Notes on "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" Contract: In the Heart of the woods
Witcher Contracts
Skellige
Contract: In the Heart of the woods
While in the town of Rannvaig, Geralt checks the bounty board for any notices and finds one that catches his attention, 'Contract: Woodland Spirit.'
The notice reads,
"Warriors of Skellige!
If there's man of ye brave enough to face the woodland spirit, the cruel oppressor of the inhabitants of Fayrlund, he'll get a reward that'll keep him in mead for a long while. We're not rich, but we've gathered a fair bit of coin between us.
Come to Fayrlund and ask for Sven"
Geralt journeys to the small town of Fayrlund and finds Sven, the owner of the contract, just outside of the town waiting in front of the entrance to a nearby forest.
Sven is arguing with his fellow hunters when Geralt strolls up and states his astute observation of the murdered hunter before them, who is tangled up and stretched open by a bunch of vines. The group questions who Geralt is, in which he replies, "Geralt, i'm a Witcher."
Some of the hunters are in dismay at the sound of hearing a Witcher has offered help. But some of the hunters recognize the value in a Witcher's work, so they offer to pay for his assistance.
Geralt asks what the other victims' bodies look like and takes note of how the victim in front of him was killed.
Geralt asks who the woodland spirit is. One hunter shouts that it is none of Geralt's business to know. Another hunter states it is a common beast that would murder any man, Geralt asks for visual details, of which none are given.
Geralt asks why the group of hunters think the spirit is out for revenge. One hunter states that the spirit hasn't always attacked when their past hunters were still around. Another hunter objects at the statement, and goes on to state that the beast has always been attacking hunters.
Geralt comes to the conclusion that the hunters have a monster problem, but he us not sure what kind of monster it is, Geralt notes the split opinion among the hunters, half say there is a problem, while the other half say there is no problem and that they must keep to their old ways. Geralt speaks to the half that agree with him and bid they start gathering coin for his payment. In the mean time, Geralt searches the area for clues on the 'Woodland Spirit.'
Geralt finds tracks that lead further into the woods. He also finds a corpse of a dog, thin and deep cuts along the belly, gutted. Further in the forest Geralt finds another victim a a hunter entangled in vines, bones smashed and blood sprayed out on a nearby rock.
While searching the forest, Geralt is attacked by a pack of wolves. Geralt dispenses of them quickly with his steel sword. Stepping between their attacks and slashing at any openings. Judging by previous findings, the wolves couldn't be the 'Woodland Spirit,' they couldn't make clean cuts or entangle their victims in vines.
Still following the monster's tracks, Geralt travels deeper in the forest and finds large stones with very large claw marks on them.
Putting his evidence together Geralt makes his conclusion on the 'Woodland Spirit':
- Large claw marks
- Thin, razor-like cuts
- Smashed bones of victims
- Victims entangled in vines
"A leshen, very old, male."
Bestiary entry on Leshens:
"Leshens dwell in dense primeval woods. Fiercely territorial creatures, they hunt with stealth and cunning as their only companions. They use their inborn magic to control plants and animals within their territory - and so when stalking them, half the battle is merely getting near enough to strike. Leshens old enough to earn the appellation "ancient" wield advanced skills and tactics that make them particularly dangerous."
Bestiary entry on 'Woodland Spirit':
"Some monsters are so powerful, local populaces begin worshiping them as gods. Such was the case with the leshen dwelling in the woods near the Skellige village of Fayrlund. The elders were absolutely convinced the monsters watched over them by defending them from their enemies and training their hunters.
The Witcher had his doubts, however. Leshens are mean, self-serving creatures - and the ancient one living in the woods near Fayrlund was surely no exception.
Geralt knew freeing the villagers from their supposed protector's grasp would be no easy task - if he decided to even try. The leshen known as the 'Woodland Spirit' was so powerful as to have mastered the art of marking. This meant the monster had inherited his essence into one of the residents of Fayrlund. As long as the unfortunate soul remained alive and near the settlement, the leshen would always be reborn near its lair. Yet even with the marked one eliminated, killing the leshen would be no easy task. The monster commanded the obedience of denizens of the woods - it could thus call on wolves, ravens, or even the trees themselves for help. Luckily it had a weakness as well: it was vulnerable to fire, that born of the Igni Sign in particular."
