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10 Things You Missed About “Family Matters” In The Witcher 3

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a massive action RPG much loved by fans and critics alike. Created by the acclaimed CD Projekt Red, this game seemingly has it all: Vibrant characters, a huge world to explore, and deeply engaging quests that are anything but black and white. One of the greatest examples of said quests is the «Family Matters» quest-line, where you must help out the Bloody Baron in exchange for information on Ciri’s location.

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It’s a memorable quest not just for its length and breadth, but also because of how murky it becomes. This becomes particularly apparent as more harsh truths are brought to light. But there are also many different tidbits of lore and experiences in this quest that are easy to miss. Here are 10 such easily miss-able things in The Witcher 3‘s «Family Matters» quest.

10/10 The Investigation

In your drive to find Ciri as Geralt, you run afoul of the Bloody Baron and must help him in his quest before he will tell you anything. Eventually, the Baron gives his permission for you to search his room and his daughter’s room.

Since you only need to search his room to advance through this quest, it’s easy to forget to search the second bedroom. If you choose to ignore his daughter’s room, you miss out on three different items of interest. The first is an ugly doll which you can talk to the Baron about, it leads to some amusing dialogue. The second is a Letter to Tamara, which hints very strongly that not all is as it seems. The third is a pair of items, some incense and an old key which. Perhaps the most interesting of the items, they lead you to a locked room in the basement which contains an altar to the Eternal Fire.

9/10 The Botchling

As you continue through the quest and learn more of the terrible truth, you will eventually be required to visit the nearby Pellar to learn about a talisman. After a small side quest, the Pellar will inform you that the Baron’s wife, Anna, miscarried at the Baron’s own hands. When the «dead» baby was buried, it became a botchling.

Now, you are given two different choices: Either try to «save» the baby by removing its curse, or kill it. Saving it can be tough and if you don’t succeed, it will result in you having to kill it anyway. If you succeed, it will transform into a lubberkin. In the course of the fight, the botchling will transform, spouting spikes on their back. To make the fight easier, you can cast Axii in order to get it to retract them and later when it starts regenerating its health, Axii will stop that as well.

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8/10 Botchling and Lubberkin Mythology

The way the Botchling is created might seem like something pretty horrible and creepy. This is especially true if you read the bestiary, which mentions that it likes to lurk by the bedsides of expecting mothers, draining both the mother and her unborn child’s strength.

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It gets worse though. When the mother is weakened enough, the Botchling will sink its sharp fangs into her and drain her of all her blood. This may sound like the stuff of nightmares, but it’s actually from Slavic mythology. The Botchling is based off of the Poreniec, which was believed to have been a very powerful demon because of its unrealized life. The Lubberkin’s counterpart is known as the Klobuk.

During the course of this long quest-line, there are a couple of opportunities for extra experience that can easily be missed or ignored if the player is too focused on the main parts of the quest. One such opportunity can be found after learning of the Botchling’s existence and returning to Crown’s Perch.

You will see a fire and be presented with the opportunity to save the horses and stable-hand. If you choose to save the stable-hand, you will have to quickly run to the stables, climb the exterior ladder, use Aard to clear the debris, climb down the next ladder, talk to him, and then open the main stable doors. This will reward you with 20 crowns. The next opportunity is much simpler. After the Pellar’s ritual is complete, walk him home. This rewards you with extra experience.

6/10 Entering Oxenfurt

At one point in «Family Matters,» you will find yourself in need of traveling to Oxenfurt. But if you don’t prepare yourself properly, gaining entry can become kind of a pain. Luckily there are a couple of different ways to make this easier.

The first, and arguably best, way to enter is to be sure to talk to the Baron beforehand. Talking to him before searching for Tamara will result in him giving you a doll and a letter of safe conduct. Additionally, you will unlock more dialogue with Tamara later on. The second option is gaining the fake transit pass during the Fake Papers quest. Both of these will reward you with experience, but the first option is more appealing if you’re here for the story.

5/10 Finding Tamara, or Not

If you have no desire to visit Oxenfurt at this time then it’s not actually necessary to do so. In order to complete this questline and gain your information about Ciri, you don’t need to visit with Tamara.

But if you do choose to ignore her, you’ll be missing out on hearing her side of the story, and immersing yourself more deeply into the lore and world-building that the game is known for. And you’ll also miss out on XP. If you visited the Baron beforehand and got the doll and then visited with her, you will be rewarded with even more experience.

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4/10 Mind who you talk to the Baron about first

A word of warning for those of you who want to get as much dialogue and story out of this quest as you can. Because of the openness of the world, you can more or less choose when you want to do different quests, though there are consequences. Because of this, you can find Anna after talking to Tamara and before returning to the Baron. When you do this, you are given the option of who you bring up first. Be sure to mention Tamara first. If you mention Anna first the ensuing conversation prevents you from mentioning Tamara.

