Hidden Ruins of the Quarry
Two-visit secret area beneath Karin Quarry in Hernand
The Hidden Ruins of the Quarry is a secret underground area beneath Karin Quarry in Hernand, only accessible after two separate visits across different story chapters. During the "Sealed in Stone" quest, clearing the quarry and using the crane to extract a buried relic creates an opening in the quarry floor. However, the ruins below cannot be fully explored until Chapter 4, when you learn the Focused Force Palm skill in the Black Forest — the only ability that can shatter the Bismuth walls sealing the inner chamber. Inside, you must fight through turrets, break through the Bismuth wall, and use Axiom Force to manipulate special blocks to claim a powerful Abyss Transporter Seal and Power Cores. The Abyss Transporter Seal is an essential item used later in the game, and the Power Cores are connected to the Thinker's Meadow puzzle near Howling Hill camp.
Location
Karin Quarry, north of Hernand Town, past the river to the east of Three Saint's Falls. The hidden ruins are located underground — accessible via the hole left after removing the relic during the "Sealed in Stone" quest.
Karin Quarry / Three Saint's Falls (Abyss Nexus is west of Karin Quarry)
Prerequisites
1. Complete the "Estate in Dismay" faction quest near House Roberts in the City of Hernand, which involves clearing Karin Quarry and defeating the boss. 2. During the "Sealed in Stone" quest, use the crane to extract the large buried relic from the quarry floor — this opens the hole that leads to the hidden ruins. 3. Progress the main story to Chapter 4. 4. Travel to the Black Forest and learn the "Focused Force Palm" ability from a memory — this skill is required to break the Bismuth wall inside the ruins.
This area requires two separate visits across different story chapters. The hole opens during "Sealed in Stone" (Chapter 3), but the Bismuth wall blocking the inner chamber cannot be broken until you learn Focused Force Palm in the Black Forest during Chapter 4.
Step-by-Step Walkthrough
Clear Karin Quarry (Estate in Dismay / Sealed in Stone)
Begin the "Estate in Dismay" faction quest by approaching House Roberts in the City of Hernand. Progress through the quest until you reach Karin Quarry to the north. Fight your way through the quarry, defeat the boss enemy inside, and then access the control room elevator to reach the crane controls.
Operate the Crane to Extract the Buried Relic
At the crane control room, approach the crane wheel controls at the window. Position both crane claws around the large grey cube relic buried in the quarry floor. Secure one claw first, then carefully align the second claw. The crane auto-locks when properly positioned, then activates the extraction. Once the relic is pulled out, a hole opens in the quarry floor, exposing the underground ruins below.
Learn Focused Force Palm in the Black Forest (Chapter 4)
Progress the main story until Chapter 4. Travel to the Black Forest area and find the memory location that teaches the Focused Force Palm ability. This enhanced version of Force Palm is essential — it is the only skill that can destroy Bismuth walls, which seal the inner chamber of the Hidden Ruins of the Quarry.
Return to Karin Quarry and Descend into the Hole
With Focused Force Palm unlocked, fast-travel back to Karin Quarry (use the Abyss Nexus to the west of the quarry for convenience). Drop down into the hole in the quarry floor where you previously removed the relic. Descend deeper into the underground cave below.
Navigate Past Turrets in the Underground Cave
Inside the cave, you will immediately encounter defensive turrets. Deal with them carefully — dodge their projectiles and destroy or avoid them to advance deeper into the cave. The turrets guard both the initial section and the area around the central chamber.
Break Through the Bismuth Wall with Focused Force Palm
Advance deeper until you reach a Bismuth wall blocking the path (located on the cave's left side). Enter Focus mode with the Focused Force Palm ability, charge your force attack carefully, and target the energy source powering the wall. Once hit correctly, the Bismuth wall shatters and disappears, opening up the hidden inner chamber beyond.
Use Axiom Force on the Circular and Sphere Blocks
Inside the hidden chamber, use Axiom Force to interact with the special Circular and Sphere-shaped blocks in the room. Grab them and manipulate them into their correct positions to complete the puzzle mechanism. Successfully solving this grants the Abyss Transporter Seal and Power Cores from the chamber.
Rewards
Abyss Transporter Seal
A key item essential for later game content. The Abyss Transporter Seal is used to activate or operate the Abyss Transporter mechanism, unlocking fast-travel or access to new Abyss-related areas later in the story.
Power Core – Spire of Defiance
A Power Core item linked to the Spire of Defiance. These cores are also connected to the Thinker's Meadow puzzle located near Howling Hill camp, where they serve as essential components.
Power Core – Casket of Illusions
A second Power Core item connected to the Casket of Illusions. Like the Spire of Defiance core, this is used in the Thinker's Meadow puzzle near Howling Hill.
Tips
- You cannot complete this puzzle on your first visit during "Sealed in Stone" — the Focused Force Palm skill needed to break the Bismuth wall is only available in Chapter 4. Make a note to return after reaching that chapter.
- The Abyss Transporter Seal obtained here is described as essential for later in the game — do not sell or discard it.
- The Power Cores you collect here are specifically needed for the Thinker's Meadow puzzle near your Howling Hill camp. If you are working on that puzzle and cannot find the cores, this is where they come from.
- Use the Abyss Nexus fast-travel point to the west of Karin Quarry to quickly return here in Chapter 4 without having to travel on foot from Hernand town.
- The turrets inside the cave deal significant damage — clear them carefully before attempting to solve the block puzzle. Rushing through with turrets active makes the Axiom Force manipulation much harder.
- Game8 notes that the game does not explicitly tell you to return to the quarry after the crane sequence in Sealed in Stone — keep this location in mind or check your incomplete puzzle list.
About the Hidden Ruins of the Quarry
The Hidden Ruins of the Quarry is a secret underground area below Karin Quarry that most players miss entirely. The opening is created during the "Sealed in Stone" quest when you extract the buried relic with the crane, but the inner chamber is sealed by a Bismuth wall that only the Focused Force Palm skill — obtained in Chapter 4's Black Forest — can break. Inside, you use Axiom Force to manipulate circular and sphere-shaped blocks to claim the Abyss Transporter Seal (essential for later content) and two Power Cores needed for the Thinker's Meadow puzzle near Howling Hill camp.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When can I access the Hidden Ruins of the Quarry?
- The hole leading to the ruins opens during the "Sealed in Stone" quest (when you use the crane to extract the relic). However, the puzzle inside cannot be completed until Chapter 4, when you learn Focused Force Palm in the Black Forest. Return to the quarry after obtaining that skill.
- What is the Focused Force Palm and where do I get it?
- Focused Force Palm is an enhanced version of the Force Palm ability, learned from a memory location in the Black Forest area during Chapter 4. It is the only skill capable of destroying Bismuth walls — glowing metallic barriers found in several locations across Pywel. You cannot progress past the Bismuth wall in the Hidden Ruins without it.
- What are the Power Cores used for?
- The Power Core – Spire of Defiance and Power Core – Casket of Illusions are essential components for the Thinker's Meadow puzzle located near Howling Hill camp. Without collecting these cores from the Hidden Ruins of the Quarry, you cannot complete that puzzle.
- Is there a fast-travel point near Karin Quarry?
- Yes. There is an Abyss Nexus fast-travel point to the west of Karin Quarry. Activate it during your first visit to the quarry so you can quickly return in Chapter 4 without trekking across Hernand on foot.