Where Rumors Gather: can't start arm wrestling with the tavern guard? Here's the fix

The problem: early in Chapter 1, the main quest Where Rumors Gather sends you into Hernand Tavern to arm wrestle a guard. You walk up to him and only a circle icon shows over his head. There’s no talk prompt, pressing interact does nothing, and the story can’t move on. It looks like a progression bug, and a thread on the Steam forums treats it as one.

The short answer: it isn’t a bug. You don’t talk to the guard, you challenge him. Aim at him first, then press the challenge button. A player who had the same problem worked this out and posted the fix in the Steam thread. Guides for the quest describe the same aim-then-challenge step.

How to start the match

1. Go into Hernand Tavern. It’s marked on your map, southeast of Hernand Bank.
2. Find the guard in a metal helmet sitting at a table near the entrance.
3. Hold the aim button: Ctrl on keyboard, LB on Xbox, L1 on PlayStation.
4. While aiming at him, press R on keyboard, or the interact button on a controller (A on Xbox, X on PlayStation).

The circle you saw over his head is the target marker. Once you’re aiming at him, the challenge prompt appears.

Still won’t start? Check your inventory

On keyboard, Ctrl is also the key that raises your lantern. The player who found the fix said you also need a free inventory slot so Kliff can put the lantern away before the match. If your bag is full, drop or sell something and try again. Only one player has reported this, but it’s quick to rule out.

Winning the arm wrestling match

• Mash the action button to push the meter toward your side (red): E on keyboard, X on Xbox, Square on PlayStation.
• When a spinning dial appears, press the timing button as the needle passes over the white section: R on keyboard, A on Xbox, X on PlayStation. A good hit moves the meter much more than mashing.
• Fill the meter completely red to win. If you lose the quest match, there’s no penalty, so just challenge him again.

Once you win, you exchange a few words with the guard and Where Rumors Gather is complete.

Good to know

• The first match is free. Later sessions at the tavern cost 20 alms, paid to the host near the tables.
• There’s an Abyss Artifact in it. Come back after the quest and beat all four opponents in one session, including the champion, to complete the Hero’s Handshake I challenge.
• Keys rebound? If you changed your controls, use whatever you bound to guard/aim and to the challenge action. Our guide to rebinding WASD and other keys covers what the key menu can and can’t change.