Radahn's Festival

"Torrent's new master?" Ranni asked. "What wind blew you here? Have you come to serve me?" However, she received no answer, because Ian merely stared at her. "How rude!"

"Sorry," Ian said. "I was simply fascinated by your manner of existence. This doll was crafted so exquisitely, and more importantly, your soul has merged with it perfectly, showing no signs of rejection."

Ranni's story was quite interesting. After her father remarried, she became a Demigod. Queen Marika also bestowed upon her the status of an Empyrean—a person qualified to become a god. In this world, Demigods could not become gods; only Empyreans could. However, Ranni hated being an Empyrean, and she did not care much for the Golden Order of the Two Fingers either. Thus, she plotted her escape.

Ranni first hired a mysterious organization known as the Black Knife Assassins to steal a fragment of the [Rune of Death], which Marika had sealed within her shadow beast, Maliketh. The assassins then infiltrated Leyndell, Royal Capital, and killed Godwyn the Golden. However, his death was not so simple. At the exact moment he died, Ranni performed a ritual and killed herself as well.

The ritual used the Rune of Death to kill Godwyn's soul while preserving his body. At the same time, Ranni killed her own body but retained her soul. The destruction of her body stripped Ranni of her Empyrean status and deprived the Two Fingers of one means of controlling her. She then attached her soul to a doll and continued to exist through it.

"Though I appreciate the compliment, prying into another person's state of existence is still very rude," Ranni said.

"You're right. I apologize."

"Fine. Since you haven't come to serve me, what is your purpose?"

"I've come to make a deal," Ian said.

"Oh?"