Prologue: Dead of Night - Complete Walkthrough

Dead of Night is the opening chapter of Crimson Desert, throwing you directly into chaos as the Greymanes mercenary camp falls under a brutal night raid by the Black Bears. This prologue serves as both tutorial and tragedy, introducing core mechanics while establishing the dark tone of Kliff's journey.

Story Context & Lore

The Greymanes are a renowned mercenary company operating in the Hernadian Territory - a lawless frontier where coin matters more than loyalty. Led by their aging captain, the Greymanes have built a reputation for taking any contract, no matter how dangerous.

The Black Bears are a rival mercenary faction known for their savagery and scorched-earth tactics. Unlike the Greymanes, who maintain a code of honor, the Black Bears leave no survivors and take no prisoners. Their sudden attack on the Greymane camp is not random - someone paid them well to eliminate the competition.

The Abyss makes its first appearance here, though you won't understand its significance yet. When Kliff is mortally wounded during the ambush, he awakens in the Corridor of the Void - a liminal space between life and death, reality and nightmare. The Abyss has chosen him for reasons that won't become clear until much later in the story.

Sebastian, Kliff's mentor and second-in-command of the Greymanes, plays a crucial role in this chapter. His knowledge of the Abyss suggests he's encountered it before, though he reveals little. Pay attention to his dialogue - it contains hints about the larger conspiracy driving the game's plot.

Chapter Overview

Location: Hernadian Territory, Corridor of the Void (Abyss)

Main Quests:

• Ambush

• Unknown Space

Tutorial Elements: Basic combat, dodging, blocking, environmental navigation, ability usage

Unlocks: Full access to Pywel continent, inventory system, fast travel

Leads to: Chapter 1: The First Encounter

Quest 1: Ambush

Region: Hernadian Territory, Hernand
Type: Combat Tutorial Quest

Story Summary

The Greymane camp is celebrating a successful contract when the Black Bears launch a surprise attack under cover of darkness. Kliff must fight through the burning camp to save his allies, but the odds are overwhelming. The quest ends with Kliff's apparent death and his mysterious awakening in the Abyss.

Mission 1: Unfamiliar Lands

Objectives:

• Head to the Cabin

• Speak with your allies

Walkthrough:

You begin in the Greymane camp at dusk. The atmosphere is peaceful - too peaceful. This is the calm before the storm.

1. Navigate to the cabin: Follow the path markers through the camp. Take this opportunity to familiarize yourself with movement controls (WASD/Left Stick). Notice the camp layout - tents, supply wagons, a central fire pit. You'll return here later in the game, and it won't look the same.

2. Speak with your allies: Inside the cabin, you'll find Sebastian and other Greymane officers discussing their next contract. The dialogue here establishes character relationships:

   • Sebastian treats Kliff like a son, though their bond is tested throughout the game

   • Vargo is the company's treasurer, always worried about coin

   • Yara is the scout master, pragmatic and sharp-tongued

Lore Note: Listen carefully to the contract discussion. They mention a client in Hernand who wants "protection from something in the sewers." This directly connects to Chapter 1's events - the Abyss presence beneath Hernand has been growing for months.

Mission 2: In Ashes

Objectives:

• Annihilate the Black Bears

• Help your Greymane allies

Walkthrough:

The peaceful night shatters as war horns blast. The Black Bears pour into the camp from three directions, setting tents ablaze and cutting down anyone in their path.

Combat Tutorial Sequence:

1. Basic Attacks: Exit the cabin to find Black Bear soldiers attacking. Use light attacks (Square/X) to build combos. The game teaches you the basic three-hit combo here.

2. Heavy Attacks: After defeating the first wave, a heavily armored Black Bear appears. Light attacks barely scratch him - use heavy attacks (Triangle/Y) to break his guard.

3. Dodging: The next enemy wields a two-handed axe with wide swings. The game prompts you to dodge (Circle/B) when you see the red warning indicator. Timing is crucial - dodge too early and you'll get caught in the follow-up.

4. Blocking: Shield-bearing enemies require you to block (L1/LB) their attacks, then counter during their recovery frames.

5. Helping Allies: Throughout the camp, you'll find Greymane soldiers fighting for their lives. Helping them is optional but recommended - each saved ally provides a small XP bonus and affects dialogue in later chapters.

