True Wisdom in Kindness

Overview

True Wisdom in Kindness is a main quest in Chapter 1: The First Encounter of Crimson Desert. Strange sounds are coming from the iron grate where Alustin (the old beggar) was lying. Kliff descends into the Hernand Sewers and finds White Crow the Witch disguised as a bound noblewoman at the end of the tunnel. Freeing her completes the quest and yields a Sealed Letter. The Shabby Wooden Key also transforms into an Engraved Key during this quest.

Quest Details

Rewards

Key Characters

Walkthrough

Enter the Sewer

The quest begins at the iron grate beside the Hernand Inn where Alustin was lying during the Mysterious Man quest. A trapdoor is now accessible. Press Square/X to open it and climb down the ladder into the Hernand Sewers.

Navigate the Tunnel

Head east through the sewer tunnel. The path is mostly linear but parts of the floor are broken and unstable. Jump across the gaps using the Jumping to Target mechanic learned during Realm of Uncertainty: hold L1/LB, position the cursor on your destination, and press Square/X to leap across. The fragile stone makes some sections crumble underfoot, so move quickly through those areas.

Free the Captive

At the corridor's end, you find a woman kneeling with her hands bound. This is White Crow the Witch, disguised as a captured noblewoman. Lock on with L1/LB and press X/A to untie her. A short cutscene plays where she gives Kliff a Sealed Letter and the Shabby Wooden Key in his inventory transforms into an Engraved Key. White Crow then vanishes, and the quest completes.

Tips

• There is no combat in this quest. It is purely traversal and exploration.

• The Sealed Letter and the Engraved Key both become relevant during the Mystical Key quest, which unlocks after completing all three Trials of Kindness quests.

• Watch for the fragile floor sections. If you fall, you respawn at the last stable platform, but it can be disorienting in the dark tunnels.

Environment Details

The Catacomb Layout

The Hernand Sewers are not standard city drainage tunnels. The architecture resembles a catacomb with arched stone ceilings, worn masonry, and occasional alcoves. The environment is dark, with limited natural light filtering through cracks in the ceiling. The tunnel runs primarily east from the entry ladder, with the corridor narrowing as you progress deeper. Several sections of the stone floor have collapsed, creating gaps that require precise jumping.

Jumping to Target Mechanic

The gaps in the sewer floor require the "Jumping to Target" mechanic. Hold L1/LB to enter targeting mode, position the reticle on the far edge of each gap, and press Square/X to execute the leap. This is the same traversal system used in the Realm of Uncertainty prologue quest, but here the stakes feel lower since there are no enemies. If you mistime a jump or target the wrong surface, Kliff falls and respawns at the last stable section of floor. The respawn is quick, but the darkness can make it disorienting to reorient yourself.

White Crow's Dialogue

When you free White Crow from her bonds, she delivers a brief but significant line: she mentions that "someone told her about you." This implies that Alustin had already communicated with White Crow before sending Kliff into the sewers. The entire sequence of events, from the beggar's cryptic message to the key to the sewer grate opening, was orchestrated. White Crow's true identity as the guardian of the Abyss makes this encounter the first direct connection between Kliff and the supernatural forces at the heart of the story.

Quest Progression Context

True Wisdom in Kindness is one of three Trials of Kindness quests that must be completed to unlock Mystical Key. The other two are Actions Speak Louder Than Words and Heart Beyond Borders. These three can be completed in any order, but True Wisdom in Kindness is often tackled first because the sewer entrance is directly next to where the Mysterious Man quest concludes. The proximity makes it the natural next step.