Defender of the Faith: Velen

Aid an afflicted village in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's 'Defender of the Faith: Velen' quest. Confront a creature and make a difficult choice for the community.

The Defender of the Faith quest in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt sends Geralt to investigate a village plagued by a mysterious illness. This side quest involves confronting a dangerous creature and making a difficult choice that impacts the local community and its spiritual leader.

Defender of the Faith: Velen Walkthrough

This quest begins when Geralt encounters a distressed villager near the village of Midcopse in Velen. The villager will explain that a strange sickness is afflicting their people, and they believe it to be a curse from the gods. They implore Geralt to seek out the local priest, Father Tommass, who has been isolating himself and performing strange rituals.

Starting the Quest

Head to the village of Midcopse. You'll likely hear about the strange illness and the priest's unusual behavior from NPCs. Make your way to the chapel in Midcopse. You'll find Father Tommass in a distressed state, claiming divine intervention is the cause of the sickness.

Investigating the Illness

Geralt, ever the pragmatist, will use his Witcher senses to investigate the true cause. Follow the clues within the chapel and the surrounding area. You'll discover that the illness isn't divine in origin but rather a byproduct of a creature's presence.

The True Culprit

Your investigation will lead you to a nearby cave or a secluded area outside the village. Here, you will confront the source of the affliction: a Botchling. This creature is the result of an aborted fetus, and its presence is poisoning the land and its inhabitants. The Botchling is a relatively weak monster, but it can be surprisingly agile.

The Choice: Botchling or Lubberkin

After defeating the Botchling, Geralt will be presented with a critical decision. He can choose to:

• Destroy the Botchling: This will end the immediate threat and the illness, but it will also mean the end of the creature.
• Save the Botchling: If Geralt chooses to save the Botchling, he can perform a ritual to transform it into a Lubberkin. A Lubberkin is a benevolent spirit that can protect the village. This requires a specific item, often found nearby or obtainable through further investigation.

Consequences of Your Choice

• Destroying the Botchling: The villagers will be relieved, and Father Tommass will be seen as a hero for his perceived faith. However, the underlying cause of the Botchling's existence remains unaddressed.
• Saving the Botchling (Lubberkin): If you successfully transform the Botchling into a Lubberkin, the village will be protected by this benevolent spirit. Father Tommass will be humbled, and the villagers will have a guardian. This path often leads to a more positive outcome for the community in the long run.

Tips for the Fight

• Ss: Yrden can be useful to slow down the Botchling, and i can deal damage over time.
• Potions: Swallow potion is always recommended for health regeneration.
• Bombs: Grapeshot or Dancing Star can be effective against this type of monster.

The Defender of the Faith quest is a prime example of The Witcher 3's morally ambiguous storytelling, forcing players to weigh the immediate solution against a potentially more compassionate, albeit complex, resolution.