3/10 Gwent with the Baron

Perhaps the most distracting and beloved past-time within The Witcher 3 is that of Gwent. You get to challenge a large variety of people and earn their unique cards — and the Bloody Baron is no different. Initially, it was possible to completely miss his Gwent card as, after a certain conversation, it is no longer possible to challenge him to a game of Gwent. That has since been fixed in a patch. But if you did happen to miss out on his Gwent card, don’t worry, you can still find it. After the quest is over, simply go to his office and you can find it in a box, waiting for you.

2/10 Finding out the Baron’s ultimate fate

The ultimate outcome of the Baron’s story doesn’t actually happen within this quest, strangely enough. Rather, the conclusion is included in the follow-up quest, Return to Crookback Bog. If you choose to accept the Baron’s request then you will continue with him to hopefully save his wife, Anna.

But quests in The Witcher 3 rarely have happily-ever-after endings and this one is no different. There are three different outcomes for this secondary quest: In one outcome Anna goes mad but the Baron promises to find a way to save her. In another, he finds Anna in the form of a water hag. Depending on his choice of doll, she will either burst into flames or revert back to human form, but still die from the crone’s curse. In either outcome, the Baron hangs himself. It’s up to the player to decide which of these is «happiest.»

1/10 The Quest is Microcosm for the game

In many ways, this quest can be considered to be a microcosm for the rest of the game since it represents so much of what The Witcher 3 is about. Not only does it lead you to a variety of different quests that interact with each other in much the same manner as the rest of the game, but in each and every one of these quests, you must make choices. And these are hard choices that will determine the outcome of the characters involved.

Your actions will determine the fate of these characters, good or bad. Additionally, if you put in the effort to explore these quests you will be rewarded, both from a lore and world-building standpoint, and from a gameplay standpoint.

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The Witcher 3 ‘Family Matters’ guide and walkthrough

The Witcher 3’s “Family Matters” main story quest is long and complicated. It’s got several moving pieces, multiple optional objectives, and consequential choices.

In this guide, we’ll focus on the important decisions — specifically about how to deal with the Botchling— and optional objectives, like finding the baron’s daughter, Tamara. We’ll help you understand what your options are and the consequences of your choices.

Family Matters walkthrough

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When you arrive in Velen – No Man’s Land, you’ll have a main story quest called “Bloody Baron. ” Head to Crow’s Perch, and get inside to talk to Baron Phillip Strenger. That will finish “Bloody Baron,” and start “Family Matters.”

Progress through “Ciri’s Story: The King of the Wolves,” and then follow the baron when you return to the present. Use your Witcher Senses to search the rooms until you find everything. Now’s also a good time to knock out the optional side quest “Ciri’s Room.”

Talk to the baron about what you found. After that, you’ll head off to find the Pelar’s hut. Follow your map marker, and dismiss the soldiers outside when you arrive.

Talk to the pelar, and complete the “A Princess in Distress” goat escort quest. You’ll learn about Botchlings. Return to the baron.

Optional: Save the stable hand and the horses trapped in the burning stable

When you return to Crow’s Perch, the stables will be on fire. Get through the town and to the castle. You’ll automatically talk to a couple guards inside.

You can choose to say “I’ll try” to save the stable hand trapped in the fire, or ignore the fire and say you’re “here to see the baron.” This choice isn’t particularly consequential — if you successfully save Oswin, he’ll reward you with 20 Crowns later.

To save them, cut left across the courtyard toward the flaming stable. Climb the ladder left of the door. Use Aard to blast away any debris (and make sure to loot the chest on your left). Follow the path right, and drop down.

If you need to refill your breath meter, go right to the main doors, but don’t open them. There’s fresh air there. Head back into the barn, and open all the stalls. Return to the door and open it. (You’ll never actually interact with Oswin inside the barn.)

After a drunken fistfight and a heart-to-heart, follow the baron to the baby’s grave. This is where you’ll make your first big decision: to destroy the monstrous Botchling, or attempt to turn it into a protective spirit called a Lubberkin.

You only have a few seconds to decide how to deal with the Botchling.Image: CD Projekt Red via Polygon

Answer 1: Attack the monster

If you choose to attack the monster, you’ll draw your sword and fight. Botchlings are vulnerable to Cursed Oil and the Axii Sign. Chug some potions, and get to work.

During the fight, the Botchling might also summon Wraiths you’ll have to deal with.

When it’s down, Geralt will collect some blood to take back to the pelar.

Talk to the pelar, and then follow the pelar to Wolven Grove where he’ll start the ritual to find Anna and Tamara. You may have to deal with some wolves along the way.

Prepare for the ritual and light the fires with your Igni Sign or by just igniting the three stones with the promt.

During the ritual, several Wraiths will spawn. Deal with them, but make sure you keep an eye on the fires. If any fire goes out, head over and relight it. Igni works well here, since you don’t have to be so exact with your targeting.

When the ritual is complete, watch the cutscene and have a conversation with the pelar. He’ll point you to Voytek the fisherman’s hut.

Answer 2: Turn the Botchling into a Lubberkin

The baron will pick up the Botchling and you’ll begin to follow the baron to the castle’s entrance. Follow him closely — if you get too far away, the Botchling will transform and you’ll be forced to kill it (see Answer 1 above).

