The Scent of Incense The Witcher 2 guide, walktrough

Last update: 11 May 2016

Received from: Vencel Pugg (M7, 12)

Step 1: Obtain the poisonous incense formula

Vencel Pugg is at the bottom part of the harbour, he will accost you only if you walk beside him. He will ask you to get a certain very specific formula from one of the shopkeepers.

You will unlock Little Shop of Dreams.

Notice! Together with this mission, you will unlock the Little Shop of Dreams side quest, which requires you to shut down the shop. If you decide to complete it and close the shop, you won't be able to get the formula. You can also try to close it after completing this mission. However keep in mind that if you do it, you will lose one of the more valuable merchants!

The shopkeeper in possession of the mysterious formula is Vilmos Bartok (M7, 13). Tell him that apparently one of his products is harmful. The man will offer you a false formula in return for staying silent, together with a couple orens. You now have two options:

• Agree to accept the false formula. Depending on your further actions, there will be a different options, described below.
• Use intimidation to receive the real formula. Depending on your further actions, there will be a different options, described below.

Notice! It might happen that the intimidation attempt will fail and you will have to accept the false formula.

Step 2: Give the false / true formula to the scholar at the harbour

Return to the scholar and inform him that you managed to obtain the formula - it doesn't matter if it's real right now. The man will ask you to meet him by the city gate, from where you will head to his lab to test the formula.

Step 3: Meet the scholar by the gate on the square

Vencel Pugg will be waiting for right beside the gate (M7, 20). Unfortunately you will have to let him blindfold you, as the lab's location is a secret. You can try to refuse and tell him that you will go there on your own or you cancel the deal. You have two options:

• Agree to be blindfolded. Description in Step 4, Option A.
• Head to the lab on your own. Description in Step 4, Option B.

Additional prize 20 XP.

Step 4, Option A: Head to the lab blindfolded

If you agree to be blindfolded, you will be beaten and thrown into a kind of a cell. Depending on whether you acquired the real or false formula, your future might differ:

You acquired the real formula and agreed to be blindfolded. In this case the mission will come to an end. Leave the lab through the main exit (M11, 1) or use the boat (M11, 4).

Prize: 85 XP

You got the real formula and refuse to be blindfolded. Description in Step 5.

You got the false formula. Description in Step 5.

Step 4, Option B: Head to the lab on your own

Only if you won't agree to be blindfolded will you learn the location of the laboratory and will have to get there on your own. The laboratory is far to the east, beside a river (M8, 15) between bushes.

Inside the cave, head to its end where you will meet Vencel Pugg (M11, 2). He will test the authenticity of the formula and depending on the result there are two possible further paths:

You got the real formula. The mission will end. Afterwards leave the lab through the main exit (M11, 1) or use the boat (M11, 4).

Prize: 85 XP

You got the false formula. Description in Step 5.

Step 5: Defeat the aggressors

You might end up having to fight the thugs in a couple ways:

• You got the real formula, but didn't agree to be blindfolded.
• You got the false formula (irrespectively of the way of reaching the lab).

If you didn't get blindfolded, you will have to fight after the authenticity test. If you did, you'll be inside a cell. Use Aard to break down the gate. Afterwards you will have to quickly grab the sword in front of you.

On the right you will also find a chest (M11, 3) containing all your weapons - you can also try to reach it. Once you have the equipment, you will have to eliminate the enemies.

Axii can also come in handy to take over one of the enemies, so that he attracts one of the thugs. Remember about Quen for your own defence. After finishing the mission, leave the lab through the main exit (M11, 1) or use the boat (M11, 4).

Prize: 85 XP