The An Unheard Farewell quest in Valor Mortis is the first side quest most players encounter, and it has a nasty habit of sending people in the wrong direction. The Adjutant Sous-Officer is easy enough to find, but the cave holding his missing scouts is tucked away on a mid-level ledge that you can only reach after fully unlocking the elevator above it. Here's exactly how to get there, beat the mini-boss waiting inside, and decide what to tell the officer when you return.
How do you start An Unheard Farewell in Valor Mortis?
This is a Chapter 2 side quest, set in the Valley of Ashes after your first encounter with General Lothaire. Progress through the area until you reach the Demolished Path lantern near a wagon. An Adjutant Sous-Officer is inside, yelling for your attention. Listen to his story and agree to track down his scouts. That's all it takes to kick things off.
Full An Unheard Farewell walkthrough
Step 1: Follow the broken bridge down
From the Demolished Path lantern, head down the broken bridge. Jump from platform to platform, fighting the enemies along the way, until you reach the bottom. At the base, pass through the small wagon on your left. This is where you pick up the Pistol, which you'll need shortly. If you're not sure how to handle the glowing red obstacles blocking your path, check out this guide on destroying red blobs in Valor Mortis.
Step 2: Unlock the elevator
At the next lantern, climb the rocks and use the Pistol to shoot the glowing orb (a Nephtoglob growth). This frees the elevator. Take it upward as far as it'll go on the first pass, then exit through the tunnel on your right.
Step 3: Clear the caves and unlock the top level
Work through the cave section, which includes a parkour stretch outside before you reach the elevator again. At the top, you'll find two glowing orbs blocking the elevator's highest level. Shoot both to fully unlock it.
Step 4: Find the hidden cave on the way back down
Here's where the quest diverges from the main path. The mistake most players make is riding the elevator straight up to continue the story. Don't. Instead, call the elevator back down and jump off partway, onto a narrow ledge between the tunnel entrance and the highest level.
The entrance to the hidden cave is sealed with a web-like barrier. Use your fire transmutation to burn it away and step inside.
Step 5: Defeat the elite soldier
The cave holds the missing scouts, but also an elite soldier mini-boss guarding them. He fights like a standard soldier but hits harder, takes less damage, and moves noticeably faster.
Here's the short answer on how to handle him:
- Parry his attacks to build posture damage and stagger him
- Use fire to chip his health down safely from range
- Once his health is low, land a Pistol headshot to finish the fight cleanly
Step 6: Read the letter and grab the loot
After the fight, read the letter near the tent to learn what happened to the scouts. Before leaving, open the treasure chest to collect a pure blade material. Then follow the main path back up to the Adjutant Sous-Officer's wagon.
Grab the letter and chest loot
What do you tell the Adjutant, and does it matter?
When you return to the officer, you choose whether to tell the truth or lie. The Adjutant won't fully accept that his scouts are gone either way, but your choice changes the bonus reward you receive.
| Choice | Guaranteed Reward | Bonus Reward |
|---|---|---|
| Tell the truth | Sleight of Hand amber | Catalysts (speak to him again after resting) |
| Lie | Sleight of Hand amber | Remnant's Return item (found in the cave after resting) |
The Sleight of Hand amber is the main prize regardless of what you say. Slotted into your Skill Tree, it reduces firearm reload times and speeds up weapon switching. Given how useful the Pistol becomes throughout the game, this amber pays off quickly.
If you tell the truth, rest at a nearby lantern and return to speak with the Adjutant again for some additional catalysts. If you lie, rest and head back to the hidden cave instead, where you'll find his body and a Remnant's Return, a one-use item that lets you reclaim dropped catalysts from anywhere.
Common mistakes in An Unheard Farewell
- Riding the elevator straight to the top without jumping off at the mid-level ledge. This is the single most common way to miss the quest entirely.
- Not having the Pistol before reaching the elevator orbs. The wagon at the bottom of the broken bridge is easy to walk past.
- Leaving the cave without reading the letter. The quest won't complete without it.
- Skipping the treasure chest next to the letter. The pure blade material inside is worth grabbing.
FAQ
Can you miss An Unheard Farewell permanently? The quest can be missed if you push too far into the main story without speaking to the Adjutant first. Trigger the conversation before descending the broken bridge to be safe.
What does the Sleight of Hand amber actually do? It reduces reload times for all firearms and speeds up weapon switching. It's a passive effect slotted into the Skill Tree.
Is the elite soldier in the cave a required boss? Yes. You have to defeat him to access the letter and complete the quest.
Does the truth or lie choice affect anything else in the game? No. It only changes which bonus reward you receive after resting.
For more side quest walkthroughs and area guides, the full Valor Mortis guide collection covers everything from boss fights to hidden keys.
