With no way out (walls of water prevent you from leaving), your final test is against the Hermit. Win, and the sword he guards is yours. Lose, and you cannot claim this weapon and must try again.
Defeating the Hermit of Lac Celavy: The Hermit’s Attacks
Blue Staff Attack: At close combat range, the hermit employs his wooden staff with glowing blue gem as a physical weapon. He employs quick single strikes to the left and right, single heavy overhead strikes, as well as multiple rapid strikes. Simply parry and counter or dodge these close range attempts to hit you, as you would a normal opponent’s strikes.
Vanish in the Mist (Defensive): He may avoid combat , or move to another part of the lake by simply vanishing in a column of water, only to appear a few moments later; usually to begin conjuring a water tornado. Simply scan the area until you see him again, rolling or dodging away if you’re in the path of a large-scale attack.
Vanish in the Mist (Offensive): Sometimes, after vanishing the hermit appears extremely close to you, conjures a water spout or uses his staff, and can stagger you, so be prepared for this.
Invisibility: Occasionally, (and usually if you’ve struck him a few times), the Hermit simply blinks out of existence, with only his blue glowing staff orb showing. Simply look for that, and launch a ranged attack to coax him back to show himself.
Water Bolt: With his left hand outstretched, he pushes a bolt of water forward to strike you almost instantly, like a snowball. This projectile doesn’t deal heavy damage, but it is fast. It can be parried or dodged. After the bolt, he sometimes summons one or two ground waves that splash in a circular target; dodge both of them.
Water Vortex (Horizontal): A more pronounced version of the bolt, the Hermit launches a twisting column of water directly out from his staff, in a long cylindrical attack that can knock you back or stagger you. Dodge left or right of it. If cast at close range, this pushes you back and staggers you.
Tornado Storm: The Hermit’s most impressive attack is when he whips up the water surrounding him into a maelstrom of vapor and slowly walks toward you inside this raging storm. There’s little to do except get out of the way here (dodging is better than running as the storm sucks you in and heavily damages you), and follow up with a ranged attack (or Igni) after the storm dissipates, and the Hermit is recovering.
Hermit Vulnerabilities
Defeating the Hermit of Lac Celavy: The Best Battle Tactics
This fellow, much like the Ofieri Mage you may have encountered during Hearts of Stone Main Quest: Evil’s First Soft Touches is an extremely dangerous and competent foe, and becomes more potent at longer distances. Close the distance between you both, so fewer large-scale attacks can be launched by him.
When you can easily leap in with a sword strike, employ Aard or Axii to temporarily stagger and incapacitate him, and immediately strike with two or three fast attacks, or a single, nasty strong attack (like Rend). Then retreat (roll or dodge) before you’re caught by him reacting.
Axii and Aard are also excellent for interrupting the Hermit at range, before he launches one of his spectacularly-brutal water conjuring attacks. Axii is better, as it flummoxes the Hermit no matter what the range.
You can repeat this technique for as long as you can cast Aard or Axii (before needing to rest your Signs ), and catch him in a continual “stagger loop” where you cast Aard or Axii, leap in and strike with your sword, then cast again. Igni also works to a lesser extent. Continue with this “attrition” plan, and don’t get too greedy with the sword strikes!
Once the Hermit succumbs to your superior sword and Sign play, the walls of water surrounding you vanish, and the Hermit slowly descends into the lake. A soothing woman’s voice speaks to you, holding the Aerondight sword aloft above the water. ’Tis the Lady of the Lake, whom you met long ago. Perhaps you’ll keep her sword safe this time?
The silver sword is left floating above the water for you to take. After gathering this fabled relic, you fall into the lake, but the dip is worth it; this weapon charges up for each successful hit you inflict, until it becomes fully loaded, and always deals critical hit damage. This quest now concludes.
Items: Silver Sword (Relic): Aerondight
