Recaps

Arwen examined Finn’s corpse, identified the killer as a werewolf, and accepted the Baron of White River’s contract to hunt it that night for fifteen hundred ducats. He left the council chamber with the baron’s promise of supplies, dinner, and the return of his horse and weapons.

• Arwen examined Finn’s body and found clues pointing to a fast, clawed creature with sharp teeth and grayish-white fur.
• Arwen detected residual magic in the fur and concluded that the killer was a werewolf.
• The Baron of White River asked Arwen to accept a contract to kill the werewolf before it claimed another subject.
• Arwen negotiated the reward up to fifteen hundred ducats and accepted the hunt, while the baron promised supplies and ordered his horse and weapons returned.

Arwen prepared cursed creature sword oil and was summoned by Baroness Kramer, who revealed that the werewolf he had been hired to kill was her son, Damian. She begged Arwen to lift Damian’s curse, offering him twice the baron’s payment.

• Arwen inspected his weapons and supplies, then made cursed creature sword oil using the ingredients delivered by the steward.
• A maid summoned Arwen to meet Baroness Kramer, and his wolf medallion trembled as he approached her room.
• Baroness Kramer asked whether Baron Kramer had hired Arwen to kill the werewolf, and Arwen confirmed it.
• Baroness Kramer revealed that the werewolf was her son Damian and said she believed he had been cursed.
• Baroness Kramer pleaded with Arwen to save Damian and offered him twice the baron’s payment.

Arwen learned that Damian had become a werewolf and took Mrs. Kramer’s amethyst necklace as payment before setting out to find him. In the alder woods, he confirmed the werewolf was a child and prepared to face Damian.

• Mrs. Kramer told Arwen how Damian transformed during the full moon and begged him to lift the curse.
• Arwen prescribed five parsley leaves pinned to a shirt and asked for payment; Mrs. Kramer gave him her amethyst necklace.
• Mrs. Kramer asked Arwen to spare Damian if he could not break the curse, and Arwen left the castle with Captain Martin.
• Arwen questioned Martin about Baron Kremer and Damian, then rode with him to the alder woods outside White River Town.
• Arwen found blood, flesh, and small paw prints in the woods, concluded the werewolf was Damian, and prepared to begin the hunt.

Arwen ambushed a werewolf in the alder grove and used his Witcher signs, silver weapons, and strength to overpower it. He left the werewolf bound and subdued, forcing a shirt made from parsley leaves onto it.

• Arwen drank Tawny Owl and Cat potions, then waited in concealment for the werewolf to arrive carrying a wounded elf.
• Arwen trapped the werewolf with Yrden and struck it repeatedly with his cursed-oil-coated silver sword, slowing its regeneration.
• Arwen used Quen and Aard to defend himself and knock the werewolf down, then lured it toward an alder tree.
• Arwen bound the werewolf with a silver chain, set it alight with Igni, and attacked it with punches and a knee.
• Arwen used Axii to frighten the werewolf, bound it again, and forced a shirt made from parsley leaves onto it.

Arwen cured Damian’s werewolf curse, but Baron Leo Kramer stabbed his son and revealed he had arranged to kill him. After admitting Damian was the child of his wife and Viscount Jennings, the Baron surrounded Arwen with soldiers and prepared to fight.

• Arwen changed Damian back into a boy and healed his wounds, but Damian remembered nothing of being a werewolf.
• Leo Kramer appeared and stabbed Damian in the chest as the boy ran to greet him.
• Arwen accused Leo of cursing Damian, and Leo admitted he had planted the curse and planned to kill them both.
• Leo confessed that Damian was Sienna and Viscount Jennings’s child, then summoned six armed soldiers to surround Arwen.
• Arwen drew his greatsword and taunted Leo about Sienna, provoking the Baron to threaten him.

Arwen fought the Baron of White River and killed the baron's six guards, then discovered the baron possessed extraordinary strength. After Arwen overwhelmed him with his Giant Bloodline, the wounded baron realized Arwen intended to kill him.

