Velen Main Quests

Guide through The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's Velen main quests, focusing on finding Ciri and navigating political dangers. Face challenging enemies and tough choic.

Welcome to Velen, a war-torn land of despair and danger. This section will guide you through the critical path of main quests in this region, focusing on finding Ciri and navigating the treacherous political landscape. Be prepared for difficult choices and challenging encounters.

The Nilfgaardian Connection

Upon arriving in Velen, your primary objective is to locate the Nilfgaardian agent, Hendrik. He holds crucial information regarding Ciri's whereabouts.

• Travel to the Inn at the Crossroads: This is your first major landmark in Velen. Speak with the innkeeper to gather initial rumors and information.
• Investigate Hendrik's Location: You'll learn Hendrik was last seen at a hut near the village of Mulbrydale.
• Search Hendrik's Hut:
  • Examine the hut thoroughly using your Witcher Senses.
  • Look for a hidden cellar beneath the floorboards.
  • Inside the cellar, you'll find Hendrik's corpse and a key item: Hendrik's Journal. This journal contains vital clues about Ciri and the Bloody Baron.

Bloody Baron Arc: Part 1 - Family Matters

The Bloody Baron, Philip Strenger, is a key figure in Velen and holds more information about Ciri. This quest involves a complex investigation into his missing family.

• Journey to Crow's Perch: The Baron's stronghold is located in the heart of Velen. Be prepared for a lengthy ride.
• Confront the Baron: Upon arrival, you'll have a tense conversation with the Baron. He will agree to share information about Ciri, but only if you help him find his missing wife, Anna, and daughter, Tamara.
• Investigate the Baron's Quarters:
  • Use Witcher Senses to find clues about Anna and Tamara's disappearance.
  • Key items to find include: a broken doll, a holy icon, and a burnt effigy.
  • Follow the scent trail from the effigy to the stable, where you'll find a horseshoe and a bottle of alcohest.
• Talk to the Stable Hand: He will provide further details about the Baron's family and their strained relationship.
• Follow the Baron's Trail: The investigation will lead you to a Pellar, a local mystic.

Bloody Baron Arc: Part 2 - The Pellar

The Pellar is crucial to understanding the Baron's family's disappearance and lifting a curse.

• Find the Pellar's Hut: Located in the swamps east of Crow's Perch. Be wary of drowners and other swamp creatures.
• Negotiate with the Pellar: He will require you to retrieve a specific item for him before he helps you. This often involves a short side quest to retrieve a goat or a relic.
• Perform the Ritual: Once the Pellar agrees, he will perform a ritual to reveal the truth about the Baron's family. This ritual will uncover a botchling, a cursed infant.
• Choice: Botchling or Lubberkin:
  • Option A: Transform the Botchling into a Lubberkin: This is the more compassionate route. You'll need to bury the botchling under the Baron's threshold. This will turn it into a protective house spirit, a Lubberkin, which will lead you to clues.
  • Option B: Kill the Botchling: This is a more direct, but potentially more dangerous, approach. You'll have to fight the botchling, and then follow its spectral trail.
• Follow the Lubberkin/Spectral Trail: Regardless of your choice, the spirit will lead you to the Baron's family's hiding places and reveal the full extent of their tragic story. This will involve visiting locations like a fishing village and a hidden cellar.

Bloody Baron Arc: Part 3 - Ciri's Story: The King of the Wolves

The Baron will finally recount Ciri's time in Velen, which you experience through Ciri's perspective.

• Play as Ciri: You will temporarily switch control to Ciri.
• Escape the Wolves: Ciri must navigate a forest, avoiding or fighting packs of wolves. Utilize her unique abilities, such as her dash, to evade danger.
• Encounter the Werewolf: You will face a powerful werewolf. This fight is designed to be challenging, showcasing Ciri's speed and agility. Focus on dodging and quick attacks.
• Reach the Baron's Keep: After the encounter, Ciri will make her way to Crow's Perch, where she is taken in by the Baron.

The Ladies of the Wood

The trail of Ciri leads to the mysterious Crones of Crookback Bog, powerful and ancient beings.

• Travel to Crookback Bog: This dangerous swamp is home to the Crones. Be prepared for encounters with Drowners, Water Hags, and other monstrous creatures.
• Find Johnny: You'll encounter a mute Godling named Johnny, who can communicate with the Crones. You'll need to help him retrieve his voice by finding a bottle of spirits and a specific flower.
• Speak with the Crones: Johnny will lead you to the Crones' lair. They will reveal more about Ciri's time in the bog, but demand a price for their information.
• The Whispering Hillock: The Crones will task you with investigating a mysterious entity on the Whispering Hillock.
• Encounter the Spirit: At the Whispering Hillock, you'll discover a powerful, ancient spirit trapped within a tree.
• Choice: Free the Spirit or Kill It:
  • Option A: Free the Spirit: This involves a ritual using a raven's feather, a horse's heart, and a lock of hair. Freeing the spirit has significant consequences for the local villages, particularly Downwarren.
  • Option B: Kill the Spirit: This is a difficult combat encounter. Killing the spirit will save the villagers of Downwarren but will have other repercussions later in the story.
• Report Back to the Crones: Regardless of your choice, return to the Crones to receive their information about Ciri and the fate of Anna.