The Iron Wayfarer is one of the earliest NPCs in Lords of the Fallen. But what’s more awesome is that he is in fact Harkyn, the protagonist of the first game. This makes the Iron Wayfarer’s purpose in the game all the more relevant.
The Iron Wayfarer is among a few select NPCs that you can summon to aid you in battle. There is nothing greater than having the protagonist of the original to join you in battle. The Iron Wayfarer, much like all such ally NPCs, has his own questline which starts after he joins you in battle to defeat the corrupted paladin Pietra.
Every Encounter With Iron Wayfarer In Lords Of The Fallen
Although somewhat filler-like at first, the encounters with the Iron Wayfarer will get progressively more engaging and will lead you through his questline.
Iron Wayfarer First Encounter
As you enter the Redcopse Village, you can find a shadowy figure by the Vestige of Hannelore. As you interact with him, he is revealed to be the Iron Wayfarer and gives some sage advice on the actual purpose of the Umbral lamp.
Iron Wayfarer Second Encounter
The second time you meet the Iron Wayfarer, he is near the Redscope windmill just before the first boss fight with Pieta. He can be found next to a gateway, which is conveniently blocked off. You need to take a ladder to his left to proceed. But before doing so, engaging in conversation with him will yield some more sage advice; this time it’s actually quite revealing and helpful.
The Iron Wayfarer guides you through the lamp’s nature and reveals that the more you use it, the more you start retreading the same ground you’ve walked before. To ensure that you don’t keeping repeating your history, he gifts you with the Vestige Seedlings, which of course introduces a new Umbral Lamp mechanic. These seedlings, once sown, basically serve as your bonfire checkpoints.
He will also join you in defeating Pieta during the boss fight. He is prone to damage, but given his amazing prowess with his hammer, proves to be a worthy ally. We have covered an in-depth guide on how to defeat Pietra in case you are unable to beat her.
Iron Wayfarer Third Encounter
After parting ways with the Iron Wayfarer post the Pieta boss fight, he will bump into you again at Lower Calrath. As you enter Main Street, he can be found to the right in his usual stance. This time around though, the Iron Wayfarer is rather ominous in his interaction.
After making some curious remarks about the recent goings on in Mounstead and your part in it along with the presence of Adyr’s rune, he parts again with a piece of advice: Never let anyone else carry the burden of the lamp.
Iron Wayfarer Fourth Encounter
Once you’ve finished up with the Lower Calrath, the Iron Wayfarer is found yet again towards the end of the staircase. This encounter is quite an animated one, and the otherwise calm Iron Wayfarer seems somewhat disoriented. He seems to be lost in a vision and in a conversation with himself or something within.
You can catch a glimpse of the Iron Wayfarer’s vision using the stigma next to him. The vision is quite gory and reveals of the Iron Wayfarer’s past and his path of destruction.
Iron Wayfarer Fifth Encounter
The next time you meet the Iron Wayfarer he is at Upper Calrath in an area with an elaborate doorway. This encounter occurs after you have cleansed the beacon in Upper Calrath. This is the second of the five beacons you are tasked with cleansing.
As you approach the Iron Wayfarer, you can access a new stigma that reveals more of his involvement in the ongoing chaos at Mounstead. It is revealed that it was indeed the wayfarer who is responsible for the current fate of Adyr’s rune.
If you confront the Iron Wayfarer about what you saw in the vision, he will come clean and accept his part in putting the entire Kingdom of Mounstead in harm’s way by handing over the rune to Judge Cleric. He goes into a tirade of self-pity and regrets the role he played in plunging the world into chaos. He also refers to his transgression as an honest mistake and reveals that he expected the Judge Cleric to destroy the rune but was instead betrayed by him.
Iron Wayfarer Sixth Encounter
After his revalation in Upper Calrath, the Iron Wayfarer can next be encountered near a cliff next to the Vestige of Ferrers the Charred. The Iron wayfarer is far more composed this time around and is determined in a newly ignited quest. He reveals that his recent interaction with you has created an urge to get back the Rune of Adyr. The way he describes it and his obsession with finding the at any cost is a clear indication that it has become too ‘precious’ for him to forgo.
The Iron Wayfarer is blinded by his obsession for the rune and absolves himself of his role in dooming the people of Mounstead.
Iron Wayfarer Seventh Encounter
The final encounter with the Iron Wayfarer in Axiom occurs at the Abbey of the Lucent Sisters. It is here that you will get a glimpse of the Rune of Adyr, and as you marvel in its splendour, the Rapturous Huntress of the Dusk drops by to lay claim to the rune. As you prepare for a showdown in typical soulsborne fashion, the Iron Wayfarer makes his appearance, this time with an ulterior motive.
Clearly the Iron Wayfarer has been in search for the Rune all along, but you being the protagonist just happened to beat him to it. Regardless of your head start, the Iron Wayfarer is glad to join you in your fight and helps defeat the huntress.
Before you can thank him for the assist, he confirms that your faith in his goodwill was indeed misplaced and disappears with some parting advice on your current predicament.
Iron Wayfarer Final Encounter (Boss Fight)
After baffling you and making off with his precious, the Iron Wayfarer is next found at the Gates of Bramis Castle. It is here that his obsession for the Rune reaches its peak and he is ready to fight you to keep it safe.
If you’ve employed the Iron Wayfarer’s assist before in battle, you’ll be well aware of his prowess in battle by this point. This isn’t an easy fight, but you can bring down the Iron Wayfarer by sticking to a plan.
Once defeated, the Iron wayfarer will drop the following loot.
- The Iron Wayfarer’s Hammer
- Vestige Seed
- Rune of Adyr
Once vanquished, the Iron Wayfarer permanently disappears from the realm of Axiom and relocates to his place of solitude in Umbral.
Finding the Iron Wayfarer in Umbral
After the final encounter in Axiom, the Iron Wayfarer is permanently relocated to the Fief of the Chill Curse in Umbral. You can interact with him towards the last stage of Lords of the Fallen to acquire a unique loot that will reveal that he is indeed Harkyn. He is required to obtain the Umbral ending in Lords of the Fallen. To save spoilers we will not delve into how this encounter with the Iron Wayfarer in Umbral plays out.