• Arwen used his sword and Aard Sign to kill the guards and drive off both crossbowmen.
• The Baron of White River charged Arwen and matched his strength, forcing him back with a series of attacks.
• Arwen learned that the baron wore a turtle stone, but dismissed the claim that it could counter witchers and knocked him down with Aard.
• The baron cited Monstrum, or a Description of Witchers and boasted of his service to King Miodrag as he attacked Arwen again.
• Arwen unleashed his Giant Bloodline, forced the baron to one knee, and buckled his armor until the baron feared for his life.

Arwen killed the Baron of White River and discovered an ancient body-tempering formula among his possessions. After giving a wounded elf girl a Swallow potion, he left the area with help from Theodore Reed and arranged for the baroness to receive evidence of her husband's affair.

• Arwen killed the Baron of White River, collected his sword and money, and found a letter exposing the baron's affair and a parchment describing Body-Tempering Alchemy.
• Arwen decided to seek advice from the Temple of Melitele before trying the formula and gave the dying elf girl a dose of Swallow potion.
• Arwen rejected the idea of attacking White River Domain and planned to use the letter to persuade the baroness to protect her interests.
• Theodore Reed arrived with Arwen's horse and explained that Martin had warned him the baron was bringing soldiers after Arwen.
• Arwen gave Theodore the letter to deliver to the baroness, then rode away.

Viscount Jennings learned that Baron Kremer had died in White River Domain and reported the news to Marquis Luitpold Lindenbrog. After a wizard blamed a witcher for the baron's death, the marquis ordered the witcher killed.

• A courier delivered Viscount Jennings an urgent letter from White River Domain reporting that Baron Kremer and his son were dead.
• Viscount Jennings told Marquis Luitpold Lindenbrog that Baron Kremer had died and that a werewolf had supposedly killed him.
• A wizard examined Jennings's amulet and concluded that a witcher had killed Baron Kremer.
• Jennings recalled that a witcher had cast sorcery on him, and the wizard urged the marquis to kill the witcher.
• Marquis Luitpold ordered Jennings to send knights to kill the witcher.

Viscount Jennings accepted the marquis's offer to administer the White River Domain and was ordered to deal with the Temple of Melitele in Frankenthal. Meanwhile, Arwen hunted down five ghouls and acquired a Ghoul Mutagen that granted Gluttonous Digestion.

• The marquis promised Viscount Jennings the White River Domain and told him to suppress the Temple of Melitele's unauthorized abortions.
• Viscount Jennings agreed to handle the Temple, despite warning that it had powerful support among commoners and nobles.
• Arwen entered a village enclosure and killed five ghouls using his silver sword and Signs.
• Arwen synthesized the ghouls' mutagens and obtained a Ghoul Mutagen with the Gluttonous Digestion talent.

Arwen tested the benefits of the Ghoul mutagen, harvested alchemical ingredients from the corpses, and collected payment for clearing monsters from a village. After giving the village chief medicine for his coughing child, Arwen left with directions to the Town of Frankenthal.

• Arwen installed the Ghoul mutagen and found that it slightly increased his strength and improved his stamina and recovery.
• Arwen collected Ghoul claws and heart blood, then fed Raven a piece of heart.
• Arwen entered the village and negotiated with Village Chief Ian, accepting 192 ducats instead of the 350 owed for killing five Ghouls.
• Arwen assured Ian that the Ghouls would not return and gave him medicine for his coughing child.
• Ian directed Arwen toward the Town of Frankenthal, and Arwen set off.

Arwen arrived in Frankenthal seeking the Temple of Melitele and noticed a job hunting a basilisk, whose heart was needed for his alchemical formula. At the Rouge Tavern, he met Glenn and his companions, and Glenn proposed testing him with a game of Gwent before letting him join the hunt.

