Evil’s Soft First Touches opens the Hearts of Stone expansion. It starts as a routine monster contract in the Oxenfurt sewers and ends with Geralt owing a favor to the mysterious Gaunter O’Dimm and working for the bandit noble Olgierd von Everec.
How to start Evil’s Soft First Touches
Visit the notice board outside the Seven Cats Inn near Novigrad and pick up the new contract someone is posting there. The suggested level is 32. The quest lists about 1,450 XP and 450 crowns, but XP in Hearts of Stone is scaled differently than in the base game, so the amount you get may vary.
The contract and the sewers
The contract leads to the Garin Estate, where Olgierd’s rowdy companions mock Geralt. You can talk business or start a fistfight. Olgierd explains that his cook was killed by a monster in the sewers under Oxenfurt, while she was looking for a prince turned into a toad. Haggle and he agrees to 450 crowns. On the way out, a woman offers you another job, which starts Rose on a Red Field.
In the sewers Geralt runs into Shani, who joins him as a guide. Deeper down, the bodies tell you the monster likes alcohol, so Geralt uses it as bait. Out comes the Toad Prince.
Prisoner of the Ofieri
The toad really was a prince. Ofieri soldiers arrive as he dies and take Geralt prisoner aboard their ship to face execution in Ofir. In his cell Geralt meets Gaunter O’Dimm, who offers help in exchange for a favor and marks Geralt’s face. A storm wrecks the ship and Geralt wakes up on a beach, free.
Gaunter later reveals the deal: Olgierd knew who the toad was, and Olgierd owes Gaunter too. Before Gaunter can collect, three of Olgierd’s wishes must be fulfilled, and Geralt is to do it. Back at the burning Garin Estate, Olgierd turns out to be immortal. He pays the 450 crowns and names the first two tasks: Open Sesame! and Dead Man’s Party.
Tips
- Loot the manor early: search the inside of Olgierd’s house when you first get the job. It can’t be looted later.
- The Toad Prince is tough. Golden Oriole is a must against his poison. Yrden pins him down for free hits, and a decoction that boosts damage helps a lot, because he has a huge health bar. Your potions and bombs refill before the fight.
- Ofieri phrase: the correct answer is “…alle’khe uhl eghullath!” (200 XP).
- On the beach you start in only trousers, boots and a steel sword, but the rest of your gear is in your inventory. Fighting the Ofieri soldiers and mage is optional (200 XP). The mage only takes damage once the soldiers are dead.
- Gaunter waits at Yantra from about 11 PM, so meditate if needed.
- Optional duel: at the burning estate, threaten Olgierd’s men and he challenges you to a duel. He is the toughest human opponent in the game, and there is no reward for beating him. Parry his charging attacks to make him choke, then hit hard.
