Ruffling Some Feathers

Vesemir is where you left him; at the tavern in White Orchard. Inform him of the contract you undertook with the Nilfgaardians. When you are ready to set the trap for the griffin, tell Vesemir this. Then, head to his location on the other side of the stream in the fields just east of White Orchard. Vesemir is finishing the preparation of a sheep dummy. This is a lure to coax the griffin into combat.

The screeching and heavy flapping of wings announces the beast’s arrival. You stifle your conversation with Vesemir, who hands you a crossbow he won in a card game, just before the griffin swoops down to maul you with his talons.

After losing around half its health, the royal griffin takes to the skies and flees to the northwest, heading to the higher pasture around the leaning Mill (signpost). Follow the foe to this location, and deliver your final killing blow.

Vesemir has some constructive criticism regarding your battle style, after which you should inspect the griffin’s corpse, and cut the head off as a trophy. This is all the evidence you need to present to the Nilfgaardians.

Gallop (or Fast Travel) to the Nilfgaardian Garrison, and watch as the officer deals rather drastically with a villager who isn’t providing the grain the officer is expecting. Tell the officer you’ve slain the beast, and he offers you information on Yennefer’s whereabouts, as well as a bag of gold for your troubles. You can:

Take the coin, reasoning it can be put to better use instead of being stored in Nilfgaardian coffers.

Turn down the coin, reasoning you don’t want the gold of a faction with so much innocent blood on its hands.

This quest now concludes.