So, you’ve found yourself in Uzhitz. Maybe you’re there to learn how to read, or perhaps you're just tracking down the latest lead on the Neuhof stable raid. But then Hanush of Leipa drops a heavy burden on your shoulders. He wants you to deal with the Vicar. Specifically, he wants you to get rid of a high-ranking Inquisitor who is sniffing around for heretics. This is the setup for the Kingdom Come Deliverance Waldensians quest, and honestly, it’s one of the most stressful, nuanced, and historically grounded moments in the entire game.
It isn't just a "go here, kill that" objective. Not even close.
Warhorse Studios built something special here. They took a real group of medieval dissenters and dropped them into the path of Henry of Skalitz. You aren't just playing a video game; you're stepping into a 15th-century legal and religious minefield where your choices actually feel like they carry the weight of a human life. It’s messy. It’s confusing. It’s brilliant.
Who Were the Waldensians, Anyway?
Before we talk about Sir Hanush and his property taxes, we need to talk about the real people. The Waldensians weren't some fantasy cult dreamt up for a questline. They were followers of Peter Waldo, a wealthy merchant from Lyon who gave up his riches in the late 12th century to preach a life of poverty and simplicity.
By the time Henry is wandering around Bohemia in 1403, these people had been hunted for over two hundred years. The Catholic Church hated them because they translated the Bible into the vernacular (the common tongue) and believed that any layperson—man or woman—could preach if they were holy enough. In the eyes of the Vatican, that was a direct threat to the power of the priesthood.
In Kingdom Come Deliverance, the Waldensians are portrayed with a surprising amount of empathy. They aren't trying to overthrow the King or sacrifice goats in the woods. They're just a family—the Bauers—trying to live what they believe is a godly life away from the prying eyes of the Archbishop's men.
The Hunt for the Prayer Spot
The quest kicks off when you talk to the Vicar. He’s a terrifyingly calm man. He gives you a book of "heretical" testimonies and tells you to find where these people are meeting. This is where most players get stuck. The game gives you these cryptic, poetic clues based on the landscape.
"Follow the stream," it says. "Find the two willows."
It’s easy to get frustrated. You’ll find yourself riding your horse through the dense forests north of Uzhitz, swearing at the screen because every tree looks the same. But look for the details. You're looking for a small clearing with a cross and some benches. When you finally find it and loot the "Heretic's Testimony," the reality of the situation starts to sink in. These aren't monsters. They’re just people who like to pray in the woods.
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The Moral Dilemma of the Bauer Family
Once you track the heresy back to the Bauer farm, the quest stops being a scavenger hunt and starts being a test of your personal ethics. You have a few ways to handle this, and none of them feel entirely "good."
If you’re a law-abiding subject of the Crown and a faithful son of the Church, you can just report them. You tell the Vicar, the Bauers get hauled off to be burned or imprisoned, and Sir Hanush gets his land back without any more legal trouble. Quest over. You get some groschen. But you’ll probably feel like a piece of garbage.
Then there’s the "Good Henry" route. You can try to save them. This involves talking to Mistress Bauer and trying to convince her to flee. It sounds simple, but she’s a zealot. She believes that running away is a betrayal of her faith. To get her to leave, you actually have to use her own beliefs against her. You have to quote scripture. You have to convince her that God wants her family to survive so they can keep the faith alive elsewhere.
If you fail the speech checks? Things get ugly.
Why Sir Hanush Is So Stressed
You might wonder why Hanush of Leipa, usually a man of action, is so worried about one old man in a fancy robe. It comes down to medieval politics. Hanush is the acting Lord of Rattay, but he’s holding that land in trust for young Hans Capon. He’s already on thin ice with the higher-ups.
If an Inquisitor finds a nest of heretics on Hanush’s land, it gives the Church an excuse to seize that land. Hanush isn't necessarily a religious fanatic; he’s a landlord who doesn't want his property confiscated by the Pope. He’s using Henry as a "fixer."
This adds a layer of realism that most RPGs miss. The Kingdom Come Deliverance Waldensians quest isn't just about theology; it’s about the intersection of faith, land ownership, and the brutal survival of the nobility.
Historical Nuance: The Role of the Vicar
The Vicar is a fascinating antagonist because he isn't a "villain" in the traditional sense. He doesn't cackle. He doesn't kick puppies. He is a man who truly believes he is saving souls from eternal damnation. In his mind, heresy is a literal plague. If he lets it spread, everyone goes to hell.
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That’s what makes him so dangerous.
When you speak to him, the dialogue is sharp. It’s intellectual. If you’ve invested points into your Speech or Charisma stats, you can navigate the conversation, but you always feel like one wrong word could land Henry on a pyre right next to the Bauers. This tension is why the quest sticks with people years after they’ve finished the game.
