Where Rumors Gather

Overview

Where Rumors Gather is the first main quest of Chapter 1: The First Encounter in Crimson Desert. Kliff has arrived at the City of Hernand and needs to enter the tavern to gather information about the Black Bears. The quest is light on combat and heavy on exploration, ending with an arm wrestling mini-game against a local guard. Several side quests also become available from the notice board.

Quest Details

Walkthrough

Look Around Hernand Tavern

The quest begins at the Royal Trading Post near Hernand Castle's outer walls. Bentley, the royal trading manager, conducts business nearby. You can greet various NPCs along the way to build trust.

Head south through the town following the minimap marker. Along the way, you pass wrecked carriages near Bluemont Manor where a Jindo and a White Dog can be found. A notice board by the road displays requests from Renee and Turnali, both of which unlock as side quests. Rhett's Request unlocks after completing either of those two.

The Hernand Inn is southeast of the Hernand Bank, with shops lining the adjacent streets. Enter the tavern building to proceed.

Try Arm Wrestling

Inside the tavern, approach the guard seated at a table. Use the aim button (L1/LB) then the interact button (X/A) to start the arm wrestling challenge.

The mini-game works as follows: mash the action button (Square on PlayStation, X on Xbox) rapidly to fill your gauge with red. At certain intervals, a quick-time event triggers and you must press the correct button within the displayed window. Keep filling the gauge until it is completely red to win. After winning, you exchange sportsmanlike words with the guard and the quest completes.

Side Quests Available

Notable NPCs

Tips

• Explore the city thoroughly before heading to the tavern. Hernand has shops, a bank, and NPCs that offer useful interactions.

• Check the notice board for side quests. Renee's Request and Turnali's Request provide silver and Contribution XP that help in Chapter 1.

• For arm wrestling, focus on consistent mashing rather than speed bursts. The QTE windows are generous, so save your button-press energy for the final push.

Exploration Details

Sebastian's Escort

The quest opens with Sebastian accompanying Kliff to the northwestern corner of the City of Hernand. Sebastian provides context about the city and points out key landmarks before Kliff is free to explore on his own. Pay attention to his dialogue, as it introduces several locations that become relevant in later quests.

Dog Breed Knowledge Entries

Near the wrecked carriages by Bluemont Manor, you can interact with two dogs: a Jindo and a White Dog. Petting each dog adds its breed to your Knowledge System entries. These are easy-to-miss collectibles that count toward your overall discovery progress. Make a point of interacting with any animals you encounter throughout the game, as many of them register new knowledge entries.

Castle Gate Blockade

If you wander south toward Hernand Castle during this quest, guards at the gate will block your entry. They comment on Kliff's attire being inappropriate for the castle grounds. This is foreshadowing for the Mystical Key quest later in Chapter 1, where you need the Hernandian Attire to gain access.

Shops and the Equipment System

The streets near the Hernand Inn contain a Tailor's Shop and an Equipment Shop. While you cannot afford much early on, browsing the shop inventories is worthwhile because it adds items to your Knowledge System. The Equipment Shop sells basic weapons and accessories, while the Tailor's Shop carries clothing that does not grant combat stats but can affect NPC interactions. Spending a few minutes in each shop at this stage gives you a baseline understanding of the equipment system before you enter more demanding content.