Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsiTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Complete Valor Mortis side quests in regional story order: The Battlefield (Chapter I), Valley of Ashes (II), Fallen Village (III), Caverns (IV), Vale of Wrath (V), Cursed Hollow (VI), The Outskirts (VII), City of Orphans (VIII), Fortress (X), and Napoleon’s Prison (XI). Accept every quest available before leaving its region, keep The Oathbound active across the campaign, and finish The Choir during the temporary Chapter 10 prison sequence. This route minimizes backtracking while preserving Amber rewards, upgrade materials, and achievement opportunities.
The most important completionist warning concerns The Choir. MetaBot.GG’s 2026 data does not flag it as missable, but PowerPyx and a separate 20-quest walkthrough place it in a temporary prison window. Treat it as missable and complete it before leaving that area.
Recommended side-quest order at a glance
The order below follows regional access rather than combat difficulty. It lets you clear local objectives while you are already in each area and leaves the cross-region Oathbound encounters running in the background.
| Story area | Chapter | Side quests to start or complete | Route instruction |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Battlefield | I | Guard Eternal | Accept it before moving on. |
| Valley of Ashes | II | An Unheard Farewell; The Emissary | Resolve the choice in An Unheard Farewell before committing to its branch. |
| Fallen Village | III | Lullaby; The Scarecrow | Clear both while the village is your active region. |
| Caverns | IV | Homesick | Collect the Amber and Catalysts before leaving the caverns. |
| Vale of Wrath | V | In the Name of Art; The Deserter; The King of Smugglers; The Lost Boy | Start all four; some objectives may require abilities obtained later. |
| Cursed Hollow | VI | Sleeping Beauty; The Curious Case of Seamus Diggory; Till Death | Prioritize Seamus Diggory for the power upgrade and Till Death for its Amber. |
| The Outskirts | VII | Laudanum; The Shrike’s Anthem | Finish Laudanum for the Mythic Catalyst Clot and achievement. |
| City of Orphans | VIII | Afraid of the Dark; Bedtime Stories; Misericorde; Monster Hunt; Mummy and Daddy | Leave time for Monster Hunt’s 19 journal steps. |
| Fortress | X | Two Towers | Complete it during the Fortress visit. |
| Napoleon’s Prison | XI | The Choir; The Forgotten Fortune | Do The Choir during the temporary Chapter 10 prison sequence, before departing. |
| Cross-region | Several chapters | The Oathbound | Keep it active and revisit each Eternal Guard encounter as abilities unlock. |
The chapter sequence jumps from VIII to X in published quest lists; no Chapter IX location is identified in those lists, so do not insert an unverified region into the route.
#1 Best Overall
- HARNESS CORRUPTED POWER - Each death is a chance to grow stronger. Master a combat system of parries, dashes, and visceral finishers across a variety of weapons. Channel your power to enhance attacks and unlock new supernatural abilities to inflict upon your enemies.
- SECRETS LITTER THE BATTLEFIELD - Navigate a 19th-century alternate history where the costs of endless war have corrupted the landscape. Use your newfound mobility to outmaneuver the plague-ridden abominations of Napoleon’s Eternal Guard and uncover environmental secrets that may increase your chances of survival.
- UNCOVER A HORRID CONSPIRACY - Witness a compelling story where historical figures and realities intertwine with elements of horror and the supernatural. Explore beyond the dark corners of the world to discover the truth behind the plague and your unholy resurrection.
How many side quests are there?
MetaBot.GG’s 2026 checklist reports 24 side quests when The Oathbound is counted as one cross-region quest. MetaBot.GG’s 2026 list contains 24: 23 region-based quests plus The Oathbound. Another checklist, including a 20-quest walkthrough, reports only 20. The difference appears to come from list version, naming, and whether every regional activity is counted, not from a confirmed official total.
Use 24 as the practical completion target for the route in this guide, but retain your own checklist and compare quest names rather than relying only on a percentage counter. No official publisher quest list is currently published to reconcile these totals, and third-party lists can change after a patch. The named regional breakdown above is the 24-quest version attributed to MetaBot.GG (2026); PowerPyx and another checklist describe the temporary Choir warning.
