Ah, the Witcher 3. A realm of monster slaying and Gwent addiction. Choices here test your moral com. A prime example of this is Velen, especially at Whispering Hillock. You encounter a talking tree. Decisions here affect peasants, nobles, and tree spirits. Let us explore this quest and the Crones’ dark fairy tale.
The Whispering Hillock: A Trio of Terrible Choices
Trekking through Velen, you find the Whispering Hillock quest. A voice from a tree? Standard Witcher fare. But this is unique. A spirit trapped and angry, it seeks a deal. Or perhaps a Witcher wanting to get paid.
Geralt, ever practical, faces uneventful choices. None suggest a blissful end. You face three bad options: release the spirit, deceive it, or kill it. Let’s explore these scenarios.
Option 1: Unleash the Spirit – Chaos Ensues
Releasing the spirit sounds noble, right? “Set free!” you think. But this is the Witcher world. Good intentions often lead to misery. Uncorking this supernatural bottle brings serious fallout. Two distinct outcomes depend on your timing.
Timeline A: Freedom Before Crones – Village Goes Boom, Anna Goes Hag
Imagine you are proactive. You find the Whispering Hillock before meeting the Crones. In your wisdom, you decide to free the entity. A grave mistake. The spirit, once free, is a vengeful force.
Downwarren, a quaint village, suffers dearly. Villagers are massacred. Anna, the Baron’s wife, is also caught in the chaos. The Crones are unhappy with your impulsive action. They decide to punish Anna by transforming her into a water hag.
The Baron, in a rare moment of good parenting, tries to save Anna. He takes her to a healer, grasping at hope. So, you’ve freed a spirit, harmed a village, and cursed Anna. Witchering at its finest!
Timeline B: Freedom After Crones – Orphans to Novigrad, Spirit Still Kind of Grumpy
What if you, being cautious, talked with the Crones first? This changes things. If you free the spirit after your meeting with them, the spirit is still free but with a different approach. Instead of vengeance on the village, it focuses on orphans.
This spirit performs a twisted act of goodness. It saves the children from the Crones. With surprising awareness, it arranges for the orphans to go to Marabella in Novigrad. Marabella is the kind woman running the orphanage. You saved the kids, at least.
Still, don’t expect praise. The spirit is free and still causes trouble in the woods. Anna remains linked to the Crones’ displeasure, but immediate disaster is averted in this scenario. It’s less catastrophic, more regionally problematic.
Option 2: Trick the Spirit – Black Beauty Edition
Feeling clever? Think you can outsmart an ancient spirit? You can try to trick it. This requires cunning and some horse whispering? If you choose the trickster path, Geralt performs a ritual to free the spirit.
But plot twist! Instead of letting it roam free, you guide its essence into… a horse. Yes, the vengeful spirit becomes a horse. Not just any horse, but a darkly enchanting horse. A slightly haunted, but rideable steed.
This is a creative solution. You avoid a massacre and don’t kill the spirit, all while obtaining a cool horse. It’s turning trouble into triumph, if that trouble was a spirit. Long-term consequences of having a spirit-possessed horse? Unclear. But at least you didn’t doom anyone.
Option 3: Kill the Spirit – Crones Get Their Snacks, Anna Gets… Worse
Sometimes, you must become a monster slayer. You choose the direct approach: kill the spirit. No riddles, just pure Witcher steel and maybe Igni for good measure. If you eliminate this threat, you avoid immediate catastrophe.
But the orphans? Without the spirit, the Crones proceed with their sinister plans. The children become part of their ghastly cuisine. Grim indeed. Anna doesn’t become a water hag, but her fate is equally bleak. The Crones’ influence drives her to madness. She survives, but her mind isn’t healthy.
The Unsavory Truth: No Happy Endings Here
Let’s be honest: there’s no good choice in the Whispering Hillock quest. It’s a lesson in Witcher ethics – dark gray areas all around. You can’t save everyone. You can’t free the orphans and help Anna at once. The game immerses you in a moral sinkhole.
Whether you unleash chaos, trick it into horse form, or murder it, someone suffers. Villagers, orphans, Anna, and the Baron become pawns in this macabre supernatural game. Welcome to the Witcher 3, where even saving the day feels like failure.
The Crones of Crookback Bog: Evil Incarnate (and Hungry)
Speaking of characters, let’s discuss the Crones. Brewess, Whispess, and Weavess – names like a children’s rhyme but personalities from nightmares. Are they evil? Without a doubt, the Crones are evil. They embody ancient malice, cruelty personified.
