KCD2 Semine: A Complete Location & Quest Guide

Overview of Semine in KCD2

Semine is a significant location in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (KCD 2), situated southwest of Zhelejov. It serves as a hub for various quests, NPC interactions, and gameplay mechanics. Players can explore this area, which features a variety of vendors, taverns, and shops.

I. Introduction to Semine: A Crossroads of Loyalty and Deceit

Welcome to Semine, a seemingly tranquil village in the heart of the Trosky region that serves as the first great moral and narrative crucible for Henry of Skalitz in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. More than just a collection of houses and a fortress, Semine is a test of character, where the choices made will irrevocably shape the landscape, the lives of its inhabitants, and the very content available to the player for the remainder of their time in the Bohemian Paradise.1

Expert Overview: Your First Major Test

The in-game codex grounds Semine in a deep, layered history, but for Henry, its significance is immediate and profound. The village is the focal point for the pivotal main quest "Necessary Evil," which forces the player to navigate a complex web of feudal duty, personal morality, and pragmatic survival.1 The central conflict—whether to expose the treason of a local noble's son to a liege lord or to conceal it to protect the innocent—is a microcosm of the game's core themes. It pits the rigid laws of nobility against a more personal, merciful conscience, a conflict Henry must repeatedly confront as a commoner thrust into the world of kings and lords.4

The situation is deliberately ambiguous. Olda Semine is undeniably guilty of colluding with the very bandits who ambushed Henry and Hans, yet the proposed punishment, led by the vengeful Captain Hashek, is a brutal, indiscriminate slaughter that would consume the entire village.6 This presents players with a sophisticated choice. Should the raid on Semine be triggered, the fortress is destined to burn regardless of whether Henry sides with Hashek's brutal justice or Lord Semine's desperate defense of his son.1 This might create an illusion that the choice is futile, but the true consequence lies not in the fate of the stone walls, but in the lives of the people within. Siding with Hashek results in a massacre, while siding with Lord Semine allows the family to escape into hiding, their story continuing elsewhere in the world.3 The game subtly teaches that the human cost is the one that truly matters, a crucial lesson for navigating the morally gray world of 15th-century Bohemia.

II. The Lay of the Land: Key Locations and Points of Interest

Semine is a key settlement in the Trosky region, the starting map of the game.8 Navigating its grounds and the surrounding area is crucial for completing quests and uncovering hidden secrets.

Semine Fortress & Village

The heart of the location is the fortified settlement ruled by Sir Jan Semine. The main keep is where the dramatic confrontation of the "Necessary Evil" quest unfolds.1 The village area contains the homes of its residents and the stalls of its local traders, including the Grocer, Saddler, and Groom.2 The fortress ramparts are patrolled by guards, a key detail for players looking to acquire unique armor through stealth.10

Lower Semine Mill

Located south of the main village, this historic mill is one of the oldest preserved structures in the area, as noted in the codex.2 It serves as a landmark and part of the broader Semine homestead.

Surrounding Sites of Semine in KCD2

The lands around Semine are rich with history and danger, offering points of interest for the curious explorer.

• Semine Pond: A local body of water and landmark near the village.2
• Pagan Burial Ground: An interesting site that hints at the pre-Christian history of the region, offering a tangible connection to the area's ancient past.2
• Remains of a Celtic Oppidum: As mentioned in the codex, remnants of these ancient ramparts can still be found, providing a direct link to the settlement's origins in the 1st millennium BC.2
• Enemy Camps: A camp inhabited by a "Wandering drunk" is located nearby, providing an early opportunity for combat and looting for a prepared Henry.2

III. The People of Semine: Residents, Traders, and Teachers

Semine is populated by a memorable cast of characters, from the ruling family caught in a crisis to the common folk and skilled artisans who offer services and quests.

