In Ashes

Overview

In Ashes is the second main quest in Crimson Desert, continuing the Prologue: Dead of Night chapter. The Black Bears launch a full assault on the Greymane camp, and Kliff must fight through their forces while rescuing three companions: Naira, Oongka, and Yann. The quest ends with a scripted encounter against Myurdin, the Black Bears' leader, where Kliff is overwhelmed and left for dead.

In Ashes is the Chapter 6 version of the quest (not to be confused with the Prologue quest of the same name). After the Black Bears fire on their own base to cover a retreat, Kliff escapes through the smoke and chaos while escorting soldiers to safety. The quest involves infiltrating a Black Bears camp and rescuing a captive.

Quest Details

Key Characters

Walkthrough

Annihilate the Black Bears

The quest begins right after the cutscene from Unfamiliar Lands. Five Black Bear soldiers attack Kliff immediately. Use light attacks (R1/RB) and heavy attacks (R2/RT) to deal with them. This opening fight is the game's first real combat tutorial. Once they are down, check your minimap for three highlighted circles marking the locations of your allies.

Help Naira

Head north to the highlighted area. Naira is surrounded by eight Black Bear attackers. A cutscene triggers when you arrive, then combat begins. These enemies come from multiple directions, so keep moving and avoid getting cornered. Try to group enemies together so your attacks hit several at once.

Help Oongka

Move to the eastern marker. Oongka is pinned down by a smaller group of enemies. Another cutscene plays on approach. The fight here is more straightforward than Naira's since there are fewer opponents. Clear them out quickly.

Help Yann

Travel to the western marker near the river. Yann has been slashed and has fallen toward the river. A cutscene shows his condition before combat starts. Deal with the remaining Black Bears in the area.

Boss Encounter: Myurdin

After saving all three companions, a cutscene introduces Myurdin, the leader of the Black Bears. He arrives with a squad of archers and melee fighters. This fight is designed to be unwinnable. Regardless of how well you perform, Kliff will be struck by an arrow and knocked into the river. The outcome is scripted, so do not worry about losing. The game shows the same cutscene whether Myurdin's health is full or nearly depleted.

Combat Tips

• Focus on the Black Bear archers first during the Myurdin encounter. Clearing ranged enemies makes the melee fighters easier to handle, even though the fight's conclusion is predetermined.

• Use heavy attacks (R2/RT) to stagger groups of enemies when they cluster together.

• Block with L1/LB when surrounded. Timed blocks are especially useful for countering incoming swings.

• The order in which you rescue Naira, Oongka, and Yann does not matter. Pick whichever marker is closest.

Enemy Learning System

During your first encounters with Black Bear soldiers in this quest, a notification reading "Learning in Progress..." may appear on screen. This is part of the Observation Learning system. As Kliff fights new enemy types, he gradually picks up their combat patterns. The system runs passively in the background and does not require any input from the player. Over time, repeated encounters with the same enemy type unlock insights that improve Kliff's abilities against them.

Rescue Order and Strategy

The order in which you rescue Naira, Oongka, and Yann does not affect the story outcome. All three markers appear on your minimap simultaneously, and you are free to visit them in any sequence. The enemies do not scale based on order either, so pick whichever marker is closest to minimize travel time.

Naira's Fight (North)

Naira is surrounded by roughly eight Black Bear fighters to the north. This is the largest group of the three encounters. The enemies attack from multiple directions, so keep moving and avoid getting backed into a corner. Try to cluster enemies together so heavy attacks (R2/RT) hit several at once. Naira fights alongside you once combat begins, drawing some aggression away from Kliff.

Oongka's Fight (East/Northeast)

Oongka is pinned down by a smaller group to the northeast. This fight is more straightforward than Naira's since there are fewer opponents. Clear the enemies quickly and Oongka will thank you before the next phase.

Yann's Fight (West)

Yann is near the river to the west. He has already taken a wound to his leg and cannot fight effectively. A cutscene shows his condition before combat begins. Defeat the remaining Black Bears around him. After the fight, Yann falls toward the river, setting up his injury as a plot point for later chapters.

Myurdin Boss Strategy

After rescuing all three companions, a cutscene introduces Myurdin, the leader of the Black Bears. He arrives with a squad of archers and melee fighters for the Prologue's climactic encounter.

Attack Patterns

• Heavy slashes with red glare: Myurdin telegraphs his strongest attacks with a red glow effect. When you see the glare, dodge sideways rather than blocking, as these hits deal significant damage even through a guard.

• Fast charging maneuver: Myurdin closes distance quickly with a forward charge. Keep moderate distance and be ready to sidestep when he starts moving toward you.

• Archer support: Black Bear archers fire from the edges of the arena throughout the fight. Their arrows interrupt combos and chip away at your health.

Recommended Approach

Focus on eliminating the Black Bear archers first. Clearing the ranged enemies lets you concentrate on Myurdin's melee attacks without interruption. Use heavy attacks (R2/RT) to stagger groups of melee fighters when they cluster together. Block with L1/LB when surrounded, and use timed blocks to create counter-attack openings.

Scripted Outcome

This fight is designed as a scripted loss. Regardless of how well you perform (even if you deplete Myurdin's health bar), the same cutscene plays: Kliff is struck by an arrow and falls into the river. The game shows the same outcome whether Myurdin is at full health or nearly dead, so do not worry about dying. Treat the encounter as combat practice rather than a fight you need to win.

Speak with the Soldiers at the Base Outskirts

Head north down the hill to reach a friendly camp. Speak with the soldiers stationed there to receive an update on the situation and learn about the captive being held at the enemy base.

Infiltrate the Black Bears' Base

Navigate to the central camp surrounded by palisade walls. Enter through the open front entrance. The camp is packed with enemies and includes a miniboss.

• Bombardment approach: Use Whistling Arrows to call in artillery strikes on enemy clusters. This clears groups quickly and is the safer option.

• Direct combat: Fight through the enemies conventionally. The miniboss hits hard but follows predictable patterns.

Rescue the Captive

After clearing all enemies in the camp, a cutscene automatically triggers showing the rescue. The quest completes when the cutscene ends.

Tips

• Whistling Arrows are the easy button for this quest. If you received 10 from Fire Support, use them here to clear the camp quickly.

• If you run low on Whistling Arrows, there are friendly camps nearby where you can resupply.

• The miniboss inside the camp does not need any special strategy. Dodge and counter like any other tough enemy.