Introduced in Enshrouded’s 1.0 release, Cinder’s Cradle occupies Embervale’s northern reaches, reached through the gates beyond Veilwater Basin, which opened in that update. Its landscape stretches from lava wastes and ancient ruins below to floating islands overhead. The region contains the Flame’s final story quests, a new faction featuring 14 new enemy types, both Vorgoth fights, and materials for the late-game crafting tier.
Quick answer: Unlock the next Flame Level, go through the gates north of the Veilwater Basin, and follow Land Of The Sky Islands to Loraine Crim, who starts the remaining story quests.
How to enter Cinder’s Cradle and what the Flame unlocks
You can’t walk into the region until your Flame is strong enough. Each Flame Level linked to Cinder’s Cradle changes something about your world:
- Unlock the next Flame Level before entering. That upgrade also raises the Flame Altar maximum to 15 (unlock steps).
- Beating the final threat in the region unlocks one more Flame Level, Flame Level 11.
- Flame Level 11 raises the altar maximum to 16 and lets Flame Altars push back the Shroud.
- Higher-level locked chests and doors call for a new set of picks. The first Archaic Lockpicks are found in Cinder’s Cradle.
Main quest: Land Of The Sky Islands
The Flame gives you Land Of The Sky Islands as your first task in the region. The steps unlock in this order:
- “Reach The Ancient Gate”
- “Reach The Heart Of Cinders”
- “Look Around Cinder’s Ascent” (walkthrough)
- “Summon The Ancient Researcher And Speak To Them”
Loraine Crim is the Ancient Researcher summoned in the final step, as well as the survivor introduced in 1.0 (how to find her). After joining, she gives you the remaining story quests for the region.
Loraine Crim’s four Ancient Researcher quests
Activating The Gate To The Stars
The steps are “Reach And Use The First Dungeon Entrance”, “Complete The Springlands Beacon Dungeon”, “Complete All Beacon Dungeons” and “Talk To The Ancient Researcher” (all six Beacon Dungeons). The six entrances are labelled on the map as the Springlands, Revelwood, Nomad Highlands, Kindlewastes, Albaneve Summits and Veilwater Basin Dungeon Entrance.
Cinders Of The End
This quest takes you to the end of the story. The steps are “Use The Teleport Platform At Cinder’s Ascent”, “Reach The Ancient Capital”, “Defeat Vorgoth” and “Rescue The Mother Flame” (quest route). There are separate pages for beating Vorgoth and for the ending.
Crafting An Infusion Altar
The steps are “Craft An Infusion Altar” and “Place The Infusion Altar” (unlocking the altar). The altar produces Archaic Infusion, a material Loraine Crim works with.
A Gem Forge Of Our Own
The steps are “Find A Gem Forge Crafting Recipe” and “Craft And Place A Gem Forge” (Gem Forge for your base).
Cinder’s Cradle side quests from your craftspeople and notes
Several craftspeople send you north with their own requests. Two more quests start from lore notes left by Lord Vorgoth.
| Quest | Given by | Steps in order |
|---|---|---|
| Gathering Celestium | Blacksmith | “Discover A Celestium Mine”, “Mine Celestium” |
| Crops Of Cinder’s Cradle | Farmer | “Gather New Fruits, Vegetables, and Herbs”, “Bring Fruits, Vegetables, and Herbs To The Farmer”, “Craft Basalt Farm Soil” |
| Star Signs | Barber | “Find Out How To Assemble A Telescope”, “Talk To The Barber” |
| Hearing Voices | Lore note | “Find Traces Of Lord Vorgoth” |
| Vorgoth’s Ruminations | Lore note | “Find Lord Vorgoth’s Second Note”, “Find Lord Vorgoth’s Third Note”, “Dig Below The Note” |
For Gathering Celestium, go to the Celestium Mining Site, a named mine in the region. There are separate walkthroughs for Celestium Ore and Celestium Bars.
The Farmer’s quest is covered in Crops Of Cinder’s Cradle and Basalt Farm Soil. The four regional crops each have their own page: Aurora Beans, Prickle Pearl, Bloomheart Fruit and Grandleaf Cabbage.
Star Signs takes place at Andromeda’s Eye, a settlement in the region (Star Signs walkthrough). The quest also gives you the Giant Telescope recipe. Lord Vorgoth’s notes lead to his throne room (throne room and trophy collection).
Cinder’s Cradle bosses and new enemies
These bosses appear on the Cinder’s Cradle map:
- Ancient S.P.D.R. Construct
- Vorgoth, Champion of the Shroud, in the stronghold Mother Flame’s Domicile
- Vorgoth, the Wanderer’s Vessel, also in Mother Flame’s Domicile
The Ancient S.P.D.R. Construct drops Ancient S.P.D.R. Construct Eye, Archaic Core, Archaic Shards, Legendary Runes and Moonstone. It sometimes also drops Archaic Essence VII and Gold Ore. Vorgoth, the Wanderer’s Vessel drops Legendary Runes, Shroud Vessel’s Greatsword, Vorgoth’s Bound Essence and Vorgoth’s Eye. For the order of every boss in 1.0 and what each one unlocks, see all bosses in order.
