When you get onto the more dramatic part of the Witcher 3’s main storyline in Novigrad, Geralt has some unlikely tasks ahead. The tasks involve getting a performing group up to speed, which plays a part with some important characters later down the line. To get you through this, and to determine the best choice for your campaign, we have made this The Plays the Thing Walkthrough to accompany you.

The Plays the Thing Walkthrough (Level 11)¶

Alright, you’ve cleared enough side-quests in Novigrad for now, it’s time to get back to work on the matter at hand - rescuing Dandelion. Head to the Kingfisher and talk to Priscilla about Dudu, which will end with Geralt agreeing to do another task he’s not really suited for. Discuss the direction of this enterprise with Priscilla and make the only the only decision that matters; is the play going to be a drama or a comedy… and even then, it only matters so much. After Priscilla writes up the script, you’ll be sent off on a task that you’re actually somewhat suited for - delivering the script to one “Irina Renarde”.

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Geralt "helps" Priscilla write a play (left) then heads off to hire Irina's acting troupe (right).

Leave the Kingfisher and return to Hierarch Square, from which head to the road running along the southern end of the square and follow it east, turning south at the first opportunity. Head up to a door, near which a Ticket Seller has set up shop, and will charge your 50 Crowns to get inside. Pay the extortionate rate and head inside to find - and talk to - Irina, who will tell you about more steps you need to take. Joy. Oh well… if you can’t do the creative, at least help with the organization.

The Puffins Problem¶

Let’s start out with the closer of the two objectives; the jugglers from the Puffins, who are holed up in a house just north of where Triss used to live. Head back out the way you came and from the door leading to the theater, and from there make your way down a street to the east, ignoring the Preacher bad-mouthing Witchers. From this mob head up the road to the north - the first road north that’s east of Hierarch square - then take the first right, and continue north-east through an arch, around a building and past some stairs to reach the building where the Puffin’s dwell.

Once you enter the building you’ll be rudely greeted by the troupe, who assume you’re another thug looking to take coin they don’t have. Seems the cult of the Eternal Fire doesn’t have a sense of humor and took offense at one of their performances. Religious folk without a sense of humor? Say it ain’t so! Agree to drive off the church’s thugs in exchange for their services.

Leave the Puffin’s house and head east, where you’ll find a group of Bandits loitering about. After they say some nasty things about your heritage, you can either pick a fight with them (kill one of them and the others will leave), pay them to go away (50 Crowns… except they don’t leave), or use the Axii Sign on them… except it only works on one of them, and the other two attack you. Yeah, you have to get your sword dirty no matter what. Once you drive the thugs off the Puffins will thank you and promise to live up to their end of the bargain.

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Confront some thugs harassing the Puffins to gain their services (left) then either pay, or bet on your prowess as a pugilist, to gain some protection for your performance (right).

Hiring Muscle¶

Travel to the western edge of the docks district, where you’ll find a group of rowdy seamen. Heh. Talk to a muscle-bound ruffian named Sofus the Bull and listen to him talk about his dubious credentials, then either offer to box him or just pay him 70 Crowns for the job. If you do the former, they’ll instead decide to box you; if you win against two of them, they do the job for free, if they win, you pay them double. Whatever you do, get their services and return to Irina.

The Play’s the Thing Best Choice: Who to Cast?¶

When you talk to Irina you’ve got one last thing to do before the play begins; iron out the final details of the play by choosing the actors. If you pick Priscilla and Aleblard to be the leads, you’ll get the most Crowns afterwards, but otherwise the choice is cosmetic. After the decisions are made the play will begin, where you’ll get a number of timed responses-your responses determine, to a degree, how much experience you’ll earn at the end of the play… otherwise, it doesn’t matter much.

The correct dialogue options are, in order “To slay beasts most foul…”, “Perhaps ’midst the guests…”, “Seems men’s hearts…”, “But a base heart…” and “No monster is he…” Respond correctly and, if you decided to throw a drama, some unenlightened cultists will decide take offense at the subject matter. Put down the Bandits (levels nine and ten) to resolve the matter. If you put on a comedy, only one of the cultists will get upset, and his buddy will tell him to chill out.

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Make some timed decisions during the play to give a performance of varying quality (left). Whatever your competence, the play lures out the Doppler, Dudu (right).

Either way, you recover Dudu, who chats with you once you’re safely away from the stage. Ask about Ciri and convince him to help you rescue Dandelion, which he’ll agree to do-reluctantly. Afterwards Geralt will talk to Irina, who will praise or critique you according to your performance, and give you monetary (and experience) rewards, presumably based on the play’s gate. You’ll earn the most money if you picked Aleblard and Priscilla as actors, and you didn’t flub any of your lines.