Overview
There are two Strongbox puzzles inside Bluemont Manor in Hernand. Each uses a different puzzle mechanic and awards a unique reward. The northern building contains a button-sequence puzzle that forms an owl image, while the southern building has a tumbler wheel puzzle where players must align five pistons to match a mountainscape painting. Both strongboxes require a Mask to steal the items inside once the puzzle is solved.
How to Enter Bluemont Manor
The front doors of the manor are guarded and cannot be used as an entrance. There are two ways to get inside:
Window Climbing: Approach the southern house of Bluemont Manor from outside and climb the exterior wall to the second floor. Enter through the open window. This method is available at any time.
Quest Access: Complete the House Roberts faction questline, which eventually grants you legitimate access to the manor interior.
Strongbox 1: Owl Picture Puzzle (Northern Building)
Location
Second floor bedroom of Leon Roberts in the northern building of Bluemont Manor. The strongbox is inside the room, first door on the left when you reach the second floor.
Puzzle Mechanics
This strongbox has a hexagonal prism with four numbered buttons surrounding it. Each button rotates a segment of the prism. The goal is to align all segments so they form a complete picture of an owl. Pressing a button spins one section, which can misalign sections you have already corrected, so the order matters.
Solution
Press the buttons in the following order: 2, 2, 2, 4, 3, 3, 3, 3, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1. After the final press, the owl image aligns and the strongbox opens.
Reward
Oath of Darkness (accessory): earrings that grant +2 Defense.
Strongbox 2: Tumbler Wheel Puzzle (Southern Building)
Location
Second floor of the southern Bluemont Manor house in Hernand city. The strongbox is in the bedroom by the window. If you climbed the wall from outside, you will land directly in this room.
Puzzle Mechanics
This puzzle has five small segmented wheels (tumblers) arranged in a row, each controlling the height of a piston behind it. The goal is to adjust all five pistons so their notches align with the point where the wood frame meets a mountainscape painting on the back wall. Rotating a wheel downward raises its piston; rotating upward lowers it. After adjusting the wheels, grab the knob on the right side and turn it to test the alignment. If the tumblers are correct, the strongbox opens.
Solution
Scroll each wheel from left to right the indicated number of times:
Wheel | Number of Scrolls |
|---|---|
1st Wheel | 5 scrolls |
2nd Wheel | 2 scrolls |
3rd Wheel | 4 scrolls |
4th Wheel | 3 scrolls |
5th Wheel | 5 scrolls |
After adjusting all five, grab and turn the knob on the right side to open the strongbox.
Reward
Finely Crafted Gold Necklace (accessory): grants +1 Attack and Critical Rate Level 1.
Mask Requirement
Both strongboxes are considered theft. You must equip a Mask before opening either one, or the items cannot be taken. Masks can be obtained by looting bandits, completing Jeffrey's bounty mission, or purchasing one from the Back Alley Shop south of Hernand.
Tips
Both strongboxes can be completed at any point after gaining access to Bluemont Manor.
If you miscount the wheel scrolls on Strongbox 2, you can reset by scrolling past the maximum and starting over.
Make sure you have a Mask in your inventory before attempting either puzzle. Without it, solving the puzzle is pointless since you cannot collect the reward.
The button puzzle on Strongbox 1 can be brute-forced by trying combinations, but the sequence above is the fastest solution.