As you walk through the town, the Botchling will start to fuss and glow green. That will summon a few Wraiths. Handle the Wraiths, and then pull up the Axii Sign. Use it near the baron to soothe the Botchling.

Repeat that process as needed until you reach the castle’s entrance.

After the funeral, Sit and Wait at the nearby prompt. After a day, you’ll be able to summon the Lubberkin where the Botchling is buried.

Follow the Lubberkin and examine the areas it leads you to. Eventually, it’ll take you to Voytek the fisherman’s hut (just like the pelar will in Answer 1, above).

Look around the fisherman’s hut

Both answers to the Botchling problem lead to this point, so the branching paths have rejoined here.

Follow your map marker, and head into Voytek’s hut. You’ll have a long conversation with him and his family.

Optional: Find Tamara, the baron’s daughter, in Oxenfurt

With the information you got from Voytek, you know that Tamara is in Oxenfurt. You don’t have to go find her at all and you can always go look for her after you talk to the baron. Doing it first marks off another objective in “Family Matters,” though, so we suggest getting it out of the way.

Head northeast to the city of Oxenfurt. Follow your marker to Tamara. You’re only here to have the conversation with her. Once you’re done, you can head back to Crow’s Perch.

Talk to the baron about his family

The baron will start giving up information about Ciri and you’ll play “Ciri’s Story: The Race.”

If you haven’t yet, you’ll need to go to Crookback Bog and complete “Ladies of the Wood” (which has it’s own branching path) at this point.

When that’s done, talk to the baron some more. You’ll play “Ciri’s Story: Out of the Shadows.”

When you leave, you’ll get a new quest called “Return to Crookback Bog” that will end the baron’s storyline (and tie together all of the choices you’ve made).

The difference between “Attack the monster” and “Turn the Botchling into a Lubberkin”

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Ultimately, there’s no difference in how you choose to deal with the Botchling. Both answers will eventually lead you to Voytek the fisherman’s hut, and the story will play out the same from there.

The major branching of the baron’s story comes when you complete “Ladies of the Wood.”

Wild Hunt» — FAQusha.RU [Wiki]

• Step 1: Use your witcher senses to search the rooms

• Step 2: Talk to the baron about the traces found

• Step 3: Find the fortuneteller’s hut

• Step 4: Talk to the soothsayer

• Step 5: Read in the bestiary about Igosh

• Step 7: Defeat the Baron in a fistfight

• Step 8: Follow the baron to the graveyard

• Disenchant Igosha

• Kill igosha

• Step 9: Talk to the Baron about the family

• Step 10: Find Tamara, the Baron’s daughter, in Oxenfurt

• Step 11: Talk to the Baron about Tamara

• Step 13: Tell the Baron what has become known about Anna

Step 1: Using the witcher’s flair, search the rooms

After a frank conversation, we follow the baron up to the third floor. We examine the daughter’s room by the stairs. From the cabinet we take away [RUSTY KEY] and [INCENSE], from the boxes — pearls and golden rings. From the nightstand at the table we select the note [LETTER TO TAMARA]. Behind the bed in the bedroom we find a doll that was used for the rite of black magic. We return to the table. At the front door, turn on the witcher’s flair, follow the air trail, go down to the basement, open the door with a Rusty key. At the end of the room we find the altar of the Eternal Fire and take away from the table [PRAYER].

We go up to the third floor, enter Anna’s room. On the near table, with the help of the witcher’s flair, we find a wooden candlestick, on the far table — a vase of flowers. On the wall we examine the faded trace of the picture, and a little to the left of the picture itself. Let’s put her on the floor. We open the cabinet and lift the flying off leg from the lamp. On the column at the table — at head level — we find dents. Around the table at the entrance we examine the huge stains of spilled wine. On the air trail we reach the span between the second and third floors. Extract [TALISMAN] from the boards in the floor.

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Step 2: Talk to the baron about the traces found

Having collected evidence and restored an approximate picture of what happened, we return to the baron for explanations. We ask him about the doll, traces of the struggle and the found Talisman. By evasive answers, it will become clear that he is hiding something and does not want to speak openly. Soothsayers will help unravel the secret, but before visiting him, we go in and inspect Ciri’s room and visit Gretka.

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Ciri’s Room

During the break between tasks, you can talk to the Bloody Baron and offer to play gwent. In case of victory, the collection of cards will be replenished with the card of Sigismund Dijkstra. If you miss the moment, then the map will eventually appear in a box on the nightstand in your account on the second floor of the castle.

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Step 3: Find the fortune teller’s hut

We go for help to the fortune teller near the village of Bolshiye Suchya, northwest of the Vronitsa castle. At the door of the hut we meet the soldiers of the baron, who will try to break in and cuff the negligent healer for an empty medicine prescribed for their friend. When the witcher appears, they will try to take out all the anger on him. If Geralt’s Deception skill has been upgraded to at least the second level, then the soldiers can be persuaded to leave with the Aksy sign, otherwise the meeting will end in a fight. If the soldiers of the baron were killed in the tavern «At the Crossroads» while searching for the Nilfgaardian liaison, then the meeting with the soldiers at the hut of Vorozhei will also end in a fight.

