The Emissary is one of the longest-running side quests in Valor Mortis. You can pick it up as early as Chapter 2, but the poisonous gas blocking your path makes it impossible to finish until you reach Chapter 9. Here's the short answer: you need the Shield Transmutation ability before you can complete it, and that ability is locked behind the University later in the game.
How do you start the Emissary quest?
Head to the Other Side Lantern in Chapter 2, the one right after the broken bridge where you encounter the Risen Grenadier and Risen Soldier. From there, take a left through the gate into the area ahead. You will see green poisonous gas spreading across a field. Before you hit the gas, there is a carriage sitting slightly off the main path.
Inside the carriage, on the table, is the Emissary's Seal. Interact with it to officially trigger the quest. William comments that this object clearly belonged to someone important. That is all you can do here for now.
Emissary's Seal location
Can you do anything in Chapter 5?
There is one optional step available after beating Slaughtermill at the end of Chapter 5. Once the boss fight ends, the only exit is a torch-lit tunnel. Walk through it and look on the ground for the Emissary's Letter, a note that reveals the Emissary was sent to the windmill by Napoleon. Picking it up fills in the backstory but is not required to complete the quest.
You can also shoot the Nephtoglobin (the red glowing bulb) from above using a pistol during Chapter 2 to clear the path for when you return later. Climb the ladder near the lantern, turn left toward the edge, and shoot it. This is optional but saves a minor step on your return visit.
How to get the Shield Transmutation
The Shield Transmutation is the ability you need to survive the poison gas field. You acquire it in Chapter 9 at the University. The good news is that it is mandatory for main story progression, so you cannot miss it.
Progress through the University until you reach the highest floor, where you will find a large circular staircase. Go up the stairs and look for a zombie-like soldier wrapped in purple plague vines. Approach and interact with the soldier to claim the Shield Transmutation.
The ability serves two purposes: it absorbs all incoming damage from enemies, and it lets you walk through poisonous gas without taking damage. The second function is exactly what you need here.
If you want more context on how poison zones work across the game, the guide on how to access poison areas safely in Valor Mortis covers the Shield Transmutation in detail.
Claiming the Shield Transmutation
Completing the Emissary quest step by step
With the Shield Transmutation equipped, fast travel back to the Other Side Lantern in Chapter 2. This is the same lantern where the quest started.
Here is the full sequence:
- Take a left through the gate and equip the Shield Transmutation.
- Walk through the poison gas field and past the carriage.
- Keep going straight, then turn left when the path forces it.
- Find the Denuncatory Letter on the ground and pick it up to update the quest.
- Continue left past the cannon.
- Interact with the unusual corpse in the center of a group of fallen soldiers to trigger a Risen Soldier mini-boss fight.
- Defeat the mini-boss. Fire and Rapier stabs work well up close; firearms and grenades are effective if you prefer to stay at range.
- After the fight, follow the path to a gate with two flags.
- Interact with the red cloth (velvet) at the gate to receive the Sands of Time item and complete the quest.
- Continue forward to trigger a flashback that closes out the quest narrative.
What does Sands of Time do?
Sands of Time lets you return to the last Lantern you rested at without losing any of your Catalysts. That is a significant quality-of-life item, especially in the later chapters where Catalyst loss from death starts to sting.
What rewards do you get from the Emissary quest?
| Reward | Effect | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Sands of Time | Return to last Lantern without losing Catalysts | Interact with the red cloth at the gate |
| Perfect Copy Amber | Increases the tier of all equipped Tier 1 and Tier 2 Ambers | Chest inside the tent near the quest end |
After picking up the Sands of Time, look for a tent nearby. Inside is a red chest containing the Perfect Copy Amber. This Amber raises the level of every other Amber you currently have equipped, so if all of yours are at Tier 1, they all jump to Tier 2. It is one of the strongest Ambers in the game and can meaningfully push your build forward. Do not leave without it.
Common mistakes players make
- Trying to push through the poison gas early. Without the Shield Transmutation, you will die. There is no workaround.
- Missing the Denuncatory Letter. It is on the ground to the left after crossing the gas field. Easy to walk past in the dark.
- Leaving before looting the tent. The Perfect Copy Amber is in a separate chest inside the nearby tent, not automatically given to you when the quest completes.
- Not being ready for the mini-boss. The fight triggers the moment you interact with the central corpse. Heal up first.
For a broader look at what you can accomplish across all of Valor Mortis's side content, the full Valor Mortis strategy guides collection covers every major quest and system in the game.
FAQ
Can you start the Emissary quest without visiting Chapter 5? Yes. The Chapter 5 note (Emissary's Letter) is optional lore. You only need the Chapter 2 seal to start the quest and the Shield Transmutation to finish it.
What chapter do you get the Shield Transmutation? Chapter 9, at the University. It is a mandatory story unlock, so you will not miss it.
Is the Perfect Copy Amber missable? Technically yes, if you leave the area without checking the tent. Fast travel back to the Other Side Lantern and walk through the poison field again to retrieve it.
Does completing the Emissary quest count toward any trophies? Side quests contribute to completion-related achievements. Check the Valor Mortis trophy and achievement guide for the full breakdown on which quests are tracked.
