Chapter Summaries

Aiken and Lambert were trapped in a fissure while a giant basilisk attacked them, until Arwen arrived and fought the beast with overwhelming strength and magic. The chapter left Arwen freezing the giant basilisk and the nearby basilisks as Aiken and Lambert watched in shock.

• Aiken and Lambert fled the giant basilisk, and Aiken was badly injured while protecting Lambert from its beak.
• The two hid in a narrow fissure as the giant basilisk called smaller basilisks to attack them.
• Aiken offered to distract the beast so Lambert could escape, but Lambert refused to abandon him.
• Lambert killed a small basilisk that squeezed into the fissure, then an arrow from a black-clad man stopped another attacker.
• Arwen confronted the giant basilisk, battered it with powerful punches, resisted its petrifying gaze, and froze it and nearby basilisks with a magical blast.

Arwen killed the giant basilisk, installed its Eye of Petrification mutagen, and reunited with Aiken and Lambert, fellow witchers from the School of the Wolf. After the group cleared the cave and Arwen gained Stone Scale Hardening, he caught up on Kaer Morhen’s recovery and revealed that he had been in Morgraig.

• Arwen killed the giant basilisk with a dagger, preserved its corpse, and installed the Eye of Petrification mutagen.
• Aiken and Lambert emerged from the rocks, and Arwen revealed his identity to Aiken, who embraced him.
• Arwen gave Aiken a special-grade Swallow potion, healed his injuries, and led him and Lambert in clearing the cave of basilisks.
• Arwen installed Stone Scale Hardening after the fight, while Aiken introduced Lambert and described how witcher apprentices were trained.
• Aiken told Arwen that Geralt and Eskel were working across Kaedwen and that Vesemir and the others had renovated Kaer Morhen.
• Aiken said the School of the Wolf had searched for Arwen for six years, and Arwen told him he had been in Morgraig.

Arwen, Aiken, and Lambert left the cave after defeating the Basilisk, and Arwen revealed a safer second witcher mutation formula and the possibility of a third. In Alder Town, Viscount Lancaster recognized Arwen as the newly promoted Viscount Raven and hosted a victory feast, where an unknown guest approached him.

• Arwen used his spatial ring to store the Basilisk, then told Aiken and Lambert about his encounter with a higher vampire in Morgraig.
• Arwen promised Aiken the improved second mutation formula and said he would perform the third mutation himself.
• Viscount Lancaster welcomed the three witchers and saluted Arwen after recognizing him as Raven, the newly promoted viscount.
• Aiken explained that Arwen's actions in Hydra Canyon had earned him a promotion and made the name Raven famous across the Northern Kingdoms.
• The party returned to Alder Town, where the townspeople held a victory feast and a bard sang of the northern Raven.
• As Arwen ate alone at the feast, an unknown figure approached and asked to dine with him.

Arwen accepted Ivar’s commission to escort a caravan to Ellander in exchange for mithril and left Alder Town after giving Aiken an improved second-mutation formula for Vesemir. In Rinde, Arwen spotted the hidden woman directing the caravan and recognized the heraldry on her ring as belonging to the Margraviate of Talgar.

• Ivar offered Arwen mithril to escort his caravan south across the Pontar River to Ellander, and Arwen accepted.
• Arwen gave Aiken an improved second-mutation formula for Vesemir and said goodbye before departing with Ivar’s caravan.
• Viscount Lancaster learned that Ivar was not from Novigrad but chose not to report Arwen, instead planning to credit three witchers with resolving the Basilisk problem.
• After eight days, the caravan reached Rinde, where Arwen searched for Yennefer and found no trace of her.
• Arwen saw Ivar defer to a concealed woman at a bakery and identified the coat of arms on her ring as that of the Margraviate of Talgar.

Arwen traveled aboard the Seagull with Zuleika, a noblewoman from Targo, after realizing her party was secretly moving toward Temeria. Zuleika revealed that she had hired him because she feared assassins, then considered ending the commission once the ship neared safety, but a fleet of Skellige pirates appeared before she could dismiss him.

• Arwen recognized Targo’s crest and deduced that its party was transporting supplies toward Temeria, possibly to support Estrad Thyssen’s restoration plans.
• Arwen boarded the Seagull and sensed armed people waiting near the forest as the vessel departed across the Pontar River.
• Zuleika summoned Arwen, questioned him about Arwen the Raven, and introduced herself while her knight-captain Eckhart challenged his refusal to remove his hood.
• Zuleika explained that she had hired Arwen because someone in Redania had hired assassins to kill her, then offered him money and compensation as the ship neared Temeria.
• Arwen warned Zuleika to look out the window, where Eckhart spotted more than ten boats carrying Skellige pirates.

