Guides / The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition
Kaer Trolde Castle
Geralt travels to Kaer Trolde to attend the royal wake for the deceased King Bran alongside Yennefer. During the gathering, you can socialize with Skellige chieftains, participate in drinking and fistfight activities, and sneak into Ermion's workshop to locate the stolen Mask of Uroboros.
- Region
- The Skellige Isles (Ard Skellig)
- Levels
- 16
- Getting there
- Travel up the switchback mountain path across the stone bridge directly into the citadel from Kaer Trolde Harbor, unlocking after the royal sea burial cutscene in Destination: Skellige.
- Connects to
- Kaer Trolde Harbor, Ard Skellig interior
- Related quests
- The King is Dead – Long Live the King · Echoes of the Past · Possession · The Lord of Undvik · King's Gambit
Services and people
Merchants 1
- Armorer · Sells Ibrahim Savi's fourth map and Hieronymus' notesCastle's outer bailey courtyard
Quest NPCs 3
- Crach an Craite · Lord residing in the citadelGreat hall and lord's chamber
- Cerys an Craite · Races Geralt up the mountain path during a questInside the fortress's great hall
- Yennefer · Breaks into Ermion's workshop with GeraltErmion's hidden laboratory/workshop
Invaders and enemies 2
- Vildkaarl warrior · Optional fistfight opponentFeast hall of Kaer Trolde Castle
- Transformed Berserkers · Hostile cursed bears fought during disturbanceBanquet hall of Kaer Trolde Castle
Services 4
- Bridge to Kaer Trolde signpost · Fast-travel signpost and save pointNear the entrance bridge
- Journeyman armorer · Operates forge and upgrade serviceCastle's outer bailey courtyard
- Yanne · Weaponsmithing and repair shopOuter courtyard next to the armorer
- Elevator · Connects castle down to the harborCastle courtyard
The short version
What matters
- •Buying Ibrahim Savi's fourth map and Hieronymus' notes from the courtyard armorer to track Ursine and Wolven gear upgrades.
- •Winning the footrace against Cerys up the mountain trail to pull Hjalmar's Axe from the stump.
- •Sneaking into Ermion's workshop with Yennefer to retrieve the Mask of Uroboros for the main story.
- •Looting the metal chest by the entrance of Crach an Craite's personal chambers for two crafting diagrams.
Common mistakes
- •Letting Cerys beat you up the mountain path during "The King is Dead – Long Live the King", permanently forfeiting Hjalmar's Axe.
- •Forgetting to check the metal chest next to the door in Crach an Craite's quarters while visiting the lord's chambers.
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
Approach via the Bridge
When you arrive at Kaer Trolde Castle, cross the high stone bridge carved directly into the cliffside. Near the entrance gate, activate the "Bridge to Kaer Trolde" signpost, which also functions as a save point.
-
2
Visit the Courtyard Shops
Pass through the outer walls into the castle bailey, where you will see the elevator leading down to the harbor. Stop to trade with the journeyman armorer and the blacksmith Yanne, whose workshops sit side by side in the outer courtyard. Browse the armorer's stock to purchase Hieronymus' notes for Wolven Witcher Gear as well as Ibrahim Savi's fourth map for Ursine gear.
-
3
Attend the Royal Wake
Step into the citadel's Great Hall to attend King Bran's wake during the main quest "The King is Dead – Long Live the King". Inside the feast room, speak with Crach an Craite and Cerys an Craite among the assembled guests.
-
4
Race Cerys to the Summit
Accompany Cerys an Craite along the mountain route running up from Kaer Trolde Castle to the overlooking peak. Sprint ahead to beat her to the top, where you can extract Hjalmar's axe from the tree stump.
Watch out: If you allow Cerys to reach the summit peak before you, she claims the axe first and Hjalmar's Axe becomes permanently missable.
-
5
Infiltrate Ermion's Secret Workshop
Slip away from the wake with Yennefer to break into Ermion's hidden laboratory inside the castle. Once inside the secret workshop, locate and claim the Mask of Uroboros to fulfill your main quest objective.
-
6
Search Crach an Craite's Quarters
Head to Crach an Craite's personal chambers within the keep. Check the metal chest situated right beside the doorway to loot two crafting diagrams.
-
7
Return for King's Gambit
Return to the castle's banquet hall later during the quest "King's Gambit" to find the gathering interrupted by a berserker bear massacre. You can also accept an optional wager to brawl a Vildkaarl warrior within the feast hall, winning Hjalmar's steel sword before battling three transformed cursed bears.
Choices here
What you decide here and what it leads to.
Footrace against Cerys
During "The King is Dead – Long Live the King" when running up the summit path overlooking the castle
- Beat Cerys to the peak→ pull Hjalmar's axe from a tree stump
- Let Cerys reach the peak first→ Cerys claims the axe and Hjalmar's axe is permanently missed
Most players pick: Beat Cerys to the peak
Missable unique weapon
Checklists
Achievements here
Items May be incomplete
0/3
Enemies
Guards Ermion's secret vault and attacks when you approach the Mask of Uroboros
Tips
- Equip formal Skellige clothes before meeting Yennefer at the banquet doors to earn her approval and unique dialogue.
- During the dialogue race against Cerys to the summit above the castle, cut corners on the snowy trail to easily beat her.
Not listed for this area: secrets, shops and people.
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