Chapter 1: The First Encounter Walkthrough

Chapter 1 takes place in and around the city of Hernand. It is split into two sub-chapters: Trials of Kindness (five quests focused on exploring the city and helping townsfolk) and Trace (four quests involving the Abyss and the mysterious Alustin). This chapter introduces Axiom Force, the Visione mechanic, and Hernand Castle.

Chapter 1 Quest List

Trials of Kindness

Where Rumors Gather

Kliff enters the Hernand Tavern to gather information. This short quest introduces the arm wrestling minigame.

1. Look around Hernand Tavern - Head south to the minimap marker. Enter the tavern building.

2. Try arm wrestling - Find the arm wrestler seated at a table inside. Target him with L1/LB, then press X/A to challenge him. Mash Square/X to fill your meter red, then hit the quick-time event prompts (X/A) at checkpoint moments. Keep filling the meter until you win.

Winning the arm wrestling match completes the quest and leads directly into "Mysterious Man."

Mysterious Man

Outside the tavern, children are taunting an old beggar on the ground. Kliff must show an act of kindness.

1. Give a coin to the old beggar - Exit the tavern and turn left. Look behind the low wall in the front yard. The beggar is sleeping on the ground. Target him with L1/LB and select "Give Alms" with Square/X.

2. Note the hatch - After the beggar moves away, a hatch on the floor becomes visible. This leads to a ladder and is used in the next quest.

Reward: 1x Standard Inventory Expansion Tool.

True Wisdom in Kindness

Strange sounds are coming from the iron grate where the beggar was lying. Kliff investigates the sewer below.

1. Enter the sewer - The trapdoor is at the spot where the beggar was. Interact with it to descend.

2. Investigate the sewer - Follow the tunnel forward. The floor breaks apart ahead, so jump across the gaps. At the end, you find a woman kneeling. Lock on to her and untie her to complete the quest.

Actions Speak Louder than Words

Kliff continues exploring Hernand and helps a distressed couple with a household chore.

1. Speak with the distressed couple - Navigate to the mission marker and talk to the woman standing in front of a house.

2. Take the broom - During the conversation, you automatically move toward a broom. Pick it up with Square/X.

3. Clean the chimney - Go to the back of the house and climb the boxes to reach the roof. Open your inventory and equip the broom. Then hold D-pad left and press R2/RT to select it from the item wheel. Climb directly on top of the chimney (standing beside it does not work), look down with L1/LB, and press R1/RB when the prompt appears.

Rewards

• 1x Standard Inventory Expansion Tool

• 10x Lentils

• 5x Apples

You must stand directly on top of the chimney for the cleaning prompt to appear. Standing beside it will not trigger anything.

Heart Beyond Borders

Kliff helps a troubled child recover a lost cat from the rooftops.

1. Speak with the troubled child - Go to the courtyard marker and find a child in a green cloak. Initiate dialogue.

2. Retrieve the cat - Climb onto the nearby cabin rooftops. The cat is wandering up there. Approach it and press the grab button to pick it up. The game returns you to the child automatically.

3. Pick up the dropped item - After a cutscene, you are kneeling beside a pendant. Pick it up.

Bell tower tip: On the rooftop where you found the cat, there is a tower with a bell. Ring it to unfog the Hernand region map. There are eight bells total across the world for full map reveal.

Trace

Mystical Key

The wooden key the beggar gave Kliff transforms into an ornate iron key. This quest leads to Hernand Castle and the alchemist's hidden chamber.

1. Examine the engraved key - Open your inventory and inspect the mystical key. Zoom in on the tip to see the engravings.

2. Go to Hernand Castle - Before entering, equip the Hernandian Attire (a purple coat) from your inventory. Soldiers at the gate will let you pass if you are wearing it. Follow the interior corridors, take the first right, go upstairs to the second floor, and continue through the next right hallway.

3. Find the alchemist's chamber - Take the first left doorway in the corridor. Your key opens this room.

4. Go through the shining gate - A glowing portal appears in the wall. Interact with it to enter and complete the quest.

Polar Opposites

Kliff enters the Abyss for the first time. This quest introduces Axiom Force, the telekinetic power used to manipulate objects throughout the game.

1. Activate the Abyss Nexus - Step onto the circular platform on the ground and stand on it for a few seconds. This unlocks a fast travel point. Fast travel points appear as blue icons on the map.

2. Go toward the building - Walk toward the large structure ahead. A cutscene explains Axiom Force mechanics.

3. Find a way into the building - You need to align two floor plates using Axiom Force. Activate your lantern (L1/LB) to reveal yellow outlines on the plates. Hold L3 to grapple a plate, then hold L2 to pull or R2 to push while rotating the right stick to align the yellow lines with the power wires. Release with Circle/B if you need to recheck positions.

4. Enter the building - Once both plates are aligned, a cutscene triggers and the entrance opens. Walk down the hallway to meet Alustin.

Abyss Without Balance

After a blinding flash, Kliff is back outside the building. Alustin instructs him to restore the Abyss. This quest teaches Force Palm, a punch ability that is used constantly throughout the game.

1. Pass through the Skybridge Gate - Use Axiom Force (hold L3) on the gate. Interact with the totem that appears, grapple its blue center, and rotate it with D-pad until it glows blue. Follow the path downward, ride moving platforms upward, and teleport across to a large garden area.

2. Activate the Abyss Nexus - Stand on the floor plate with the white ring to unlock a fast travel checkpoint.

3. Manipulate the floating power cores - Grab the blue glowing cube with Axiom Force and place it on the right pedestal. Leave the left cube on its original pedestal. Both must sit on their pedestals to remove the blockade.

4. Learn Force Palm - Drop into the accessible pit. Find a power cell on the right wall and observe a blue ghost placing it (use L1/LB to look). This teaches the Force Palm technique.

5. Combine the Abyss Cell - Position the power cell in front of the wall using Axiom Force, then press R3 to execute Force Palm, punching it into place.

6. Activate the power supply - Climb to the center of the large circular cog mechanism and use Force Palm (R3) to activate it.

7. Collect the artifact - Ascend to the summit where a floating item glows. Walk toward it to collect it automatically.

If you accidentally move a cube off its pedestal, you can reposition it using Axiom Force. Both cubes must remain on their respective pedestals for the door to stay open.

Woman in White

The final quest of Chapter 1. Kliff meets the mysterious White Crow and learns to glide.

1. Speak with the Woman in White - Walk forward to trigger a cutscene with White Crow. No combat or puzzle-solving required.

2. Return to Hernand - After the cutscene, you leap from the Abyss. Hit Square/X during the quick-time event to deploy wings, then glide down to Hernand. Conserve stamina as you approach the ground to ensure a safe landing.

Rewards

• 1x Faded Abyss Artifact

• 1x Palmar Pill

With this, Chapter 1 ends and Kliff has access to basic Abyss abilities (Axiom Force, Force Palm, Blinding Flash) plus the Visione device. Chapter 2 opens up the world significantly.