Overview
Hernand is the starting region of Crimson Desert and one of the five major regions of the continent of Pywel. Rich with mountains and rivers, the region features lush green fields, dense forests, medieval architecture, and a temperate climate that makes it the most hospitable area on the continent. After the Greymanes are scattered by the Black Bears and driven from their homeland of Pailune, Kliff and his surviving companions retreat to Hernand and establish the Greymane Camp as their new base of operations.
Hernand draws heavily from high-fantasy European aesthetics. Cobblestone streets wind through fortified towns, merchant guilds dominate the economy, and noble houses compete for influence behind castle walls. A good chunk of the main story takes place here, so players should expect to spend dozens of hours exploring the region before venturing into the rest of Pywel.
The other four regions are Pailune (the frozen north), Demeniss (political and military center), Delesyia (science and technology), and The Crimson Desert (lawless red sands).
Geography and Climate
Hernand's terrain is dominated by mountain ranges, river valleys, and rolling meadows. Cliffside settlements cling to rocky outcrops, connected by roads that wind through narrow passes. The Nas River cuts through the landscape, serving as a natural boundary between territories and providing abundant fishing opportunities. Dense forests cover much of the eastern and southern portions of the region, making it one of the best areas on the continent for logging and gathering herbs.
The climate is temperate, with the HUD's real-time temperature gauge sitting around 10 degrees Celsius under normal conditions. Temperature shifts based on elevation, wind, and time of day. Higher elevations near the Steel Mountains can drop noticeably, while entering a burning building during a quest can spike the reading to 50 degrees Celsius. Weather conditions cycle between clear skies, overcast periods, and rainstorms that affect visibility and combat.
Open fields and reed marshes surround the Mountain of Frozen Souls in the southern part of the region. These flatter areas contrast with the rocky highlands and bring a different kind of danger: limited cover and tall vegetation that enemies use to hide. The grappling hook and glider see heavy use throughout Hernand, as mountain faces that look impassable on foot open up once Kliff has the right equipment.
Map Discovery
Hernand's map is initially covered by fog of war. The most efficient way to reveal the entire region is to ring the three bells scattered across the area as part of the Toll of Pywel quest. Each bell clears the fog in a large radius around its location.
Bell | Location | How to Access |
|---|---|---|
Toll of Hernand | Clocktower in the northern part of City of Hernand | Climb the clocktower and ring the bell at the top |
Toll of Scholastone | Pagoda at the top of Scholastone Institute | Follow the garden path to the plaza at the top of the institute |
Toll of Calphade | Church in Thalwynd Village, west of Calphade Castle | Enter the Church of Calphade in the northern subregion |
Players can also reveal the map gradually through natural exploration. Discovered locations, roads, and points of interest fill in the map as Kliff travels through them. However, the bells are by far the fastest method and are worth seeking out early.
Key Locations
Hernand contains over 100 named locations, ranging from major cities and castles to remote caves and hidden ruins. The following table lists the most significant points of interest across the region.
