Act II: Kaer Morhen

You are going to find that Act II will be thrust upon you as soon as you complete the story missions up to that point. And you may ALSO find that you did not attain the levels you probably wanted before you got here.

While we were doing every quest, and discovery we could manage we only attained Level 25 when we arrived at this stage in the game and we quickly understood that that was not the ideal level either. Not ideal due to the fact that the armor and weapons we really need to be using - the high-end Witcher Gear - required more.

So what do you do? Well if you have exhausted all of the quests that you can, perhaps you should start working on the unknown spots - clearing the many smuggler caches in the Isles, and hidden treasures in the lands. Doing that will not only gain you levels but Wealth and new Kit as well - so consider that.

Mission: Ugly Baby

Continue the investigation

Flagged as a natural part of the story -- Suggested Level: 19

Geralt knew Uma currently resided at Crow's Perch. The baron's bandits,hungry for a bit of unrefined entertainment, had made Uma their jester. Geralt knew he would have to put an end to this farce, take the unfortunate being from Velen, and with Yennefer's help, try to lift the curse that held him...

You have your confrontation with the sergeant over Uma, and with that resolved, you head off for the long ride but just as you get started the Emperor sends his goons to collect you!

After the audience with the Emperor you head off to your original destination - home!

It really does not matter the order in which you do the tasks - just do them! Personally we opted to do the outside stuff first as it was preparation for the inside work anyway.

After all the tasks are done Vessemer steps in and makes it clear he does NOT like what Yennefer is planning to do with Uma and he has an alternative he wants to try first... So he takes Uma away and you are all left waiting for him.

After some initial complaints Yennefer asks Geralt to come upstairs and fool around, and we are treated to a CS of wolves attacking stags. Uh huh... So THIS is what Conan was talking about?!

When Vessemer returns it is with mixed information and results but the determination to try Yennefer's method. That flags the mission Va Fail, Elaine...

Objectives

• Tell the baron's sergeant you want to take Uma

• Tell the person minding the stables that you are taking Uma

• Help Yennefer fix the megascope

• Find Eskel and help him hunt the forktail

• Talk to Lambert about journeying to the Circle of Elements

Mission: Va Fail, Elaine

Continue the investigation

Flagged as a natural part of the story -- Suggested Level: 19

Traveling via Geralt's most believed means, teleportation, Yennefer reaches Kaer Morhen first - and immediately started bossing everyone around. Not only did she divvy out chores to the Witchers like a schoolmarm whipping lazy pupils into order, she also refused to reveal any details of her plans. Though Geralt was not exactly charmed by this behavior, he knew he had to help her - for Ciri's sake...

Fortunately the castle has the ingredients required for the special potion - we just have to loot them from the work bench... Then brew the potion and give it to Yen.

Once the potions run their course she uses the phylactery to try to break the curse -- Uma goes a bit nuts but hey, torture will do that to you! Then he dies. Or maybe not... Nope! Not dead! And it turns out that Uma? Totally the Elven Sage!

The Sage fills you in on what the Hunt is after - and where Ciri is!

The die is cast - Yen will try to heal the Sage, the boys will reinforce the castle and You? You will gather allies - and Ciri!

That completes this mission and spawns the next as well as completes Ugly Baby.

Objectives

• Gather the necessary ingredients and brew the Decoctions of the Grasses

• Brew the Decoction of the Grasses

• Bring Yennefer the potion

Mission: The Isle of Mists

Continue the story

Flagged as a natural part of the story -- Suggested Level: 22

After a long search Geralt was at last a step from his goal. Avallac'h had hid Ciri from the hunt on the magical Isle of Mists, which could only be reached if fate deemed one worthy -- or by following a magic firefly, which was decidedly the easier option. Geralt thus readied himself to sail tot he isle and bring back Ciri.

Objectives

• Talk to friends who could help defeat the Hunt and ask them to join your fight.

Mission: Brothers in Arms: Novigrad

Continue the story

Flagged as a natural part of the story -- Suggested Level: 22

A direct fight against Eredin and the Wild Hunt had become inevitable, and Geralt knew he could never defeat them alone. He thus decided to seek out allies - and his first steps took him to Novigrad.

After you have the chats and/or do the other things that completes the mission.