Skellige pirates attacked the Seagull, forcing Ivar to offer Arwen the mithril and treasure in exchange for protection. Arwen slaughtered the pirates and claimed the chest, leaving Ivar relieved that he had not angered the witcher further.

• Skellige pirates boarded the Seagull and overwhelmed its sailors and guards while Eckhart led the knights in defending the cabin.
• Zuleika urged Ivar to give Arwen the mithril, and Ivar promised him everything in the chest if he protected them.
• Arwen took Eckhart's longsword, petrified Olaf with the Eye of Petrification, and killed him as the pirates mocked him.
• Arwen swiftly killed the remaining pirates, including their leader, while the knights watched in shock.
• Arwen returned to the cabin, lifted the untouched chest onto his shoulder, and left Ivar relieved that he had not badly offended him.

Arwen left the Sky Gull after the battle with the Skellige pirates and reached Ellander, where he met Iola, a girl with prophetic visions who told him a raven called Xiaohei had gone looking for him. Arwen followed signs of a fresh attack into the northern hills and found survivors describing a winged monster.

• Arwen slipped out through a window as Zerika watched him leave, then Ivar told her he had met the witcher at a banquet.
• Duke Hereward welcomed Zerika to Ellander and learned that Wizard's Robe had defeated the Skellige pirates before leaving.
• Arwen arrived at the Temple of Melitele and met Iola, who said she had dreamed of him and that Xiaohei had flown north to find him.
• Arwen followed fresh blood into the northern hills and found a wrecked wagon, dead woodcutters, and two survivors hiding beneath it.
• The survivors told Arwen that a flying monster had attacked them, and one described it as having lion-like fur and a vulture's beak.

Arwen tracked a Royal Griffin to its cliffside nest, rescued Raven, and killed the monster before meeting the knight-errant Eyck of Denesle. After Arwen declined Eyck’s invitation to travel together, Eyck buried his dead horse and headed toward Ellander.

• Arwen identified the attacks on Martin’s companions as the work of a Royal Griffin, followed its scent, and found Raven trapped in a crevice near the Griffin’s nest.
• Eyck of Denesle charged the Royal Griffin, but it wounded him and killed his warhorse before Arwen intervened.
• Arwen petrified and froze the Royal Griffin, killed it with a punch, and installed its mutagen.
• Raven emerged from the crevice and reunited with Arwen, while Eyck praised Arwen and invited him to join his monster hunts.
• Arwen introduced himself as Wizard Robe and declined Eyck’s invitation, then left with Raven.
• Eyck prayed for his dying warhorse, buried it, and made his way toward Ellander.

Arwen reunited with Nenneke at the Temple of Melitele, learned that a wizard had killed Flavia, and received Melitele’s blessing, which weakened his curse. After modifying Raven to share his vision, Arwen traveled toward the Mahakam Mountains and found five dwarves fighting a monster.

• Arwen returned to the Temple of Melitele, where Nenneke and Mia welcomed him and shared a meal with him.
• Nenneke told Arwen that a wizard had attacked their party after he vanished, killing Flavia and leaving Geralt with a scar.
• Arwen meditated beneath Melitele’s statue and gained a blessing that weakened abnormal conditions and helped dissolve his curse.
• Arwen used the Multiple Triangles spell to mutate Raven’s eyes, enabling Vision Sharing between them.
• Arwen traveled east toward the Mahakam Mountains and used Raven to spot five dwarves battling a monster with a long, stinger-like tail.

Arwen rescued Zoltan Chivay and his four dwarf companions from a pair of manticores, killing the male and letting the pregnant female flee. After introducing himself as a witcher of the School of the Wolf, Arwen surprised the dwarves, who recognized his name.

• Zoltan and the other dwarves restrained a female manticore, but its mate arrived and broke it free.
• The male manticore disarmed Zoltan and prepared to attack him, but Arwen caught Zoltan’s sword and stepped between them.
• Arwen used Sihil to kill the male manticore and sever its venomous tail.
• Zoltan asked Arwen to spare the pregnant female manticore, and Arwen let it escape before warning the dwarves about its vindictiveness.
• Zoltan Chivay, Munro Bruys, Yarpen Zigrin, Yason, Caleb Stratton, and Figgis Merluzzo introduced themselves to Arwen.
• Arwen identified himself as a witcher of the School of the Wolf, and the dwarves excitedly asked if he was Arwen.

Arwen celebrated with Zoltan and the other dwarves, then learned that they had been barred from returning to Mount Carbon after defying elder Brouver Hoog’s rules. The chapter ended with Arwen considering why Brouver had imposed restrictions on the dwarves.

