The Greymanes

Overview

The Greymanes are a band of mercenaries from the Paloon region of Pywel. They are led by Kliff Macduff and stand in direct opposition to the Black Bears. Their bond is the emotional heart of Crimson Desert's story.

Producer Will Powers described them: "They're the good guys. They have staunch moral compasses. They're defending this region. They're all about good moral character."

Gian's legacy

The Greymanes served under the great leader Gian, who unified the Paloon region and brought peace. The game's story begins just before the Greymanes are completely shattered -- a tutorial mission plays out, then Gian dies, the Black Bears attack, and the faction is scattered across all five regions of Pywel.

The Black Bear assault

The game starts right after the Greymanes have been completely obliterated by the Black Bear Forces and driven out of their homeland. The survivors are scattered across the continent. Kliff faced the Black Bears' leader Myurdin directly, suffered a brutal defeat, and barely escaped. This is the game's starting point: Kliff vows to reunite the scattered survivors.

Core members

At Kliff's side stood his closest companions: Oongka, Yann, and Naira. Additional allies include Marius and Hubert. Together they form the core of the rebuilt company. Damiane joins as a playable character through the story.

Camp building

Because the Greymanes lost their homeland, they need a new base. A camp building mechanic allows you to rebuild and upgrade the Greymane camp. This system draws inspiration from Red Dead Redemption 2's camp progression, where the camp evolves and improves as you invest resources and effort into it.

Camp construction requires two primary resources:

• Lumber -- Obtained from liberating territories, gathering in the world, and completing faction missions.

• Stone -- Obtained from the same sources. Both resources are needed in significant quantities for reconstruction.

The camp is not just cosmetic. Upgrading it improves your skills and abilities, provides access to new vendors, and advances the Greymanes' story. The camp acts as a throughline connecting faction activity, resource gathering, and story progression.

The Celeste faction

Early in the game, the Celeste faction helps the Greymanes get back on their feet. Celeste is one of the first faction alliances available and provides early support through resources, information, and assistance. Aligning with factions like Celeste unlocks vendors, rewards, and resource nodes.

Liberating outposts

A core gameplay loop for the Greymanes involves liberating outposts held by hostile factions. The liberation cycle works similarly to Ghost of Tsushima's outpost system:

1. Defeat enemies -- Clear out the hostile faction forces occupying the outpost.

2. Receive equipment -- Liberation rewards include weapons and gear (such as earning a spear from a freed outpost).

3. Unlock merchants -- Vendors and crafting stations become available in the liberated area.

4. Settlers return -- Civilians return to the area, making it safer and more lively. New quests and rewards become available.

5. Gain resources -- Lumber, stone, and other resources flow from the liberated territory to support camp building.

This cycle directly feeds into camp reconstruction. Every outpost you liberate provides resources and support for the Greymane camp.

Faction missions

The Greymanes earn resources and reputation through faction missions. These missions range from small tasks to large-scale battles. Completing them provides lumber, stone, equipment, and faction reputation. The faction mission system ties into the broader faction wars mechanics.

Role in Pywel's politics

The Greymanes' destruction by the Black Bears threatened the factional balance across Pywel. As Kliff rebuilds the faction, his actions and alliances shape the political landscape. Faction alignment can close off certain paths and encampments while opening others.

The Black Bears are not the only threat. There is something much more insidious happening that risks the entire fabric of the continent -- the growing influence of the Abyss. Restoring the Greymanes is about more than revenge.