The Velvet Curtain is one of the most intrigue-filled side quests featured in the Fallout 3 Point Lookout expansion pack. Players uncover a classic Cold War espionage story involving a pre-War Chinese agent and hidden spy safehouses scattered across the murky swamps. Navigating this multi-step investigation requires careful exploration and attention to hidden detail.
Starting the Spy Investigation
To initiate the quest, players should head to the Point Lookout area and search room 1D of the Homestead Motel. Inside, listening to an old audio recording reveals details about a Chinese operative who operated in the region before the Great War. This leads to retrieving a key holotape hidden in a locker nearby to advance your search.
Locating the Bank Deposit Box and Codes
Your next step requires visiting the People's Bank of Point Lookout to access safety deposit box 1208. Playing the recorded voice prompt at the bank's intercom opens the safe deposit box containing crucial debriefing notes. Exploring the fallout 3 world yields many hidden stories like this that expand the deep lore of the post-apocalyptic universe.
Infiltrating Turtledove Detention Camp and the Submarine
Following the instructions takes you far north to the Turtledove Detention Camp to locate the remains of Agent Yang. After retrieving the necessary self-destruct codes from a hidden molar, travel off the coast to locate the sunken Chinese submarine. Initiating the vessel's self-destruct protocol forces you to quickly escape before the detonation destroys the craft completely.
Unlocking the Hidden Bunker and Claiming Rewards
Equipping the Cryptochromatic Spectacles found at the motel room allows you to read the secret sequence painted on the outdoor vases. Activating the pedestals in the order of 1, 3, 2, 3, 4, 4, 2 reveals the entrance to the underground spy bunker. After escaping a toxic gas trap inside, players walk away with valuable loot including the unique Backwater Rifle.