So, you’ve finally made it to the Trosky region. It’s beautiful, right? But the woods are crawling with more than just deer and rabbits. If you’ve spent any time talking to the locals, you’ve likely stumbled upon the activity known as Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Bird of Prey. It’s not just one quest; it’s a whole saga of moral headaches and muddy boots that makes you wonder if being a lawful deputy of the gamekeepers is actually worth the trouble.
Honestly, the "Bird of Prey" questline is where the game’s "realism" starts to bite. It’s one thing to swing a mace at a bandit in full plate; it’s another to decide the fate of a guy who’s just trying to feed his kids because the local Lord decided the deer belong to him and him alone.
How to Kick Off Bird of Prey Without Getting Lost
You can't just wander into this. First, you have to deal with the Lackey quest. You’ll remember Gamekeeper Vostatek—he’s the guy who usually has a bit of a hangover and needs you to pull his weight. Once you’ve finished helping him out in Lackey, wait about two days. If you go back to his hut (it’s tucked away in the woods west of Tachov), he’ll have a new set of problems for you. Specifically, poachers.
Basically, he wants you to be his "bird of prey," hunting down the people stealing the Lord's game. He’ll start by pointing you toward Rocktower Pond. This is the same spot where your camp got jumped at the very start of the game, so the vibes are already a bit grim.
Finding the Rocktower and Vidlak Poachers
The first guy is easy enough. He’s usually hanging around a small camp southwest of Vostatek’s hut. Look for the "B" marker on your map. Here’s a tip: he’s only at the camp during the day (8:00 to 16:00). If you show up at midnight, you’re just going to be standing alone in the rain.
When you find him, you have a choice. You can be the "hard man" and haul him in, or you can actually listen to him. Most players realize pretty quickly that these aren't hardened criminals. They're just people. If you talk to him, he’ll even mark some deer spots for you.
Then things get a bit more complicated at Vidlak Pond. You’ll need to talk to Tanner Benesh and the fisherman’s wife. They’ll point fingers at each other, but the actual poacher is hiding in the "Witch’s Copse" to the north.
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It’s a creepy spot, marked by Pagan idols. This poacher is way more aggressive. Unless your Speech or Dread stats are sitting at 15 or higher, he’s probably going to try and gut you. You can knock him out or kill him, but if you want the "good" moral outcome, try to talk him down.
Moving South: The Varel Assignments
After you’ve "cleaned up" Vostatek’s area, he sends you to Gamekeeper Varel over at Nebakov Mill. This is where the quest scales up. Varel is a lot more business-like, and the poachers he’s tracking are a different breed.
The Slatego poacher is the one that trips everyone up. You go looking for a man and find a corpse. To get the full story:
- Talk to Ignatius the Gravedigger east of Troskowitz. He'll mention the wolves.
- Head to the unfinished cottage Varel mentioned.
- Check the chest for a map—it has a wolf icon on it.
- Go southwest to the camp.
There’s no one there but a wolf and a sack. Inside that sack is a knife. Use Mutt. If you have the houndmaster skills, let Mutt sniff the knife. He’ll lead you straight to the body. The guy didn't stand a chance against the pack. You just need to loot his hunting knife as proof for Varel.
Don't kill the wolves if you're going for the "Lent" achievement/trophy. Just grab the knife and run.
The Bandit Camp at Lower Semine
The tone shifts again when Varel sends you to Lower Semine. This isn't just one guy with a bow; it's a group of armed bandits. Talk to Bonnie or Miller Kreyzl to narrow the search.
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You’ll find a camp where they are literally butchering deer in the open. You have to find three pieces of evidence:
- A deer carcass being dressed.
- The hides near the chest.
- The cooking spit.
You can try to sneak in and just gather evidence, but honestly? These guys are actual bandits, not hungry peasants. Wiping them out is usually the "better" ending here, as letting them go results in a pretty poor report back to Varel.
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Bird of Prey: The Hans Capon Twist
The final part of the questline is what most people are actually looking for. It takes you to the Kopanina forests, right on the border of the two gamekeepers' territories.
There’s a poacher here who is a "great marksman but a sloppy butcher." If you’ve played the first game, or even the first ten hours of KCD2, that description should ring a bell.
Yep, it’s Sir Hans Capon.
The "Bird of Prey" name is a double-edged joke. It refers to Henry hunting poachers, but it also refers to Lord Capon himself (since a Capon is... well, a bird).
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When you find him, it’s a hilarious interaction. He’s struggling to do the "commoner" work of poaching, and you have to decide how to report it to Varel. You can lie for him, which is what most people do because, let's face it, Hans is your best friend.
The Moral Weight of the Quest
Why does this quest matter so much to the community? It’s because it exposes the massive hypocrisy of the medieval world. Henry can go out and hunt dozens of boars to sell to an innkeeper, and it’s "gameplay." But when a villager does it, the law says he should hang.
If you turn in every poacher, you get more money and better reputation with the gamekeepers. You might even get a discount on bows. But you’ll also have to watch the Vidlak stranger get executed.
On the flip side, if you let them go, Vostatek will be annoyed and you’ll lose a bit of coin. But you keep your soul. There aren't "wrong" choices here, just the version of Henry you want to play.
Quick Tips for Success
- Always bring Savior Schnapps: These camps can trigger combat unexpectedly.
- Invest in Mutt: The tracking mechanic in the Slatego portion is nearly impossible without a dog.
- Check the Clock: Poachers have schedules. If a camp is empty, wait or use the "T" key to pass time.
- Loot the Evidence: Even if you let a poacher go, ask for "proof" you dealt with them. They'll usually give you an old knife or some gear to show the gamekeeper so you still get paid.
To get the most out of this questline, make sure you have a high Speech skill before heading to Vidlak Pond, as it's the only way to resolve that encounter without someone ending up dead. If you're struggling to find the specific camps, stick to the main paths and look for the wooden Pagan idols; the developers used them as breadcrumbs for a reason.
Take your time with the evidence gathering in the bandit camp. If you report back to Varel without all three pieces of proof, he’ll give you a pittance and the quest will feel unfinished. Once you’ve handled the Hans Capon situation in Kopanina, return to the gamekeepers one last time to collect your final rewards and unlock the permanent discounts on hunting gear.