Proof of the Cognoscenti
Last updated 2026-07-24
The Proofs of the Cognoscenti are five relics left behind in Nod-Krai by Reed Miller, founder of the Treasure Hoarders. Legends claim that the Proofs of the Cognoscenti point towards the location of Reed Miller's Great Treasure.[1]
The East of the Moon, West of the Sun World Quest Series tells the stories of various characters who are attempting to, or previously attempted to, obtain a Proof of the Cognoscenti. At the end of each quest, the Traveler ends up obtaining one. All four other proofs must be obtained before the Flower (Memorata-Cognoscenti's Jest) becomes available.
Items
The five relics are styled like an Artifact Set, with one piece corresponding to each item type.
- Flower:
Memorata-Cognoscenti's Jest (obtained during The Raven's Legacy in Series East of the Moon, West of the Sun) - Plume:
Inscripta-Cognoscenti's Feather (obtained during Whisper Beneath the Waves in Series East of the Moon, West of the Sun) - Sands:
Devocina-Cognoscenti's Sorrow (obtained during Return to Sender in Series East of the Moon, West of the Sun) - Goblet:
Weavenexa-Cognoscenti's Intoxication (obtained during The Shoemaker's Children Go Barefoot in Series East of the Moon, West of the Sun) - Circlet:
Stratagema-Cognoscenti's Mask (obtained during The Tale-Telling Heart in Series East of the Moon, West of the Sun)
Story
For an unknown amount of time, Inscripta-Cognoscenti's Feather was hidden within an Exquisite Chest located beneath the Eye of Kratti, a whirlpool known for causing shipwrecks. Various figures tried obtaining the Feather in the past, including Captain Grettir of the Atlas, but they all met with misfortune. At some point within living memory, "rocks [fell] from the sky," after which a strange tree grew from the whirlpool. While exploring a large cave system under Lempo Isle, the Traveler and Paimon come across ley line memories of figures who met with misfortune around the Eye of Kratti, such as the destruction of the Atlas and the disappearance of Mr. Shesternin during "Fortunate One"'s voyage 10 years ago. The two eventually revitalize the strange tree's roots, revealing the chest holding the Proof.[2]
Sometime in the past 10 years, Papa Wrench (the new identity of the disappeared Mr. Shesternin) discovered the Stratagema-Cognoscenti's Mask in a treasure trove at Blue Amber Lake. After he passed away shortly before the beginning of The Tale-Telling Heart, Tolfin inherited his workshop and the treasure trove, including the Proof. Tolfin decided to lure Papa Wrench's daughter Danyusha Shesternin and son-in-law Zhorik Shesternin to Blue Amber Lake with promise of obtaining a Proof of the Cognoscenti, as a test to see if Zhorik — who obtained the Shesternin wealth for himself by pushing Papa Wrench overboard and declaring him dead 10 years ago — had reformed his ways. The Traveler and Paimon unintentionally interrupt Tolfin's plan, but he quickly ropes them into his scheme by making them Zhorik's competitors in a treasure hunt for the Proof. While Zhorik technically finds the Mask first, he does not recognize it for what it is and assumes that a fancy-looking goblet among the treasure trove is the real Proof, only to abandon both after becoming paranoid that the treasure hunt was a plot on Papa Wrench's part to trap him. The Traveler ends up taking the Mask for themselves.[1]
Before the Traveler entered Nod-Krai, Poruchik Raskolnikov of the Fatui's Kuuvahki Experimental Design Bureau was tasked with finding the Proofs of the Cognoscenti and delivering it to his superiors in Snezhnaya. While he succeeded in retrieving Weavenexa-Cognoscenti's Intoxication, Omesov drunkenly announced its discovery throughout Nasha Town,[3] prompting many Treasure Hoarders and glory-seekers to infiltrate the Bureau to obtain it for themselves. At the end of The Shoemaker's Children Go Barefoot, Raskolnikov — fed up with the disorder brought about by the Proofs of the Cognoscenti — "loses" Weavenexa-Cognoscenti's Intoxication to the Traveler and Netochka, declaring that the Fatui will waste no further resources on collecting them. Afterwards, Netochka lets the Traveler keep the goblet.[4]
While exploring Wavechaser Plain, the Traveler and Paimon come across an abandoned bunker that was constructed in order to protect its inhabitants from the "apocalypse" (Abyss). In order to enter, the bunker's automated systems requested that they leave their weapons behind before they were allowed entry. As they explored the bunker, they came across various abyssal entities and the history of how the bunker came to be. When they arrived at the supervisor's office, they were met by an Abyssal entity who called itself the "Ultimate Calamity," who believed that they were outsiders and that the apocalypse still raged outside. The entity attempted to kill them, but with the help of the local mandragoras, they were able to eliminate it. Before they left, they discovered the Devocina-Cognoscenti's Sorrow which had been left there by Miller for Grazina.[5]
With all four pieces in their possession, the Traveler later ran into Tolfin in Piramida. Learning all four pieces were in their possession, Tolfin brought them to his grandmother, Hiljetta, who revealed that she was in possession of the final Proof of the Cognoscenti. She had been holding onto it until a worthy successor could be found. Since the Traveler had the other pieces, Hiljetta decided to test the Traveler in a friendly spar and was left satisfied after they bested her. Though upset that Tolfin had neglected the truth to them, the Traveler ultimately agreed to uphold her wishes and she gave it to them.[6]
Other Languages
| Language | Official Name | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| English | Proof of the Cognoscenti | — |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 「识者之证」 "Shízhě zhī Zhèng" | |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 「識者之證」 "Shízhě zhī Zhèng" | |
| Japanese | 「識者の証」 "Shikisha no Akashi" | |
| Korean | 「식견의 증표」 "Sikgyeonui Jeungpyo" | |
| Spanish | Insignia del conocedor | |
| French | Preuve du connaisseur | Proof of the Connoisseur |
| Russian | О Знаке Мудреца... O Znake Mudretsa... | |
| Thai | "หลักฐานของผู้ทรงความรู้" | |
| Vietnamese | Chứng Nhận Trí Giả | |
| German | „Nachweis der Wissenden“ | "Proof of the Knowers" |
| Indonesian | Bukti Cognoscenti | |
| Portuguese | Prova do Cognoscente | |
| Turkish | Bilginliğin İspatı | |
| Italian | Prova degli esperti |
Change History
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 World Quest, East of the Moon, West of the Sun, Part 1: The Tale-Telling Heart
- ↑ World Quest, East of the Moon, West of the Sun: Whisper Beneath the Waves
- ↑ NPC Dialogue: Omesov
- ↑ World Quest, East of the Moon, West of the Sun: The Shoemaker's Children Go Barefoot
- ↑ World Quest, East of the Moon, West of the Sun: Return to Sender
- ↑ World Quest, East of the Moon, West of the Sun: The Raven's Legacy
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