Key Characters of Semine in KCD2

• Sir Jan Semine: The lord of the fortress. He is a proud but conflicted man, forced into an impossible position between his loyalty to his liege and his love for his treasonous son, Olda. He is also the owner of the unique and highly sought-after "Semine's hood".2
• Olda of Semine: Sir Jan's son. His collaboration with local bandits is the catalyst for the region's central conflict. His fate—and that of his family—rests entirely in Henry's hands.1
• Ludmila of Semine: A noblewoman residing in the fortress, presumably the lady of the house.2
• Gules: A former bandit who was shown mercy by Sir Jan and now serves as a guard. He is a pivotal character, acting as the quest giver for a four-part, missable bounty-hunting chain and serving as a skill teacher. He also wears one of the best sets of early-game armor, presenting a tempting but risky target for theft.2
• Captain Gnarly: A skill teacher and one of the ranking guards in Semine.2

**Table: NPCs of Semine in KCD2 **

For ease of reference, the following table details the key inhabitants of Semine and their functions.

IV. The Semine Crossroads: The "Necessary Evil" Quest Walkthrough

This quest is the single most important event in the Trosky region. The outcome determines whether Semine thrives as a hub of activity or is wiped from the map.

Prerequisites and The Interrogation of Semine in KCD2

The quest "Necessary Evil" begins after completing "Back in the Saddles".3 Lord Von Bergow tasks Henry and Hans with interrogating a captured bandit to learn the location of his compatriots.3 During the interrogation, it is crucial to successfully extract the information that

Olda Semine helped the bandits with the ambush.3 This can be done through skillful dialogue or by using the nearby torture tools, though excessive force can kill the prisoner prematurely.3 Uncovering this fact is vital, as it unlocks the full range of choices in the next step. However, even if Henry fails the interrogation, the raid on Semine can still be triggered if Captain Hashek brings up Olda's suspicious disappearance from his own wedding.1

The Definitive Choice: To Tell the Truth or to Lie?

After the interrogation, Henry must report his findings to Lord Von Bergow. This conversation is the point of no return. The game's design at this juncture is a masterclass in consequence, as it mechanically punishes a path of strict, lawful duty and rewards one of pragmatic mercy.

Choosing the "lawful good" option—telling Von Bergow the truth about Olda's treason—results in a catastrophic outcome. It triggers a violent raid that leads to the destruction of Semine, the deaths of numerous innocent people, and permanently locks the player out of the entire four-part bounty hunting questline offered by Gules.1 The world becomes smaller, bleaker, and less populated with content.

Conversely, choosing the "chaotic good" option—lying to Von Bergow to protect the village—preserves Semine and its people. This path not only saves lives but also unlocks a significant amount of content, including Gules's quests and his services as a skill teacher.1 The world remains interactive and rewarding. This design choice powerfully suggests that in the brutal reality of the 15th century, blind adherence to feudal law is not always the most virtuous or beneficial path. For players who value content and a more positive narrative outcome, the choice is clear: silence is golden.

Table: "Necessary Evil" Decision & Consequences of Semine in KCD2

To make this critical choice as clear as possible, the following table outlines each branching path and its ultimate consequences.

Note: If Henry sides with Lord Semine and kills Hashek, he must lie to Von Bergow upon his return. Confessing to the murder of Hashek triggers a secret cutscene where Henry is summarily hanged, resulting in a game over.1

V. The Survivor's Burden: Gules's Bandit Bounties (Conditional) of Semine in KCD2

This entire four-quest chain is missable content. It is only available if the player saves Semine during the "Necessary Evil" quest. Furthermore, there is a critical prerequisite: the player must complete the side quest "The Jaunt" before attending the wedding during the "Wedding Crashers" main quest. Failure to meet both conditions will permanently lock this content.12

Walkthrough 1: "Canker" of Semine in KCD2

• Giver: Gules in Semine.12
• Objective: Gules asks Henry to hunt down his former associate, a bandit leader named Canker. His camp is located in a rocky area along the river north of Nebakov Mill.12 The primary goal is to defeat Canker's gang and retrieve his unique Light Mace as proof of the deed.16
• Reward: Upon returning the mace to Gules, Henry receives a Groschen reward. He can also pass a speech check to convince Gules to let him keep the mace.17

