Hernand Town in Chapter 1 - Crimson Desert Map

Freesword Encampment

You're standing in front of a tent at the Royal Trading Post, right next to Hernand Castle.

• Take a look around the camp.
• There’s a bed inside the tent where you can safely sleep.
• You’ll also find a Private Storage inside tent, which holds any loot you might have missed after combat.
• Talk to the locals and watch your reputation grow with each conversation. Spend as much time as you want chatting with people you meet to build your standing with different Factions.
• Check out the Bonfire where you can cook. Food (Recovery Items) is vital since it's your primary way to heal.
• Pet the dogs running around the camp to boost your reputation. Make it a habit to pet every animal you find. If you hit 100 reputation, the animal will follow and help you. Just keep in mind you can only gain 25 reputation points per animal each day.
• The guards won't let you into the castle because they don't like your look, at least not yet.

Where Rumors Gather

Main Quest, Chapter 1: The First Encounter / Trials of Kindness

This is your current Main Quest, so stick to it, but hit [02] and [03] before heading to Hernand Tavern.

Abyss Nexus in Hernand Town

Abyss Nexus

The Abyss Nexus is Fast Travel Point in Crimson Desert.

For now, stand on the Abyss Nexus and wait for it to activate.

Make it a habit to prioritize activating these whenever you reach a new area. When you want to return, just open the in-game map and double-click the specific Abyss Nexus.

Bell Tower

Hernand Bell

Head to the small white tower, climb to the top, and ring the Bell.

There are 8 Bells in Crimson Desert, found on various towers scattered across Pywel. Ringing each one reveals a piece of the world map. This particular Hernand Bell uncovers the southwestern part of the Hernand Region. It’s a vital part of the game, so whenever you enter a new area, try to find the corresponding Bell as soon as possible. You can find more info in Crimson Desert Map: All 8 Bell Locations.

Talk to the Shai Resident since this is part of the Toll of Pywel questline.

Toll of Hernand

Faction Quest, Pororin Forest Guardians / Toll of Pywel

Hernand Tavern

Enter Hernand Tavern for Main Quest: Where Rumors Gather.

Inn

Talk to Dahlia Innkeeper

Arm Wrestling

Take a look around the Tavern. Right in the middle, sitting at a table, you'll see a Soldier waiting for someone to challenge him to a round of Arm Wrestling. Pull up a chair and give it a shot. Keep trying at it until you win.

Minigame:

Arm Wrestling

Arm Wrestling is just one of many minigames scattered throughout Crimson Desert. The rules are straightforward:

• Start the match with [E]
• Wait for the countdown: 3... 2... 1
• Tap [E] repeatedly without stopping
• Wait for a circle with a highlighted segment and a moving needle to appear above the hand icon
• Press [R] the moment the needle lands on the highlighted area
• Repeat the whole sequence
• You win once the bottom hand icon turns completely red

You’ve pocketed your first winnings. Now you have enough cash to keep going with the Main Quest in the Trials of Kindness Sub-Chapter.

The story so far:

To get a handle on what’s actually happening to Kliff and why we’re even doing this, let’s recap the plot.

Our protagonist died during a clash between factions, only to be magically pulled from the depths into the Abyss. There, a mystical entity began testing him. Everything unfolding right now is just a continuation of that trial.

The sub-chapter title: Trials of Kindness, makes it clear we're being judged.

The upcoming Main Quests will serve as mystical tests of your character, determining if you're worthy of enlightenment.

So, step out of the Tavern and go do something decent for a change.

Mysterious Man

Head out of Hernand Tavern and take a left. Just around the corner, near the entrance to Hernand Sewers, you’ll spot a beggar sleeping on the ground with a bunch of kids staring at him. Get closer, and the kids will scatter.

Mysterious Man

Main Quest, Chapter 1: The First Encounter / Trials of Kindness

Give a coin to the old beggar.

The Mysterious Man hands you a Shabby Wooden Key as a thank you. It’s a Quest Item you can’t use just yet, but it’ll come in handy soon.

The Mysterious Man then vanishes around the corner in a cloud of magical dust, pretty much confirming this whole situation is far from ordinary.

Hernand Sewers

Once the Mysterious Man vanishes, you'll find the entrance to the Hernand Sewers right where he was lying. It’s just a small basement area, so head inside.

Hidden Spaces Hernand Sewers

Inside, you'll find a chest containing a helmet, which is the first piece of gear you'll come across. There are also some random items scattered on the floor that you can grab to sell later.

True Wisdom in Kindness

Main Quest, Chapter 1: The First Encounter / Trials of Kindness

The collapsing floor is a good spot to practice your Precision Jump.

