Rogier lately. You know, the charming spellblade from the Roundtable Hold? The one who helped us take down Margit? Yeah, that guy. Well, let me tell you, his personal questline is one of those hidden gems in Elden Ring that's so easy to miss, it's almost criminal. We're talking deep, juicy lore about the Night of the Black Knives and the Shattering itself. So, grab your flask, maybe a Prune or two for the road, and let's walk through this together. It's a journey that starts in a castle's grimy underbelly and ends... well, let's just say it gets pretty heavy.

First things first, we gotta set the stage. Before you even think about starting this quest, you need to make sure Rogier is chilling at the Roundtable Hold. Super important: do not start Ranni's questline by talking to her at the Three Sisters and agreeing to serve her. If you do, you'll lock yourself out of Rogier's story. Bummer, right? You can chat with him at the Hold, and he might even give you his fancy magic Rapier early on. But the real trigger? That's hidden away in Stormveil Castle, in a place most folks just sprint past on their way to Godrick.

Stormveil Castle: The Secret Path

Alright, pack your courage. We're heading into the guts of the castle. Start from the Secluded Cell Site of Grace—you know, the one right before Godrick's boss room. Head out into the courtyard with all the explosive jars. Don't get blown up! Instead, look for a way up. Follow the wooden walkways clinging to the walls. It feels a bit precarious, like the whole thing could give way any second. Keep going until you find yourself on a balcony. You'll see a sad-looking corpse sitting there, holding an item, with a message on the floor. Read it. Surprise! It's from our man Rogier. He was here before us, poking around.

From here, go left and carefully slide down the rocky slope. You'll find a door that opens a shortcut back to the Liftside Chamber Grace. Handy! But we're not going back. We're going down. See those big stone buttresses? Time for some platforming. Jump onto them and make your way lower. Watch out for the bats, seriously. Those little jerks love to swoop in and knock you right off the edge. It's infuriating!

When you finally reach the bottom, you'll enter a huge, cavernous room. It's dark, dotted with faint lights and items. The moment you step in... brace yourself. An Ulcerated Tree Spirit bursts out of the ground! Now, this is a 'Lesser' version, but don't let that fool you. This thing is no joke. Its attacks hit like a truck, especially the long-range lunge. And oh boy, trying to keep the camera focused on its writhing, giant body in this cramped space? Good luck. My advice? Stay mobile, watch for the tells, and chip away when you can. It's a tough fight, but you've got this.

Once you've put that worm-tree-thing down for good, head to the back of the room. You'll find a massive, eerie face etched into the floor and pick up the Prince of Death's Cyst Talisman. But the real find is the bloodstain on the ground. Interact with it, and you'll see a phantom memory of Rogier, wounded and investigating this very spot. Spooky stuff. Now, hightail it back to the Roundtable Hold.

Roundtable Hold: Whispers and Secrets

Find Rogier at his usual spot. You'll now have a new dialogue option: "About the Corpse Under Stormveil." Talk to him. He'll spill the beans with a story that'll make your head spin—tales of the Black Knife Assassins and the true beginnings of the Shattering. It's a lot to take in. After he's done, don't just stand there! Go find Fia, the woman who offers... hugs. You need to let her hold you (and debuff you) a few times until she trusts you enough to offer a "Talk in Secret" option. She'll share her own piece of the puzzle and, crucially, hand you a map pointing to the Black Knife Catacombs in Liurnia. Off we go!

Black Knife Catacombs: Into the Lair

This place is a classic FromSoftware dungeon: traps, imps, and secrets galore. Navigate through the initial halls until you reach a room with giant blade traps that slam down from the ceiling. Here's the trick: wait for the middle blade to drop, then stand on it. When it rises back up, it'll lift you to a platform on the left wall. Sneaky!

Fight or run past the enemies until you hit a room with an archer that looks like a dead end. It's not. Smack the back wall, and it'll vanish, revealing a hidden corridor. Just outside the boss room at the end, you'll see a golden summon sign. It's for D, Hunter of the Dead! Summon him. You'll want the help.

The boss is a Black Knife Assassin. This guy is fast and hits hard, but his moves are pretty telegraphed. With D drawing aggro, you can be aggressive. Stagger it, punish it, and take it down. Your reward? The Assassin's Cerulean Dagger Talisman and the key quest item: the Black Knifeprint. Don't hang around; get back to Rogier!

Final Steps: Truths and Farewells

Rogier will be over the moon when you show him the Knifeprint. He'll ask to study it. Leave the Hold, do something else for a bit (maybe beat a boss or two), and when you return, he'll give it back. Now he drops the big request: find Ranni the Witch and show her this. If you haven't met her yet, you need to clear Caria Manor and defeat Royal Knight Loretta first. Then, head to the Three Sisters area and climb Ranni's Rise.

When you meet Ranni, you can say: "You must be Ranni the Witch, behind the Night of the Black Knives." She is... not amused. Let's just say she's icy cold about it. She'll confirm some things, deny others, and basically tell you to get lost. Report this back to Rogier. He'll piece things together and realize the only way to learn more is from the inside. He urges you to enter Ranni's service. So, you gotta swallow your pride, go back to Ranni, and pledge yourself as one of her vassals.

Once you've done that, the next time you visit the Roundtable Hold and talk to Rogier... it's tough. He'll tell you he's slipping into a deep sleep. He's clearly dying from the wounds he got under Stormveil. After some time passes, when you return, you'll find him gone. Passed on. All that's left are his belongings: Rogier's Bell Bearing, his slick Spellblade Set, his rapier (if you didn't get it earlier), and a Rogier's Letter. The letter points you toward continuing the investigation, tying his story into the quests of D, Fia, and Ranni. And just like that, his quest is over. It's a somber ending for a character who just wanted to uncover the truth, no matter the cost. His story might be finished, but the conspiracy he uncovered? That's just the beginning for you. Stay safe out there, Tarnished.