'A Study in Crimson' quest walkthrough in The Blood of Dawnwalker
Overview & Key Takeaways
In this walkthrough, we explain how to fully complete the 'A Study In Crimson' quest in The Blood of Dawnwalker, including Vicho's tough decision.
The "A Study in Crimson" quest in The Blood of Dawnwalker is a bit tricky to unlock since it's not marked as an available quest on the map. Even if you manage to find Vicho, the quest giver, your troubles have only just begun, as you must uncover the culprit in a strange murder mystery, leading you from one corner of Svartrau City to another. Unsurprisingly, it's possible to miss the vital clue leading to the "right" quest outcome.
Here's how to help Vicho and find the culprit in The Blood of Dawnwalker's "A Study in Crimson" quest.
[Ed. note: This guide contains spoilers for The Blood of Dawnwalker, so continue at your own risk! Feel free to follow along or bookmark this page and come back if you get stuck.]
'A Study in Crimson' quest walkthrough in The Blood of Dawnwalker
To obtain "A Study in Crimson" in The Blood of Dawnwalker, you must find Vicho. This quest isn't marked on your map, but the citizens of Svartrau City may have mentioned a "curio emporium" in passing. If you find, enter, and investigate this mysterious shop, "A Study in Crimson" will begin.
To complete "A Study in Crimson," complete the following objectives:
- Find Vicho.
- Investigate Devora and Eli's murder.
- Investigate Dr. Simeon's house.
- Find a new clue after 'A Study in Crimson' has seemingly concluded.
- Confront Vicho.
- Optionally, take on the continuous "Unquenchable Thirst" quest.
Beware that "A Study in Crimson" costs four time segments in total and can only be completed at night. If you run out of time, Vicho will ask you to come back the following night.
How to find Vicho in The Blood of Dawnwalker
Vico's curio emporium is located just northwest of Svartrau Cathedral. Enter the city through the northeast gate, take the main road leading southwest, turn left at the first opportunity, and you'll find a shop with a notice of (temporary) closure nailed to the door.
Graphic: Marloes Valentina Stella/Polygon | Source images: Rebel Wolves/Bandai Namco Entertainment
As you can't enter during the day, you must use Shadowstep to break in during the night. There's a balcony with an unlocked door right above the shop's entrance. Once inside, use focus mode to investigate the house. Enter the room downstairs when you're ready to meet Vicho to proceed with the story. It doesn't matter what you say to him; just agree to help him at the end.
Help Vicho with his investigation in The Blood of Dawnwalker
Follow Vicho across the rooftops. After entering Devora and Eli's house, when Vicho asks for your help again, it's important to reply with "I'll take a look around." If you choose "I won't help you," the quest will fail.
Graphic: Marloes Valentina Stella/Polygon | Source images: Rebel Wolves/Bandai Namco Entertainment
While you're free to investigate everything, you must at least investigate Devora's corpse in a room upstairs, as well as Eli's corpse in the cellar, to proceed. Grab the key from Eli's hand and open the box below the staircase. When you're ready, return to Vicho.
To get rid of the guards without a fight (only possible on low infamy), pick either "It's Vrakhiri business" (this will also make them bury the corpses) or "Apologies, they were our friends." If you try to bribe them with 200 denarii, they will attack you.
Next, follow Vicho to Dr. Simeon's house. While investigating the doctor's shed, collect the key on the desk (it'sstuck between some books). This key grants entrance to Dr. Simeon's house.
Investigate everything, then follow Vicho into the warehouse nearby. Use the balcony door at the back. To find Dr. Simeon, go downstairs — but be prepared for a fight.
Image: Rebel Wolves/Bandai Namco Entertainment
After defeating Dr. Simeon, it doesn't matter what you say to Vicho; he's convinced that Dr. Simeon murdered Eli and Devora. He'll reward you with a Mercenery's Amulet. From now on, Vicho is available as a witchcraft merchant at his store and "A Study in Crimson" will end… Or does it?
