Where There Are Ghouls, There’s Usually Corpses…

The journey to Byways involves a bit of trekking, made easier if you ride Roach westw, and then south around the lake to the western side. Or you may wish to simply swim across the lake (heading southwest). Byways was famous for its brick-making artisans. Now, as you approach, it is infamous for its rotting stench and prowling ghouls. Complete the following:

• Bring your best pointy metal object and thrust it repeatedly into the sagging gray flesh of five ghouls that are stinking up the village.
• Head northwest, towards the new objective area, yelling at the villagers that it is safe to come out. Two nervous men appear, one called Bytomir, telling you the Nilfgaardians plundered the settlement, and the ghouls appeared to run them off. This beggars belief (which you can mention to the peasants).

A more thorough inspection of Byways is called for. Complete the following:

• Use your Witcher Senses on the ground where you fought the ghouls. There are corpses of Nilfgaardian soldiers and their dogs. One shows marks of jaws strong enough to crush armor.
• Another was thrown to the ground with such force, he suffered internal hemorrhaging.
• You then smell the air. Thick with the scent of blood. Follow the stench trail roughly to the structure at the northern edge of Byways. The place is locked.

Bytomir approaches, with more evasive answers. After some light verbal pressuring, he reveals there are elven ruins under the village. Tunnels they scavenge with trinkets to sell. After disturbing a monster, the peasants buried the entrance, but the Nilfgaardians opened it again. You demand the key to the hut, and are given it.