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Alchemist's Chamber
March 21, 2026 at 11:21 PM
Expanded with detailed prerequisite quest chain, step-by-step castle navigation, NPC dialogue cues, chamber interior description, common mistakes section, and additional wikilinks
The Alchemist's Chamber is a hidden room located on the second floor of Hernand Castle in Crimson Desert. It serves as a pivotal story location during the Mystical Key main quest, the 10th mission of Chapter 1: The First Encounter. The chamber is normally locked and inaccessible to the public; a maid inside the castle can be overheard saying "This door is always locked," hinting at its location. Only the transformed Engraved Key, which Kliff receives earlier in the quest chain, can open the door.
Inside the chamber, players find a Faded Abyss Artifact hidden in a glowing treasure chest. Collecting it triggers the appearance of an Abyss Gate beside the shelves behind a desk. Stepping through the gate transports Kliff into The Abyss, completing the Mystical Key quest and beginning the Polar Opposites quest. This sequence marks a major turning point in Chapter 1, as it is the player's first direct encounter with the Abyss.
The Alchemist's Chamber cannot be reached until the Mystical Key quest is active. This quest unlocks only after completing three prerequisite quests that branch off from the Mysterious Man mission earlier in Chapter 1. All three must be finished before Mystical Key becomes available:
Quest | What It Provides |
|---|---|
Kliff gives alms to an old beggar outside a tavern, who hands him a strange wooden key before disappearing. Kliff then descends into the sewers through a trapdoor and rescues a tied-up noblewoman. The wooden key later transforms into the Engraved Key (the Mystical Key). | |
Kliff cleans a tailor's chimney at Murkroot Ranch. As a reward, he receives the Hernandian Attire, required for entering Hernand Castle. (Alternatively, the attire can be purchased for 3 silver coins from the Tailor's Shop in Hernand.) | |
The third and final prerequisite. Completing it alongside the other two unlocks the Mystical Key quest. |
Entering the Alchemist's Chamber requires two items in your possession:
Hernandian Attire: This purple outfit must be equipped from your inventory before approaching Hernand Castle. The guards at the castle gate will inspect Kliff's clothing and only allow entry if he is wearing it. Without the Hernandian Attire equipped, the guards refuse passage and Kliff cannot proceed. If you equip the wrong outfit, you will have to sit through the refusal scene again, so make sure to put it on before approaching the gate.
Mystical Key (Engraved Key): Originally a shabby wooden key given to Kliff by an old beggar during the True Wisdom in Kindness quest, this key emits a bright light and transforms into an intricate iron key. Before heading to the castle, open your inventory and select the key. Use the examine function (hold the inspect button on controller, or the corresponding input on PC) and zoom in on the engravings near the tip of the key. This examination step is required to advance the quest objective.
After equipping the Hernandian Attire and examining the Engraved Key, travel to Hernand Castle in the City of Hernand. Follow these steps to find the Alchemist's Chamber:
Enter the castle grounds. Approach the castle gate while wearing the Hernandian Attire. The guards will inspect Kliff and raise the gate to let him through.
Pass through the outer areas. Head past the training yard and continue through the inner castle gate. The path leads toward the main citadel building.
Go up to the second floor. Once inside the main citadel, take the staircase immediately to the right of the entrance. This leads up to the second floor.
Enter the hallway on the right. At the top of the stairs, turn right into a grand hallway where nobles can be seen conversing. A maid in this area may mention that a particular door is "always locked."
Go through the first door on the left. Inside this hallway, the first door on the left side leads to the Alchemist's Chamber. The Engraved Key automatically unlocks it and is consumed in the process.
A guard may be visible standing further ahead in the hallway, which can give the impression that you need to get past them. This is misleading. The correct path is the first door on the left, not the guarded passage.
The Alchemist's Chamber is a small, dimly lit room with a desk and shelves lined along the back wall. A glowing treasure chest sits on the floor in front of the desk. Examine and open this chest to collect the Faded Abyss Artifact. Abyss Artifacts are key items used for unlocking and upgrading skills, and this is the first one Kliff obtains through the main story.
After collecting the artifact, the wall beside the shelves behind the desk opens to reveal a glowing Abyss Gate. This shimmering portal leads directly into The Abyss. Approach the gate and interact with it (press the action button) to step through. Doing so completes the Mystical Key quest and immediately begins the Polar Opposites quest, which takes place inside The Abyss. This moment is significant because it is Kliff's first time entering the Abyss, a turning point in the story of Chapter 1.
Detail | Info |
|---|---|
Quest Name | |
Chapter | Chapter 1: The First Encounter, Mission 10 |
Sub-Chapter | Trace |
Prerequisites | True Wisdom in Kindness, Actions Speak Louder Than Words, Heart Beyond Borders |
Objectives | 1. Examine the Engraved Key 2. Go to Hernand Castle 3. Find the Alchemist's Chamber 4. Go through the shining gate |
Key Item Found | Faded Abyss Artifact (from the treasure chest in the chamber) |
Location | |
Previous Quest | |
Next Quest | Polar Opposites (begins after stepping through the Abyss Gate) |
Many players get stuck during the Mystical Key quest because of a few common missteps. Here is what to watch out for:
Wrong door in the hallway. The game subtly draws attention toward a guarded passage further down the corridor. The correct door is actually the first one on the left as you enter the hallway on the second floor. The guard is not blocking your path; they are simply standing near a different, unrelated door.
Forgetting to examine the key. You must inspect the Engraved Key in your inventory and zoom in on the engravings near its tip before heading to the castle. If you skip this step, the quest objective will not update and you will not be able to proceed.
Not equipping the Hernandian Attire. The Hernandian Attire must be actively equipped, not just present in your inventory. If you arrive at the castle gate without wearing it, the guards will turn Kliff away and you will need to open the inventory, equip the attire, and approach the gate again.
If you have not yet obtained the Hernandian Attire, you can get it by completing the "Actions Speak Louder Than Words" quest (cleaning a tailor's chimney at Murkroot Ranch) or by purchasing it for 3 silver coins from the Tailor's Shop in Hernand.
Listen for the maid's dialogue in the second floor hallway. She mentions that a particular door is "always locked," which is the visual and audio cue pointing to the Alchemist's Chamber entrance.
The Mystical Key quest is part of the Main Quests chain in Chapter 1. Completing it is required to progress the Main Story, so there is no way to skip it or complete it out of order.
For a general guide on entering the castle (including screenshots), see the How to Enter Hernand Castle article.
