Overview
The Pailune Militia is a regional faction in Crimson Desert based in the frozen northern region of Pailune. The militia comprises the capital of Pailune and the tribes that surround it, including the Beighen Tribe, the Knytlingar Clan, the Longleaf Tribe, the Skoghorn Tribe, and the Stjar Clan. Under the leadership of Jian, the region enjoyed a period of stability and prosperity. That era ended when the Black Bears murdered Jian and shattered the Greymanes, plunging Pailune into an age of violence and oppression under Myurdin and his ally Ludvig of the Lonely Jackals.
The Pailune Militia faction quests become available after the liberation of Pailune during Chapter 7: Homecoming. These quests revolve around rebuilding governance in Pailune, confronting lingering threats in the region, and determining who will lead the people into the future. The overarching quest chain is referred to as Crossroads of Succession on some tracking databases, tying together the theme of political succession after Jian's death.
Unlike the larger Hernand faction quest pools (which can contain dozens of commissions, requests, and bounties), the Pailune Militia quest line is smaller and more focused. It centers on narrative-driven objectives tied directly to the region's recovery, making each quest feel significant in the broader story of the Greymanes' homecoming.
Faction Details
Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
Faction Name | Pailune Militia |
Region | |
Faction Type | Core (Regional) |
Former Leader | Jian (deceased) |
Key NPCs | Torstein, Brenner (Contribution Shop vendor) |
Quest Chain Name | Crossroads of Succession |
Prerequisite | Complete Chapter 7: Homecoming (main quest: Time to Face Justice) |
Contribution Shop | Small hut near the main building in Pailune City |
Related Factions | Beighen Tribe, Blue Fangs (resistance militia) |
Lore and Background
Pailune occupies the northern portion of Pywel, defined by heavy snowfall, freezing temperatures, and treacherous mountain passes. Blizzards can reduce visibility to near zero, and the terrain forces travelers to navigate narrow paths between sheer cliffs. Despite these harsh conditions, the region's people built a resilient community under the protective banner of the Greymanes and the leadership of Jian.
When the Black Bears, led by Myurdin, attacked and killed Jian, the Greymanes were scattered and Pailune's organized defense collapsed. The Lonely Jackals, led by Ludvig, swore loyalty to the Black Bears and ruthlessly oppressed the civilian population from Pailune's capital. During this period, a resistance force known as the Blue Fangs (also called the Beighen Militia) formed among the villagers, led by Torstein. Operating out of Beighen, Torstein quietly prepared for the liberation of his homeland.
In Chapter 7, Kliff leads the Greymanes back north. Torstein's plan called for a strike team to infiltrate Pailune and sow chaos with explosives, allowing the main force to breach the walls. The campaign culminated at the Battle of Silverwolf Mountain, where Kliff faced Myurdin in a decisive rematch and avenged Jian's death. After the liberation, the people of Pailune face the question of succession: who will lead the region now that Jian is gone?
How to Unlock Pailune Militia Quests
Pailune Militia faction quests cannot be accessed early in the game. The region is locked behind story progression. To unlock these quests, you must:
Progress through the main story until Chapter 7: Homecoming.
Complete the four main questlines in Chapter 7: Morning Mist, Dawn, Decisive Battle, and Twisted Fate.
Finish the main quest Time to Face Justice, which concludes the liberation of Pailune.
After liberation, return to the City of Pailune. Faction quests will appear on the Pailune notice board and through NPC interactions.
Faction quests in Crimson Desert are never missable. Even if you progress past Chapter 7 into the later chapters, you can return to Pailune at any time to complete these quests at your own pace.
Complete Quest List
The Pailune Militia faction currently has the following confirmed quests. Each quest contributes toward your Pailune Contribution total, which can be spent at the regional Contribution Shop.
