Liurnia is best done right after Stormveil Castle. It's typical end content is the Academy. The goal is to clear most of the open-world content (including Caria Manor and Ranni’s quests) before the Academy. Full Ranni quest requires defeating Radahn, so you’ll naturally progress into Caelid as well. I am unsure if you really need to kill Radhan before finishing here, but let's worry about that as late as possible.

Step one is basically to run around and get as many waypoints as you can. You can even get to Bellum highway if you explore long enough, but the immediate pick-ups are Land Squirt ashes, Raya Lucaria Crystal Tunnel, Road's End Catacombs, and the Academy key beside the dragon. Also try to get to Smithmaster Iji. To do this run around the eastern and then western shores of the lake, then run up the west and east cliffs to explore the plateaus. If you really want to prep then go to Sealed Tunnels and Ariza Hero's Grave for smithing stones and Ghost/Grave gloveworts and armor. Then it's Liurna time.

• [X] Enter Liurnia from Stormveil Castle (or via the side path near the Lake-Facing Cliffs)
• [X] Visit Church of Irith - Speak with Thops (Sorcerer) and get a Sacred Tear
• [X] Speak with Rya (near the lake) and recover her necklace from Blackguard Big Boggart
• [_] Clear Stillwater Cave - Defeat Cleanrot Knight (Winged Sword Insignia)
• [_] Visit Caria Manor (Northwest Liurnia) - Defeat Royal Knight Loretta
• [_] Meet War Counselor Iji near Caria Manor
• [_] Go to Ranni's Rise - Speak with Ranni the Witch and offer to join her service (Start of Ranni Questline)
• [_] Speak with Blaidd, Iji, and Seluvis at the Three Sisters towers
• [_] Progress Ranni Quest - Speak with Blaidd in Siofra River
• [_] Complete Seluvis Quest (optional but recommended before advancing Ranni too far) - Get potion and deliver to Nepheli or Gideon

• [_] Defeat Starscourge Radahn (Redmane Castle) to open the way to Nokron
• [_] Return to Ranni's Rise and continue her questline
• [_] Explore Nokron, Eternal City (after Radahn) and obtain the Fingerslayer Blade
• [_] Give the Blade to Ranni and receive the Miniature Ranni doll

• [_] Clear Cliffbottom Catacombs - Defeat Erdtree Burial Watchdog
• [_] Clear Stillwater Cave - Defeat Cleanrot Knight
• [_] Clear Lakeside Crystal Cave - Defeat Bloodhound Knight
• [_] Clear Road's End Catacombs - Defeat Spirit-Caller Snail
• [_] Clear Black Knife Catacombs - Defeat Alecto, Black Knife Ringleader

• [X] Clear Raya Lucaria Crystal Tunnel - Defeat Crystal Miner
• [_] Clear Academy Crystal Cave - Defeat Demi-Human Swordstress & Crystalian
• [_] Clear Kingsrealm Ruins (underground section)
• [_] Clear Gaol Cave - Defeat Frenzied Duelist
• [_] Clear Village of the Albinaurics cellar

• [_] Defeat Glintstone Dragon Smarag (near Academy Gate)
• [_] Complete Caria Manor - Defeat Royal Knight Loretta
• [_] Enter and complete Academy of Raya Lucaria - Defeat Red Wolf of Radagon + Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon
• [_] Defeat Royal Revenant (near Kingsrealm Ruins)
• [_] Defeat Adan, Thief of Fire (Malefactor's Evergaol)
• [_] Defeat Bols, Carian Knight (Cuckoo's Evergaol)

• [_] Meet Hyetta (Shabriri Grapes quest) at Lake-Facing Cliffs (first thing you do really)
• [_] Continue Sorceress Sellen quest (with Seluvis letter)
• [_] Progress Nepheli Loux quest (Seluvis potion choice)
• [_] Speak with Patches (if he teleported you earlier)
• [_] Meet Pidia, Carian Servant (below Caria Manor)
• [_] Complete Thops quest (give him Glintstone Crown)
• [_] Progress Blaidd quest (tied to Ranni)
• [_] Speak with Knight Bernahl (if not done earlier)

• [_] Collect Liurnia Map Fragments (East, West, and North)
• [_] Obtain Glintstone Whetblade
• [_] Get Carian Filigreed Crest (from Ranni)
• [_] Acquire Dark Moon Greatsword (end of Ranni quest)
• [_] Loot Sword of Night and Flame (Caria Manor area)
• [_] Purchase sorceries from Thops and Sella

• [_] Defeat Night's Cavalry (multiple spawns)
• [_] Defeat Deathbird (nighttime)
• [_] Explore all Evergaols (Cuckoo's, Malefactor's, etc.)
• [_] Clear all Scarabs for upgrade materials
• [_] Visit Minor Erdtree and Church of Vows (for Larval Tears and Rennala rebirth)