Jolán’s Questline
Jolán, Swordhand of Night is the black-armoured knight who guards Count Ymir in the Cathedral of Manus Metyr. She has no time for strangers at first, but each bell you ring for Ymir softens her a little, and her golden summon sign turns up at some of the hardest fights in the Hinterland and beyond.
Her loyalty to Ymir is total, so when his secret comes out she stands against you. What follows is a quiet, sad choice: give her light or give her darkness. One choice gives you her spirit ashes and a final reunion with her sister, the other gives you the Sword of Night.
Rewards
- Swordhand of Night Jolán spirit ashes, for giving her the Iris of Grace
- Jolán and Anna spirit ashes, from Anna’s puppet near Rabbath’s Rise (Iris of Grace route only)
- Sword of Night, for giving her the Iris of Occultation
- Her summon sign for Messmer, the Hinterland Tree Sentinels and the Ghostflame Dragon while the quest is running
Walkthrough
- Start Count Ymir’s quest. Jolán only appears after you have rung the bell at the Finger Ruins of Rhia and reported back to Ymir. She then leans against a pillar in the same room as his throne.
- Talk to her after the first bell. She is surprised Ymir trusts you, and says that earns her trust too, while making clear she is no friend of yours.
- Use her summon signs (optional). From this point her golden sign can appear for Messmer the Impaler in the Shadow Keep, for the Tree Sentinels in the Hinterland, and for the Ghostflame Dragon on the Cerulean Coast once you have spoken to Ymir again after the first bell.
- Talk to her after the second bell. Ring the bell at the Finger Ruins of Dheo, report to Ymir and speak to Jolán. She admits Ymir seems pleased with you and opens up a bit about what he means to her. Exhaust her dialogue.
- Tell her about Anna (optional). When Ymir leaves his throne, go down the ladder beneath it. Swordhand of Night Anna invades on the way. After beating her, come back up and tell Jolán. She refuses to hear more, but thanks you.
- Defeat Jolán at the throne. After you kill Metyr, Mother of Fingers in the Finger Ruins of Miyr, return to the cathedral and touch the empty throne. Jolán invades to defend Ymir. Beat her, then beat Ymir, Mother of Fingers.
- Find her blinded by the pillar. Rest at the Site of Grace and go back to her spot. She now sits on the floor, unable to see the sky or the stars, and asks for light.
- Give her an iris. You need either the Iris of Grace or the Iris of Occultation, and the one you hand over ends her questline (see the failure conditions). The Iris of Grace is in the Specimen Storehouse of the Shadow Keep, or at the foot of the headless Marika statue in the building west of the Sunken Chapel, reached through the Tree-Worship Passage once the Church District is drained. The Iris of Occultation drops from a Lesser Ulcerated Tree Spirit in the drained Church District, or from a Lesser Omenkiller that ambushes you at the bottom of the well in the main arena of the Fort of Reprimand.
- Reunite Jolán and Anna (Iris of Grace only). From the Hinterland grace, go to the Shaman Village and carefully climb down the series of cliffs past its edge to the side of Rabbath’s Rise. Examine Anna’s puppet there and choose to usher her into Jolán’s spirit ashes. This upgrades them to Jolán and Anna.
Missable steps & failure conditions
- The iris choice is final. The Iris of Grace gives you her spirit ashes and lets you reunite her with Anna, but locks you out of the Sword of Night. The Iris of Occultation kills her and gives you the Sword of Night, but locks out both spirit ashes. You cannot get everything in one playthrough.
- Her summon signs vanish after Metyr. Defeating Metyr, Mother of Fingers removes all of Jolán’s golden signs. If you want her help against Messmer, the Tree Sentinels or the Ghostflame Dragon, do those fights first.
- She cannot be fought early. Until Count Ymir’s questline progresses to the throne fight, Jolán is not a fightable NPC.
Endings & consequences
- Count Ymir. Her fate is bound to his. You must defeat her before you can face Ymir, Mother of Fingers. See Count Ymir’s Questline for the full bell route.
- Anna. With the Iris of Grace, the two Swordhands of Night end up together as one spirit summon.
- Jolán’s fate. With the Iris of Grace she accepts the light, and her spirit ashes pass to you. The Iris of Occultation gives her the darkness she wants, and she dies.