TL;DR
- Actions Speak Louder Than Words is the 8th main quest in Chapter 1 — Trials of Kindness sub-chapter.
- It unlocks after completing Mysterious Man. You must finish it alongside True Wisdom in Kindness and Heart Beyond Borders to unlock the Mystical Key quest.
- Travel to Muckroot Ranch southeast of Hernand Inn. Talk to the couple outside the smoky house.
- Grab the free broom near the front door, equip it, then climb the boxes at the back of the house to reach the roof.
- Stand on top of the chimney (not beside it), hold L1/LB/CTRL to aim down, and press R1/RB/Left Click to sweep.
- Rewards: Hernandian Attire, Standard Inventory Expansion Tool, 10x Lentils, 5x Apples.
- Before leaving, check the crates behind the house for a hidden Palmar Pill.
- The Hernandian Attire lets you enter Hernand Castle for the Mystical Key quest. Do not skip this quest or you will be locked out.
Muckroot Ranch is easy to miss. The quest marker takes you south of the Hernand Inn to a farmhouse belching smoke from a blocked chimney. A couple named Lauren and Arlan are having a public falling-out about it — Arlan keeps falling off the roof instead of cleaning it, Lauren is losing patience, and Kliff steps in to sort it out himself.
It sounds simple. The problem is the game doesn’t tell you exactly how to use the broom. Standing next to the chimney and pressing attack does nothing. You have to climb on top of it. This guide walks you through the full quest — including the secret item most players miss before they leave.
Quest Overview
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Quest Name | Actions Speak Louder Than Words |
| Quest Number | Main Quest 8 |
| Chapter | Chapter 1 — The First Encounter |
| Sub-Chapter | Trials of Kindness |
| Unlocked After | Mysterious Man |
| Required For | Mystical Key (must complete alongside True Wisdom in Kindness and Heart Beyond Borders) |
| Location | Muckroot Ranch, south of Hernand |
| Rewards | Hernandian Attire, Standard Inventory Expansion Tool, x10 Lentils, x5 Apples |
Why This Quest Matters — Don’t Skip It
This quest is not optional. It is one of three quests unlocked by Mysterious Man, and all three must be completed before the Mystical Key quest becomes available. If you skip this and wonder why you can’t progress the main story later, this is why.
The Hernandian Attire you earn here is also required to pass the guards at Hernand Castle during the Mystical Key quest. It displays the faction colors of House Celeste — the ruling power in Hernand — and the guards won’t let you in without it (or an alternative outfit, covered later in this guide).
See our full guide on how to enter Hernand Castle for more detail on what happens once you’re inside.
How to Start the Quest
After completing Mysterious Man, open your map and look for the quest marker southeast of the Hernand Inn, just north of Muckroot Ranch. You can also check our full main story quests and chapters list if you need to confirm where you are in the chapter order.
Travel to the marker. You’ll know you’re in the right spot when you see a house pouring smoke from the chimney and a man — Arlan — rolling off the roof and landing on the ground.
Full Walkthrough — Actions Speak Louder Than Words
Step 1 — Talk to Lauren and Arlan
Approach the couple standing near the house. Interact with Lauren to start the conversation. Arlan rolls off the roof as you watch, then dusts himself off. Lauren explains the situation — the chimney is blocked, smoke is filling the house, and Arlan keeps making a show of trying to fix it without actually doing anything.
Kliff offers to handle it himself. The dialogue ends automatically and Kliff walks over to the broom. You’ll be prompted to press the interact button to collect it.
Step 2 — Equip the Broom
The broom is a Tool item, not a weapon. There are two ways to equip it:
Method 1 — Inventory: Open your inventory, find the broom under Tools, hover over it, and press the equip button (A on Xbox / X on PlayStation / Spacebar on PC).
Method 2 — Quick Menu: Hold Left on the D-Pad (or press T on PC) to open the Quick Menu, navigate to the tool slot on the top left, and select the broom. Note: the Quick Menu can sometimes be finicky when equipping tools — if the broom doesn’t appear in your hand, open it again and re-select it.
You should now be visibly holding the broom in Kliff’s hands.
