Nilfgaardian Connection

As I entered Velen, I was greeted by a hangman’s tree. Half a dozen corpses were hanging and swaying in the breeze amongst the branches of this old Oak Tree.

Mulbrydale was my first stop, and picked up Warning, Guide Wanted, A Plea, Missing Wife, Help Us Send Him Off, and From the Innkeep.

Warning

Watch what you say. The trees have ears.

A Kind Stranger

I ran into a man tied up on the side of the road with Drowners circling him. His identity: deserter John Verdun. He joined a group of refugees, but when they learned that he'd abandoned Temeria in her time of need, they beat him, tied him up, and left him for the Drowners to deal with. I can’t leave him to die, even if he is a coward.

I continued on and as I made my way towards the Inn at the Crossroads, I picked up some notices, most of them warnings, but also Missing: Mikel, written by Bruno.

Warning

Good Folk,

If you see any wonders hanging in the woods, such as treats fit for Yuletime dangling off branges - gingerbakings, honeyed apples, fritters or pies - then no matter how fierce your belly growls, turn back. Whoever partakes of those treats is never seen among the living again.

I wonder what everyone is so afeared of.

I entered the Inn at the Crossorads, I had only time to ask for drink afore some locals spotted me. Noticing my two swords they contemplated on why I carried them. I avoided a larger confrontation so I could instead talk to the Innkeep. He explained that Hendrick was an odd fellow who had shacked up with a widow up on the hill, who somehow always seemed to disappear just at the right time. 

Inkeep had some Gwent cards on hand: the Commander’s Horn, Nilfgaardian Empire Siege Engineer, Nilfgaardian Empire Impera Brigade Guard, Nilfgaardian Empire Nausicaa Cavalry Rider, and a Nilfgaardian Empire Emhyr Car Emreis Leader card.

I asked about the Baron and the Innkeeper explained that the old keep had been long abandoned when the Baron took up root. He figured that it was only a matter of time afore the ‘black-ones’ gave him the official title “Master of Crows Perch.” Apparently he was given the moniker The Bloody Baron when a barrel of red dye had somehow gotten pushed over into the river where it was taken down stream. The locals came to think that the Baron had killed everyone in sight causing the waters to flow red. From that moment on the name stook. However, he also told me that the name was quite appropriate as he had massacred many, an entire squadron, to be exact, back in Ingholm. 

I came across an Eternal Fire Priest who requested I assist them by burning the bodies of war victims, I decided to accept the task. He handed me a vile of oils which were to help them burn. I chose, at this point, to ride through the night to find Hendrik in the village of Heatherton. Along the way I found an odd wooden shrine of an old woman I wonder what it means.

She Who Knows

Folk say they were four at first. The Mother, She-Who-Knows, The Lady of the Wood, came here from a faraway land and since she suffered terribly from loneliness, she made three daughters out of dirt and water.

A long, long time ago the Mother was sole ruler of all of Velen. Her daughters brought her the people’s requests and served as her voice. Each spring, sacrifices of grain, animals and men were made to the Lady of the Wood on her special night. Yes as the years passed, the Lady of the Wood slipped deeper and deeper into her madness. Her madness eventually spread over the land - men took to abandoning their homes and setting out into the bog, where they became food for beasts. before long, Velen was drowning in blood.

The Daughters saw their land nearing destruction and took it upon themselves to save it. When spring came once more, and with it the night of sacrifices, they killed their mother and buried her in the bog. Her blood watered the oak atop Ard Cerbin, and from then on the tree grew wholesome and hearty fruit for the people as for the Lady’s immortal soul, it refused to leave its beloved land and so the sisters imprisoned it. To this day it lies trapped beneath the Whispering Hilock, where it thrashes about in powerless rage.

Around 1am I spotted the town Hendrik was said to be living in, but even in the heavy rain that pelted down upon me, I felt an odd presence. Cold, and mist lingered in the air. I dismounted Roach and noticed the little village was almost completely empty. I had to fight off a few rabid dogs, before I could talk to the only man who remained, and he cowered in fear. I calmed him with Axii and was able to convince him to talk. He recounted an awful ordeal that came down upon this poor unsuspecting town. “They took them all..” he said. The frozen riders took Hendrik as he screamed and begged for his life.

Nothing was taken so I knew these weren’t thieves. As I entered the home I was greeted by the corpse Hendrik, his blood covering the walls and floor. He was obviously tortured for what he knew. I checked his boots and besides blood I also found a key. I found that the key opened a door in the floor which I was able to open and climb do inwnto. Below there was a poster, reading:

Missing Tamara Strenger, daughter of the Bloody Baron! Presumed kidnapped. Hearty reward for whoever finds her or brings her in!

I found a curious light fixture that - when I interacted with it - a secret door swung open and in the wall, I found a chest. In the chest was a ledger. sack of grain, charcoal…

Missing and Wanted

Subject appeared in skeliga Also signted in Novigrad apperance unchanged ashen hair scar face avoids contact with others

Drunked Swine

So called baron hosted subject at his castle, or should I say, illegally appropriated fort… reason unknown. Talk to baron at crows perch

Clashed with a Witch

Subject landed in a swamp and encountered a witch. conflict ensued cause unknown.. find the witch talkt to the peasentry - village of Midcopse.

Caution Advised

I’m being observed don’t know by whom or why. unsettling signs… dog ran off, water in bucket froze solid, Strange glow observed in the sky. Ill omen, peasants say.

It looks like I found my first clue in the search for Ciri - My only leads, the Bloody Baron and a Witch.