Walkthrough 2: "Handsome Charlie" of Semine in KCD2

• Giver: Gules, 24 hours after completing "Canker".14
• Objective: The next target is Handsome Charlie, who has taken up with a group of desperate charcoal-burners in the forests of the far northwest, near Vidlak Pond.14
• Strategy & Known Issues: This quest is affected by a notorious reputation bug. Approaching the camp and killing Charlie, even through an honorable duel achieved via a successful speech check, can cause a massive, unwarranted reputation loss with the entire Charcoal-Burners faction.19 To avoid this, players have developed several workarounds:

  1. Stealth Assassination: Approach the camp at night and stealth-kill only Charlie, ensuring no one else is alerted. The other charcoal-burners will flee, but reputation should remain intact.19

  2. Luring: Use thrown rocks to carefully lure Charlie away from the camp, out of sight of the others, before engaging him in a duel.20

     After killing Charlie, retrieve his cap and return it to Gules. If the charcoal-burners were spared, the Groschen reward is higher.14

Walkthrough 3: "Johnny the Gob" of Semine in KCD2

• Giver: Gules, 24 hours after completing "Handsome Charlie".21
• Objective: The third target is Johnny the Gob, Gules's former right-hand man, located with his gang at Vidlak Pond. Gules expresses a fondness for Johnny and asks Henry to spare him if possible.21
• Strategy & Known Issues: This quest suffers from a design flaw that can cause it to bug out. If Johnny is spared, he will surrender his shield and flee the area. The quest can auto-complete incorrectly if Johnny leaves the map before Henry reports back to Gules, preventing a proper resolution.23 To circumvent this, players must act quickly:

  1. Immediate Fast Travel: As soon as Johnny surrenders his shield, immediately mount a horse and fast travel back to Semine to speak with Gules before the script can fail.24

  2. The Knockout Method: A more reliable, if unorthodox, method is to accept Johnny's surrender, take his shield, and then immediately knock him unconscious. This "pauses" his escape script, giving Henry ample time to travel back to Gules and complete the quest properly.23

     If Johnny is killed, Gules will be disappointed and will not allow Henry to keep the shield.21

Walkthrough 4: "Casper" of Semine in KCD2

• Giver: Gules, 24 hours after completing "Johnny the Gob".13
• Objective: The final and most dangerous target is Casper, a formidable bandit leader whose camp is located in the rocky region of Apollonia.13 The camp is large and heavily defended, presenting a significant challenge.13
• Strategy: Players can tackle this encounter in several ways. A direct assault is difficult but possible with high combat skills and good equipment.13 Alternatively, stealthy players can infiltrate the camp at night to assassinate the bandits one by one.26 A popular "cheese" strategy involves getting the camp's attention and kiting Casper and his men back toward a friendly fortress or town, letting the local guards do the heavy lifting.26
• Reward: After killing Casper, loot his ring and return it to Gules. This completes the quest chain. Gules will offer a final reward and will now be available as a permanent skill teacher.13 Additionally, a hidden chest near some barrels behind rocks in Casper's camp contains a substantial sum of 1700 Groschen, a significant prize for the early game.27

VI. Local Affairs: Additional Quests in Semine in KCD2

Beyond the major narrative quests, Semine is also home to a few smaller, local tasks.

Walkthrough: "Magic horseshoes" of Semine in KCD2

• Giver: Guildsman Janek, a hired hand at the Semine saddlery.2
• Objective: Janek is preparing for a horse race and has heard tales of "magical" horseshoes that grant a horse incredible speed and grip. He asks Henry to acquire a set for him.28
• Resolution: Henry has two options. He can travel to the nearby Nomads' Camp and speak to the horse handler, who will provide enough information to forge the spiked horseshoes himself.29 Alternatively, a set of the horseshoes can be stolen from a straw basket next to where the horse handler sleeps in the camp.29
• Reward: After delivering the horseshoes to Janek, he will ask Henry to return in a few days. If he wins the race, he will share a portion of his winnings as an additional reward.30

Walkthrough: "Hunting the Werewolf" of Semine in KCD2

• Giver: Herdsboy Natan, found near his sheep pen in Semine.31
• Prerequisites: This quest is part of a longer chain involving Henry's dog, Mutt. The quests "Sheep Among Wolves," "The Lost Sheep," and "Carrot On A Stick" must be completed first.31
• Objective: Natan's sheep are going missing, and he fears a werewolf is to blame.32 Henry agrees to investigate.
• Resolution: Near Natan's pen, Henry can find a bloodied, broken arrow on a tree. Giving this to Mutt allows the dog to track the scent, which leads to a camp of vagabonds in the northwest. These men are the true culprits. After defeating them, Henry can return to Natan to report the truth and complete the quest.31

VII. The Spoils of Semine: Unique Loot, Secrets, and Collectibles of Semine in KCD2

For the discerning treasure hunter and kleptomaniac, Semine offers some of the most unique and powerful items available in the Trosky region.

