King's Gambit

SecondarySkellige

A Skellige saying holds that at a good feast, blood and mead flow in equal measure. Sadly, it seems someone took the saying literally and orchestrated a terrible massacre during the banquet at Kaer Trolde. Between the third and fourth courses of roast ram, massive, enraged bears suddenly appeared amidst the merrymakers. Before the hooch-dazed warriors could draw their weapons, the animals tore dozens of guests to shreds, including most of the claimants to the throne. Geralt managed to save most of the other attendees, but could do nothing to stop the torrent of accusations and calumnies directed at Crach once the dust had settled. The other jarls accused him of conspiring to put one of his own on the throne. If an Craite could not prove his innocence, his family would forever lay buried beneath a mountain of shame. Hjalmar and Cerys immediately took action, each in their own way. If he wanted to investigate how the massacre had come to pass, Geralt would need to choose which an Craite to support.

Missable. This quest fails for good once you start Battle Preparations (decides who rules Skellige). Finish it first — see the full missables checklist.

Choices & consequences

Decides who rules Skellige for the rest of the saga.

Who takes the throne of Skellige?

Back Cerys (solve the murder in Possession)
Cerys an Craite becomes a shrewd, reform-minded queen — a stable, prosperous Skellige.
Back Hjalmar (via The Lord of Undvik)
Hjalmar is crowned a warrior-king — glory and raids, a harsher isles.
Mishandle the succession
With neither an Craite heir cleared, Birna's son Svanrige seizes the crown — his mother engineered the Kaer Trolde massacre to put him there — and he rules as a ruthless absolutist, dragging the isles toward civil war.

Quest facts (109)

Set these to advance

69 facts

Completion flags this step writes — they record a step as done but won't run it or skip the quest forward on their own.