• Arwen entered Frankenthal after his mare’s worn horseshoe forced him to spend the night in the woods.
• Arwen found a notice offering a hunt for a lisk and went to the Rouge Tavern to meet its poster.
• The innkeeper directed Arwen to room 207, where Glenn, Vaughn, and Sir Draco were arguing over a Gwent game and a debt.
• Arwen showed Glenn the notice, and Glenn invited him to prove himself by playing Gwent.

Arwen played Glenn at Gwent for fifteen crowns and used his knowledge of the game to turn the match around. After Glenn seemed certain to win, Arwen revealed Clear Weather and restored his ballistae, leaving the result in his favor.

• Arwen borrowed Vaughn's Northern Realms deck, changed two cards, and agreed to play Glenn for fifteen crowns.
• Glenn built up his ranged units, but Arwen used Impenetrable Fog to win the first round.
• Glenn took the second round after playing spies that weakened Arwen's board.
• Arwen used Engineering Support and Mardroeme to strengthen his ballistae, then Glenn countered with Torrential Rain.
• Arwen played Clear Weather, removed Glenn's rain effect, and restored his board total to nineteen.

Arwen defeated Glenn at Gwent, joined the group hunting the Basilisk, and assessed his new companions as potentially dangerous. At the appointed meeting, he met Mia Sinclair, a sister of Melitele, who welcomed him as a witcher.

• Arwen won fifteen crowns from Glenn at Gwent and left Vaughn one crown as a rental fee.
• Vaughn challenged Arwen, but Arwen revealed his witcher medallion and intimidated him into accepting Arwen on the team.
• Glenn arranged for the group to meet at three in the afternoon, and Arwen listened in on his companions before resting.
• Arwen met Glenn, Vaughn, and Draco at the inn, where they waited for the assignment's sponsor.
• Mia Sinclair arrived, introduced herself as a sister of Melitele, and greeted Arwen as a witcher.

Arwen joined Mia, Glenn, Vaughn, and Sir Draco to hunt a wounded wyvern after learning the Temple of Melitele had been pressured by Frankenthal’s lord to take the quest. The group reached the wyvern’s nest, where Glenn urged them to begin their plan.

• Arwen learned that Glenn had advertised a wyvern hunt as a basilisk job, then agreed to join after hearing the beast was wounded and seeing Mia’s supplies.
• Glenn assigned roles for the hunt, and the five agreed to split the reward and materials, with Arwen claiming the wyvern’s heart.
• The group traveled north through Frankenthal Valley, where Arwen questioned Mia about the Temple of Melitele’s involvement and learned the town’s lord had imposed the task.
• Glenn led Arwen to the wyvern’s cave, where they heard the beast growling and prepared to start the hunt.

Arwen and his companions confronted a wyvern outside its cave, using a bomb, chain, magic, and a vine to pin it down. Vaughn’s arrow failed to pierce its belly, and Arwen realized they were facing a Royal Wyvern.

• Arwen and his companions prepared potions, weapons, and a Grapeshot Bomb as the monster approached.
• The wyvern burst from the cave, knocked Draco aside, and attacked until Arwen struck it with his silver sword.
• Arwen detonated the Grapeshot Bomb with Igni, knocking the wyvern out of the air.
• Draco and Arwen pulled the wyvern down with a chain while Arwen trapped it with Yrden and Mia’s potion summoned a vine to bind it.
• Vaughn’s arrow glanced off a dark-red scale, and Arwen recognized the monster as a Royal Wyvern.

Arwen and the others fought the Royal Wyvern, but it took flight with him clinging to its back. After Arwen brought it crashing down, he used Vaughn’s poisoned arrow to strike the wyvern’s wound.

• Mia’s Vine potions failed to hold the Royal Wyvern, while Arwen, Glenn, and Draco attacked its neck and wounded it.
• The Royal Wyvern struck Draco aside, leaving Vaughn unable to get a clear shot and Arwen worried that the battle would drag on until dark.
• Arwen used the silver chain to climb onto the Royal Wyvern as it took flight, while Vaughn considered abandoning the fight and Mia threatened to withhold his pay.
• Arwen unleashed an Aard Sign from the wyvern’s back, sending it crashing to the ground and shielding himself with Quen.
• Vaughn fired a poisoned arrow, which Arwen caught and drove into the Royal Wyvern’s wound.

