To the Temple

To the Temple is a Prologue main quest in The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, picked up when Geralt tells Roche that he and the king “split up at the monastery” after escaping the dragon. The defenders of La Valette Castle have hidden Foltest’s children in the old temple within the walls, and the gate to the inner courtyard is firmly shut.

Foltest has no patience for a slow battering-ram job, so Geralt goes looking for another way in. That way runs through blocked alleys, a well that doubles as a sewer entrance full of drowners, a castle tower and a cramped tunnel before he can drop into the inner courtyard, cut down its guards and work the winch that opens the gate. Along the way he can also deal with Temerian soldiers abusing civilians in the side quest Woe to the Vanquished.

Walkthrough

Leave the blocked gate to the inner courtyard and head into the town; deal with the Temerian soldiers harassing civilians if you want (Woe to the Vanquished).
Fight through five La Valette soldiers until a cart blocks the alley, then blast the wooden barrier with Aard and beat the three soldiers by the well.
Climb down the well into the sewers and kill the drowners with your silver sword; stop by the Circle of Vitality Place of Power on the way.
Break the next barricade with Aard, then climb the ladder into the castle tower and push through the tunnel past three more soldiers.
Exit the tunnel and go through the door into the inner courtyard; defeat the five defenders (a two-hander, a shield-bearer and three soldiers) and loot the key from the big one.
Unlock the door near the courtyard entrance, turn the winch to open the gate and grab the gauntlets from the chest.
Talk to Foltest in the courtyard to finish the quest; Blood of His Blood follows.