Key Encounters:

• Burning Supply Tent: Three Black Bears are executing wounded Greymanes. Save them to unlock additional supplies in Chapter 3.

• Eastern Barricade: A group of Greymane archers is pinned down. Clear the enemies here to receive a Greymane Pendant (collectible item that unlocks lore entries).

• Central Fire Pit: The heaviest fighting occurs here. You'll face 8-10 enemies simultaneously. Use the environment - kick enemies into the fire for instant kills.

The Final Stand:

After clearing most of the camp, a cutscene triggers. The Black Bear Commander - a massive warrior in spiked armor - enters the camp. He's far above your current level, and the game doesn't expect you to win.

Fight as long as you can, but the outcome is predetermined. After dealing enough damage (roughly 30% of his health), a cutscene shows the Commander overpowering Kliff. He delivers a fatal blow, and everything goes dark.

Lore Note: The Commander's face is hidden behind a helmet, but his voice is distinctive. Players who pay attention will recognize him in Chapter 8: Blood Coronation, where his identity is revealed.

Rewards

None (this quest serves as the tutorial)

Quest 2: Unknown Space

Region: Corridor of the Void, Abyss
Type: Exploration & Ability Tutorial

Story Summary

Kliff awakens in the Abyss - a dimension of impossible geometry and shifting reality. With Sebastian's guidance (somehow able to communicate across dimensions), Kliff must navigate the Corridor of the Void and find an exit back to the living world. This quest introduces the Blinding Flash ability and the concept of Abyss mechanics.

Mission 1: Realm of Uncertainty

Objectives:

• Move Forward

• Use Blinding Flash on the Light Device

• Find the Exit

Walkthrough:

You awaken on a floating platform surrounded by void. The sky (if you can call it that) pulses with unnatural colors - purples, deep blues, sickly greens. Gravity feels wrong here.

Navigation:

1. Move Forward: The path ahead is a series of floating platforms. Some are stable, others fade in and out of existence. Watch for the shimmer effect - platforms about to disappear become translucent. Time your jumps carefully.

2. The First Puzzle: You'll reach a gap too wide to jump. Look to your left - there's a Light Device, a crystalline structure embedded in the wall. Sebastian's voice echoes through the void: "Use the power it gave you, Kliff. Focus on the light."

3. Blinding Flash Tutorial: Press L2+R2 (LT+RT) to activate Blinding Flash. A burst of light emanates from Kliff, striking the Light Device. The device activates, creating a bridge of solid light across the gap.

Ability Explanation: Blinding Flash is your first Abyss-granted power. It has multiple uses:

• Activates Light Devices (puzzle-solving)

• Stuns enemies briefly in combat

• Reveals hidden paths in Abyss areas

• Costs no resources - unlimited use with a 3-second cooldown

The Corridor:

Beyond the bridge, you enter the Corridor of the Void proper. This is a linear path with several notable features:

• Memory Echoes: Ghostly images of the camp attack play out around you. These aren't interactive, but they provide context. You'll see Sebastian fighting, Yara evacuating civilians, Vargo desperately trying to save the company's gold.

• Void Whispers: Faint voices speak in languages you don't understand. These are other souls trapped in the Abyss. Some have been here for centuries.

• Light Device Puzzles: You'll encounter three more Light Devices:

  • First: Creates stairs upward

  • Second: Reveals a hidden platform (collectible here: Void Fragment - keep this, it's needed in Chapter 12)

  • Third: Opens the exit portal

Environmental Storytelling:

As you progress, the corridor becomes more unstable. Platforms crack and reform. The void whispers grow louder. You'll see glimpses of other places - a desert temple, a frozen wasteland, an underwater city. These are other locations connected to the Abyss, foreshadowing future chapters.

Find the Exit:

The final Light Device creates a swirling portal. Before entering, Sebastian's voice warns: "The Abyss doesn't let go easily, Kliff. It's marked you. We'll talk when you're back."

Step through the portal.

Mission 2: New Journey

Objectives:

• Follow Sebastian

• Head to Hernand

Walkthrough:

You emerge in a forest clearing outside the ruined Greymane camp. It's dawn - hours have passed in the real world, though it felt like minutes in the Abyss.

