Crimson Desert: Forbidden Knowledge Questline Walkthrough

Starting the Questline

The questline “Forbidden Knowledge” in chapter four starts right after winning the Archery Contest in the Skilled in Archery quest.

The questline has seven individual quests:
1 – The Words of Alustin
2 – Scholastone
3 – On the Right Path
4 – Gate to the Otherworld
5 – Spire of the Stars
6 – Obsession and Madness
7 – Cast Shadow

Quest Description:
“The Camp’s financial situation is strained. Head to Hernand to find some work.”

#1 – The Words of Alustin

In The Words of Alustin, you will receive a letter from Alustin, asking for help.

Head to Hernand

Go to the center of Hernand to find some work. Walk around until someone comes running, giving you “Alustin’s Letter.” Open the inventory and look for the letter with a purple background. Use it to read it.

The letter says:
“I apologize for the rather discourteous way this letter has reached you.
There are those who disturb the peace, always prowling nearby, leaving me no choice but to act discreetly.
Have you heard of the Scholastone Institute? It is a place devoted to the pursuit of knowledge and the study of all things in the world. Lately, however, I have sensed something unusual there. It may be nothing, but I cannot shake the feeling. Could you meet with the dean and see what you can uncover?
The institute rarely welcomes outsiders, so you must first acquire their attire from the Hernand fence. Tell him you are there to collect the belongings of the alchemist, and he will hand it over.
And one more thing. The institute cannot be reached by ordinary means. When you happen upon a dead end, try calling upon the power of nature.

Alustin“

#2 – Scholastone

Visit the Fence

The letter says that you must visit the Hernand Fence to pick up an alchemist’s belongings: a Scholastone Uniform. Once you have it, you can head to the Scholastone Institute.

The pickup location is also in Hernand town, a shop inside a building in the western parts of town. Near the Notice Board.

Head to Scholastone

There is a long path ahead. The quest marker is in an area I haven’t been before. Far in the southwest of Hernand town. I first travel to the fast-travel point near Redfield Graves, where I find Naira and Andrew in Chapter 3: Nonhuman. Then I travel west, following the official roads until reaching an elevator.

I used it to the top, where I found a fast-travel platform near Hellwood Outer Gate.

After activating it, I continued heading south through the gate, using Nature’s Grasp twice to open the outer and the inner gate. And walked up to the next elevator.

Took the elevator up to Fort Hellwood and activated the fast-travel point there, which has a beautiful view down into the valley.

From Fort Hellwood, I started to hike down the mountain to the west. Where I found the memory Hernand -> History and Faith -> A Strange Skull in a ruined house near the Ancient Ruins.

I continued west, quietly passed through occupied Fort Perwin, and followed the washed-out roads up the mountain to a mysterious passage, where I changed into the Scholastone Uniform from my inventory.

Here, at the Bismuth vein, you need to perform a Focused Force Palm. You have to observe the holographic person first, then go as close to the wall as possible, enter “Focus”, and then use Force Palm while in focus to move the block of stone in front of you out of the way.

This will leave a ball in your way. Pick it up with Axiom Force and store it in the Kuku Pot.

This ball is Abyss Cell: No. 0.

Keep following the path, destroying Bismuth and moving blocks away with Focus Force Palm. There is another one in the dark cave ahead. Destroying the second block will give you another Abyss Cell: No. 0. Exit on the other end of the cave to arrive at Scholastone.

Find out Scholastone Institute’s Location

You exit at the Scholastone location, where a massive monument with hovering cubes welcomes you. Head up the hill, towards the windmill. Here, you can talk to a scholar, Grimrick, near the pyramid. Follow him after the conversation.

He will point out the institute at the top of the hill. You can either climb or take the road through Kharoso, the village nearby.

Find the Path to Scholastone Institute

I decided to go through Kharoso for some sightseeing. Before you enter Kharoso, there is a fast travel point uphill.

Follow the path. At the first crossroads, go right to find the Sealed Abyss Artifact: Shield of Unchanging Will 2.

Return to the previous crossroads, where you can find the bounty: Simon de Montfort for House Celeste. Look for the bounty poster symbol on the minimap.

