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Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 — Taking French Leave Walkthrough

A spoiler-inclusive guide to the Maleshov rescue, including Rosa’s missable book task, optional swords for the prisoners, and a safer stable escape.
Length3 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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Spoilers for the main story. Taking French Leave is a main quest that sends Henry to Maleshov to rescue Hans Capon and Vauquelin Brabant. Before leaving the Ruthards’ palace, collect Rosa’s book if you want to complete its optional task; then arm the prisoners if you can, use stealth and distractions to reach the stables, and ride out with them.

How to start Taking French Leave

The quest begins at the Ruthards’ palace in southern Kuttenberg. PowerPyx identifies it as the 18th main quest, while GameSpot places it in the game’s second major arc, after Via Argentum. The objective is to reach Maleshov and rescue Hans Capon. PowerPyx’s walkthrough and GameSpot’s guide cover the quest.

  1. Approach the palace gate during the day and tell the guard, “Lord Ruthard is expecting me.”
  2. Speak with Kunzlin Ruthard. According to PowerPyx, this opening conversation does not change the outcome or reputation.
  3. When Vavak arrives and makes his accusation, you can choose a response that leads to combat or try the line “You’re stealing the royal silver on a large scale” and pass the associated skill check to make him back down. PowerPyx says the first dialogue choice does not matter; the guide does not establish every branch’s consequences.

Collect Rosa’s book before leaving

While you are in the room, pick up the red book titled A book of humourous anecdotes and deliver it to Rosa. This is an optional task associated with the quest, but it is missable: PowerPyx warns that leaving the fortress before completing it causes the objective to fail. GameSpot also notes the book task in its quest guide. PowerPyx’s Rosa quest guide covers that task.

Prepare for the rescue

Before heading upstairs, pick up the two swords in the room. At the top floor, use the Maleshov tower key you obtained from the cook to open the left-hand door. A cutscene begins the rescue. When you reach Hans and Vauquelin, offer each prisoner a sword if you want to follow the reputation-positive route described by PowerPyx. If you do not give them weapons, the game adds a follow-up objective to find one.

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#1 Best Overall
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 PS5
  • Live life through the eyes and actions of Henry, a young man on a quest to avenge his murdered parents. His story – illustrated with over five hours of stunning cinematics – takes him from aspiring warrior to rebel, crossing paths with a charismatic cast of characters and an unforgettable set of adventures, as he goes up against the King of Hungary, Sigismund the Red Fox and his fearsome allies.
  • Your actions shape Henry’s destiny and how the world will react to him. Customize freely his appearance, skills and equipment while taking a moral stance on the events around you. Travel round the land engaging in unique activities, such as blacksmithing and archery, to truly immerse yourself in this vibrant region of Europe that will remember your actions, forever.
  • This stunningly authentic rendition of 15th Century Bohemia allows you to experience this fascinating setting like never before. Get lost in a sprawling city, engage with peasants and talk with nobles while exploring a vast and rich countryside with taverns, bath houses, castles and more.
  • Feel the clash of steel and visceral combat as you engage in thrilling real-time battles. There’s a range of authentic weapons and combat styles to suit every player. On foot, horse or by stealth, you can specialise in elegant sword mastery, brutal blunt weapons or deadly ranged attacks.

Get Hans and Vauquelin to the stables

Hans is waiting in the tower. From there, move carefully toward the northern stables. PowerPyx recommends avoiding attacks on soldiers and using thrown stones to distract guards when necessary. The goal is to signal the prisoners and get them to the horses, not to start a fight along the way.

  1. Move toward the northern stables without drawing attention.
  2. At the stables, light a torch to signal Hans and Vauquelin.
  3. Watch the route they take: guards can spot them and trigger a fight. If a guard covers their path, clear or distract that route before signaling them.
  4. When the group reaches the stables, interact with the large front gate to trigger the escape scene.
  5. Ride out with Hans and Vauquelin. PowerPyx describes the optional conversation during the ride as inconsequential.

Finish the quest

After the ride, speak with Radzig and Hanush. PowerPyx suggests recounting events to them; in its described route, the nobles ride to Raborsch while Henry is sent toward Kuttenberg. The conversation ends Taking French Leave and starts The King’s Gambit. The suggested account is a guide’s route, not an established requirement for every possible dialogue path. PowerPyx also lists the side quests Attila and Victimised as newly unlocked afterward.

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What level do you need?

GameMaps lists a level requirement of 19 for Taking French Leave. Its quest listing has no publication date shown, so treat that number as third-party reference-site information, not an official requirement or a guarantee that every character needs that level to proceed. See the GameMaps quest listing.

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