The Echoes of Silenced Bells side quest in The Blood of Dawnwalker becomes available shortly after the game's prologue. The quest begins as protagonist Coen is about to leave Laslea Glen, and his companion Anca suggests meeting at the Crossroads Inn, located southeast near a damaged shrine. Repairing this shrine is recommended due to frequent fast travel needs, especially for those pursuing a romance with Anca.
Navigating St. Tyna's Convent
St. Tyna's Convent is a short distance from the Crossroads Inn. With Anca present, the path to the convent's entrance, previously obscured by mist, is revealed. Upon entering, Coen and Anca discover the convent is overrun by Zombie Nuns. The primary objective is to secure a path for Anca to reach the library, which requires consuming 3x Time Segments. Other actions, such as investigating the infirmary and bell tower for clues, do not consume time segments. Exploring the chapel, however, costs 1x Time Segment.
The convent courtyard is populated by numerous hostile Zombie Nuns, who will attack if approached too closely.
The Relic of St. Tyna and the Bell Tower
To progress, players can interact with a soldier in the infirmary who can grant access to the library through a connecting wing, provided the Relic of St. Tyna is retrieved. Locating this relic initiates a sub-quest called Most Precious Thing. Searching the chapel for the relic costs 1x Time Segment. Within the chapel, using Focus Mode can reveal clues. If it is daytime, players can interact with the soul of a deceased nun, who, upon receiving a prayerbook and rosary, reveals the relic's location in the sacristy. Accessing the sacristy requires obtaining Monastery Keys from a nearby shed.
Inside the sacristy, the Relic of St. Tyna can be found. This epic amulet provides buffs to maximum human health, Witchcraft ability damage, Witchcraft ability health cost, and activation charge restoration.
Alternatively, players can investigate the bell tower. A note found in a shed near the sacristy details the bell tolls' effects on the Zombie Nuns. Three tolls direct them to the chapel, four to the infirmary, and five to the dormitory. Choosing the chapel or dormitory signal will divert the nuns, allowing free passage through the courtyard. Selecting the infirmary signal, however, provokes an attack on Brencis' soldiers and results in hostile nuns remaining in key areas. Players can also refuse to hand over the relic to the soldier, initiating a fight against three guards, though the bell tolls can still manage the undead.
Library Exploration and Boss Encounter
Once passage is secured, players must inform Anca about proceeding to the library, which costs an additional 1x Time Segment. The library contains various skill manuals for perks and abilities such as Dirty Trick, Witchcraft Mastery, Precision, Master Fencer, Mercurial Favor, Potent Blood, and Frugal Witchcraft. Deeper exploration into the catacombs may yield further items like the Potent Blood Manual and Razor Claw Vial recipe.
The Climax: Leonica Boss Fight
In the catacombs' depths, the quest culminates in a battle against Leonica, the last surviving nun and Anca's former friend. Leonica, a Witch archetype, utilizes abilities like Ravenous Flock and Thornvine Explosion. She summons weaker clones after depleting each health segment. Upon defeating Leonica, players receive rewards including the Catacombs Key, Leonica’s Ring (an epic ring with passive benefits for charge restoration and Witchcraft abilities), the Unholy Vitality Manual, and the Herbal Remedies Manual.
Quest Conclusion and Choices
Following the boss fight, Coen and Anca discuss a dilemma regarding notes found in the convent. Anca wishes to remove the curse, a risky endeavor. Tossing the notes into a fire would deeply upset Anca, while entrusting them to her allows her to complete the ritual successfully, earning her gratitude. The quest concludes back at the Crossroads Inn. Preparing a warm drink for Anca costs 1x Time Segment, and browsing books to find one she finds interesting, revealed by moving a candle along its spine, costs another 1x Time Segment. This action concludes the Echoes of Silenced Bells quest. Subsequent quests and romance options with Anca are initiated following these events.