Anisha Riggs
In the 2019 action-adventure game Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, players can create the Fountainhead Incense, which is the end result of a long questline. To make the incense, players must obtain three items: the Shelter Stone, the Fragrant Flower (also known as the Lotus of the Palace), and the Mortal Blade. These items can be acquired by defeating specific enemies, such as the Guardian Ape, the Corrupted Monk, and the Owl. Once players have obtained these items, they must make a crucial decision that affects the game's ending, choosing between respecting the Iron Code or staying loyal to Lord Kuro. After making this decision, players can proceed to Mibu Village and continue their journey to the Fountainhead Palace, where they can burn the incense and unlock a new area to explore.
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What You'll Learn
The three ingredients: Shelter Stone, Fragrant Flower, and Mortal Blade
To create the Fountainhead Incense in Sekiro, you need to obtain three key items: the Shelter Stone, the Fragrant Flower (also known as the Lotus of the Palace), and the Mortal Blade. Each of these ingredients plays a crucial role in the creation of the incense and requires specific actions to acquire them.
The Shelter Stone is the first component, and it can be obtained by defeating the Corrupted Monk. This stone serves as a protective talisman and is believed to provide shelter and safety to its possessor, hence its name.
The Fragrant Flower, also referred to as the Lotus of the Palace, is the second ingredient. This flower is acquired by defeating the formidable Guardian Ape. Its fragrance is said to be captivating and soothing, adding a layer of tranquility to the incense.
The third element is the Mortal Blade, a powerful weapon that is earned by completing a series of missions and quests within the game. The Mortal Blade holds significant importance and is often tied to crucial decisions that impact the game's endings.
It is worth noting that the process of obtaining these ingredients can vary depending on the path chosen during gameplay. Additionally, creating the Fountainhead Incense is a complex task that requires careful consideration and a commitment to specific choices that will influence the overall direction of the game.
Once you have gathered the Shelter Stone, Fragrant Flower, and Mortal Blade, you will find yourself at a pivotal moment in the game, facing a significant choice that will shape your experience. The acquisition of these three ingredients is just the beginning of the journey, as you will then need to make your way to Lord Kuro and present him with these items, setting into motion a chain of events that will lead to the creation of the Fountainhead Incense and unlock new areas to explore.
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Where to find the Shelter Stone
The Shelter Stone is a key item in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. It is an incense ingredient sought by the Divine Heir for Immortal Severance. To find the Shelter Stone, you must first obtain the Mortal Blade from the Child of Rejuvenation. This can be achieved by defeating the Folding Screen Monkeys in Senpou Temple.
After obtaining the Mortal Blade, Kuro will give you a new quest item: Page's Diary. Return to Emma and speak to her about using the Mortal Blade to get Kuro's blood. You will then receive a new quest item, the Immortal Severance Scrap. Go back to Kuro and speak to him, then interact with the incense. Wolf will use the Mortal Blade to get Kuro's blood sample, and Kuro will tell you about the Fountainhead Palace.
Use fast travel to move to the Wedding Cave Door in Ashina Depths. Enter the cave, and go to the tent. Go inside and press the interaction button to pray. This will trigger a cutscene, and Wolf will be transported to the Fountainhead Palace. The Shelter Stone can be found in the Wedding Cave after defeating the (Fake) Corrupted Monk.
It is important to note that if you have already acquired the Lotus of the Palace Key Item from the cave behind the Guardian Ape encounter, picking up the Shelter Stone will initiate a change in the game's world state. Ashina Castle will be overrun by Interior Ministry forces, and all of Ashina Castle's idols will be removed from your travel menu, except for the Abandoned Dungeon Entrance idol. You will need to re-acquire these idols by retracing your steps through the area.
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Where to find the Fragrant Flower
The Fragrant Flower Note is a key item in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. It contains a clue about an ingredient needed for the aroma that will grant Sekiro access to the Divine Realm. This item is obtained from Kuro, the Divine Heir, after he shares his desire to end his immortality.
To find the flower itself, you need to go to the back of Ashina Castle. Swim through the castle's moat and emerge near a bridge. Cross the bridge and continue down that path. You will encounter a few mini-bosses along the way, but they are optional and can be avoided. From there, make your way to the Sunken Valley. In the valley, there are two paths you can take. One leads through a poison pool into the Hidden Forest and to Mibu, and the other takes you through the valley to the lotus pond.
At the lotus pond, you will find the Guardian Ape, a large enemy with white fur. Defeat him, and the Headless Guardian Ape will spawn to guard the entrance to the Hidden Forest. The Guardian Ape guards the flower, so you must defeat him to obtain it.
