The Expanse: Episode 2 – How to Complete the Virgil’s Past and Mushroom Powder Sidequests

The Expanse: A Telltale Series is a new episodic adventure series from a reformed version of Telltale Games and Deck Nine (the team behind Life is Strange: Before the Storm and True Colors). Like the Telltale series of old this one largely focuses on story, player choice, and quick-time action scenes, but it also features an array of collectibles and even sidequests. Most of the collectibles can be found if you just take some time to search all the areas the main story forces you to pass through, but sidequests may require you to dig a little deeper or venture off the beaten path.

The Expanse: Episode 2 offers a couple extra missions related to the ship’s medic (and unofficial cook) Virgil. One tasks you with finding some Mushroom Powder for Virgil, while the other allows you uncover some secrets about his past. Since they’re both related to the same guy, we’ll cover them both here…

Warning: While I stay away from specific plot points, the following article may contain mild spoilers for The Expanse Episode 2. 

Find Mushroom Powder for Virgil

• Step 1 – Shortly after you start exploring the ship graveyard, you’ll come to an infirmary/interrogation room with “Focus Drugs” sitting on a table near the entry. Head down the ladder from this room into the Mess Hall, then hang a left.

• Step 2 – Interact with the high cupboard. Inside you’ll find – yup, Mushroom Powder! You’ll be able to give it to Virgil later in the episode.

Discover Virgil’s Backstory

• Step 1 – In the Engine Room where you collect the third Refraction Mass, look around and find the Data Cube Hacker item.

• Step 2 – Later, near the end of the episode, after you’ve given Virgil the mushrooms, head to the Medical Bay and search Virgil’s office. There’s a computer there you can access using the Data Cube Hacker. You’ll find some interesting info about Virgil on the computer. Return to him to follow up and get the full story.

So, what does completing these side quests get you? In both cases, you’ll alter your relationship with Virgil, which could have long-lasting effects in future episodes. You’ll also unlock the “Spore Taste” and “Thorston Mayer” achievements/trophies.

The Expanse: A Telltale Series is being released on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, and PS5. Episodes 1 and 2 have been released thus far – Episode 3 arrives on August 24. You can check out Wccftech's other The Expanse guides here.

Written by Nathan Birch