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Step 4: Talk to the witcher

When everything calms down, the witcher will respond to the witcher’s voice and open the door. He will tell you about the Talisman, made to protect Anna from evil forces who wanted to take her to someone else’s possessions as a sign of fulfillment of the agreement. When asked about the location of the missing wife and daughter of the Bloody Baron, the Witches will answer in the negative. But he will offer to carry out a divination and call the spirits to get on the trail of the missing women.

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To help the princess

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Step 5: Read about Igosh in the bestiary

The summoned spirits will tell you about Anna’s miscarriage shortly before she disappeared. The culprit of the tragedy, according to Vorozhey, could be a baron. But the worst thing is that the child has turned into an idol and only he can now lead to his relatives. There are two ways to continue the investigation: the first is to kill Igosha and bring the monster’s blood to the fortune teller, or to disenchant Igosha and turn it into a chura. Both options will lead to the same result. Before leaving, open the Bestiary with the [B] key and read a note about Igosh in the “Damned” section. On the table we find [LETTER TO THE SORCERN].

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Step 6: Talk to the baron

We return to the castle to see the Bloody Baron. At the entrance to the courtyard, we help put out the fire in the stable. We rise to the attic along the stairs at the door. From the chest on the left side we take things, a drawing and a recipe for a decoction. We clear the way with the Sign of Aard. We jump to the stalls and open the door.

For a good deed, the saved stableman will thank you with money in the future, and the baron will give you a barrel of Lyrian as a reward to continue the fiery feast.

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Step 7: Defeat the baron in a fistfight

After putting out the fire, listen to the eulogy in our honor. But at the reciprocal words about a miscarriage and the constant beatings of his wife, the baron will rush at the witcher with his fists. We parry blows at the moment of swinging with the right mouse button, and immediately inflict several retaliatory attacks. We do everything as in training with Vesemir in Kaer Morhen at the beginning of the game. In the end, we grab the enemy by the scruff of the neck, dip our heads into a trough of cold water and bring to our senses. We continue the conversation in a more relaxed atmosphere. In his office, the Bloody Baron will talk about life with Anna, about family relationships and about his beloved daughter, whom he never touched with a finger. As a result, it turns out that he knew about the escape all this time, but was silent, afraid of losing the respect of the witcher. The climax of the story will be a detailed description of the last quarrel with the pregnant wife and the birth of a dead child.

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Step 8: Follow the baron to the cemetery

After completing the interrogation, we go with the baron at midnight to the cemetery located in the southeast of Vronice. We go down the winding path and find the empty grave of the child. While Geralt will lecture the baron, an igosha will appear from behind the fence. A few seconds are allotted to make a decision — to kill or disenchant. The option to complete the task depends on the choice.

Disenchant Igosha

• If you disenchant Igosha and turn it into a chur, Deja’s spirit will lead you to the fisherman’s hut east of Vronitsa’s castle. You can calm the monster on the way to the castle with the help of the Axii Sign. The spell does not always work the first time, it is important to choose the right distance and angle of application. In total, several attempts are given, if you do not have time to calm the monster, then the igosha will break out of the hands of the baron and attack the witcher, the same thing will happen if you move too far away from the baron. On the way to the fisherman’s hut, the chur will stop several times (at the barn, at the remains of the horse and at the door of the house), at such moments we turn on the witcher’s flair and examine the evidence.

If the game «crashes» on the desktop in the courtyard before turning the Igosha into chura, you should repeat the passage from the last save checkpoint in the cemetery (the bug was noticed in The Witcher 3 version 1.30).

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Kill Igosha

• If you kill Igosha, you will have a difficult and long battle with the monster. We attack the enemy with strong blows of the silver sword, repel and knock over with Aard. We fight off the ghosts. When the Igosha bristles, use Aksy to stun and force the monster to hide the spikes. After the battle, we send the annoyed baron to the castle to wait for news. The baron does not like the option of killing Igosha, but does not affect the plot in any way.
• The extracted blood of Igosha will help the Witcher to perform the ritual and find out the location of the fugitives. On the way to the Wolf’s tract, located in the forest north of Vronitsa, the old man will tell about Vserad, the Mouse Tower, the invasion of rats and the terrible death of the former ruler of the surrounding lands. During the ritual, we protect an ally from the attack of ghosts and set fire to the dying altars with the Sign of Igni or by touching the [E] key. The summoned spirit will point to Wojciech and the fisherman’s hut to the east of Vronice, as well as mention Ciri and ask Geralt about the Child of the Elder Blood.

If you let the altars go out during the ritual, more and more ghosts will appear in the arena. And if after the battle you don’t escort the Witch to the hut so as not to return later, then you can stay and collect a huge amount of ingredients from the remains: smoky crystals, mutagens from ghosts, essences of ghosts, amethyst, emerald and ghost dust.