Cities, Towns, and Settlements
Location | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
Capital City | The region's primary hub for shops, services, quests, and faction activities. Contains the Equipment Shop (blacksmith Rhett), Tailor (Tina), Provisioner, inn, stable, and bank. Heavily guarded by House Celeste forces. | |
Fortified Town | A major settlement in the northeast governed by House Lanford, known as the "Unyielding Shield." Features Calphade Castle, the Gunpowder Mill, and Siege Armory. | |
Seaside Village | A fishing village along the southern coast, home to the Vellua Fishermen's Guild. Offers unique seafood ingredients and fishing-related quests. | |
Town | A settlement in the Hernand region with shops and residents. Features a cooking pot and quest-giving NPCs. | |
Troll Village | A conservative village populated by trolls who maintain traditional customs. Home to the Kharonso Troll Alliance faction. | |
Village | A small village west of Calphade Castle, notable for the Church of Calphade where the Toll of Calphade bell is located. | |
Settlement | A quiet settlement nestled among the hills of Hernand. |
Castles and Fortifications
Location | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
Castle | The region's central fortification with towering walls and fortified gates. During the story, Kliff infiltrates the castle using Hernandian Banquet Attire. Contains a strongbox and connections to the Abyss. | |
Castle | The seat of House Lanford in northeastern Hernand. Features the Calphade Gunpowder Mill and Calphade Siege Armory nearby. | |
Stronghold | A military fortification near Anvil Basin. Contains enemy patrols and is a key location for bounty quests. | |
Stronghold | A fortified position in Hernand. A treasure chest can be found near the waterfall in this area. | |
Stronghold | A military fortification in the Hernand region used by various factions. | |
Ruins | Crumbling castle ruins with a treasure chest hidden behind a boarded-up wall. Worth exploring for loot. |
Natural Landmarks and Wilderness
Location | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
Hills | Rolling hills with ancient ruins requiring the Nature's Grasp ability to access. Contains a puzzle location. | |
Waterfall | A scenic triple waterfall formation. The Heart of the Saint cave is hidden behind the falls. | |
Hill | A prominent hill in Hernand with a bandit camp and scenic overlooks. | |
Basin | A low-lying area frequently shrouded in thick fog, making navigation and combat challenging. | |
Mountain Ridge | A rugged ridge in eastern Hernand. Contains the Stormtalon Cave of Time. | |
Plains | Open grasslands with ancient ruins containing a statue rotation puzzle. A bandit camp operates in this area. | |
Forest | A dense forest in southern Hernand, home to the reclusive Shai community known as the Pororin Forest Guardians. | |
Forest | A dark wooded area concealing the Duskwood Cave beneath the Kilnden Workshop. | |
Forest | A dense woodland teeming with predatory wildlife. Watch for wolf packs that hunt in groups. | |
Highlands | Elevated terrain south of the City of Hernand. The Hernand Highlands Cavern beneath the steep cliffs contains diamond deposits. | |
River | A major waterway cutting through Hernand. Provides excellent fishing spots along its upper and lower stretches. |
Manors and Estates
Location | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
Manor | A manor house near the City of Hernand. Contains a strongbox on the second floor in Leon Roberts' bedroom. | |
Estate | The ancestral home of House Alfonso, a baronial house of spearmasters. | |
Manor | A manor estate in the Hernand countryside. | |
Ranch | A ranch accessible by following the southern road from the City of Hernand. | |
Ranch | A ranch to the southeast of Hernand, near Bluemont Manor. |
Caves and Dungeons
Location | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
Hernand Highlands Cavern | Cave | Beneath the steep cliffs south of the City of Hernand. Contains diamond deposits and mineral veins worth mining. |
Specter's Hideout | Cave | South of Hernand, frequented by bandits. Expect hostile enemies inside. |
Anvil Hill Stoneback Crab Cave | Cave | A cave near Anvil Hill inhabited by Stoneback Crabs. Source of Bismuth Ore from Abyss-corrupted crabs. |
Heart of the Saint | Hidden behind Three Saints Falls | A secret cave accessible only by walking behind the waterfall. |
Duskwood Cave | Cave | Located beneath the Kilnden Workshop in Duskwood. Contains mineral deposits and enemies. |
Puzzle Dungeon | A complex puzzle location requiring investigation of four mural clues before the solution becomes clear. | |
Puzzle Dungeon | Accessible via a ladder at Phoniel Ranch. Contains navigational puzzles. |
Sanctums
Hernand contains six Sanctums, sacred locations tied to the Antumbra Order and the Witches faction quests. Each Sanctum offers a challenging puzzle that rewards players with unique items and faction quest progress. Sanctums are unlocked after meeting the witch Elowen and accepting her purification quest.
Sanctum | Notable Feature |
|---|---|
The first Sanctum most players encounter. Located in the Hernand lowlands. | |
Features a treasure chest hidden behind an ivy-covered wall. | |
Contains a chest on the upper floor. Requires careful platforming to reach. | |
Requires lantern activation to access its hidden chest. | |
Located in the highlands of Hernand. | |
The most remote Sanctum in the Hernand region. |
Spires
Spires are tall towers scattered across Pywel that serve as observation points. Climbing to the top of a Spire reveals a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape and marks nearby points of interest on the map. Hernand contains two Spires.
