Overview
The Castlewood Ruins are a relatively large and intricate series of ancient ruins located in Southern Hernand. Nestled within the Pororin Forest guardian territory, the ruins sit a short distance south of the Petalton Workshop near Pororin Village. While the ruins may appear unremarkable from the outside, they conceal two separate treasure chambers sealed behind metal bars. Each chamber requires its own environmental puzzle to unlock, rewarding players with unique pieces of equipment that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
The Castlewood Ruins are notable for housing the Duskfang Leather Gloves and the Sunset Reed Leather Cloak. Both items are hidden behind locked gates that open only after specific fire-based mechanisms are activated. Players who take the time to explore every corner of the ruins will be rewarded with gear that provides solid stat bonuses and elemental resistances useful throughout the early and mid game.
Location
The Castlewood Ruins can be found in the southern part of the Hernand region, within the Pororin Forest guardian territory. The ruins are positioned a little south of the Petalton Workshop, making them accessible once players have ventured into the Pororin Village area. The surrounding forest is patrolled by local guardians, so players should be prepared for potential encounters when traveling to the site.
A Sealed Abyss Artifact is also located at the fork in the road south of the Castlewood Ruins. The challenge associated with this artifact requires players to take down three enemies with regular shots, providing an additional reason to visit the area.
How to Access
The Castlewood Ruins contain two chambers, each blocked by a set of metal bars. Neither chamber can be entered by force. Instead, players must solve a fire-based puzzle at each entrance to lower the bars and gain access to the treasure inside.
Chamber 1: Duskfang Leather Gloves
The first chamber is sealed behind a door blocked by metal bars. To gain entry, look for a cluster of vines growing directly to the right of the barred door. These vines conceal a torch that serves as the unlocking mechanism.
Stand in front of the barred door and look to the right to spot the vines.
Use the Blinding Light skill (or fire arrows) to burn the vines away. If you have fire arrows, you can also light them using a small cauldron on the ground nearby and then shoot the vines.
Once the vines are destroyed, a torch is revealed behind them.
Light the torch. The metal bars blocking the door will drop.
Enter the chamber and open the treasure chest to collect the Duskfang Leather Gloves.
Chamber 2: Sunset Reed Leather Cloak
The second chamber within the Castlewood Ruins is also blocked by metal bars, but the unlocking mechanism is different. Instead of hidden vines, this chamber requires players to light two lamps.
Locate the second barred entryway deeper within the ruins.
Find the two lamps positioned on either side of the entryway.
Light both lamps. The metal bars will drop once both are lit.
Enter the chamber and open the treasure chest to obtain the Sunset Reed Leather Cloak.
Items Found
Two pieces of equipment can be found within the Castlewood Ruins. Both are hidden behind locked gates and require puzzle solutions to access.
Item | Type | How to Obtain | |
|---|---|---|---|
14 ATK, 6 DEF, Critical Rate Lv.1, Lightning Resistance Lv.1, HP restore +0.2/sec | Burn vines with Blinding Light, then light the revealed torch to lower the bars | ||
Cloak (Leather) | 2 DEF, Lightning Resistance Lv.3 | Light the two lamps on either side of the barred entryway to lower the bars |
Puzzle Solutions
Both puzzles in the Castlewood Ruins revolve around fire-based mechanics. Unlike some of the more complex ancient ruins puzzles found elsewhere in Hernand, the Castlewood puzzles are relatively straightforward once you know what to look for.
Vine and Torch Puzzle (Chamber 1)
The key to this puzzle is recognizing that the vines to the right of the barred door are destructible. The vines do not stand out visually, so many players walk past them without noticing. Use Blinding Light to burn them away in a single cast. Alternatively, if you have access to fire arrows, you can ignite a small cauldron on the ground near the entrance and dip your arrows into it before shooting the vines. Once the vines are gone, the torch behind them becomes visible. Lighting this torch triggers the mechanism that lowers the metal bars.
Dual Lamp Puzzle (Chamber 2)
The second puzzle is simpler. Two lamps flank the barred entryway, one on each side. Light both lamps and the bars retract. There is no particular order required; just make sure both lamps are active at the same time. If one lamp extinguishes while you are lighting the other, try lighting them in quick succession.
Nearby Points of Interest
Petalton Workshop: Located just north of the ruins. This workshop offers crafting services and supplies.
Pororin Village: The nearest settlement, accessible by following the forest paths west from the ruins.
Sealed Abyss Artifact: Found at the fork in the road south of the Castlewood Ruins. Complete the challenge (defeat three enemies with regular shots) to earn Abyss Cores.
Tips
Make sure you have the Blinding Light skill equipped before entering the ruins. Without it, you will need fire arrows and a way to ignite them to solve the first puzzle.
The Duskfang Leather Gloves are part of the broader Duskfang armor set. The Duskfang Leather Armor is found in the Whispering Grotto south of Senia, and the Duskfang Leather Cloak is inside a cave at Grace Estate.
The Sunset Reed Leather Cloak's Lightning Resistance Lv.3 makes it especially useful against enemies and bosses that deal lightning damage. Consider keeping it in your inventory even after upgrading to higher-defense cloaks.
Explore the area around the ruins thoroughly. A Sealed Abyss Artifact is located at the fork in the road just south of the ruins, providing an easy source of Abyss Cores.
Be cautious of hostile NPCs and forest guardians patrolling the Pororin Forest territory near the ruins.