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Sudoku for Beginners: How to Improve Your Problem-Solving Skills

Are you a beginner when it comes to solving Sudoku puzzles? Do you find yourself frustrated and unsure of where to start? Fear not, as we have compiled a comprehensive guide on how to improve your problem-solving skills through Sudoku.

Understanding the Basics of Sudoku

Before we dive into the strategies and techniques, let’s first understand the basics of Sudoku. A Sudoku puzzle is a 9×9 grid that is divided into nine smaller 3×3 grids. The objective is to fill in each row, column, and smaller grid with numbers 1-9 without repeating any numbers.

Starting Strategies for Beginners

As a beginner, it can be overwhelming to look at an empty Sudoku grid. But don’t worry. There are simple starting strategies that can help you get started. First, look for any rows or columns that only have one missing number. Fill in that number and move on to the next row or column with only one missing number. Another strategy is looking for any smaller grids with only one missing number and filling in that number.

Advanced Strategies for Beginner/Intermediate Level

Once you’ve mastered the starting strategies, it’s time to move on to more advanced techniques. One technique is called “pencil marking.” This involves writing down all possible numbers in each empty square before making any moves. Then use logic and elimination techniques to cross off impossible numbers until you are left with the correct answer.

Another advanced technique is “hidden pairs.” Look for two squares within a row or column that only have two possible numbers left. If those two possible numbers exist in both squares, then those two squares must contain those specific numbers.

Benefits of Solving Sudoku Puzzles

Not only is solving Sudoku puzzles fun and challenging, but it also has many benefits for your brain health. It helps improve your problem-solving skills, enhances memory and concentration, and reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

In conclusion, Sudoku is a great way to improve your problem-solving skills while also providing entertainment. With these starting and advanced strategies, you’ll be able to solve even the toughest Sudoku puzzles. So grab a pencil and paper and start sharpening those brain muscles.

This text was generated using a large language model, and select text has been reviewed and moderated for purposes such as readability.

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The Witcher 3 - Ladies of the Wood, Trail of Treats, Johnny, Whispering Hillock, ealdorman

A step-by-step guide to completing the Ladies of the Wood quest, from tracking down Johnny to joining up with the ealdorman of Downwarren.

This page covers Ladies of the Wood, Trail of Treats, Johnny, Whispering Hillock and ealdorman . If you're looking for more assistance, our Witcher 3 walkthrough can help.

To begin the quest, open up your Inventory and read the book 'The Ladies of the Night' under your Quest Items. Once you've learned more about the Trail of Treats, mount your steed and ride to the windswept forest indicated by your objective marker.

Ladies of the Wood

Use your Witcher Senses to find the shrine that marks the start of the Trail of Treats

On arrival at your destination, start exploring the area until you locate the strange wooden statue adorned with a necklace of delicious, sugary sweets.

Follow the Trail of Treats using your Witcher Senses

Next, activate your senses and follow the trail of goodies along the dirt track running south-east. Continue onward as it winds through the marshland until you reach the small cluster of buildings.

Speak to the children playing in the clearing and ask them about the ashen-haired woman. When the old woman interrupts your conversation, work your way through the dialogue options, telling her that you're looking for someone.

Go to the hut and talk to the boy

To learn more about the mysterious Johnny, head inside the building to the south and speak to Travik - he's the boy standing by Gran. Once you've ask him where you can find Johnny, Gran interjects to bring the conversation to a close. You'll have to use a bit of cunning if you're going to get the information you need. You've two choices here: you can either attempt to lure Gran away yourself, or you can get help from the children outside.

Play hide-and-seek with the children

Ask the children in the swamp village about Johnny

If you opt for the latter method, head outside and talk to the group of children loitering by the hut. Work you way through the conversation options and ask them to help you out. Agree to play hide-and-seek to continue.

Find the hidden children using your Witcher Senses

When the children have disappeared, activate your Witcher Senses and start the hunt. Immediately look at the ground to locate a freshly-made trail of footsteps. Follow it along until you find the first child hiding inside the hut.

Go back outside and head east to the little bridge. Another set of footprints lies on the other side of the pond, so nip over and follow them around the side of the building. You can't climb the ladder, so walk around to the back of the hut and look for the pile of leaves on the porch. Talk to the girl hiding beneath them to continue.

