Overview
After completing the Traces section of Chapter 1: The First Encounter, a white bird carrying a letter begins circling Kliff as he returns to Hernand from the Abyss. The bird carries the White Crow's Letter, which introduces the Abyss Nexus fast travel system. Picking up the letter is not automatic; you need to perform a specific action to get the bird to land on your shoulder. This guide explains exactly how to do it.
When the Bird Appears
The white bird shows up right after you exit the Abyss during the "Traces" mission in Chapter 1: The First Encounter. This happens relatively early in the story, before you have access to fast travel. The bird will hover around Kliff and follow him as he moves through the world.
How to Get the Letter
The key is to stop moving. The white bird circles Kliff while he is walking or running, and it will not land while you are in motion. Follow these steps:
Step 1: Stop moving completely. Let go of the movement stick or stop pressing directional keys.
Step 2: Wait a few seconds. The bird will fly down and perch on Kliff's shoulder.
Step 3: A button prompt will appear on screen. Press it to take the letter from the bird.
If you keep running around, the bird will continue circling overhead without landing. Some players miss this interaction entirely because they sprint through the area without stopping.
What the Letter Contains
The letter you receive is called the White Crow's Letter. Reading it in your inventory provides an explanation of Abyss Nexuses, the stone platforms that serve as fast travel points throughout Pywel. The letter describes how these ancient platforms are linked to the Abyss and how activating one allows you to teleport between any two discovered Nexus locations.
What It Unlocks
Reading the White Crow's Letter essentially activates the fast travel tutorial. After reading it, you gain the ability to interact with Abyss Nexus platforms you encounter in the open world. The first Nexus you can activate is near Hernand, and the full network expands as you discover more locations. A complete list of Nexus locations is available in the All Fast Travel Locations article.
Common Issues
Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
Bird keeps circling but won't land | Stand completely still. Do not touch the movement controls. The bird needs a few seconds of no movement before it descends. |
No bird appears | Make sure you have completed the Traces portion of Chapter 1. The bird only spawns after exiting the Abyss during that specific quest. |
Prompt disappeared | If you moved before pressing the button, the bird may fly off. Stand still again and wait for it to return. |
Tips
Do not skip this interaction. Without reading the letter, the fast travel system can feel confusing because the game does not explain Abyss Nexuses through any other tutorial.
The bird appears only once. After you take the letter, it will not return. If you missed the prompt, try reloading a recent save or simply standing still in the area where you first noticed the bird.
The White Crow's Letter can be re-read at any time from your inventory if you need a refresher on how fast travel works.