You will meet these enemies mostly in Cinder’s Cradle, listed by the names the game uses: Ancient C.R.T.R. Construct, Flaming Scorpion, Ancient G.T.H.R. Construct I, Ancient M.I.N.R. Construct, Ancient G.A.R.D. Construct (Slicer), Ancient G.A.R.D. Construct (Dozer), Fell Sentinel, Fell Black Knight and Ancient G.U.N.R. Construct II. These aren’t the only enemies in the region. Fell, Shroud and Drak’Dal enemies from earlier regions also show up.
Cinder’s Cradle materials and where the item cards say to find them
The second column shows each item card’s “where to find it” line exactly as the game writes it.
| Material | Item card line | Walkthrough |
|---|---|---|
 Archaic Core | “Cinder’s Cradle, Elite Ancient Constructs” | — |
 Archaic Essence VII | “Cinder’s Cradle Shroud Lairs” | — |
 Archaic Shards | “Cinder’s Cradle, Ancient Constructs” | Archaic Shards |
 Basalt | “Cinder’s Cradle” | Basalt |
 Celestium Ore | “Cinder’s Cradle” | Linked above |
 Cinder Rock | “Cinder’s Cradle” | Cinder Rock |
 Cinder’s Cradle Sand | “Cinder’s Cradle” | — |
 Diamond | “Cinder’s Cradle Shroud” | Diamond |
 Ember Carapace | “Cinder’s Cradle Enemies” | Ember Carapace route |
 Magma Gel | “Cinder’s Cradle” | Magma Gel |
 Moonstone | “Cinder’s Cradle” | Moonstone |
 Venom Stinger | “Veilwater Basin Enemies and Cinder’s Cradle Crops” | — |
The region’s Drak’Dal camps are a source of Drak Scales, Teeth, Claws and Blood. Sparkling Dust has its own walkthrough.
Crop effects and crafting stations for Cinder’s Cradle items
Three of the region’s crops come from Cinder’s Cradle and are listed under the game’s “Uncooked Food And Herbs: Cinder’s Cradle” set. Their effects when you eat them raw are very different:
| Crop | Effect when eaten raw | Stats | Stack |
|---|---|---|---|
 Bloomheart Fruit | Health regeneration | Health Regeneration 24, 210 s | 20 |
 Prickle Pearl | Health regeneration | Health Regeneration 24, 210 s | 20 |
 Aurora Beans | Food Poisoning | Health -80, Stamina -70 | 20 |
Bloomheart Fruit and Prickle Pearl give the same buff. Aurora Beans are different. Eaten raw, they make you sick and lower your maximum health and stamina, so cook them first.
Several of the region’s refined materials need a specific station or survivor to make:
| Material | Made at | Recipe learned by |
|---|---|---|
 Celestium Bars | Blast Furnace | Picking up Celestium Ore |
 Basalt Farm Soil | Farmer | Picking up Basalt; crafted under a roof |
 Archaic Infusion | Infusion Altar | Picking up Archaic Shards or the Infusion Altar |
Basalt Farm Soil gives Cinder’s Cradle plants the nutrients they need, and regular farm soil won’t grow them. Celestium Bars stack to 250.
Combat provides the other two materials. Archaic Essence VII lets you add gems to weapons and has a maximum stack of 500. Defeat Vorgoth, the Wanderer’s Vessel, to obtain Vorgoth’s Bound Essence, which is needed to craft Vorgoth’s Armor.
Named places on the Cinder’s Cradle map
| Category | Places |
|---|---|
| Settlements | Island Ruin, Manathor’s Plaza, Ancient Ruin, The Ancient Citadel, Andromeda’s Eye, Council Chamber, Lift Ruins |
| Enemy camps | Proto Vessel Bay, Blue Glowing Ancient Ruins, Construct Ruin, Drak’Dal Camp, Small Drak’Dal Cave, Pink Glowing Ancient Ruins, Drak’Dal Outpost, Battlegrounds |
| Mines | Worker’s Ward, Celestium Mining Site |
| Farm | Gardens Of Earthly Delights |
| Camp | Darya’s Daycamp |
| Dungeons | Small Ancient Dungeon, Cinder’s Ascent |
| Stronghold | Mother Flame’s Domicile |
| Shroud Lair | Shroud Heartlands |
The Small Ancient Dungeon holds the Sky Specter Helmet and the Inner Orrery Rings. Lair and Gem Forge spots across the world are mapped in Gem Forge and Shroud Lair locations. The floating islands above the lava have their own access route (reaching the floating islands).
The region also adds new building blocks, including the Cinder’s Cradle set and Island Ruin, and a color palette at the Blue Glowing Ancient Ruins. It is also where you get the Emberguard legendary shield and meet Sparkworks contraptions built into its ruins.
