Contract “The Most Dangerous Criminal of Skellige” in The Witcher 3: walkthrough and consequences

In “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt,” the contract titled “The Most Dangerous Criminal of Skellige” offers a culminating experience for players exploring the world of Skellige. This detailed walkthrough provides insights into the quest journey, strategies, and possible consequences for Geralt as he faces new and unexpected threats.

Outline of the Contract

The contract, released as part of the 16 free DLCs on June 24, 2015, necessitates Geralt’s skilled investigation and combat abilities. Upon picking up the notice titled “Witcher Needed!” at the notice board in Fyresdal or by talking directly to a Skelliger, players can embark on this critically engaging quest.

Starting the Contract

Upon arriving in Fyresdal and locating the group of Skelligers discussing the issue, one will call Geralt over. Despite some confusion in recounting facts and identification of clan colors, the Skelliger explains that he was attacked by a large group of nekkers. He then requests Geralt to clear the path, readily agreeing to the highest haggle price offered. With little delay, Geralt sets out northeast of the village.

Investigating the Attack Site

Reaching the apparent attack site, Geralt finds a destroyed wagon but quickly notices the inconsistencies in the story’s details. Examination using Witcher Senses reveals a more bizarre scenario, starting with narrowly avoiding a falling boulder. Investigating this peculiar event, Geralt follows a trail of clues, including fresh furrows leading up the hill, eventually leading to nekker tracks identifiable by Witcher Senses.

Entering the Cave

Following the tracks, Geralt encounters a cave. The entrance is safeguarded by nearby wolves, but avoiding them is possible. Upon entering, however, there’s no turning back due to a trap blocking the entrance. Advancing, Geralt faces two endrega warriors. Successfully defeating them leads to six endrega workers and, finally, a venomous arachas.

Upon eliminating these threats, Geralt continues tracking until uncovering a hollowed-out nekker boot and footprints resembling a child’s size. A room filled with child-like but sinister drawings illustrates careful plotting against Geralt, indicating a final meeting place.

The Conspirators’ Meeting

Heading to the meeting place northeast at night (earliest being 8 p.m.), Geralt witnesses a confederation of creatures: a godling, an ice troll, a doppler, and eventually a werewolf. The werewolf’s desire for revenge contrasts with the other creatures’ wish to simply scare Geralt. Depending on interactions and past choices, Geralt faces three outcomes:

• Proving Mercy

  Players showcasing mercy towards monsters in previous quests can demonstrate this to the meeting. Two or more examples are required to convince the others to back down, sparing Geralt a battle with the ice troll and doppler and resulting only in a confrontation with the werewolf, who remains blinded by hatred.

  • Spared trolls at Kaer Morhen (The Final Trial)
  • Allowed Sarah to stay in Novigrad (Novigrad Dreaming)
  • Spared Salma (Contract: Deadly Delights)
  • Spared Wham-a-Wham (Contract: Missing Miners)
  • Spared Imp (Contract: An Elusive Thief)
  • Spared Allgod (A Greedy God)
  • Lifted Morkvarg’s curse and spared him (In Wolf’s Clothing)
  • Helped Johnny recover his voice (Ladies of the Wood)

• Confrontation

  Failing to convince the creatures or opting to fight leads Geralt into combat with the ice troll, the doppler, and the werewolf except the godling who promptly flees. This path provides 100 currency but lacks significant loot, as only the werewolf drops items.

• Parting Ways

  Attempting to amicably part ways without further proof results in the same battle scenario as failing to convince the monsters of past mercy.

Strategy and Tips

Proper preparation and understanding of enemy weaknesses are pivotal for optimal quest progression:

Endrega Warriors and Workers

• Coat silver sword with Insectoid Oil for bonus damage.
• Aard or Axii Signs disrupt Endrega movements, facilitating back attacks.
• Yrden Sign prevents swarming attacks from workers, while Igni Sign can burn and stun workers for easier attacks.

Venomous Arachas

• Use Insectoid Oil for enhanced damage.
• Axii Sign stuns the arachas, exposing its vulnerabilities, enabling back attacks.

Werewolf

• Use Cursed Oil for heightened damage on the werewolf.
• Devil’s Puffball bombs prevent werewolf health regeneration during its fight.

Ice Troll and Doppler

• Ogroid Oil boosts damage against ice troll, whereas Relict Oil suits the doppler.
• Yrden Sign confines the ice troll, providing a window for attacks.

Quest Completion and Consequences

Leading to the contract’s conclusion, sparing the godling provides a rewarding interaction post-werewolf defeat. The godling reveals the werewolf’s troubled past and gratitude for Geralt’s restraint, rewarding Geralt with 200 currency and nekker hide boots.

Alternatively, if Geralt resorts to combat with all creatures, he gains a lesser reward of 100 currency without additional loot from the ice troll or doppler.

Journal Entry and Narrative Continuation

The journal entry summarizes the contract’s narrative arc, reflecting on Geralt’s choices and their outcomes. Should Geralt threaten the conspirators, the journal states:

“Geralt found the monsters who had plotted a deadly trap for him. The pack’s aggressive leader, a werewolf, burned with such hatred for Geralt that he convinced two of the others – a doppler and a troll – to join him in attacking Geralt. The entire threesome died from the witcher’s sword. Of the conspirators, only the godling survived, having snuck off somewhere before the fighting grew fierce.”

If Geralt demonstrates past mercy, the entry reads:

“Geralt found the monsters who had plotted a deadly trap for him, but soon realized these misguided beasts did not deserve death. Yet the pack’s aggressive leader, a werewolf, burned with such hatred for Geralt that he attacked, even though his companions refused to join. The witcher quickly slew the werewolf, but left the other monsters unharmed.”

Objectives

Final Notes

This challenging quest highlights the complexity of Geralt’s world woven with moral dilemmas and intense combat scenarios. The consequences of each choice impact not only immediate rewards but also the narrative scale, reflecting on Geralt’s past decisions in the richly detailed universe of “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.”

Careful planning, leveraging knowledge of enemy weaknesses, and reflecting on previous engagements with monsters can navigate players through “The Most Dangerous Criminal of Skellige” contract adeptly, ensuring both a rewarding in-game experience and nuanced storytelling through Geralt’s lenses.