Banishers Ghosts of New Eden: Hammer and Tongs Walkthrough and Choices

1 – Start Hammer and Tongs at the Hunters’ Camp Forge

Location: Hunters’ Camp – the blacksmith’s house and forge
Hints: none yet, the case starts at the forge

Antea and Red reach the Hunters’ Camp on their way back to New Eden, and the blacksmith and his wife are being haunted. After resting at your house in the camp, head to the blacksmith’s house shown on the map below to start the case.

2 – Investigate the Forge and Talk to Nellie: Hints 1 and 2

Location: Hunters’ Camp – the forge and the blacksmith’s house
Hints: 1 and 2 of 9

Start with the outside workshop. Inspect the drill bit and the nails, which don’t look fit for purpose. Together they give you the first hint of the case.

Hint 1 of 9 – Fortune (really Arther)
The blacksmith’s work is no better than a novice’s.

Also at the workshop, examine the puddle of salt water on the floor next to the forge and the anvil. Then find Nellie, the blacksmith’s wife, around the house and talk to her about everything. This gives you the second hint.

Hint 2 of 9 – Nellie
Coming to New Eden saved Nellie Heayton’s marriage.

Nellie now lets you into the house. Investigate the bed to reveal a glowing circle on the floor and perform the Harkening Ritual. It needs 2 Pyrite and 2 Wild Chervil.

The echo shows the blacksmith standing by the bed with his hammer raised over his sleeping wife, fighting the urge to kill her. Instead, he runs off towards the workshop exit. Switch to Antea and interact with the tracks next to the outside workshop.

3 – Follow Fortune to the Cabin: Hints 3 and 4

Location: The Dark Woods – a cabin over two bridges from the Hunters’ Camp
Hints: 3 and 4 of 9

Playing as Antea, follow the brightly glowing tracks over the two bridges to the cabin shown on the map below. The blacksmith is at the cabin, but wolves are waiting outside.

Defeat the wolves, then talk to the blacksmith. He tells you that his tools are cursed and that they are inside the cabin. He also gives you the third hint.

Hint 3 of 9 – Fortune (really Arther)
Despite what everyone believes, the blacksmith is not a Puritan.

The blacksmith returns to the Hunters’ Camp and leaves you with the cursed tools. They’re on the table inside the cabin. Picking them up gives you the next hint.

Hint 4 of 9 – Ghost
A saltwater ghost lays claim to the forge and all its tools.

4 – Find a Way Down to the Hammer in the Quarry: Hint 5

Location: The Dark Woods – the quarry behind the cabin
Hints: 5 of 9

The flatter, the hammer you saw in the echo, is missing from the tool set. Leave the cabin through the back, switch to Antea and examine the next set of tracks just outside.

Follow the tracks to the location on the map. When you arrive, you see a high platform above the quarry, but no visible way down. Turn back and take the next turn west, where you find a wall marked in yellow that you can climb.

At the top, switch to Antea. Line up all the green rings and use her Leap (on PS5 with L1) to cross the quarry to the other side.

On the other side, make your way down and defeat the group of ghosts waiting for you. Then pick up the flatter from the ground. Touching it shows you what happened aboard the ship on the way to New Eden.

Hint 5 of 9 – Nellie
Aboard the ship, when Nellie was threatened by a man with a hammer, the blacksmith protected her.

5 – Make-Manifest Ritual and the Ghost: Hints 6 and 7

Location: The Dark Woods – the quarry where you found the hammer
Hints: 6 and 7 of 9

With the flatter in hand, go to the bright circle on the floor and perform the Make-Manifest Ritual to summon the ghost. It needs the Flatter and 2 Hoof Fungus.

The ghost appears near the water. Talk to him to hear his side of the story. It turns out he is the real Fortune Heayton, and Nellie’s current blacksmith husband is an impostor.

Hint 6 of 9 – Ghost
The man was killed at sea with his own hammer.

Hint 7 of 9 – Ghost
The ghost lays claim to Fortune Heayton’s name.

6 – Confront Nellie and Arther: Hints 8 and 9

Location: Hunters’ Camp – inside the blacksmith’s house
Hints: 8 and 9 of 9

Return to the blacksmith’s house and go inside. Nellie and her husband are already discussing what happened. Talk to them to hear the rest of the story and get the last two hints.

Hint 8 of 9 – Nellie
Nellie Heayton and her new friend Arther Carty killed Fortune, her abusive husband.

Hint 9 of 9 – Fortune (really Arther)
The supposedly honorable blacksmith lied.

With all nine hints, you decide the fate of the Heaytons. You have four choices: Blame Nellie, Blame Arther, Ascend Fortune or Banish Fortune.

7 – Should You Blame Nellie or Arther, or Ascend or Banish Fortune?

Choice: Closure of Hammer and Tongs
Affects: Antea’s ending

There is no right or wrong answer. If your focus is bringing Antea back, blame Nellie or Arther. If you want Antea to ascend, ascend or banish Fortune instead. Here is what each choice does:

Blame Nellie
Red holds Nellie responsible for her husband’s death and kills her with the Blame ritual. Arther lives. Blaming counts toward resurrecting Antea.

Blame Arther
Red holds Arther Carty, the impostor who took Fortune’s name, responsible and kills him with the Blame ritual. Nellie lives. Blaming counts toward resurrecting Antea.

Ascend Fortune
Fortune’s ghost is gently released and passes on. Nellie and Arther both live. Ascending counts toward Antea’s ascension.

Banish Fortune
Fortune’s ghost is forcefully banished. Nellie and Arther both live. Banishing also counts toward Antea’s ascension.

What Happens Next
Once you have also solved Prudence in All Things, Thickskin is ready to talk to Red, which starts the next case, The Beast.