Arwen and the mercenaries killed the Royal Wyvern, and Arwen installed its mutagen to gain the Draconid Scale talent. Just after Draco befriended him, an arrow killed Draco, and Arwen turned to confront the attacker as another threat struck from behind.

• Arwen drank a Swallow potion and joined Glenn, Draco, and Vaughn in attacking the poisoned Royal Wyvern.
• Glenn and Draco brought the Royal Wyvern down, and Arwen killed it with his silver sword.
• Arwen installed the Royal Wyvern Mutagen, gaining increased stamina and the Draconid Scale talent.
• Draco praised Arwen and offered his friendship, but an arrow suddenly killed him.
• Glenn accused Vaughn of killing Draco for the bounty, while Arwen lunged toward the archer and blocked an attack from behind.

Arwen and his companions were ambushed by Glenn and the Scoia’tael, a group of elves and dwarves. After Mia used a potion to transform two elves into frogs, Arwen killed Glenn and charged at the remaining attackers.

• Glenn revealed his Scoia’tael allies, and an elf pursued Mia while the others surrounded Arwen and Vaughn.
• Arwen fought Glenn, blasted a dwarf with a Sign, and killed Titus with his greatsword.
• An elf took Mia hostage as another dwarf stabbed Arwen, and Vaughn was killed by the elves.
• Mia’s hidden potion transformed two elves into frogs, freeing her from the hostage-taker.
• Arwen split Glenn in two and charged toward the remaining Scoia’tael as Mia warned that the transformation would last only thirty seconds.

Arwen killed the remaining attackers, including the elf who had abducted Mia, but was wounded and needed her to treat him. They camped beside the royal wyvern's corpse, shared a meal, and discussed Nenneke and the Temple of Melitele before settling in for the night.

• Arwen killed three dwarves, crushed the frog, and hurled his greatsword into the fleeing elf, killing him.
• Mia treated Arwen's thigh wounds, and he explained that Golden Oriole had slowed the bleeding.
• Arwen retrieved his sword and mare, then made a campfire and roasted royal wyvern meat for himself and Mia, with Raven receiving a piece too.
• Mia thanked Arwen for saving her, and they discussed her transformation potion and Nenneke, who had once taught Arwen at Kaer Morhen.
• Mia leaned against Arwen beneath a quilt, and they wished each other good night.

Masked bandits raided Ian’s village, killed him after questioning him about a witcher, and discovered his mint-scented bottle. After recovering from his wound and searching the fallen mercenaries, Arwen prepared to return to the Temple of Melitele, but hunter Zachary appeared in the woods.

• A bandit leader questioned village chief Ian about a witcher, then killed him despite Ian’s answers and took a glass bottle from his coat.
• At dawn, Arwen and Mia packed up and searched the bodies, finding the mercenaries’ gear, coins, a runic axe, and two Gwent decks.
• Arwen considered how to transport the Royal Wyvern’s corpse back to the Temple of Melitele.
• Raven sensed someone approaching, and Arwen raised his guard as Zachary emerged from the woods and introduced himself as a hunter from the Town of Frankenthal.
• Mia recognized Zachary and reacted with delight.

Arwen and Mia brought the slain Royal Wyvern to the Temple of Melitele, where an angry mob was threatening the temple. Arwen seized the priest leading the crowd and forced him to confront the wyvern’s corpse.

• Zachary recognized Mia and was astonished to learn that Arwen had killed a wyvern.
• Mia, Arwen, and Zachary reached the Temple of Melitele with the Royal Wyvern’s corpse on a cart.
• A priest urged the protesters to storm the temple and burn its residents, accusing them of killing unborn children.
• Arwen pushed through the crowd, seized the priest, and dislocated his jaw when he tried to resist.
• Arwen’s mental power made a muscular protester step aside, and the crowd cleared a path as Zachary and his companion readied their bows.
• Arwen slammed the priest’s face onto the cart beside the wyvern’s head, and the priest passed out in terror.

