In Atomfall, players can uncover a murder mystery linked to St. Katherine’s Church, presented through one of the intriguing Leads. This side quest, which emerges through exploration of the game world, involves solving the murder of a character named Maisie Higgins. Your choices during this quest significantly influence the characters you encounter and determine the rewards you can earn based on whom you choose to trust.
While Atomfall shares certain elements with the Fallout series, its approach to Leads sets it apart. Leads act as side quests facilitated by your interactions with NPCs or items scattered throughout the game. The information gathered through rumors can lead you to new Leads, or you may stumble upon them through serendipitous exploration of your environment.
How To Start St. Katherine’s Church Lead
Visit The Site Of A Grisly Murder
To activate the St. Katherine’s Church Lead, you must visit the church itself located in Wyndham Village, at coordinates (33.0E, 78.8N). Players typically discover Wyndham Village while progressing through the storyline in Slaten Dale, where key characters like Captain Sims, the Protocol leader, can be encountered at the Village Hall.
Upon arriving and exploring the church, you’ll find two individuals next to Maisie’s body. To initiate the Lead, engage with the priest, Vicar McHenry, who will provide details about the deceased. He reveals that the victim is Maisie Higgins and expresses his desire to keep her murder quiet.
Throughout this quest, reporting Maisie’s murder to Captain Sims will antagonize Vicar McHenry and forfeit potential rewards associated with solving the case independently. After speaking with the Vicar, he implores you to help find the murderer to prevent protocol involvement. Additionally, you can also converse with Pamela Shaw, another character present at the scene; however, engaging with Maisie’s body is crucial for further investigation.
How To Solve Maisie’s Murder
Follow The Right Clues To Confront A Killer
Your investigation begins by heading to coordinates (31.4E, 82.1N), where you will discover the cottage that Maisie previously used for monitoring activities around Mereview Hotel. Although the cottage has been condemned by Protocol, feel free to sneak inside and start looking for clues.
Inside, you will locate a note titled “Recent Movements”, indicating that Vicar McHenry had directed Maisie to observe suspicious behavior in the village. The note mentions seeing an odd man near the hotel heading toward a “rat-infested cellar” situated outside of town.
Following this lead, proceed past the hotel, cross a stream, and look for an abandoned location known as the Brewery Cellar. Upon entering, watch for large rats and deal with them to enhance your safety as you continue your search. Crawl under a table in the Cellar to access a concealed room containing a note entitled “Kill the One they Call Maise.”This letter implicates a man named Morris Wick, suggesting he was tasked by the Druids to eliminate Maisie because she was spying on his odd activities.
After unlocking a barred door in the Cellar, you will find another note mentioning that “Captain Sims Doesn’t Suspect A Thing” , further incriminating Morris and revealing his intentions against the Protocol in collusion with the Druids. With sufficient evidence gathered, confront Morris at the Village Shop to conclude your investigation.
Rewards For Completing St. Katherine’s Church Lead
Seek Justice Or Allow A Murderer To Go Free
Upon identifying the murderer, you will face several decision-making opportunities:
- Report Morris’ guilt to Captain Sims
- Confront Morris about the murder
- Negotiate with Morris
- Exile Morris from the Village
Each decision leads to unique consequences, influencing relationships with pivotal NPCs and resulting in different rewards. Similar to the quest involving Dr. Holder’s Inoculation, you must select an ally by making one of these choices—align with either Captain Sims, Vicar McHenry, or Morris to successfully complete this Lead.
Siding With Vicar McHenry
Choosing to side with Vicar McHenry, which many players do, provides a way to bring Morris to justice through various methods:
- Threatening to report the murder to Protocol
- Instructing Morris to leave the Village
Should you opt to threaten Morris with implicating him to Protocol, he will attack, leading to a confrontation where you can eliminate him. Afterward, inform Vicar McHenry about your findings. Alternatively, you can banish Morris from the Village, cutting ties without bloodshed.
Reporting back to McHenry earns you the Vicar’s Key, which grants access to a locked chest within the Church’s upper area. This chest contains an Atomic Battery, a rare item essential for unlocking secret locales across the game. You’ll also find a note detailing the Vicar’s acquisition of the battery.
Siding With Morris
If you choose to side with Morris, you can utilize the “Bargaining”dialogue option to blackmail him into silence. This option not only allows him to evade immediate justice, but it will also infuriate Vicar McHenry, leading to unique rewards.
Should you decide to side with Morris, you can also kill Vicar McHenry to acquire the Vicar’s Key, which will still grant you access to the Atomic Battery. From Morris, you’ll receive a Training Stimulant and Crafting Manual, both crucial for enhancing your crafting capabilities in Atomfall. Furthermore, Morris will provide information on locating Mother Jago, an influential character tied to one of the game’s climactic endings.
Reporting The Murder To Captain Sims
Lastly, you can choose to report the crime directly to Captain Sims at the Village Hall. Doing so will upset both Morris and Vicar McHenry, resulting in the loss of rewards from both. However, this decision will enhance your standing with Protocol, forging a better relationship with Captain Sims.
Building a positive rapport with Protocol facilitates smoother travel within Skethermoor in later stages of the game. If you still desire rewards from this route, consider negotiating with Morris before reporting him to Sims. This way, you can acquire the Crafting Manual and then proceed to deliver justice through Protocol.
Ultimately, the outcome of Maisie Higgins’ murder lies in your hands, with each choice influencing the broader world of Atomfall. Every decision you make can leave a lasting impact, shaping both the narrative and your gameplay experience.