Becca dd start

becca_dd_start

Also used by Echoes of the Past, The King is Dead - Long Live the King

Becca dd stop

becca_dd_stop

Also used by Echoes of the Past

Crach dd start

crach_dd_start

Also used by Coronation, The King is Dead - Long Live the King

Crach dd stop

crach_dd_stop

Also used by The King is Dead - Long Live the King

Crach eqp mount

crach_eqp_mount

Also used by Child of the Elder Blood

Hjalmar dd start

hjalmar_dd_start

Also used by Coronation, The Battle of Kaer Morhen, The Isle of Mists +1 more

Hjalmar dd stop

hjalmar_dd_stop

Also used by Coronation, On Thin Ice, The Battle of Kaer Morhen +1 more

Hallgrim killed

q206_hallgrim_killed

In phase: Hjalmar Path

Svanrige king

q206_svanrige_king

Also used by Child of the Elder Blood

Udalryk dd stop

udalryk_dd_stop

Also used by Coronation, Echoes of the Past, On Thin Ice

Available

q206_available

>= 1

Also used by The Isle of Mists

Complete

q206_complete

> 1

In phase: Berserkers

Completed

q206_completed

>= 1

Also used by Child of the Elder Blood, On Thin Ice

Csi completed

q206_csi_completed

> 1

In phase: Cerys Path

Hjalmar king

q206_hjalmar_king

== 1, >= 1

Also used by Coronation, The Battle of Kaer Morhen, The Isle of Mists

To coronation now

q206_to_coronation_now

== 1, > 1

Also used by Coronation

Crach eqp unmount

crach_eqp_unmount

In phase: Berserkers Attack

Donar dd stop

donar_dd_stop

In phase: Cerys Path

Hjalmar eqp mount

hjalmar_eqp_mount

In phase: Berserkers Attack

Hjalmar eqp unmount

hjalmar_eqp_unmount

In phase: Berserkers Attack

Holger dd stop

holger_dd_stop

In phase: Cerys Path

Lugos dd stop

lugos_dd_stop

In phase: Cerys Path

Active

q206_active

In phase: Show Layers

Arnvald chase underway

q206_arnvald_chase_underway

In phase: Cerys Path

Bear cave found

q206_bear_cave_found

In phase: Hjalmar Path

Berserkers attack

q206_berserkers_attack

In phase: Berserkers Attack

Cellar exit door free

q206_cellar_exit_door_free

In phase: Cerys Path

Com berserkers attack

q206_com_berserkers_attack

In phase: Berserkers Attack

Dinner in progress

q206_dinner_in_progress

In phase: Berserkers

Geralt met hallgrim

q206_geralt_met_hallgrim

In phase: Hjalmar Path

Islanders seen at ritual

q206_islanders_seen_at_ritual

In phase: Hjalmar Path

Becca follow start

becca_follow_start

> 1

In phase: Becca Follower, Cerys Path

Becca follow stop

becca_follow_stop

> 1

In phase: Becca Follower, Cerys Path

Hjalmar follow start

hjalmar_follow_start

> 1

In phase: Hjalmar Follower, Hjalmar Path

Hjalmar follow stop

hjalmar_follow_stop

> 1

In phase: Hjalmar Follower, Hjalmar Path

Arnvald alive

q206_arnvald_alive

> 1

In phase: Berserkers, Cerys Path

Arnvald died

q206_arnvald_died

>= 1

In phase: Cerys Path, Character Journal Entries

Arnvald exposed

q206_arnvald_exposed

> 1, >= 1

In phase: Berserkers, Cerys Path, Character Journal Entries

Arnvald knocked off horse

q206_arnvald_knocked_off_horse

> 1

In phase: Cerys Path

Barrels checked

q206_barrels_checked

> 1

In phase: Cerys Path

Berserker 01 aggroed

q206_berserker_01_aggroed

> 1

In phase: Berserkers Attack

Berserker 02 aggroed

q206_berserker_02_aggroed

> 1

In phase: Berserkers Attack

Berserker 03 aggroed

q206_berserker_03_aggroed

> 1

In phase: Berserkers Attack

Berserker examined

q206_berserker_examined

> 1

In phase: Cerys Path

Berserkers attacked

q206_berserkers_attacked

>= 1

In phase: Berserkers, Berserkers Attack, Character Journal Entries

Cellar door enabled

q206_cellar_door_enabled

> 1

In phase: Berserkers, Cerys Path

Cellar door open

q206_cellar_door_open

> 1

In phase: Berserkers

Cerys queen

q206_cerys_queen

>= 1

In phase: Berserkers, Character Journal Entries

Crach walking around

q206_crach_walking_around

< 1, > 1

In phase: Cerys Path

Dialogs active

q206_dialogs_active

> 1

In phase: Berserkers, Dinner Talks Counter

Discussed corpses identity

q206_discussed_corpses_identity

> 1

In phase: Discussing Corpses Identity

Fight init

q206_fight_init

> 1

In phase: Berserkers

Fight over

q206_fight_over

> 1

In phase: Berserkers

Found scent trail

q206_found_scent_trail

> 1

In phase: Found Focus Smell, Hjalmar Path

Helping cerys

q206_helping_cerys

> 1

In phase: Berserkers, Berserkers Attack

Helping hjalmar

q206_helping_hjalmar

> 1

In phase: Berserkers, Berserkers Attack

Hjalmar fist fighting

q206_hjalmar_fist_fighting

> 1

In phase: Berserkers

Hjalmar goes to eat

q206_hjalmar_goes_to_eat

> 1

In phase: Berserkers

Hjalmar prosecutor

q206_hjalmar_prosecutor

> 1

In phase: Berserkers, Hjalmar Path

Islander 01 defeated

q206_islander_01_defeated

> 1

In phase: Berserkers

Islander 02 defeated

q206_islander_02_defeated

> 1

In phase: Berserkers

Islander 03 defeated

q206_islander_03_defeated

> 1

In phase: Berserkers

Islander 3 defeated

q206_islander_3_defeated

>= 1

In phase: Berserkers

Islanders defeated

q206_islanders_defeated

> 1

In phase: Berserkers

Lady bran convicted

q206_lady_bran_convicted

> 1

In phase: Berserkers, Persistent Content

Layers loaded

q206_layers_loaded

> 1

In phase: Chicken Test, Wait For Layers

