The Witcher 3 - Lilac and Gooseberries, Vesemir, Gwent, Nilfgaardian garrison, Yennefer

This page covers Lilac and Gooseberries, Vesemir, Gwent, Nilfgaardian garrison and Yennefer. If you're looking for more assistance, our Witcher 3 walkthrough can help.

Once you wake on the gloomy, windswept hilltop, you'll begin conversing with Vesemir. Work your way through the dialogue options and, once the conversation is over, prepare to be ambushed by ghouls. Make sure you're wielding your silver sword (as denoted by the silver health bar above the creatures' heads), and begin laying waste to your assailants, using your recently learned combat skills to finish them off nice and quickly.

If you're looking for more assistance, our Witcher 3 walkthrough can help.

Lilac and Gooseberries

With the ghouls dead, you'll be introduced to the topics of Adrenaline points and Vitality regeneration (which can be performed by eating, drinking and - assuming you're on normal or easy difficulty - meditating). You've some food in your consumables slot already, so follow the instructions to restore your health before continuing. Next, summon Roach and mount him.

Find Vesemir and head to the White Orchard inn

Follow Vesemir

When you're safely atop your steed, look for Vesemir on your mini-map and then trot on over. Begin following him along the dusty trail and brush up on the intricacies of horse riding as you go. Eventually, you'll gallop yourself straight into another cutscene. Once the griffin departs, chat to Bram the merchant and learn about the tavern in White Orchard, which can be found a little distance away.

Go to the tavern in White Orchard

Mount your horse, then locate the golden quest marker on your mini-map. This points the way towards White Orchard, so rejoin Vesemir and follow the winding road until you reach the village. Remember that town guards and hired watchmen frown on criminal activities in populated areas, so avoid thievery and violence if you want to escape their ire.

Continue along the dirt path and, as the buildings rise up on either side, look for the inn entrance to your right. Ride on into the yard and watch as Geralt and Vesemir make their introductions inside the tavern. Chat to Elsa the innkeeper when prompted, and then select the conversation marked with a money bag to browse her wares - she can sell you food, items to be used in alchemy, and a number of Gwent Cards. End the conversation whenever you've had your fill of her.

Ask travellers about Yennefer

While Vesemir tends to his wounds, begin working your way around the inn, speaking to the regulars to see if they know the whereabouts of Yennefer. Approach the punters at the table nearest to you (as indicated by the marker on the mini-map) and follow the on-screen prompts to trigger the mind-control dialogue option that uses the Axii Sign.

When the conversation is over, continue on through the tavern until you reach the next occupied table. Begin conversing with the three peasants and work your way through the dialogue options with the scholar until all have been exhausted.

Get your first game of Gwent under your belt

Once you end the conversation, the scholar offers to teach you the rules of the ancient dwarven card game, Gwent. Agree to play and you'll be given a quick introduction to the card-battling mini-game. Play through a couple of rounds to learn the basics and, once the game is over, prepare to interrogate the tavern's last few patrons. Note that you can purchase more Gwent cards by talking to the innkeeper, should you want to challenge the scholar again.

When you're ready, proceed to the last occupied table in the tavern (as marked on the mini-map) and work your way through the dialogue options until you've learned as much as you can regarding Yennefer's whereabouts. With that done, say your farewells and prepare to embark on the next portion of the quest.

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.

Head to the Nilfgaardian garrison to get more information

Make your way outside and speak with the angry villagers waiting in the yard. They attack once the conversation is over, but you can reduce the number of opponents you'll take on simply by selecting the dialogue option marked with the Axii sign during your conversation. Once the battle commences, use your fist-fighting skills to bring your challengers to their knees.

When the coast is clear, mount your horse and follow the dirt trail through the village, heading in the direction indicated by the golden objective marker on your mini-map. Once you leave the village, take a left and follow the sandy bank that winds alongside the river. As you proceed, you'll stumble across a handful of hostile creatures which you can battle should you choose.

Ask the Nilfgaardians about Yennefer

Rejoin the dirt track as you pass by the bridge a little further on, then wind your way around the red brick ruins. These ruins house the Nilfgaardian garrison - your final destination - so make your way along the waterfront towards the spot marked by the objective marker. As you reach the wooden steps leading up the hill, dismount and complete the last leg of your journey on foot.

At the top of the steps, converse with the guards, then pass through the gate into the garrison. The commander rests in the crumbling tower at the far side of the camp. Feel free to stop and chat with the soldiers as you pass by, but don't expect much in the way of scintillating conversation. Once you reach the tower, it's worth taking a moment to talk to the Quartermaster who rests under cover at the foot of the wooden steps. Here you can peruse and purchase a selection of useful items, including a range of beefy swords. You can also repair your wares or craft a number of items here, provided that you have the necessary diagrams and materials.

When you're done browsing, explore the immediate area for ingredients to gather, chests to loot (if you're feeling mischievous) and a mill stone that can be used to enhance your weapons. Once you're done, head up the wooden steps to meet with the Nilfgaardian commander. Work your way through the conversation and, eventually, you'll agree to take on the might of the griffin you encountered earlier, in exchange for more information on Yennefer's whereabouts.

- Keep reading for our guide to finishing The Witcher 3 - The Beast of White Orchard, the next quest in the game.

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