Crimson Desert: Charting the Unknown DLC is as the name suggests. Besides setting sail and trying to figure out the secrets of the seas, you will also encounter several different secrets within Pywel itself. One of them is a unique desert region covered entirely by a sandstorm. The only way you can navigate around the area is to use the unique marker stones set in place and follow their beam to the next location.
But not all marker stones will point you in the right direction, as some of them will distort your path and point you elsewhere. There is a way to cleanse them, and this guide will show you how to find all 5 marker stones and purify them for the Distorted Light quest in Crimson Desert.
Finding the Marker Stones
During the Witches of the East main story quest in Crimson Desert, you will be led to a new desert area as part of the Beyond the Sandstorm quest. Your objective here is to investigate beyond the barrier, and the only way to get a clear visual of where you are going is to find the many markers scattered across the area and purify them.
Each marker store will emit a beam of light that will guide you to the next area. But some markers have become corrupted and will point in the wrong direction. You first need to find a marker, and the first marker is close to you as soon as you set foot past the barrier. You don’t need to purify the first marker, so walk up to it and hit the Examine button to make it point to the next location.
Purifying the Marker Stones
After locating the first marker stone, you will unlock the Distorted Light quest. For the quest, you need to locate 5 other marker stones and purify them. Follow the beam emitted from the first marker towards your next location. You will find another marker stone, but you can’t interact with it until you purify it. To do so, look at the ground around the marker and find corrupted stakes.
They are quite easy to identify, as the tip of each corrupted stake is clearly visible as a stark contrast against the desert sand. Use your Blinding Flash skill to help you identify the stakes easily, then destroy them using Axiom Force. The first marker will have three corrupted stakes around it; take a look around and destroy them before interacting with the marker stone to be led in the right direction.
Marker Stone #2
Follow the beam of the first marker to another marker nearby. This marker doesn’t require any purifying, so follow the beam to another marker next to the desert village. This marker will emit four beams of light. One of the beams points back to the previous marker, while one points towards the village. Out of the other two, only one points towards the direction of the next marker.
To correct the marker, first, head a bit south of the marker and hop onto the rocky platform behind the tattered flag. Head to the right to find a platform that you can step on. Stepping on the platform will reduce the light beams from four to three. Head back to the marker and follow the beam pointing north.
As you keep going, you will find another marker, but you will be ambushed in the process. Defeat the enemies here before pulling out the first corrupted stake nearby. There is another corrupted stake inside a bismuth cave beside the marker, and destroying it will clear the marker. Interact with the marker to be led to your next destination.
Marker Stone #3
Head further north to find another marker, but there’s nothing much to do here. Continue to go north to be ambushed again upon reaching the next marker. This marker will require some cleansing, so use Blinding Flash to find the corrupted stakes nearby. There is one buried in the sand close to the marker, and another one inside an underground area covered in thorny vines.
Use any fire ability to burn down the vines and gain access to the inside. Destroy the corrupted stake and head outside. Explore the surroundings to find a worn-out tree and destroy it to reveal the third corrupted stake and cleanse the marker.
Marker Stone #4
You need to go back to the village marker stone to locate the other markers. You can use the fast travel point to get here quicker. Then, follow the beam pointing a bit northeast from the marker towards your next destination. Another ambush will overtake you, so clear them out first.
Use Blinding Flash to identify the corrupted stake locations nearby. There is one buried in the sand, and another one inside some ruins. You need to break the earthen pots inside the ruins to uncover the stake. Once purified, follow the beam to the final marker.
Marker Stone #5
There are three corrupted stakes to destroy for the final marker. The first one is buried in the sand nearby, while the second marker is inside the withered tree. The final marker is inside the ruins nearby, but you need to push the stone block blocking the entrance first. Once done, pull out the final marker to complete the Distorted Light quest in Crimson Desert.
