Guides / The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition
Velen
After arriving at Hanged Man's Tree in Velen, Geralt begins tracking down Ciri by searching for an imperial spy named Hendrik. The path leads through war-ravaged swamps to the Inn at the Crossroads to gather intelligence, then west toward the frozen village of Heatherton. Along the journey, players explore notice boards and deal with local thugs under the employ of the Bloody Baron.
- Region
- Velen (Temeria / "No Man’s Land"), Grayrocks sub-region
- Levels
- Level 5–6 for initial arrival quests; nearby wilderness threats scale from level 4 up to level 9+ (and much higher along Pontar river crossings)
- Getting there
- Transition directly from the Royal Palace in Vizima at the conclusion of the prologue main quest Imperial Audience via fast travel / world map transition.
- Connects to
- Vizima, White Orchard, Novigrad / Redania
- Related quests
- The Nilfgaardian Connection · Fists of Fury: Velen · Contract: Missing Brother · Funeral Pyres · Bloody Baron · Hunting a Witch
Services and people
Merchants 18
- Crow's Perch Quartermaster · Amateur merchant and vendorUpper courtyard of Crow's Perch
- Trader merchant · Merchant / traderLower village market square of Crow's Perch
- Anselm · Merchant vendorCrow's Perch
- General merchant · General merchantCenter of Blackbough village
- General merchant · General merchantCenter of Lindenvale
- Merchant · MerchantCenter of Midcopse
- Keira Metz · Alchemist and shopkeeperHut northeast of Midcopse
- Merchant trader · Merchant traderNear the docks and center of Oreton
- Merchant · MerchantDownwarren
- The Pellar · Herbalist and alchemist vendorHut northwest of Blackbough
- Innkeeper · Innkeeper vendorInside the Inn at the Crossroads
- Quartermaster Tavar Eggebracht · Merchant vendorNilfgaardian Army Group 'Center' Camp in southeastern Velen
- Merchant · MerchantBoatmaker's Hut settlement
- Merchant · MerchantCalveit Watchtower area
- Merchant · MerchantNear the Coast of Wrecks
- Merchant · MerchantMire Landing
- Traders/merchants · Traders and merchantsBald Mountain
- Merchant · MerchantNear the Mulbrydale crossroads
Quest NPCs 5
- Surviving peasant · Attacked by Rabid DogsHeatherton
- Aldert Geert · Scholar whose hanged corpse is next to the campfireUnder Hanged Man's Tree in Velen
- Phillip Strenger (the Bloody Baron) · Notable contact met during investigationUpper manor keep at Crow's Perch
- Tamara Strenger · Residing in the fishing villageFishing village of Oreton
- Hendrik · Imperial agent found deceasedCellar beneath his hut in Heatherton
Invaders and enemies 7
- Nithral · Wild Hunt warrior fought during Wandering in the DarkDeep inside the Elven Ruins
- The King of Wolves (Werewolf) · Werewolf boss fought during Ciri's Story: The King of the WolvesRavine cave near Lindenvale
- The Crones (Brewess, Weavess, and Whispess) · Boss encounter fought during Bald MountainSummit area near Bald Mountain
- Imlerith · Wild Hunt commander fought during Bald MountainPeak plateau of Bald Mountain
- Harrisi (Venomous Arachas) · Monster target fought during Contract: Missing BrotherInside the abandoned mine
- Sarasti (Ekimmara) · Vampire fought during Contract: The Mystery of the Byways MurdersElven ruins beneath the village
- The Red Miasmal · Creature fought during In the Eternal Fire's ShadowDeepest level of the Devil's Pit cavern
Services 7
- Blacksmith · Blacksmith crafting and repairsOutdoor forge in Blackbough
- Blacksmith · Blacksmith crafting and repairsNear the road in Lindenvale
- Amateur blacksmith · Amateur blacksmith servicesVillage of Oreton
- Armorer and blacksmith · Armorer and blacksmith serviceNilfgaardian Army Group 'Center' Camp
- Blacksmith · Blacksmith crafting and repairsBald Mountain
- Fergus Graem · Works at the master armorer's forgeUpper courtyard of Crow's Perch
- Yoana · Assists at the armorer's forgeUpper courtyard of Crow's Perch
The short version
What matters
- •Check under the hanged corpse next to the campfire at Hanged Man's Tree immediately upon arrival to secure the Zoltan Chivay Gwent Card if you missed it in White Orchard.
- •Search the boots on Hendrik's corpse inside his Heatherton hut to acquire Hendrik's key.
- •Pull the mounted candlestick inside Hendrik's cellar to open the secret compartment holding Hendrik's ledger, crowns, and crafting supplies.
Common mistakes
- •Failing to check beneath the body at Hanged Man's Tree early, as a persistent bug can replace the Zoltan Chivay Gwent card with an Unfinished Book.
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.
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1
Arrive at Hanged Man's Tree
When you arrive in Velen at the Hanged Man's Tree signpost after departing Vizima, inspect the ground beside the campfire directly under the hanging body of Aldert Geert. You can pick up the Zoltan Chivay Gwent card here if you did not win it previously in White Orchard. Before leaving the area, make sure you collect the card before traveling onward down the road.
Watch out: A long-running spawn bug may cause only an Unfinished Book to appear under Hanged Man's Tree, permanently costing you the Zoltan Chivay Gwent Card.
-
2
Travel to the Inn at the Crossroads
Follow the roads until you reach the Inn at the Crossroads to ask about your imperial contact. Inside the establishment, you can speak with the local innkeeper vendor to gather information and trade.
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3
Investigate the Village of Heatherton
Head west across the marshlands to reach the blizzard-stricken settlement of Heatherton. Upon entering the village, you will encounter a pack of Rabid Dogs attacking a surviving peasant.
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4
Search Hendrik's Hut
Enter Hendrik's hut to locate the deceased agent and inspect his body. Search his boots directly to loot Hendrik's key, which is required to open the trapdoor hidden beneath the carpet on the floor.
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5
Uncover the Cellar Compartment
Descend through the unlocked trapdoor into the cellar beneath the hut and interact with the wall-mounted candlestick mechanism to swing open the hidden wall section. Open the chest to loot crowns and crafting supplies, and take Hendrik's ledger from the secret compartment to uncover your next leads. Reading this ledger completes the investigation here, directing you toward the Bloody Baron at Crow's Perch and Keira Metz's hut near Midcopse.
Checklists
Achievements here
Items May be incomplete
0/3
Enemies
Savage canines that attack a surviving villager in Heatherton.
Shops and people
- Innkeep: Sells refreshments and Gwent cards such as Commander's Horn and Impera Brigade Guard; can also be challenged to win the Menno Coehoorn card.
Tips
- Diffuse tension peacefully with the Baron's thugs at the tavern to avoid hostility when trying to enter Crow's Perch later.
Not listed for this area: secrets.
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