I’ll be the first to admit that Elden Ring is not exactly a relaxing game. But every now and then, the Lands Between throws you a curveball that feels more like a warm hug than a death screen. Miriel, Pastor of Vows — better known as the Turtle Pope, or simply “Dog” if you spend too much time online — is exactly that kind of character. A new piece of fan art by 2D artist cyanwhiskey captures the big shelled scholar in a moment so gentle that I had to do a double take. Instead of dodging spells or panic-rolling through a boss arena, the Tarnished is shown having afternoon tea and cookies with Miriel outside the crumbling Church of Vows. And honestly? It’s the coziest thing I’ve seen in a long time.

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Let’s be real: most of my time in Elden Ring is spent either dying, respawning, or squinting at the map trying to figure out where I left my runes. So when I first stumbled across Miriel sitting quietly in the ruins of the Church of Vows, I genuinely thought the game was playing a trick on me. Here was a massive, turtle-like creature wearing a holy miter, ready to teach me sorceries and incantations without trying to turn me into paste. It felt less like a typical FromSoftware encounter and more like meeting a kindly old librarian who just happened to have a shell.

The artwork from cyanwhiskey leans all the way into that vibe. Painted in soft watercolor tones, the piece shows the Tarnished and Miriel sharing a quiet moment among flowers and open fields. There are cookies, there is tea, and Miriel’s wrinkly old face is stretched into what I can only describe as pure, peaceful joy. The pastel palette and storybook composition are so gentle that someone who had never played Elden Ring might assume the image came from a children’s picture book about a friendly turtle clergyman. And you know what? I wouldn’t blame them.

What makes Miriel so beloved is the contrast. Elden Ring is full of nightmarish creatures, cursed warriors, and enemies that would happily turn you into a red stain on the ground. Then there’s the Turtle Pope, a giant turtle who would rather discuss celestial dew and eternal vows than fight you. If you attack him, he won’t even retaliate. That detail alone says a lot about why so many players have embraced him. The game gives you every reason to expect violence, and Miriel just sits there, completely unbothered, radiating the energy of someone who has already attained enlightenment and would like you to please stop swinging your sword.

The fan art community has responded exactly how you’d expect. People are sharing the image, praising the artist, and joking about how they want to hang out with the Dog instead of fighting Radahn again. It’s the kind of artwork that makes you remember that Elden Ring isn’t only about pain and frustration. It also has odd little pockets of calm, and Miriel is one of them.

Here’s why I think the Turtle Pope works so well as a character:

  • 🐢 He looks intimidating, but his personality is completely gentle.

  • 📖 He offers players knowledge without demanding anything in return.

  • ⛪ He sits in a crumbling church, yet feels more stable than most of the Lands Between.

  • 🍪 He is now forever associated with tea and cookies, thanks to this artwork.

  • 🐶 The entire fanbase calls him “Dog,” which is objectively funny.

I can only speak for myself, but this painting makes me want to boot up Elden Ring just to visit Miriel again. Not to buy incantations, not to progress a quest, just to sit there for a minute and enjoy the quiet. That’s rare in a game where every corner can hide a horrible surprise. There’s something special about a character who reminds you that not all great and giant beasts are there to inflict pain and quick death.

Even in 2026, years after the game first launched, the Elden Ring community keeps finding new ways to celebrate its strangest and most peaceful characters. cyanwhiskey’s storybook-style tribute is a perfect example of that enduring love. It takes everything scary about the Lands Between and softens it into a single tender moment. The Tarnished isn’t burdened by the quest to become Elden Lord. Miriel isn’t guarding some terrible secret. They’re just two beings sharing tea, and maybe — just maybe — that’s enough.

I’m not crying, you’re crying. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go find a turtle and offer it a cookie.