Blood on the Battlefield

Blood on the Battlefield is the quiet aftermath of The Battle of Kaer Morhen in The Witcher 3, and one of the most important quests for the ending. It starts at Vesemir’s funeral pyre, and it contains the first of the choices that decide Ciri’s fate at the end of the game.

How to start Blood on the Battlefield

The quest begins right after the battle. It is a level 20 quest worth 1,000 XP, and the XP drops above level 34.

Saying goodbye

At the pyre, talk to everyone who fought. Eskel decides to leave Kaer Morhen for good, Ermion tends to the wounded, and Zoltan wants to strike back. If Keira Metz came, she and Lambert leave together. If she did not, Lambert may not have survived. Then Avallac’h and Yennefer argue about how to train Ciri to control her power, Yennefer suggests asking the Lodge of Sorceresses for help, and Ciri storms off, tired of being left out of every plan.

A few days later: the first ending choice

Ciri is struggling to master her powers, and Avallac’h asks Geralt to help. You get a timed choice:

“Relax. You don’t have to be good at everything.” They have a drink together. This counts towards a bad ending.
“Think I know what might lift your spirits.” A snowball fight. This counts towards a good ending.

The game even hints at it: during the drink, a cat catches a swallow. In the snowball fight, the first to land eight hits wins. Dodge Ciri’s throws and hit her when she stops to make her own.

To Bald Mountain, via Vizima?

Ciri learns that Imlerith will attend the sabbath on Bald Mountain, a chance to avenge Vesemir. Before you go, you can suggest that she first sees her father, Emperor Emhyr. Visiting him is required for the Empress ending. In Vizima, Emhyr offers the rest of Geralt’s reward:

Take the money: 4,000 crowns and a bill of exchange. Ciri is disappointed, which counts towards a bad ending.
“Didn’t do this for the coin”: you get a new black stallion as Roach instead, and Ciri is pleased. This counts towards a good ending.

The journey continues in Bald Mountain.

Tips

No single choice locks in an ending. They add up. See our Witcher 3 endings guide for the full picture.
The bill of exchange is said to be worth 100,000 crowns after the war, but you can never cash it.
After the quest, Keira stays at the funeral site as an alchemist, though reaching her takes some climbing.

Walkthrough

Talk to your allies at Vesemir’s funeral pyre (and Lambert’s, if he died).
Go to Avallac’h, Yennefer and Triss and talk about what to do next (1,000 XP).
A few days later, choose how to help Ciri: a drink or a snowball fight (pick the snowball fight for a good ending).
If you chose the snowball fight, hit Ciri eight times before she hits you.
Return to Ciri when you are ready to leave. Choose whether to visit Emhyr first.
Optional: in Vizima, refuse Emhyr’s money for a good ending (you get a new Roach) or accept it (4,000 crowns and a bill of exchange).
Arrive at the road to Bald Mountain.

Quest Consequences & Choices

This quest holds key ending choices. The snowball fight counts towards a good ending for Ciri and the drink towards a bad one. Visiting Emhyr is required for the Empress ending. Refusing his coin pleases Ciri and counts towards a good ending, while taking it counts towards a bad one. Keira and Lambert leave together if both survived.