Geralt speaks to Harald, the man that pushed Geralt away and still clings to the old ways. Harald is praying alone at the grave of one of the newly departed hunters. Harald tells a tale from when he was a boy. During a raid and thick fog, their warriors successfully defended the village due to their training from the 'Woodland Spirit'. Geralt notes that this 'Woodland Spirit' is really a leshen and he should be able to get rid of it. Harald is questioning why he would be rid of it, the spirit is what makes them into great warriors.
Geralt Fights back stating the spirit is a monster, plain and simple. Harald praises the spirit's greatness and all the good things it does for their village. Harald makes the comparison of their own hunter's ritual to that of the Witcher's; "Not everyone survives, but aren't Witchers made at the same cost?"
Harald insists their is another way to stop the attacks, "Return to the old hunting methods, with knife and spear, then submit to the trial and burn a sacrifice."
Geralt speaks to Sven about his findings in the forest, notes that the spirit is actually a leshen, a monster.
Geralt states it is no ordinary beast, it is a serious threat to the village and to Geralt - should they choose to hire him. Geralt brings up the point that someone is marked, which prevents the leshen from truly dying. That if killed, the leshen will just be reborn.
Choice (option 1 or option 2):
- Geralt can go with Harald's idea and perform the ritual to please the spirit.
- Geralt can use his witcher senses to find the marked individual.
Geralt searched the village for the individual marked by the leshen. Using his witcher senses, Geralt finds the mark of the leshen emanating from Hilde, a young woman smitten with Sven.
Choice (option 1 or option 2):
- Get rid if marked one.
- Exile the marked one.
(I went with option 1)
"Must get rid of the marked one." Geralt states. Sven shouts, "No mercy, get rid of the elders!" Geralt tells Sven that the marked one is Hilde. Sven pauses and contemplates, he makes the decision to kill Hilde. Geralt is surprised by Sven's decisive action. Sven states he did what he had to, and now it is Geralt's turn.
Taking it as the decision to hire Geralt. Geralt sets out to hunt the leshen. He must first destroy the leshen's totems throughout the forest.
The totems were made of sticks, thick vines, and deer skulls. Crows would circle them in large murders. Wolves prowled around the totems, making the task more challenging for Geralt. When he approached a totem, vines would burst from the ground in an attempt to impale Geralt. With quick and decisive movements, Geralt destroyed all the totems with his steel sword and the witcher sign Igni.
Now that the totems were destroyed, and the leshen drawn out, Geralt needed to track the monster by listening for the unique sound it made. The scream of a hundred crows, screams for blood.
Once Geralt had found the crows, the leshen known as the 'Woodland Spirit' answered Geralt's challenge, ready to kill.
Geralt brandished his Silver Sword and coated the blade with relict oil, oil made to kill ancient monsters. The leshen roared in an assertion of dominance, which doubled as a summon for wolves from within the forest to fight for their master.
Geralt fought off the wolves while dodging vines and reducing the space between him and the lesehen. Geralt was able to get in a few quick slashes along with a wave of Igni before the leshen vanished. However it wasn't gone for too long, the leshen reappeared behind Geralt, pushing him back with a army of vines that shot up and out of the ground, like an volley of arrows. With quick footwork, Geralt manuevered around the leshen's attacks, then got in close to deal the finishing blow, a blast of Igni followed by an uppercut of silver. After the battle, Geralt removes the head of the leshen and returns to the village of Fayrlund, ready to collect his reward. But instead of being greeted with relieved smiles and a bag of gold, he sees something much worse.
Sven and his gang of hunters slaughtered Harald and the other elders. Geralt presents the trophy and is thrown a bag of gold. Sven states he took care of the monster's accomplices.
Choice (option 1 or option 2)
- "You're a murderer"
- "This is none of my business."
(I chose option 1)
Geralt speaks up and says, "The leshen is gone, but there is still a murderer in the village." Sven replies, announcing what he did was right and commands Geralt to leave, now that he has done his part.
Thus ends the contract for the 'Woodland Spirit'
Summary:
Geralt picked up a contract and was met with split opinion on the matter. Upon further investigation, Geralt determines there is a leshen in the woods and has marked someone in the village, which allows the leshen to be reborn thus preventing it from truly being killed. The contract owner, Sven, made the decision to kill the marked person and bid Geralt to uphold his part. Geralt hunts down the leshen and returns with its head. Upon return, Geralt finds Sven atop the corpses of the recently murdered elders. Geralt is given his coin and is forced to leave.
Impression:
The split opinion on the creature/killer created a divide that gave the player choice on the outcome and on the steps taken to get there. We se an ingenious display of cultural differences and the impact made when a Witcher steps in to help.