Trials of Kindness

Trials of Kindness is the first quest group in Chapter 1: The First Encounter. It contains five quests that take place in and around the City of Hernand. The quests revolve around Kliff exploring the city and performing acts of kindness for the townsfolk. Along the way, he learns about Hernand's culture, gains access to the Hernand Sewers, and meets a key character named Rulupee. Completing this quest group leads to the Trace quest group, which introduces the Abyss mechanics.

Quest Details

Quest List

Where Rumors Gather

This is the fifth main mission in the game and the first quest in the Trials of Kindness group. Kliff must visit the Hernand Tavern and try his hand at arm wrestling. The tavern is located south of the starting camp, marked on the minimap.

Walkthrough

1. Go to Hernand Tavern - Head south toward the marker on the minimap. Enter the tavern to begin gathering information about the city.

2. Try arm wrestling - Approach the arm wrestler seated at a table. Target him with L1/LB and press Square/X to challenge him. Rapidly press the designated button to fill the meter. Quick-time events will appear during the match that require specific button inputs within a timed window. Fill the entire meter to win.

Mysterious Man

Outside the tavern, Kliff encounters some children hassling an old beggar. This short quest sets up the three remaining quests in the group by giving Kliff a key that unlocks new objectives.

Walkthrough

1. Speak with the beggar - Exit the tavern and turn left to find an elderly beggar being bothered by children. Approach him.

2. Give him a coin - Hand the beggar some copper. In return, he gives Kliff a Shabby Wooden Key and unlocks three additional inventory slots.

After completing this quest, three new quests become available simultaneously: True Wisdom in Kindness, Actions Speak Louder Than Words, and Heart Beyond Borders. You can complete them in any order.

True Wisdom in Kindness

Strange sounds are coming from the iron grate the old beggar was lying on top of. Kliff must investigate the Hernand Sewers beneath the street and rescue someone in distress.

Walkthrough

1. Enter the sewer - Look for a trapdoor at the spot where the beggar was sitting. Open it and descend into the sewer.

2. Activate the lantern - The sewer is dark. Open the radial menu and equip the Lantern for visibility.

3. Navigate the broken platforms - The floor is compromised in several places. Use the Jumping to Target feature (hold L1/LB while looking at your target, then press X/A) to traverse the gaps safely.

4. Rescue the noblewoman - At the tunnel's end, a woman is kneeling in distress. Lock onto her using the targeting system and initiate the untying action. She gives Kliff a letter of thanks.

5. Exit the sewer - Climb the ladder near the woman to return to the surface.

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

While exploring the town, Kliff comes across a distressed couple whose chimney is blocked. This lighthearted quest teaches the radial menu equipment system.

Walkthrough

1. Speak with the couple - Navigate to the mission marker and approach the woman standing in front of her house. Talk to both members of the distressed couple to learn about the chimney problem.

2. Collect the broom - After the dialogue, look for a broom near the house. Press Square/X to pick it up.

3. Equip the broom - Open the radial menu and equip the broom from your inventory.

4. Climb to the roof - Go to the back of the house and climb on top of the stacked boxes to reach the roof.

5. Clean the chimney - Position yourself directly on top of the chimney structure. You must stand on it, not beside it, for the interaction prompt to appear. Hold L1/LB to target the chimney and press R1/RB to begin cleaning.

Important: the prompt only appears if you are standing on top of the chimney. Standing beside it will not trigger the interaction.

Heart Beyond Borders

The final quest in the Trials of Kindness group introduces Rulupee, a child who plays an important role later in the story. Kliff helps her retrieve her cat from a rooftop.

Walkthrough

1. Speak with the child - Navigate to the marked location in Hernand. A child wearing a green cloak (Rulupee) is calling for her cat, Jiji, who has climbed onto a rooftop. Target her with L1/LB and press Square/X to offer help.

2. Climb to the roof - Scale the nearby cabin to reach the roof where the cat is walking around.

3. Catch the cat - Approach the cat and press Square/X to carry it. The game automatically returns you to Rulupee for a cutscene.

4. Pick up the dropped item - After the cutscene, Kliff kneels beside a pendant on the ground. Press Square/X to collect Shai's Pendant. This pendant connects to the Trace questline.

Optional: Ring the Bell

Near the rooftop where you retrieved the cat, there is a bell tower above your position. Climb up and ring the bell to uncover part of Hernand's map. There are eight bells total throughout the game, and ringing all of them reveals the complete world map.

Rewards

Tips

• Explore Hernand thoroughly between quests. The streets are filled with merchants, side quests, and minigames that are easy to miss if you rush through the main objectives.

• The three quests after Mysterious Man (True Wisdom in Kindness, Actions Speak Louder Than Words, Heart Beyond Borders) can be completed in any order. They are all located within the City of Hernand.

• Shai's Pendant obtained from Heart Beyond Borders is a key item for the Trace questline. It begins glowing brighter as you approach certain locations tied to the Abyss.

• The Jumping to Target traversal mechanic learned in the sewers is useful throughout the game. Practice it here where there is no combat pressure.

• Ringing the bell above the cat's rooftop is optional but highly recommended. Map visibility makes navigation significantly easier in the Hernand region.