Mountain of Frozen Souls

Overview

Mountain of Frozen Souls is a mountain situated at the southern end of Hernand. Despite its ominous name, the mountain is actually covered in lush greenery rather than the frozen wasteland its legends would suggest.

Lore

According to local legend, the souls of the dead freeze on this mountain, unable to leave the snowy peaks. However, this is folklore rather than reality. The mountain supports typical vegetation and wildlife. Deep within the mountain lies the "village of the sick," a hidden settlement that people fear to venture into. This combination of dark folklore and a concealed community gives the mountain its fearsome reputation.

Points of Interest

Dawn Cave is a waterfall cave hidden behind a waterfall on the Mountain of Frozen Souls. The cave is one of the many waterside caves that can be discovered throughout Hernand.

Quests

Several quests take place on or around the Mountain of Frozen Souls:

Main Quests

• Seed of Unease takes players through the lower slopes of the mountain as part of the early Hernand storyline.

• Dance with the Devil is the Chapter 3 quest "End of Greed" that culminates in the Reed Devil boss fight at the summit.

• Hope After the Draught revisits the mountain during a later chapter.

Faction Quests

• Forest of Trickery sends players into the wooded areas of the mountain.

• Bounty Notice: Salvatore targets a bounty located in the mountain's vicinity.

Enemies and Boss

The mountain is inhabited by Reed Devil Minions who patrol the paths leading to the summit. These enemies serve the Reed Devil, a fast swordsman boss who fights with quick-draw sword techniques and retreats into the surrounding wheat and reed fields between attacks. The Reed Devil is encountered during Chapter 3 and has three distinct phases. In the second phase, he spawns five Scarecrows and four clones of himself on the battlefield, all using the same move set.

Defeating the Reed Devil rewards the Swift Stab Skill, x600 Hernadian Contribution, and the Sunset Reed Cloth Gloves. The rest of the Sunset Reed armor set and the Hollow Visage sword can be found through exploration elsewhere in Hernand.

Treasure Chests

A treasure chest is located south of the mountain along a narrow north-south path. It sits on a raised stone ledge beside a small lake, tucked into a wooded rocky clearing just off the trail among the trees. The chest contains 2x Stone, Short Hair Hide, and a Light Copper Pouch.

Precipice of Echoes Ruins

The Precipice of Echoes Ruins is an ancient ruins puzzle site located southeast of Fort Perwin at the northern foot of the mountain, marked on the map as a Mysterious Energy. The puzzle is a Stepping Stone Symbol challenge: step on the starting plate, then walk to its matching symbol without crossing other active symbols or revisiting grey stones. There are three rounds with increasing difficulty (one pair, three pairs, then five pairs).

Solving all three rounds unlocks an Abyss Cresset, which can be interacted with to claim an Abyss Artifact and activate a fast travel point. Bring out your lantern while walking to prevent accidental sprinting onto wrong tiles. A few bandits patrol nearby but always in small numbers.

Sealed Abyss Artifact

A Sealed Abyss Artifact can be found along the winding cliffside path on the mountain, sitting on a ridge just before the large field where the Reed Devil boss fight takes place.

How to Enter Dawn Cave

To enter Dawn Cave, find the waterfall on the Mountain of Frozen Souls with a platform beside it. The easiest approach is to start at the top of the mountain and glide down to the platform. Use the Stab skill in front of the waterfall to pass through the water and enter the cave behind it.

NPCs

• Isolated Patient can be found on the mountain, possibly connected to the hidden village of the sick deep within.

Gatherable Resources

Tips

• Do not let the name fool you; the mountain has lush greenery, not permanent snow.

• The hidden village of the sick deep within the mountain is worth seeking out for lore and potential quest content.

• Check behind waterfalls for Dawn Cave and any hidden treasures.