Elden Ring, the sprawling action RPG, is renowned for its cryptic messages and challenging puzzles, often leaving players scratching their heads in bewilderment. Among these enigmatic encounters are the riddles found within the Converted Tower and Converted Fringe Tower. Upon entering these structures, Tarnished are met with a statue and the perplexing message: “Erudition Guide Thee!” This cryptic clue is the key to unlocking the tower’s secrets, but deciphering its meaning and knowing how to act upon it can be initially confusing. This guide will illuminate the path to solving this puzzle, ensuring you are guided by erudition to claim your rewards.
To solve the mystery behind “Erudition guide thee,” you must first understand what the game expects from you. The message itself hints at the solution: erudition. In the context of Elden Ring, and indeed in general, erudition refers to profound learning or extensive knowledge. The game nudges you towards demonstrating your learned understanding – not through brute force, but through intellect and acquired skills. Specifically, the puzzle requires the Erudition Gesture.
Elden Ring Erudition Emote
The Converted Tower and Converted Fringe Tower are not isolated puzzles; they are linked by this common riddle. Both towers house a statue that reacts to the Erudition Gesture, but with a slight variation for the Converted Fringe Tower. You can find the Converted Tower in the Liurnia of the Lakes region, easily accessible on the western side. The Converted Fringe Tower is located in the same region, but further north, situated on a cliff edge overlooking the lakes, demanding a bit more exploration to reach.
Acquiring the necessary Erudition Gesture is your first significant step. This gesture is not automatically granted; it must be earned through a mini-quest involving Sorcerer Thops. Your journey begins at the Church of Irith, where you first encounter Thops, dejected and seeking a way back into Raya Lucaria Academy. To aid him, you need to locate a second Academy Glintstone Key.
This second Glintstone Key is hidden within Raya Lucaria Academy itself. Starting from the Debate Parlor Site of Grace, venture north and then west, navigating the rubble and ascending the northern staircase where you initially faced sorcerers. Instead of proceeding into the breezeway, turn west to discover a safe jump down to a lower area. Continue upwards, heading west and then south, until you reach a point where you can jump onto the rooftops.
From the rooftops, follow a relatively linear path towards the Church of the Cuckoo. Traverse the rooftops, dealing with familiar academy enemies, until you reach the church. Enter the Church of the Cuckoo through a window to find the Glintstone Key twinkling atop a chandelier. Carefully drop down to retrieve the second Academy Glintstone Key.
Once you possess the key, return to Thops at the Church of Irith. Present him with the Academy Glintstone Key. While he is overjoyed at this prospect, his story takes a melancholic turn. To find the Erudition Gesture, travel to the Schoolhouse Classroom Site of Grace within Raya Lucaria Academy. Exit through the western door and turn right around the building. There, you will find Thops deceased at a desk. Loot his body to obtain Thops’s Bell Bearing, a new spell, and crucially, the Erudition Gesture.
With the Erudition Gesture in your possession, return to the Converted Tower and Converted Fringe Tower. Stand before the statue in the Converted Tower and use the Erudition Gesture. For the Converted Fringe Tower, the process is nearly identical, but with one crucial addition: you must wear a Glintstone Crown while performing the Erudition Gesture. Glintstone Crowns are helmets found throughout Raya Lucaria Academy and other sorcery-focused areas, identifiable by their distinct blue glow and magical properties.
Upon correctly performing the Erudition Gesture in front of the statue in either tower, a ladder will materialize, leading upwards. This ladder grants you access to the upper levels of the tower, where you will typically find valuable items, spells, or equipment as rewards for solving the “Erudition guide thee” puzzle. By understanding the riddle and acquiring the Erudition Gesture, you successfully demonstrate your own Tarnished erudition, unlocking the secrets held within these mysterious towers.
