Back to Woesong

Geralt rode North, only minutes had passed before he heard rustling in the grass just off to his right, he drew his steel sword and dismounted Roach, he jogged over through the tall grass to the camp, he could see at least two men, a bandit camp. good. this would provide Geralt with some reasonable loot before heading back to the village. The first man jumped at him after spotting him in the bushes, having cast Quen thankfully the man's blade bounced off him, his tunic tearing at the sleeve though. He swung his blade at him, attacking him in a flurry of quick attacks, he ducked and rolled out of the way hearing something whistle in the air past him, an arrow. He turned around and swung again at the first Deserter who parried Geralt's attack. The parry left the man stumbling backwards, feet tangling in the grass beneath him, his chest wide open for attack, Geralt slashed his sword across the man's chest, his stumbled back even further, arms flailing about, Geralt used his strength and swung his blade at the man's arm joint, cutting the arm clean off, the man falling to the floor from the fatal blow. Geralt made his way towards the one with the bow and arrow, still firing at him, shouting to the other Bandits. "Don't let 'im catch his breath!" he shouted as Geralt rolled forward towards the deserter. He turned around and swung, using his arms and shoulders and wrists as he struck the man in the neck with the blade with as much force as he could, another fatal blow leaving the man falling down to the floor, blood over Geralt's steel sword as he panted. Geralt barely heard the man behind him, the Deserter trying to sneak up on him, he wore a hood and a mask covering his mouth and nose. Geralt side stepped the moment he felt pressure on his shoulder, his cloth tearing from the attack of his sword, thankfully Quen was active causing no more than a surface wound. "Perish!" The attacker yelled at Geralt as he parried each one of Geralts blows. The two parried each others attacks back and forth for minutes, Quen had now worn off and Geralt was just thankful that this was the last bandit, or so he hoped, he parried, pushing the man backwards a little as their blades met, as he was recovering from his arm tingling Geralt pressed his blade to his chest, slashing as deep as he could, for extra measures he swung the tip of the blade across the Deserters throat while he was distracted, watching as he fell to the ground.

Geralt looted the recently fallen man's body, he picked up the Rusty Novigrad longsword and some Linen. He sheathed his steel sword finding some more Linen on the floor by the lit campfire. He went to a bag on the floor and searched it, he got a small blackjack and some wire. He took them and then went over to the crate at the camp, he took wager and some Kaedweni Stout, alchemists' powder, a vial, worn leather pelt, Erveluce, Temerian rye, cured leather, two alcohest, a split bolt diagram, a formula for Rebis, cavalry boots, Viziman Champion and pure silver and some cows milk.

After a long journey Geralt had finally reached a mill in the middle of the field. he recognised it. just above Woesong bridge, where he'd arrived earlier. He followed the path down to the stretch of water that he could see down to his right. he walked along the muddy path, running as he reached the edge of the road. he walked along the side of the path, looking into the deep waters, this was where Tomira was talking about. it had to be. He ran straight into the water, after two steps immediately being submerged up to his waist, better to go fully in straight away then get himself used to the cold. after he was forced to swim after a minute he dove down into the water, kicking his legs to go deeper down to the bed of river. He swam around for a good twenty seconds, stopping every so often to clear his vision and make out plants along the floor. he kicked his legs and swam over to them, he grabbed a handful, exactly like the herbalist had described, he put his feet on the bottom of the floor and kicked off to help him reach the surface before he ran out oxygen. With that now, it was time to talk to Vesemir, back at Woesong bridge, no doubt he'd still be at the inn. as far as Geralt knew Woesong bridge was surrounded by four major places to recognise, a ford, not far from the crossroads and a ransacked village, The broken Bridge, a mill, his current location and further to the west, a sawmill. He mounted Roach and began his journey all of which took him just under three hours to complete. He dismounted roach the moment the first Nilfgaardian soldier came into view at the end of a bridge leading into the village. he made his way into the village and checked the notice board quickly, he couldn't exactly go wrong with checking it. there were only two notices on there right now. he read the first one quickly, titled Outdoor Relief.

*Outdoor relief*

*The imperial Garrison hereby announces that every week the village's poor may come by to collect food rations. Rations will only be distributed to supplicants able to document proof of their poverty. Cheats will be punished like any other thieves and to the full extent of the law.*

There was a second note, something also relevant. it was an Imperial Eredict Number 18/45. He tore the notice off the wooden board and read it.

*Imperial Eredict Number 18/45*

*Let it hereby be known that, by order of His Imperial Majesty's High Command, all able-bodied men of White Orchard must present themselves at the village Inn, equipped with a shovel, hoe or pickaxe of their own provision. The fields near the village are littered with corpses, and given the warm spring we are currently experiencing, the High Command fears the rotting bodies might bring contagion to the village. Let this stand as proof to the residents of White Orchard that their new rulers care for their safety and shall defend them not only from bandits, but also from disease, by introducing measures which have long been standard in the civilised world.

Any man refusing to comply with this order will be flogged and put in the stocks.