From here, walk around the hut in a clockwise direction and locate the footprints leading south. Once you find them, immediately look right to find the next child hiding in a bush. Talk to her, then turn your attention back to the trail of footprints.

Follow them along and enter the building when you reach it. The footprints stop at the window inside, but you're too small to fit through. Go outside again and run around to the back of the hut to resume the trail. Follow it along until you reach the boy hiding by the water. Talk to him to bring the game of hide-and-seek to a close.

With Gran out of the way, speak to Travik again and ask him where you can find Johnny. When the conversation is over, leave the hut.

Find Johnny in the swamp

Look for Johnny in the swamp using your Witcher Senses

Back outside, head north-east in the direction of the objective marker until you reach the little meadow. Deal with the Drowners and Water Hag in the area before continuing.

Find Johnny's footprints

Next, activate your Witcher Senses and start scouring your surroundings for footprints. Examine them once you've found them.

Follow Johnny's footprints using your Witcher Senses

Johnny's footprints run around a little, then begin heading north-west. Follow them through the swamp until you run into another group of Drowners. Take them out, then continue tracking the footprints through the undergrowth. Eventually, you'll reach a small burrow.

Lure Johnny out of his burrow

Interact with the burrow to call Johnny out. Work your way through the (rather one-sided) conversation, then start following the godling through the swamp.

Follow Johnny

Continue forwards until you spy the group of Drowners roaming the clearing.

Kill the Drowners, Water Hags and Harpies

Defeat the monsters

Unsurprisingly, you'll need to defeat the creatures to proceed. Fight them in the usual way, but try and stay clear of the poisonous gas spewing from the swampy earth. Once the monsters are dead, rejoin your tiny charge.

Continue through the swamp until you reach the sheer rock face. When you're done talking to Johnny, you'll need to do a bit of climbing in order to complete your next objective.

Search the raven nest

Locate the stream directly ahead and begin following the small path running alongside it. A little way up the hill, you'll come to a small waterfall. Leap over the gap and continue along the dirt track. When the route splits, look to the left and make your way towards the small wooden platform. Hop on up and approach the nest on the cliff's edge nearby.

A group of harpies attack almost immediately. They're pretty weak, but stay vigilant as its easy to be overwhelmed if they drop down from the sky when your attention is elsewhere. When peace is restored, examine the nest to retrieve the sealed bottle and raven's feather.

Give the bottle to Johnny

Carefully make your way back down the hill and give the bottle to Johnny on your return. When the godling's voice is restored, work your way through the dialogue options and ask about the ashen-haired woman. Convince Johnny to speak to Gran, then end the conversation.

Follow Johnny to the swamp village

Next, follow the godling back through the swamp until you reach the village, dealing with any hostile creatures that you encounter along the way. Back at the village, ask Gran to lead you to the Crones when Johnny has finished his song.

Once you gain an audience with the Ladies, tell them that you have something to ask. Work through the dialogue options and agree to speak to the ealdorman of Downwarren.

Where to find the ealdorman

Talk to the ealdorman of Downwarren about the village's problems

Before continuing with your task, take a few moments to loot the building. When you're done, head outside. Next, summon Roach and make the journey north, following the objective marker towards your goal. Dismount your steed once you reach the small cluster of buildings halfway up the hill. The ealdorman is stood outside a hut and dressed in green - speak to him to continue. Work your way through the conversation options, then prepare for the next leg of your adventure.

Find out what's killing villagers from Downwarren

You won't find too much of interest in Downwarren, but feel free to browse the merchant's wares before continuing on your adventure. Stock up on food if you need it, then begin the journey south-east towards the Whispering Hillock.

A voice greets you as you near the area but pay it no heed. Instead, proceed up the hill until you reach the large, gnarled tree. Take care of any wolves roaming the area, then activate your Senses.

Find a passage leading under the hill using your Witcher Senses

With the tree behind you, begin heading north-west in the direction of the pulsating marker. Navigate the steep incline and engage the werewolf loitering around at the bottom. You need to finish the creature off quickly - once it starts glowing red, its health begins to replenish.

When the werewolf is defeated, locate the glowing yellow stone on the rocky ledge nearby and examine it to receive an Ability point, plus a temporary Igni Sign boost. Look left and locate another stone ledge smeared with white paint. Climb up, then head through the cave entrance, travelling deep into the earth towards the sound of the beating drum.

