Bantering with the Baron's Boys

• Main Quest: The Nilfgaardian Connection, and commence the Main Quests across Velen (No Man’s Land) (this quest).
• Main Quest: Pyres of Novigrad, and commence the Main Quests across Novigrad.
• Main Quest: Destination: Skellige, and commence the Main Quests across Skellige.

Velen has been hardest hit in the recent wars, as is evidenced from the corpses swaying from the tree you pass, and the burned-out dwellings you witness as you follow the path through the hamlet of Mulbrydale. Continue on a roughly westerly direction to the river’s edge, north to a ford, and across and up the hillock into the wooden-walled Inn at the Crossroads. Dismount at the inn’s threshold, and enter.

You can have a natter at the two peasants sitting near the entrance, but you get little except a worried husband and scolding wife. Speak to the innkeep, ordering a drink until the peasants scarper, and some well-armored company saunters in, offering little but verbal offense against your kind. You can:

Tell them to back off or die, and start a pitched battle with the Baron’s men. Slay the three in the bar, then take the fight outside to a couple more henchmen near their horses.

Tell them you’re a witcher, offering some verbal put-downs, but ending the conversation without unsheathing your blade.

Ask if the men would care for a drink, and pay for their alcohol. This civility is likely to pay dividends down the road.

Conclude your chat with the innkeep, who explains where Hendrik is (Heatherton), what he’s doing (shacked up with a widow) and his demeanor (he keeps to himself).