If you have found him: Yes, you have to drop him off at Hernand town. I returned the way I came and then fast-traveled back to Kharoso to follow the northern path to the Institute.

#3 – On the Right Path

As soon as you enter the Institute’s premises, the third quest starts: On the Right Path.

Meet the Dean of the Scholastone Institute

Meet with the dean, Grundir, who oversees the institute. He likely knows the true nature of the ominous energy detected here. He’s near the main entrance.

Follow him into and through the main building to meet another scholar, Octavius.

#4 – Gate to the Otherworld

The fourth quest, Gate to the Otherworld, starts after meeting Octavius at the Institute. The dean has introduced you to a scholar named Octavius. Help him with the preparations for his experiment.

Reward:
1x Abyss Artifact

Help with Octavius’s Experiment

Return to Octavius and listen to his speech.

Then you have to do the following:
-> There are four hovering cubes around the gate with the same number of pillars with a slot.
-> Move the cubes into the slots using Axiom Force (Guide #118)
-> Push the cube into the slot with Force Palm (Guide #119)

The pillar will power up when you’ve done it right.

Go to the room below the dome. There is a staircase to the north that you can use.

Down here, examine the panel. Here, you have to activate all 3×3 buttons. When you press one, it will move the neighboring buttons, plus the end button (if there is one), with it. Try to reach a “T-shape” as shown in the screenshot below. This will then be the last button to push. Operate the panel after setting all buttons to active.

The dome will open, and Octavius is happy. – Sort of. Use Axiom Force on the core and pull it off the center. Next is a boss fight against the Tenebrum. It is weak against Force Palm.

To defeat Tenebrum, you have to use your flight ability in the center of the dome to get closer and then use Force Palm when you’re close enough. This has to be done a couple of times.

#5 – Spire of the Stars

After defeating Tenebrum, Grundir wants you to investigate a strange phenomenon at the institute’s spire following Octavius’s disappearance. Investigate the Spire of the Stars.

Go to the Spire of the Stars

The Spire of the Stars is to the north of the main building. Enter it and exit it in the northeast, where you can take an outer staircase. Follow those stairs through a cave to the top of the mountain, where you will find the Spire of the Stars.

Interact with the entrance gate to open it and enter.

Go to the Top of the Spire of the Stars

Here is how to solve the Puzzle at the Spire of the Stars:

There are four symbols:
-> Hourglass
-> Circle
-> Square
-> Triangle

In the center room is a round platform, presumably an elevator with the four symbols. To the left and right of this main room, you can see two of these symbols, each displayed at a certain height. There are a total of three buttons in those two side rooms where you can use Force push on to receive a cube key – An engraved stone.

You now need to move those symbols in the main room so they show the same positions as in the side rooms.

Positions:
-> Top: Hourglass
-> Circle: Third
-> Second: Triangle
-> Bottom: Square

Climb up to the square panel to drag it down to the bottom, and then the triangle to put it in the second position. Let go when the panel reaches this position. This will activate the elevator, and you can stand on the elevator platform to reach the top.

Move to the Abyss

Ride the elevator to the top, then climb the stairs. After the cutscene, the top door will open, granting access to the Abyss.

#6 – Obsession and Madness

This place appears to be connected to the rift that swallowed Octavius. He may still be alive. Search the area for any sign of him.

Investigate the Abyss

You will find Octavius at the arrival spot, but he will disappear when you approach.

Find the One Responsible for the Rift

First of all, just move straight to activate the Sanctorum of Insight fast travel point. Then, use Axiom Force on one of the two pillars with the gear. The platform you’re standing on moves from one pillar to the next. Choose the pillar in the center and pick “Operate”. You will now move with the platform to the center pillar.

Do this until you reach the pillar to the far left (in blue in the screenshot). Here you can climb to the top.

Activate the power core here by jump-Force Palm to find out who’s responsible.

#7 – Cast Shadow

With Octavius gone and a new shadow looming, the dean must be alerted, and a strategy devised, to face this emerging danger. Seek out the dean.

Reward:
10x Honey Tea

Return to Howling Hill

After speaking to the dean right after having been thrown down from the Abyss, you can return to Howling Hill’s main tent. Completing Chapter 4.