At the end of the hallway, you'll see a Noble Woman tied up and kneeling. Untie her to set her free. Consider this another test passed. She hands you a Sealed Letter and vanishes, just like visions usually do.

There's nothing else of interest here, so leave the Sewers and head toward the Bell at [08].

Heart Beyond Borders

After leaving the Sewers, you’ll see a key icon on your main map, just north of where you found the Bell. That’s where your next Main Quest is located.

Heart Beyond Borders

Main Quest, Chapter 1: The First Encounter / Trials of Kindness

Near the bell tower, you'll spot a kid in a green cape, that's Rulupee. Talk to her. She’s having some trouble getting her Black Cat down from the roof. Climb up there, grab the cat, and bring it back to her.

Before she vanishes, Rulupee invites you to her home city, and you’ve made another friend. Pick up the next Quest Item from the ground: Shai's Pendant.

Rulupee: A cat enthusiast with mysterious powers. He's impossible to miss-always dressed in bright, colorful outfits. He may look young, but no one's worked out his true age, leaving everyone to wonder who or what he really is. Curiosity keeps him roaming around different places, leaving small gifts such as pendants for those he deems kind-hearted.

Now, head south of the Hernand Town center to the final marker on your map [09].

Actions Speak Louder then Words

Just south of the Hernand Town center, at Muckroot Ranch, you’ll find a house billowing smoke. Arlan and Lauren need your help.

Actions Speak Louder then Words

Main Quest, Chapter 1: The First Encounter / Trials of Kindness

Smoke is pouring out of every opening except the chimney because it's clogged. Grab the Broom standing by the door and equip it. Head up to the roof. Stand right on top of the chimney and aim inside until the [Clean] prompt appears. Clear the blockage and talk to Arlan.

You'll get an Inventory Expansion as a reward, but more importantly, you’ll receive a Quest Item: Hernandian Attire.

Mystical Key

The next Main Quest that shows up after you finish "Actions Speak Louder than Words" is "Mystical Key".

Mystical Key

Main Quest, Chapter 1: The First Encounter / Trace

Examine the Shabby Wooden Key in your inventory, which you got from the beggar sleeping on the ground during the "Mysterious Man" quest.

Your next move is a trip to Hernand Castle Gates. Go to [11]

Hernand Castle Gates

The guards at the gate won't let you in because you look like a mess. Put on the Hernandian Attire you received after finishing the "Actions Speak Louder than Words" Main Quest.

Now, head inside the castle.

The second gate

Just walk through like the last one while wearing the Hernandian Attire.

Go into the main building, take the first set of stairs on the right, and head up to the second floor. In the main hall on second floor (to the right of the stairs), go for the first locked door on the left.

You can see the full route in the video walkthrough above.

Alchemist’s Chamber

Use the Mystical Key to unlock the door and head into the Alchemist’s Chamber.

You’ll find a Treasure Chest inside. Go ahead and grab the loot, it won't count as stealing. Check your inventory for the Abyss Artifact and Faded Abyss Artifact.

An Abyss Gate will show up on the wall, acting as a one-way path to the Abyss.

Light up your Lantern to catch the glimmer of a figure stepping through the Abyss Gate.

Faded Abyss Artifact

Faded Abyss Artifacts work just like Respec Tokens. Using one lets you reset your entire Skill Tree to get back all your regular Abyss Artifacts.

They’re pretty rare and tough to find, but later in the story, you can pick them up from Witch Vendors or just craft them yourself.

Abyss Gate

Step into the Abyss Gate to reach the Axiom Archive in the Abyss.

Main Quest

Crimson Desert's story is split into a Prologue, 12 Chapters, and an Epilogue. Every section is broken down into two or more Sub-Chapters, which house the Main Quests driving the narrative.

You'll need to tackle these in a specific order. Most of them kick off automatically once you wrap the last one, and you'll only ever have one active quest at a time. The starting locations for Main Quests are marked on my maps. Sticking to the main story is easily the best way to see everything the game world has to offer.

Faction Quest

Faction Quests in Crimson Desert act as side missions, completely separate from the main story and tied directly to the Reputation System. You'll run into new Faction Quest as you hit new areas and build your standing with Factions or with Main Quest progress.

Every quest you finish for a specific group increases your Contribution Rank, giving you access to more work and their specific services. Rewards go beyond just reputation, you're also looking at Abyss Artifacts, Skills, Inventory Expansions, and Camp Upgrades.

Notice Board

Notice Boards are a vital hub for tracking down side activities in Crimson Desert. They're packed with Bounty Posters and Requests & Commissions for new quests, alongside Vendor Advertisements that lead you to interesting merchant spots.

Once you snag a flyer, you actually have to read it. Give it a close look to catch any hidden clues. You won't always get a clear map marker, so you’ll need to dig into the text to figure out where to go.