Acquiring the Lord's Raiment: Sir Jan Semine's Hood of Semine in KCD2

Sir Jan Semine wears a unique piece of headwear called "Semine's hood," which has a distinct design unavailable elsewhere.33 This item, along with other high-level armor and his noble sword, can be stolen from a "Hard" locked chest in his bedroom on the second floor of the main keep.11 Evidence suggests the best time to attempt this is right before Henry is set to go on patrol with him during the "Wedding Crashers" quest, as he appears to place his gear in the chest at that time. The armor may not be present in the chest at other points in the game, and this opportunity may have been removed in later patches.11

**The Best Early-Game Armor: Gules's Kit of Semine in KCD2 **

Gules, the former bandit turned guard, wears a set of armor that is statistically one of the best available in the early game, offering excellent protection and high value.10 Acquiring this gear presents a classic risk-versus-reward dilemma. It can be stolen by waiting for Gules to go on his patrol route along the fortress ramparts, where he can be knocked out and looted without raising an alarm.10

However, attacking a key quest giver, even non-lethally, carries significant risk. The optimal and safest strategy is to pursue the path of patience: first, save Semine in "Necessary Evil" to ensure Gules remains friendly. Then, complete his entire four-part bounty hunting questline. This secures all the quest rewards and unlocks him as a permanent skill teacher. Only after all his content has been exhausted should a player attempt to steal his armor, mitigating the risk of breaking his questline while still acquiring the powerful gear.

Essential Knowledge: "Life in the Saddle I"

This valuable skill book permanently increases Henry's Horsemanship skill. It can be acquired in Semine through two methods:

1. Purchase: The book can be bought directly from Groom Ballatay, the horse trader in the village.2
2. Theft: A free copy of the book can be found in a chest in the loft area of the building where Ballatay works.36

VIII. Strategic Summary and Final Recommendations

Semine is a masterclass in RPG design, where a single choice has cascading consequences that define the player's experience in the entire region. The optimal path is not one of blind obedience but of calculated mercy and cunning.

The Completionist's Path

For players who wish to experience every quest, meet every character, and acquire every unique item Semine has to offer, the following sequence of actions is recommended:

1. Prioritize "The Jaunt": Ensure the side quest "The Jaunt" is completed before proceeding with the "Wedding Crashers" main quest to meet the prerequisite for Gules's bounties.
2. Succeed at the Interrogation: During "Necessary Evil," successfully learn of Olda Semine's treason from the captured bandit.
3. Lie to Lord Von Bergow: When reporting your findings, conceal Olda's involvement to prevent the raid on Semine and earn the "Silence is Golden" achievement.
4. Complete All Local Quests: Finish the "Magic horseshoes" and "Hunting the Werewolf" quests at your leisure.
5. Hunt the Bandits: Complete the entire four-part bounty questline from Gules ("Canker," "Handsome Charlie," "Johnny the Gob," and "Casper"), being mindful of the bugs and applying the recommended workarounds.
6. Acquire All Unique Loot: After Gules's quests are complete, steal his armor. At the appropriate story moment, acquire Sir Jan Semine's hood. Purchase or find the "Life in the Saddle I" skill book.

Final Verdict of Semine in KCD2

Semine stands as a testament to the depth and reactivity of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. It teaches the player early on that the world is not black and white, and that the most rewarding path often requires challenging authority and making difficult moral judgments. By choosing to save the village, players are rewarded not only with a clear conscience but with a richer, more expansive game world filled with unique stories and challenges. For any player seeking to experience the full breadth of what this remarkable RPG has to offer, saving Semine is not just the "good" option—it is the essential one.

Works cited