The choice between siding with Konrad the Hermit or the Knights of the Cross is one of the most significant moral and mechanical crossroads in the early game of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. This decision, found during the quest "The Hermit," doesn't just affect your reputation; it determines the quality of the gear you walk away with and whether you uncover a massive conspiracy within the Order.

Konrad is not who he appears to be, and neither are the knights hunting him. To make the most informed decision, you need to look past the initial accusations and understand the rewards tied to each path.

Starting the Hermit Quest: The Search for Damascus Steel

The quest begins in Tachov with the blacksmith Radovan. He tasks Henry with retrieving a legendary piece of steel from a hermit living near Apollonia to forge a wedding gift. However, rumors in Troskovice suggest this hermit is possessed by the devil or involved in dark sorcery.

Before heading straight to the mountains, a thorough investigation in Troskovice is essential for unlocking specific dialogue branches that allow you to resolve the quest peacefully. Speaking with Innkeeper Betty, the apothecary's wife Gerda, and the shepherd Stanislav provides clues about a "ghostly figure" and a black horse. Finding the items hidden near the reconciliation cross—including documents, a black robe, and a bag of Groschen—is mandatory if you want to confront Konrad with evidence rather than steel.

The Encounter: Who is Konrad?

Upon finding the hut north of Apollonia, you discover that the original hermit, Ambrose, is dead. The man living there is Konrad, a former member of the Order of the Cross with the Red Star. He assumed Ambrose’s identity to hide from his former brothers-in-arms.

If you have completed the investigation, you can convince Konrad of your sincerity. He will ask you to perform a final task for the deceased Ambrose (the "Sinful Soul" sub-quest) involving a widow in the village and a silver cross. Completing this is the only way to gain Konrad’s full trust before the knights arrive.

Siding with the Knights of the Cross

When you return to the hut after helping the widow, you will be intercepted by a group of crusaders led by Brother Arn. They claim Konrad is a traitor and an assassin who attempted to murder Grand Master Zdenyek.

The Process

If you choose to help the knights, they will instruct you to approach the hut and deal with Konrad. This is often the "easy" way out. You can lead the knights in a frontal assault, and with their help, Konrad is quickly dispatched.

The Consequences

  • Ease of Combat: Extremely low. The knights do most of the heavy lifting.
  • Loot: You can loot Konrad’s body for his personal effects and the location of the broken sword. However, the knights offer very little in the way of a bonus reward, and some players report a feeling of being "shunned" by the Order regardless of their help.
  • Story Impact: You effectively silence a man who claims to be a whistleblower. You miss out on the deeper lore regarding the corruption within the Order.

Saving Konrad the Hermit (Recommended Path)

Saving Konrad is widely considered the superior choice for both role-playing and mechanical rewards. Konrad is telling the truth: he discovered a plot by the Grand Master to murder the Archbishop and was framed to keep him silent.

How to Approach Konrad Without Dying

This is where many players fail. When you approach the hut after talking to the knights, Konrad will be aimed at you with a crossbow. Do not run at him.

  1. Walk slowly toward the hut until he shouts for you to stop.
  2. Immediately halt all movement.
  3. Hold the "Look" prompt and select the dialogue options "I am not your enemy" and "Try to get answers."
  4. Wait for him to physically holster his crossbow before moving another inch. If you move while he is still aiming, he will turn hostile, locking you out of the peaceful resolution.

The Battle Against the Knights

Once you agree to help Konrad, a fight breaks out against Brother Arn and his men. This is a challenging encounter as you are fighting well-armored knights. Utilizing Master Strikes and focusing on one knight at a time while Konrad provides ranged support is key.

The Rewards

  • Groschen: Konrad rewards you with 85 Groschen for your loyalty.
  • High-Tier Loot: This is the primary reason to pick this path. You can loot the fallen knights for valuable gear, including the Order of the Cross Knight Shield, which has excellent defense stats for the early-to-mid game, and high-quality hauberks that can be sold for a significant profit.
  • The Toledo Steel Sword: Konrad reveals the location of Ambrose's broken sword, buried in a grave near two tangled birch trees in a meadow north of the hut.

Forging the Hermit’s Sword

Regardless of your choice, the ultimate goal is the sword. Once you retrieve the broken fragments from Ambrose’s grave, return to Radovan in Tachov.

To complete the forge, you will need:

  • The Broken Sword Fragments
  • 1x Frankfurt Steel
  • 2x Scrap Metal

You can then use the anvil to forge the Toledo Steel Sword. This weapon is a massive upgrade over standard starting equipment, featuring high slashing damage and durability. If you have already progressed past the wedding portion of the main story, you can still complete this quest by delivering the sword to the swordsman in the Nomad’s camp.

The Truth in the Diary

If you are still undecided on the morality of the choice, look for Konrad’s diary inside the hut. It is hidden upstairs under some sacks. Reading the diary confirms that Konrad was an honorable man who refused to participate in the political assassination of the Archbishop. It clarifies that the knights hunting him are the actual traitors to their vows.

Final Verdict: Hermit or Knights?

Choose the Hermit (Konrad).

While siding with the Knights is faster, the rewards are mediocre. By saving Konrad, you gain access to superior knightly gear from the corpses of your enemies, a significant cash reward, and the satisfaction of upholding justice in a world of betrayal. More importantly, it provides the most cohesive narrative experience, allowing Henry to act as a true judge of character rather than a mercenary for a corrupt Order.

Ensure you bring a spade for the grave-digging portions of the quest and have some repair kits ready, as the fight with the knights will likely damage your armor. Saving Konrad isn't just the "good" path; it’s the most lucrative one for any Henry looking to survive the harsh realities of 15th-century Bohemia.