Step 3 — Climb to the Roof
Go around to the back of the house. You’ll see a stack of wooden crates on the right side. Jump up the crates to reach the rooftop.
Once on the roof, move toward the smoking chimney at the top. Take your time — the roof slope can push Kliff sideways if you move too fast.
Step 4 — Stand on Top of the Chimney and Clean It
This is the step that confuses most players. You cannot clean the chimney by standing next to it. You have to climb on top of the chimney itself.
Jump up onto the chimney rim and position Kliff so he’s standing directly over the opening — you should be looking down into it.
Once on top:
| Platform | Aim | Clean |
|---|---|---|
| PlayStation | Hold L1 | Press R1 |
| Xbox | Hold LB | Press RB |
| PC | Hold CTRL | Left Click |
Hold the aim button to point the broom down into the chimney gap. Once the interaction prompt appears in the bottom right corner of the screen, press the attack/use button to sweep. Kliff will push the broom down into the chimney.
A cutscene triggers automatically once the chimney is clean.
Step 5 — Return to Lauren and Arlan
After the cutscene, Kliff is back on the ground. The house is clear of smoke. Speak to the couple again.
Lauren thanks Kliff for sorting out the mess. Arlan quietly confesses — with Kliff close enough to hear — that he sometimes fakes his injuries to avoid heavy work since Lauren pushes him relentlessly. It’s a small character moment that adds a lot of texture to what could have been a throwaway quest.
The couple hands over your rewards and the quest closes.
Rewards
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Hernandian Attire | Required to enter Hernand Castle during Mystical Key quest |
| Standard Inventory Expansion Tool | Increases inventory capacity — use it immediately |
| x10 Lentils | Cooking ingredient |
| x5 Apples | Cooking ingredient / food |
The Standard Inventory Expansion Tool is easy to forget about. Use it right away from your inventory. Extra carrying capacity is always valuable, especially in Chapter 1 when your slots fill up fast. Our guide on how to increase inventory space covers other ways to expand it further.
Don’t Leave Without This — Hidden Palmar Pill
Before you fast-travel away, go around to the back of the house and check the stacked crates near the wall. There is a Palmar Pill sitting on top of them.
A Palmar Pill is a revival item. When you die, it automatically restores 30% of your HP before the death screen kicks in. These are rare and genuinely useful in boss fights. Pick it up — it’s free and most players walk straight past it.
For more on how Palmar Pills work, see our guide on how to get and use Palmar Pills.
Using the Hernandian Attire — Hernand Castle Access
The Hernandian Attire’s main purpose is getting past the guards at Hernand Castle during the Mystical Key quest. When you approach the gate, the guards will block you unless you’re wearing the right outfit. Equip the Hernandian Attire before heading there.
Once inside, switch back to your regular armor for any combat encounters. The attire is not built for fighting — it’s purely a social pass.
The Hernandian Attire also works in other restricted social areas of Hernand where faction clothing grants entry. Keep it in your inventory even after the Mystical Key quest.
Two other ways to enter Hernand Castle (if needed):
- Canta Plate Armor — Any piece of the Canta Plate Armor set, purchased from the Hernand reputation vendor inside the castle (requires Contribution points with Hernand first), also satisfies the guard check. This takes longer but gives you access to some of the best armor in Chapter 2.
- Chapter 3 — Once you reach Chapter 3 of the main story, the castle gates open permanently. You can walk in with any outfit and the guards won’t stop you. This applies for the rest of the game.
What to Do After This Quest
Once Actions Speak Louder Than Words is done, make sure you’ve also completed True Wisdom in Kindness and Heart Beyond Borders before heading toward the Mystical Key quest. All three are required.
If you’re exploring Hernand and want to make the most of your time in the area, a few guides that help:
- How to Enter Hernand Castle in Crimson Desert
- Muckroot Ranch White Circle — Abyss Transporter Guide
- How to Rob Banks in Crimson Desert
- How to Steal Items in Crimson Desert
- How to Gain Trust with Merchants — Trade Agreements
- How to Get and Use Palmar Pills
- How to Increase Inventory Space
- How to Beat Flying Enemies in Crimson Desert
- How to Remove Helmets in Crimson Desert
- Crimson Desert Review