Explore the cave

A little way into the cave, the path splits in two. The route to the left is blocked by writhing tree roots, however, and there's no way through just yet. Instead, take the right-hand path and jump into the water. Dive beneath the surface and swim along the passage as it bends around to the left. At the end of the tunnel, resurface and climb onto dry land. Continue along the passage until you reach the beating heart of the tree.

Work your way through the dialogue options and ask the voice how it can be freed. Eventually, you'll be given a choice. Either offer to free the spirit of the tree or tell it that you don't believe its story. Dare to doubt it and the spirit summons its minions to attack you.

Option 1 - Doubt the spirit

Eliminate the first wave of Endrega Workers and immediately turn your attention to the roots protecting the heart of the tree. Slice through them with some heavy blows, then attack the heart when its defences are down. A second wave of Endrega Workers appears shortly so deal with them and turn your attention back to the tree. Once its health bar is depleted, the spirit is no more and the Ladies of the Wood quest resumes.

Option 2 - Offer to help

If you offer to free the spirit, you'll need to secure several items for a ritual - raven feathers, a horse, and the spirit's human remains. You should already have the raven feathers from your trip to the nest a little earlier on. That just leaves two more items to find. Wrap up the conversation and prepare to begin your impromptu treasure hunt.

Our Witcher 3 walkthrough and guide can help you with the main story, including the Wandering in the Dark and Family Matters missions, and eventually, one of several Witcher 3 endings . There's plenty of side content, too, including Witcher 3 Contracts , White Orchard quests , Velen quests , Novigrad quests and Skellige Isles quests . Elsewhere, learn about the best Witcher 3 builds , the best Witcher 3 mods , how to make money in Witcher 3 , find Places of Power locations , and learn how to do Witcher 3 crafting and Witcher 3 Alchemy And when you're done with all those - we can help you through expansions with our Hearts of Stone walkthrough and Blood and Wine walkthrough .

Secondary Quest: The Whispering Hillock

Find the bones of the spirit trapped beneath the Whispering Hillock using your Witcher Senses

Once you've activated the new quest (it's listed under Secondary Quests if you're struggling to locate it), leave the cave via the newly-opened passage to the north. Outside, begin heading west in the direction of the quest marker. Before long, you'll reach a small patch of swamp swarming with Drowners and a Water Hag. Take them all out, prioritising the Water Hag. This annoying creature can sink into the ground, bursting upward to deal damage from below.

When peace is finally restored, begin searching the area indicated on your mini-map. Use your Witcher Senses to locate the small unmarked grave, then loot the remains inside.

Calm a wild horse using the Axii Sign and mount it

Next, begin journeying south-east towards the objective marker. Several wild horses roam the area, so approach one slowly and, once it's been targeted, use your Axii Sign to bring it under control. Mount the horse to complete this portion of the quest.

Bring a black horse to the cave beneath the Whispering Hillock

When you're ready, head back to the Whispering Hillock and enter the cave. Return to the heart of the tree to begin the ritual. You'll be granted three choices next: two of them enable you to destroy the spirit while the third continues the ritual. Opt for the latter and you'll be left with a grateful, if slightly demonic-looking, horse. Sadly, you may have done more harm than good...

Tell the ealdorman of the Downwarren you took care of the problem

Leave the cave via the now-unblocked passage and look for the ealdorman outside. Talk to him and work your way through the dialogue options in order to receive your payment. When the old Crones reveal their true form, work your way through the dialogue options to learn more about Ciri's journey and to complete the quest.

- Our walkthrough continues with a step-by-step guide to completing The Witcher 3 - Escaping the Bog .

- Head back to the first page for the rest of our Witcher 3 walkthrough .

• Guides for Gamers
• Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Maps & Walkthrough
• Ladies of the Wood

Ladies of the Wood Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Quest

Suggested level: 6

Group: Main Quests

Location: Velen

This quest will appear in your journal when, during the Wandering in the Dark quest, you reach the lab of an elven mage, Keira will tell you about the witches and give you the "The Ladies of the Wood" book.

Information found in the home of Hendrik, the Nilfgaardian agent, indicated Ciri had entered into conflict with some witch in Velen. At first Geralt thought this "witch" was Keira Metz, but he later learned Hendrik had meant a different individual, one who dwelt in Crookback Bog. So the witcher ventured into the swamps, determined to find this bog-dwelling witch and ask her about Ciri.