Objectives

• Talk to Zoltan

• Talk to Roche

• Talk to Dijkstra

• Talk to Triss

• Help Triss finish what she has to do in Novigrad

Mission: Brothers in Arms: Skellige

Continue the story

Flagged as a natural part of the story -- Suggested Level: 22

Nowhere in the world can one find warriors braver than those of Skellige, and thus Geralt set off to those isles in his hunt for allies to stand with him against the Wild Hunt.

After you have the chats and/or do the other things that completes the mission.

Objectives

• Talk to Cerys

• Talk to Crach

• Talk to Ermion

• Help Cerys unravel the riddle of Udalryk's madness

• Help Hjalmar with his expedition to kill the giant of Undvik

• Help resolve the matter of the succession to the Skellige throne

Mission: Brothers in Arms: Nilfgaard

Continue the story

Flagged as a natural part of the story -- Suggested Level: 22

Geralt realized the fight against Eredin and his soldiers would most likely be the most difficult challenge he had ever faced. In addition, the stakes were higher than ever before - this time he was not fighting for his own life, but for that of Ciri and, by extension, the entire world. Since extraordinary circumstances call for extraordinary measures, the Witcher decided to swallow his pride and go to the emperor of Nilfgaard for help.

After you have the chat that completes the mission.

Objectives

• Talk to Emhyr var Emreis

At this point of you want to take a break from the missions and clean up any side-quests that you have had turn green that would be an idea. What we did was made sure that we completed ALL of the side-quests so that basically all that was left in our journal was:

Side Quests: Collect 'Em All,

Contracts: Missing Brother / The Creature from Oxenfurt Forest

Treasure Hunts: Bear 4 / Cat 4 / Griffin 4 / Wolf 5 / Wolf 6

As you can see all of those are significantly higher than our current level, which is 26. That being so we jumped back into the missions straight away. That means jumping back up to The Isle of Mists and heading for Skellige.

Mission: The Isle of Mists Pt. 2

Continue the story

Flagged as a natural part of the story -- Suggested Level: 22

WARNING: Before you commit to this mission CREATE A MANUAL GAME SAVE! You will be warned by the game to do this - and there is a very good reason for that....You will also be warned that after you travel to the Isle of Mists, some side-quests will no long er be available.

THAT is why we strongly suggested that you complete ALL of the side-quests you could do BEFORE you set out on this mission!

After a long search Geralt was at last a step from his goal. Avallac'h had hid Ciri from the hunt on the magical Isle of Mists, which could only be reached if fate deemed one worthy -- or by following a magic firefly, which was decidedly the easier option. Geralt thus readied himself to sail tot he isle and bring back Ciri.

As you approach the isle you get the warning - I hope you were paying attention to that!

When you release the firefly the game triggers a CS and you get a load screen and another brief CS whereupon you find yourself on the Isle - and needing to follow the firefly.

At this point if you failed to complete any number of quests you will quickly find out - because you will get fail notices.

Follow the firefly and you will eventually reach a dock where you have to get out and continue on the land. You will have to do some fighting but eventually you reach the hut where you need to check inside.

As you work your way through the conversation with the occupants - assuming you do not mess it up - you should end up looking for their lost mates. Three of them. Ivo, Gespard, and Ferenc. Three of them in three different locations.

Now look you are a Witcher - there is NOTHING here you cannot handle! Truly! So get looking!

After killing a few Harpies and a Water Hag or two you find the first one - Ivo - but the damn fool ends up killing himself trying to climb down!

When you get to the lighthouse you find Gaspard - after a brief chat you agree to escort him to the hut. To save time go ahead and find the body of the dwarf Fenec first and then got o the hut.

After you reunite the dwarf with his mates you learn that Ciri - or maybe her body - is inside the hut. In you go thanks to a CS and you find her laying on a bed inside. You walk up and get all sad because you think she IS dead... Ya give her a nice fatherly hug and the firefly comes in and does its magical firefly magic and Ciri wakes up!

Oh frabulous joy! She is not dead! She is alive! Yay! Heh.

High quality hugs are exchanged and then, for once, a girl and the Witcher do NOT take off their clothes!

You fill her in on what has happened since she took the nap, and learn a few things yourself - and among the chat you learn the real reason behind the Hunt.