Signed:

Captain Peter Saar Gwynleve.*

He turned around away from the notice board. the annoying boy still there with his nursery rhymes. it seemed he hadn't learnt any new ones since Geralt's last visit to White Orchard. He walked straight down the main road and went to go into the pub. he was almost correct. Vesemir wasn't in the pub but he didn't stray far, he was just outside, lingering by the stables. "Yes? What is it, Wolf?" Vesemir asked him as he approached. "Got good news and bad news." Geralt shrugged. "Good news first - captain of the Nilfgaardian Garrison knows where yennefer went." he knew he had vesemirs attention now. "and the bad's that we have to kill the Griffin for him?" Vesemir guessed with a nod. "what else could he want from two witchers? Go on, tell me what you know" he urged. "Griffin's abandoned it's lair. Gotta make a lure, set a trap" he told Vesemir. "and how's that going?" he replied in a deep tone. "learned some things. It's a male, had it's best in the Vulpine woods. The Nilfgaardians burned the woods down, killed it's mate, smashed their eggs - thought they'd fixed things." Vesemir shook his head angrily. "Hm. it's always the same. Instead of sending for a professional, they try to do it themselves, only end up making matters worse." He told him, now the next bit of news. "Got the buckthorn" Geralt said. "Oughta work like a charm. Powerful scent..." he said. "More like stench" Geralt interrupted. "City boy. Rotting meat, manure, piss - standard smells of the country side." both witchers shuffled on their feet a little. "Remember Tretogor, hunting that Zeugl in the trash heap? You spent half the next day bathing, scrubbing yourself." Vesemir was slightly amused. "how can I forget? you ever gonna stop bringing that up?" Geralt shrugged. "Hm-hm. Fine, if everything's ready, say the word and we'll get to work." Geralt nodded. "see you" he had a few things he needed to take care of first. He visited the herbalist, Tomira, riding as fast as he could to the sawmill. "yes?" she asked seeing him walk through the door. "Listen, ever heard of a woman named Claer? Lived around here." the woman turned to him and shifted on her feet. "Heard of her? A mild way to put it. Claer was a friend, the only person dear to me in all of White Orchard. Until her husband, Volker, quarreled with the lord o' the manor. He then gathered the family, moved out into the words to start a new settlement." she told him, her green eyes sparkling in the light. "The lord and his retinue rode there to convince them to return. They were to be civil - no forcing, no bloodshed, but...you saw. Word is Claer said something about the lord's son. Florian. somethin' that made the Lord furious. But who knows the truth." she crossed her arms across her chest tilting her head up at Geralt. "Lots of misfortune for such a small village." Geralt replied. she looked down at him again. "Tis so in every village, even the smallest. you need only ask. bit keys not end on a test note. Here - a bit of solace." she uncrossed her arms, a little smile on her lips as she walked past Geralt and handed him ten crowns and some SaltPeter.

He left the house and called roach, travelling to the crossroads, back to White Orchard to talk to Vesemir. "been busy with the Griffin contract" Geralt said to him as he caught his breath from jogging to where Vesemir was standing. "And?" he asked. "I'm ready. no point in waiting. Let's find a good spot to ambush it." Geralt told him, hoping this mission would be successful, he had to find Yennefer. "picked one out already. Other side of the stream - there's fields and a grove. Plenty of room and far enough so no one'll get in our way" Vesemir said gesturing out of the village. "good. meet you there" Geralt said watching as Vesemir nodded and ran off out of the little area and turn left. Moments later after checking he had all the things he needed on him called roach and mounted him, galloping out and further away from the village, past the little wooden watch pose, just next to it a path swerving off to the left that followed the river, Vesemir was crouched down just off of the path in the middle of a field, looked like a farmer's land, ploughing lines across the dirt with herbs growing here and there. "A stream, amber waves of grain...charming place. perfect for an ambush." Geralt concluding, the shadow made from the trees waving over his face. "I know how to choose 'em." Vesemir nodded. "so, ready?" he asked the white wolf. "Let's start. winds good, bait's scent will spread quickly" Vesemir nodded and knelt down continuing to stuff the lure in the fake sheep he'd made. "Now all we have to do is wait" Vesemir said standing up and brushing off his hands. "Come on. We can cower in the shade of those birches." Geralt and Vesemir walked side by side in silence until they reached the birch trees. "so, tell me...once we find Yennefer, what'll you do? got your eye on a contract?" Geralt questioned. "No. I'll go to Kaer Morhen" He told him shaking his head. "a little early to settle in for the winter" Geralt said. "snows are a way off,yes...and that's what worries me. Nilfgaard's crossed the Pontar in the east. Puts them maybe a week's march from Kaer Morhen. If they reach the valley before snows can cover the passes...well, we need to cover our tracks, hide our paths." they both knelt down in the short grass keeping their distance from the trap. "speaking of winter, and wintering - think you'll come this year?" he asked in a gravely voice, age evident in his tone. "Maybe. might bring a guest" Geralt hummed.