Extreme Cosplay – Witcher 3: Blood and Wine Quest

This guide is a walkthrough of a side quest in the Witcher 3: Blood and Wine DLC. The guide is composed of a map, map legend, and walkthrough to show readers exactly where to go and what to do to complete the quest.

Map Legend

1 – Gaston
2 – Front Gate
3 – Fountain
4 – Door

Background

Just outside the Doren Alma Estate in Toussaint South, you’ll run into Gaston tending to the wounds of a fallen knight (#1). It’ll be too late for the knight, and when you examine him, his wounds and armor won’t make a lot of sense. So you’ll decide to investigate further. This will trigger the quest.

Walkthrough

When you approach the estate, Gaston will follow you, and no matter what you say to him, he’ll accompany you for the quest. Then when you reach the front gate (#2), you’ll see the spot where the dead knight tried to climb over the wall but fell and broke his leg. You’ll also see that the battered front gate is locked. To get inside, you’ll just need to use Aard on the gate.

Inside the estate grounds, you’ll see the bloody remains of a banquet, with dead servants and guests all over the place. If you examine the bodies, then you’ll see more strange armor and puncture wounds like the dead knight had. You’ll also spot a large scorched area near the central fountain (#3), and if you follow its scent, then it’ll take you to a locked door (#4), where you’ll meet Durand de Savarin, the Chairman of the Society of Friends of the History of Toussaint.

Durand will tell you that he and his guests were re-enacting a scene from Toussaint’s past when suddenly there was a flash of light and all hell broke loose. You’ll decide that the society must have accidentally summoned a specter of some sort, and that the only way to deal with it is to repeat the scene so it will appear again and you can face it. Gaston and Durand will agree to assist you.

You’ll re-enact the scene at night. To play your part, you’ll have to do several things:

• Put on a Ceremonial Mask.
  
• Ignite the six lamps in the courtyard.
  
• Take the Elven Bread from the chest by the fountain and place the offering by the “throne.”
  
• Take the Elven Wine from the same chest and make it an offering as well.
  
• Pick up the (leveled, magic) Ancient Elven Sword and Ancient Elven Shield from the ground by the throne and equip them (the shield will go into one of your pocket slots).
  
• Draw the sword and make the shield your active tool.
  
• Move over to the “king” and select the “kneel” option.

At this point the six statues in the courtyard will come to life, and they’ll attack you. The statues will be level 40, but don’t be fooled. They’ll fight more like they’re level 60. Four of the statues will turn into melee warriors, and they shouldn’t pose much of a problem, but the other two will turn into spellcasters, and their spells will do huge damage to you, not to mention stun you. So you’ll have two options:

• You can turn around and try to kill the two spellcasters as quickly as possible, and then mop up the warriors. This is a dicey strategy, and you’ll probably die a few times before you can get it to work.
  
  Note: Superior Northern Wind is a good bomb for this strategy.
  
• You can run up the stairs to where you first met Durand (#4). The statues won’t follow you to that upper part of the courtyard, and, in fact, they’ll just stand still waiting for you to come back. This will allow you to throw bombs and crossbow bolts their way, or rush at them for a couple of hits before retreating back to the high ground. You’ll also be able to save on the high ground, which will give you a way to make slow but sure progress in the battle.
  
  Note: Superior Devil’s Puffball and Superior Dragon’s Dream are good bombs for this strategy. The statues are susceptible to poison.

After winning the fight, Gaston and Durand will show back up. No matter what you say to them, you’ll receive 300 crowns and 250 xp for completing the quest.