• Zoltan and the dwarves welcomed Arwen with mead and roasted manticore meat, and Arwen told them the story of Hydra Canyon.
• Arwen and Zoltan played Gwent, and Zoltan won with a legendary card depicting Raven the Witcher.
• Zoltan shared the manticore breast meat with Arwen, and Arwen said he wanted to visit the dwarven town to have a silver sword reforged.
• Zoltan and Munro explained the advanced dwarven forging behind Sihil and said they could not take Arwen to Mount Carbon.
• Zoltan, Yason, Figgis, and Caleb complained that Brouver Hoog’s strict rules had made them outcasts from the mountain.
• Arwen recalled that Brouver secretly let the dwarves return when they were in danger and considered that his restrictions might be meant to protect their people.

Arwen reached Mount Mahakam seeking a silver sword and met Garin Fox, who brought him to the Fox Clan settlement while he waited for permission to meet the High Elder. A monster tide attacked Black Creek Valley in the night, and Arwen joined the dwarves’ defense as a Forktail swooped down.

• Arwen parted from Zoltan and climbed through Mount Mahakam’s blizzard until he reached the dwarven guards at a stone bridge.
• Garin Fox welcomed Arwen despite Gome Ziglin’s objections and explained the feud between the Fox Clan and the Ziglin Clan.
• Arwen asked to meet the High Elder to arrange a silver sword, and Garin explained that he would need to wait unless he had a [Lead Ring].
• Garin took Arwen to his home in Black Creek Valley, where Arwen settled in for the night.
• A monster tide of Ghouls and Nekkers attacked the Fox Clan, and Arwen joined the dwarves in fighting it.
• A Forktail swooped into the battle, and the Fox Clan elder ordered the dwarves to bind it with barbed ropes and attack with spears.

Arwen helped the Fox Clan dwarves defeat a Forktail and a monster horde, then stopped Morian from killing Gerald when the Ziglin Clan attacked. The arrival of Great Elder Brouver Hoog and his reinforcements interrupted the battle between the clans.

• The Fox Clan dwarves restrained the Forktail, but Ghouls attacked them and the beast broke free.
• Arwen killed the Forktail with a single blow, helping the dwarves defeat the remaining Ghouls and Nekkers.
• As Gerald thanked Arwen, Arwen caught a war spear aimed at him and warned the Fox Clan of the approaching Ziglin Clan.
• Gerald ordered the Fox Clan to form up, but the exhausted dwarves began losing ground to Morian and the Ziglin fighters.
• Arwen caught Morian's mace, then seized him by the neck when Morian refused to stop fighting.
• Great Elder Brouver Hoog arrived with reinforcements as the blizzard began to subside.

Brouver Hoog punished the Ziglin Clan for attacking the Fox Clan and offered Arwen a weapon-forging reward. After explaining the monster-filled Davor Bottomless Pit, Brouver asked Arwen to investigate it, and Arwen agreed in exchange for a repaired sword and the right to choose five mineral specimens.

• Brouver Hoog questioned Morian Zigrin, subdued him when he attacked, and ordered executions, mine sentences, and reduced tokens for the Ziglin Clan.
• Brouver thanked Arwen for saving the Fox Clan, gave him a lead ring, and offered to forge him a weapon.
• Brouver examined Tor Zireael and said the cursed damage would be difficult to repair, but the mithril Arwen brought made the work possible.
• Brouver told Arwen that monsters had emerged from the Davor Bottomless Pit for centuries and asked him to resolve the danger.
• Arwen agreed to deal with the monsters if Brouver helped forge his silver sword and let him choose five mineral specimens; Brouver accepted.

Arwen cleared the outer monsters at Davor Bottomless Pit with his toxin and led Brouver and the dwarves into the mine, where they found rich veins of ore and fought a Shaelmaar. Deep inside, they discovered a vast, smooth tunnel that the dwarves could not have excavated, leaving them wondering what had happened there.

• Arwen triggered a chain reaction of toxin-spore explosions that killed many monsters around Davor Bottomless Pit and astonished Brouver and the dwarves.
• After the poisonous mist cleared, Arwen entered the mine with Brouver’s party and noticed that some exposed iron ore had not been there when the dwarves last worked the site.
• Arwen and Brouver led the dwarves deeper through tunnels rich in frost iron, silver ore, and gemstones while Arwen dealt with the monsters they encountered.
• A Shaelmaar charged the dwarves, but Arwen stopped it with a Yrden Sign and killed it with a spear.
• At the mine’s deepest point, Brouver and Arwen found a huge, unusually smooth tunnel that the dwarves had not dug.