Notice Board listings can refresh as you get further into the game.

Abyss Nexus

Abyss Nexuses act as fast travel points in Crimson Desert. You first need to find and activate one before you can use it. When you're nearby, use your Lantern or the Blinding Flash skill, then simply stand on the Abyss Nexus.

Once it's active, you can fast travel to this location just by clicking the icon on your in game map.

You might run into a "broken" Abyss Nexus, which you'll need to fix by solving a straightforward environmental puzzle.

Abyss Gate (one way from Pywel to Abyss Islands)

The Abyss Gate is a portal that transports you one way from Pywel to the Abyss dimension.

Various gates scattered across Pywel lead to different locations in the Abyss. These operate strictly as one-way passages and do not function like Abyss Nexuses.

You will find the first Abyss Gate in Hernand Castle during Chapter 1.

Abyss Teleporter (one way between Abyss Islands)

The Abyss Teleporter moves you one way between Abyss Islands. You use it as a one-time trip to reach a new, previously unvisited island for the first time.

It leads from a completed island to a new, unvisited one. It usually sits at the end of the area you are currently exploring and pops up once you finish The Abyss Restoration Challenge on that specific island.

Skybridge Gate

The Skybridge Gate activates on an Abyss Island once you finish restoring that specific island. This gate and its Alignment Device let you rebuild destroyed Abyss Skybridges that lead to the next part of the island.

Pass through the gate and use Axiom Force on the Alignment Device to set the right position and restore the path. Getting the correct alignment is straightforward. Just rotate it until it stops, as there are no complex puzzles involved.

Abyss Restoration Challenge

Every island in the Abyss needs restoration before it becomes fully functional. The Abyss Restoration Challenge monument is where you claim your reward after finishing a Challenge task.

Restoration usually involves puzzles, ranging from straightforward tasks to complex, multi-layered brain teasers. Your reward is typically an Abyss Artifact used to gain a Skill Point.

Abyss Cresset

Abyss Cressets are challenges you'll need to beat for a reward. These tasks range from solving logic and physics Puzzles to winning duels or even learning up new techniques. Once finished, you'll open up an Abyss Nexus fast travel point at that spot and score an Abyss Artifact (Skill Point).

Puzzles and riddles

Puzzles and Riddles are baked into the Crimson Desert experience, and you'll run into plenty of them across both Pywel and the Abyss. The variety is solid, ranging from Ancient Ruins Puzzles to Abyss Restoration Challenges, as well as Labyrinths and Mazes.

Sealed Abyss Artifact

Sealed Abyss Artifacts are physical items scattered throughout Pywel. Grabbing one triggers a specific Challenge. Once that's finished, you can "unseal" the item right in your inventory to get an Abyss Artifact, a Faded Abyss Artifact, or some Abyss Gear.

Look for Sealed Abyss Artifacts along roads, usually tucked away in small stone altars or cairns.

Abyss Artifact

Abyss Artifacts work as a currency you can trade in for Skill Points to build out your character or boost your Health, Stamina or Spirit.

You'll pick up Abyss Artifacts as you fill your XP bar, but they're also handed out for taking down bosses, finishing Main Quests, and solving puzzles at Abyss Cressets.

Faded Abyss Artifact

Faded Abyss Artifacts work just like Respec Tokens. Using one lets you reset your entire Skill Tree to get back all your regular Abyss Artifacts.

They’re pretty rare and tough to find, but later in the story, you can pick them up from Witch Vendors or just craft them yourself.

Bells

There are eight Bells scattered across Bell Towers throughout Pywel in Crimson Desert. They're vital for exploration because each one clears the fog of war on map and reveals points of interest nearby.

Once you find a Bell, climb the tower, ring it, and check in with the Shai Resident. This is all part of the Toll of Pywel faction questline.

Hidden Spaces

Sites of Trials and Secrets, there are 34 Hidden Spaces

Bosses

There are 76 bosses in Crimson Desert. 28 Main Story Bosses and 48 World and Optional Bosses

Mount

There are 29 unique permanent mounts. 9 Horses, 5 Dragons & Wyverns, 3 Raptors, 3 Mechs, 9 Other.

Minigames

There are approximately 30 distinct minigame types in the game, ranging from tavern gambling to high-stakes combat trials.

Landmarks and Locations

Landmarks represent larger map icons that describe an entire area rather than a specific item.

Landmark

Castle

Mansion

Village

Camp

Cave

Services

Inn

Smithy

Tailor's Shop

Provisioner's Shop

Grocer's Shop

Tannery

Saddlery

Stable

Equipment Shop

Constabulary

Confessional

Bank

Royal Trading

Other map markers

Loot

Recipe

Private Storage

Bonfire

Strongbox

Blueprint

Equipment

Key