While defeating bandits and helping distressed villagers might make you a Hero of Hernand, performing certain tasks can tank your local reputation or worse get barred from Hernand ( If you are like me ).
In this Guide, I will walk you through Strongholds of Hernand in stealth mode resulting in minor local reputation impact while also reaping rewards that could be useful in battles early game.
Hernand Stronghold Locations and Puzzle Solution
First go to the above location and look for a Back Alley Shop merchant and purchase Mask and a key from him.
1st Stronghold Location : Hernand Castle
Enter Hernand Castle and navigate your way to the main area of the castle, take right after you enter the main area of the castle and climb the flight of stairs and make your way to the tower room stairs.
Go to the top most floor and you can see a Locked Door, before entering the room make sure to equip Mask. As you try to enter the room the key will be used from your inventory to open the door. After entering the room, look for the stronghold.
This puzzle requires you to press numbers in a sequential manner. While the upper row consists of 1, 2 and 3 buttons, the lower row has 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.
Now press the buttons in this following order: 1,7, 6, 7, 3, 4, 3. This will unlock the stronghold and you can collect the item which is Lavish Meal Recipe.
Now wait for the Theft Meter deplete before exiting the room.
2nd Stronghold Location : Hillside Manor
Go to the Hillside Manor, east to the Hernand Castle. Get to the backside of the manor and look for this window and go inside through the window.
Once inside, navigate outside the room to reach the lobby. And enter the last door to the left on the opposite side of the lobby. Once inside, look for the stronghold.
This puzzle requires you to turn the dials such that the bottom half of the bars are aligned equally. Once aligned, turn the dial on the right side of the stronghold to open it.
After opening you can collect Saint’s Necklace.
3rd and 4th Stronghold Location : Bluemont North / South Manor
Get to this Location to reach Bluemont Manor, no need to sneak for these strongholds, you can just walk through the front door.
North and South Bluemont Manors are practically beside each other, it doesn’t matter which one you do first.
Once inside make your way upstairs for both North and South Manors and should be able to see the strongholds inside the room upstairs.
North Manor Puzzle :
You have to press buttons to rotate the planks such that an OWL image is formed on the front panel.
South Manor Puzzle :
This puzzle is similar to Hillside Manor puzzle, arrange the second half of the bars equally.
Reward for unlocking Bluemont North Manor is Oath of Darkness while South Manor’s is Finely Crafted Gold Necklace.
Final Stronghold Location : Lioncrest Manor
Go to this location of the map which is North – West of Hernand, you will reach Lioncrest Manor.
Upon reaching the manor go to the right side of the manor and go through the leftmost window, which leads to the room with a stronghold.
This is the easiest puzzle in the collection. You just need to rotate the squares until an image of a person is formed.
Upon unlocking the stronghold you can collect Engraved Gold Earring.
These items may not be much of an upgrade but these are very useful early game and can improve stats.
