Portrait in Red is quest four of the Brushes with Death DLC, and it begins as soon as you present the Basilisk egg to Voyta. This one is different from all the others, as it gives you a monumental choice—you decide whether or not to murder Burkhard. This choice not only affects the gameplay of this quest; it also decides whether you unlock a missable trophy or achievement based on this storyline or not. In this guide, we will lead you through the whole quest and analyse both outcomes, so you can decide in which direction to proceed in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.
How to Complete Portrait in Red Quest?
Starting the Quest
After grabbing the Basilisk egg during the Chiaroscuro quest, rest up until the next morning. Then head over to Trosky Castle and talk to Voyta. This time, he’ll reveal that his final task in Trosky is at hand—and it involves a deadly confrontation. He wants Burkhard dead.
You get a relatively easy Skill Check here. If you pass, Voyta opens up and explains more about why he’s pursuing Burkhard’s blood. When your discussion is finished and you say you’ll take care of it, your next step is to go northeast from the castle, off to northern Apollonia, where Burkhard is holed up.
Burkhard’s Dilemma
When you reach the location marked on your map, head just below the “A” marker—you’ll find Burkhard’s hideout tucked away there, as well as a couple of his gang members. There are a number of ways you can do this, depending on how you’d like the story (and your trophy list) to proceed.
Option 1: The Stealth Kill
Wait until night, when most of the camp is asleep. Then creep in unobserved, find Burkhard, and stab him silently to death with a dagger. It’s quick, effective, and avoids a full-scale fight.
Option 2: Duel Him
If you prefer a more direct path, talk to Burkhard and duel him. Pass the Skill Check successfully, and you can fight him one-on-one instead of fighting the whole camp. Be aware that killing him this way—or any way—will prevent you from obtaining the “Vengeance Solves Nothing” trophy/achievement.
Option 3: Spare Him (Trophy Route)
If you’re going for the trophy, you’ll need to spare Burkhard. Here’s how to do it:
- Wait for nightfall.
- Sneak into the camp, avoiding guards and lookouts (not everyone will be sleeping).
- Make your way to the chest inside the camp and lockpick it to grab the Killer’s Helmet.
- Don’t get caught, and don’t engage with anyone—just get in and get out.
Once you have the helmet, head back to Voyta and talk to him. He will ask if you killed Burkhard. To spin the story but still get credit for it, make a Speech Check to lie. This completes the quest and rewards you with the “Vengeance Solves Nothing” trophy/achievement, as well as the Murderer’s Painted Helmet and some other shield symbols for appearance modification.
