Why do blaidd and iji die

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Last updated: April 8, 2026

Quick Answer: Blaidd and Iji die in Elden Ring due to narrative events tied to Ranni's questline. Blaidd is killed by the player after he goes mad following Ranni's ascension to godhood, which occurs after completing her quest. Iji dies by self-immolation using black flame after being attacked by Black Knife Assassins, which happens after Ranni's quest concludes. Both deaths occur in the post-quest phase of the game, with no specific in-game dates but triggered by player progression.

Key Facts

Blaidd's death occurs at Ranni's Rise in Liurnia after Ranni becomes a god
Iji's death occurs at the Road to the Manor site of grace in Liurnia
Both deaths are part of Ranni's questline conclusion
Blaidd is killed by the player character after going mad
Iji dies by black flame self-immolation after Black Knife Assassin attack

Overview

In FromSoftware's 2022 action RPG Elden Ring, Blaidd and Iji are key NPCs associated with Ranni the Witch's questline. Blaidd is a half-wolf warrior created by the Two Fingers as Ranni's shadow, bound to protect her but destined to go mad if she betrays the Greater Will. Iji is a giant blacksmith who serves Ranni and crafted the weapon Blaidd wields. Both characters appear in Liurnia of the Lakes: Blaidd at various locations including the Forlorn Hound Evergaol and Ranni's Rise, while Iji is found at the Road to the Manor site of grace near Caria Manor. Their stories intertwine with Ranni's rebellion against the Golden Order, which involves stealing the Rune of Death and orchestrating the Night of the Black Knives. The questline spans multiple regions including Limgrave, Liurnia, Nokron, and the Lake of Rot, with both NPCs providing assistance to the player throughout Ranni's complex multi-stage mission to overthrow the existing order.

How It Works

Blaidd's death occurs through a specific game mechanic: after completing Ranni's questline and she ascends to godhood, Blaidd goes mad outside Ranni's Rise due to his programming as her shadow. The player must defeat him in combat, which triggers his death cutscene where he acknowledges his fate before dying. Iji's death follows a different mechanism: after Ranni's quest concludes, Black Knife Assassins attack Iji at his anvil. When the player returns to his location, they find him surrounded by dead assassins, using black flame to immolate himself while speaking final words about his service to Ranni. Both deaths are triggered by quest completion flags in the game's code, specifically the "RanniQuestComplete" flag that changes NPC states. The game uses environmental storytelling with Iji's helmet left behind and Blaidd's armor becoming available for purchase, confirming their permanent deaths within that playthrough.

Why It Matters

These deaths significantly impact Elden Ring's narrative and player experience. They complete character arcs central to Ranni's storyline, illustrating the costs of her rebellion against the Golden Order. Blaidd's tragic end highlights the cruel fate of shadows bound to Empyreans, while Iji's sacrifice demonstrates loyal service to Ranni's cause. For players, these events provide emotional weight to quest conclusions and affect gameplay by making certain items available (like Blaidd's armor set) while removing NPC services. The deaths reinforce FromSoftware's signature storytelling through character tragedy and have become memorable moments discussed extensively in the Elden Ring community since the game's February 2022 release.