Spire | Location | What It Overlooks |
|---|---|---|
Spire of the Stars | Within Scholastone Institute | Offers views of multiple regions from the tower atop the mountainside institute. |
Spire of Insight | East of a lake in the Steel Mountains | Overlooks the eastern mountain passes and Hernand's highland areas. |
Fast Travel Points
Hernand has approximately twelve Abyss Nexus fast travel points scattered across the region. Abyss Nexuses are stone plates on the ground; simply step on one to activate it as a permanent fast travel destination. Some locations also have Abyss Cressets, which are teleporters that reward an Abyss Artifact but often require solving a puzzle first.
Fast Travel Point | Approximate Location |
|---|---|
Haunted Hill Nexus | Northern Hernand, near Haunted Hill |
Central Hernand Nexus (West) | Central zone, west side |
Central Hernand Nexus (East) | Central zone, east side |
Hernand Castle Nexus | At the castle structure |
Howling Hill (Greymane Camp) Nexus | At the Greymane Camp (added in day-one patch) |
The Witchwoods Nexus | Southern woodland area |
Southern Hernand Nexus | Southern part of the region |
Scholastone Institute Nexus | Inside the Scholastone Institute building |
Ironwood Nexus | Eastern forested area |
Willow River Nexus | Near the river to the east |
Lower Nas River Nexus | Along the eastern river stretch |
Upper Nas River Nexus | Far northern edge of the region |
Notable NPCs
Hernand is populated by a diverse array of NPCs spanning multiple fantasy races. Giants, antlered elf-like beings, trolls, and Shai walk among the human crowds. NPCs are not static; a blacksmith forges a sword when a player buys one, then switches to hammering armor plates if the next purchase is a chestpiece.
NPC | Role | Location |
|---|---|---|
Rhett | Blacksmith at the Hernand Equipment Shop. A giant who sells weapons and armor | |
Tina | Tailor at the Hernand Tailor's shop, located beside the Equipment Shop | |
Provisioner | Sells tools and collectibles including the Pickaxe and Logging Axe | |
Gives the Fishing Rod as part of her Request quest. Located at the Hernand Saddlery. | Hernand Saddlery | |
Quest NPC involved in Hernand storylines | ||
Key NPC connected to Scholastone and the research system | ||
Major story character involved in main quest events in Hernand | Various | |
Elowen | Witch NPC who gives Sanctum purification quests. A fast travel point is located outside her home. |
Factions
Hernand is home to a complex web of political and social factions. Noble houses compete for influence, merchant guilds control trade, and hostile organizations threaten the peace. Faction quests offer rewards including silver, equipment, expansion tools, and crafting materials.
Noble Houses
Faction | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
Ducal House | The rulers of Hernand, descendants of the wandering knight Canta. Their forces guard the City of Hernand. Offer bounty quests and monster hunt commissions. | |
Marquis House | Governs Calphade, known as the "Unyielding Shield." Allied with the Greymanes under the old political order. | |
Marquis House | Manages Hernand's internal affairs. Offers faction quests involving liberation, combat, and construction. | |
Count's House | Focused on technology and commerce within the Hernand region. | |
Baronial House | A family of spearmasters based at the Alfonso Estate. | |
Noble Family | A wealthy merchant family. Their faction quests involve seals, trust trials, and honor-related missions. | |
Noble Family | A noble family pursuing an intellectual movement within Hernand's society. |
Organizations and Guilds
Faction | Description |
|---|---|
A goblin-led merchant organization with influence across all of Pywel. Operates the Goldleaf Guildhouse, Arena, and Tradepost in Hernand. | |
An academic institution founded by troll scholars researching the Abyss. Located in the southwest of the region. | |
A conservative troll community that maintains traditional customs and values. | |
A reclusive Shai community living deep within Pororin Forest. | |
A seafaring guild based in the coastal village of Vellua. | |
A community of vagrants and outcasts operating in the margins of Hernand society. |
Hostile Factions
Faction | Threat Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
High | A drug-trafficking faction distributing a substance called "Dreamer's Bliss" throughout Hernand. | |
Medium | Roaming hunters obsessed with slaughter. Encountered throughout the wilderness areas. | |
High | A detention center disguised as a medical facility, confining individuals deemed ideologically suspect. | |
Medium | Outlaws operating along the southern roads and passes of Hernand. |
Quests
Hernand serves as the setting for the first several chapters of the main story, as well as dozens of faction quests, merchant commissions, and local requests.
