TL;DR – Quick Summary
- The Oathbound is a hidden quest that spans the entire game — one guard per chapter across seven chapters.
- Defeat the first guard you find to automatically start the quest.
- Each guard drops a Mysterious Stone Pyramid and their Emblem.
- After all seven are collected, the Pyramids merge into a Mysterious Stone Slab.
- Use the Slab in the Fortress to open a hidden chamber and read the Codex of the Oathbound to complete the quest.
- Reward: We Wear the Same Colors gold achievement/trophy.
- You need the Shield Transmutation (Chapter 8) to reach guard #6 in the City of Orphans.
The Oathbound is one of the most rewarding quests in Valor Mortis — and one of the easiest to accidentally miss pieces of. There are no quest markers guiding you to these guards. They’re hidden in out-of-the-way corners, tucked behind breakable walls and locked paths, one per major area across nearly the entire game.
This guide gives you every guard location in order, what you need to reach each one, and how to close out the quest at the Fortress.
Before diving in, see our Valor Mortis all chapters list for the full game structure.
How The Oathbound Quest Works in Valor Mortis
The Oathbound quest starts automatically the moment you defeat your first Eternal Guardsman — the name for the special fencer enemies hidden across each chapter. You don’t need to find a quest giver or pick up a note first. Beat one of them, and the quest begins.
Each Eternal Guardsman drops two items: a Mysterious Stone Pyramid and their personal Emblem. After each fight you’ll also find a chest nearby with additional loot — upgrade materials, Ambers, or both.
Once you’ve defeated all seven guards, your seven Mysterious Stone Pyramids automatically combine into a single Mysterious Stone Slab. That’s the key to opening the sealed chamber in the Fortress.
There’s no time limit, and you can return to any area at any time using fast travel. The only real gate is guard #6 in Chapter 8, which requires the Shield Transmutation to reach — the same ability needed for the poison areas. See our Valor Mortis all transmutation abilities location guide for where to get it.
All 7 Oathbound Guard Locations in Valor Mortis
Here is every guard in order, with their nearest Lantern and how to find them:
Guard #1 – Valen Duroc (Chapter 1, The Battlefield)
Nearest Lantern: The Battlefield – Onslaught Arch
From the Onslaught Arch Lantern, turn around and head back up the cliffs the way you came. Continue past the camp until you reach a split in the path with enemies. Take the left path.
Look for a glowing Nephtoglobin weak spot on the wall. Shoot it with your Pistol to break it open and reveal a hidden section. Inside is Valen Duroc, the first Eternal Guardsman.
Defeat him. If this is your first guard, the Oathbound quest begins here. You’ll also find a chest with the Duellist’s Focus Amber behind where he was standing.
Guard #2 – Lucien Lafontaine (Chapter 2, Valley of Ashes)
Nearest Lantern: Valley of Ashes – Demolished Path
From the Demolished Path Lantern — the area where you kick down a ladder earlier in the level — follow the path back down past the plague vines. When you’re behind the group of three enemies, instead of engaging them, take the path to the left.
The Oathbound symbol marks the area. Follow it to find Lucien Lafontaine waiting nearby.
Defeat him for his Emblem and Mysterious Stone Pyramid. The Perfectionism Amber is in the chest behind where he stood.
Guard #3 – Etienne Vauclair (Chapter 3, Fallen Village)
Nearest Lantern: Fallen Village – Fields
This guard is in the Fallen Village — the same chapter as the Lullaby quest and The Scarecrow quest.
From the Marketplace Lantern, turn around and head back through the carriage. At the intersection, go left. Follow the path to the end — there’s a cave at the end of it that holds an Eternal Guardsman. You’ll be able to interact with the Nephtoglobin structures in this area to open the route.
Defeat Etienne Vauclair for his Emblem and the Pyramid. Check the nearby chest for upgrade materials.
Guard #4 – Jean Pierre Polnaire (Chapter 4, Caverns)
Nearest Lantern: Caverns – Old Mine
Note: You need the Stasis Transmutation to access this guard.
