Missing in Action

A Blind Man Leading a Cripple

Dune sits dejected, talking to his brother’s dog, Hussar. Brother Bastien was a soldier who fought the Black Ones just outside the village. Agree to help Dune find his brother, and follow him as he runs under the hanging tree, and takes the path roughly northward past Crossroads, to the site of a recent battle. Speak to Dune again, and he explains the recruits from White Orchard painted a small flower on his brother’s shield—this should aid you in your grim search.

Wade down into the Objective Area and study the corpse-strewn field using your Witcher Senses. You soon come across a shield, but it belongs to another villager. Methodically inspect each shield you come across, moving across the fetid landscape, and dealing with around four ghouls who prowl for morsels of fallen flesh.

A burned corpse lies in the lonely southwest corner of the battle field. The shield matches Bastien’s, but the corpse isn’t as broad-shouldered. Bastien is close though, as Hussar picks up his master’s scent.

Use your Witcher’s Senses and follow the footprints through the undergrowth, optionally pausing to examine the trail as you go. The trail leads you to an overgrown cabin where you’re surprised to discover Bastien (badly wounded but still alive) speaking with a Nilfgaardian deserter named Rhosyn. Dune is surprised at this turn of events, but knows he can’t simply leave the Nilfgaardian deserter to his own kind. It falls to you to administer final judgement upon Bastien’s rescuer. You can:

• Agree with Dune that leaving Rhosyn alive is too risky, and abandon the soldier.
• Agree with Bastien and show some nordling leniency, keeping Rhosyn alive.

Twelve hours later, Dune, Hussar, Bastien (and optionally Rhosyn) have moved into a small farm south of White Orchard, together with Dune’s wife, Liesje.

If you ignored this quest and travelled to Vizima, Rhosyn and Bastien both die of starvation. Their corpses can be found in the overgrown cabin.