Twists and turns abound in many quests throughout The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and it is especially so in the ghostly adventure known as "A Towerful of Mice". This quest can be picked up immediately after completing the previous one in the questline (An Invitation from Keira Metz) revolving around the sorceress. She will tell Geralt about the many deaths surrounding Fyke Isle and its haunting tower that seems to be cursing the area and causing great harm.
Utilizing some leads provided by the sorceress, Geralt heads off to investigate a tower overrun with mice as well as monsters of a few varieties, including a spectral foe at the heart of the strife. This quest involves a fair bit of combat, clue finding, as well as a tricky decision that fools most into selecting the worse out of the two endings. Thankfully, there are ways to perform each phase of this quest optimally and with little resistance, as knowledge is power in the world of The Witcher. Keep track of the main objectives for a less stressful time remembering everything.
Main Objectives
- Cross the water to Fyke Isle (swim or use a boat)
- Cut through the monsters on the island and get to the tower
- Explore the inside of the tower thoroughly
- Uncover the mage's lab
- Use the magic lamp given by Keira to investigate the lab
- Use the powers of the lamp to contact the spirit of Anabelle
- Take Anabelle's remains to Graham OR bring Graham to the tower on the island
- Report back to Keira about what went down and complete the quest
Getting To & Exploring Fyke Isle
The quest marker that appears on the map after speaking to Keira will lead Geralt to a boat on the shore that he can use to get to Fyke Isle. The island is fortified surprisingly well, so it can be awkward trying to find a place to make landfall. Pick a spot and park the boat before disembarking to explore the island.
Be wary, as there is a variety of necrophage foes lurking on this spit of land, namely rotfiends, drowners, and ghouls. Having some Necrophage Oil to apply to one's blade can make clearing out these monsters a great deal quicker. Igni is also handy on these foul fiends, as well as the clouds of annoying black flies that also cover this disgusting island. Cut a swath through all of the enemies and enter the tower.
Investigating The Tower & Alexander's Lab
Upon entering the tower, be prepared to deal with a lot of rats. Especially if one is at a high level, for if the player has the level scaling function on, these rodents can rip through one's health bar surprisingly quickly. While fending off these small but aggressive foes, Geralt must explore the tower to uncover the cause of the misfortune and death Keira mentioned.
Using the magic lantern that the sorceress gave him, Geralt can see the final, grisly events of deaths that took place on the island. There are 4 such events to uncover within the tower and 3 without, which will reveal a massacre of peasants. After learning of these 7 deaths and how they occurred, the quest will update and will indicate that Geralt should head to the top of the tower to investigate.
After some inspection, and possible use of one's witcher senses, players should find 2 levers in the uppermost area of the tower. When both pulled, they will reveal an entrance. Going through it will bring Geralt to the laboratory of a mage named Alexander, which the player will learn all about if they use the magic lantern to speak to the spirit dwelling in the lab: Anabelle.
Speaking With Anabelle
The conversation Geralt has with the spirit of Anabelle will tell the player of how Lord Vserad and his court, including his daughter Anabelle and his court sorcerer Alexander, were overwhelmed by a plague of rats that swarmed within the tower. However, this happened because Alexander was experimenting on the mice and they grew too powerful.
Peasants had raided the island, seeking to kill those responsible for the plague, though some fell to the rat hoard and became food for necrophages. She goes on to tell Geralt that she resents her lover, Graham, for not helping her when the massacre was going down. The witcher will sense that she has a strong air of resentment about her and comes to the conclusion that it is this ill will that is cursing the island.
Geralt then goes on to explain that he believes the best way to break the curse, borne from hatred, is with the opposite sentiment: love. There are two ways to go about this, however, neither will lead to the expected result.
Choose How To Break The Curse
Geralt suggests that Anabelle try forgiving Graham for accidentally abandoning her, for he thought that she had died, due to the trickery of one of Alexander's potions. She agrees to try and replies that she will forgive Graham if Geralt brings him her remains and he buries them. This seems like a reasonable "yes", however, the spirit of Anabelle is no mere human ghost, but a Pesta (plague maiden) in disguise! There are vastly different outcomes, depending on if one agrees to bring Anabelle's bones to Graham or not.
Taking Anabelle's Remains To Graham
If one does this, Graham will bury the bones and Geralt will set off. However, before the witcher gets too far, he hears screaming and rushes back to Graham to find that the man is dead. His fresh corpse is surrounded by rats and is being leered at by Anabelle, now in her true form as a putrid Pesta. The curse breaks but the plague maiden flies off before Geralt can stop her, becoming an epidemic for the nearby area.
Refusing To Bring The Remains To Graham
This will enrage Anabelle and force her into plague maiden form, though, she cannot be defeated while the curse is active. Geralt must retreat and go see Graham in the north of Oreton and explain things to him before returning with the man to Fyke Isle. The spirits of the peasants will attack as wraiths, so be sure to do away with them by making use of some Spectral Oil on one's sword and usage of the Yrden sign. Enter the tower and confront Anabelle, which results in Graham proving his love for her by kissing the Pesta. This breaks the curse and allows Anabelle's spirit to pass on, though, the contact with the plague maiden kills Graham in the process. The two lovers reunite in the afterlife and Geralt is able to move on as well, having done all he could.
Regardless of the outcome one chooses, the player can return to Keira after all is said and done to complete the quest. She will also ask the witcher for another favor, initiating the next one in the questline, "A Favor for a Friend".