In Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 – Chiaroscuro, a mysterious black cockerel leads you on a bizarre yet intriguing quest involving hidden eggs, wild dogs, and a toad-infested swamp. This guide walks you through every step—from triggering the quest to locating the nest and securing the rare Basilisk Egg.
Starting the Chiaroscuro Quest
After wrapping up the “Source of Inspiration” quest, you’ve got two ways to kick off the next part. You can either speak to the painter again immediately or wait a full 24 in-game hours and meet him at Trosky Castle.
Visit Semine and Talk to Farmer Slavek
Head over to Semine and make sure you’re wearing a high-charisma outfit. Save your game before talking to Farmer Slavek (he’ll be marked on your map).
Start the conversation by saying:
“They say you’ve got a black cockerel.”
You’ll need to pass a charisma-based skill check here—don’t worry, it’s pretty easy. The most reliable choice is:
“I’m here on orders from the Lords of Trosky.”
Once you pass, continue with:
“Did the cockerel lay eggs?”
“Did you keep any of its eggs?”
Slavek will reveal that the black cockerel laid eggs (somehow) but died not long after. He didn’t keep the eggs and threw the bird’s body into a dung heap near the woods.
Find the Black Cockerel’s Egg
Head south toward the bend in the road by the horse trader. The dung heap will be easy to spot, and you’ll find both the black cockerel’s corpse and the Rooster’s Egg inside it. Pick up the egg to complete this objective.
Bonus Tip: Dealing with Wild Dogs
You might get ambushed by two wild dogs. If you’re aiming for the “Lent” achievement, you can either snatch the egg quickly and ride off or fight them using unarmed combat.
Placing the Egg in the Toads’ Nest
Check your map for the “B” marker near Zhelejov Wagoners’ Inn. You’re looking for a small island in the southeastern part of the yellow search zone. The island has four broken trees sticking out of it.
Pro tip: Turn up your game audio—the sound of toads gets louder the closer you are.
When you get close enough, you’ll see an Investigate prompt (:l1: / :lb:). Hold the button to examine the spot, and the game will zoom in on one of the trees. Interact with it to place the egg under the broken tree.
Wait for the Toads to Hatch the Egg
You’ll now need to leave the area entirely. The toad noises should fade, and the quest objective should disappear from the top of your screen. A good option is to climb the hill toward the nearby inn.
Once you’re far enough away, skip time for 24 hours. The quest objective should update. If it doesn’t, you might still be too close or need to skip time again.
Pick Up the Basilisk Egg
Return to the same tree where you placed the egg. You’ll now be able to collect the Basilisk Egg from the dirt under the tree—it will be marked, so it’s easy to find.
Deliver the Egg to the Painter
Head back to Trosky Castle and talk to the painter. Hand over the egg to complete the quest. Your reward is a Gemstone Silver Ring.
Wrap-Up: Final Dialogue Choices
Stick around and chat a bit more with the painter to get extra dialogue and a small reputation boost. Choose the following in order:
“Thank you”
“What do you expect from this paint?” (requires 20 Scholarship)
“Why is your head a mess?”
“You don’t just want to stay here for free, do you?”
“What do you need to finish?”