In a conversation with a fisherman, we are constantly trying to find out about the baron’s wife, until the fisherman’s son blurts out about a girl who came at night. When he realizes that it is pointless to deny it, he will tell about the abduction of Anna by a demon from the swamps, strange fiery marks on the woman’s hands and Tamara’s departure to Oxenfurt to her brother.

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Step 9: Talk to the baron about the family

Having learned the information about the location of his daughter, we return to the Bloody Baron in Vronitsa. In the courtyard of the castle, the equerry will come out to meet the witcher and thank his savior (if the fire in the stable was extinguished after a visit to the Witcher). We go towards the garden, the sergeant will stop the witcher at the archway and warn about the poor health of the baron, who, after a night with igosha, does not eat or drink anything. We go into the garden, go to the well, pick up [LOVE LETTER] from the bench and talk with the baron. We listen to his story about his wife’s favorite colors and get down to business. Hearing about Tamara, the baron perks up and takes him to his office. During the conversation, he will wish the witcher to return his daughter from Oxenfurt back home. And before leaving, he will give Geralt the [Rag Doll] and the [Redan Travel Letter], which will allow him to cross the Pontar and freely enter Oxenfurt and Novigrad.

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History of Ciri: horse racing

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Step 10: Find Tamara, the baron’s daughter, in Oxenfurt

We get to Oxenfurt in any convenient way, on the bridge we show the soldier the travel document received from the Bloody Baron (after the first official passage to the Redanian territory — according to real or fake letters — all bridges and crossings will be constantly open). We turn towards the port with two moored ships. Opposite the red ship we go into the house. On the ground floor, the witcher will be met by a man. We ask him to meet with Tamara. When he hears who Geralt came from, he will immediately go upstairs. In a conversation with the girl, we inform that we came from her father and that he wants to return her back.

She will react negatively to the daring proposal and ask not to disturb her anymore, and to send a fiery «hello» to her father. The doll will also not affect the decision and will only cause a smile. If you continue to ask Tamara about the past, she will tell about her life, about the suffering of her mother, about the loss of a child, about running away from home and being attacked by a monster. The only thing that worries her now is the fate of her mother. Therefore, she joined the Order of Eternal Fire, hoping to gain support and go in search of her mother as soon as possible. After finishing the conversation, we select [MYSTERIOUS LETTER] from the bedside table, leave the house and return to the baron in Vronitsa.

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Step 11: Talk to the baron about Tamara

The Bloody Baron will be looking forward to the return of the witcher along with his beloved daughter. When Geralt appears alone in the office and tells the story of the doll, then all hopes for the best will melt away like a dream. And the uncertainty with Anna will further increase the guilt. Despite the fact that the reconciliation of the parties will not happen, we continue the investigation. Where to look for Anna, the wife of the Bloody Baron, they will tell you in the village of Undergrowth.

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Step 12: Investigate all remaining leads in Velen and find the Baron’s wife

The first part of the quest to find the Baron’s wife and daughter will be completed. There will be no markers on the map and instructions on where to look for Anna, so we switch to the «Witch Hunt» task in the journal. In parallel with the story quests, you can start completing additional quests and witcher orders from the notice board so as not to lose experience points due to the difference in levels.

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Witch Hunt, Gwent: Tavern Games, Gwent: Velen Players, Fists of Fury: Velen, Racing: Crows, Work Order: Dobrov Beast, Cat and Wolf Games, Work Order: Screamer

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Step 13: Tell the baron what has become known about Anna

Having found out about Anna and Ciri, we return to Vronitsa. News of his wife will thrill the Bloody Baron. He will try to reproach the witcher for not returning his beloved back home, but Geralt will refer to the terms of the contract and prefer to listen to the promised story about Ciri.

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Ciri’s story: from the shadows

After a detailed story about his family life, the baron will ask the witcher to go with him to fetch his wife to Krivoukhovy marshes. If you agree to help free Anna from the witches, the baron will promise to thank you generously. Before leaving, a strange creature named Uma will appear in the room, the appearance of which will amuse the witcher and give rise to many questions. The baron will gladly tell you how he won the scarecrow at cards from the Skellige merchant.

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Bonfires of Novigrad, Return to Crooked Bog

Passage of the quest Family matters in The Witcher 3

Quest source: appears after completing the quest «Bloody Baron».
Recommended level: 6.
Location: Velen.

«Family Matters» is one of the main plot quests in Velen, where the witcher will visit in search of traces of Ciri’s presence. Here we will witness a tearful family story and learn that a person with a loud harsh nickname can be overly sentimental.

First of all, it is worth mentioning when and where we will receive this quest. In the Bloody Baron quest, the witcher will get to the castle of Vronitsa and get acquainted with the self-appointed baron known in Velen, nicknamed Bloody (real name Philip Stenger). The Baron will confirm that he saw Ciri, but in exchange for information about the circumstances of the girl’s visit to the castle of Vronitsa, he asks for help in finding his family (Anna’s wife and Tamara’s daughter). The Witcher gives his consent, thereby launching the quest «Family Matters», where Geralt will have to look for the wife and daughter of the Bloody Baron who disappeared under strange circumstances. According to the description, they are about forty and twenty years old, respectively.