No for investigation

q206_no_for_investigation

> 1

In phase: Berserkers, Berserkers Attack

Party started

q206_party_started

>= 1

Also used by Stranger in a Strange Land

Taken reward from crach

q206_taken_reward_from_crach

> 1, >= 1

In phase: Berserkers, Patch Signal Phase 01

Gates the quest checks

40 facts

Actor q206 arits was killed

actor_q206_arits_was_killed

> 1

Gates: Hjalmar Path

Actor q206 berserker main hall 01 was killed

actor_q206_berserker_main_hall_01_was_killed

> 1

Gates: Berserkers Attack

Actor q206 berserker main hall 02 was killed

actor_q206_berserker_main_hall_02_was_killed

> 1

Gates: Berserkers Attack

Actor q206 berserker main hall 03 was killed

actor_q206_berserker_main_hall_03_was_killed

> 1

Gates: Berserkers Attack

Actor q206 berserker was killed

actor_q206_berserker_was_killed

> 2

Gates: Berserkers Attack

Actor q206 brans sailor was killed

actor_q206_brans_sailor_was_killed

> 4

Gates: Cerys Path

Actor q206 cave berserker was killed

actor_q206_cave_berserker_was_killed

== 1, == 2

Gates: Hjalmar Path

Steingrim killed

q201_steingrim_killed

> 1

Also used by The King is Dead - Long Live the King

Know about battle

q402_know_about_battle

>= 1

Also used by A Deadly Plot, Coronation, The Isle of Mists

Arnvald hit

arnvald_hit

> 1

Gates: Cerys Path

Arnvald horse hit

arnvald_horse_hit

> 1

Gates: Cerys Path

Arits alive

q206_arits_alive

> 1

Gates: Berserkers

Arnvalds chest open

q206_arnvalds_chest_open

> 1

Gates: Cerys Path

Arnvalds cloth found

q206_arnvalds_cloth_found

> 1

Gates: Cerys Path

Arnvalds footprints found

q206_arnvalds_footprints_found

> 1

Gates: Cerys Path

Arnvalds torch flies

q206_arnvalds_torch_flies

> 1

Gates: Cerys Path

Arnvalds torch hits

q206_arnvalds_torch_hits

> 1

Gates: Cerys Path

Berserker corpse 01 found

q206_berserker_corpse_01_found

> 1

Gates: Cerys Path

Berserker corpse 02 found

q206_berserker_corpse_02_found

> 1

Gates: Cerys Path

Berserker corpse 03 found

q206_berserker_corpse_03_found

> 1

Gates: Cerys Path

Berserkers noise

q206_berserkers_noise

> 1

Gates: Berserkers

Cellar door closed

q206_cellar_door_closed

> 1

Gates: Berserkers

Drogodar dies

q206_drogodar_dies

> 1

Gates: Berserkers Attack

Enable chicken test

q206_enable_chicken_test

> 1

Gates: Chicken Test

Geralt loses sword

q206_geralt_loses_sword

> 1

Gates: Berserkers, Berserkers Attack

Hallgrim trapdoor open

q206_hallgrim_trapdoor_open

> 1

Gates: Hjalmar Path

Hear chanting

q206_hear_chanting

> 1

Gates: Hjalmar Path

Hide arnvalds cache

q206_hide_arnvalds_cache

> 1

Gates: Cerys Path

Hjalmar knocked out

q206_hjalmar_knocked_out

> 1

Gates: Berserkers

Hjalmars challenge active

q206_hjalmars_challenge_active

> 1

Gates: Berserkers

Msc geralt made choice

q206_msc_geralt_made_choice

> 1

Gates: Berserkers Attack

Msc halbjorn dying

q206_msc_halbjorn_dying

> 1

Gates: Berserkers Attack

Msc jarls demand trial

q206_msc_jarls_demand_trial

> 1

Gates: Berserkers Attack

Msc trial over

q206_msc_trial_over

> 1

Gates: Berserkers

Stop chanting

q206_stop_chanting

> 1

Gates: Hjalmar Path

Stopped talking to hjort

q206_stopped_talking_to_hjort

> 1

Gates: Cerys Path

Talking to hjort

q206_talking_to_hjort

< 1

Gates: Cerys Path

Testing in progress

q206_testing_in_progress

> 1

Gates: Berserkers

Wine bottle found

q206_wine_bottle_found

> 1

Gates: Cerys Path

Wine rack destroyed

q206_wine_rack_destroyed

> 1

Gates: Cerys Path

Objectives

1.Follow Arnvald.
2.Report to Crach an Craite to collect your reward.
3.Talk to Hjalmar.
4.Talk to Crach.
5.Defeat the Vildkaarl.
6.Go to the main hall.
7.Defeat the bears.
8.Meet Hjalmar near the Vildkaarls' village.
9.Follow the scent using your Witcher Senses.
10.Explore the Vildkaarls' village using your Witcher Senses.
11.Examine the area around the altar using your Witcher Senses.
12.Follow the footprints using your Witcher Senses.
13.Follow the Vildkaarls' trail using your Witcher Senses.
14.Examine the place where fights are held using your Witcher Senses.
15.Examine the place Hjalmar pointed out using your Witcher Senses.
16.Search for evidence in Arnvald's room using your Witcher Senses.
17.Search Arnvald's body.
18.Follow the tracks left by Arnvald's horse outside Kaer Trolde using your Witcher Senses.
19.Catch Arnvald.
20.Chase Arnvald.
21.Save Arnvald.
22.Return to Kaer Trolde.
23.Go to Arnvald's Room.
24.Venture further into the cave.
25.Explore the cave.
26.Defeat Hallgrim.
27.Interrogate the druid.
28.Defeat the druid and the berserkers.
29.Find the source of the scent using your Witcher Senses.
30.Examine the traces of mead around the crime scene using your Witcher Senses.

Objectives a quest can show, in roughly the order they appear; some are optional or mutually exclusive branches.

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A Bard's Beloved A Barnful of Trouble A Dangerous Game A Deadly Plot A Dog's Life A Favor for a Friend A Feast for Crows A Frying Pan, Spick and Span A Greedy God A Hallowed Horn A Knight's Tales A Matter of Life and Death

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