Main Story Chapters in Hernand
Chapter | Title | Key Events |
|---|---|---|
Dead of Night | Kliff awakens at the Hills of No Return after the Black Bear ambush. First boss fight against Myurdin. | |
The First Encounter | Kliff begins gathering allies. Includes the Trials of Kindness and Traces quests. | |
Golden Greed | Events in Hernand escalate. Features the Unexpected Gift, Hernand in Chaos, and The End of Greed quests. | |
Howling Hill | Establishing the Greymane Camp. Includes the Homestead, The Face Behind the Mask, and Pioneering quests. | |
The Price of Knowledge | Investigations at Scholastone. Features the Mysterious Pot, Daily Life, and Forbidden Knowledge quests. |
Faction Quest Highlights
Quest Category | Examples | Rewards |
|---|---|---|
House Celeste Bounties | Bounty: Jeffery, Bounty: Simon de Montfort, Bounty: Alessio, Bounty: Blix, Bounty: Bianca, Bounty: Salvatore | Silver (1 to 25 Silver per bounty) |
House Celeste Monster Hunts | Queen's Nest, The Rabid Hound of Hellwood, Silence from Afar, Restarting the Elixir Factory | Artifacts and specialized equipment |
House Serkis and House Roberts | Remaining Chains, Race in Hernand, The Broken Trail, The Missing Family Seal, First Trial of Trust | Silver, reputation, and unique items |
Merchant Commissions | Rhett's Request (mine iron ore), Renee's Request, Turnali's Request, Annabella's Request (fishing) | Expansion Tools and crafting materials |
Local Requests | Empty Donation Box, Village of the Sick, The Hidden Space of the Heart, Goddess of Abundance | Various rewards and camp supplies |
Bosses and Enemies
Hernand is home to several boss encounters ranging from early-game story fights to challenging optional battles.
Boss | Type | Location | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
Story Boss | For Honor quest (Chapter 1) | Easy (2 health bars). The easiest boss in the game. | |
Story Boss | Cheers Echoing From the Edge quest | Moderate (1 health bar). A goblin boss fight. | |
Story Boss | Dance with the Devil quest | Hard (3 health bars). A feared creature terrorizing the marshlands. | |
Story Boss | Gate to the Otherworld quest | Puzzle-style boss fight with unique mechanics. | |
World Boss | Near Anvil Hill | Moderate. A large crustacean guarding its territory. | |
Story Boss | Bloodwind and Toward the Nest quests | Fought twice (1 bar first encounter, 3 bars second). Increasingly dangerous. | |
Story Boss | Traitor quest | Moderate (1 health bar). A human boss with shield. |
Standard enemies throughout Hernand include bandits patrolling roads and camps, wolves and predatory wildlife in forested areas, Stoneback Crabs near Anvil Hill, Urn Soldiers in ancient ruins, and various hostile faction members depending on quest progression.
Resources and Gatherables
Hernand offers abundant gathering opportunities across its varied terrain. The region is particularly rich in ores and has productive farming, fishing, and cooking ingredients.
Ores and Minerals
Resource | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Iron Ore | Anvil Hill area, southeast of Hernand | Required for Rhett's Request quest. Best farmed around Anvil Hill |
Copper Ore | Base of Anvil Hill, southeast of Hernand | Found alongside Iron Ore deposits |
Azurite | West Hernand mountainous regions, Deepwoods | Alternative easy spot along the base of Anvil Hill |
Diamonds | Hernand Highlands Cavern, south of the City of Hernand | A cave full of diamond deposits beneath the steep cliffs |
Bismuth Ore | South of Anvil Hill, beneath the Abyss Cresset | Dropped by Stoneback Abyss crabs that spawn in this area |
Flora and Cooking Ingredients
Hernand's forests and fields support a wide variety of gatherable plants and cooking ingredients. Common finds include mushrooms, herbs, marigold, apples, blackberries, carrots, and pumpkins. These ingredients feed into the cooking system, which allows players to prepare meals at cooking pots found in settlements throughout the region.
