Jakesh's Fate in KCD 2: To Kill or Not?

In *Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2*, side quests like "Bad Blood" offer a rich opportunity to delve deeper into the game's narrative and character interactions. Here’s a detailed guide on how to start and complete this intriguing quest.

How to Start Bad Blood in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

To begin the "Bad Blood" quest, you'll need to progress through the main questline until you are tasked with finding Mutt. As you explore the open-world, an objective will lead you to a clearing near Bozhena’s hut. When you arrive, Henry will suggest checking if Bozhena has seen anything. Visit her hut and inquire about Mutt. Bozhena will inform you that her daughter, Pavlena, has gone missing. Agree to help her, which will add "Bad Blood" to your quest journal.

Gather Information

Your first task is to gather information. Head to Troskowitz and speak with Baliff Thrush. Next, visit Innkeeper Betty at the tavern to learn more about Bozhena and Pavlena, as well as the reasons behind their ostracization from the village. After gathering these insights, proceed to the objective area to converse with the woodcutters. Specifically, look for Woodcutter Dushko, who will direct you to Roman’s house. Be prepared to lockpick the door, so save your game beforehand.

Inside Roman’s house, search for Pavlena’s basket and then speak with Dushko again for more details. He will guide you to a nearby clearing, a favorite spot of the couple.

Search the Scene

From Roman’s house, follow the objective marker downhill towards the stream. Turn left at the two large boulders to find the designated spot. A trail of blood will lead you to Roman’s body. Continue upwards and speak with Hogherd Hugo, then return to the farm in Troskowitz to talk to Hired Hand Straw. You'll need to pass a dialogue check with Straw to uncover the truth about Jakesh, Roman, and Pavlena.

After speaking with Straw, you can also consult with Thrush to decide Straw's fate. Then, head to the rocks south of Zhelejov to continue your investigation.

Confront Ota

In the designated area, navigate around a large boulder to find a path. Climb the ladder to encounter Ota and Pavlena. High Charisma is essential to pass the dialogue checks. Choose the following conversation options to persuade Ota to release Pavlena:

• “What’s your name?”
• “Let her go and I’ll let you go.”
• “I’ll put in a good word for you with His Lordship.”

Once Ota complies, Pavlena will seize the sword and kill him. After this, talk to Pavlena and return to Bozhena with her. Bozhena will then request that you deal with Jakesh.

Kill Jakesh or Make Peace

For the quest's final step, you must decide whether to kill Jakesh or broker peace between him and Bozhena. Locate Jakesh at his child’s grave on the farm. You have the option to kill him, negotiate peace, or even kill Bozhena instead. The quest will conclude regardless of your choice.

In my playthrough, I chose to kill Jakesh and then reported back to Bozhena for a reward.

Should You Kill Jakesh?

Killing Jakesh will negatively impact your reputation in Troskowitz but will significantly boost your standing with Bozhena and Pavlena. Additionally, you’ll unlock new dialogue options with Pavlena and receive a necklace that was a gift from Roman.

Alternatively, if you spare Jakesh and facilitate peace, he will reward you with 100 groschen. When reporting back to Bozhena, you can choose to keep the money or share it, leading to Bozhena and Pavlena being welcomed back into the community.

Completing the "Bad Blood" quest in *Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2* not only enriches your understanding of the game's world but also offers tangible rewards. For more tips and information on the game, including how to find the Hermit’s sword and Ventza’s treasure, be sure to check out resources like The Escapist.