Volk is one of the more memorable characters you'll stumble across in The Blood of Dawnwalker, and his Buried Past quest is a slow burn that rewards patience with some genuinely excellent loot. The catch is that this questline runs entirely on the game's Time Progression system, meaning every conversation and chore burns Time Segments. Rush it and you'll waste them. Play it smart and you walk away with a legendary chestpiece, a powerful Swordsmanship ability, and an epic greatsword.
How do you start Volk's Buried Past quest?
The quest begins in Maragir, a small village located southeast of Laslea Glen. Speak to the vendor there and you'll hear that Coen's father, Pieter, has been visiting a spot out in the countryside. Follow the map marker to a location next to the Ruined Hut shrine, just outside Svartrau City.
Investigate the yard and you'll get confronted by an old blind man who doesn't appreciate trespassers. He picks a fight, and you need to win it. That old man is Volk, a former mercenary who served alongside Pieter back in the day. Win the brawl, and the questline opens up.
Blood of Dawnwalker Guide: How to Complete Volk's Buried Past Quest
Why does the Time Progression system matter here?
This is the part most players get tripped up on. Every task you do for Volk, and every conversation you have with him, costs 1x Time Segment. Volk also operates on a strict schedule: after each chat, he tells you to come back the next day at the same time period.
That last part matters more than it sounds. If you wrap up your third conversation with Volk during the afternoon (daytime at five pips), he won't have anything new for you the following morning. You have to return during that same afternoon slot. Miss the window and you're waiting even longer.
The upside is that the optional chores during early visits are just that: optional. Chopping firewood and hunting wolves nearby aren't mandatory, but they do cost Time Segments if you choose to do them.
What are all of Volk's chores and when do they happen?
Here's how the three main visits break down before the quest escalates:
| Visit | Tasks | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| First meeting | Fistfight with Volk, short chat, optional firewood chopping, optional wolf hunt | 1x Time Segment per activity |
| Second meeting (next day) | Gather herbs, prepare an ointment, talk to Volk | 1x Time Segment per task |
| Third meeting (day after) | Board up Volk's bedroom window, retrieve Volk's knife from the hut rooftop, chat with Volk | 1x Time Segment per task |
After the prologue content, check out our guide on things you should do first in Blood of Dawnwalker to make sure you're not spreading your Time Segments too thin across the early game.
How do you get the Artery Strike Manual and Pieter's Garb?
Once you've had your third conversation with Volk, the quest moves into its most rewarding phase.
First, Volk challenges you to a sparring match. Win it and he hands over the Artery Strike Manual, one of the stronger Swordsmanship abilities in the game. It deals high damage and carries a chance to decapitate enemies outright.
Blood of Dawnwalker Guide: How to Complete Volk's Buried Past Quest
After the sparring match, Volk mentions that Pieter may have buried the gold they earned as mercenaries. Tell him you know of a glade. The Secret Glade gets marked on your map, but reaching it costs 2x Time Segments, so plan accordingly.
Once there, dig up the chest (1x Time Segment) to claim Pieter's Garb, a legendary light chestpiece. Its stat bonuses are specifically tuned for daytime combat:
- Maximum human health
- Human health restoration
- Weapon critical hit chance
- Weapon critical hit damage
For players who lean into their human form during daylight hours, this is one of the best armor pieces you can find at this stage of the game.
Blood of Dawnwalker Guide: How to Complete Volk's Buried Past Quest
What's inside the monastery repository?
After digging up the chest, talk to Volk again. He'll suggest that Pieter may have brought the gold to a nearby monastery. Head back to Maragir and visit the monastery there. Hand Pieter's journal to the monk (1x Time Segment).
The real payoff here is the repository inside the monastery, which has two floors connected by a ladder. Pick up every manual you can find:
- Renewed Focus Manual
- Herbal Remedies II Manual
- Charge Manual
- Medicus I Manual
- Recipe for Minor Balm of Fortitude
Once you've collected those, return to Volk and report your findings (1x Time Segment).
Blood of Dawnwalker Guide: How to Complete Volk's Buried Past Quest
How does Volk's Buried Past quest end?
Return to Volk's hut after a full day has passed and you'll find something unexpected: dead guards scattered around the property. Use your ability to compel a dead soldier's soul to piece together what happened. The old mercenary apparently hacked off a guard's arm before departing.
Volk is gone, but he left something behind: Volk's Sword, an epic greatsword with the following stats:
- Maximum human health
- Swordmastery ability cooldown reduction
- Witchcraft ability cooldown reduction
- Bonus damage against supernatural enemies
Read Volk's letter and you'll learn that Brencis sent those guards. Volk has left the region entirely, heading off in search of his next adventure. The quest wraps with a clean narrative beat and two of the better weapons and armor pieces available in this part of the game.
For a broader look at everything the game has to offer, the full Blood of Dawnwalker strategy guides collection covers side quests, abilities, and more to help you make the most of every Time Segment you spend.
