TL;DR
- The Shrike’s Anthem is a Chapter 7: Witch Hunt side quest in The Outskirts region.
- Start it by crossing the sunken rooftops from the Island of Whispers Lantern and picking up a Torn Page by a wooden shrine.
- You need to find four verse locations — all on the Island of Whispers — by interacting with Mice burrows.
- Verse 1: Inside a house just ahead on the main path, near a dead horse outside the door.
- Verse 2: Cross the bridge to the next area, enter the large building on the left, and duck into a small room for the second burrow.
- Verse 3: Exit that building near the water, jump across to a sunken house, then into the house beside it.
- Verse 4: Climb the large building nearby, walk the rafters into a room off the main path to find the final burrow.
- Reward: Tiny Whisker’s Gift — a consumable worth 3,000 Catalysts.
The Shrike’s Anthem is one of the more atmospheric side quests in Valor Mortis. It’s entirely contained within the Island of Whispers section of The Outskirts, and it has you following Shrike symbols through flooded ruins and crumbling buildings to find Mice hideouts. The quest itself fits naturally into Chapter 7 exploration — you can easily finish it while working through the area for the first time. This guide covers exactly where all four verse locations are so you don’t miss any of them.
Where to Start The Shrike’s Anthem Quest in Valor Mortis
The Shrike’s Anthem is found in Chapter 7: Witch Hunt during your time in The Outskirts region. The nearest checkpoint is the Island of Whispers Lantern.
From the lantern, hop across the sunken rooftops to the next area. This is a platforming section through flooded ruins — take it slowly and don’t rush the jumps. Once across, continue along until you spot a wooden Shrike shrine on the ground. Nearby is a Torn Page with the Shrike’s Anthem lying on the ground. Pick it up to start the quest.
The Torn Page is the opening verse — a fragment of a song the Mice have been building around the Shrike. William now needs to find the remaining four verses by seeking out Mice burrows hidden in the buildings throughout the Island of Whispers. The burrows are typically found near Shrike symbols, so keep an eye out for them as you explore.
All four verses are in the same general area, so you can complete the whole quest during a single pass through Chapter 7 without backtracking much. If you want to understand the full scope of content in this chapter before diving in, our all chapters list gives you a useful overview.
All Verse Locations in The Shrike’s Anthem — Valor Mortis
Every verse is found by interacting with a Mice burrow — small hidden nests tucked into walls and corners inside the ruined buildings. Here’s where to find each one.
Verse 1 Location — The House with the Dead Horse
After picking up the Torn Page by the shrine, continue along the main path just a short distance further. On your left, you’ll see a door leading into a house. Outside this building, a deceased horse is lying on the ground — use it as a landmark. You can’t miss it once you know to look.
Head inside. The first burrow is in here. Interact with it to receive the first verse of the Shrike’s Anthem. The Mice inside will share their portion of the song with William.
Verse 2 Location — The Large Building After the Bridge
From the first burrow, continue along the path until you cross a bridge into the next area. There will be enemies roaming around here — clear them before exploring, it makes searching for the burrow much easier.
Once they’re handled, look to your left. There’s a large building on the left side of this area. Enter it. Inside, look for a small room tucked within the building — you’ll need to duck into it. The second burrow is in there. Interact with it to collect the second verse.
Verse 3 Location — The Sunken House Near the Water
Keep pushing through the large building from Verse 2 until you exit on the far side, near the water. Once outside, look to the right side of the pathway. You’ll see a sunken house you can jump across to.
Make the jump. From that first sunken house, there’s another house directly beside it — jump into that one too. The third burrow is inside. Interact with it for the third verse. The flooded setting here is one of the more memorable spots in the whole quest — these Mice have found a strange little home.
Verse 4 Location — The Rafters in the Tall Building
Shortly after the third burrow, you’ll need to climb a large building. This is part of the natural progression through the area, so you’ll hit it as you keep moving forward. Work your way up through the building until you reach a section with exposed rafters you can walk across.
Don’t just follow the main route. The fourth burrow is in a room off to the side, accessed by walking across the rafters into a section away from the main path. It’s easy to walk straight past if you’re focused on forward progress, so deliberately check the rafter area before climbing higher.
Interact with the final burrow to collect the fourth and last verse. This completes The Shrike’s Anthem quest.
The Shrike’s Anthem Quest Reward in Valor Mortis
For completing all four verse locations and finishing the quest, you receive the Tiny Whisker’s Gift. This is a consumable that grants you 3,000 Catalysts when used.
