Child of the Elder Blood

Child of the Elder Blood is part of Battle Preparations in The Witcher 3, and one of the most important quests for the ending. Ciri wants to know what Avallac’h is hiding, so she, Geralt and Yennefer visit his secret laboratory on Skellige. What they find there is unsettling, and how Geralt helps Ciri cope with it counts towards her fate.

How to start Child of the Elder Blood

The quest starts when you talk to Yennefer after learning where the Sunstone is in The Sunstone. It is a level 31 quest worth 300 XP. The lab is on the Pali Gap Coast, and the signpost there unlocks when the quest starts.

Avallac’h’s laboratory

Yennefer opens the entrance, waking one of the two golems guarding it. Kill it and go inside. The first room is full of sketches of Ciri, and of Lara Dorren, the elven ancestor she resembles. Next comes Lara Dorren’s complete family tree, covered in Avallac’h’s notes. Behind a door waits an Aen Elle woman, who mocks Ciri and claims Avallac’h secretly despises her, while plainly jealous of their bond.

An ending choice: let off steam or calm down

Ciri is furious when she leaves the room. You get a timed choice:

“Go for it.” Ciri and Geralt wreck the place together, with a little help from Yennefer. This counts towards a good ending.
“Calm down.” It does not work, and Geralt gives her Lara Dorren’s necklace instead. This counts towards a bad ending. Ciri even asks, “Aren’t you supposed to cheer me up?”

A second choice: Skjall’s grave

Outside, Ciri talks about Skjall, the young man who died helping her on Hindarsfjall, and asks Geralt to visit his grave with her:

“Yeah. I’ll go with you.” Starts Skjall’s Grave and counts towards a good ending.
“No time.” Ciri is hurt, and it counts towards a bad ending.

Tips

For the best outcome for Ciri, pick “Go for it” and “Yeah. I’ll go with you.” See our Witcher 3 endings guide for every choice.
Loot the documents Caranthir’s Progress (bookshelf by the entrance) and Remarks Concerning the Death of Auberon (under the family tree), and the book Tales and Legends About Humans in the elf’s room.
To meet Ciri outside, walk past her rather than trying to talk to her. The scene only triggers that way.

Walkthrough

Travel to the Pali Gap Coast and talk to Yennefer at the cave.
Kill the golem that wakes up while Yennefer opens the door.
Explore the lab with your witcher senses (take Caranthir’s Progress from the bookshelf by the entrance).
Watch the scene by Lara Dorren’s family tree and take Remarks Concerning the Death of Auberon.
Enter the room with the Aen Elle woman and listen to her.
When you leave, choose “Go for it” (good ending) or “Calm down” (bad ending).
Optional: take Tales and Legends About Humans from the elf’s room.
Go outside and walk past Ciri to trigger the scene.
Choose “Yeah. I’ll go with you” (good ending, starts Skjall’s Grave) or “No time” (bad ending) (300 XP).

Quest Consequences & Choices

Two of the choices that decide Ciri’s ending are here. “Go for it” and agreeing to visit Skjall’s grave count towards a good ending. “Calm down” and “No time” count towards a bad one. Agreeing to go starts Skjall’s Grave.