After defeating the Guardian Ape, collect the flower and make your way to Ashina Depths. Defeat the ape again and then head to Mibu Village. There, you will find the corrupted monk, kill it, and obtain the stone from the cave.
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Where to find the Mortal Blade
To create the Fountainhead Incense in Sekiro, you will need to collect the ingredients: Father's Bell, which can be obtained from Emma before the boss in Fountainhead Palace, and Kuro's blood, which requires the Mortal Blade.
The Mortal Blade, also known as Fushigiri, is a key item in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. It is an Odachi capable of slaying the undying and is given to Wolf by the Divine Child of Rejuvenation once the player reaches the Inner Sanctum of Senpou Temple on Mt. Kuohn. The blade's true name is "Gracious Gift of Tears", and it grants the ability to slay the reviving Infested Monks encountered in Senpou Temple. It can also be used to slay Hanbei the Undying to obtain the Hidden Tooth item and to defeat the Headless Ape in the second encounter in the Ashina Depths.
To find the Mortal Blade, you must progress through the story until you reach the Inner Sanctum of Senpou Temple on Mt. Kuohn. Here, you will encounter the Divine Child of Rejuvenation, who will give you the Mortal Blade. It is worth noting that the Mortal Blade does not carry over into New Game Plus and must be reacquired, along with the Mortal Draw and Empowered Mortal Draw skills, which become unusable until the blade is back in Sekiro's possession.
The Mortal Blade plays a crucial role in the game, as it is required to draw Kuro's blood, one of the ingredients needed to reach the Divine Realm and unlock the Mortal Draw Combat Art. Obtaining the Mortal Blade and using it to draw Kuro's blood will trigger the first invasion of Ashina Castle by the Central Forces, making all Sculptor's Idols in the area unavailable except for the Abandoned Dungeon Entrance.
It is also important to note that the Headless Ape cannot be permanently killed in the first encounter, even with the Mortal Blade. Additionally, some players have reported issues with acquiring the blade, suggesting that sequence breaking can impact the availability of related quests and dialogue options.
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How to trigger the incense
To trigger the Fountainhead Incense in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, you need to complete a few key steps and gather the necessary ingredients. Here is a detailed guide on how to trigger the incense:
Firstly, you need to obtain the three main ingredients required for the incense: the Shelter Stone, the Fragrant Flower (also known as the Lotus of the Palace), and the Mortal Blade. The Flower can be obtained by defeating the Guardian Ape. The Stone is acquired by defeating the Corrupted Monk. As for the Mortal Blade, there seems to be a specific sequence that needs to be followed to obtain it. Some players have mentioned that they need to speak with Isshin about the Mortal Blade before acquiring it to avoid any issues with the dialogue later on in the game. Ensure you don't break the sequence by obtaining the Mortal Blade before speaking with Isshin.
Once you have the three ingredients, you will need to interact with Lord Kuro. Depending on your choices during the game, you may need to speak with him multiple times and complete certain tasks. At one point, he will ask you to speak with Emma, who can be found in the room where Isshin is initially encountered during the Mortal Blade questline. You will need to go back and forth between Emma and Kuro a few times, and at one point, Kuro will ask you to speak with the Divine Child in the Inner Chamber. She will give you rice, which you should bring back to Kuro.
After delivering the rice, Kuro will mention that he is going to make something for you, which is the Fountainhead Incense. Once the incense is created, you will carry its scent, unlocking a new area for exploration, the Fountainhead Palace.
It is important to note that the order in which you complete tasks does not matter, as long as they are done before fighting the final boss.
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Frequently asked questions
To create the Fountainhead Incense in Sekiro, you will need to obtain three items: The Shelter Stone, the Fragrant Flower (also known as the Lotus of the Palace), and the Mortal Blade. The stone can be obtained by defeating the Corrupted Monk, the flower can be obtained by defeating the Guardian Ape, and the Mortal Blade can be earned by completing certain missions.
Once you have created the Fountainhead Incense, you will carry its scent, which will open up a new area for you to explore: the Fountainhead Palace.
Yes, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, the choices you make during the game will determine whether you are hunting down the ingredients for the incense or not. Secondly, after obtaining the three main ingredients, you will have a crucial choice to make: whether to abandon the Iron Code or stay loyal to Kuro. Choosing to abandon the Iron Code will trigger the Shuro ending, so to continue the quest, you must choose to stay loyal to Kuro. Finally, you will need to defeat the Owl to obtain the Aromatic Branch, which is the final ingredient for the incense.