The Aftermath:

1. Follow Sebastian: He's waiting near a campfire with a handful of surviving Greymanes. The mood is grim. Of the 200+ mercenaries in the company, fewer than 30 survived.

2. Dialogue Scene: Sebastian explains what happened after you fell:

   • The Black Bears looted the camp and left

   • They took no prisoners - everyone wounded was executed

   • The attack was too coordinated to be random; someone hired them specifically to destroy the Greymanes

   • You were found dead, but somehow you're alive now (Sebastian suspects Abyss intervention but doesn't say so directly)

3. Character Moment: Kliff can respond in three ways:

   • Vengeful: "We hunt down every Black Bear and make them pay."

   • Pragmatic: "We need to rebuild. Revenge can wait."

   • Questioning: "Who would want us dead?"

   Your choice affects minor dialogue in later chapters but doesn't change the plot.

Inventory Tutorial:

Sebastian gives you basic supplies:

• Standard Inventory Expansion Tool (use immediately to increase carrying capacity)

• Oats x10 (horse feed - you'll get your first mount in Chapter 1)

• Blackberry x5 (restores 30 HP each)

Press I (or Menu button) to open your inventory. The game explains inventory management, item usage, and equipment slots.

Head to Hernand:

Sebastian points toward the city of Hernand on the horizon. The plan is simple:

• Regroup in the city

• Find work to rebuild the company's funds

• Investigate who ordered the attack

Follow the road markers. This is a safe travel sequence - no enemies. Use this time to appreciate the environment. The Hernadian Territory is beautiful in the morning light - rolling hills, distant mountains, merchant caravans on the road.

As you approach Hernand's gates, the prologue ends and Chapter 1 begins.

Rewards

• Standard Inventory Expansion Tool x1 (adds 10 inventory slots)

• Oats x10 (mount consumable)

• Blackberry x5 (healing item)

Combat Tips for Beginners

Dodge vs. Block:

• Dodge: Use against heavy attacks (red indicators), gives invincibility frames

• Block: Use against fast attacks, allows immediate counter

Stamina Management:

• Every action (attack, dodge, block) consumes stamina

• Don't spam attacks - leave stamina for defensive actions

• Stamina regenerates quickly when not acting

Environmental Kills:

• Kicking enemies into fires, off cliffs, or into spike traps is instant kill

• Look for environmental hazards in every fight

Missable Content

Collectibles:

• Greymane Pendant - Save the archers at the Eastern Barricade during the ambush

• Void Fragment - Hidden platform in the Corridor of the Void (use Blinding Flash on the second Light Device to reveal it)

• Sebastian's Letter - On a table in the cabin before the attack (readable lore item)

Achievements:

• Survivor - Complete the prologue

• Mercy in Chaos - Save at least 5 Greymane allies during the ambush

• Into the Abyss - Collect the Void Fragment in the Corridor

Story Implications & Foreshadowing

The Black Bear Attack:

• The client who hired them is revealed in Chapter 8

• The attack is part of a larger conspiracy involving the Hernand nobility

• Several "dead" Greymanes reappear later as enemies (they were captured and turned)

The Abyss Connection:

• Kliff's resurrection establishes him as "Abyss-touched"

• This makes him immune to certain magical effects later

• The Woman in White (Chapter 1) was watching this event

• The Void Fragment you collect is one of 12 needed for the true ending

Sebastian's Knowledge:

• He knows more about the Abyss than he admits

• His past is explored in Chapter 7: Homecoming

• He's been to the Abyss before - that's why he could communicate with Kliff

What's Next?

The prologue ends as you enter Hernand, transitioning directly into Chapter 1: The First Encounter.

Preparation Tips:

• Use the Inventory Expansion Tool immediately

• Save the Blackberries for Chapter 1's first real combat encounter

• Talk to every NPC in Hernand - many reference the Greymane attack

• The Greymane Pendant (if you got it) can be sold for 100 Silver or kept as a memento

Story Setup:

• Kliff is now marked by the Abyss

• The Greymanes are broken but not destroyed

• Someone powerful wants Kliff dead

• Hernand holds secrets connected to the Abyss