Accessing the Citadel of Penance in Mortal Shell 2, located in the northwestern Fainweald region, requires players to overcome a locked gate. Two primary methods exist for entry: utilizing a teleporter or finding a lever to permanently open the main gate.
The Citadel Teleporter Method
For a swift entry, players can find a teleporter near the One-Legged Wolf beacon in the southeastern part of Fainweald. After proceeding across rope bridges and towards a clearing, a unique coin pouch can be found. Interacting with this object, rather than picking it up, will transport the player to the prison cells within the Citadel's lower area. From there, players must ascend through the fortress, with a small nook near the ramparts serving as the sole exit. This approach presents a challenging path out of the Citadel.
Acquiring the Citadel Gate Lever
To establish permanent access to the Citadel, the Citadel Gate Lever is necessary. A note near the gate indicates the lever was taken by a culprit seen in the ravine. To retrieve it, players should descend the sloping paths from the gate until they reach a large rocky outcropping with corrupted growths. Approaching this area will trigger a boss encounter with the Bloodcursed Lithopod, a large, crab-like enemy.
In some instances, the Bloodcursed Lithopod can be defeated indirectly. Luring other enemies to attack it, or observing its movements, might lead to its demise through environmental hazards or self-inflicted fall damage. A notable playthrough saw the miniboss perish from a high jump. Upon its defeat, the Citadel Gate Lever is acquired, and players also gain access to a new area, the Ravaged Hideout. The lever can then be used at the Citadel gate for permanent entry.
Rewards Within the Citadel of Penance
Regardless of the entry method, the Citadel of Penance contains several valuable items. A fast-travel beacon is located in the southeast corner of the interior. Behind the market stalls, a breakable wall conceals a Revered Gland, an item used to upgrade the Mether’s Pulse healing flask. The primary reward for reaching the Citadel's center is the Eredrim shell, a new warrior form that players can inhabit and utilize in combat.
