Finishing Fallen Village feels like a genuine milestone in Valor Mortis. The Iron Marshall is dead, you have the grapple ability in hand, and Louis is safe. Then the game drops you back at the Abandoned Church with zero waypoints and zero hints about what comes next. The Caverns is your destination, but the door is locked, and most players waste time trying to force their way through before realizing the solution was right in front of them the whole time.
Where do you go after Fallen Village in Valor Mortis?
The Caverns is the area you need to reach once Fallen Village is cleared. It sits behind a locked door near the Abandoned Church, accessible via the grapple point you just unlocked. The problem is that the door requires the Cave Grotto Key, which you do not automatically receive after the boss fight.
A common mistake is immediately using the new grapple ability to cross the canyon near the church and testing every door in sight. The Caverns door stays locked regardless, and Fortress is not accessible at this stage either, so do not burn time trying to find a workaround there.
Valor Mortis Guide: How to Get the Cave Grotto Key
How to get the Cave Grotto Key in Valor Mortis
The Cave Grotto Key comes from James, who you will find inside the Abandoned Church working next to the weapon upgrade bench. After returning from Fallen Village with Louis, speak to James before doing anything else.
The conversation functions as a debrief for the Fallen Village events and a planning session for what comes next. Once that exchange wraps up, James hands over the Cave Grotto Key automatically. There is no fetch quest or trade involved.
How to unlock the Caverns
- Complete Fallen Village and defeat the Iron Marshall.
- Rescue Louis and acquire the grapple ability.
- Return to the Abandoned Church.
- Locate James at the weapon upgrade bench and speak to him.
- Receive the Cave Grotto Key at the end of the conversation.
- Use the grapple point near the church to reach the locked door on the left.
- Use the key to open the door and enter the Caverns.
What to expect from this progression pattern
This is not the only time Valor Mortis gates area access behind an NPC conversation at the Abandoned Church. The game consistently uses James and the church as a hub between major zones, so returning here after every boss and talking to available NPCs is the most reliable way to stay unblocked.
| Step | Action | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Defeat Iron Marshall | Fallen Village |
| 2 | Rescue Louis, get grapple | Fallen Village |
| 3 | Talk to James | Abandoned Church |
| 4 | Receive Cave Grotto Key | Abandoned Church |
| 5 | Use grapple, open door | Canyon near church |
| 6 | Enter Caverns | Caverns entrance |
How long does Valor Mortis take from this point?
If you are wondering how much game is left after the Caverns, check out the breakdown of how long Valor Mortis takes to beat, covering main story time and full completionist estimates across every playstyle.
For players still deciding whether to pick the game up, the Valor Mortis FAQ covering release date, platforms, Game Pass, and price has everything you need before buying.
For answers to every other progression question the game throws at you, the Valor Mortis guides collection covers major unlocks, bosses, and area access from start to finish.
