It’s no secret that Crimson Desert’s story, which revolves round protagonist Kliff making an attempt to reunite the Greymanes, is a jumbled mess. The CEO of the sport’s developer Pearl Abyss, Heo Jin-young, admitted as a lot in a press convention the place he acknowledged “the frustration customers really feel concerning the story” and admitted that “we might have carried out a greater job with it,” as reported by Yonhap Information Company.
Even by the top of the fifth chapter in the principle questline, the sport doesn’t present that a lot context to who the Greymanes are, why the Black Bears are after them, and what precisely occurred that led as much as the opening cutscene. It’s not till the center of the sport in Chapter 7, together with further tidbits of lore, that the sport fills in among the blanks on what really motivates Kliff and his fellow Greymanes. In truth, Crimson Desert really has an attention-grabbing story to inform about them; it’s simply hidden throughout the submenus and informed in a frustratingly disjointed manner that’s begging to be entangled.
Who precisely are the Greymanes anyway?
The Greymanes are considered one of a number of tribal factions in Pailune, a area north of the beginning space of Hernand, who had been charged with being the protectors of the land. They’re identified for being roughly useful heroes for rent, at the least when in comparison with the 2 different clans in Pailune, the Black Bears and the Jackals (extra on them later). And they’re knowledgeable swordsmen, which is partly why Kliff is seen in cutscenes wielding a sword and protect (as a substitute of the sport’s many different weapons). The clan doesn’t appear to have an outright chief, per se, although Kliff is without doubt one of the predominant pillars of the group given his steadfast demeanor and prowess in fight.
Probably the most vital occasions that impression the Greymanes however isn’t defined within the early a part of the sport is the premature demise of Jian (pronounced Jee-ahn), the chief of Pailune who managed to unify the clans collectively and convey peace and prosperity to the area. It’s unclear whether or not the Greymanes acted like a do-gooder mercenary band earlier than Jian successfully turned the pinnacle chief, however they actually change into identified for safeguarding Pailune and its individuals throughout his reign. That stated, the primary time we hear about this mysterious determine is when Myurdin, the pinnacle of the Black Bears, tells Kliff to “give Jian my regards” as he flings him into the river within the opening cutscenes.
Past that, Jian isn’t talked about a lot within the early chapters, regardless of him being one of many few characters who ties Kliff and Myurdin collectively — and by extension, the Greymanes and the Black Bears as properly. In his journal, which Kliff receives later within the recreation, Jian describes the Greymanes as “valued allies” who he considers sending to Hernand to type an alliance earlier than the occasions within the opening cutscene. By the way in which, this implies that Jian just isn’t really the particular chief of the Greymanes (in contrast to what’s being acknowledged elsewhere), since he makes use of the phrase “allies” right here as a substitute of, say, “fellow Greymanes.” Somewhat, he appears to steer them normally as the pinnacle of state for Pailune.
At any price, Jian posits that Kliff will change into a key determine in Pailune’s future and that the Greymanes would assist “restrain the Black Bears” given their aggressive tendencies. Regardless of his higher judgment, he unexpectedly unites the Greymanes, the “wild and untamed” Black Bears, and the opportunistic Jackals beneath one banner in response to the bloody rise of Gabriel Caliburn within the neighboring area of Demeniss. He additionally makes strikes to type alliances with Hernand, Delesyia, and Celphade to various levels of success.
Whereas this can be a very affordable selection (as we study later within the recreation), this finally results in Jian’s downfall. He fails to behave shortly sufficient when he learns that the Black Bears, led by the power-hungry Myurdin is “consorting with powers past our borders.” And he overlooks Ludvig, the chief of the Jackals, who’s envious of the Greymanes and whose loyalties change with the wind. (Throughout an encounter with the Jackals, I heard considered one of them accuse Kliff of being “Jian’s lapdog,” revealing how they actually really feel concerning the Greymanes.)
Kliff’s journey is a revenge story on a number of ranges
In order destiny would have it, Jian is assassinated throughout a shock raid by the Black Bears, with assist from the Jackals. His sudden demise fractures Pailune, and the Greymanes together with it.
The Black Bears take the chance to pounce on the Greymanes whereas lots of its members are unfold all through the continent of Pywel and proceed to hound them till the principle group is compelled to retreat to a cabin within the recreation’s prologue. It’s vital to notice that this cabin is definitely distant from Pailune and is located someplace between Hernand and Demeniss, which reveals simply how determined and flat-footed the Greymanes are at first. Regardless of a valiant effort, Kliff is surrounded by the Black Bears and mortally wounded by Myurdin earlier than being thrown into the river and left for useless.
With out the safety of the Greymanes, Pailune descends into chaos. Beneath the tyranny of the Black Bears and the Jackals, lots of its residents are shoved into cages and bought as slaves. For this reason Kliff is given the faction quest “To the Rescue” close to the start of the sport as it’s his unstated responsibility, in defiance of Myurdin and Ludvig, to save lots of the individuals of Pailune from their machinations.
To actual revenge on Myurdin, not just for killing Jian and his fellow Greymanes but additionally for taking their homeland by drive, he wants to assemble the remaining Greymanes collectively and is suggested to type alliances with the leaders of Hernand, a spot the place they’ve little to no standing at first. The upside, although, is that Kliff is way from Pailune and out of the Black Bears’ attain, which permits the Greymanes to get well their energy till their eventual conflict in Chapter 6.
On a private stage, Kliff doesn’t appear to have an in depth relationship with Jian, or at the least that’s what Torstein, who was Jian’s vice captain of the guards, says about him. Nevertheless, the sport’s description says that the Greymane “feels the burden of his absence,” revealing that he has a deeper connection to him than his stoic persona would counsel. When Torstein tells Kliff to take Wolf’s Fang, the blade as soon as owned by Jian that “symbolizes justice and willpower,” he formally and spiritually accepts the mission to hold Jian’s will and expunge the betrayers in his stead. Even earlier than that, the Greymanes are by no means seen mourning Jian’s demise, as if they’ll’t enable themselves to take action till retribution is met. In impact, Kliff can not transfer on till their honor is restored.