Quest | Type | Key Objective | Notable Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
Shapers of the Future | Narrative | Read Jian's Journal to find succession candidates | Unlocks Garred |
Shadows of Beasts | Combat / Exploration | Details pending (walkthrough in progress) | Pailune Contribution |
Lord of the Forgotten Castle | Boss Fight | Defeat Saigord the Staglord |
Shapers of the Future
Quest Information
Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
Quest Giver | Jian (via Torstein) |
Location | City of Pailune |
Prerequisite | Complete the main quest Healing Pailune (Chapter 8, Ashen Steps) |
Objective | Read Jian's Journal |
Reward | Unlocks Garred (NPC) |
Walkthrough
This quest begins during the main quest Healing Pailune, the 104th main mission in the game, which takes place in Chapter 8 (Blood Coronation, Ashen Steps arc). During that quest, you travel to the City of Pailune and meet Torstein at a camp positioned north of town. As you walk through the city together, Torstein discusses his plans for rebuilding Pailune and strategizing the final pursuit of Myurdin across the border into Demeniss. At the end of your walk, Torstein hands over Jian's Journal, a key item that belonged to the fallen leader.
Once you have Jian's Journal in your inventory, open your journal menu and read it. The journal contains Jian's thoughts on potential successors and candidates who could lead Pailune's future. Reading the journal completes the faction quest. After reading, the NPC Garred becomes available. Garred was one of the candidates Jian identified as capable of leading the region.
The quest description states: "Find the candidates who will lead Pailune's future." While the act of reading the journal is straightforward, the narrative significance is substantial. Jian's written thoughts provide insight into Pailune's political landscape and set up the succession conflict that defines the broader Crossroads of Succession quest chain.
Lord of the Forgotten Castle
Quest Information
Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
Faction | Pailune Militia |
Location | Icemoor Castle Ruins (Pailune region) |
Boss | |
Reward |
Overview
Lord of the Forgotten Castle is a Pailune Militia faction quest that takes you to the Icemoor Castle Ruins in the far north of Pailune. The quest culminates in a boss fight against Saigord the Staglord, a powerful enemy who has taken up residence in the crumbling fortress. Defeating Saigord earns you the Staglord's Shield, one of the unique shields in the game.
Preparation
The Icemoor Castle Ruins sit in the coldest part of Pailune, where temperatures severely impact stamina regeneration. Before heading out, prepare the following:
Equip a Cloak with cold resistance.
Bring food that provides Ice Resistance to counteract the frigid environment.
Stock up on Palmar Pills and cooked food for healing during the boss fight. Saigord deals heavy damage when his attacks connect.
Consider equipping armor and Abyss Cores that provide ice resistance bonuses.
Boss Fight: Saigord the Staglord
Saigord the Staglord is a formidable melee combatant who wields a large sword and a shield. The fight takes place in the open courtyard of the ruined castle. Here are key strategies for the encounter:
Force Palm is your best friend. This skill stagger-cancels most of Saigord's combo strings. Save it for use after a successful parry to maximize your stagger uptime and create openings for damage.
Learn Turning Slash Expertise. Saigord is uniquely vulnerable to his own technique. During the fight, keep your distance and use the Watch and Learn mechanic when Saigord performs his Turning Slash. If the camera is facing Saigord during the attack, a prompt will appear allowing you to learn the skill. Once learned, use Turning Slash Expertise against him for burst damage.
Dodge red glint attacks. Never attempt to block attacks that flash with a red glint. These deal enormous stamina damage and will break your guard. Instead, dodge away. His 3-hit combo and sweeping shield attack both carry the red glint warning.
Royal Combo punish window. Saigord's Royal Combo is actually your best opportunity for damage. Parrying the first hit of this sequence lets you immediately chain into Force Palm and deal a large portion of his health bar.