The Father Godwin Factor
You can't talk about Uzhitz without talking about Father Godwin. The hard-drinking, sword-fighting priest is a fan favorite, but his role in the Waldensians quest is pivotal. He’s a man of the people. He knows the Bauers. He knows they aren't hurting anyone.
Godwin represents the "Bohemian" side of the Great Schism. This was the era of Jan Hus, the reformer who would eventually lead to the Hussite Wars. Godwin's sympathy for the "heretics" is a foreshadowing of the massive bloody conflict that is about to tear Bohemia apart. If you listen to him, he’ll give you the nudge you need to try and save the family rather than condemn them.
Breaking Down the Outcomes
Let's look at the actual mechanics of how this ends. Because it’s a Warhorse game, there are hidden timers and variables.
- The Snitch Route: You tell the Vicar everything. He’s happy. Hanush is relieved. The Bauers are doomed. You get a reward, but your reputation in the village might take a hit depending on who saw you.
- The Great Escape: You convince Mistress Bauer to leave. You have to wait until they actually pack up and go. If you do this correctly, you can lie to the Vicar and tell him they vanished. He leaves, annoyed but finished. Hanush is happy because the problem is gone.
- The Failed Negotiation: If you try to convince her and fail, or if you wait too long, the Vicar’s men move in. It’s a mess.
There is also a darker, more "Henry-like" way to handle it. You can just... kill the Vicar. It’s incredibly difficult to do without getting caught by his guards, and it basically ruins your standing with Hanush, but it’s an option. That’s the beauty of Kingdom Come. It doesn't put invisible walls around the NPCs just because they're important.
Small Details You Might Have Missed
The "Heretic's Testimony" book you find at the prayer spot is actually based on real historical inquisitorial records. When you read it in-game, you're looking at the kind of evidence that would have actually been used to execute people in the 1400s.
Also, pay attention to the Bauers' farm itself. It’s isolated. It’s quiet. You can see the work they’ve put into the land. It makes the prospect of their destruction feel much more intimate. You aren't just deciding the fate of a group of "Waldensians"; you're deciding what happens to a mother, a father, and their son.
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Actionable Tips for Completing the Quest
If you’re currently staring at your map wondering where the hell those willows are, here is what you need to do to get through this with your soul (and your groschen) intact:
1. Level up your Speech before talking to Mistress Bauer.
You need high persuasion to convince her to leave. If you haven't been practicing your silver tongue, go talk to some merchants or find a bard to train you. You can also use a "Bard's Potion" right before the conversation to give yourself a temporary boost.
2. Use the map landmarks literally.
When the testimony says "where the water splits," it means a literal fork in the creek north of the Uzhitz pond. Don't look for metaphorical meanings. The developers mapped this out based on actual Bohemian topography.
3. Don't rush the Vicar's dialogue.
Read the book he gives you. If you don't read it, you won't have the dialogue options needed to understand the Bauers' specific "brand" of heresy, which makes it harder to convince them you're on their side.
4. Check your inventory for the "Bauer's Scrap."
Finding the specific item at the prayer site is the "trigger" for the next stage. If you just find the site but don't pick up the evidence, you can't progress.
5. Consider the long-term consequences.
Saving the Bauers is the "moral" choice, but lying to the Vicar requires a high Speech check. If you fail to lie convincingly, you might end up in a worse position with Sir Hanush later.
Final Thoughts on the Bohemia Heresy
Kingdom Come Deliverance Waldensians is a masterclass in quest design. It avoids the "heroic" tropes of most RPGs. You aren't saving the world; you're navigating a shitty situation where everyone has a valid point of view from their own perspective. The Vicar is doing his job. Hanush is protecting his people. The Bauers are following their conscience.
And you? You're just a blacksmith’s son caught in the middle.
The best way to experience this quest is to lean into the roleplay. Don't look up the "best" ending on a wiki. Think about what your version of Henry would do. Is he a loyalist? Is he a rebel? Or is he just a guy who’s tired of seeing people die over books and prayers? Whatever you choose, the game respects your decision, even if the consequences are haunting.
To wrap this up, your next move should be heading to the Uzhitz tavern. Talk to the locals. Get the vibe of the town. And for heaven's sake, save your game before you go into the Bauer farmhouse. You’re going to want the option to try that conversation more than once. Better yet, go brew a few Savior Schnapps before you even head out to the woods; you're going to need them for the trial and error of finding that prayer spot. Once you've located the clearing, take a moment to actually read the "Heretic's Testimony" in your inventory—it’s not just flavor text, it’s the key to the most successful dialogue outcomes with the family.