Arwen drove the protesters away after exposing Rava as a paid instigator and killing him. As Mia and the hunters joined him, a nun emerged from the temple carrying a basket of potions.

• Arwen displayed the dead Royal Wyvern and declared that he had completed the Temple of Melitele's task, causing the protesters to hesitate.
• Rava rallied the crowd by claiming the Wyvern and temple were fake, but Arwen killed him with his greatsword.
• Arwen took Rava's pouch of gold and asked who else had taken money, frightening the protesters into fleeing.
• Arwen stopped Rava's accomplice from escaping and knocked him unconscious.
• Mia, the hunter Zachary, and his brother thanked Arwen, who paid Zachary ten crowns and asked to borrow his two-wheeled cart.
• A wary nun came out of the temple with a basket of potions, whose intense alchemical fluctuations Arwen sensed.

Arwen returned Mia safely to the Temple of Melitele, where he reunited with Nenneke and learned why the temple had helped a widow end her pregnancy. Nenneke began explaining Shana’s circumstances as they prepared to meet the high priestess.

• Mia reunited with Priestess Ellid and told her how Arwen had rescued her, while Arwen cleaned up the battlefield and collected the crowns.
• Arwen and Mia entered the temple, where Arwen prayed before the statue of Melitele and reunited with Nenneke.
• Nenneke noticed Arwen’s thigh wound and ordered him to rest while Mia fetched medicine and bandages.
• Arwen told Nenneke that Glenn had arranged an ambush after the Wyvern hunt and that he had found a red-robed priest and a supposed tenant farmer among the protesters.
• Nenneke explained that the temple had given abortion medicine to Shana, a widowed former orphan, after men targeted her following her husband Oliver’s death.

Arwen learned why the Temple of Melitele had been excluded, heard High Priestess Asumpta prophesy about the coming wars and the White Frost, and discovered Geralt had recently visited. The chapter ended with Arwen recognizing Preston Holt, also known as Ghost Reendt, as a witcher of the School of the Wolf.

• Nenneke told Arwen that the Temple of Melitele planned to move to Temeria and revealed that nobles had turned against them because they taught witchers, as described in Monstrum.
• Arwen met High Priestess Asumpta, whose prophecy spoke of the age of contempt, the White Frost, and a wanderer bearing a silver sword.
• Nenneke explained that Asumpta often prophesied and mentioned that Geralt had visited the temple a few months earlier to take contracts under Holt.
• Nenneke offered Arwen a room and told him that Holt was Preston Holt, nicknamed Reindeer and Ghost.
• Arwen remembered seeing Reindeer in Kaer Morhen’s archives and realized he was a witcher of the School of the Wolf.

Nenneke told Arwen how Holt, once known as the witcher Reindeer, deserted during the massacre at Kaer Morhen and later pursued those responsible. Arwen learned Holt was at Rocamadour in Ban Flyn, then stayed at the temple to recover and prepared a letter while meditating on the magic surrounding him.

• Nenneke explained that the pamphlet Monstrum spread through Kaedwen and that Ban Ard Academy of Magic was likely capable of printing it in such numbers.
• Nenneke revealed that Holt was the eighth witcher at Kaer Morhen, deserted after being gravely wounded, and was expelled after Asumpta reported his confession to Vesemir.
• Nenneke told Arwen that Holt had spent years seeking those responsible and now lived at Rocamadour in Ban Flyn, while Kaedwen's governor of public security watched him.
• Arwen rested at the temple, where Mia redressed his thigh wound and found it had already scabbed over.
• Arwen joined the temple's prayers and evening meal, then requested writing supplies so he could ask Holt or Geralt to visit.
• Arwen wrote a letter and meditated as his wolf-head medallion trembled near a magical nexus.