The Bloody Baron reports that his family disappeared on the last new moon for unclear reasons. It is obvious that the baron is not finishing something. Geralt suggests first of all to inspect their rooms. The witcher and the baron head to the top floor, where the necessary premises are located.

After the baron opens the doors, you can start looking for possible traces of the disappearance of the baron’s relatives. We head to the bedroom of Anna and the baron, while the baron asks not to make a mess there. We go into the room and understand that it will not be difficult to adhere to the request of the owner of the house, since, ironically, there is still a mess there.

We will be searching, so it is not difficult to guess what will help us with this. With the help of a witcher’s instinct, we examine the situation of the room. We notice a light trace on the wall, as if something had hung there before. By size, we can guess that they outweighed the picture depicting the baron and his wife, located nearby on the inner partition of the room. We remove it from a new place, behind it there is a hole in the wall. It becomes clear that this same hole was closed with a cloth. We examine it from the other side, for this you will have to open the doors of the cabinet located behind the partition. There we find a bent candlestick, someone broke through the wall with it and broke the cabinet. We also pay attention to the deep dents on the support beam. It can be concluded that there was probably a struggle here.

We continue our search in the Baron and Anna’s room. On the table is a broken candlestick and wine stains. Apparently the bottle was broken. By smell, the witcher determines that this is Ervelus from Toussaint. We are trying to find out where the trace of the aroma of this noble wine leads. In the mode of the witcher’s flair, we follow the trail, it will break off on the stairs between the floors. There, under one of the floorboards, we find a certain amulet.

In the room of the baron and Anna they found out everything they could. Now you can start examining the room of the daughter of the Baron Tamara. Next to the bed we find some kind of ugly doll, somewhat reminiscent of a voodoo doll (the one in which pins are stuck to harm someone). Not far from the front door in the closet you can find an incense jar and an old key. The key will still be useful to us, and we follow the smell of anise, sandalwood and saffron. We go down the stairs to the basement. In the far pantry (we unlock it with the found key) is the altar of the Eternal Flame. Apparently, the daughter of the baron was fascinated by religion. Also in the basement, you can replenish your inventory with various useful gizmos.

Having practiced the use of detective abilities, we return to the baron to tell about the findings. Unfortunately, the baron was pretty drunk that evening and will shed little light on this story, but still we will be able to get something out of him. He made a noticeable pogrom and spilled wine in his bedroom with his wife, he himself had a few quarrel with his wife that evening. That strange doll was presented to Tamara a long time ago by the baron, and he made it himself. Now it is clear why the doll is of such an unfavorable appearance, and it also turns out that the baron tried to portray the sorceress Triss Merigold with this craft. To put it mildly, the baron is not very skilled in this matter and a puppeteer would not have come out of him …

As for the amulet, it belongs to Anna and was given to her, most likely by one of the local representatives of witchcraft. The witcher asks the baron if there is any medicine man in the area. The baron reports that there is such a fortune teller here, he is still a weirdo. He lives near the village of Bolshoi Boughs. The Baron warns that it is unlikely to get anything intelligible from him. They say that the fortune-teller moved a little, sees spirits, in his youth he killed his own father with the help of an ax, and he also has an unhealthy relationship with his goat …

It becomes curious what kind of eccentric this is. We go to this most infamous soothsayer to find out about the medallion. In the village of Bolshie Boughs, on the way to the abode of the fortuneteller, we will meet angry local residents. They also want to see the fortune-teller, but for a completely different reason. He bewitched one of their friends, from which he was covered with scabs and almost never got out of the closet …

In order to get rid of these comrades, there are several options:

1. You can advise them to get far away, which will lead to an armed clash with them (“introduce” your sword to 5 opponents of the 6th level).
2. You can repel them with Axiom, but this requires the Deception skill, developed to the 2nd level.
3. You can offer them coins. It will not be possible to pay them off, as they are driven by other motives, and they themselves want to “pay off” with the fortune teller for their comrade. As a result, they will engage in battle with the witcher.
4. You can find out from them exactly how the fortune-teller treated their comrade, and offer your help. If at one time in the quest «The Nilfgaardian Messenger» the witcher did not get involved in a fight in the inn «At the Crossroads», then everything will be resolved peacefully, otherwise the witcher will face an inevitable skirmish. In the case of a peaceful resolution of the situation, you won’t have to go anywhere separately, the witcher will give a couple of tips that will moderate the ardor of annoying bullies and they will finally go home.

