In Chapter 7 of Valor Mortis, while you are roughly mid-way through The Outskirts area, you are likely to come across a door where you can talk with an Old Woman. This kicks off the Laudanum side quest. Something about the dialog and her tone may strike you as a bit off, and you would be right about that. Like the Seamus Diggory side quest, the game also gives you two different ways to close this quest – but it depends upon whether you did one key interaction during the course of the side quest.
In this guide, I will walk you through the exact location to begin the quest, where to get the required item, and what is that interaction you need to do to maximize rewards on closing the Laudanum side quest in Valor Mortis.
Starting the Laudanum quest
You unlock the Laudanum side quest on interacting with an Old Woman, in a building on the left of the unblocked bridge from the Island of Whispers Lantern. If you would have noticed early on – the Island of Whispers Lantern has 2 shortcuts to unlock back – one, is the tree on its right, and the other, a bridge that is blocked by Nephtoglobin on the other side.
Your progression on the main quest in The Outskirts area in Valor Mortis will lead you to a point where you can shoot this Nephtoglobin and unlock the shortcut. It is in this area, that a door with a small lantern placed next to it, that you can interact with the Old Woman.
She asks you to get some Laudanum for the children that she is supposedly caring for, and tells you where you are likely to find that. Before proceeding ahead, go to the left of this building, and you will come across the Mice, who tell you that she is lying, giving you a Poison-Filled Bottle.
It is important that you agree to help the Mice – if you don’t, the quest will still be considered complete, but you will not get the full rewards – which includes an Amber.
Getting the Laudanum
Now, progress on your main quest, starting from the Market Square Lantern towards the poison filled area. Survive the ambush of the Howlers, and make your way in-between the poison to enter the building on the left.
From there, go to the first floor, use the Nephtoglobin Formulation, and swing across. Exit from the ground floor, and you will come to Barnaby’s residence, where he has stashed the Laudanum. Clear out the enemies from the ground and first floor first, when you enter.
On the ground floor, you will come across a locked door. Get on the first floor, and look for a section of the wall with drawings, as I have shown in the image above. There will be a narrow opening that you can use to lower yourself. This will lead you to the Laudanum stash. Grab the bottle, and all that is now left is returning to the Old Woman
Closing the Laudanum side quest
Return to the Old Woman, and she thanks you for the job done, gives you a Mythic Catalyst Clot. William remains unconvinced, though, and decides to pay a visit to the children later. Rest at the Lantern, and make your way back to now find the door open.
Turns out, you and William were right to have suspicions on the Old Woman’s designs. She turned out to be an addict to Laudanum.
If you had agreed to help the Mice – Investigate the Sick Children’s Diary on the first floor to complete the quest, and you get Potent Concoction Amber and a Tiny Whisker Gift.
If you skipped the part about meeting the Mice – Investigate the Old Woman’s body and read the Old Lady’s Diary, to get a Mythic Catalyst Clot, and complete the quest.
