The Calm Before the Storm is a Ciri flashback in The Witcher 3 that shows how she arrived on Hindarsfjall, the kindness she found in Lofoten, and the price the village paid for it. It is told by Skjall himself, brought back for a moment by Yennefer in Nameless.
How to start The Calm Before the Storm
The flashback starts automatically during Yennefer’s ritual at the end of Nameless. It is a level 14 quest.
A warm welcome in Lofoten
A mysterious elf appears on the island with an unconscious Ciri, asks Skjall for help and tells Ciri where they will meet next before he vanishes. Ciri wakes up in the care of Skjall and his family, and the conversation can get a bit awkward about who undressed her. Astrid invites Ciri to the sauna while Skjall gets a horse ready for her trip to Drowned Dead Rock. In the sauna you can take a dip in the cold water or drink a shot of Freya’s Firewater, and each of them restores some of Ciri’s health.
The Hunt arrives
In the stables, Ciri can return Skjall’s feelings with a kiss or tell him she has to leave. Then the Wild Hunt attacks. You cannot win this fight, because hounds and riders keep coming, but you need to hold out long enough. Use Ciri’s Blink and be patient. When Skjall shouts for her to run, follow him on horseback to Drowned Dead Rock. Back in the present, the cost becomes clear: Skjall fled with Ciri, the village branded him a coward, and he went off to die trying to win back his honor.
Tips
- Both the dip in the water and the Firewater restore health. Do both to start the fight with full health.
- Whether Ciri kisses Skjall does not change the outcome.
- After the flashback, The Last Wish and Ugly Baby are close.