Gathering Tools
Both the Pickaxe and Logging Axe can be purchased from the Provisioner's Shop in the City of Hernand. The Fishing Rod is obtained from Annabella at the Hernand Saddlery by accepting her Request faction quest.
Ancient Ruins and Puzzles
Hernand contains eight major ancient ruins puzzle locations. Solving these puzzles activates Abyss Cressets (special teleporters) and rewards Abyss Artifacts. Each puzzle has a distinct mechanic.
Puzzle Location | Puzzle Type | Hint |
|---|---|---|
Investigation | Requires finding four mural clues scattered in the area before solving. | |
Drakesfall Gorge Ruins | Minigame | A "Green Light, Red Light" style challenge. |
Precipice of Echoes | Grid Puzzle | Tile-matching grid pattern. Match the tiles to their correct positions. |
Navigation | Accessed via ladder at Phoniel Ranch. Navigate the maze carefully. | |
Meandering Hills Ruins | Traversal | Requires the Nature's Grasp ability to access. |
Steel Mountain Ruins | Musical | A bell and note sequence puzzle. Listen carefully and repeat the pattern. |
Haunted Hills Ruins | Mechanism | Underwater mechanism that must be activated to drain the water. |
Halssius Conflux Ruins | Rotating Dial | Rotate the dial to align the correct symbols. |
Sunrise Plains Ruins | Statue Rotation | Rotate statues to face the correct direction. |
Sealed Abyss Artifacts
Sealed Abyss Artifacts are collectible items hidden throughout Hernand that unlock combat challenges when activated. Completing these challenges rewards unique equipment, skills, and materials. Hernand contains over a dozen Sealed Abyss Artifacts scattered across its varied terrain, from hillsides and road intersections to cave entrances and ruins.
Sword of Trials I: Found along main roads in central Hernand.
Shield of Unchanging Will (I, II, IV, V): Multiple versions located across the region.
Sharpened Spear (II, V): Located near wilderness areas and camps.
Feather of the Earth: Hidden in elevated terrain.
Night of the Silent Banner Pike: Near a faction-controlled area.
Under a Starlit Sky: Found in the hills at night.
Abyssal Star That Cleaves the Heavens: One of the more challenging artifact encounters.
Tips for Exploration
Ring the bells first. Locating and ringing the three bells (Toll of Hernand, Toll of Scholastone, Toll of Calphade) should be an early priority. Clearing the fog of war makes navigating the region far easier.
Buy tools early. Purchase the Pickaxe and Logging Axe from the Provisioner in the City of Hernand as soon as possible. These open up mining and logging activities that provide valuable crafting materials.
Check behind waterfalls. The Heart of the Saint cave is hidden behind Three Saints Falls. Several other hidden areas in Hernand are concealed by natural features.
Use the grappling hook and glider. Mountain faces that look impassable on foot can be scaled once Kliff has the grappling hook. The glider allows quick descents from elevated positions.
Explore the caves. The Hernand Highlands Cavern south of the city contains diamond deposits. Caves throughout the region hold mineral veins, enemies, and loot.
Talk to every NPC. Merchant commissions from NPCs like Rhett, Annabella, and Renee provide Expansion Tools for the Greymane Camp and unique rewards.
Watch for bandit camps. Camps at Anvil Riverside, Sunrise Plains, and Rocca's Hill contain enemies and loot. Clearing them can yield silver and equipment.
Activate every Abyss Nexus. Hernand has about twelve fast travel points. Activating them early saves enormous travel time as quests send Kliff back and forth across the region.
Related Articles
Topic | Article |
|---|---|
Detailed Region Overview | |
Game World | |
All Regions | |
Greymane Base | |
Fast Travel System | |
Combat | |
Vendors | |
All Bosses |