Blackbough

Services and people

Walkthrough

The area in the order you play it. Tick things off as you go: they tick off in the checklists below too.

1. 1

   Village Square Arrival

   When you enter Blackbough along the main road, examine the communal Notice Board located in the village square to view local contracts and notices. Right beside the village fast-travel signpost, approach the general Merchant at his outdoor stall to trade crafting components, animal hides, or general goods, play a round of Gwent, and purchase Adalbert Kermith’s First Map. Keep an eye out for an occasional wandering merchant who sets up shop along the village road depending on regional progression and rescues.

   Adalbert Kermith’s First Map: Village center stallHow: Sold by the General Merchant

   Tip: Challenge the merchant to Gwent to collect cards and trade for diagrams.

2. 2

   Visiting the Village Forge

   Walk to the western part of the settlement along the road to find the amateur Blacksmith working at his workshop equipped with an anvil and grindstone. Speak with him to access weapon crafting, repairs, dismantling, socket upgrade removal, and to purchase weapon diagrams, crafting components, and Adalbert Kermith’s Second Map. If you find the blacksmith bugged without an active talk prompt during the early morning, simply meditate until midday between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM or fast-travel away and back to reset his interaction state.

   Adalbert Kermith’s Second Map: The Blacksmith's ForgeHow: Sold by the Blacksmith

   Tip: Meditating to noon reliably fixes the blacksmith's interaction prompt if he refuses to talk.

   Watch out: Do not panic if the blacksmith fails to interact; you can reset him by meditating to noon or entirely bypass his map by picking up Enhanced Feline diagrams directly in the world.

3. 3

   Taking the Contract from Niellen

   Head past the modest peasant huts of the residential area to find the hunter Niellen standing outside his family cottage with his sister-in-law Margrit. Talk to Niellen in front of his cottage to trigger the secondary quest "Wild at Heart" regarding his missing wife Hanna. Before heading out of the settlement, speak to Niellen’s neighbors in town, including the local butcher's wife at her stall as well as the blacksmith and the blacksmith's children.

   Tip: Exhaust dialogue with both the butcher's wife and the blacksmith's family right away.

   Watch out: Make sure to question the blacksmith and his children immediately; these unique investigation dialogue lines are permanently missed once you inspect the scene in the woods or advance the quest.

4. 4

   Meeting Leslav at the Bridge

   Head toward the bridge leading out of Blackbough at night to encounter an old widow named Leslav. Speak with her by the bridge to pick up the secondary quest "Last Rites" as you prepare to venture into the surrounding wilderness.

   Niellen’s Key: Isolated den/cave near the secluded shackHow: Looted after defeating the WerewolfMissable because: Missed if you accept Margrit's bribe to end Wild at Heart early Don't miss New

   Tip: Visit the bridge strictly after nightfall to find Leslav waiting.

   Watch out: "Last Rites" is permanently missable if you failed to complete its prerequisite quest "Defender of the Faith", or if you do not visit during the night.

5. 5

   Braving the Outskirts and Woods

   Head out into the fields and outskirts surrounding the village, where you will encounter hostile packs of Wolves and wild Dogs roaming the terrain. Make your way deep into the woods outside Blackbough toward the Isolated Shack and the Werewolf's Lair to continue investigating Hanna's fate. In the cave northwest of Blackbough behind the Pellar's hut, search behind a column in the large chamber to find a chest holding the Diagram: Ursine steel sword - mastercrafted.

   Pellar's Bell: The Pellar's hut NewPellar's Bell: The Pellar's hut New

   Tip: Watch for pack attacks from standard wild dogs and wolves in the fields.

6. 6

   Confronting the Werewolf

   Enter the werewolf cave and hunter's lair in the deep woods to conclude "Wild at Heart" against the beast. Defeat Niellen in his werewolf form to search his remains and recover Niellen’s Key from his corpse.

   Tip: Slay the werewolf to secure all unique quest loot from his remains.

   Watch out: Niellen's Key is permanently missable if you accept Margrit's bribe to halt the investigation or allow Niellen to kill Margrit and spare his life, as he will not be slain for looting.