How to Save the Baron and the Children in The Witcher 3: A Complete Guide?

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is renowned for its intricate storytelling and complex character arcs. Two of the most poignant quests in the game, "Family Matters" and "Ladies of the Wood," involve the Bloody Baron and a group of orphans. This guide will walk you through the steps to achieve the best possible outcomes for both the Baron and the children.

Saving the Baron in "Family Matters"

The quest "Family Matters" revolves around Geralt's efforts to reunite the Bloody Baron with his wife, Anna, and daughter, Tamara.

Investigate the Baron's Family:

• Start by examining the clues in the Baron's castle. Use Geralt's Witcher senses to uncover the story behind Anna and Tamara's disappearance.
• Follow the trail to the village of Downwarren to gather more information.

Find Tamara:

• Head to Oxenfurt to locate Tamara. She will provide insight into her and her mother’s plight.
• Tamara refuses to return to her father but agrees to help find her mother.

Locate Anna:

• The search for Anna leads to the Crones of Crookback Bog. Visit their lair to uncover her fate.
• Discover that Anna has been cursed and is serving the Crones.

Lift the Curse:

• To lift Anna’s curse, you must defeat the Crones’ protector, the Tree Spirit, or agree to the spirit's request to free the orphans.
• Choose carefully, as this decision impacts both the Baron's family and the children in Crookback Bog.

Confront the Baron:

• Return to the Baron and inform him of your findings. Depending on your choices, Anna's fate varies, impacting the Baron's mental state.
• If Anna survives, the Baron leaves to take her to a healer. If she doesn’t, he hangs himself in despair.

Saving the Children in "Ladies of the Wood"

The quest "Ladies of the Wood" intertwines with "Family Matters" and involves saving a group of orphans from the Crones.

Meet the Crones:

• The Crones will test you and eventually reveal that they hold the orphans in their grasp.

Free the Spirit:

• To save the children, you can free the Tree Spirit imprisoned beneath the Whispering Hillock.
• Complete the spirit’s tasks to break its bonds.

Decide the Fate of the Orphans:

• If you free the spirit, it will save the children but wreak havoc on Downwarren. The villagers will face severe consequences.
• If you kill the spirit, the children will remain in the Crones’ clutches, likely facing a grim fate.

Best Outcomes

Achieving the best possible outcomes requires delicate balance and careful decision-making:

• Baron's Family: The optimal outcome for the Baron’s family is to free Anna from her curse and ensure her survival. This leads to the Baron taking her to seek medical help.
• Children: The best scenario for the children is subjective. Freeing the spirit saves them but at the cost of Downwarren’s safety. Weigh the lives of the children against the potential destruction of the village.

Conclusion

"The Witcher 3" presents players with tough moral choices. Saving the Baron and the children requires navigating complex quests with far-reaching consequences. By following this guide, you can make informed decisions to achieve the best possible outcomes for these characters.