Why this order works
It follows access, not assumed difficulty
Each regional group is placed in the story chapter where the corresponding area first becomes relevant. Clearing quests locally prevents repeated crossings of earlier zones. The route is therefore an access-and-cleanup plan, not a ranking of easy, hard, or optimal combat encounters.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
It protects ability-gated objectives
The Oathbound spans seven Eternal Guard encounters, and some encounters require abilities obtained in later chapters. Start the quest as soon as it appears, record the guard locations, and return when the required ability is available. Trying to force every encounter immediately creates unnecessary backtracking or an apparent dead end.
It separates permanent-looking quests from the risky window
Most entries can be handled when their regions are open. The Choir is the exception that matters: two sources describe a temporary Chapter 10 prison sequence. Completing it before leaving the prison is the safest practice even though MetaBot.GG does not mark it as technically missable.
Chapter-by-chapter route and quest instructions
The Battlefield — Chapter I
Guard Eternal
Accept Guard Eternal in The Battlefield and note that it is part of the larger Oathbound chain. Do not expect to finish the cross-region objective here. The useful action in this chapter is to begin the chain and keep it active while progressing through later regions.
Valley of Ashes — Chapter II
An Unheard Farewell
This is one of the Amber-reward quests and includes a consequential reward choice. One branch grants the Lucky Shot Amber; the other grants Sleight of Hand Amber. The quest is also tied to the Aggressive Reconnaissance achievement. Decide which Amber fits your build before making the irreversible choice, and use a branch-specific walkthrough if you need the alternate reward on a second playthrough.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Rank #2
- Item is intended for adults, over the age of 18. This is not a child’s toy.
- Solitaire Play
- 22 x34 Map
- 300+ Counters
- Unit Size: 1 Plane
The Emissary
Start and finish The Emissary while Valley of Ashes is your active story region. No unique Amber, named upgrade, or achievement is specified for this quest, so do not assume it shares An Unheard Farewell’s choice or reward table.
Fallen Village — Chapter III
Lullaby
Lullaby grants the Tomorrow’s Promise Amber and 1,500 Catalysts. Take it before leaving Fallen Village so the currency reward is not separated from the rest of the local cleanup. The Amber is a fixed reward, unlike the branch-dependent Amber in An Unheard Farewell.
The Scarecrow
Complete The Scarecrow during the same village visit. No unique reward or achievement is specified for this quest, so its value is completing the quest log and avoiding a later return trip.
Caverns — Chapter IV
Homesick
Homesick awards the Bottomless Well Amber and 2,000 Catalysts. Because the reward combines a unique Amber with a substantial currency payout, make it a priority before exiting the Caverns. If an objective appears inaccessible, verify whether it is ability-gated rather than abandoning the quest; the route is designed to let you return after later unlocks.
Vale of Wrath — Chapter V
In the Name of Art
Start In the Name of Art as soon as it appears in Vale of Wrath. No named Amber, material, or achievement is specified for it, so treat it as a regional completion objective and follow its current journal instructions.
The Deserter
Complete The Deserter during the Vale of Wrath pass. Keeping it grouped with the other three Vale quests is more efficient than chasing it after the story has moved to Cursed Hollow.
The King of Smugglers
Accept The King of Smugglers before leaving the Vale. No unique item or achievement is identified for it, so the key completionist action is recording it and resolving it before advancing too far into the next region.
The Lost Boy
Finish The Lost Boy in the same regional sweep. If an objective points outside the immediate route, leave the quest active and return after the relevant story or ability unlock rather than repeatedly crossing the map.
Cursed Hollow — Chapter VI
Sleeping Beauty
Start Sleeping Beauty when Cursed Hollow opens and clear it with the other Hollow quests. No named Amber or achievement is identified for this entry.
The Curious Case of Seamus Diggory
This quest grants a Ferrofluid Flask Power Upgrade and the Blood and Wine achievement. Prioritize it over untracked cleanup if you are planning a single completionist run because the reward is a permanent upgrade rather than only currency.