You can then have her fill you in on what happened to her - may as well.

When you arrive at the boat the dwarves have left with it - and what is worse, The Wild Hunt has arrived! There really is no choice - she has to teleport you out!

This completes the mission and unlocks the Achievement Something More (15g) Find Ciri.

Objectives

• Talk to friends who could help defeat the Hunt and ask them to join your fight.

• Go to Skellige

• Get on a boat

• Travel to the Isle of Mists

• Follow the firefly

• Check what's in the hut

• Look for Ivo in the cave

• Look for Gespard near the lighthouse

• Look for Ferenc along the coast

• Bring Gaspard to the hut

• Wake Gaspard up

• Find Fenec

• Wake Gaspard up

• Bring Gaspard to the hut

At this point you trigger another lengthy CS in which you eventually arrive at Kaeer Morhen, and you learn that Yen sent for Triss and that everyone else who agreed to help has arrived.

At this point you need to prepare yourself for battle, right? After all the Hunt will arrive soon...

The Battle of Kaer Morhen

Resist the Hunt

Flagged automatically as part of the story - Suggested Level: 24

Geralt and Ciri had no choice but to teleport away from the Isle of Mists when the Wild Hunt threatened to attack. Since Eredin could trace here Ciri traveled to with her abilities, the duo did not so much flee the Hunt as buy a few precious minutes of time. Ciri took Geralt home, to Kaer Morhen, where the group of friends the Witcher had gathered waited to defend Ciri to their last breath. They spared a few seconds for a tearful reunion - then began preparations to repel the Hunt's attack.

Right so, before you head in for the council head up to the smithy and Zoltan and have him repair and upgrade your Kit as needed and as possible.

When you get to the keep you trigger a CS in which you talk with the principal parties and go over the plans - what you are facing and what you plan to do about it. You sort of fill them in on the threat, with Ciri's help.

Once everyone contributes their part and gets their assignments you prepare for the attack! You can talk to your allies before you depart - we recommend talking to Ciri - and then head out to join Lambert!

After you take out the portals you briefly play as Ciri and defeat the warriors attacking her. Then back to Geralt and a brief battle before you head back to the keep! Race back to the keep on horse and then close the main gate!

Follow Ves's directions - but be aware that there are a lot of things that can kill you here!

Eventually as you win the way forward you shift to Ciri and she more or less rescues Esk - then you open the gate.

You fight through attack after attack until you are finally at the main gate to help Triss when, well, things go all pear-shaped...

You know that phrase "the straw that broke the camel's back"? Yeah,,, Well it turns out that there is only so much Ciri can take before she goes nuke - and killing Ves in front of her was the straw!

At the last moment the Elven Mage blunts her explosion, and eventually the rest of you unfreeze, at which point Geralt must confront the fact that they mostly failed and sort of succeeded. Ciri is there, Yen is there, but Ves is still dead...

The guilt is really banging on Ciri's door at this point - but remember she is still pretty young. Just saying. It looks like everyone but Ves survived the battle, but you guys do up Vesemir's funeral nevertheless...

That touching scene pretty much completes the mission.

Objectives

• Enter Kaer Morhen keep and begin the council

• Exit the keep and join Lambert when you're ready to face the Wild Hunt

• Use dimeritium bombs or the Yrden Sign to close all the Hunt's portals in the woods around Kaer Morhen 3/3

• (Optioal) Explore the arachas cave Lambert mentioned

• Wait for Lambert to lure the arachas out of the cave

• Kill the Wild Hunt warriors near the right portal in the forest

• Kill the Wild Hunt warriors near the left portal in the forest

• Kill the Wild Hunt warriors near the center portal in the forest.

• Run to Triss's aid on the battlement

• Defeat the warriors threatening Triss

• Return to Kaer Morhen

• Close the main gate

• Help Lambert defeat the Hunt's warriors

• Retreat tot he middle courtyard

• Get to Triss

• Help Triss fight the Hunt's warriors

• Defeat Carabthir's warriors

• Open the gate to Kaer Morhen's inner courtyard

• Use dimeritium bombs or the Yrden Sign to close the Hunt's portals and stop their attack on Kaer Morhen 2/2

• (optional) Equip yourself with dimeritium bombs from Vesemir's stash

• Help Triss fight the Wild Hunt by the gate to the inner courtyard

Minor Side-Note: Special Kit

Before we continue with the story there are a few matters that we need to touch upon first.