Related points of interest

Prior quests

To begin Ladies of the Wood you must first complete Wandering in the Dark .

Quest stages of Ladies of the Wood

1. read "the ladies of the wood.".

Read the book you got from Keira.

The Ladies of the Wood

The gods have abandoned us. The mighty of this earth care not for our fate. Only the Ladies of the Wood watch over Velen. In foul times, when plague and famine reap their harvest, we must beg the Ladies for help. If they see fit, they will hear our pleas and knock back fortune's foul blows.

This is how one begs help from the Ladies:

Find a child, young and innocent, and take it to Crookback Bog. Seek out the Ladies' shrine - 'tis where the Trail of Treats begins. Set the child off on the trail and it shall follow the sweet track and find the Good Ladies. The child will never want for anything again, for the Ladies are kind and generous.

Stand before their shrine, pronounce your supplication and the Good Ladies will hear, for they see and hear all that takes place in their demesne. If you made the offering as it must be done, your plea shall be heard.

2. Find the Crones of Crookback Bog.

2.1. use your witcher senses to find the shrine that marks the start of the trail of treats..

Find and examine the Shrine that Keira told you about.

2.2. Follow the Trail of Treats using your Witcher Senses.

Follow the trail marked by sweets hanging along the road and you will reach some buildings.

There you'll meet some orphans and their caretaker, a woman named Gran. During the conversation one of the kids will mention someone named Johnny, but the woman won't let him say anything else. She won't want to answer your questions either, and she'll take the kid who apparently knows something with her to one of the huts.

3. Go to the hut and talk to the boy.

Go into the hut and try to talk to the boy again. The woman will try to stop you, and the boy will look scared and won't be too talkative either. Apparently, he's afraid of Gran.

4. Find a way to lure Gran away from the hut.

You need to find a way to lure the woman out of the hut so you can talk to the boy. The other kids will help you with that.

4.1. Ask the children in the swamp village about Ciri.

Go outside and talk to the other children. They will agree to help you but first you have to do something for them - they want you to play hide and seek with them. If you ask them if there is any other option, they will tell you that they will do it in exchange for a little bit of sweets. It seems that Geralt always has treats at hand, so this solution seems to be the easiest and fastest.

4.1.1. (Optional) Find the hidden children using your Witcher Senses. 0/4

Using your senses, you'll be able to see the footprints of the kids. You'll find two of them at the back of the biggest building, Yagna is hiding in the bushes and Genny is hiding in a haystack .

Aynara is hiding behind the building where Gran and Travik are.

You will find Mikula inside another house.

The kids will lure Gran out of the hut and so you will be able to talk to Travik. He'll tell you that Johnny met a girl with ashen hair and where you can find him.

5. Look for Johnny in the swamp using your Witcher Senses. / Find Johnny's footprints.

Go to the place the boy mentioned. There you will find a few drowners (6) and a water hag (6) that you will have to kill first. When you get rid of them, find the footprints of Johnny.

6. Follow Johnny's footprints using your Witcher Senses. / Lure Johnny out of his burrow.

The footprints will lead you to a small burrow. Come to the entrance and call Johnny and he'll come out after a while.

Johnny will nod to you that he met Ciri but won't be able to tell you anything because he lost his voice. When Geralt asks him if he can help him, he'll show you to follow him.

7. Follow Johnny. / Defeat the monsters.

Follow Johnny and kill the drowners that stand in your way. Johnny will lead you near the cliff and point at the nest on top of it.

8. Search the raven nest.

Climb up, kill three harpies (6) guarding the Raven Nest , and maybe also a wyverne (9) flying nearby. Check the nest and take Sealed bottle . In the nest you will also find a Raven's feather . It could be used in another quest - The Whispering Hillock .

9. Give the bottle to Johnny.

Go back to Johnny and give him the bottle found in the nest. When he uncork it, he'll get his voice back. He will tell you that he saw Ciri running towards the village where the orphanage is located and that he will help convince Gran to help you.

10. Follow Johnny to the swamp village. / Defeat the monsters.

Go to the orphanage with Johnny. Kill the drowners and the water hag that will stand in your way. When you get there, Johnny will convince Gran to help you contact the crones.

Gran will take you to the biggest building so far inaccessible to you and perform a ritual that will allow you to talk to them.

