Chapter 1: The First Encounter

The First Encounter marks Kliff's arrival in the City of Hernand and his first contact with the enigmatic power of the Abyss. This chapter weaves together seemingly random acts of kindness with supernatural discoveries that will shape the rest of your journey.

Lore & Story Context

Following the violent events of the Prologue: Dead of the Night, Kliff finds himself in Hernand - a bustling trade city where wealth and poverty exist side by side. The city is divided between the noble Hernand Castle in the upper district and the crowded streets below, where merchants, beggars, and mercenaries struggle to survive.

What begins as simple errands quickly reveals a deeper truth: kindness in Hernand is a currency more valuable than silver. The mysterious forces watching Kliff seem to test his character through these trials, leading him toward an ancient power hidden beneath the city - the Abyss.

The Abyss is not merely a place, but a dimension of forgotten technology and arcane energy. Those who enter it rarely return unchanged. The Woman in White who appears at the end of this chapter is shrouded in mystery - is she a guardian, a prisoner, or something else entirely?

Chapter Overview

Location: City of Hernand, Hernand Castle, Axiom Archive (Abyss)

Main Quests:

• Trials of Kindness

• Traces

Unlocks: Access to Abyss mechanics, Faded Abyss Artifact

Leads to: Chapter 2: Golden Greed

Quest 1: Trials of Kindness

Region: City of Hernand, Hernand
Type: Character Development Quest

Story Summary

Kliff explores Hernand, performing five seemingly unconnected acts of kindness. These tasks test his willingness to help others without expectation of reward - a theme that echoes throughout the entire game.

Mission Breakdown

1. Where Rumors Gather

Objectives:

• Look around Hernand Tavern

• Try Arm Wrestling

Walkthrough:
Enter the Hernand Tavern in the lower district. This is a key social hub where you'll gather information throughout the game. Interact with the patrons to learn about local rumors. When prompted, challenge the local champion to an arm wrestling match - this is a simple QTE minigame. Winning isn't required, but it earns you respect among the locals.

Lore Note: The tavern is called The Crimson Mug, a reference to the blood-red wine produced in the southern vineyards. Listen carefully to the conversations here - they foreshadow events in later chapters.

2. Mysterious Man

Objectives:

• Give a Coin to The Old Beggar

Walkthrough:
Outside the tavern, you'll encounter an old beggar sitting near the fountain. He appears frail and forgotten by society. Simply approach him and select the option to give him a coin. This small act triggers a chain of events.

Lore Note: The beggar whispers cryptic words: "The kind-hearted see what others cannot." This is your first hint about the Abyss - only those with pure intentions can perceive its entrances.

3. True Wisdom in Kindness

Objectives:

• Investigate the Sewer

Walkthrough:
After helping the beggar, he points you toward the city sewers. Descend through the grate near the market square. Navigate through the sewer tunnels - watch for rats and minor environmental hazards. At the end, you'll find a hidden chamber with a glowing engraved key on an altar.

Lore Note: The sewers were once part of an ancient Abyss research facility. The symbols on the walls are not random graffiti - they're warnings left by scholars who delved too deep.

4. Actions Speak Louder than Words

Objectives:

• Help the Distressed Villagers

Walkthrough:
Return to the surface and head to the eastern gate of Hernand. A group of villagers is being harassed by bandits demanding "protection money." You can either:

• Fight the bandits (recommended for XP)

• Intimidate them (requires high Charisma)

• Pay them off (costs 50 Silver)

Fighting is the most rewarding option. The bandits are low-level and serve as good practice for combat mechanics.

5. Heart Beyond Borders

Objectives:

• Speak with the Child

• Return the Cat to its Owner

Walkthrough:
Near the Hernand Castle gates, a crying child has lost their cat. The cat is hiding in a nearby alley - use your tracking vision (default: V key) to locate it. Carefully approach the cat without running, then carry it back to the child. The child's mother rewards you with gratitude and supplies.

Lore Note: The child's mother is a castle servant. She mentions that "strange lights" have been seen in the castle's west wing at night - foreshadowing the next quest.

Rewards

• Silver x1

• Standard Inventory Expansion Tool x2 (increases inventory slots by 10 each)

• Lentils x10 (cooking ingredient)

• Apple x5 (restores 50 HP each)

Quest 2: Traces

Region: Axiom Archive, Abyss
Type: Main Story Quest

Story Summary

The engraved key from the sewers opens a secret room in Hernand Castle, revealing a portal to the Abyss - a dimension of impossible architecture and ancient technology. Kliff must navigate the Axiom Archive, solve environmental puzzles, and confront the mysterious Woman in White.

Mission Breakdown

1. Mystical Key

Objectives:

• Examine the engraved key

• Go to Hernand Castle

• Find the room the key opens

Walkthrough:
Open your inventory and examine the engraved key. It bears the symbol of a crescent moon - the mark of the Abyss scholars. Head to Hernand Castle (you can now enter through the main gate after helping the villagers). Navigate to the west wing, third floor. Look for a door with a matching crescent moon symbol. Use the key to unlock it.

