Precarious Climbing

Some light reading is in order, Balstick’s letter. It holds two clues—a “lighthouse” and the tomb of a witcher, said to be somewhere on “Crookback Hills”, and something about a “dragon”. Witcher George’s confession also mentions the same lighthouse. You have this location, and the grave to visit, in either order.

The lighthouse seems to be a great way to see the Pontar River, so why not head there first? Go by river or land to Lornruk, on the northwestern tip of Velen. Approach by land (as shown), and the bridge is up. The drop into the water looks dangerous, and it is (it’s possible to survive, but better to continue along the shore until the slope becomes less treacherous), and then return to the base of the island the lighthouse sits on. Activate another Place of Power here, as well.

Accessing the lighthouse from the land is impossible. However, once you dive from the Place of Power, and inspect the drowner-infested waters just east of the island, you should discover a cave entrance (and a good use for your crossbow—shoot the drowners with it). Swim under, then up, and into a grotto under the island. There’s a treasure chest with a diagram and other booty, but not what you came here for. Find the flat-topped rocks to climb up on, and a stone ladder up to a small storage room with hay mattresses.

Go up the wooden steps to another makeshift barracks, ransacking the place for more diagrams and pages. Then go outside, and turn the bridge wheel to lower the drawbridge. Alas, it is stuck! Now find the ladder just to the right of the door you came from, and climb it. Is that a “glimmering” chest you see before you? Open it, and gather the diagram and crafting notes. The notes makes mention of a one “Master Barnaby of Novigrad.” Continue to loot, then climb back down the ladder.

You’re not done yet. Travel up the exterior wooden spiral steps and into the lighthouse itself. Climb the interior ladders all the way to the floor before the very top. Pause and gather a “glimmering” note—Dobromir’s journal.

Read this for a reference to “Grandpa Amzvary”, and his smithing. Your time at Lornruk is over, so head to the roof and dive off into the water (a possible, but dangerous plan), or retrace your steps.