Till Death
Till Death grants the Tomorrow’s Promise Amber and 3,000 Catalysts. It is the second listed quest with that Amber name, so check your inventory and quest notes rather than assuming one copy is the entire Amber supply. Complete the quest before leaving Cursed Hollow to secure both the Amber and the currency.
The Outskirts — Chapter VII
Laudanum
Laudanum awards a Mythic Catalyst Clot and the A Bitter Cure achievement. The Mythic Catalyst Clot is the distinctive material reward in this region’s list, making Laudanum a priority if you are upgrading equipment or planning achievement cleanup.
The Shrike’s Anthem
Resolve The Shrike’s Anthem during the Outskirts visit. No specific Amber, upgrade, or achievement is attached to it, but leaving it active risks turning a short local cleanup into a later return.
City of Orphans — Chapter VIII
Afraid of the Dark
Accept Afraid of the Dark as soon as it becomes available in the City of Orphans. No unique reward is specified, so use the quest journal to complete it alongside the other city activities.
Rank #4
Bedtime Stories
Complete Bedtime Stories during the same city sweep. Keeping all five City of Orphans quests together is the intended way to reduce repeated travel through the urban area.
Misericorde
Finish Misericorde before moving on to Fortress. No special Amber or achievement is named for it.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Monster Hunt
Monster Hunt awards a Quintessential Transmutation Material and the The Book of Beasts achievement. Its achievement requires a 19-step portrait collection recorded in the journal. Treat every portrait step as a separate checklist item: if the achievement does not trigger, review the journal for a missing portrait instead of assuming the final turn-in failed.
Mummy and Daddy
Complete Mummy and Daddy with the other City of Orphans quests. No unique reward is stated, so its completion is primarily important for a full quest log and avoiding a later city revisit.
Fortress — Chapter X
Two Towers
Take Two Towers during the Fortress chapter and finish it before the story pulls you onward. No named Amber, material, or achievement is listed for this quest; its placement in the route is about completing the Fortress content while access is convenient.
Napoleon’s Prison — Chapter XI, with the Chapter 10 Choir warning
The Choir
The Choir is reported by MetaBot.GG as granting Remnant’s Return and 6,000 Catalysts. PowerPyx and another checklist describe it as available only during a temporary Chapter 10 prison sequence, while MetaBot.GG’s data does not flag it as missable. Because the consequences of waiting are uncertain, complete The Choir immediately during that prison sequence, before using the exit or advancing the story. Do not postpone it for endgame cleanup.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →The Forgotten Fortune
Complete The Forgotten Fortune in Napoleon’s Prison as part of the same final regional sweep. No unique Amber or achievement is specified, but completing it before leaving keeps the 24-quest checklist consistent.
Best Value
The Oathbound: the cross-region quest to keep active
The Oathbound is not confined to one map. It involves seven Eternal Guard encounters spread over multiple chapters, with some encounters requiring abilities learned later. Start it at the first available opportunity, then revisit the relevant regions whenever a new ability removes an obstacle.
- Accept The Oathbound and record that it is a multi-chapter objective.
- Complete every Eternal Guard encounter that is currently accessible without forcing an ability-gated route.
- After each major ability unlock, review the quest log and revisit outstanding guard locations.
- When all seven guards are complete, enter the final room associated with the quest.
- Finish the final-room objective to receive the Empty Ferrofluid Flask, Quintessential Blade Material, and the We Wear the Same Colours achievement.
The achievement had been earned by 3.8% of Steam players at the time MetaBot.GG recorded the figure, which indicates that many players miss at least one guard or the final room. That percentage is a historical snapshot, not a guarantee of current platform-wide ownership.