Having got rid of hostile strangers, we go into the fortuneteller’s house. We meet a strange old man who refers to himself in the third person, and generally expresses himself intricately. According to him, he was already waiting for Geralt. He says that divination does not lie and the bones predicted his arrival. The Witcher asks a new acquaintance about the amulet found in the Baron’s estate. Soothsayer reports that he gave this talisman to Anna to protect against evil spirits. The witcher also asks if the fortune teller knows anything about the disappearance of the baron’s wife and daughter. He does not know anything about this, but he assures that the spirits can know. To search for spirits, a fortuneteller needs a certain Princess …

The princess is the fortune-teller’s favorite goat. The witcher will have to find her in order to get his help. The fortune-teller gives the witcher a bell, to which the Princess responds and advises to avoid … strawberries and wild raspberries. Once again, we are convinced of the eccentricity of the fortuneteller and set off in search of a goat.

A small additional task «To help the Princess» is launched. We have to go through, probably, the most senseless and at the same time funny quest of those that can be found in the game. In terms of stupidity, however, it competes with that well-known quest where we had to look for a frying pan for one grandmother. In any case, you will have to complete this quest in order to further advance on the Family Matters quest.

So, first you need to prepare the bell by placing it in the appropriate inventory slot. Further, with the help of a trouble-free witcher’s instinct, we follow the goat’s tracks from the abode of the fortuneteller. Along the way, we deal with a pack of wolves and a large bear. Soon we will hear goat bleating and find Princess. We return with the goat to the fortune teller’s house. In order for the goat to follow the witcher, you will have to constantly ring the bell. This cattle will certainly be distracted and run away to the side. If earlier on the way the bear and wolves were eliminated, then there will be no additional problems, except for the need to have considerable patience for this “exciting” walk with a goat.

Finally, Geralt brings his pet to the fortune-teller. He thanks the witcher and performs the ritual using goat’s milk. As a result, he will tell that Anna had a miscarriage, he was buried without a ceremony, and he turned into an igosha. This is a cursed creature that feeds on the blood of pregnant women. The creature is quite vile, but you can remove the curse from it, then it will turn into a chura (a kind of guardian spirit of the hearth). It becomes obvious that, based on this, we have to make a choice: remove the curse from Igosha or stop his miserable existence.

Soothsayer informs that Igosha will help find Anna, because «blood will always find its own blood.» He adds that the Igosh should be looked for at midnight at an empty grave, and the baron should know where the burial is.
We return to the castle of Vronitsa for a conversation with the baron. Upon arrival, our gaze is greeted by a stable in flames. The baron himself set it on fire in a drunken stupor. One soldier asks the witcher to save his groom brother, who was left inside the building. Rescue the poor fellow or go further — you choose.

If we still decide to save the groom, then we have to get into a burning building. To do this, climb the stairs to the second floor. Inside we will experience a lack of air, so we will have to act quickly enough. We make our way through the wreckage with the help of Aard, find the groom and get out through the main gate. The next time you return to Vronitsa, the groom will thank the witcher for saving him with 20 coins. Not a lot, of course, but if we leave him to die, we won’t get anything at all.

After that, Geralt meets the baron and brings him to his senses with the help of cuffs and immersing the cursed drunkard’s head in water. After making sure that the baron is now ready for a reasonable conversation, the witcher brings him up to date on the situation with the igosha. The Baron agrees to point out where the burial is.

At midnight we head to the place where the baron buried the child. We will not find Igosha in the grave, because he has already rushed to hunt, but soon he will come to us himself. This is where the need for a choice arises: to kill Igosh and, with the help of his blood, allow the fortune-teller to perform a ritual of communication with spirits, or to remove the curse from the unfortunate creature and, after turning into a chura, learn from him the necessary information. The second option is preferable, but the decision is up to you.

If we decide to kill the cursed creature, then an intense battle awaits us. First, you can lubricate the sword with oil for the damned. During the battle, the initially small and not seemingly dangerous Igosha will increase in size. The enemy is not very agile, but his blows cause significant damage. Also, his danger lies in the fact that he can regenerate and release poisonous spikes. The fight will be complicated in addition by the appearance of ghosts, which will also have to be dealt with.

Following the option of killing Igosha, after the end of the battle we go with the blood of Igosha (the inventory will be replenished automatically after the inglorious death of the vile creature) to the recently familiar eccentric soothsayer. It is a necessary ingredient for the ritual. We leave with a fortune teller to the place of the ceremony. Here it will be necessary to keep the fire in the braziers and fight off a horde of ghosts. After the end of the ritual, based on visions, the fortune-teller reports that the missing wife and daughter of the Bloody Baron visited the fisherman Wojciech. Accordingly, it will be necessary to visit this fisherman and ask him about what he knows about the disappeared women.

If we choose the option of saving Igosha and removing the curse from him, then you will need to deliver Igosha to the threshold of the house where a suitable grave has been prepared. Igosha must be carried by a failed father. As a preliminary preparation, you can smear the sword with ghost oil. On the way, you will have to fight off the ghosts and calm Igosha Aksy. It is worth noting that in this case it is not recommended to move far from the baron and it is worthwhile to pacify the Igosh in a timely manner, otherwise you will have to move on to the option of calming him down through killing.

