The Beast of White Orchard
I searched for the hunter first. I road Roach past his hut, but he was already out on a hunt. After following a short trail I tracked him down. We talked and agreed, he’d lead me to the scene if I helped him hunt a pack of wild dogs. It didn’t take long and after annihilating the pack he led me straight to the site.
The camp was drenched in black blood, it seemed that they were celebrating when the Griffin attacked. Nilfgaardian boot prints led back to the Griffin nest and upon arrival I learned why the male abandoned the nest. Over a week ago, someone attacked the female Griffin as she slept, killing her and destroying their nest of eggs. Griffens mate for life, and now his only prey; human.
Beyond the town was Tomira’s hut where I found both Tomira and her patient, Lena. Lena was walking through the woods late one night to meet with her lover, but was met with a terrible injury instead. The Griffin had targeted the poor young woman. Tomira admitted that, although Lena was healing well, blood was pooling in her skull; it was just a matter of time before she would succumb to her injuries.
When I asked Tomira about herself she spoke of the Temple of Melitele and Mother Nenneke, she had a short career as a student - strange that we never seem to have crossed paths. She spoke of a boy named Goslav, and how the two ran away together and spent one lovely summer together before he took off. When she tried to return to Mother Nenneke she was turned away. Her parents never spoke but provided her a travel cloak and a small coin pouch. After wandering for a time she found herself, a healer in White Orchard; “end of story.”
Tomira… caring and insightful. Beautiful even.
I was able to give Tomira a Swallow potion for Lena. She felt it accurate, swallow; the first sign of spring, rebirth. After handing her the potion she commented “I llike you witcher” and handed me a gift simply because, as she said “for giving a damn.” I don’t think I’ll soon forget her.
After talking to Tomira it was time to take my leave and find Vesemir to fufil our contract, The Beast of White Orchard. I met Vesemir in front of the White Orchard tavern where I explained all I had learned, and that in exchange for killing the Griffin we would be given Yennefer’s whereabouts. Vesemir chose a location and after setting the bait the Griffin arrived along with the early morning sun. It was time to return and learn what we could of Yennefer.