The Nilfgaardian Connection is one of the main quests in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and the first quest in Act I. It is part of the larger questline of In Ciri’s Footsteps, where Geralt of Rivia is searching for his adopted daughter Ciri, who is being hunted by the mysterious Wild Hunt. In this quest, Geralt travels to the war-torn region of Velen, also known as No Man’s Land, to find a Nilfgaardian spy named Hendrik, who might have some information on Ciri’s whereabouts. However, things are not as simple as they seem, and Geralt will have to face many dangers and challenges along the way.
In this article, we will provide you with a detailed walkthrough of The Nilfgaardian Connection quest, including the objectives, rewards, tips, and strategies for completing it. We will also answer some frequently asked questions about the quest and its related topics. By the end of this article, you will have a clear understanding of how to complete The Nilfgaardian Connection quest and progress in your search for Ciri.
How to Start The Nilfgaardian Connection Quest
The Nilfgaardian Connection quest starts automatically after you finish the previous main quest, Imperial Audience, where Geralt meets Emperor Emhyr var Emreis of Nilfgaard and his sorceress advisor Yennefer of Vengerberg in the royal palace of Vizima. After Yennefer shares the results of her investigation with Geralt, she tells him to go to Velen, where Ciri was last seen. Geralt then collects his belongings and heads to the front door of the palace, where he can fast travel to Velen at the Hanged Man’s Tree.
As soon as Geralt arrives in Velen, he will notice the grim atmosphere of the region, which is plagued by war, famine, disease, and monsters. He will also see a large tree with several corpses hanging from it, which serves as a warning sign for anyone who dares to enter the land. Geralt will then receive a new objective: go to the Inn at the Crossroads.
The Nilfgaardian Connection Walkthrough
The Nilfgaardian Connection quest consists of three main objectives: go to the Inn at the Crossroads, ask about Hendrik, and look for Hendrik in Heatherton. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to complete each objective and what to expect along the way.
Go to the Inn at the Crossroads
The Inn at the Crossroads is located west of the Hanged Man’s Tree, across the river. You can either follow the road or take a shortcut through the woods, but be careful of the enemies and traps that might lurk in the area. Along the way, you might also encounter some side quests that you can choose to do or ignore, such as Funeral Pyres and At the Mercy of Strangers.
When you reach the inn, you will see a signpost outside, where you can save your game and fast travel to other locations. You will also see some horses and a merchant that you can interact with. Enter the inn and approach the innkeeper, who is standing behind the counter. He will greet you and offer you a drink, but he will also be wary of your intentions. You will then have to ask him about Hendrik, the Nilfgaardian spy that you are looking for.
Ask about Hendrik
The innkeeper will not be very helpful at first, and he will try to avoid answering your questions. He will tell you that he does not know anyone named Hendrik, and that he does not like to talk about politics or war. He will also warn you that you are not welcome in Velen, and that you should leave as soon as possible. You will then have to persuade him to tell you the truth, either by using your charm, your coin, or your force.
You will have three dialogue options to choose from, each with a different outcome and consequence. Here are the options and their results:
- Charm: You can use your Axii sign to influence the innkeeper’s mind and make him reveal Hendrik’s location. This option requires a level 2 Axii Delusion skill, which you can unlock in the character menu. If you succeed, the innkeeper will tell you that Hendrik lives in a village called Heatherton, which is west of the inn. He will also give you a discount on his goods and services. However, this option will also cost you some experience points, as using Axii on humans is considered unethical by some.
- Coin: You can bribe the innkeeper with some crowns to make him talk. This option requires you to pay 35 crowns, which is not a lot, but it might be hard to come by in the early stages of the game. If you pay, the innkeeper will tell you the same information as the charm option, but he will not give you a discount. He will also warn you that Hendrik might be dead, as the Wild Hunt has been seen in the area recently.
- Force: You can threaten the innkeeper with violence to make him spill the beans. This option does not require any skill or money, but it will have some negative consequences. If you choose this option, the innkeeper will tell you that Hendrik lives in a hut near the village of Heatherton, which is slightly different from the other options. He will also tell you that Hendrik is a Nilfgaardian agent, and that he has a secret cellar where he keeps his documents. However, this option will also trigger a fight with some of the Bloody Baron’s men, who are loyal to the local warlord and do not like strangers. You will have to defeat them in combat, either inside or outside the inn, depending on your actions. This option will also make the innkeeper angry and scared, and he will refuse to trade with you or talk to you again. Furthermore, this option will affect the next main quest, Bloody Baron, as the guards at the Baron’s fort will not let you enter without a fight or a bribe.
After you get the information from the innkeeper, you will have to leave the inn and head to Heatherton, where Hendrik is supposed to be. You will also receive a new objective: look for Hendrik in Heatherton.
Look for Hendrik in Heatherton
Heatherton is a small village located west of the Inn at the Crossroads, across the river. You can either follow the road or take a shortcut through the woods, but be careful of the enemies and traps that might lurk in the area. Along the way, you might also encounter some side quests that you can choose to do or ignore, such as Wild at Heart and The Fall of the House of Reardon.
When you reach Heatherton, you will notice that the village is deserted and covered in snow and fog. You will also hear a man crying for help and some rabid dogs attacking him. You will have to kill the dogs and talk to the man, who is a survivor of the Wild Hunt’s attack. He will tell you that the Wild Hunt came to the village and killed everyone, except for him and a few others who managed to escape. He will also tell you that Hendrik was one of the victims, and that his body is still in his hut. He will then point you to the hut, which is the third one along the southern end of the village.
Enter the hut and use your Witcher Senses to investigate the scene. You will see Hendrik’s corpse on the floor, which is mutilated and frozen. You will have to examine his body and find a key in his boot. You will also see a rug in the other room, which is covering a hatch in the floor. You will have to remove the rug and use the key to unlock the hatch. You will then have to go down to the cellar, where Hendrik kept his secret documents.
In the cellar, you will see a path leading to a hidden door on the right-hand wall. You will have to use your Witcher Senses to find a candle that you can activate. The candle is actually a secret lever that opens the hidden door. Behind the door, you will find a ledger that contains Hendrik’s notes on Ciri and her pursuers. You will have to read all parts of the ledger to gain new leads on Ciri’s whereabouts. You will also receive two new main quests: Bloody Baron and Hunting a Witch. These quests will take you to different locations in Velen, where you will have to follow Ciri’s trail and find out what happened to her.
How to End The Nilfgaardian Connection Quest
The Nilfgaardian Connection quest will end automatically after you read Hendrik’s ledger and receive the new quests. You will also receive 100 experience points as a reward. You can then choose which quest to do next, or explore the region of Velen for more side quests and activities. You can also fast travel back to the Inn at the Crossroads, where you can rest, trade, or play gwent.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Nilfgaardian Connection Quest
Here are some of the most common questions that players have about The Nilfgaardian Connection quest and their answers.
Q: Who is Hendrik and why is he important?
A: Hendrik is a Nilfgaardian spy who was sent by Emperor Emhyr to Velen to gather information on Ciri and the Wild Hunt. He was one of the few people who had some clues on Ciri’s location and activities, and he recorded them in his secret ledger. Unfortunately, he was killed by the Wild Hunt before Geralt could reach him, and his village was destroyed. Geralt managed to find his ledger and learn more about Ciri’s trail, which led him to two different places in Velen: Crow’s Perch and Midcopse. Hendrik is important because he provides Geralt with new leads and quests to find Ciri.