What is meant by "Imbibe Nectar" in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree?

Saint Trina and Thiollier's questline is the most confusing quest in the entirety of Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree. While the steps needed to complete the questline are fairly straightforward, they don't necessarily make much sense, narratively. What starts as a simple fetch quest, eventually evolves into a mind-bending tale of betrayal and revelations.

What's even more bizarre is the final step of the questline, which requires you to "die on purpose." After you come face-to-face with Saint Trina, you are immediately greeted with the option to "Imbibe Nectar," even though the NPC doesn't utter a single word describing the choice offered.

Naturally, many players will be confused as to what the option refers to. They may wonder whether it's safe to "Imbibe Nectar" or if doing so comes with severe narrative repercussions. Here's everything you need to know about Saint Trina's questline and also what's meant by "Imbibe Nectar" in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree.

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Should you choose "Imbibe Nectar" when you meet Saint Trina in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree?

It might sound strange, but the "Imbibe Nectar" option is the right choice to continue St. Trina's questline, despite it resulting in the Tarnished's death. The option essentially means that you're accepting Trina's offering and are hence subjected to a night of eternal sleep. However, since you're a Tarnished, bereft of death, you come back alive even after drinking Trina's nectar.

Location of St. Trina in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree (Image via FromSoftware)

To complete Thiollier and also St. Trina's questline, you will have to "Imbibe Nectar" no less than six times. And after each death, you will be able to hear St. Trina softly whispering to the Tarnished, and revealing her other half, Miquella's, true intentions.

As many fans of Elden Ring speculated for a long time, much like their parents, Radagon and Marika, St. Trina is another form of the Empyrean, Miquella. However, what sets Miquella apart from his parents is that he can separate his other half, without sacrificing his godhood. This is precisely why he is considered the most fearsome Empyrean in Elden Ring's lore.

Once you talk to St. Trina, i.e., Imbibe Nectar, and die a bunch of times, you will be invaded by Thiollier, granted you started his questline. Thiollier is essentially in love with Saint Trina, and her promise of "eternal sleep." As a way to get close to St. Trina, Thiollier asks the Tarnished to find her whereabouts, and if possible lead him to her.

You get to interact with St. Trina after defeating the Putrescent Knight (Image via FromSoftware)

However, since St. Trina never speaks to Thiollier, he starts getting anxious, which ends up turning to vitriol when the Tarnished claim that Saint Trina spoke to them. As a last-ditch attempt to get St. Trina's affection, Thiollier invades the Tarnished and tries to hunt them down. It's a really fascinating questline, despite being quite confusing.

Do note that you can only interact with St. Trina after you've made your way to the Stone Coffin Fissure, and defeated the Putrescent Knight.