The murder of Eli and Devora in “A Study in Crimson” appears to be solved, but the real story behind Vicho is well hidden in The Blood of Dawnwalker. My guide shows you how to uncover the truth and unlock “The Unquenchable Thirst” trophy.
The Blood of Dawnwalker hides one of its strongest side stories behind a quest that initially appears to be over. “A Study in Crimson” has you join the vampire Vicho on the trail of a murderer, but after the apparent conclusion, there is still a hidden chapter waiting for you – and it is easy to miss.
- Warning: This guide contains spoilers.
If you want to learn the whole truth about Vicho, unlock “The Unquenchable Thirst” trophy, and get a legendary amulet, you need to know exactly where to continue your investigation. I’ll walk you through the quest.
Backstory: “A Study in Crimson”
The “A Study in Crimson” questline begins with the murder of Eli and his wife Devora. Vicho asks Coen to help investigate their deaths. Follow the clues and finish the quest, and the case appears to be solved. The quest is marked complete, and you could simply move on. But that is exactly where the trap lies: The real killer has not been exposed yet.
Before leaving the warehouse, take a thorough look around. After Simeon’s death, you can pick up his key and use it to open a hidden chest in the warehouse. Inside is a letter from a man named Ivo that points to a farm outside the city and hints at Simeon’s concerns about Vicho.
- Note: The game does not give you a new quest marker for this, which is why many players miss the discovery entirely.
The chest is not strictly required to continue the questline, as the next section can also be triggered another way. Still, the letter provides valuable narrative foreshadowing for what comes next and makes the later revelation even more effective.
“The Good Samaritan”: The Trail to the Farm
On the day after completing “A Study in Crimson,” the side quest “The Good Samaritan” becomes available from the medic in Svartrau. He asks Coen to deliver medicine to a farm outside the city. The quest takes place during the day and costs three Time Segments.
- Note: You can also simply head straight to the farm to start the quest. Visiting the medic is optional.
What begins as a harmless delivery job to The Silts quickly takes a dark turn: When you arrive at the farm south of the city, you find several dead bodies.
Search the farm thoroughly. Near the small shed to the right of the main house, you’ll find a Wedding Headband in the straw. Inspect the three bodies scattered around the farm – be careful, as an aggressive wolf is already feeding on one of them. Then head inside the house and use Compel Soul on the corpse. With the Wedding Headband, you already have the appropriate Catalyst with you.
Next, activate Focus Mode and follow the blood trail into the field. Watch out: More wolves are waiting for you here. Inspect the body and read the note it is carrying. You now know what really happened, “The Good Samaritan” is complete, and “The Unquenchable Thirst” trophy pops.
Choice: Save Vicho or Let Him Die?
After what you discover at the farm, “A Study in Crimson” becomes active again. Return to Vicho and confront him. You now face a major decision.
Save Vicho: How to Convince Him to Keep Living
If you want to save Vicho, you need to find the right approach during the conversation. The crucial moment is when you offer to supply Vicho with blood from now on. More specifically, Coen promises him blood from the transports. This offer is the key to preventing his suicide. Afterward, make it clear that despite what he has done, you do not believe he is a monster.
If you save Vicho, the side quest “Unquenchable Thirst” begins. Vicho stays alive and remains available as a merchant, but saving him comes with a permanent gameplay consequence – from this point on, you need to regularly supply him with blood from the transports. If you fail to do so, he will eventually take his own life.
Let Vicho Die: His Final Path
If Vicho decides not to go on living, you can choose to stay with him until sunrise. This costs four Time Segments. Vicho then burns in the morning sun and disappears from the game permanently, both as a character and as a merchant.
Which Choice Is Best?
Vicho’s questline has a total of seven different endings, which is remarkably extensive for a side quest. You can save Vicho and supply him with blood, let him choose the morning sun and stay with him, or leave before he dies. You can also mistakenly believe the case is solved after Simeon’s death, abandon the investigation early, fail to continue investigating because you run out of time, or uncover the truth but deliberately keep it from Vicho.
This variety makes Vicho’s questline one of the most layered side stories in the game. Depending on how thoroughly you investigate and which decisions you make, you can experience a very different version of events.
There is obviously no objectively correct choice, but there was one that felt right to me. In my playthrough, I confronted Vicho but tried to ease some of his guilt. I then respected his decision and stayed with him until the end. For me, this was the most fitting outcome both emotionally and narratively.
As a final gesture of gratitude, Vicho gave me Vicho’s Cross, a legendary amulet with powerful stats. It grants +15 percent Activation Charge Restoration from Perfect Block, +8 percent Damage against Supernatural Enemies, +7.5 percent Weapon Critical Hit Damage, and +3 percent Physical Damage Reduction.
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