Downwarren

Services and people

Walkthrough May be incomplete

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

1. 1

   Arriving at Downwarren

   When you reach the outskirts of the settlement during "Ladies of the Wood", unlock the Downwarren fast travel signpost among the rundown peasant huts, impoverished villagers, and domestic animals. Take advantage of the signpost to create an autosave or manual save before exploring further. Note that no dungeons, armorers, or blacksmiths are present within the village borders.

2. 2

   Checking the Notice Board and Vendors

   Head to the center of the village near the houses and market stalls to trade basic provisions, alcohol, or play Gwent with the general merchant. Inspect the Downwarren Notice Board nearby, where you can collect the missable parchment notice if you finished "Contract: The Merry Widow" in Lindenvale and waited at least 5 in-game days. Be sure to address village business before resolving the tree spirit's fate.

   Notice: 'Witcher wanted!': Positioned in the settlement center notice boardHow: Picked up from the notice board five in-game days after The Merry Widow contractMissable because: Freeing the spirit beneath the tree causes Downwarren to be razed to the ground Don't miss

   Tip: The merchant sells alchemy alcohol and food, and can be challenged to a round of Gwent.

   Watch out: Freeing the tree spirit will cause Downwarren to be destroyed, permanently locking you out of the notice on the notice board.

3. 3

   Speaking with the Ealdorman

   Locate the Ealdorman outside his house in the middle of Downwarren to ask about the village's troubles. Present the ritual dagger given to you by the Crones to initiate the segment directing you toward the hillock. Once the conversation ends, prepare your supplies to investigate the trapped entity to the southeast.

4. 4

   Exploring South for Crafting Diagrams

   Before heading directly to the cave, travel into the swamps lying south of Downwarren. Locate the cluster of three ruined houses and search under the northern structure. Loot the chest tucked away there to recover crafting diagrams.

5. 5

   Approaching the Ancient Oak and Igni Place of Power

   Journey southeast of Downwarren toward the Ancient Oak housing the trapped Tree Spirit. At the western base of the hillock right beside the cave mouth, kill or bypass the defending werewolf to reach the glowing stone pillar.

   Igni Place of Power: from the cave mouth at the base of the Ancient Oak, walk along the western/southwestern cliffside base New
6. 6

   Diving the Whispering Hillock Cave

   Enter the Whispering Hillock Cave entrance and plunge into the submerged tunnel that obstructs the passageway. Switch on your Witcher Senses underwater to highlight three submerged containers resting on the flooded cavern floor. Swim to all three sunken chests to collect their contents before emerging into the heart of the cavern.

   Sunken chests (three): from the cave mouth under the Ancient Oak, swim into the flooded subterranean passage leading to the core chamber to find them on the tunnel floorHow: diving underwater and using Witcher Senses New

   Tip: Use your Witcher Senses underwater to cleanly spot the submerged chests along the flooded passage floor.

7. 7

   Facing the Hillock Heart

   Advance into the cavern's core chamber where the trapped Mother of the Crones is enclosed. Make your decision whether to destroy the trapped entity or fulfill its ritual to set it free.

8. 8

   Returning for Payment

   Journey back to Downwarren to inform the Ealdorman that the assignment has been settled and demand your payment. Watch as the Ealdorman cuts off his own ear to offer as tribute for the Crones.

9. 9

   Revisiting the Aftermath

   If you chose to release the spirit beneath the oak, return to Downwarren later during "Return to Crookback Bog" to discover the hamlet razed and all villagers slain. Clear out the hostile wraiths that now haunt the ruined settlement. As you make your way past the swamp edge outside the hamlet alongside the Witch Hunters, defeat the incoming wave of Drowners and Rotfiends.

   Watch out: Releasing the spirit wipes out the entire population of Downwarren, turning the village into a hostile ruin infested with wraiths.