They run Crookback Bog like an unpleasant daycare. These are not standard wicked witches. They are ancient beings steeped in dark magic and macabre desires. They thrive on villagers’ desperation and ignorance. They offer “protection” and “blessings” in return for… children.
Masters of Manipulation and Deception
The Crones manipulate villagers expertly. They thrive on their fears and hopes. They perform a yearly “sabbath” where villagers horrifically send their children to them. Villagers are
led to believe that these children return with “special powers.” The truth is far more dreadful. The Crones do not give anyone powers, unless “being digested” counts as one.
Their cruelty goes beyond snatching children. They enjoy inflicting pain and relishing in the suffering of others. when they sent Geralt to kill their own mother? Family values are not their forte. They manipulate people, create chaos, and generally make Velen seem cheerful by comparison. (Note: Sarcasm heavily implied.)
Their Just Desserts (Sort Of)
Fortunately, these dreadful beings face consequences. In a satisfying display of combat prowess, Ciri confronts two of the Crones – Brewess and Whispess – and wins. It’s cathartic to see these misery makers finally get a taste of their own medicine. But the third Crone, Weavess, escapes with Vesemir’s medallion like a nasty souvenir. Two are down, one remains at large, likely plotting more chaos in the bog. Maybe DLC material?
Anna and the Baron: A Tragedy in Several Acts
The story of Anna and the Baron connects deeply with the Crones and the Whispering Hillock, a tragic tale of poor choices, curses, and immense Velenian despair. Anna, the Baron’s wife, is crucial to this grim tale, her fate pinned on Geralt’s choices and the whims of ancient, hungry hags.
Saving Anna? Define “Saving.”
Can you “save” Anna? Technically, yes. But “saving” in Witcher 3 often comes with caveats and existential dread. If you free the spirit before confronting the Crones, Anna becomes a water hag. Not quite a vacation destination. Even if the Baron seeks a healer, her change serves as a stark reminder of consequences. , you can’t save Anna happily while also rescuing orphans perfectly. It’s a harsh either/or scenario.
The Hollyhock Doll: A Glimmer of Hope (and Sanity)
Within the Baron’s questline, a crucial moment involves dolls. Yes, dolls. Witcher contracts and… doll selection. Welcome to the Continent. When trying to lift the curse on Anna, you face a doll choice. Choose poorly, and consequences worsen. Choose correctly – the Hollyhock bloom doll – and hope shines briefly. Selecting this doll is vital for lifting the curse and restoring Anna’s human form. It’s one rare moment of good news in this bleak narrative.
Endings: From Bad to Catastrophic
Even with the “best” doll choice, Anna’s journey is still grim. Possible outcomes for Anna stretch from “tragic” to “soul-crushing.” She may return to human form but stay mentally scarred, sanity shattered by her ordeal. She might also become a water hag permanently, lost to the bog forever. In the bleakest scenario, she could die, a victim of the Crones’ malice and the fallout from Geralt’s decisions or inaction.
And the Baron? His fate ties closely to Anna’s. If Anna’s end is dire – say, water hag forever or outright death – the Baron usually descends into despair, sometimes ending in suicide. If Anna “survives” but remains unwell, the Baron may leave, taking her to a healer to salvage their lives. It’s a tale of loss, regret, and the devastating aftermath of choices made in a world devoid of happy endings.
The Spirit in the Tree: Mother Knows Best (or Worst)
Let’s return to the spirit trapped in the Whispering Hillock. Who exactly is this entity? While never clearly stated in-game, strong hints suggest this spirit is likely the mother of the Crones. Yes, those delightful hags have a mommy dearest, and she is a tree spirit seeking vengeance.
Not Evil, Just… Wildly Chaotic
Despite villagers’ fears and Crones’ schemes, the tree spirit isn’t inherently “evil.” She is more… neutral. Consider her a force of nature, wild and unpredictable. She embodies the chaos of nature, unbound by human morals or societal norms. The “Black Stallion” form – the spirit’s favored embodiment when unleashed – emphasizes this wild nature. She isn’t malicious in the Cronish way; she’s simply… chaotic and can cause collateral damage when awakened.
Her actions, whether saving orphans or destroying villages, arise from this chaotic essence, not from a desire to cause harm (unless you consider the Downwarren incident). She’s a powerful presence, reminding us that supernatural entities often resist easy categorizations into “good” or “evil.” Sometimes, they are merely forces of nature, which can behave in very unpleasant ways.
Moral Mazes: Navigating the Gray Areas of the Witcher 3
The Whispering Hillock quest and its surrounding story embody the moral ambiguity that defines the Witcher 3. There are no clear “good” or “evil” paths, just a range of poor choices and various unpleasant repercussions. It’s a world of “lesser evils,” where every decision feels like picking between different shades of moral compromises.
