What Happens if You Kill the Pope Turtle in Elden Ring?

In the Liurnia of the Lakes region of Elden Ring, specifically in the Church of Vows on the region’s eastern cliffside, you’ll have the unmitigated pleasure of meeting Miriel, Pastor of Vows. You’ll know him when you see him, he’s a gigantic turtle with an adorable little pope hat. Miriel is just the biggest sweetheart. He’s super nice, super helpful, super understanding, just an all-around great guy. I genuinely do not know what kind of person would ever want to inflict harm upon such an awesome dude, but if you really, actually wanted to, you could kill him. The question, then, is what happens if you kill the pope turtle in Elden Ring?

What Happens if You Kill the Pope Turtle in Elden Ring?

In all honesty? Nothing. Nothing happens at all. You don’t get any kind of reward, nor do you get any kind of permanent penalty or curse. Miriel doesn’t even get mad at you. There is literally no reason to attack Miriel beyond just doing it because you can. He doesn’t even die quickly; this is something you have to make a prolonged, concentrated effort at doing, which is probably a good sign that it’s something you really shouldn’t be doing.

If you do attack Miriel, he won’t get mad at you, though he will inform you that killing him will probably take a while. This is accurate, as Miriel has as much health as most bosses. If you keep on going, he’ll say that he won’t begrudge you whether you kill him or stop. If you finally deal him a killing blow, he’ll let out a truly haunting scream before dying.

All Miriel drops are a few Turtle Neck Meats and a Bell Bearing. You can use this Bell Bearing with the Twin Husks in Roundtable Hold to access his shop, but you won’t be able to donate any more magic tomes to him. Because you killed him. You monster. And no, you can’t revive him with a Celestial Dew at the Church of Vows. That only works on NPCs that hold animosity toward you at their time of death, and Miriel still loved you when he died because he was just that good of a dude.