Gwent's popularity in The Witcher 3 is something that borders on the absurd. Geralt can challenge almost anyone he meets to the card game, from merchants to nobles alike. In some areas, you can find the upper crust of society playing each other at lavish balls. In others, you find commoners playing at taverns.
All this goes to show that Gwent is not to be underestimated, both in popularity and in how much money one can make in the game. Geralt's old friend, Zoltan, aims to take full advantage of the latter to pay off his debts in a lengthy side quest.
A Dwarf In Debt
Zoltan's monetary troubles are not brought up until Dandelion is freed in the quest A Poet Under Pressure. Once the bard is back where he belongs, you can find Zoltan arguing with a pair of men outside the Rosemary and Thyme.
You can step in to break up the confrontation and ask Zoltan what the trouble is about. He explains that he had accumulated some debt and has hatched up a scheme to pay it back; selling rare Gwent cards.
You will have to offer to help Zoltan to start the quest. His scheme revolves around getting three rare and expensive cards. Acquiring them will be less a matter of Gwent skill as much as it does Geralt's usual talents.
Entering Zed's House
Zoltan asks you to start with Zed, a card dealer who is supposed to provide him with the cards. Geralt will find the door locked and figure out that Zed might be in danger. You will need to find another way into Zed's house.
You can find this route by turning around and climbing the ladder opposite the stairs to the house. It will lead to a second ladder that brings you to scaffolding adjacent to Zed's house and within jumping distance. Hop over the gap to reach the house.
Once inside, head to the entrance where you will find Zed's body and the bandits that killed him. You will have to kill the pair and loot the body for the first card, Isengrim Faoiltiarna.
Isengrim Faoiltiarna is a Scoia'tael Close Combat Hero card that adds +1 damage to all cards in the same row.
With the contact dead, Geralt focuses his attention on finding Zed's ledger to figure out where the other two cards have gone. Use your Witcher Senses to find clues leading to a chest beneath the staircase. Use Aard to break the planks, letting you access a chest and find the ledger within.
With the ledger in hand, return to Zoltan, who will provide you with the next two contacts. You can take this pair in any order.
Ravaging Ravik
One of your targets is Ravik, a drunk and a cheat that happens to have the John Natalis Gwent card. Zoltan tells you to search the Golden Sturgeon for the man. You will find him on the lower floor, playing for his life.
Earl, a thug that had been threatening Zoltan, makes an offer. Geralt can play Gwent for Ravik's life. If you refuse or lose the match, Earl will kill Ravik.
You will get the card regardless of which choice you go with. Ravik does not need to be alive.
Ravik will give you the card after having to be convinced or after being looted for it.
The John Natalis Gwent card is a Northern Realms Close Combat Hero card. It does not have any special abilities beyond the immunity to special cards or abilities.
Conning Caesar
Caesar Bilzen, the person with the Fringilla Vigo card, is someone that Zoltan will help you with. Geralt will visit Bilzen's house with Zoltan on the pretense of catching up on old fishing days. When the dwarf is sufficiently inebriated, Geralt will search his house for the card.
This plan is simple enough. After arriving, play along with the conversation until Zoltan suggests that it is time for Geralt to fetch a second bottle. This is your chance to execute the plan.
Take the stairs up to the second floor. Use your Witcher Senses to find a knife atop a dresser in the middle of the room. Interacting with it will open a drawer containing a triangular key.
Use this key on the bookshelf diagonally opposite the dresser.
The bookshelf will open, granting you access to the third floor. This room is filled with Caesars' treasures. The Fringilla Vigo card is on a pedestal on the edge of the room.
The Fringilla Vigo Gwent card is the least impressive card earned in this quest. It is a Ranged Combat card that does not come with any special effects.
Once you have it, you may return to Zoltan to make your escape. A pair of Cleaver's men will appear, ready to teach Bilzen a lesson. You will have to choose between saving the accountant or leaving him to his fate. This choice will not have a further effect on this quest.
This room is filled with rare treasures. You can interact with the artifacts to find valuable loot that can be sold for a tidy profit.
Look out for the Jade Figurine in a cupboard opposite the stairs. It will start the Soldier Statuette quest.
Selling The Cards
With all three cards in hand, it will be time to help Zoltan pay off his debt. Meet with him once more to meet the buyer. This part of the quest goes as well as one would expect. The pair arrive just in time to see the buyer killed by Duke. He tries to escape, buying time by surrounding you with enemies.
Zoltan tells Geralt to go on ahead and chase Duke before he gets away. The dwarf will handle the smaller enemies.
There isn't a time limit, despite this segment being framed as a chase. You can help Zoltan with the enemies first before going after Duke.
You will have to follow Duke through the tower on the opposite side of the courtyard, climbing up a series of ladders to reach the top floor. Take a right after seeing the wounded guardsman and chase Duke until he reaches another tower.
Take the stairs down, and follow him into the sewers. Duke will lock a door, forcing you to detour. There will be several drowners along the way. You will find him badly injured on the ground at the very end. Here, you can choose to spare him or finish him off.
Geralt will take the stolen money and return it to Zoltan. With his situation far more prosperous than he had initially planned, he offers Geralt two choices for compensation.
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Keep The Money |
You can take the recovered money as your reward, earning yourself 150 crowns in the process. |
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Keep The Cards |
If Gwent is more your thing, you can take the cards instead. Zoltan will use the money to pay off his debt. |
You will have the chance to get the cards back in the main quest The Great Escape. It won't be for a long time, but you will not fail Collect 'Em All by choosing the money.