Shadows of Beasts
Quest Information
Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
Faction | Pailune Militia |
Location | Pailune region |
Type | Combat / Exploration |
Status | Walkthrough details pending |
Overview
Shadows of Beasts is a Pailune Militia faction quest that involves dealing with dangerous creatures in the Pailune wilderness. The frozen mountains and snow-covered forests of Pailune are home to aggressive wildlife and hostile remnants of the Black Bears' occupation. This quest tasks you with confronting these threats to make the region safer for the civilian population.
Detailed walkthrough information for Shadows of Beasts has not yet been widely documented by guide writers. This section will be updated as more information becomes available. Players who have completed this quest report that it involves tracking and eliminating beast threats in the Pailune region, contributing to the overall effort of securing the homeland.
Related Pailune Region Quests
While the Pailune Militia faction has its own dedicated quests, several other faction quests and activities are tied to the Pailune region. Completing these alongside the militia quests provides a more complete experience of the region's post-liberation recovery.
Beighen Tribe: The Frostwarden
The Beighen Tribe has its own faction quest called The Frostwarden, which takes place at the Spire of Frost on the southeastern tip of Pailune near the Demeniss border. This is a puzzle-based challenge rather than a standard combat quest. To complete it:
Travel east from Beighen village to find the Spire of Frost.
Melt the ice on the southern entrance lantern using fire or the Blinding Flash skill.
Enter the spire and light all seven stone lanterns inside to complete the puzzle.
Completing The Frostwarden rewards you with the Frostwarden Plate Boots and opens access to the Passage of Malice Abyss branch. Be aware that the frozen environment around the Spire inflicts cold damage, and Antumbra wizards patrol the area launching projectiles. Bring ice resistance gear.
Reconstructing Pailune
After completing the main quest Time to Face Justice at the end of Chapter 7, a major faction questline called Reconstructing Pailune becomes available. This multi-stage project involves rebuilding the Greymanes' ancestral homeland. Completing the entire Reconstructing Pailune questline allows you to permanently relocate the Greymane Camp from Howling Hill to Pailune, unlocking the Proud Returnee trophy/achievement. The reconstruction introduces large-scale projects including the Pailune Council and the Pailune Institute, both of which open new dispatch missions and research opportunities.
Toll of Pailune
The Toll of Pailune is one of the Bell Locations in the game. This bell is located in the Pailune settlement and can only be rung after liberating the region in Chapter 7. Ringing it uncovers the Pailune portion of the World Map, removing the fog of war from the area.
Pailune Contribution System
Like other regions in Crimson Desert, Pailune has its own Contribution system. Completing Pailune Militia faction quests, bounties, and other regional activities earns Pailune Contribution points. These points can be spent at the Pailune Contribution Shop.
Contribution Shop
The Pailune Contribution Shop is located in a small hut near the main building in the City of Pailune. The vendor's name is Brenner. The shop becomes accessible only after liberating Pailune through the Chapter 7 main story.
Item | Contribution Cost | Type |
|---|---|---|
Pailunese Hat | 17 Points | |
Pailunese Boots | 15 Points | |
Pailunese Gloves | 16 Points | |
Pailunese Cloak | 19 Points | |
Pailunese Attire | 23 Points | |
Berkei Barding | 23 Points | |
Pailunese Contribution Banner | 30 Points | Decorative / Cosmetic |
The full Pailunese Attire set (Hat, Attire, Cloak, Gloves, and Boots) costs a total of 90 Contribution points. Adding the Berkei Barding for your horse brings the total to 113 points, and the Contribution Banner pushes it to 143 points for everything in the shop.
Pailune Region Factions
The Pailune region is home to several factions beyond the militia itself. Understanding these groups helps provide context for the faction quests and the political dynamics at play.