In exchange for information about Ciri, crones demand help in the fight against "a dark power". More information will be provided to you by the ealdorman of Downwarren. From Gran you will receive a dagger which will help you to complete the task.

11. Talk to the ealdorman of Downwarren about the village's problem.

Go to the Downwarren village and talk to the ealdorman. Geralt will show him the dagger he received from the Gran and then the man will tell you about "the dark power" that took over The Whispering Hillock.

12. Find out what's killing villagers from Downwarren.

Go near the Ancient Oak . If you have not finished it yet, then you will get a new quest - The Whispering Hillock .

13. Find a passage leading under the hill using your Witcher Senses. / Explore the cave.

Find the entrance to the Cave Beneath the Whispering Hillock . There is a werewolf (8) near the entrance that you can try to skip it, but it is best to kill it.

Enter the cave, and follow the flooded corridor to the largest cavern where you will find a large beating heart trapped between the roots of a tree.

14. Solve Downwarren's problem.

To solve this problem, you must complete The Whispering Hillock quest, which means that you must decide the fate of the spirit trapped under the tree. Your choice will have a major impact on the Bloody Baron's family, fate of Downwarren's villagers, and the orphans in Crookback Bog.

15. Tell the ealdorman of Downwarren you took care of the problem. / Put the ealdorman's payment on the stone.

When you free or kill the spirit, go to the ealdorman of Downwarren who will be waiting for you near the first entrance to the Cave Beneath the Whispering Hillock . Tell him what you did and remind him about the payment. He will take from you the dagger you received earlier and use it to cut off his ear - that's what the crones expect to receive for their help.

Then you will automatically travel to an orphanage in the marshes where you will place the ear you received on a stone and meet the crones. If you saved a spirit trapped under the tree, then the crones will be angry that the children have run away and decide to punish Gran, who is actually the Baron's wife, Anna.

Then, as promised earlier, they will tell you about their meeting with Ciri - Ciri's Story: Fleeing the Bog quest.

Once their story is finished, you can react as you like to what they told you. After a while, the witches will disappear in the haze and the quest will be over.

Hendrik had known but a portion of the truth and his notes had led Geralt astray. Ciri had in truth come into conflict with the three Crones of Crookback Bog. They had wanted to hand her over to one of the generals of the Wild Hunt named Imlerith. But Ciri escaped their clutches and fled the swamps before their vile plan could come to fruition.

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The Witcher 3 guide: Ladies of the Wood walkthrough

Choices and consequences for the Ghost in the Tree in “Ladies of the Wood” and “The Whispering Hillock”

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The Witcher 3 ’s “Ladies of the Wood” is not a complicated quest on its own, but it ties into a couple other quests, and your choices have lasting impacts.

This guide is about the choices you make during “Ladies of the Wood” and the related “The Whispering Hillock” quest. We’ll help you understand what your options are and the consequences of your choice.

Ladies of the Wood walkthrough

During “Wandering in the Dark,” Keira gives Geralt a book titled Ladies of the Wood . Open your inventory and check the book to start this main story quest.

Progress through the quest by following your map waypoints and using your Witcher Sense. There’s nothing hidden or complex here, so just keep completing the objectives as they appear.

Continue until you’re asked to “ find out what’s killing villagers from Downwarren.”

Follow the waypoint, and you’ll end up with a new main quest, “The Whispering Hillock.”

The Whispering Hillock walkthrough

As you approach the hill(ock), use your Witcher Sense to find nearby enemies. You’ll have to deal with a Werewolf and some Wolves before you can proceed.

Visit the nearby Velen Place of Power , and boost your Igni Sign . Follow the ledge and climb into the cave beneath the hill.

Follow the cave, and swim under the water. When you surface, you’ll meet the Ghost in the Tree .

During your conversation, you’ll get the choice to either free ( “I’ll help you” ) or kill ( “I don’t believe you” ) the spirit.

We’ll explain each choice and their consequences below.

Answer 1: “I’ll help you” (Release the spirit)

If you choose to help the Ghost in the Tree, you’ll need three things to complete a ritual: raven feathers , the spirit’s remains (bones) , and a horse .

You already collected the Raven’s Feathers during the earlier part of “Ladies of the Wood” while helping Johnny. If you missed them, return to the crow’s nest where you retrieved his voice.

