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The Hermit Mountains mission inThe First Berserker: Khazangives you more choices than most missions in this game. Instead of simply needing to follow the path forward, you’ll be given three paths, connected to three sublevels, which you may complete in any order.
We’ll take you through every section of this mission, help you work your way through the wide variety of enemies, and claim the numerous treasures to be found scattered around this stage. From the Jarling to the four Soulstones to the various high-level crafting materials, we’ll make sure you pick these mountains clean.
Jarling?
No
Go straight, and you will contend with a pack of wild dogs and a pair of wild boar.The Bloodstained Scrollis in the center of this first area, at the foot of the massive stone structure.
In the next area, you’ll come across a long bridge. There’s aSoul Tearstone Shardnext to it. As you are crossing the bridge, two swarms of bats will attack you. The first will zero in on you: just block them. The second batch, however, will fly in a zigzag pattern. If they attack you, they will hit you from the side andpush you off the bridge. Even if you block them. So, you’ll want to recognize their pattern, and as they fly to the side, sprint past them.
At the other end of the bridge, you’ll fight a Tigron. It may look different than your typical bear, but it has the exact same bear moveset you’ve seen a hundred times before. Once you kill it, move through the portal. The cave is just one long tunnel. There will be a bunch of Wild Jockos (those are the monkeys) that you’ll need to fight along the way. Additionally, you will be introduced tothe Observer demon.
The Observers can be dangerous, as all they need to do is todirectly stare at you to inflict Khazan with the plague status.However, if you approach them carefully, they are less enemies you need to fight, and moreexploding barrels with wingsthat you can use to your advantage. With one well-placed javelin throw, you can take outgroupsof foes.
After you fight the small group of Jockos accompanied by an observer, you’ll find theHermit’s Cave Blade Nexus.
Hermits Cave
The Hermits Cave is notreallyone area, it is the beginning section ofthreeareas. After you complete each, you will be taken back to the Hermits Cave Blade Nexus. Here’s a quick breakdown of the three paths.
These areas are all filled with enemies you have fought before, outside the observers, of course. You can tackle them in any order, but we’ll just move counterclockwise through them, as the path on the right is the first one you’ll encounter.
Hermits Cave - Right Path
Enemies
Watcher, Undead Assassin, Undead Ice Archer, Undead Vagrant, Plague Husks, Polluted Husks, Frenzied Husks, Observer, Renowned Warrior’s Shadow
1
Yes
Head down the stairs, and take the first set of stairs on your right to get aSoul Tearstone Shard.Be mindful of the trees emitting the black smog: they’ll give you the plague if you get too close.Keep following this path down the steps. At the base of the stairs, you’ll fight another Watcher, and you’ll contend with a few Undead Assassins. Meanwhile, an Undead Ice Archer will be shooting at you. Take them out with two javelins (one to kill them, one to keep them dead), and then clear out the rest of the orchard. You’ll find a couple ofPlague Cleanse Potionsin the area.
It is a good idea to put a skill point into the Javelin: Rest In Peace skill. This is part of the common tree and will cause all undead enemies killed by a Javelin to stay down.
After you’ve cleared out the orchard, instead of going up the steps, take a left. You’ll find theCrimson Fiend’s Scrollhere. Now, head up the stairs and two Undead Vagrants will rise to fight you.
The First Soulstone
Once you kill the Vagrants, look up and to your right, you’ll see this mission’s firstSoulstone (1/4). Throw a javelin at it and move up the stairs, grab theTransmutation Shard. You’ll now work your way through a narrow path lined with Plague Husks, Polluted Husks, and even Frenzied Husks. There will be Observers here as well. They are positioned conveniently to help you take out multiple undead.
Keep in mind that even if your javelins will prevent an undead creature from rising again, if you kill an Observer, who then explodes and kills an undead creature, that creature will rise again.
Once you’ve cleared out this stretch of undead, you’ll be at a fork in the road. For now, take the path on your right.
The Bard And The Jarling
Climb down the ladder, and you will be in front of your old friend: the bard. Now, open up the nearby gate, andsmash the pots in the corner of the room to free the Jarling.As per usual, you’re able to also buy some goodies from the Bard. He’s got a fewPlague Cleanse Potions, so you may want to purchase them if you are running low. We’ve included everything he has for sale below…
2
3,000
20
1,500
3
10,000
5
2,100
10
Head back to the fork, climb the stairs, and take a right. There is an Undead Assassin here. Once you kill them, open up the chest and get theGreatsword of the Sun, Cleric’s Gauntlet, Vetran’s Ring, and Fire Spirit’s Fuel. At the foot of the stairs you’ll run into another Renowned Warrior’s Shadow. Once you beat them, go up the stairs, and you’ll be at theAbyssal Bridge Blade Nexus.
Abyssal Bridge
Undead Swordsman, Undead Archer, Undead Vagrant, Undead Ice Archer, Undead Assassin, Renowned Spellblade’s Shadow
The Abyssal Bridge is rickety and falling apart. So, you’re going to want to be mindful of where you step. Thesections of the bridge that will fall jitter and shakewhen you get close to them. So, as long as you move forward thoughtfully, you won’t be in danger of the floor under your feet giving way.
Enemies who step on the unstable sections will cause those sections to fall and die in the process. It isn’t a bad idea to draw them toward those sections, as they make no attempt to avoid them.
