The Veil

The Crowfather’s keep lies just ahead, seemingly frozen in time amidst a swirling snowstorm. Ride Death’s fearsome steed, Despair, forth into the blinding blizzard.

Despair vanishes into oblivion when you arrive at the keep’s shattered steps. Death’s stallion can carry you no farther, so approach the stone wall ahead on foot. Press the Jump button to leap at the wall, and Death will run up the wall and grab the hand hold above.

Cold Welcome

The entrance to the Crowfather’s keep lies just ahead, but the path is not safe. A trio of ice skeletons burst from their frozen molds and storm forward with hostile intent.

Lay waste to these frigid minions by rapidly pressing the Attack button to unleash fluid combos with Death’s twin scythes. Tap the Evade trigger to perform an acrobatic dodge that helps Death avoid being struck.

Collect any loot that the ice skeletons may have dropped, and be sure to equip any gear you discover. Then join up with Death’s faithful companion, a crow named Dust, who has perched near the keep’s front entrance. Step inside and begin exploring the frigid fortress.

Crumbling Keep

This stronghold is losing its battle against time, and it’s not long before you encounter your first obstacle: a long pit. Run and jump at the left wall, and Death will run along it, crossing the expanse in a fluid maneuver known as a wall-run.

Hidden Treasure

Before wall-running across the next pit, attack the ice block in the left wall. Shatter the ice to loose another ice skeleton, then do battle and slay the fiend. Afterward, explore the short passage that the ice skeleton was blocking to discover a treasure chest which contains random plunder.

Wall-run along the right wall to clear the second pit. Death automatically grabs the far hand hold; shimmy around the corner and jump up.

Attack and defeat two more frozen ice skeletons beyond the second pit. These fiends won’t bother you unless you strike first, but every kill is worth experience points (XP), so it’s wise to battle as many foes as possible, particularly in the early stages of the Rider’s quest.

Precarious Pillars

Leap onto the broken post that hangs over the next yawning abyss. Like ledges, Death will automatically grab these objects.

Tilt the Movement stick to the left to make Death circle around the post. Once Death’s back is facing the next post ahead, hold the Focus trigger to make the Rider turn and lean in preparation to jump. While still holding the Focus trigger, press the Jump button to leap to the second post in a maneuver called the 180 leap. Perform additional 180 leaps until you reach the far ledge.

Ice Skeleton Ambush

Beware: the ice skeletons in the following passage will burst from their frozen molds and attack as you draw near. The confines of this space make this a dangerous ambush. Evade often to perseve Death’s health as you land attacks where and when you can.

When the ice skeletons are no more, scamper up the nearby wall and scale the hand holds to reach a post. Wall-run to the right to reach another post and continue your ascent. Press the Action button to drop from the third post and land on a higher path.

Ambushed Again

Cut down more ice skeletons that burst to life. Use evasive tactics to avoid damage, and strike only when it’s safe.

After the battle, look for a unique patch of growth running up the nearby wall. Jump at this growth to make Death grab it, and then climb up the wall. Continue climbing the growth along the ceiling, making your way to a higher passage. Press the Action button when you reach the end of the growth to drop to solid ground.

Smash up more frozen ice skeletons if you wish, then scale another stretch of growth to climb the wall that follows. Wall-run up to a hand hold, and then wall-run to the left to reach a spacious area where you encounter a monstrous foe.

Icebound Guardian

This enormous ice skeleton seeks to bring Death’s journey to an early end. Only a fool would tackle a monster of this size head on—and the Pale Rider is far from foolish!

Hold the Focus trigger to target the Icebound Guardian throughout the battle. Watch the monster’s movements and Evade when you see it reach back in preparation to smash Death with its giant fists or feet, then counter with swift combinations. Pour on the damage at every opportunity, but always be ready to dodge out of harm’s way.

Venturing Onward

A nearby passage opens after the Icebound Guardian has been felled. Enter and cross a long chasm by wall-running along the left wall. Death automatically vaults the short wooden peg that sticks out from the wall, using it to preserve his momentum and extend his wall-run across the long pit.

Ancient Elevator

A large switch catches the eye in the quiet chamber that follows. Approach the switch and press the Action button to grab and shove it inward. This causes the floor to rise like a lift, delivering Death to an even higher portion of the keep.

The lift becomes stuck during the ascent—you’ll have to find another way to the top. Run up the nearby wall and scale the hand holds, and then round the corner and drop down to solid ground.

Climbing Higher

You soon encounter a dead-end. To progress, jump at either the left or right wall, and then jump again after Death reaches the height of his vertical wall-run. This causes Death to leap over to the opposite wall and scamper up even higher. Continue leaping between the two parallel walls until you reach a high ledge.

The next segment requires skillful timing. First, wall-run and vault from a peg on your way to some growth. Scale the growth and perform a vertical wall-run, vaulting from another peg to reach more growth above.

When you reach the end of the second patch of growth, wall-run to the right and grab a post. Climb to the top and let the camera pan upward to reveal another post directly overhead. Hold up on the Movement stick to ready Death for an upward jump, then leap up to the short post.

Circle around the short post so that Death’s back faces the nearby post to the right. Hold the Focus trigger and jump across with a 180 leap. Circle around the pillar and climb up, and then wall-run over to a snowy ledge.

Slay another group of ice skeletons that swarm you on the snowy ledge, and then enter the ominous cave.

Ice Cave Antics

Delve into the cave and wall-run to reach some growth. Climb down and to the right, and then wall-run again to reach a long hand hold. Shimmy around the corner and jump across the gap to the right before dropping down to the ledge below.

Navigate the snowy trail until you reach a series of wooden beams that jut out from the left wall. Jump onto the first beam. Then, simply hold forward on the Movement Stick and keep tapping the Jump button to hop across each beam in the series. Death will leap out and grab the growth on the wall at the end of the run.

Apex Ascent

Scale the growth and wall-run to the post on the right. Keep climbing and jump the gap to reach the broken post’s top half.

Hold the Focus trigger and jump to perform a 180 leap over to the next hanging post. Perform additional 180 leaps to reach the final post in the series, and then perform a 180 leap toward the foreground to land on a wooden beam.

Jump a short gap to reach another beam, and then perform a vertical wall-run, vaulting from a peg to reach a hand hold. Climb up to find the passage that leads to the keep’s final area.

Keeper of Secrets

At last, the Pale Rider has reached the keep’s summit, where a tortured soul known as the Crowfather awaits. The dialogue does not go well, for the Reaper refuses to relieve the Crowfather of his terrible burden—an amulet filled with writhing souls. Within moments, an epic battle begins.