Before you leave, loot Dr. Simeon's corpse for extra rewards and his key. Go upstairs and use the key on the large chest to find more of Dr. Simeon's belongings, including an interesting letter. This letter, as well as several previous clues found during the investigations, points to a farmhouse south of Svartrau City, where Vicho used to visit. There's no quest marker that tells you to go there, but if you'd like to find out who really killed Devora and Eli, you must investigate this farm.
Learn the truth about Vicho in 'The Good Samaritan'
Although you can find the farmhouse mentioned in the clues whenever you like, you might want to visit the medic in Svartrau City first, on the Altenmarkt's east side. He'll ask you to deliver medicine to a farm in the south, which happens to be the same farm that Vicho used to visit. Visiting the medic is entirely optional, but it'll add a bit more to the story. If you offer the medic your help, "The Good Samaritan" quest will start.
Graphic: Marloes Valentina Stella/Polygon | Source images: Rebel Wolves/Bandai Namco Entertainment
The farmhouse from the murder mystery clues is located directly south of Svartrau City. If you didn't visit the medic, "The Good Samaritan" will start when you enter the farm.
Graphic: Marloes Valentina Stella/Polygon | Source images: Rebel Wolves/Bandai Namco Entertainment
To fully investigate the farm, enter the main house and compel the body (only available during the day), then follow the blood trail to the body in the field, south of the farmhouse. Once that's done, "The Good Samaritan" will either finish now or when you've returned to the medic (depending on whether you took the quest from him).
Figuring out the truth about Vicho in The Blood of Dawnwalker unlocks "The Unquenchable Thirst" achievement. On top of that, Vicho's quest, "A Study in Crimson," will reopen.
Confront Vicho in The Blood of Dawnwalker
Visit Vicho during the night to discuss your findings. You'll be presented with your first choice: Tell Vicho the truth, or say it was bandits.
- To lie, say: "Bandits, I think." Vicho says he needs some time alone, but nothing else will happen, and "A Study in Crimson" will end. Vicho remains available as a merchant, but you won't get any extra rewards.
- To tell the truth, say: "You don't remember?" "A Study in Crimson" will continue a bit longer. Vicho informs you that he plans on killing himself, which brings you to another key choice.
If you told Vicho the truth, you must make another decision: To let Vicho kill himself or stop him.
Image: Rebel Wolves/Bandai Namco Entertainment
Here's how to save Vicho, and what happens if you do (or don't).
- To let Vicho die, say: "If that is your wish." Vicho will ask you to stay with him until morning. If you do, you'll get an extra cutscene. Afterward, you can loot Vicho's ashes and collect Vicho's Cross (legendary trinket) from his nightstand. If you don't stay with him, you can return later to find Vicho's ashes on the balcony, but you won't receive the loot or the cross. If you let Vicho die, he's no longer available as a witchcraft merchant.
- To save Vicho, say: "Don't do it, Vicho." The next key dialogue lines are "But you have me now," "I'll provide you with blood," and "From blood transports." If you pick anything else, Vicho won't be persuaded and he'll kill himself anyway. If you convince Vicho to live, "A Study in Crimson" will end, you will receive Vicho's Cross (legendary trinket). On top of that, the "Unquenchable Thirst" quest will begin.
What happens if you fail 'The Unquenchable Thirst' in The Blood of Dawnwalker
Saving Vicho means you'll have to bring him blood for the rest of your The Blood of Dawnwalker playthrough, but you get to keep him as a witchcraft vendor. The blood deliveries aren't too troublesome, though; just keep an eye on "The Unquenchable Thirst" quest in your journal, and be sure to step by Vicho's house whenever you see the "Deliver blood to Vicho" objective. This should happen once every two nights, no matter what kind of blood you give him. One vial per delivery is enough.
If you wait more than one day before bringing Vicho blood (after you get the "bring blood" objective), you will find Vicho's ashes on his balcony, whenever you visit next, along with a note explaining what happened on the counter.
The Blood of Dawnwalker is a time-sensitive, narrative RPG where your actions and decisions matter. If you're just starting out, check out our beginner's guide and our recommended quests to do before mass. After the prologue, you're free to explore Vale Sangora and take on Brencis' boyars however you please, but the freedom can be a bit overwhelming. To help, here's what we recommend doing after the prologue.