Faction | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
Pailune Militia | Core | The capital and surrounding tribes; the main regional governance body |
Core | Southeastern mountain community preserving ancestral spirit traditions | |
Core (Resistance) | Beighen-based militia led by Torstein; fought against the Black Bears occupation | |
Hostile | Led by Myurdin; murdered Jian and brought an age of violence to Pailune | |
Hostile | Led by Ludvig; controlled Pailune's capital and oppressed the civilian population | |
Knytlingar Clan | Tribal | One of the surrounding tribal groups in the Pailune region |
Longleaf Tribe | Tribal | One of the surrounding tribal groups in the Pailune region |
Skoghorn Tribe | Tribal | One of the surrounding tribal groups in the Pailune region |
Stjar Clan | Tribal | One of the surrounding tribal groups in the Pailune region |
Key Locations in Pailune
Several important locations in the Pailune region are tied to the militia quests and the region's activities.
Location | Description |
|---|---|
City of Pailune | The regional capital and hub for Pailune Militia quests; where Torstein gives you Jian's Journal |
Northern ruins where Saigord the Staglord is encountered during Lord of the Forgotten Castle | |
Camp Bjornlund | A settlement location within the Pailune region |
Trovak Camp | A camp location within the Pailune region |
Site of the climactic battle against Myurdin in Chapter 7 | |
Five-Finger Mountain | Mountain range containing the Second-Finger Cave |
Snowwind Cave | Hidden cave behind a waterfall near Vannstein Lake; contains the Grand Meal Recipe |
Spire of Frost | Southeastern Pailune; location of The Frostwarden puzzle quest (Beighen Tribe) |
Beighen | Village on the southeastern edge of Pailune, base of the Blue Fangs resistance |
Tips and Strategies
Complete Chapter 7 first. All Pailune Militia quests require the region's liberation. Focus on the main story through Chapter 7: Homecoming before attempting to tackle these faction quests.
Bring ice resistance gear. Pailune's extreme cold reduces stamina regeneration across the entire region. Equip a Cloak and eat food with Ice Resistance before exploring or fighting bosses.
Do not skip Shapers of the Future. While the quest itself is simple (just reading a journal), it unlocks the NPC Garred, who may be important for later content and the succession storyline.
Prepare thoroughly for Saigord. The Lord of the Forgotten Castle boss fight is one of the more demanding encounters in the Pailune region. Stock up on Palmar Pills and cooked food. Learning Turning Slash Expertise during the fight through Watch and Learn gives you a significant damage advantage.
Combine with Reconstructing Pailune. After finishing the militia quests, work on the Reconstructing Pailune faction questline to relocate your camp permanently. This unlocks the Proud Returnee trophy and provides access to the Pailune Council and Pailune Institute for endgame dispatch missions.
Ring the Toll of Pailune. After liberation, ring the bell in the Pailune settlement to reveal the full region on your World Map. This makes navigating to quest locations much easier.
Faction quests are never missable. Even if you progress deep into the endgame, you can always return to Pailune to complete these quests. There is no time limit or point of no return.
Spend Contribution wisely. The Pailunese Attire set is themed cosmetic gear. If you are looking for raw combat stats, prioritize other equipment and save Contribution for items that complement your build. The Berkei Barding is a solid pick for horse combat players.
Trivia
The Pailune Militia is one of the smaller faction quest pools in the game. Compared to Hernand's sprawling network of commissions and bounties, Pailune focuses on a handful of meaningful, story-driven quests.
Jian's death at the hands of the Black Bears is one of the key inciting events in the entire Crimson Desert narrative. His journal, encountered in Shapers of the Future, provides one of the few direct glimpses into his thoughts and plans for the region.
The Blue Fangs resistance, led by Torstein, operated in secret among Beighen villagers for years before the Greymanes returned. Players first learn about them during Chapter 7 by eavesdropping on Beighen villagers and gathering clues about the mysterious organization and its leader.
Pailune's name and aesthetic draw from Nordic and Scandinavian influences. The region's clan names (Knytlingar, Skoghorn, Stjar) reflect this design direction.
The Pailune Contribution Shop vendor, Brenner, only becomes available after liberation. Before Chapter 7, the shop hut exists but cannot be accessed.