Valor Mortis makes An Unheard Farewell available as your first side quest. It leads away from the main route and into caves below the Valley of Ashes. Since there are no map markers, it’s easy to lose your way around the broken bridge, both elevators, and the concealed cave. Completing the quest grants Sleight of Hand Amber and the Aggressive Reconnaissance achievement; the other reward depends on what you say to the quest giver.
Quick answer: Speak with the Adjutant Sous-Officier in the suspended carriage, descend to the Climb Lantern, clear the lift, and enter the concealed cave from the elevator shaft. Defeat the scout commander, collect his orders, and return to claim the Sleight of Hand Amber.
Where to start An Unheard Farewell
The Valley of Ashes opens up early in Chapter 2, right after your first fight with General Lothaire, the Eagle-Bearer. From the Guidepost Lantern, follow the single road until you hit a wooden ledge, turn right, and leap across the gap. Keep moving and a Risen Grenadier will ambush you.
Defeat the Grenadier, then go through the broken cage on the opposite side. Above, a military carriage is suspended in the air, and the Adjutant Sous-Officier calls to you from within. Look up and speak to him; agree to search for his scattered men to start the quest.
Reach the Climb Lantern and free the lift
A higher elevator stop can also be unlocked by destroying the red weak spot near the cliffside path, the same way you freed the lift at the bottom. You will need that upper stop later if you decide to lie.
Find the scout commander and the orders
On the way back up through the tunnels, William pauses at a Nephtoglobin mass and discovers the Adjutant’s remaining men trapped and dead within it. This triggers the quest update, but you must still return to the officer and speak with him to finish the quest.
Truth or lie: both reward paths
When you return, choose whether to tell the Adjutant what really happened to his soldiers or hide the truth with a lie. Whichever answer you give, he persuades himself that his men rushed ahead in an eager attack on the enemy. Your first reward stays unchanged; your choice affects only the second one.
| Choice | Guaranteed reward | Extra reward |
|---|---|---|
| Tell the truth | Sleight of Hand Amber | Epic Catalyst Clot (rest, then return to the carriage) |
| Lie | Sleight of Hand Amber | Remnant’s Return (in a nearby cave) |
The main reward is the Sleight of Hand Amber. Put it in a Skill Tree slot to gain its Sleight of Hand passive, which speeds up firearm reloads and weapon swaps.
Once you’ve been honest, rest at whichever Lantern you like; afterward, make your way back to the carriage to claim the Epic Catalyst Clot. If you lied, rest at a Lantern, then ride the elevator next to the Climb Lantern up to the top. Take the route into the cave, where the Remnant’s Return lies on the floor just inside, beside the man’s remains. Remnant’s Returns are rarer, but let you reclaim a lost Catalyst without returning to the place where you died.
Confirm the quest is complete
The quest ends when the Adjutant’s final dialogue is over and the Sleight of Hand Amber has been added to your inventory; the QUEST COMPLETE banner then appears. You’ll also earn the Aggressive Reconnaissance achievement for finishing the quest. Rest at the nearby lantern, or pursue the reward tied to your choice before continuing onward.
