Necessary Evil is the eighth main quest in the Kingdom Come: Deliverance II storyline.
After Back in the Saddle, Lord Otto von Bergow orders Henry and Hans Capon to extract information from a captured bandit in the 
Trosky Castle dungeons. You must identify the bandit leader and locate their hideout at Nebakov.
You can also play this after discovering the truth at Nebakov in the previous quest, which changes some dialogue options.
Start the interrogation
The quest begins right after you speak with Hans outside von Bergow's chambers. Finish other business before you talk to him if you need time.
You can ask Hans about torture and your approach. He tends to be more willing to use force than Henry.
To get everything without torture, invest in Speech, Charisma, and Intimidation. Wear your best armor and use perfume to push Charisma and Intimidation.
When you are ready, follow Hans to the torture chamber. You can wait for time to pass, and Hans will eventually wait outside the chamber for you, as the walk through the castle with Hans is long.
Prison location: use the door in the central courtyard above the stables, then find Hans inside.
Interrogating the prisoner
The captive knows the bandit hideout and the leader's identity, but resists. Use persuasion or force.
Every fact can be learned the easy way if you pass the right checks. If you fail, you can fall back to a hard way option. After some failed checks, a second Charisma check may appear.
The persuasion route (easy way)
Start by identifying as Henry and say you are not a traitor.
The hideout: ask where the band is hiding. If you already learned the truth at Nebakov in Back in the Saddle, you can say you know. Otherwise pass Intimidation or Deception.
The leader: a medium Charisma check reveals the leader is named Jan.
Istvan Toth: a medium Charisma check confirms Toth is with the bandits. You can follow up about Radzig's sword.
The traitor: a medium Speech check reveals Olda Semine is helping the bandits.
Leader again: you can use Intimidation to press for more about the leader.
He can also comment on the attack on Rocktower Pond without checks.
The scene can end once you know bandits are at Nebakov (which you may already know from Back in the Saddle) and that Olda Semine helps them. The bandit warns that telling Bergow will likely mean Semine's downfall.
The torture route (hard way)
If your stats are too low, use the hard way. No skill checks, but it is graphic.
Tools include:
- Slap
- Tongs
- Punches
Do not overdo it. The prisoner can die, which costs reputation with Hans and von Bergow.
Reporting to Otto von Bergow
After the interrogation, you make a major choice that shapes the rest of the quest and Semine.
The first dialogue with Hans does not change outcomes. What matters is what you tell von Bergow.
Silence is Golden (best outcome)
Recommended if you want the cleanest moral outcome and the Silence is Golden achievement.
To earn the achievement: report that bandits are at Nebakov, but do not reveal Olda Semine's involvement.
If you mentioned Young Semine leaving his wedding when reporting to Bergow during Back in the Saddle, you may need a very hard Speech check to convince von Bergow you were mistaken about Olda.
If you succeed, von Bergow sends men to Nebakov, the raid on Semine is avoided, and the quest continues toward a clean resolution.
Informing von Bergow about Olda
If you reveal Olda's involvement, or fail the Speech check to cover for him, von Bergow orders Burgrave Hashek to raid Semine and deal with traitors.
This path is destructive and can break several side quests, including the Canker chain tied to Gules. Bergow's later actions also show harsher colors.
If you follow this path, read The raid on Semine below. You can still avoid the worst outcomes. Otherwise skip to Final report if your playthrough avoided the raid.
The raid on Semine
If the raid happens, ride with Hashek, his men, and Hans to the Semine fortress. A heated argument erupts between Hashek and Sir Jan Semine. You must pick a side.
Siding with Hashek
Fighting for the Burgrave leads to a bloodbath. You must kill Semine guards, including Captain Gnarly.
The tower: Hashek orders you to find Olda in the tower. You witness Agnes die before you reach the top.
Final choice: hand Olda to Hashek for an immediate execution, or try to let him go. Letting him go forces you to kill Hashek and his men.
If you reported Olda and went to the fortress, then spare Olda, you end up fighting Hashek. If you kill him and then report to von Bergow in a way that incriminates yourself, Henry can be hanged and the game ends. Reload your last save.
Siding with Semine
If you side with the Semine family, defeat Hashek's soldiers.
To reduce future reprisals from von Bergow, you burn the Semine fortress to cover the evidence. The Semine family then flees the region.
Final report
Whatever happened at Semine, return to Trosky Castle the next morning to report to von Bergow.
If you sided with Hashek: you can object to his brutality. Von Bergow may dismiss your concerns.
If you killed Hashek: stay quiet and let Hans tell a fabricated story about the Burgrave's death.
If you admit you killed Hashek yourself, Henry can be hanged immediately. Reload an earlier save.
The next main quest is For Victory!. See the For Victory! quest guide for the feast, ambush, and Zizka duel.
Necessary Evil FAQ
How do I get Silence is Golden?
Report Nebakov but hide Olda's involvement. If you already flagged Young Semine's wedding to Bergow in Back in the Saddle, prepare for a very hard Speech check to correct the record.
Can the prisoner die?
Yes. Excessive torture can kill him and hurt reputation with Hans and von Bergow.
What if I admit I killed Hashek?
Henry can be hanged. Let Hans spin the story when that option exists.
What quest comes after Necessary Evil?
For Victory!
What is the Semine raid for in Necessary Evil?
Henry rides with von Bergow to raid Olda Semine's estate for bandit ties. Your combat choices affect bodies found and optional loot before you report back.