The Witcher 3: A Poet Under Pressure walkthrough

We now have everything we need to rescue Dandelion in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, so it's time to complete A Poet Under Pressure. This poet has managed to land themselves in prison, and if we want to find Ciri, Geralt is - of course - going to have to break him out of there.

If you need a helping hand with the jailbreak, here's how to complete the A Poet Under Pressure quest in The Witcher 3.

The Witcher 3: A Poet Under Pressure walkthrough

Head to the site of the ambush – it’s a gentle ride from Novigrad. When you get there, Zoltan asks the kind of questions you yourself might be asking, because The Witcher 3 is quite self aware.

Priscilla will offer to play Gwent with you. She’s quite a strong player and uses a Scoia’tael deck, but you can defeat her if you’ve been playing and collecting cards assiduously.

When the ambush starts, ignore the fighting and run after the fleeing horseman; Roach should be handy.

You lose the baddy, so trigger Witcher Senses to track them – you can use Witcher Senses on horseback, by the way. The prints follow a kind of game trail along the shore line and through a meadery, before meandering back and forth, annoyingly, across the path. Eventually, you’ll come to a camp and can ask directions; it’s the right fork, though.

Continue following the prints, watching for where they veer off into the trees. A little further you’ll find the horse, dead, and beyond that, some halflings talking about the Witch Hunter. Talk to them to receive a key to the second entrance of the building he’s holed up in.

Go down the ladder under the trapdoor at the waypoint and then through the cellar beyond. Climb the ladder in the far right corner (steal everything, if you like) and prepare yourself for a fight as soon as you pass through the door; I'd recommend an interim save. Although the baddy is "only" level 12, in the close quarters it can be tricky. Spam a few potions – Blizzard, Thunderbolt – if you struggle.

Release Dandelion from his bonds and ask after Ciri. He gives you a little more of her story.

As Ciri, you’ll face a tough fight. I am almost certain this battle is unwinnable, as enemies keep spawning and the number of crossbows makes it very, very hard, even as Based Ciri. The clue to success is in the name – breakneck speed. Use Ciri’s amazing dodge and just zip past the huge numbers of baddies, following the waypoints. We can fight another day.

When you reach dandelion, shouting something about a horse, do not get on the horse; run through the baddies (or fight them as there’s only about six) and rush through the door at the waypoint.

Things don’t work out very well but Ciri is way better at being Ciri than you are, according to the cutscene. A few more scenes follow in which you chat with Geralt, but the trail has gone cold – Ciri is not in Novigrad. Where to next? Destination: Skellige.

For more help on your journey, here's our The Witcher 3 guide and walkthrough, as well as our Hearts of Stone walkthrough, and Blood and Wine walkthrough. These pages contain tips and guides to help you throughout your adventure as Geralt of Rivia.