In the area past the Old Mine Lantern, use the box on the crane to jump across to the other side of the gap. Climb the ladder on the far side and use the crate to reach the top platform. Follow the path all the way to the end — it leads into a cave.
Jean Pierre Polnaire is waiting inside. Defeat him for his Emblem and the Mysterious Stone Pyramid.
Guard #5 – Severin Susse (Chapter 6, Cursed Hollow)
Nearest Lantern: Cursed Hollow – Deep Water
Progress through the Cursed Hollow until you reach the long straight stretch before the church. There’s a round open area with a hay bale in the center and a cannon enemy patrolling around it.
Past the building that leads to a shortcut on the right side, you’ll see explosive barrels on one island. Go to the right island and circle around the hay bale. Near a building on the far side, you’ll find the Oathbound symbol and Severin Susse waiting.
Defeat him for his Emblem and Pyramid.
Guard #6 – Adrien Casell (Chapter 8, City of Orphans)
Nearest Lantern: City of Orphans – Shamble Street
Note: You need the Shield Transmutation to access this guard.
From the Shamble Street Lantern, take the shortcut through the large gate toward the river area. Head left toward the ramp where two tall enemies patrol. At the bottom of the ramp on the left, you’ll find a poison gas area — use the Shield Transmutation to cross safely.
Follow the path through the toxic section. When you reach a house, climb the boxes to enter through a broken wall. Shoot the red Nephtoglobin bulb inside to open a shortcut and clear the path forward. Drop down to the end of the area.
Adrien Casell is at the end of this route. He’s a tough fight — take your time. Defeating him gives you his Emblem, a Mysterious Stone Pyramid, and Superior Firearm Parts from the nearby chest.
Also read the note beside the chest. It’s from Bastien Beaufort, calling all Oathbound members to gather in the castle’s secret room. The quest updates with the location of the final guard.
Guard #7 – Bastien Beaufort (Chapter 9, Fortress)
Nearest Lantern: Fortress – Courtyard
The last and toughest guard. From the Courtyard Lantern, head through the hallway with the flag hanging above it, then turn left in the large room. Follow the corridor to the end.
Bastien Beaufort is a proper duel — treat it like a boss fight, not a quick kill. He hits hard and has wide swings. Use your parry window carefully, keep your Endurance topped up, and don’t get greedy. Check our Valor Mortis best stats to level first guide if your build needs work before this fight.
Defeat him and search his body for Bastien Beaufort’s Emblem. Once you have all seven Pyramids, they automatically combine into the Mysterious Stone Slab.
How to Complete The Oathbound Quest – Opening the Secret Room
With the Mysterious Stone Slab in hand, stay in the Fortress and find the hidden chamber to complete the quest.
From the room where you fought Bastien Beaufort, look for the opposite side of the room. There’s a wall with the Oathbound symbol marked on it to the left of a gate.
Use the Mysterious Stone Slab on the symbol. The sealed chamber opens.
Inside, find the round table and pick up the Codex of the Oathbound. Read it. The quest completes, and you unlock the We Wear the Same Colors gold achievement/trophy.
All 7 Oathbound Guards – Quick Reference Table
- Valen Duroc — Chapter 1, The Battlefield (Onslaught Arch Lantern) — shoot weak spot on wall, left path from split
- Lucien Lafontaine — Chapter 2, Valley of Ashes (Demolished Path Lantern) — left path behind the group of three enemies
- Etienne Vauclair — Chapter 3, Fallen Village (Marketplace Lantern) — back through carriage, left at intersection, cave at end
- Jean Pierre Polnaire — Chapter 4, Caverns (Old Mine Lantern) — crane box jump, ladder, top platform, cave at the end (needs Stasis)
- Severin Susse — Chapter 6, Cursed Hollow (Deep Water Lantern) — right island past the hay bale area
- Adrien Casell — Chapter 8, City of Orphans (Shamble Street Lantern) — through poison area (needs Shield Transmutation)
- Bastien Beaufort — Chapter 9, Fortress (Courtyard Lantern) — end of hallway past the large room, left turn
Oathbound Quest Tips
- You don’t need to find them in order — you can collect any emblem at any time using fast travel. Just come back for guards you missed.