Inside, you'll find a study filled with ancient texts and a glowing portal in the center of the room.

Lore Note: The study belonged to Magister Axiom, a scholar who disappeared 200 years ago while researching the Abyss. His journals (readable collectibles) reveal he believed the Abyss was not evil, but misunderstood.

2. Polar Opposites

Objectives:

• Activate the Abyss Nexus

• Go toward the building

• Find a way into the building

• Enter the building

Walkthrough:
Step through the portal. You emerge in the Axiom Archive - a surreal space where gravity and geometry don't follow normal rules.

1. Activate the Abyss Nexus: Approach the glowing pedestal and interact with it. This serves as a checkpoint and fast-travel point.

2. Navigate to the building: Follow the floating platforms. Some platforms move - time your jumps carefully.

3. Find entry: The main door is sealed. Look for a side passage on the left side of the building - you'll need to climb broken pillars to reach it.

4. Enter: Drop down through the skylight.

Tip: The Abyss has no fall damage in this section - the altered physics protect you.

3. Abyss Without Balance

Objectives:

• Go through the skybridge gate

• Activate the Abyss Nexus

• Remove the wall blocking the floor

• Combine the Abyss Cell

• Activate the Abyss power supply

• Take the Abyss Artifact

Walkthrough:
This is the main puzzle section of the chapter.

1. Skybridge gate: Cross the narrow bridge - watch for unstable sections that crumble.

2. Second Nexus: Activate it for another checkpoint.

3. Remove the wall: You'll find Abyss Cells - glowing cubes that can be moved. Pull the cell blocking the doorway using the interact button.

4. Combine Abyss Cells: In the next room, you need to place two Abyss Cells into matching sockets. One is on the left pedestal, one is hidden behind a fallen pillar on the right. Drag both to the central platform.

5. Power supply: Once both cells are in place, they create an energy bridge. Cross it and activate the power supply terminal - this opens the vault.

6. Take the Artifact: Inside the vault is the Faded Abyss Artifact - a mysterious stone that pulses with inner light.

Lore Note: The Abyss Cells are fragments of a larger power source. Ancient civilizations used them to manipulate reality itself. The technology is neither magic nor science - it's something in between.

4. Woman in White

Objectives:

• Speak to the Woman in White

• Return to Hernand

Walkthrough:
As you take the artifact, a figure appears - the Woman in White. She wears flowing robes and her face is partially obscured. She speaks in riddles:

"You carry a fragment of what was lost. Guard it well, Kliff of the Greymanes. The Abyss remembers those who enter... and it never forgets."

She knows your name, though you've never met. Before you can question her, she vanishes.

A portal opens behind you - step through to return to Hernand Castle. The study is empty, but the portal remains active (you can return to the Abyss later for exploration).

Lore Note: The Woman in White appears throughout the game. Theories suggest she is:

• Axiom's daughter, trapped in the Abyss

• A guardian AI from the ancient civilization

• Kliff's future self (time works differently in the Abyss)

The game never fully confirms her identity, leaving it as one of Crimson Desert's greatest mysteries.

Rewards

• Faded Abyss Artifact x1 (key quest item - used in later chapters)

• Palmar Pill x1 (permanently increases max HP by 25)

Tips & Strategies

Combat Tips:

• The bandits in "Actions Speak Louder than Words" are weak to counterattacks. Block their attacks and immediately counter for bonus damage.

Exploration Tips:

• Return to the Abyss after completing the chapter - there are hidden collectibles and lore journals scattered throughout the Axiom Archive.

• The Hernand Tavern updates with new dialogue after each quest - talk to NPCs for additional context.

Resource Management:

• Save the Palmar Pill for later - HP increases are rare in early game.

• Use the Inventory Expansion Tools immediately - you'll need the space for Chapter 2's loot.

Connections to Later Chapters

• The Faded Abyss Artifact becomes crucial in Chapter 4: The Price of Knowledge

• The Woman in White reappears in Chapter 9: The Sage of the Desert and Chapter 12: The Abyss

• Helping the villagers in Hernand affects your reputation, unlocking optional dialogue in Chapter 2: Golden Greed

• The beggar you helped becomes a merchant in Chapter 3, offering unique items

Achievements & Collectibles

Achievements:

• Kind Stranger - Complete all five Trials of Kindness

• First Steps into the Abyss - Enter the Axiom Archive

• Artifact Hunter - Obtain the Faded Abyss Artifact

Missable Collectibles:

• Magister Axiom's Journal Vol. 1 - In the castle study before entering the portal

• Ancient Abyss Tablet - Hidden behind the second Abyss Nexus

• Hernand Tavern Menu - On a table in The Crimson Mug (flavor item)

What's Next?

After completing The First Encounter, you'll automatically begin Chapter 2: Golden Greed. This chapter introduces:

• Reunion with old allies

• Hernand in Chaos - a city under siege

• Deeper exploration of Abyss mechanics

• Your first major boss fight

Make sure to stock up on supplies in Hernand before proceeding - Chapter 2 is significantly more challenging.