Missing Companion

Overview

Missing Companion is one of four investigation quests in Chapter 2: Golden Greed, unlocked by reading the "Missing Wooly" poster during Where Misery Gathers. A child named Willian at Bloomwood Ranch has lost his pet sheep, Wooly. Kliff gathers information from locals, tracks the animal to a bandit camp at Nas Riverside south of the ranch, and physically carries Wooly home. Along the way, one of the bandits demonstrates the Dropkick skill, which Kliff can learn through observation.

This quest, along with Trial After Trial, The Man Trapped in the Mire, and Secrets Hidden in the Dark, must be completed before The Dark Veil becomes available.

Quest Details

Walkthrough

Speak with the Crying Child

Head to Bloomwood Ranch and find Willian, a boy arguing with other children near the main area of the ranch. Wait for the others to leave, then talk to him. He tells you that his sheep, Wooly, was taken by force by unknown assailants. Willian is clearly upset and begs Kliff for help.

Gather Information

You need to talk to two groups of people before the quest marker updates:

• The men by the woodpile: Cross the street south of the ranch and find two herders standing near a woodpile. They mention bandits who have been operating across the river and causing trouble for local farmers.

• The children in the field: Head south from the ranch to a three-way intersection where the children from earlier are playing. They mention seeing something about a "sky boulder" in the area where the bandits camp, which is a landmark near the Nas Riverside.

Locate and Defeat the Bandits

Follow the quest marker south, cross the river to the Nas Riverside area, and climb the hill to reach a heavily guarded bandit camp. Multiple bandits are stationed here. Engage them carefully; try to pull smaller groups rather than fighting everyone at once. Manage your spacing when they rush you, and use dodges to avoid being surrounded.

Learn the Dropkick Skill

During the fight, pay close attention to one particular bandit who performs a Dropkick attack. This is a flying kick that knocks targets down. Use Kliff's Watch and Learn ability (L1/LB) to observe the move. You need to see the bandit perform the Dropkick approximately three times before Kliff learns it. The Dropkick is a solid crowd-control move that sends enemies flying, and it is very useful for creating breathing room in group fights throughout the rest of the game.

Important: The Dropkick skill is missable. If you kill the bandit before observing enough times, you lose the opportunity to learn it during this quest. Let the Dropkick bandit attack a few times while you observe, and only finish him off after Kliff confirms learning the skill.

Find Wooly

After clearing the camp, find Wooly penned up in a sheep enclosure. Interact with the sheep to pick it up. Kliff literally hoists the sheep onto his shoulders.

Carry Wooly Home

Walk (you cannot sprint while carrying Wooly) back to Bloomwood Ranch where Willian is waiting by a tree. The walk is slow but there are no enemies on the return path. A cutscene plays as you deliver the sheep, and Willian is overjoyed to have his companion back.

Rewards

Collectible Items in the Area

• Palmar Pill: Found by the bonfire at the bandit camp. Safe to pick up.

• Two chests near crates: Located at the bandit camp. Opening these counts as a crime, so be cautious if you want to maintain a clean record.

Tips

• The Dropkick is one of the more useful crowd-control skills in early game. Do not rush through the bandit fight; take time to observe and learn it.

• Carrying Wooly home is slow. Enjoy the scenery on the walk back. There are no threats between the camp and the ranch.

• The two chests at the bandit camp near crates contain items but opening them triggers the crime system. If you want the loot without consequences, make sure no witnesses are nearby.

• This quest is one of four required for The Dark Veil. Complete it alongside Trial After Trial, The Man Trapped in the Mire, and Secrets Hidden in the Dark.