Find the first part of the Rod | The Rod of Arafel Darksiders 2 Guide
Last update: 11 May 2016
For starters, explore the area around the square where you fought the most recent battle. Remember that you can enter some of the ruined buildings. There are two chests and two Boatman Coins to find here. It's good to have a look into the building where you started exploration of the [Earth] (the screenshot above) to find yet another chest.
[TIP: While exploring the Earth, it is good to destroy every vehicle parked here. Almost every one of them leaves gold or a potion.]
After you sufficiently explore the area, choose the valley that leads to the east. Be prepared to eliminate swarm representing monsters and an exploder. Try to keep them at a distance. After you eliminate them, go east as far as you can. Jump down or go down to a lower level and search around for an Arbiter Scroll. You may now return to the higher level and enter the northern building (the above screenshot), which monsters ran out of earlier.
[TIP: You can tell that a new wave of monsters approaches by a characteristic sound. It is worth to get back at that time and be fully prepared to repulse the attack.]
[TIP: Further in this description of the quest, the moments when the swarms attacks are mentioned only when the undead are accompanied by some stronger creature (like an exploder). Remember to take your time and eliminate the monsters systematically.]
After you pass through the building, go right. Go straight ahead, but do not forget to kill the first trapped hellguard nailed to the left wall (the above screenshot), because he's concerned with a side quest [Light of the Fallen]. Continue east and take out the exploder.
After you reach the crossroads, you will be, for the first time, attacked by a huge beast called the Suffering that will appear to your left. The most important, for you, bit of information is that it can perform long leaps, so it can approach you in no time at all.
I suggest to attack the Suffering from a large distance, to the extent to which it is possible and discharge Salvation. Depending on what you prefer to do, you may hide behind nearby pillars in hope that the beast will get stuck, or walk back firing at it. It the case of the latter, it is good to perform minute away jumps every time you see the monster preparing to land near you or hit you with its paw.
If attacking the suffering with your firearm does not bring expected effects, you may for a moment, resign from using Salvation (the "E" key) and switch to a more traditional form of fighting. In such a situation you need to remember about dodging as often as possible and help yourself with the most potent of your attacks, especially the Reaper Form.
Resume exploring the area only after you dispose of the monster. Go north-east and turn west, finding a Book of the Dead Page (side quest [The Book of the Dead] and a chest. After you explore the area sufficiently, go into the passage shown in the above screenshot.
Go straight ahead until you reach the stairs leading down. After you take the stairs, look around and find another trapped hellguard (the above screenshot) (side quest [Light of the Fallen]) . End the creature's suffering and take a passage to the south, where you will find two more exploders.
Get through to another stairs and go left first. There is a third trapped hellguard in the location shown in the above screenshot (side quest [Light of the Fallen]). Kill him and return to the forking.
Be careful, because after you enter a new location there will be another Suffering waiting for you. Also here you can choose between fighting it with Salvation or with blades. Notice, at the same time, that the place is plentiful with narrow corridors so there's plenty of room to improvise.
After you take the beast out, deal with the regular undead creatures, including an exploder. After you are done with the fight, explore the whole level carefully (there is nothing worth of interest downstairs). In a small room in the northeastern part of the main part there are two chests )the above screenshot), and Relic of Renagoth to the west (side quest [Lost Relics]).
You can now approach the fragment of the Rod shown in the above screenshot, which is located on the upper balcony. Start firing Salvation or initiate standard attacks . After you unlock access to the part, come closer and collect The Rod of Arafel.