The Bloody Baron is one of the most memorable characters in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. He is a complex and tragic figure who has a troubled relationship with his wife and daughter. His story can end in different ways, depending on the choices you make throughout the game. In this article, we will show you how to get the best ending for the Bloody Baron, where he takes his wife Anna to be healed and reconciles with his daughter Tamara.
What is the Bloody Baron questline?
The Bloody Baron questline is a series of main and secondary quests that involve Geralt’s search for Ciri in Velen. The questline starts with the quest “The Nilfgaardian Connection”, where Geralt meets the Baron’s men at the Crossroads Inn and learns that he might have some information about Ciri. Geralt then heads to Crow’s Perch, the Baron’s stronghold, and meets the man himself.
The Baron agrees to help Geralt find Ciri, but only if he helps him find his missing wife and daughter first. This leads to the quest “Family Matters”, where Geralt learns that the Baron’s family left him because of his abusive and alcoholic behavior. Geralt also discovers that the Baron’s wife was pregnant when she left, and that she gave birth to a cursed creature called a botchling.
Geralt has two options to deal with the botchling: either kill it and bury it properly, or turn it into a friendly spirit called a lubberkin. The latter option is more humane and beneficial, as the lubberkin can help Geralt locate the Baron’s wife and daughter. However, both options will eventually lead to the same outcome.
The next quest is “Ciri’s Story: The King of Wolves”, where Geralt plays as Ciri and relives her encounter with the Crones of Crookback Bog, three powerful and evil witches who rule over the swamp. Ciri learns that the Crones have captured the Baron’s wife and daughter, and that they plan to sacrifice them to their dark god. Ciri manages to escape, but not before the Crones curse Anna and take her eyes.
The final quest is “Return to Crookback Bog”, where Geralt and the Baron go to rescue Anna and Tamara from the Crones. However, the outcome of this quest depends on whether Geralt has completed another quest before: “The Whispering Hillock”.
What is The Whispering Hillock quest?
The Whispering Hillock is a secondary quest that Geralt can find in the village of Downwarren, near Crookback Bog. The villagers are plagued by a mysterious evil that kills their livestock and children. They believe that the source of the evil is a spirit trapped under a giant tree in the nearby forest. The spirit claims to be a benevolent being that was imprisoned by the Crones, and asks Geralt to free it.
Geralt has three options to deal with the spirit:
- Kill it and lift the curse from the village. This will please the Crones, who will reward Geralt with a magic bone that can summon their servant, a werewolf named Wham-a-Wham.
- Free it and let it possess a black horse. This will anger the Crones, who will punish Geralt by taking away the magic bone and sending Wham-a-Wham to attack him. However, the spirit will also help Geralt by saving the orphans from the nearby orphanage, who were destined to be eaten by the Crones.
- Ignore it and leave it alone. This will have no immediate consequences, but the spirit will remain trapped and the village will continue to suffer.
How does The Whispering Hillock quest affect the Bloody Baron questline?
The Whispering Hillock quest has a major impact on the fate of the Baron’s wife and daughter. Depending on whether Geralt has freed or killed the spirit, the outcome of the Return to Crookback Bog quest will be different.
- If Geralt has freed the spirit, he will find that the orphans from the orphanage have been saved and taken to Novigrad by the spirit. However, the Crones will have taken their revenge on Anna, who will be turned into a water hag. Geralt and the Baron will be able to break the curse, but Anna will die from the shock. The Baron will be devastated and hang himself from a tree in Crow’s Perch. Tamara will join the witch hunters and vow to hunt down the Crones.
- If Geralt has killed the spirit, he will find that the orphans from the orphanage have been devoured by the Crones. However, Anna will still be alive, albeit blind and insane. Geralt and the Baron will be able to break the curse, but Anna will need further treatment. The Baron will decide to take Anna to a healer in the Blue Mountains, and ask Geralt to look after his subjects in Crow’s Perch. Tamara will agree to go with her parents, but only after Geralt convinces her that the Baron has changed.
How to get Bloody Baron Best Ending
As you can see, the best ending for the Bloody Baron is the one where he takes Anna to be healed and reconciles with Tamara. To get this ending, you need to follow these steps:
- Turn the botchling into a lubberkin in the Family Matters quest. This will make the Baron more sympathetic and remorseful, and also give you a helpful ally in the lubberkin.
- Kill the spirit under the tree in The Whispering Hillock quest. This will prevent the Crones from turning Anna into a water hag, and also give you a magic bone that can summon Wham-a-Wham, who can distract the Crones during the final fight.
- Convince Tamara to go with her parents in the Return to Crookback Bog quest. This will require some persuasion and empathy, and also depends on whether you have completed the secondary quest “A Princess in Distress”, where you rescue Tamara’s pet goat, Princess.
If you follow these steps, you will get the best ending for the Bloody Baron, where he leaves Velen with his wife and daughter, and entrusts Crow’s Perch to Geralt. You will also get a letter from the Baron later in the game, where he informs you that Anna is recovering and that they have found peace in the mountains.
FAQ
Q: Who is the Bloody Baron in The Witcher 3?
A: The Bloody Baron is Phillip Strenger, a former soldier and warlord who rules over the region of Velen. He is a violent and alcoholic man who abused his wife and daughter, but also has a softer side and regrets his actions.
Q: What is the worst ending for the Bloody Baron?
A: The worst ending for the Bloody Baron is the one where he commits suicide after his wife dies from the curse. This ending happens if you free the spirit under the tree in The Whispering Hillock quest, and then complete the Return to Crookback Bog quest.
Q: Can you save both the orphans and Anna in The Witcher 3?
A: No, you cannot save both the orphans and Anna in The Witcher 3. You have to choose between freeing or killing the spirit under the tree in The Whispering Hillock quest, which will determine the fate of the orphans and Anna. If you free the spirit, the orphans will be saved but Anna will die. If you kill the spirit, the orphans will die but Anna will live.
Q: Can you romance the Bloody Baron’s daughter in The Witcher 3?
A: No, you cannot romance the Bloody Baron’s daughter in The Witcher 3. Tamara is not a romance option for Geralt, and she will either join the witch hunters or go with her parents, depending on your choices.