Revision - the missing forbidden book - Crimson Desert Wiki

Overview

The Missing Forbidden Book is a Hernand Commission investigation quest in Crimson Desert. A forbidden tome containing dangerous and restricted knowledge has gone missing from the grand library at the Scholastone Institute. Kliff is enlisted by the Institute Steward to interrogate five suspects and determine who stole the book. This quest is closely connected to the main quest The Weight of Knowledge, which becomes available after completing the main storyline events at the Scholastone Institute during Chapter 4: The Price of Knowledge.

Quest Details

Detail	Information
Quest Type	Hernand Commission
Region	Duchy of Hernand
Location	Scholastone Institute
Prerequisites	Complete Chapter 4: The Price of Knowledge main quest
Quest Giver	Institute Steward
Reward	Kinetic Dolphin Family (trophy collectible)

Walkthrough

Step 1: Speak with the Institute Steward

After completing the Scholastone Institute main quest, head into the grand library. You will find the Institute Steward in conversation with a Scholar about a missing forbidden book. Approach them to trigger the quest. The Steward explains that a book containing dangerous knowledge written in an ancient language has been stolen and asks for your help in finding the culprit.

Step 2: Speak with Amaris

The Steward directs you to Amaris, who was overseeing the library on the day of the theft. Travel to her location (marked on your map) and speak with her. Amaris provides background on the situation and identifies five suspects who had access to the library around the time the book disappeared. All five suspects are then marked on your map.

Step 3: Question All Five Suspects

You can visit the suspects in any order. Each suspect provides their alibi and points fingers at others. Pay careful attention to contradictions and overlapping stories, since the Steward will quiz you on what each person said.

The Suspects

Suspect	Role	Alibi and Statement
Raphael	Treasurer	Claims he was not at the library that day. He was meeting with nobles from out of town and says he has proof. He directs suspicion toward Eleanor.
Eleanor	Researcher	Says she was working in the lab with Tarho all day. She suspects the guards may be involved since some did not properly log their visits.
Javier	Librarian Assistant	Claims he is at the library every day as an assistant, but says the forbidden book is useless to him because he cannot read the ancient language. He suggests an outsider may be responsible.
Anselmo	Guard	Says many people enter the grand library daily. He specifically remembers seeing Grunil, Tarho, and Javier together. He notes that Raphael's visitor record is missing from the library logs.
Tarho	Alchemist	Says he was working with Eleanor in the lab and briefly stopped by the library to pick up a reference book, but ended up being scolded by the librarian.
Grunil	Linguist	A linguist who can read the ancient language. Claims he was working with Tarho all day. He expresses suspicion toward the guards, noting some did not record their visits to the library.

Step 4: Report to the Steward

After questioning all five suspects, return to the Institute Steward. He will ask you a series of questions about what each suspect said. You must answer correctly based on the information you gathered during the interrogation phase.

Correct Answers

The Steward asks five questions in sequence. Selecting the correct response for each question moves the investigation forward and identifies the thief.

Question	Correct Answer
What did the treasurer say?	Heard there was a meeting with a noble from out of town that day
What of Eleanor?	They were at the lab with Tarho all day, and reckon the guard's the one acting suspicious
He says he noticed nothing?	While working on their research with Grunil, they stopped by the library and got scolded
How about Anselmo, the guard?	The library keeps records of everyone's visits, but Raphael's record is missing
What did Javier tell you?	They insist they couldn't have stolen it, since they didn't know about the forbidden books or ancient language

Step 5: Catch the Thief

After answering all questions correctly, the Steward deduces that Javier is the culprit. Despite claiming ignorance of the ancient language and the forbidden books, the evidence does not support his alibi. Follow the quest marker behind the building, where you will catch Javier in the act. Apprehend and tie him up to complete the quest.

Rewards

Reward	Details
Kinetic Dolphin Family	A trophy collectible that can be displayed in your home or sold for Silver
Faction Contribution	Hernandian Contribution XP

Tips

Take notes on each suspect's statements as you go, since the Steward's questions reference specific details from each conversation.
You can question the suspects in any order. The quest markers on the map guide you to each one.
The key contradiction is that Javier claims ignorance of the forbidden books and the ancient language, but his role as librarian assistant gave him the most opportunity and access.
If you select incorrect answers, the Steward will prompt you again, so there is no penalty for mistakes.

Revision 6