Infiltration of the Royal Interment

Lore & Background

Within these walls, the fate of the Empire hangs in the balance. The kidnapping of Royal Physician Anton Sokolov marks the end of his comfortable life of privilege and the beginning of a dark chapter for Dunwall's future. For Corvo Attano, infiltrating this fortress is an act of impossible defiance against a system that has already declared him dead. The presence of Overseer guards armed with Music Boxes, along with the physical dangers of traps and standard estate security, adds a layer of tension to the mission.

In Their Own Story

The heavy iron door groaned as Corvo slipped inside, the smell of damp rot and ozone filling his lungs. Shadows danced on the wet stone walls, cast by the flickering gas lamps that barely penetrated the gloom. Somewhere down here, in a cell carved from the city's bones, Emily waited. The silence was heavy, broken only by the distant drip of water and the rhythmic clanking of chains. He moved like smoke, a ghost in the machine of the prison, knowing that every step closer to her freedom was a step away from his own life.

Reader's Guide

The mission begins with Corvo arriving at the prison's exterior, often disguised or using supernatural abilities to bypass initial security. The player must navigate the outer wards, dealing with guards and automated defenses while gathering intelligence on the layout. Progressing deeper requires solving environmental puzzles and choosing between stealthy elimination or overt violence, which directly influences the chaos level of the mission. Upon reaching Emily's cell, the narrative shifts to a rescue operation. The player must escort her through the prison's lower levels, protecting her from ambushes by guards and supernatural entities. Choices made here, such as sparing enemies or using lethal force, alter the immediate atmosphere and the reactions of NPCs encountered later in the game. The climax involves escaping the prison before reinforcements arrive. Depending on the player's actions during the rescue, the ending of this chapter varies, affecting the overall chaos rating and subsequent story outcomes in Dunwall.

Did You Know?

• The Outsider does not appear within the estate during the kidnapping mission; he instead appears at locations like the Hound Pits Pub.
• Anton Sokolov's capture in the Boyle Estate marks his first direct encounter with the harsh realities of political power and betrayal in Dunwall.
• The architecture of the estate heavily utilizes steam technology, a hallmark of the Dishonored universe's industrial aesthetic.