Francis Sinclair lives in a small cabin northwest of Strawberry, and he has a strange request. Ten rock faces around the country carry carvings that should not make sense in 1899. Arthur does not need to understand them. He only needs to find each wall, record the coordinates, and send the notes back.
All ten carvings are available during the main story, and none require the epilogue. They can be inspected before meeting Francis, but starting Geology for Beginners first makes the purpose clear and gives Arthur somewhere to mail the coordinates. The hunt also counts toward the game's 100 percent checklist.
Start at Francis Sinclair's Cabin
Ride northwest from Strawberry, cross Hawk Eye Creek, and look for the cabin tucked below the hills. Francis gives Arthur his card and asks for the locations. From there, any order works. Each carving appears as a light design scratched into a dark stone wall.
Use Eagle Eye when the map position looks correct. The carving glows like other inspectable objects, and the game shows a prompt once Arthur is facing the right section of rock. If the prompt never appears, check the cliff above or below the trail. Height causes more confusion than distance in this hunt.
West Elizabeth and Mount Hagen: Carvings 1-3
1. Owanjila
Follow the southern shore of Owanjila west from the dam. The carving is on the rock wall close to the water, just off the path. This is the easiest first stop after meeting Francis because the cabin and lake are only a short ride apart.
2. Mount Shann
Ride into Big Valley and follow the dotted mountain path near the large T in West Elizabeth. The carving is on the west-facing cliff, below the path and not far from the giant skeleton. Dismount before moving along the narrow shelf.
3. Mount Hagen
Take the winding path toward the top of Mount Hagen. Near the end of the climb, search the large rock wall beside the trail. Snow can wash out the pale lines, so Eagle Eye helps more here than anywhere else on the western route.
The Central Route: Carvings 4-7
4. Whinyard Strait
Ride north from Window Rock toward Whinyard Strait. On the west side of the water, find the ledge just north of the bridge. The carving is cut into the cliff above the river. Approach from the upper trail, then walk down carefully.
5. Cumberland Forest
Go to the northwestern part of Cumberland Forest, near the dotted trail between the forest and the Dakota River. Search the west face of the tall cliff. The design is small compared with the wall and is easy to miss from horseback.
6. Fort Wallace Mountains
Climb the mountain northeast of Fort Wallace. A narrow descending path runs between two peaks, and the carving is on the rock face beside it. The military fort is a useful landmark, but stay high above the road rather than riding toward its entrance.
7. Flatneck Station
Ride northwest from Flatneck Station toward the Dakota River. Follow the path along the water and check the rock wall on the eastern bank. This carving is smaller and lower than the mountain designs, almost level with Arthur when he stands beside it.
These four can be folded into normal travel through Valentine and the Heartlands. Start at Whinyard Strait, move east through Cumberland Forest and Fort Wallace, then ride south to Flatneck Station. That direction avoids climbing the same mountain twice.
The Eastern Route: Carvings 8-10
8. Moonstone Pond
Ride south of Moonstone Pond and stop on the plateau above the road. The carving is on the rock face below the flat ground. Walk to the edge, locate the lower shelf, and approach from the side instead of dropping straight down.
9. Roanoke Ridge
Follow the main road southwest of Annesburg through Roanoke Ridge. The carving is visible on a cliff from the road, but the inspect point is closer than it appears. Dismount and face the center of the design.
10. Elysian Pool
Go to the eastern side of Elysian Pool and climb the ridge north of the road. The carving sits on the rock wall above the water. It can be collected during the same trip as the nearby Poisonous Trail cave, Legendary Perch, or Dinosaur Bone.
Mail the Coordinates and Wait
After recording all ten locations, visit any post office and mail the coordinates to Francis Sinclair. The quest does not continue immediately. Pass roughly two in-game days, sleep, travel, or work on another activity, then check the mail for his invitation.
Return to the cabin northwest of Strawberry. The final scene explains more about Francis and the images Arthur has been tracing across the country. It also opens the cabin for one important pickup that the quest marker does not force into Arthur's hands.
Take the Old Brass Compass Before Leaving
The Old Brass Compass is on the table inside Francis's cabin after the final scene. Pick it up before walking away. The cabin can lock after the encounter, which can leave the compass inside and make the reward difficult or impossible to recover normally.
Take the compass to a Fence and use it to craft the Raven Claw Talisman. The perk slows weapon degradation by 20 percent, so guns stay clean for longer. It is useful for any playthrough and far more valuable than the small cash rewards Francis sends while the coordinates are being mailed.
What Counts Toward 100 Percent
Geology for Beginners is one of the collectible strands listed in Total Completion. Record all ten carvings, mail every coordinate, read the invitation, and return to the cabin. The final visit closes the stranger mission and gives the tracker its completion credit.
The Old Brass Compass is not needed for the percentage itself, but leaving it behind removes the normal route to the Raven Claw Talisman. Make a manual save before entering the cabin, collect the compass as soon as the scene ends, and check the satchel before riding away. That small pause protects the only genuinely fragile part of an otherwise relaxed collectible hunt.
