Secrets Hidden in the Dark

Overview

Secrets Hidden in the Dark is one of four investigation quests in Chapter 2: Golden Greed, unlocked by reading the "Strange Noises From the Cave" poster during Where Misery Gathers. Kliff finds a drunk man named Boris at Bloomwood Ranch who claims to be a Greymane. Boris leads Kliff on horseback to a cave called Specter's Hideout at Nas Riverside, where a memory fragment reveals the identity of the criminal mastermind behind the region's problems: Kailok the Hornsplitter.

This quest is the narrative bridge connecting the four investigation missions to the larger Goldleaf Merchant Guild conspiracy. The Kailok reveal ties together all the loose threads from the other three investigation quests.

Quest Details

Walkthrough

Find the Greymane

Travel to the quest marker near Bloomwood Ranch. You will find two villagers harassing a drunk man slumped against a wall. This is Boris, who loudly claims to be a former Greymane. The villagers mock his claim, but Kliff recognizes something in his demeanor and decides to hear him out. After the villagers leave, talk to Boris. He agrees to lead you to a suspicious location where he believes the source of the area's troubles is hidden.

Follow Boris on Horseback

Boris mounts up and begins riding toward Nas Riverside. Summon your horse and follow him. The ride takes a couple of minutes, and Boris occasionally shouts back at Kliff with drunken commentary. A cutscene triggers when you arrive at Specter's Hideout.

Clear the Cave Entrance

Bandits are stationed outside the cave entrance at Specter's Hideout. There are about five or six enemies here, including a mix of melee fighters and archers. Prioritize the archers first since their ranged attacks can interrupt your combos while you are fighting the melee bandits. One of the bandits uses the Dropkick skill, so if you have not learned it from the Missing Companion quest, you have another chance to observe it here.

Investigate Specter's Hideout

Enter the cave and equip your lantern. The interior is dark and winding. Head deeper into the cave toward the bottom level, where you will find wooden cages used to hold stolen animals. Locate the blue ghost silhouettes near the cages and use the Visione helmet to read the memory fragment titled "Lair of the Animal Thieves."

The memory reveals that Kailok the Hornsplitter has been orchestrating the livestock thefts, cave disturbances, and general chaos across the Hernand countryside. He is connected to the Goldleaf Merchant Guild and uses their resources and corrupt officials to expand his criminal operation. This revelation ties together all the problems Kliff investigated across the four quests.

Collect Items and Exit

Before leaving the cave, check atop one of the left-side cages for a Palmar Pill. Also pick up any supply items scattered throughout the hideout. A cutscene plays outside showing villagers arriving to reclaim their stolen belongings.

Speak with the Guards

Head northeast to the quest marker where guards are stationed at the base of a hill. Inquire about the Goldleaf Merchant Guild and their branch in the City of Hernand. The guards direct you to the guild's tradepost. This information connects directly to the next stage of the main story.

Rewards

Collectible Items in the Area

• Palmar Pill: On top of the left cage inside Specter's Hideout.

• Memory Fragment: "Lair of the Animal Thieves": Deep inside the cave near the wooden cages. Accessed with the Visione helmet.

Tips

• This quest is the most story-heavy of the four investigation missions. Pay attention to the memory fragment since the Kailok reveal ties together all the loose threads from Trial After Trial, The Man Trapped in the Mire, and Missing Companion.

• Boris being a former Greymane is an interesting lore detail. The game does not expand much on his backstory beyond this quest, but it suggests the Greymanes once had wider membership across Hernand.

• If you did not learn the Dropkick skill during Missing Companion, the bandit outside Specter's Hideout gives you another chance to observe and learn it.

• The archers at the cave entrance can be annoying. Use terrain for cover and close the distance quickly to take them out first.