Having reached the porch of the house, under which the grave has already been prepared. The proper rites of burial and naming are performed here. Left waiting for the Igosha to turn into a chur, Geralt will send the baron home. After a while, a chur (guardian spirit, now tied to the baron’s house) will appear, which the witcher will ask to show the way to relatives.

Follow the soaring spirit to the fisherman’s house. On the way, we first get to an abandoned house, near which, with the help of a witcher’s instinct, we find traces of horseshoes and an abandoned bracelet. This may indicate that women were a passage here. Further, following the chur, we stumble upon the torn remains of a horse, next to which rotten ones graze (scavengers that break into pieces before death and poison those around them with cadaveric poison). Apparently, some large monster attacked the fugitives here and tore the horse to pieces. The next stop on the tip of the chur, finally, will be the dwelling of the fisherman.

We ask the fisherman Wojciech about the baron’s escaped relatives. The fisherman will not immediately want to share the truth, but his own son will betray him. We learn from Wojciech that the baron’s wife and daughter were really here and he helped them. Tamara went to Oxenfurt, and on the night of the escape, Anna was attacked by some huge monster (nothing but a demon) and dragged into the forest. The fisherman also noticed that Anna had some symbols shining on her hand before that. By the way, according to these symbols, the witcher recognizes the baron’s wife at their subsequent meeting in the quest «Mistresses of the Forest».

You can find out about the baron’s daughter by going to Oxenfurt, but to get into the city, we need a Redan travel document. A fake letter can be obtained by completing the additional quests «Fake Papers» and «Cemetery Hyenas», but it’s better to get a real one. A genuine letter can be earned as a reward for completing the Witcher order «Forest Monster» (the order should be received at the bridge in front of the Redanian Border post on the notice board, posted by Captain Felix Grubb). In fact, the easiest way to get a document is from the Bloody Baron. Having learned from the witcher the whereabouts of Tamara, the baron himself will issue a letter to him in order to enter the city and visit the girl.

Therefore, having received all the useful information from Wojciech, we head to the baron to share the information received. We find the baron in the garden behind the manor house in a sentimental state. He will tell Geralt about what kind of flowers his wife loved (this information may be useful in the quest «Return to Crooked Marshes» to remove the spell from Anna). By the way, here you can also find and read Anna’s old love letter addressed to the baron.

After the end of the baron’s sensual outburst, the witcher tells him what he managed to find out about his relatives. If at the moment the quest «Mistresses of the Forest» is completed and we have information about the whereabouts of the baron’s wife, then we should not immediately share them. Before that, it is better to find out about the fate of Tamara, having received that very letter from the baron and going to Oxenfurt, otherwise this item of the assignment will fail, and the baron will rush to the Krivoukhovy swamps to help out his wife. This will affect Tamara’s attitude towards her father when they meet in the quest «Return to Krivoukhov Marshes».

Departure for Oxenfurt. With the help of the Redan travel document, we pass into the city. We find Tamara in the house at the pier in the northern part of Oxenfurt. We learn that she joined the ranks of witch hunters and they will help her find her mother. By no means does Tamara intend to return to her father in Vronitsa.

Once again we return to the baron with a new piece of information. In exchange for information about Tamara, the baron will tell part of the story of his time with Ciri. As part of the short quest «History of Ciri: Racing», we learn that they competed with each other in the races, then they were attacked by a basilisk. The baron refuses to reveal the last part of the story until the witcher finds his wife Anna.

We have to investigate all the remaining leads in Velen and find the Baron’s wife Anna. You can find out Anna’s whereabouts by completing the «Ladies of the Forest» quest. We will receive it after completing the quest “To the Touch” (we will go to it in turn after completing the “Witch Hunt” quest and finding an old acquaintance of the witcher Keira Metz) with the participation of the sorceress Keira Metz, she will give us a tip on the so-called mistresses of the forest. Having visited Krivoukhovy swamps as part of the «Mistress of the Forest» quest, we learn that she is subject to the will of local witches and looks after the kids for them in a shelter in the swamp.

We visit the baron again and tell him the location of his wife and her difficult situation. You can also listen to the baron’s tearful revelations about his family life, it turns out that Anna is also far from an angel and cheated on him. Having put an end to mental torment, in exchange for the information obtained by the witcher about Anna, the baron will finally tell the end of the story of Ciri’s stay in Velen.

This will be filed through the short quest «Ciri’s Story: Out of the Shadows», where Ciri saves the Baron from the Basilisk, but the Wild Hunt is on her trail and she has to leave Velen and head to Novigrad. Quest is quite simple. Controlling Ciri, you will have to overcome the basilisk, using accurate strikes and well-timed dodges. In the midst of the battle, the basilisk will grab the baron and carry him to the top of the tower. In order to get there and rescue the Baron, Ciri will need to use her teleportation power, which will attract the attention of the Wild Hunt. The Baron will be saved, and Ciri will continue to hide from the persecution of the Wild Hunt, heading for Novigrad.

After the witcher receives all the necessary information about Ciri’s stay in Velen and understands all the vicissitudes of the Bloody Baron’s family relations, the quest «Family Matters» will be completed.