Amber rewards and other unique payouts
| Quest | Reward | Additional reward or achievement | Important condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| An Unheard Farewell | Lucky Shot Amber or Sleight of Hand Amber | Aggressive Reconnaissance achievement | Choice-dependent; select the branch before committing. |
| Lullaby | Tomorrow’s Promise Amber | 1,500 Catalysts | Fixed reward in the current list. |
| Homesick | Bottomless Well Amber | 2,000 Catalysts | Clear during the Caverns visit. |
| Till Death | Tomorrow’s Promise Amber | 3,000 Catalysts | Fixed reward in the current list. |
| The Curious Case of Seamus Diggory | Not stated | Ferrofluid Flask Power Upgrade; Blood and Wine achievement | Prioritize for the permanent upgrade. |
| Laudanum | Not stated | Mythic Catalyst Clot; A Bitter Cure achievement | Complete in The Outskirts. |
| Monster Hunt | Not stated | Quintessential Transmutation Material; The Book of Beasts achievement | Requires 19 portrait-journal steps. |
| The Oathbound | Not stated | Empty Ferrofluid Flask; Quintessential Blade Material; We Wear the Same Colours achievement | Seven guards plus the final room. |
| The Choir | Remnant’s Return | 6,000 Catalysts | Safest to complete during the temporary Chapter 10 prison sequence. |
MetaBot.GG reports four Amber-reward quests and six achievement-linked quests in its 2026 statistics. The detailed reward notes identify the four Amber quests above and name five achievement-linked quests directly: An Unheard Farewell, The Oathbound, The Curious Case of Seamus Diggory, Laudanum, and Monster Hunt. The sixth achievement-linked entry is not identified by name in that summary, so do not assign an unverified achievement to another quest.
Choices, alternate endings, and missable content
Plan choices before selecting a branch
Five quests are recorded as reward-choice quests, and several have alternate endings. The clearly documented Amber choice is An Unheard Farewell: Lucky Shot versus Sleight of Hand. For the other choice quests, read the branch-specific objective and reward details before making the final selection; the general quest list does not provide enough information to map every branch safely.
Use a manual save before irreversible decisions
If your platform supports manual saves, create one immediately before a known choice or alternate-ending decision. This preserves the option to inspect the other branch without treating an unverified reward as guaranteed. Do not overwrite the save until the chosen reward and achievement have appeared in your inventory or achievement log.
Treat The Choir as missable
The Choir’s technical status is disputed. MetaBot.GG does not flag it, whereas PowerPyx and the 20-quest walkthrough identify a temporary Chapter 10 prison window. The practical rule is simple: when the prison sequence starts, complete The Choir before leaving. This avoids relying on a data flag that may differ by game version.
Do not abandon Oathbound when a guard is inaccessible
An unreachable Eternal Guard does not necessarily mean the quest is broken. Some encounters require later abilities. Keep the quest active, note the location, and return after the next relevant unlock. The final room and achievement require all seven encounters, not merely the first guard you meet.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchCompletionist checklist
- Use the regional order from The Battlefield through Napoleon’s Prison.
- Accept every available quest before leaving its region.
- Record the branch selected for An Unheard Farewell and the Amber it grants.
- Collect the Amber rewards from Lullaby, Homesick, and Till Death.
- Keep The Oathbound active across chapters and revisit all seven Eternal Guards after ability unlocks.
- Complete the Oathbound final room for its achievement and material rewards.
- Finish The Curious Case of Seamus Diggory for the Ferrofluid Flask Power Upgrade.
- Complete Laudanum for the Mythic Catalyst Clot and A Bitter Cure.
- Track all 19 Monster Hunt portrait-journal steps.
- Complete The Choir during the temporary Chapter 10 prison sequence.
- Finish The Forgotten Fortune and Two Towers before leaving their respective regions.
- Compare your completed names against the 24-quest list, while remembering that another published checklist reports 20.
What to do if your quest count does not match
A count below 24 does not automatically mean a quest is permanently lost. First compare names, because the 20-quest checklist and the 24-quest list may classify activities differently. Then check the temporary Choir window, unfinished Oathbound guards, and Monster Hunt’s portrait steps. If all named quests are complete but a tracker still differs, the discrepancy may reflect the checklist version or a post-launch patch rather than a missing objective.
Quest names and availability can change with patches, and no official publisher list is available to reconcile every disagreement. Use the chapter and region labels in this guide as the stable navigation framework, and verify your installed game version before treating any third-party total as immutable.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

