Precious Cargo

A Mediocre Merchant

Approach the forlorn merchant tending to a damp camp. Shouting for you to come over, he explains he ignored the warnings and became a cropper in the nearby swamp, losing his wares. He’s particularly concerned about a little box, and hopes you can find it for him. Agree to his request and set off down the road to the objective area (northwest).

Use your Witcher Senses and examine the cart tracks that lead off into the swamp. Then wade into the unpleasant water. A few methodical moments later, and you should stumble upon the cart, riddled with arrows. With your senses, inspect the dead horse, and the remains of a merchant—both struck by arrows from a well-aimed bow.

Expect a confrontation with a drowner or two as you inspect the clumps of swamp trees surrounding the ruined cart. The strongbox is under one of these thickets. Loot it. Of course, your detective work has solved the mystery of how the cart left the road. The “merchant” seems to have ambushed the transport and then mislaid its spoils.

A Better Bowman

Head back to the merchant at this point, and decide how you’d like to continue this quest. Your conversation choices are important here. You can:

• Tell him you found his box, hand it over, and receive a small reward of crowns as the quest concludes.
• Tell him you’ve seen through his lies. After an ineffectual attempt to distract you, he flees by horse, and the quest takes a turn for the dramatic. The following objectives now begin:

The merchant is a terrible liar, but an accomplished rider. Race after him, using your gallop and shortcuts along the main road to reach him, before employing sword, crossbow, or bombs to drop him from his horse. Be quick! If you let too much distance come between you and the merchant, and this quest fails, the man has fled!

Continue to follow, and the merchant eventually leads you into a Temerian insurgent camp he is part of (just northeast of the River Crossing signpost). Expect combat with around three bandits and the merchant himself. After everyone is down, it seems the merchant isn’t quite dead.

If you knocked the merchant off his horse, or defeated the insurgents, he reveals his true identity; a private in the Temerian army, who attacked the transport for its medicine. You can:

Return box to the merchant, no questions asked:

Strike a deal with the merchant:

Extort the merchant:

Hand the merchant over to the Nilfgaardian Garrison: