Wandering in the Dark
Finding Ciri had proven harder than tracking a swallow on a rainy day. According to Keira, an Elven Mage had been tracking this particular swallow as well. With our own goals in mind, Keira and I went to find the mysterious elf’s hideout.
Upon entering the old Elven ruin, we immediately ran into the Wild Hunt, a fairy tale Keira Metz never believed to be true. She screamed as she traveled through her own portal and I had to find her. I was immediately greeted by a swarm of Drowners and a Water Hag, using Tawny to help hasten my magic abilities and was able to picked up a Water Hag Tooth. To find Keira then. It turns out that, Keira was attacked by only rats. Apparently there is strong magic in the ruin that prevented mages from using teleportation magic. We had to search the old fashioned way.
As we pushed forward we found a message from the Elven Mage to Ciri, clues only Ciri, or someone very close to her, could have possibly known. Her sword was named after the bird known as Swallow. The inner room that the hall opened up into was plagued with Specters where I was able to acquire Specter Dust, Essence of Wraith, and Wraith Mutagen. After finding a painting of a Swallow on a stalagmite we knew we were going in the right direction, as we ventured further into the ruins.
Swallow, the obvious rout is not necesserally the safest. Find Kelpie, Ciri’s horse. I found the image of a horse down below in a body of water. Trusting the clues I dove down into the water looking for an alternative route that did not include the stone door that laid ahead. I swam through a short pathway looking for something having to do with Kelpie. I asended the stairs that I found at the end of the path, using my Witcher Senses I found another painting of Kelpie on the wall. After interacting with it Keira cried out and I met up with her to see what she found.
After meeting back up with Keira, the stone door opened and we were able to walk through. In the next room there was another painting of a Swallow, just above a portal. We entered it to proceed further. Exiting the portal we came face to face with a Golem. Realizing we were not the intended visitor, Ciri, it attacked on sight. I was able to collect a Golem’s heart from it. We continued to follow the clues set for Ciri, but in our haste caught up with the Wild Hunt. They laid out a trap for us, summoning winter. It was up to us to close the portals.
After facing our trial, I found myself a Foglet and collected a Foglet Mutagen and Foglet Teeth. I should be able to craft a decoction with the mutagen and the right materials. The Foglet was defending a chest including the formula for Vitriol, and a diagram for Broadhead Bolts. Following ahead we found even more trouble; Nithral.
With patience and Keira’s help we were able to obtain a Wild Hunt Warriors Sword, a diagram for Angrenian Cuirass, and a manuscript page for both Enhanced and Superior Beast Oil.
The Mage left another note for Ciri, this time saying “This place is no longer safe. Do not tarry here long. Trust no one and try to avoid the Witches of Crookback Bog. Meet me at the place where last we were together.” Another, seemingly useless clue.
Keira decided now was the moment to come clean and that she had not necessarily been up font with me. She was completely aware of the Witches that live in the bog - she read of The Ladies of the Wood. When she had first arrived in Velen, she was plagued with horrible nightmares that called her into the swamp. When she confronted the Witches she somehow broke contact and was sleeping well ever since. She mentioned that the way to the bog has been marked with a trail of treats, just like the tale of the gingerbread house.
Despite her not being particularly forthcoming with everything she knew, Keira did give me a talisman, The Eye of Nehaleni. It allows me to disrupt illusions that can hide things, or block passages. It even helped us find our way out of the Mage’s Lab. Keira had one last thing to reveal which was the Mage promised her a Magic Lamp, and ask that we find it together. Since we were already at the site, what harm could it do to look for the lamp?