Find the bones of the spirit trapped beneath the Whispering Hillock using your Witcher Senses

Exit the cave and follow your map marker into the swamp. Deal with the Drowners and Water Hag you encounter. Use your Witcher Sense to look for a headstone on the south edge of the search area.

Calm a wild horse using the Axii Sign and mount it

Follow your map to the area indicated. Pull up the Axii Sign , and slowly approach the horses that appear. Hit it with Axii, and then mount it. Ride it back and into the cave.

Start the ritual

You have one last choice here to either go through with the ritual or kill the spirit. If you press on with the ritual, you’ll free the Ghost in the Tree.

Answer 2: “I don’t believe you” (Kill the spirit)

If you choose to kill the Ghost in the Tree, you’ll immediately start a fight and get the objective “ Destroy the heart in the tree’s roots.”

The tree will throw up a magical shield and summon several insect-like Endrega .

Handle the Endrega, and swing away at the Tree’s Heart when the shield drops. You’ll have to repeat that process a couple times.

Tell the ealdorman of Downwarren you took care of the problem

Whichever choice you made, the ealdorman of Downwarren will be nearby outside of the cave. Talk to him, and several scenes will happen in a row — you won’t have to walk anywhere.

You don’t have any more choices, so just navigate through the conversations to the end of “Ladies of the Wood.”

In the next section, we’ll talk about the consequences of the choice you make and give some guidance about which way you should go.

The difference between “I’ll help you” and “I don’t believe you”

Either choice you make will let you successfully complete “Ladies of the Wood.” However, your choice impacts a side quest called “Return to Crookback Bog” (which is itself another offshoot of “Family Matters” ) that happens later in the game.

[ Warning: There are spoilers for “Return to Crookback Bog” below.]

Free the spirit

If you chose to free the spirit, the town of Downwarren will be destroyed when you return later. Later, you will not be able to save the Baron’s wife, Anna. The Baron will not survive either.

Kill the spirit

If you chose to kill the Ghost in the Tree, the town of Downwarren will survive. You might be able to save the Baron’s wife during “Return to Crookback Bog,” and the Baron might also survive. Their survival depends on your choices during that side quest.

Which should you choose?

There’s no clean or tidy outcome for this quest, but the most generally positive solution is to kill the Ghost in the Tree. (There’s an in-game book titled “She Who Knows” that suggests the Ghost in the Tree is the mother of the Crones you meet in “Ladies of the Wood.” The book says that She-Who-Knows is insane and led to “Velen … drowning in blood.” So maybe she’s not worth freeing.)

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All Interactive Maps and Locations

White Orchard Map

Velen & novigrad map, skellige isles map, kaer morhen map, toussaint map, fablesphere map, isle of mists map, the whispering hillock.

The Whispering Hillock is one of the main quests in The Witcher 3 taking place in Velen. This guide covers a full walkthrough of the quest as well as the consequences for choosing to save or kill the tree spirit.

The Whispering Hillock Walkthrough

The quest is embedded within “ Ladies of the Wood ”. The quest can also be done before the event of “Ladies of the Wood” if you so happen to discover the tree first. It involves an evil spirit inside a tree (which might not be so evil after all depending on your point of view). Go inside the cave and dive beneath the roots. Pop back up and walk deeper into the cave. The source of the voice is revealed as a creepy tree spirit.

This quest contains an Important Choice :

The backstory to this quest relating to the Whispering Hillock and the Crones can be read in the in-game book "Ladies of The Wood".

Whispering Hillock Choices and Consequences

Your choice on this quest will have an impact in the side quest “ Return to Crookback Bog " which will determine the fate of Baron and his wife, the orphans of Crookback Bog, and the nearby village of Downwarren. With this quest done, you may continue with "Ladies of the Wood."

PS: If you want to save both Gran (and in turn the Bloody Baron ) and the Whispering Hillock, you must do this quest first before starting the quest “Ladies of the Wood”.

Up Next: Ciri's Story: Fleeing the Bog

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The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Originally posted by Beyuhz : You can bring it the horse and all the other crap and then trick it. No battle and you the quest completes.

Originally posted by Beyuhz : You can bring it the horse and all the other crap and then trick it. No battle and the quest completes.

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Witcher 3 Ladies Of The Wood Guide - Kill Or Free The Spirit?

