TL;DR
- Homesick is Side Quest #6 in Valor Mortis, found during Chapter 4: Dark Descent in the Caverns.
- Start it by picking up the Longing Wife Letter near the Last Sunlight Lantern.
- Find the Death Notice on a boat past the Grenadier enemy in the cave.
- Return to the memory spot to finish the quest automatically.
- Reward: Bottomless Well Amber.
- This quest is not missable — you can return to the Caverns any time after completing the chapter.
Homesick Quest Overview
Homesick is one of the more quietly emotional side quests in Valor Mortis. It tells the story of a family separated by war and plague — a wife who wrote a letter to her husband waiting for him to come home, and a husband who never made it back. William stumbles into this story while moving through the dark, enemy-filled Caverns and takes it upon himself to find out what happened.
The quest has three steps, all of which happen in the same general section of the Caverns near the Last Sunlight Lantern. It is short but easy to miss if you rush past the memory scene at the start. Here is exactly how to complete it.
Where to Start the Homesick Quest in Valor Mortis
The Homesick quest becomes available in Chapter 4: Dark Descent, inside the Caverns region. You need to reach the Last Sunlight Lantern first. Once you are there, head into the next area through the eastern opening in the cave.
Follow the passage until you come across a blue memory — the ghost of a Concerned Mother. This is a memory apparition, so you can walk past it, but do not skip past this spot too quickly. Beside where the memory figure is sitting, on the ground nearby, you will find a note called the “Longing Wife Letter.” Pick it up. That is what starts the Homesick side quest.
The letter is written by a wife to her husband. She and their children are waiting for him to return home, worried but hopeful. William reads it and decides to go further into the cave to find out whether the husband simply abandoned his family — or if something worse happened to him.
Homesick Quest Step by Step Walkthrough
Step 1 – Pick Up the Longing Wife Letter
Lantern Reference: Caverns > Last Sunlight
From the Last Sunlight Lantern, go through the eastern opening into the next area of the cave. Move through the passage until you reach the blue memory scene of the Concerned Mother. Look beside her apparition on the ground and pick up the Longing Wife Letter. This starts the Homesick quest.
Step 2 – Find the Death Notice on the Boat
Lantern Reference: Caverns > Last Sunlight
Continue forward from the memory area into the large cave section filled with enemies. This part of the Caverns is busy — there are multiple enemies, including a Grenadier patrolling the area. Deal with them as you progress, or move carefully around them.
In the same large cave area, look for a hole in the ground with a tunnel visible inside it. Drop down and follow the tunnel through. It leads you to a smaller side section. Keep moving past where the Grenadier was patrolling. You will come to a spot where you can jump over some water. Do that and look for a boat on the other side.
On the boat, you will find a note called the “Death Notice.” Pick it up. This is the letter explaining what actually happened to the husband — he became too sick to make it home and asked someone to inform his family. He never abandoned them. He died in the cave.
William now has the full picture and decides to take the father’s letter back to where the family’s memory resides.
Step 3 – Return to the Memory Spot to Complete the Quest
Lantern Reference: Caverns > Last Sunlight
Head back to the original spot in the cave where you picked up the Longing Wife Letter — the area with the blue memory of the Concerned Mother, near the eastern opening from the Last Sunlight Lantern.
Once you return to that spot, the quest completes automatically. William reads the father’s letter aloud there, where the family’s memory lingers. There is no extra prompt needed — just walk back to that location and a short scene plays out.
After William finishes talking, the Homesick quest is marked complete and you receive your reward.
Homesick Quest Reward – Bottomless Well Amber
Completing the Homesick quest rewards you with the Bottomless Well Amber. This is a passive Amber buff that you can slot into your loadout for ongoing combat benefits throughout the rest of the game.
If you already picked up the first copy of Bottomless Well earlier (it can be found near the Battlefield area in Chapter 2), this reward upgrades it to Level 2, making it more powerful. Either way, it is well worth picking up.
Check out our full achievements and trophy list to see everything you can unlock across all quests in the game.
Things to Know Before You Start
- This quest is not missable. You can return to the Caverns at any point after completing Chapter 4 using fast travel to pick up the letter and finish the quest if you skipped it the first time through.
- Do not rush the memory scene. The Longing Wife Letter sits beside the apparition. If you run past the memory without checking around it, you will miss the quest trigger entirely.
- The tunnel hole is easy to overlook. In the large enemy-filled cave section, stay aware of the floor. The hole leading down to the Grenadier area and the boat is not huge. Look for the tunnel opening in the ground as you explore.
- Watch for the Grenadier. Before reaching the boat, you pass through the area where a Grenadier is patrolling. Deal with it before jumping across the water, or it will pressure you while you are picking up the note.
- All three steps happen in the same area. You never need to leave the Last Sunlight Lantern zone to finish this quest. Everything loops back around.
Other Side Quests in Valor Mortis You Should Not Miss
Homesick is one of 20 side quests available across the whole game. Most reward Amber or useful upgrade materials. If you are working toward full completion, here are some other quests worth doing:
- The Oathbound – one of the few quests with its own trophy
- The Emissary – found in the Valley of Ashes
- The Scarecrow – rewards the Bountiful Harvest Amber
- Lullaby – a short but memorable quest in the Fallen Village
- An Unheard Farewell – one of the earliest quests, with a trophy attached
If you are in Chapter 4 and want to keep leveling up efficiently while exploring, see our guide on how to farm Catalysts and level up fast. And if the Iron Marshall boss fight in Chapter 3 gave you trouble before reaching this point, that guide breaks down exactly how to beat him.
You can play Valor Mortis on PC via Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox.
Frequently Asked Questions – Homesick Quest
Where do I start the Homesick quest in Valor Mortis?
The quest starts in the Caverns during Chapter 4: Dark Descent. From the Last Sunlight Lantern, go east into the next passage until you find a blue memory scene. Pick up the Longing Wife Letter beside the apparition to begin the quest.
Where is the Death Notice in Valor Mortis?
The Death Notice is found on a boat in the Caverns. From the large enemy-filled cave area near the Last Sunlight Lantern, find the hole in the ground and follow the tunnel through. Past the Grenadier enemy, jump over the water to reach a boat where the Death Notice is sitting.
How do I finish the Homesick quest?
After picking up the Death Notice, return to the spot in the cave where you found the first letter — the memory scene near the eastern opening from the Last Sunlight Lantern. Walk back to that location and William will automatically read the letter there, completing the quest.
What is the reward for completing Homesick in Valor Mortis?
You earn the Bottomless Well Amber. If you already have the first copy from an earlier area in the game, this reward upgrades it to Level 2.
Can you miss the Homesick quest in Valor Mortis?
No. Nothing in Valor Mortis is permanently missable. You can use fast travel to return to the Caverns after Chapter 4 and complete any steps you skipped. The quest will still be available and completable.
What chapter is the Homesick quest in?
Homesick is found in Chapter 4: Dark Descent, in the Caverns region. It is the sixth side quest in the game’s full list of 20 side quests.
