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Money for Old Rope is a side quest in Kingdom Come: Deliverance. Some time after the side quest Tough Love, one of the local innkeepers (either of the Tavern by the Gate or the Traders' Tavern) tells Henry visit Hermann the Executioner.

This is a timed quest, as Hermann can only delay the executions by one week. It would be best to bring some poison or a bane potion, and some poisoned meat. It is also required that Henry have the ability to read, so head to Uzhitz and talk to the Scribe before talking to Hermann and starting the quest.

Synopsis[]

There´s to be an execution in Rattay - without Hermann, the Rattay Executioner.

Objectives[]

  • Find out the appropriate punishments from the Black Chronicle.
  • Find out from the Bailiff what the reprobates have been convicted of.
    • Tell Hermann what you found out.
      • Sabotage the executions by the Kuttenberg Executioner.
        • (Optional) Dull the executioner´s sword.
        • (Optional) Poison the flesh-ripping tongs.
        • (Optional) Switch the executioner´s rope.
          • Tell Hermann you succeeded.
            • (Optional) Go and watch the executions.
              • (Optional) Go to Hermann for your reward.

Walkthrough[]

Hermann the executioner is furious that he has been passed over for the prestigious job of executing three notorious criminals in favour of Executioner Heinz from Kuttenberg. Insulted that the people of Rattay didn't consider him up to the job, he and Henry plot to sabotage the execution and humiliate Heinz. Henry may suggest murdering the interloper, but Hermann quickly puts that idea to rest - he's an executioner, not a murderer. He also turns down Henry's suggestions of getting Heinz drunk, or of setting the criminals free.

The two decide to sabotage the equipment so that Heinz appears inept. However, nobody except Heinz knows the sentences - the only way to guess is to find out their crimes and then check the Black Chronicle to determine what tools will be used. Henry travels to Rattay to speak to the Bailiff, who will tell you about the prisoners.

Peter of Dauba is a penniless nobleman, "Frost" Heralt is a sadistic torturer, and Georg Weiss is the cold-blooded devil who started it all - all three have committed murder. To find the Black Chronicle and determine their manner of execution, go to the top floor of the Rathaus. Either pick the lock to the center room, steal the Scribe's key, or convince, threaten, or bribe him to unlock the door.

The Black Chronicle

The Black Chronicle of Rattay

Scribe[]

Scribe's Stats

Speech

9
Charisma

11
Strength

2
Bribe

70

After reading the Black Chronicle to figure out how the prisoners will be executed, go back to Hermann and tell him:

  • Peter of Dauba: He's for the chop. It is as custom that those of noble birth or granted nobility are to be given a quick death. Hermann explains that an executioner takes great pride in taking off the head in one swift blow, and all executioner's swords are razor sharp. Switching the sword with a fake isn't an option as he'd notice immediately, so Henry has no choice but to steal it, dull it, and return it without anyone noticing.
  • Georg Weiss: He'll be hanged. He is not a nobleman, so he is destined to swing at the gallows. A rope that breaks is a humiliation for an executioner, or worse - it may be considered the will of God and he'll have to release the condemned man. Henry enthusiastically suggests shooting arrows at the rope to break it, but Hermann has no problem telling him how stupid this idea is. Cutting it is likely to be noticed, so the only other option is to replace the executioner's rope with a rotten one.
  • "Frost" Heralt: He'll be tortured first. His actions were so heinous, his execution was to be a real spectacle, meaning he was to be purified with pain. The ripping of the flesh is to prolong the agony of the execution, and the convict is even given periodic medical treatment to see he lives as long as possible. Hermann isn't keen on Henry's idea of getting the physician drunk, as that wouldn't reflect poorly on Heinz anyway. Instead, Henry suggests poisoning the tongs.
Hermann and Henry's rope idea

Hermann is less than impressed with Henry's idea to shoot the rope

The Kuttenberg Executioner is located east of Rattay, past the Wagoners' Inn, and has four henchmen and a dog - they are usually all asleep at night but sometimes wander around. Be sure to carry a poison (such as Bane potion or even Lullaby potion) and the rotten rope with you. If you kill the executioner, this will result in Hermann throwing you out without a reward, stick to stealth or knocking people out. You might want to bring some poisoned meat to get rid of the Executioner's noisy dog.

The tongs are on top of the wagon seat. Sabotage them using the poison or Bane potion. Next, sneak into the barn and climb the ladder to find the noose in the left-hand corner, which you can replace with the rotten rope. Finally, the tricky part - the executioner's sword is in the locked chest in his tent. Closest to the barn. The key is with the executioner.

Tongs

The tongs, sitting on the wagon.

Steal the key or pick the lock, then take the sword from the chest and go to the nearest grindstone, which is at the Blacksmith in Rattay. Use the sword on the grindstone but tilt it so that smoke is coming out. When you've finished, Henry will confirm if it is sufficiently dulled.

Go back to the camp and sneak the sword back into the chest - be wary of anyone who might have woken up while you were gone. See Hermann and tell him that you succeeded, and he will tell you the execution has been planned for 2 pm the following day.

Heinz will arrive at around 1 pm the next day, and a crowd will gather to watch the execution. If you want, you can approach the executioner and tell him what Hermann has done - earning you 300 Prague Groschen for telling him about the sword, 300 Prague Groschen for warning him about the rope, and another 300 Prague Groschen for the tongs. Heinz can correct the issues, and the execution will go off smoothly as planned - a quick beheading, slow torture, and a successful hanging. But Hermann will be furious, and you will fail the quest. It seems like this may lead to further consequences, as it opens a dialogue with Elishka - she just mentions how poorly Hermann's has been treated (by his community).

Crowd boos Heinz

The crowd boos Heinz after the botched executions

if you do not successfully tamper with all the equipment, or if you tell Heinz about only one or two of the sabotages, the others will still be ruined. Herman will still be pleased but will only give you 300 Prague Groschen.

Otherwise, wait till 2 pm and watch as your plan comes to fruition. The dull blade takes several hacks, the poison kills the criminal quickly, and the rope breaks. Heinz is humiliated, but Hermann thinks it's hilarious and gives Henry 400 Prague Groschenand several books - The Joy of Gutting IV, Recipe for Bane Potion and Recipe for Lazarus Potion.

Notes[]

  • Successfully sabotaging all three executions will grant the achievement Spoilsport.
  • After you dull the Executioner's Sword into a metal bar and place it back in the chest. The game will permanently flag as if the sword has been sabotaged. As such, you can immediately pull the sword back out of the chest and keep it. The game will proceed forward as if it was left there. Reminder you may need to go to a Weaponsmith to repair the damage you did to it
  • There are 2 alternative, wrong options as sentences, that will be believable to Herman and you will be able to successfully complete them as well, but with no actual impact on the executions. Instead of poisoning the tongs and switching the ropes, here are the other objectives:
    • "Water down the oil for the pyre." - if you choose burning at the stake for the Georg Weiss
    • "Weaken the horses by poisoning them." - if you choose dragged by the horses for "Frost" Heralt
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