TL;DR – Quick Overview
- An Unheard Farewell is one of the first side quests in Valor Mortis, found in Chapter 2.
- Talk to the Adjutant Sous-Officier in the Valley of Ashes to start it.
- You need to find missing scouts hidden behind a burnable wall near the elevator.
- Defeat the miniboss, grab the letter, then return to the officer.
- You always get the Sleight of Hand Amber. Your lie or truth choice changes the bonus reward.
- Completing the quest also unlocks the Aggressive Reconnaissance achievement.
Side quests in soulslike games are often easy to miss — and An Unheard Farewell in Valor Mortis is no different. It’s one of the earliest quests in the game, but a lot of players walk right past it without ever starting it. Others start it and then lose track of where to go next.
This guide walks you through every step — where to start, how to find the scouts, what to do in the cave, and which choice to make at the end. No fluff, just what you need.
If you’re new to the game, check out our Valor Mortis tips and tricks getting started guide before diving into side quests.
How to Start the An Unheard Farewell Quest in Valor Mortis
This quest is available in Chapter 2, in the Valley of Ashes area. You start it by talking to the Adjutant Sous-Officier — a soldier hiding inside a wrecked wagon suspended near the Demolished Path Lantern.
You’ll encounter him right after you defeat the first Risen Grenadier enemy. Before you head down the crumbling bridge, look to your side. There’s a horse-drawn military wagon. The officer inside will call out to you.
Talk to him. He explains that his reconnaissance squad went out and never came back. He’s too scared to go look himself, so he asks William to find them. Agree to help, and the quest begins.
Don’t skip past this. It’s easy to miss if you just rush down the bridge right after the grenadier fight.
Valor Mortis An Unheard Farewell Quest Walkthrough – Step by Step
Here’s the full walkthrough, step by step, so you don’t waste time running around.
Step 1 – Progress Through the Valley of Ashes Normally
After accepting the quest, you don’t need to go anywhere special yet. Just continue through the level as you normally would.
Head down the fractured bridge. On your way, you’ll pick up a pistol — your first firearm in the game. Keep moving forward until you reach the bottom of the area, where you’ll find a Lantern and some enemies.
For tips on all the guns in Valor Mortis, see our Valor Mortis all swords and guns weapons list.
Step 2 – Clear the Nephtoglobin and Unlock the Elevator
Near the Lantern at the bottom, you’ll find a wooden elevator blocked by Nephtoglobin growth. These are the glowing reddish growths you’ll see all over the game.
Shoot both Nephtoglobin Weakspots — the glowing orbs on each side of the lift — to destroy the blockage. This frees the elevator. Pull the lever to call it up and use it.
This lantern is called Valley of Ashes – The Climb. The quest also updates automatically when you reach this area.
Step 3 – Ride the Elevator Up and Explore the Cave on the Right
Take the elevator up to the first stop. Head right and into the cave. There are Carrion enemies inside (the crawling flesh piles). Clear them out and climb the ladder on the other side.
Keep following the path. You’ll eventually come out of the cave and work your way along a cliffside. From here, you can destroy another Nephtoglobin Weakspot nearby to unlock the elevator to a higher level.
Step 4 – Find the Hidden Cave with the Missing Scouts
This is the part that trips most players up.
Once you’ve unlocked the upper elevator stop, take the elevator back down. While riding it, watch the opposite side from where you got on originally.
Halfway down, you’ll spot a ledge and a wall made of dry gold Nephtoglobin vines. Jump off the elevator onto that ledge.
Use your Fire Transmutation to burn through the golden vine wall. This opens the hidden cave where the missing scouts are.
For more on unlocking abilities like fire transmutation, visit our Valor Mortis all transmutation abilities location guide.
Step 5 – Defeat the Miniboss and Grab the Letter
Inside the cave, you’ll find the fate of the Adjutant’s comrades. Most of them are dead. But one remains — a scout commander, who has been turned into a tough enemy.
He’s not a massive boss fight, but he hits hard. Use fire attacks to chip his health down faster before going in. Take your time.
After you defeat him, check the treasure crate near the tent. Inside is the Letter to all Commanding Officers of the Line Infantry — the captain’s orders the Adjutant sent his scouts to find.
You can also kick down a ladder nearby. This creates a shortcut straight back to the area where the Adjutant is waiting in the carriage.
Step 6 – Return to the Adjutant Sous-Officier
Head back up to the top of the area and use the shortcut ladder to return to the Adjutant’s carriage near the Demolished Path Lantern.
Talk to him. He asks what happened to his men. Now you face a choice.
Truth or Lie – Which Choice Should You Make?
When you report back to the Adjutant, you get to decide what to tell him about his scouts.
- Tell the Truth: William tells the officer that all his men died. The Adjutant refuses to accept it, but the quest still ends. After this, rest at any nearby Lantern and return to the carriage — you’ll find an Epic Catalyst Clot on the ground near it as a bonus reward.
- Tell a Lie: William makes up a story that the scouts escaped. After resting at a Lantern, the Adjutant’s remains appear in the cave where you found the scouts. His body has a Remnant’s Return — a one-use item that lets you recover your lost Catalysts from anywhere, without going back to your death spot.