Embracing the Moral Quagmire
Forget black-and-white morality. The Witcher 3 excels in gray areas, compelling you to confront choices lacking straightforward answers. The Whispering Hillock quest exemplifies this dilemma. Do you prioritize villagers of Downwarren? The orphans? Anna’s sanity? The trapped spirit’s freedom? Each choice has consequences, and none lead to a universally “good” outcome. It’s a masterclass in morally ambiguous storytelling, forcing you to grapple with actions’ impacts long after closing the quest log.
The Illusion of “Evil” Decisions
While no clear “evil path” exists, some choices veer into morally questionable territory. Freeing the tree spirit, particularly in scenarios where it destroys Downwarren, can seem distinctly “evil.” The immense devastation and loss of innocent lives are hard to overlook. Yet, even that “evil” choice arises from a desire to assist the spirit. It’s a twisted good intention gone horribly wrong, illustrating how well-meaning actions may lead to more Velenian misery.
The Witcher 3 centers not on choosing good over evil. It explores navigating complexity, confronting difficult decisions, and dealing with inevitable consequences. It’s about making the best out of dire situations, accepting gray shades, and living with your choices in a world that seldom delivers easy answers.
The Wild Hunt: Spectral Raiders from Another World
While the Crones and Velen’s spirits are suitably eerie, let’s the principal antagonists of Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt. These spectral riders, led by formidable Eredin Bréacc Glas, represent more than ghostly riders. They are interdimensional raiders with sinister goals.
Aen Elle Elves: Red Riders of the Apocalypse
The Wild Hunt aren’t random ghosts; they are of Aen Elle elves, an elven race from another realm. To the Aen Elle, they are known as Red Riders, a name invoking fear and destruction. In our world, they take the form of a spectral cavalry bringing winter, war, and general discontent.
Slave Raiders with a Ciri Obsession
Their goal? Less about ruling kingdoms and more about… capturing slaves. The Wild Hunt plunders other worlds not for land but to seize slaves for their waning homeland. Their prime target? Those with Elder Blood, a rare lineage enabling interdimensional travel. Sound familiar? Yes, Ciri tops their “must-capture” list.
Ciri, possessing Elder Blood and immense power, holds the key to the Wild Hunt’s ability to shift between worlds and potentially save their declining civilization. Thus their relentless pursuit throughout Witcher 3. They are not merely monsters; they are desperate, ruthless beings bent on interdimensional domination (and enslavement).
Spirit of the North: A Different Kind of Spirit Journey (Game Interlude)
Switching gears slightly, let’s briefly touch upon “Spirit of
“Spirit of the North” is a striking indie game. It shares themes of the Witcher 3 discussion. They are not narratively linked. Yet, it contrasts views on spirits and nature.
Visuals and Gameplay
The game looks beautiful. Its landscapes captivate players with vibrant arctic visuals. However, the gameplay falls short. It lacks innovative mechanics or deep storytelling. The focus lies on a scenic experience, resembling a walking simulator mixed with puzzles.
Adventures Similar to Stray
If you liked “Stray,” you may enjoy “Spirit of the North.” This game is a third-person adventure. Exploration and atmosphere create the main focus. Instead of a cyberpunk cat, you control an arctic fox. The adventure is shorter too. The main objectives can be completed in about 5 hours. Completionists may find around 8 hours of content to explore. It offers beauty but lacks narrative depth, especially compared to Witcher 3.
Witcher 3 Skill Tree Basics
Now let’s return to Witcher 3 and its mechanics. The skill tree is essential. It helps in character progression within the game.
Combat Skills Organized
Geralt’s skills fit into a color-coded tree. Each branch has its own focus. Combat skills are red and improve swordplay. Sign skills are blue and enhance magical powers. Alchemy skills are green, aiding potion brewing and bomb crafting. General skills, marked brown, provide utility bonuses and buffs. Navigating this tree tailors Geralt’s style, be it combat-focused or alchemical.
Witcher Insights: Trees and Trolls
Here are some various tidbits from the Witcher universe.
Tree of Life in Games
The “Tree of Life” symbolizes many ideas in games. It represents life and connections among living things. In several titles, it appears as a power source or healing point. This motif resonates across different genres.
Cautionary Troll Tales
A final note for future Witchers: watch for trolls. In “The Final Trial,” don’t trust trolls with your swords. If you hand over your blades, they may betray you. You become weaponless against a troll’s attack. This humorous lesson warns not to trust trolls. Always keep weapons close in the Continent’s wilds. You might face a tree spirit, hungry hags, or sword-stealing trolls.
