Disco Elysium: Return to the Whirling-in-Rags - walkthrough Disco Elysium guide, walkthrough

Return to Whirling-in-Rags is the main quest of the mercenary tribunal in the game Disco Elysium. Our walkthrough tells you how to prepare for the tribunal in front of the hostel, how to defeat Kortenaer and how to save Kim, Titus and other tribunal participants.

Last update: 06 August 2024

Mercenary tribunal in Disco Elysium is an important and complicated confrontation between the mercenaries and the Hardie Boys, which you must take part in. This walkthrough covers all steps of the Return to the Whirling-in-Rags task. We explain how to avoid Harry and Kim getting injured, how to save Titus, and how to defeat Kortenaer and the other mercenaries.

• Unlocking the task
• Return to the hostel - preparing for the confrontation
• Confrontation in front of Whirling-in-Rags
• Waking up after the tribunal and completing the task
• Who can die in this task?
• Changes in Martinaise after completing this task

Unlocking the task

You will receive this task immediately after completing the Look for Ruby on the coast task - you must complete the confrontation with Ruby in the cave underneath the Feld building (you're free to choose whichever option you want there) and then find and read her journal.

Return to the hostel - preparing for the confrontation

Leave the Feld building and head back to the Whirling-in-Rags. You cannot use the fast travel option; you have to get there on foot.

Stop near the pawnshop shown in the screenshot - this is the last opportunity to prepare for the big confrontation, which will soon take place in the square in front of the hostel.

1. Save the game manually - this will allow you to better prepare for the confrontation if necessary and repeat any failed skill checks to save certain people's lives or prevent them from serious injuries.
2. If possible, equip firearms. This can be, for example, Harry's weapon recovered in the Confront the Pigs and get your gun back task (see the screenshot above) or the weapon taken from the previous task.
3. Increase Hand/Eye coordination and Reaction speed by spending skill points on them and/or putting on outfits that temporarily increase them. This will improve your chances of passing the skill checks.

Confrontation in front of Whirling-in-Rags

When you approach Whirling-in-Rags, a cutscene will play. A mercenary tribunal is held on the square - mercenaries led by Kortenaer and Hardie Boys, led by Titus will take part in the confrontation.

As a result of this confrontation, characters on both sides of the conflict may die. Harry and Kim are in danger too, although none of them will die.

You can join the mercenary tribunal in any way you like - notify the participants that you're the police or keep your head down at first. Confrontation cannot be avoided or stopped. It will begin regardless of your choices.

In the initial part of the confrontation, you can discuss the hanged man - some options entail additional skill checks (e.g. Rhetoric, Suggestion).

If you have a weapon, you can try to shoot Kortenaer - this will be a Hand/Eye coordination skill check. You can:

1. pass the test - you hit Kortenaer, which guarantees his death in the further part of the confrontation (he won't die immediately after being shot);
2. fail the test - you can retake the skill check (only if you have more than 1 bullet), throw a weapon at Kortenaer (he won't die from this), or accept the result;
3. not take the test at all - this is the only option if you don't have any weapons equipped. Ruud will then make the first move during the battle.

If your first move was attacking Kortenaer, then Ruud will aim at Harry and you can take the Reaction speed skill check. Possible variants are:

1. avoiding the shot - if you passed the test;
2. being shot and losing 2 health points - if you failed or ignored the test.

Your partner should fire at Ruud and hit him, but you have no direct influence on his action.

The third step is Kortenaer's attack, which involves a very difficult Reaction speed skill check:

1. If Kortenaer has been hit earlier, then you will either take damage or avoid it depending on the result of the skill check. Kortenaer and Ruud may die.
2. If you haven't hit Kortenaer before, he can shoot Titus. Ruud can survive.

As a result of recent events, you will be on the verge of losing consciousness and Kim will come to your aid. Kim's life is in danger - Kortenaer or De Paule will aim at him:

1. Kim will survive if you pass the Authority skill check. You can give him your weapon. Otherwise Kim will use his own.
2. Kim can be hit and end up in a hospital if you fail the test - your partner will not die, but he will no longer accompany you till the end of the case.

Waking up after the tribunal and completing the task

Harry will regain consciousness after 2 days and will wake up in his hotel room:

1. if Kim has not been hit, he will still be able to accompany you;
2. if Kim has been hit and is in the hospital, you can be accompanied by Cuno for the rest of the game.

You can ask Kim or Cuno about the further course of the mercenary tribunal you missed after losing consciousness. Regardless of the final result, you will complete the task and receive 70 XP. You can also continue the main investigation - the task Inspect the window in Klaasje's bedroom will begin.

Who can die in this task?

1. Harry cannot be killed, but he may be injured. Depending on your choices, he can be shot once or twice. The detective will be able to continue the investigation.
2. Kim cannot die, but he can end up in the infirmary, which will make him unavailable for the rest of the game. In the final part of your investigation, he may be replaced by Cuno.
3. Kortenaer can be killed if you pass the skill check by firing at him.
4. Titus can be killed if you miss or do not shoot at Kortenaer.
5. Elizabeth could be killed if Kortenaer aims at her during the confrontation and you fail the skill check.
6. Other characters involved in the Mercenary tribunal that may die are the following: Angus (Hardie Boys), De Paule (Mercenaries), Glen (Hardie Boys), Ruud (Mercenaries), Shanky (Hardie Boys), and Theo (Hardie Boys).

Changes in Martinaise after completing this task

1. You can no longer visit the harbor, for example, to meet Evrart or perform other activities in the inner part of this location.
2. You will gain access to Kim's hotel room next to Harry's room. This will happen regardless of who is still with you.
3. You will no longer meet Joyce, Lena, Morell or Klaasje (if you have not arrested her before).
4. On the ground floor of Whirling-in-Rags you will meet only the surviving members of the Hardie Boys.