Gostoc...

[SuperJedi]

Might be a bug but something weird happened. Got into Stormveil Castle and talked to Gostoc. Took the side entryway all the way to the rampart tower. Then spoke to him on one of the rooftops where he gave me a grace mimic. Then I think I opened the main gates and revisited the rampart tower to find that Gostoc is gone and his bell bearing is dropped. Definitely did not kill him.

[Ironwu]

He eventually always dies. My guess is you triggered whatever needed to be done for him to expire.

[SuperJedi]

Doesn't he become a merchant?

[Meewec]

he probably got killed by something else in the castle. i honestly would refrain from killing him if the quest he's involved with acted a bit less weirdly. i wouldn't mind the smithing stone but i really hate him so i just kill him after having him open the gate.

[SuperJedi]

It's a weird one. Wouldn't you have you been at a certain distance for something else to kill an NPC?

[Ironwu]

Originally posted by SuperJedi:

Doesn't he become a merchant?

Yes, he becomes available as a merchant if certain conditions are met. But, eventually story progression kills him. If you are really interested, you can look up the Gostoc Questline and see how your actions may have fitted the requirements for his demise. :)

Note that the only item his Bell won't provide is the Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone. But, as I said, there are lots of those to be had during a normal play through.

[SuperJedi]

I just found it weird that he suddenly carked it haha.

[Meewec]

Originally posted by SuperJedi:

It's a weird one. Wouldn't you have you been at a certain distance for something else to kill an NPC?

i think he gets near the explosive barrel birds at some point

[SuperJedi]

Originally posted by Meewec:

Originally posted by SuperJedi:

It's a weird one. Wouldn't you have you been at a certain distance for something else to kill an NPC?

i think he gets near the explosive barrel birds at some point

Well that explains it! Been loving those explosive barrels.

[Greywander]

Originally posted by Ironwu:

But, eventually story progression kills him.

This is false. Gostoc is one of the few NPCs that doesn't die at the end of his questline. There is no quest trigger to kill him, either. The only way he dies is if you kill him yourself (or a glitch kills him, which seems to be what happened with the OP).

I've never had any issues with Gostoc dying by accident. However, there is one time when I was in the room above Gostoc where you open the gate and I somehow fell to the floor below and accidentally hit the attack button on the way down, nailing Gostoc with a plunging attack. Or maybe I just fell on top of him and it did damage that caused him to aggro, I actually can't remember.

[Chaosolous]

I don't think I've ever not killed him immediately.

[Alby]

Gooooo-stoc
Be Leeeeeavin'

He fell from the ceiiiiiling

[Virtuous Saint]

Gostoc sticks around the boss arena after you kill Godric, if Nepheli Loux gets made the ruler of Stormveil, Gostoc will stand behind her in the throne room.