Crimson Desert: Ambition in the Ruins Questline

How to Get the Questline

To start the Ambition in the Ruins questline in the Hernand Commissions, you first have to advance in the story quest until you have liberated the Calphadean Territory in Chapter 6: Cracks in the Shield.

Ambition in the Ruins has three quests to complete.

Stolen Supplies

Description:
“Supplies for rebuilding after the war have gone missing. The soldier asked to listen to the villagers and help them catch the thief.”

There is a Calphadean Defender near the castle gates that you can talk to. He tells you about missing supplies, and you will receive the Investigative Log: Ambition in the Ruins to investigate.

Search for Leads

Description:
“They say supplies for rebuilding have gone missing. Talk to those who might know.”

Talk to Robert

Robert is the Overseer in a camp north of Calphade Castle. He claims that he and Ella were looking through the documents, and he suspects either Malluk or Caspar.

Talk to Adeline

Adeline is a nun at the Church of Calphade. She’s at the graveyard. Adeline can’t think of anyone who would have the time to steal anything since Ella and Helmut are always that busy.

Talk to Malluk

Malluk is the military supply officer and is stationed in the east at an unnamed camp near the river. He reports that Helmut, the blacksmith, confirmed there was no problem, and Malluk suspects Caspar, the merchant.

Talk to Helmut

Helmut is the blacksmith and can be found at the Calphade Siege Armory in the south. Helmut is complaining about the bad quality of the iron.

Talk to Caspar

Caspar is the merchant and has his shop at the Calphade Farmhouse in the north. He’s claiming that he only buys the highest-quality iron and has the paperwork to prove it.

Talk to Ella

Ella is the worker’s representative and is stationed just north of Calphade church. She doesn’t care about the theft, but she would love an improvement in the work conditions.

Deduction and Revelation of the Culprit

Description:
“The villagers’ stories have been heard. Return and organize the leads gathered so far.”

Study the Book

You can look at the investigation by opening the book Investigative Log: Ambition in the Ruins in your inventory. Here’s what is written in the book.

Robert the Supervisor
The supervisor overseeing the reconstruction of Calphade, He is in charge of the entire rebuilding. After cross-checking the ration amounts three times with Ella, the workers’ representative, he found no discrepancies.
Currently suspects Caspar the merchant and Malluk, the military supply officer.

Adeline, the Nun
A nun who provides medical care and meals for the reconstruction workers. She listens to the concerns of the townsfolk. She says that Ella, the workers’ representative, and the blacksmith work tirelessly day and night. She complains about Robert, the supervisor, who is overly strict about schedules.

Malluk, the Military Supply Officer
Responsible for transporting supplies and managing the depot.
Reports indicate no irregularities in the distribution records. He seems to suspect Caspar as the culprit in this incident, and is also questioning the quality of the iron Caspar provides.

Helmut the Blacksmith
Responsible for producing materials to repair the defensive wall.
While the supply volume is reportedly sufficient, the poor quality suggests there’s very little iron that’s actually usable. He seems irritated lately, likely due to growing dissatisfaction with the goods he’s been making.

Caspar the Merchant
A merchant supplying goods for the reconstruction project.
He has delivered high-quality iron from the Neutral Territory to the keep at a low price. However, with Malluk, the military supply officer, suspecting him and refusing to purchase his goods anymore, he’s now in a difficult spot. Recently, an influx of iron with unknown origins has also hurt his business, leaving him frustrated.

Ella the Workers’ Representative
The appointed representative responsible for protecting and advocating for the rights of workers involved in the reconstruction effort.
While she acknowledges that the disappearance of building materials is a serious matter, she insists that improving working conditions is just as important. The newly distributed nails, hammers, and other tools are often in poor condition, leading to frequent injuries among the workers. She also seems to hold grievances against both Helmut and Caspar regarding these issues.

Solve the Case

Return to the Calphadean Defender to solve the case.

What did the Supervisor say?
The quartermaster and the merchant are suspicious.

And Sister Adeline?
The workers and the blacksmith are all working till dawn.

And what about the Quartermaster?
Didn’t look too happy with Caspar.

Any leads from Caspar, the merchant?
The lad seemed much troubled, with all the iron coming from who knows where.

Have you spoken with Ella, the worker representative?
The supplies they received were in poor condition.

What of the blacksmith, Helmut?
He seems to take pride in the things he crafts.

Raid the Scene and Capture Helmut

Helmut is the culprit. Arrest him at the Calphade Siege Armory. He’s at the very back, involved in shady deals. Tie him up and take him to Robert.

Reward:
1x Kinetic Dolphin