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The Witcher 3 Guide

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Wild Hunt Quests
Kaer Morhen
Lilac and Gooseberries
The Beast of White Orchard
The Incident at White Orchard
Imperial Audience
In Ciri's Footsteps
The Nilfgaard Connection
Bloody Baron
Ciri's Story: King of the Wolves
Family Matters
A Princess in Distress
Ciri's Story: The Race
Ciri's Story: Out of the Shadows
Hunting a Witch
Wandering in the Dark
Ladies of the Wood
The Whispering Hillock
Ciri's Story: Fleeing the Bog
Pyres of Novigrad
Novigrad Dreaming
Broken Flowers
Get Junior
Ciri's Story: Visiting Junior
Count Reuven's Treasure
The Play's The Thing
Poet Under Pressure
Ciri's Story: Breakneck Speed
Destination: Skellige
The King is Dead - Long Live The King
Echoes of the Past
Missing Persons
Nameless
The Calm Before the Storm
Ugly Baby
The Isle of Mists
The Battle of Kaer Morhen
Blood on the Battlefield
Bald Mountain
Final Preparations
Battle Preparations
On Thin Ice
Tedd Deireadh, The Final Age

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Family Matters

By Max Roberts, Jack K., Jon Ryan, +35.8k more
Updated: Nov 26, 2024 8:46pm UTC
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Family Matters is a main quest in The Witcher 3 that helps Geralt find out where and with who Ciri went with after the quest Bloody Baron. This guide has been updated for for The Witcher 3 Complete Edition, the next-gen upgrade for the PS5 and Xbox Series X.

The baron’s family has gone missing and he wants you to find them in exchange for knowledge on Ciri. Let’s put those Witcher Senses and detective/tracking skills to use, shall we?

At the start of our quest, you need to inspect the wife and daughter’s chambers for clues. Head into the room that the baron opens, which is his and his wife’s room.

Activate your Witcher Senses and follow the items that are marked with red. There are six items in the room that help out. In the end, you surmise that a brawl took place in the chamber. There is a scent of wine in the air that you can follow down the stairs, about halfway. Beneath a floorboard is a tailsman.

Now go into the baron's daughter’s room, which is just across the hall. As you're inside the room, look for the doll by the bed, the letter on the dresser, along with the incense and a key in the wardrobe. Grab the items and go talk to the baron.

The baron explains all he knows. It sounds like his wife, Anna, went to see a local Pellar for the talisman.

Before leaving the Bloody Baron’s fort, why not inspect the room Ciri stayed in as well? Go into the quest menu and select the secondary quest “Ciri’s Room.” Head downstairs from the girls’ rooms and follow the line.

Inspect her room to learn a little more about her stay and time with Gretka. When you finish talking to Gretka, the mission is complete. A straightforward side quest. Now it’s time to saddle up and go see the Pellar.

SECONDARY QUEST
Before proceeding in Family Matters Geralt must help the Pellar find his lost goat, Princess, in the quest “A Princess in Distress.”

With the goat safely returned, the Pellar uses magic to dig up more truths about the Bloody Baron and his family. Hop on your horse and head back to Crow’s Perch. From a distance, you should see that a part of the fort is on fire! Ride back up to the fort and check it out. Phillip has gotten roaring drunk and lit his own stables on fire. The stable boy is trapped inside. If you save the boy before dealing with the baron, you will get a reward later on. Climb the ladder and open the door inside. With the stables cleared, confront the baron and beat him to a pulp.

After beating some sense into Phillip, the truth comes out. He beat his wife when he was drunk and caused the miscarriage. When Phillip found the stillborn, he quietly and quickly buried the baby. It turned into a Botchling and is out for the blood of its family. The two of you need to find the Botchling and either kill it for its blood or turn it into a Lubberkin, which is a nice version of the monster.

When you arrive at the grave with Phillip, you need to decide how you want to deal with the Botchling.

Botchling Choices and Consequences

Killing the monster -

Tap to Reveal


Saving the Botchling and turning it into a Lubberkin -

Tap to Reveal

Either way, you will be led to a fisherman’s hut. Head inside to learn about the wife and daughter’s locations. The wife is missing, but his daughter, Tamara, is in northeast Velen in Oxenfurt. It’s a long hike and it's optional to go see Tamara. Either go see her in person for the baron or just go back to him at Crow’s Perch. When you return to Phillip, he holds his end of the bargain and fills you in on Ciri’s time at his fort.

Optional Quest: Visiting Tamara

If you decide to visit Tamara, call your horse and ride the long way to Oxenfurt. The Baron will give you a pass in order to get into the city. Once inside visit the brother's house and talk with Tamara. After talking with Tamara fast travel back to the Baron and fill him in on what happened.

Note: You have the chance to challenge the Bloody Baron to a game of Gwent and win a card from him. This opportunity may not be available later in the game, so don't put it off if you're a completionist.

SECONDARY QUEST
Before proceeding in Family Matters Geralt must find the Baron's wife Anna, which can only be done by completing the quests Hunting a Witch, Wandering in the Dark and Ladies of the Wood.

After completing Ladies of the Wood, return to Baron Strengar and tell him what you've learned about his wife to complete the quest.

From here, Geralt can either follow the Baron in the side quest Return to Crookback Bog, or continue his search for Ciri in the main quest Pyres of Novigrad.

Up Next: A Princess in Distress

Previous
Ciri's Story: King of the Wolves
Next
A Princess in Distress

Top Guide Sections

  • Beginner's Guide - Witcher 3 Features and Things to Know
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In This Guide

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild HuntCD Projekt Red
Initial Release: May 18, 2015
ESRB: Mature
PlayStation 5Xbox Series X/SNintendo SwitchXbox One
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