Arwen and Brouver discovered a newborn Raffard's Vengeance beneath the Davor Bottomless Pit, where it hatched from a giant egg among magic-filled crystals. Arwen confronted the monster as Brouver fled, and the battle continued with Arwen activating his Magic Suppression Domain.

• Arwen and Brouver entered a cavern that Brouver said had not existed before, finding smooth walls and a vast reservoir of magic below the mine.
• They emerged into an enormous underground space filled with glowing crystals, where a giant amber egg cracked and released a monstrous insect-like creature.
• Arwen identified the creature as Raffard's Vengeance and sent Brouver beyond its gravity domain before preparing to fight it.
• Arwen revealed himself as Raven of the School of the Wolf, while Brouver recognized him from the Gwent card and escaped the cavern.
• Arwen struck Raffard's Vengeance with Alzur's Thunder, and the monster retaliated with purple beams and a powerful gravitational pull.
• Arwen resisted the monster's gravity and activated his Magic Suppression Domain.

Arwen defeated the juvenile Raffard's Vengeance in the Davor Bottomless Pit and installed its red mutagen, gaining the ability to manipulate gravity. After collecting the creature and a strange star-like ore, he explored a magma passage before returning toward the cavern entrance, where Brouver prepared the dwarf guards to leave without him if he did not return within ten minutes.

• Arwen used [Magic Suppression Domain] to weaken the Raffard's Vengeance, fought off its summoned monsters with the Dracolizard Golem, and killed it before it could escape.
• Arwen installed the Raffard's Vengeance mutagen and tested [Deep Abyss Domain], crushing a Drowner with intensified gravity.
• Arwen collected the creature's body and removed a strange, star-lit sphere from its organs, suspecting it was ore from the fallen star.
• Arwen followed the passage toward the magma, stopped at the heat, and returned wearing his wizard's robe and hood.
• Outside the cavern, Brouver ordered the dwarf guards to stand ready and said they would wait ten minutes for Arwen before leaving.

Arwen returned from the Davor Bottomless Pit with Brouver and the dwarves, only to find Mount Carbon under attack by the red dragon Keltullis. As the Ferenc Clan burned, Eyck of Denesle charged the dragon and Arwen recognized several other familiar faces nearby.

• Arwen told Brouver that the monster in the mine was only an egg, and Brouver decided the dwarves would mine only around the edges rather than seal the mine.
• Brouver led the dwarves out of the pit and toward Mount Carbon, where an explosion triggered an avalanche and revealed fires burning through the town.
• Dwarven guards reported that Keltullis had gone mad and was attacking after receiving tribute from the Ferenc Clan.
• Arwen learned that the dwarves had paid Keltullis tribute for sixty years to avoid fighting it, then followed Brouver toward the burning Ferenc territory.
• Eyck of Denesle charged Keltullis with a lance, and Arwen recognized him and several other familiar faces nearby.

Eyck, Eckhart, and Ivar helped drive the wounded Keltullis from the dwarven town, and Brouver agreed to commission a hunt in exchange for weapons being forged. Arwen found Keltullis recovering in her cave and offered to save her, leaving his intentions uncertain.

• Eyck drew Keltullis down while Eckhart’s party wounded her with a dragonslayer bolt, but Keltullis unleashed dragonfire and escaped the dwarven town.
• Galka urged Brouver to kill Keltullis, and Eyck offered to take the commission to hunt her down.
• Brouver agreed to have weapons forged for Ivar if he skinned Keltullis, then sent Rodney to guide the hunters to her lair.
• In her cave, Keltullis struggled to remove the bolt from her thigh and sensed someone approaching.
• Arwen entered the cave, spoke with Keltullis, and claimed he had come to save her rather than kill her.

Arwen confronted the wounded Keltullis about the dwarves’ poisoned tribute and realized she was pregnant. He used his domains to force her to leave Mount Carbon with him, then sent a Dracolizard Golem to stop the approaching party while he remained in the cave with Keltullis.

• Keltullis claimed the dwarves had broken their agreement by hiding poison in a sheep, and Arwen explained that dragons could resist poison.
• Arwen deduced that the poison had been intended to kill Keltullis’s unborn children, then warned her that Eyck and the others were approaching.
• Keltullis refused to submit until Arwen unleashed his Magic Suppression Domain and Deep Abyss Domain, after which she agreed to go with him.
• Arwen sent a Dracolizard Golem out to meet Eyck, Rodney, and Eckhart as they reached the cave, and Eyck’s lance could not hurt it.
• The Dracolizard Golem incinerated Eckhart’s dragon-slaying bolt and heavy crossbow with blue flame, but Eyck and Rodney decided to enter the cave and attack Keltullis; Raven’s arrival drew their attention.