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With the Griffin slain, it's time to wrap up The Witcher 3's prologue and find Yennefer. Geralt's lover of yore and the focus of his search kindly cut this short by picking him up from the Inn right as he finishes off some local drunks.
While it might appear that the hard part is over, it has only just begun, and it includes an audience with the Emperor of Nilfgaard himself, Emhyr var Emreis. Royal encounters are difficult for Geralt, especially considering what he went through in the second game. If you are trying to master Nilfgaardian etiquette or find out what happens if you ignore it, this guide will help you.
Starting The Imperial Audience
This quest starts in the aftermath of The Beast of White Orchard and the incredibly short quest The Incident at White Orchard. Having narrowly escaped an ambush from the Wild Hunt and arriving at the royal palace at Vizima, Geralt is being treated with a bath.
His pleasant distraction is cut short by the arrival of the Chamberlain who begins preparing the witcher for meeting the Emperor, starting with a shave. A high-ranking Nilfgaardian, Voorhis, will enter shortly after to question Geralt.
The beard will grow back, immersively and over time, if you think that Geralt looks better with it.
If you have chosen to simulate a Witcher 2 save, Voorhis will question Geralt extensively about the events of the second game, allowing you to adjust some aspects of the world, affecting some characters. We have covered what each decision entails in its own guide, below.
Choosing Your Outfit
With the questioning completed, Geralt is shepherded away to get dressed. As pleasing as his chiseled body may be, the Emperor might not appreciate the view. The Chamberlain will have you choose from three outfits.
You can sell the clothes later, if you do not mind lugging the weight around. There is no penalty for taking all three to sell for some coin on the side.
There is no difference between the three on a gameplay level. They offer no protection in battle and should be discarded as soon as possible. Pick the set you like the most and equip it to continue.
Bowing To The Emperor
The Chamberlain has a final thing to ensure before Geralt is sent to the Emperor; ensuring that he can bow. He provides you with a demonstration that you will need to match. Once that is accomplished, he leads Geralt to the throne room.
To bow, select the option that has Geralt put his left leg forward, and right hand on his chest.
You will have to choose if you will bow to the Emperor when you arrive. Choosing to bow will have the Emperor make a snide, if otherwise harmless remark. Refusing to do so will upset the Chamberlain. Given that he will be punished on Geralt's behalf, his anger would be understandable.
Regardless of your choice, Emhyr will explain to Geralt that Ciri has returned and the witcher will be paid to find her before the Wild Hunt does. This sets up the overarching objective that will guide you through the rest of the game.
With the meeting concluded, it is time to have a conversation with Yennefer.
Meeting Yennefer
The Chamberlain will bring Geralt to the sorceress' office, waiting outside until the witcher is done.
You can help yourself to the food and books at the Palace. It's free money, after all.
Yennefer talks more about the task at hand, sharing what she has learned about Ciri and the stakes at hand. Having taken advantage of Nilfgaard's assets, she has identified three leads for Geralt to pursue.
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Velen |
Visit the swamp to search for the spy, Hendrick, at the town of Heatherton in the quest The Nilfgaardian Connection. |
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Novigrad |
Meet with Triss at Novigrad, an independent city caught in the middle of the war in the quest The Pyres of Novigrad. |
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Skellige |
Yennefer will meet you there while investigating a magical explosion in Skellige in the quest Destination: Skellige. |
She also suggests talking to ambassador var Attre in the next room. As a diplomat, he is well-equipped to give Geralt a primer on the political situation of each area. While optional, it provides valuable context from a Nilfgaardian perspective on each region's local issues.
A chest containing Patch 4.0's new equipment can be found in Yennefer's office.
Finally, with the objective set and leads gained, Geralt can begin his search for his long-lost daughter. Return to the Chamberlain to reclaim your equipment and take the fast travel point out to your first destination to end the quest.
While not a requirement, it is advisable to focus your efforts on searching Velen first. The game is balanced with the expectation that you will start there.