Contract: The Mystery of the Byways Murders is a witcher contract in Velen. A Nilfgaardian patrol has gone missing near the village of Byways, and the local commander suspects a monster. Geralt can also stumble on the village himself, finding it apparently abandoned, with ghouls lurking among the huts, which is never a good sign about what happened to the people who lived there.
The investigation reveals a dark story. Byways has been living with a vampire in its midst: an ekimmara named Sarasti, a lower vampire who has been feeding on the villagers and has drawn necrophages to the area. The villagers’ own secrets make the case even messier.
Ekimmaras are strong, fast and heal by drinking blood, so Vampire oil, Black Blood and the Igni sign all help. Solving the mystery rewards Geralt with the relic sword Bloed Aedd and gives him an answer for the Nilfgaardian commander.