Push forward along the docks. You’ll be fighting Undead Vagrants and Undead Assassins. Once you reach the branching path, there will beGuardian’s Hooveson your right; The left is the main path. Head up and over the little bright, and you will be at the exit. Before you leave, go left.
The Second Soulstone
Here you’ll see a corpse that will provide you with aTearstone Abysal Shard. To the right of that corpse, you’ll see the second Soulstone (2/4). Hit it with your javelin and move on. Now, head through the fog wall and prepare to battle the Renowned Spellblade’s Shadow. Once you defeat this Elite foe, you’ll interact with the rune and be teleported back to the Hermit’s Cave.
Huntsman Spiders, Pot-Belly Spider, Explosive Spiders
Notable Items
20x Keen Blades, Soul Tearstone Shard, Ghost Hammer, Deep Shadow Set
Back to the same steps as before, go straight this time. You’ll find theScribbled Memoirsitting in front of the tree. Head straight down the steps, and you’ll be confronted by Huntsman Spiders, Explosive Spiders. There will be aPoison Enhancer. Grab it, then head down the right path at the fork in the road.
The Third Soulstone
Circle this area to the left, fighting your way through spiders, until you hit theSoulstone (3/4). It is somewhat obscured by spider eggs and webs. Once you destroy it, circle back around to the right. After clearing out another Huntsman Spider, you’ll move through an area littered with spider eggs and find a chest. Watch out,it will explode. Gather theChaos-Ridden Greatsword and Keen Bladesfrom the wreckage.
you may now head back to the main path, where you will soon encounter aSoul Tearstone Shard. Up the next set of stairs you’ll have to fight off a Red-Eyed Boulder Bat. Pull them back to an area you’ve cleared already so that you don’t need to fight them and a bunch of spiders.
You’ll find aPoison Cleanse Potionnear the statue. Continue forward through the waves of Hunstman spiders, and you’ll find a cave with a chest inside open it to claim theGhost Hammerandthe Deep Shadow Set. Back on the main path, take a left. Once you start going up a set of stairs, you’re going to need to deal with a bunch of Explosive Spiders.
At the top of the stairs you’ll get theConcentrated Poison Essence. Take out the Pot-Belly Spider, then grab the nearbySpecial Cleanse Potion.You’ll see a massive statue, circle it and open the chest containing aGreatsword of Mercy, Vicar’s Ring, Necklace of Charity, and three Transmutation Mists. You’ll now be at thePoisoned Water Blade Nexus. Bind yourself to it, then enter through the fog gate.
Before you move forward, you may want to equip an amulet and a ring for resisting poison. It will make your life a lot easier.
Just like you did in the Strange Stench mission, you’re going to be hopping between the small islands that aren’t submerged in the poisonous swamp. As you are making your way from platform to platform, you’ll find aPoison Spirit’s Fuel. Make your way through the swamp, killing the Huntsman Spiders as you encounter them. You should eventually encounter aSoul Tearstone Shard.
You’ll find someTransmutation Shardsby a tree. Near the end of this section, there areMan-Eating Spider Legswedged in the corner, near to the fog wall. Once you’ve grabbed all the goodies, enter into the boss arena and you’ll square off against anElite Pincer Spider.
Of all the minibosses you fight in this mission, this one is the toughest. Not only does it have quite a bit of health, butit will regenerate health if it grabs you. Thankfully, the massive stone tablet in the middle of the area where you will fight it is helpful, as you can put the tablet between yourself and the spider, giving you an opportunity to heal.
Beyond that, this is the same type of spider that you’ve already bested multiple times;it just hits harder and takes longer to defeat.Once you kill the spider, interact with the tablet, and you’ll head back to the Hermit Cave one more time.
Take the path on the left, you will encounter some Wild Jockos. After you eliminate them, you’ll be at a fork in the road. Head up the path on the right. You’ll run into another group of Wild Jockos. Watch out for the corpse, as that is one of those Crypt Devourer worms. Javelin them, and then move on.
In this next area, there are two Wild Boars in pretty close quarters. While Wild Boars aren’t the toughest enemies, they are pretty good at stunning you, so you don’t want to fight both of them at one. Draw one away from the other. You’ll encounter aHallucination Disruption Parchmentand aHallucination Cleanse Potionat the end of this path.
The Final Soulstone
Return to the main path and continue ahead to encounter a Plague Husk, more Wild Jockos, a few Wild Boars. To the left, you’ll find anotherSoul Tearstone Shard. Once the path begins to narrow, take a right. After working through a gang of Wild Jockos, you’ll reach the finalSoulstone (4/4).
Once you are back on the main path, you will encounter another group of Wild Jockos. Clear them out, there is another Crypt Devourer waiting to be javelined as well. Behind the statue on your left is aSpirit Ore.Grab it and work your way through the Husks;you’ll soon run into theGrove of Remnants Blade Nexus. Bind it and enter through the fog gate.
This forest is actually aprettystraight-forward path. You’ll continue on this path, grab aWater Spirit’s Fuelandeventuallyhit a fork, take the right path, and you will find someFrozen Mountain Ruler’s Horns. There are more Crypt Devourers in this area, so, if you see a corpse, make sure you aim a javelin at it to make sure it isn’t an ambush.
You’ll now head back to the main path, fight your way through a final group of Wild Jockos, and enter through the Fog Gate to battle the Elite Tigron. Once you defeat this glorified bear, you’ll activate the final tablet and be sent back to theHermit’s Cave Blade Nexus, where you will now be able to confront this mission’s final boss: Bellerian.