Either way, you always receive the Sleight of Hand Amber as your main reward. The choice only changes the bonus item you get afterward.
Which is better? If you’re struggling with Catalyst loss on deaths, the Remnant’s Return from lying is very handy. Remnant’s Returns are harder to find than Catalyst Clots overall, so that’s a slight edge. But if you’re doing well, the Catalyst Clot from telling the truth works fine too.
Worth noting — no matter what you tell him, the Adjutant doesn’t fully believe either answer. He clings to hope regardless.
An Unheard Farewell Quest Rewards in Valor Mortis
Here’s a full breakdown of what you get for completing this quest:
- Sleight of Hand Amber – A passive upgrade that speeds up firearm reload times and makes weapon switching faster. Useful if you use guns regularly.
- Aggressive Reconnaissance Achievement/Trophy – Unlocked for completing the quest.
- Bonus (Truth): Epic Catalyst Clot — found near the carriage after resting at a Lantern.
- Bonus (Lie): Remnant’s Return — found on the Adjutant’s remains in the scout cave after resting.
See what other achievements are available in our Valor Mortis all achievements and trophy list.
Tips for Completing An Unheard Farewell Faster
- Don’t rush past the wagon — the quest giver is easy to miss if you’re focused on the bridge descent after the grenadier fight.
- Clear the elevator before searching for the cave — you can’t access the hidden cave until you’ve unlocked the upper elevator level first.
- Jump off the elevator mid-ride — the hidden cave entrance is midway down. You have to jump off while it’s moving, not at the top or bottom.
- Use fire on the miniboss — it deals extra damage and makes the fight shorter and cleaner.
- Rest before claiming your bonus reward — whether you lie or tell the truth, the bonus item only appears after you rest at a Lantern.
Want to explore the full game world more efficiently? Check our Valor Mortis fast travel guide to move between areas quickly.
Where Does An Unheard Farewell Fit in the Story?
This quest is set in Chapter 2 of Valor Mortis, in the Valley of Ashes. It’s one of the earliest side quests you can encounter, making it a good introduction to how side quests work in the game.
The Adjutant Sous-Officier is a soldier stuck behind the frontlines after everything collapsed. His squad went out on recon and never returned. When you find them, you discover the grim truth — the Nephtoglobin corruption has claimed most of them, and the last one standing has been turned into an enemy. It’s a small, quiet tragedy that adds to the bleak atmosphere of the game.
For a full breakdown of the game’s structure, see our Valor Mortis all chapters list.
Valor Mortis Weapons Used in This Quest
This quest is also where you pick up the pistol — your first ranged weapon. The gun is useful immediately for destroying the Nephtoglobin Weakspots on the elevator, and it stays relevant throughout Chapter 2.
We have detailed weapon guides if you want to get the most out of your arsenal:
- Valor Mortis Pistol Gun Guide
- Valor Mortis Musket Gun Guide
- Valor Mortis Blunderbuss Gun Guide
- Valor Mortis Saber Sword Guide
- Valor Mortis Claymore Sword Guide
- Valor Mortis Rapier Sword Guide
Valor Mortis is available on PC via Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Frequently Asked Questions – An Unheard Farewell Quest Valor Mortis
Where do I start An Unheard Farewell in Valor Mortis?
Talk to the Adjutant Sous-Officier in the wrecked wagon near the Demolished Path Lantern in the Valley of Ashes. This happens in Chapter 2, right after you defeat the first Risen Grenadier.
Where are the missing scouts in Valor Mortis An Unheard Farewell?
They’re hidden in a cave midway up the elevator shaft. You have to unlock the upper elevator level first, then ride it back down and jump off halfway to find the entrance — a burnable gold vine wall on the opposite side from where you first got on.
Should I tell the truth or lie to the Adjutant in Valor Mortis?
Both choices give you the Sleight of Hand Amber. The bonus changes: truth gives you an Epic Catalyst Clot near the carriage, while lying gives you a Remnant’s Return from the Adjutant’s body in the cave. Remnant’s Returns are rarer and slightly more valuable if you lose Catalysts often.
What does the Sleight of Hand Amber do in Valor Mortis?
It’s a passive upgrade that makes your guns reload faster and lets you switch between weapons more quickly. Very useful if you regularly use firearms in combat.
Does An Unheard Farewell unlock an achievement?
Yes. Completing it unlocks the Aggressive Reconnaissance bronze achievement/trophy.
Can I miss An Unheard Farewell permanently?
You should start the quest by talking to the officer before progressing too far through Chapter 2. Like most soulslike side quests, if you skip the NPC interaction and advance the chapter, the quest opportunity may pass. Talk to the officer as soon as you see him to be safe.
What is the captain’s orders item in Valor Mortis?
It’s called the Letter to all Commanding Officers of the Line Infantry. You find it in a treasure crate near the tent inside the hidden cave, after defeating the corrupted scout commander miniboss. You need to bring it back to the Adjutant to complete the quest.