Should you kill or free the spirit in Ladies of the Wood: The Witcher 3?

The job of a Witcher is never as cut and dry as it seems. Even when hunting monsters in  The Witcher 3 , Geralt will often discover the situation to be far more complex than originally thought, and forced to make a tough moral choice with no clear answer. There's few better examples of this than the  Ladies of the Wood  quest, and your choice of whether or not to  kill or free the spirit . The quest itself isn't a long or difficult one, but the ramifications of your choices will be felt across the game world. No need to toss us a coin, we'll show you all the ways this quest can play out in our  guide  free of charge.

Witcher 3 Ladies Of The Wood

While you're in the middle of the Wander in the Dark quest with Keira, you will receive a special book called Ladies of the Wood, and if you happen to read through its pages you will automatically begin the quest proper. It is part of the main story, so you will eventually need to do this to advance the story.

Related: Witcher 3 Reset Skills - How To Respec Yourself

The beginning of the quest itself is very straightforward. You are essentially just following waypoints and using your Witcher sense to find a shrine and follow the Trail of Treats. You'll encounter a bunch of kids living in a swamp with a...questionable old woman, and be forced to play a game of hide and seek.

You'll need to complete a few steps of quests here with the kids and Johnny before you eventually get the task to figure out what has been killing the Downwarren villagers. Head toward your new waypoint where you will get a new map marker for the Ancient Oak and get attacked by a Werewolf. Take it down and head into the cave leading below the tree.

It's a straight shot under the water to trigger the cutscene with the Ghost in the Tree.

Witcher 3 Ladies Of The Wood Conversation Options

You're immediately asked why you have come to the spirit, and must first make the choice of whether or not you want to free the spirit by choosing "I'll help you" or kill it by selecting "I don't believe you." Both answers have long and rippling consequences for this quest, and many others that will follow.

Free The Spirit

If you choose to help the spirit, you will need to do a few things to free it from its imprisonment. The spirit will ask you to perform a ritual with three items you need to collect: raven feathers, the spirit's bones, and a horse.

You should already have the raven feathers from earlier in the quest when you were helping Johnny recover his voice, which just leaves finding the bones and a horse.

To find the spirit's bones, exit the cave and follow your waypoint back to the swamp. Kill off all the Drowners and the Water Hag here so you can use your Witcher sense to find the headstone you need to search for the bone. You will find it in the Southern edge of the circle on your map.

Next, because there's no way you'd sacrifice Roach, head to the waypoint to get a wild horse. Have your Axii Sign at the ready and cast it one on of the horses. You will be free to mount up and ride it back to the Whispering Hillock.

Once you make it back you're given one last chance to reconsider your choice before performing the ritual, either by tricking the spirit or outright killing it. Choose to carry on with it and the spirit will be freed.

Kill The Spirit

The other option, killing the Spirit, is much easier. Once you decide to do so, a fight will start on the spot between you and the tree monster. It will cast a magical shield around itself and call on Endrega to come fight you. They should pose little threat, so cut them down and then start hacking away at the heart in the three once the shield falls.

It will take a few rounds of this before the fight ends, but isn't terribly difficult.

Report Back To The Ealdorman

Whether you chose to free or kill the spirit, you will need to go back to the Ealdorman of Downwarren to tell him you solved the problem. Depending on what you did, however, his reactions will be quite different.

Witcher 3 Kill Or Spare - Ladies Of The Wood

So, which correct one? Is the spirit telling the truth, or are you better off killing it? In terms of the story, you're able to continue on no matter what, so it will all come down to your personal preference, but here are all the differences that this choice creates.

What Happens When You Free The Spirit?

Freeing the spirit will lead to the spirit taking out its vengeance on the town of Downwarren, which you will find completely destroyed when you return there. Not only that, but it also prevents you from having the possibility of saving Anna, the Bloody Baron's wife, or the Baron himself.

What Happens When You Kill The Spirit?

Killing the spirit will ensure that Downwarren remains intact and goes on with their business, for better or worse. You can also save the Baron and his wife in the quest "Return to Crookback Bog" if you make the correct choices.

While there's no clear "best" choice, you are able to save more lives by choosing to kill the spirit rather than free it, but it is up to you whether or not those lives are actually worth saving.

Next: Witcher 3 Hearts Of Stone - Whatsoever A Man Soweth Guide