It’s worth using sooner rather than later if you’re working on leveling up or upgrading your weapons. Chapter 7 is a good point in the game to pump Catalysts into stats, since you’re heading into increasingly demanding territory. Check our best stats to level first guide before spending them if you’re not sure where they should go.
Need more Catalysts on top of this? Our Catalyst farming guide shows the most efficient ways to keep them coming in throughout the game.
Tips for Finding the Verses Faster
- Follow the Shrike symbols. The Mice nest near them. If you see a Shrike drawing or carving on a wall in this area, a burrow is likely nearby. It’s the game’s way of pointing you without an explicit marker.
- Clear enemies before searching. The burrows require you to stop and interact. Having enemies nearby while you do this creates unnecessary pressure. Take them out first, then explore.
- Don’t rush the rafters section. Verse 4 is the one most players miss. When you get to the tall building, slow down and look sideways across the rafters before going up. The room you need is off to the side, not directly above.
- Stick close to the main path. All four verses are within a tight radius of the Island of Whispers area. If you’re exploring thoroughly as you move through Chapter 7, you’ll naturally pass all of them.
If you’re struggling with the platforming sections or finding navigation through the flooded ruins difficult, our fast travel guide can help you reposition quickly between the Island of Whispers lantern and any verse location you need to revisit.
Is The Shrike’s Anthem Missable in Valor Mortis?
No. You can return to the Island of Whispers area at any time and complete the quest. The burrows stay in place and the Torn Page starting trigger doesn’t disappear.
The only truly missable quest in Valor Mortis is The Choir, which is locked to Chapter 10’s prison section and can’t be accessed afterward. Every other quest, including The Shrike’s Anthem, is returnable at any point. That said, since the quest is entirely contained within the Chapter 7 area you’re already exploring, it makes sense to knock it out during your first visit.
More Valor Mortis Side Quest Guides
- The Curious Case of Seamus Diggory Quest Guide
- Till Death Quest Guide
- Sleeping Beauty Quest Guide
- The Lost Boy Quest Guide
- The Oathbound Quest Guide
- The Emissary Quest Guide
- The Scarecrow Quest Guide
- Lullaby Quest Guide
- An Unheard Farewell Quest Guide
- The Deserter Quest Guide
- In the Name of Art Quest Guide
- Homesick Quest Guide
More Valor Mortis Guides
- Sewers Master Key Location
- How to Beat the Iron Marshall
- Slaughtermill Guide
- Fallen Village Location
- All Transmutation Abilities Location
- All Achievements and Trophy List
- All Swords and Guns Weapons List
- Tips and Tricks Getting Started Guide
- Valor Mortis Review
- PC System Requirements
Valor Mortis is available on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Frequently Asked Questions — Valor Mortis The Shrike’s Anthem Quest
Where does The Shrike’s Anthem quest start in Valor Mortis?
It starts in Chapter 7: Witch Hunt at the Island of Whispers in The Outskirts. From the Island of Whispers Lantern, hop across the sunken rooftops and pick up the Torn Page with Shrike’s Anthem lying near a wooden shrine on the ground to begin the quest.
How many verses are in The Shrike’s Anthem quest?
There are four verses to find, each in a separate Mice burrow hidden in buildings throughout the Island of Whispers. All four are in the same area, so you can complete the quest in one pass through Chapter 7.
Where is Verse 1 in The Shrike’s Anthem?
Continue along the main path from the starting shrine. Look for a house on your left with a dead horse outside the door. The first burrow is inside this house.
Where is Verse 2 in The Shrike’s Anthem?
Cross the bridge from the first burrow into the next area. Defeat the enemies there, then enter the large building on the left. Duck into a small room inside to find the second burrow.
Where is Verse 3 in The Shrike’s Anthem?
Exit the large building near the water. Look right and jump across to a sunken house, then leap into the house directly beside it. The third burrow is inside
Where is Verse 4 in The Shrike’s Anthem?
Climb the large building shortly after Verse 3. When you reach the rafter section, don’t follow the main path upward. Instead, walk across the rafters into a side room off the beaten route. The fourth and final burrow is there.
What is the reward for The Shrike’s Anthem in Valor Mortis?
You receive the Tiny Whisker’s Gift — a consumable that grants 3,000 Catalysts when used.
Is The Shrike’s Anthem quest missable in Valor Mortis?
No. You can return to the Island of Whispers at any time and complete it. The only missable quest in the game is The Choir, which is limited to Chapter 10’s prison section.
