Blood Ties - Velen

Area: Velen
Location: Small town between House of Respite & Nilfgaardian Army Group Center Camp
Quest Giver: Nilfgaardian Woman
Other Requirements: N/A

This quest begins by speaking to an older lady found in the small town between the House of Respite Signpost and Nilfgaardian Army Group Center Camp Signpost. Depending on whether or not you've completed the Contract: Patrol Gone Missing quest or not minorly changes some steps of this quest.

If you previously completed the Contract quest and you found the corpses of the non-Nilfgaardian soldiers, the commander will still be salty and not willingly give you the information. To get him to speak you'll need to either bribe him or Axii him. For those of you who haven't completed the Contract quest, the commander will be loose lipped and tell you all you wish to know.

After speaking with the commander your quest will update again and you'll be sent to the swamps to the north of House Respite. Head up here and use your Witcher Senses in the area marked on your compass/map to find some clues. Foot prints, dead horse on the outskirts of the quest circle and a bit further in you'll find a red haired Nilfgaardian hanging from a tree limb.

Upon inspecting the corpse Geralt will comment that you need more evidence that it is him, investigate the ground nearby to find an Unsent Letter, which will update your quest and tell you to return to his mother.