- Each guard has a chest nearby — don’t just take the Emblem and leave. Loot the chest behind each guard’s position for bonus materials and Ambers.
- Get the Shield Transmutation first before attempting guard #6 — entering the City of Orphans poison area without it is a death run.
- Bastien Beaufort is the hardest — treat him like a late-game miniboss. Don’t go in drained or without Ferrofluid Flask charges.
- Read the note at guard #6 — it updates the quest with the secret room location. Easy to skip if you just grab the Emblem and go.
- The Mysterious Stone Pyramids combine automatically — you don’t need to manually combine them. Once all seven are collected, the Slab appears in your inventory.
What Is The Oathbound? – Story Context
The Oathbound are a secret order of elite soldiers within Napoleon’s Eternal Guard. Each of the seven guards you hunt carries a personal emblem and a fragment of a mysterious stone object. The notes and the Codex you find piece together what this order was, why they swore their oath, and what went wrong.
It’s one of the game’s deeper lore threads — told entirely through items and found documents rather than cutscenes. The Codex at the end ties everything together.
For more on the world and story structure, check our Valor Mortis review and Valor Mortis all achievements and trophy list.
More Valor Mortis Guides
- Valor Mortis The Emissary Quest Guide – another multi-chapter side quest
- Valor Mortis An Unheard Farewell Quest Guide
- Valor Mortis The Scarecrow Quest Guide
- Valor Mortis Lullaby Quest Guide
- Valor Mortis Fast Travel Guide
- Valor Mortis All Swords and Guns Weapons List
- Valor Mortis Tips and Tricks Getting Started Guide
Valor Mortis is available on PC via Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Frequently Asked Questions – Valor Mortis The Oathbound Quest
How do you start The Oathbound quest in Valor Mortis?
It starts automatically the first time you defeat any Eternal Guardsman — the special fencer enemies hidden across the game’s chapters. There’s no NPC to talk to or note to find first. The quest begins as soon as the first one falls.
How many Oathbound guards are there in Valor Mortis?
Seven. One in each of these chapters and locations: Chapter 1 (The Battlefield), Chapter 2 (Valley of Ashes), Chapter 3 (Fallen Village), Chapter 4 (Caverns), Chapter 6 (Cursed Hollow), Chapter 8 (City of Orphans), and Chapter 9 (Fortress).
What do you get for completing The Oathbound quest?
The We Wear the Same Colors gold achievement/trophy, unlocked by defeating all seven Eternal Guardists and reading the Codex of the Oathbound in the secret Fortress chamber.
Do you need any special abilities for The Oathbound quest?
Yes — two guards require specific Transmutations to access. Guard #4 (Jean Pierre Polnaire, Chapter 4) needs the Stasis Transmutation. Guard #6 (Adrien Casell, Chapter 8) needs the Shield Transmutation, which you unlock in Chapter 8 at the University.
What is the Mysterious Stone Slab in Valor Mortis?
It’s formed automatically when you collect all seven Mysterious Stone Pyramids — one from each Eternal Guardsman. Once all seven are in your inventory, they combine into the Stone Slab, which is the key to opening the sealed Oathbound chamber in the Fortress.
Where is the secret Oathbound room in the Fortress?
From the room where you fight the last guard, Bastien Beaufort, look to the opposite side of the room. There’s a wall with the Oathbound symbol on it beside a gate. Use the Mysterious Stone Slab on the symbol to open it. The Codex of the Oathbound is on the round table inside.
Can you miss The Oathbound guards permanently in Valor Mortis?
No. All areas remain accessible via fast travel throughout the game. You can collect any missed guard at any time, as long as you have the required Transmutation ability for guards #4 and #6.