Chances are that by this time you have pretty much assembled a decent set of armor and weapons. That said though, we hope you have been adding the various Free DLC along the way, right? Well, one of the DLC packs was the Wolf School Gear Scavenger Hunt and it is well worth doing!

To be clear, at the time this was written the following packs were available:

• Alternative Look for Triss

• Alternative Look for Yennefer

• Ballad Heroes Neutral Gwent Card Set

• Beard and Hairstyle Set

• Elite Crossbow Set

• New Quest: Fool's Gold

• New Quest: Contract: Skellige's Most Wanted

• New Quest: Missing Minsers

• New Quest: Scavenger Hunt: Wolf School Gear

• Nilfgaardian Armor Set

• Skellige Armor Set

• Temerian Armor Set

You should apply all of those to your game mates, and then you should make it a point to go after completing the Wolf School Armor. Actually that is not as important before Level

The way that the new Wolf School Armor and Weapons work is simple enough - you need to complete all of the Scavenger Hunts for them, and that allows you to make the following armor plus upgrades effective at the following levels:

• Wolf School Armor & Weapons @ Level 14

• Enhanced Wolf School Armo & Weaponsr @ Level 21

• Superior Wolf School Armor & Weapons @ Level 29

• Mastercrafted Wolf School Armor & Weapons @ Level 34

While the first two levels of Wolf School Armor are probably not as good as the Kit you manage for yourself, the third and final levels ARE probably better than what you have,. Maybe not completely in effects and stat boosts but close. The final form is worth having - just saying. But with the Armor you may want to wait until you can actually use it - so Level 34 - whereas with the weapons? Level 29 is good.

Back on Task

With the funeral pyre burning it is time to talk to the others. When you talk to Esk he lets you know it is time to leave.

Zoltan tells you what he thinks you should do next, and Hjalmar explains he needs to go home. but he makes it clear that you are welcome in their home whenever. You and Ciri.

Lambert is pretty broken up - Roche is pretty stunned too - Ermion restates that you can always find help in Skellige and that is pretty much that!

You should say your goodbye to Vesemir by interacting with his pyre, and then head back to the keep.

Blood on the Battlefield

A bunch of tasks

Wrapping up the events of Acts I and II

Ciri's explosion of power had frightened everyone, her most of all. Clearly these uncontrollable outbursts could not be allowed to happen again, and so when the sorceresses departed for Novigrad to gather the Lodge, Ciri, Geralt, and Avalac'h remained at Kaer Morhen for a few more days. The Sage hoped to teach Ciri a few tricks for controlling her power.

This is both complicated and simple - you need to talk to the Elf and then have a snowball fight with Ciri. Right.

The idea here is you need to dodge her throws while hitting her with 8 of your own. Whoever gets 8 hits in wins - and you are supposed to be the winner here.

Visiting the Emperor

Technically this is purely optional - but really if you are playing Geralt to character you should opt to do it...

So before you do anything else it is time to take Ciri to see her father, the Emperor... He has been waiting pretty patiently after all...

Ciri has a chat in private with her dad, and it does not turn out well based on what she says when she returns to the hall!

That pretty much ends the mission. After a very lengthy set of CS's you will finally arrive at the base of Bald Mountain and begin the next mission - and Act III.

Objectives

• Talk to Avallac'h about what to do next

• Defeat Ciri in a snowball fight 8/8

• Don't let the snowballs hit you 0/8

• Make more snowballs

• Return to Ciri when you're ready to hit the road

[img=w3-km9.jpg title=This is Ermion - a Druid from the Skellige Isles who happens to be your good friend and willing to kick Wild Hunt butt all day long!

Closing Notes

You have completed all of the mission segments for Act II and are about to embark upon Act III. That said there are a few points you need to remember. You still have side-quests to complete - but you will not be able to do that or in a position to until you advance the story some more.

So head into Act III and get the story to the point where you can actually choose your destinations again and then try to wrap up as much of the side-stuff as you are able to because the story will be rapidly reaching a point where that is no longer an option.