With Flickering Heart (steps 1-4) The Witcher 2 guide, walktrough

Last update: 11 May 2016

Received from: Ele'yas (M15, 6)

Notice! Ele'yas will appear beside the inn only after completing The War Council.

Notice! You can complete this mission only before finishing Royal Blood.

Step 1: Go to the burned village

The mission is connected with a notice placed on the bulletin board "Investigator Needed!". From the elf you will learn that people are starting to disappear from town and their corpses are being found. Ask him where the bodies have been found and buried. Going to the burner village isn't obligatory, but the place is worth a visit. Head towards west gate (M15, 7) and go through it to the Pontar Valley. Nearby you will find the burned village (M13, 2), where you will be attacked by Wraiths. Geralt will also smell sulphur - the presence of a Succubus will be the first to come to his mind. Unfortunately there's nothing here beside the smell, so you need to head into the catacombs.

Step 2: Examine the corpses in the dwarven catacombs

Notice! Before heading into the catacombs, it's worth to buy Surgical tools, so that you don't have to come here twice. You can buy them from Felicia Cori (M15, 17).

Exit Vergen through the north gate (M15, 8). Go all the way to the right, across the river and to the north. Look out for the large pack of Nekkers living nearby the swamps. Eventually you will reach the dwarven catacombs (M13, 14). Inside you will often come across walls that you can destroy with Aard and also lots of corpses (M17, !) - wraiths will appear when you find them (M17, !).

Destroy one of the walls (M18, 2) with Aard and move on. In the next room you will find some corpses - the one with a candle burning beside them is worth checking (M18, 3). Check the body thoroughly, especially the shoulders. If you have the Surgical tools, you will be able to take out a Metal Fragment from them. If you check the back, you will find Dandelion's poetry sketchbook lying beneath.

Step 3: Talk to Dandelion about the tome of poetry

Leave the catacombs (M18, 1) and return to Vergen following the same way you came. You can find your friend inside the tavern (M15, 1), sitting with dwarves. Ask him for a favour to lure out the Succubus with poetry.

Step 4: Meet Dandelion in the burned village at midnight and draw the succubus out of its lair

Go into meditation and rest until midnight. Afterwards exit Vergen through the west gate (M15, 7) and head towards the burned village (M13, 2). You will temporarily take control of Dandelion and will have to compose a song from the available sentences. The whole thing should go as follows:

Notice! You have a limited time to choose the verses.

If our bodies could a song compose

My heart would enquire of your hands pale and fine

If they'd grasp it gently, to hold like a rose

Or treat is as a morsel upon which to dine

After properly performing the piece, you will hear the succubus. You can choose:

• Go down to the succubus with Dandelion.
• Return to Geralt.

Irrespectively of the choice, you will return to controlling Geralt.

Run to the burned village (M13, 2) and you will be attacked by wraiths. Like always, try not to get surrounded, use Quen and Yrden. After eliminating the threat, go to the succubus' quarters. You have two options of finishing the mission:

• You decide to kill the succubus. Description in Step 5, Option A.
• You decide to ask about the mysterious murders. Description in Step 5, Option B.