Contract: The Creature from Oxenfurt Forest Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Quest
Suggested level: 35
Group: Witcher Contracts
Location: Novigrad
You can start this quest in several ways. You can read the "Beast in the Oxenfurt Forest" contract posted on the Oxenfurt Notice Board, find and talk to Hans of Cidaris or find the archgriffin's nest while exploring.
Mercenaries are usually the ones getting paid for killing things. This time, however, the shoe was on the other foot: a certain Hans of Cidaris, a soldier of fortune by trade, had made it known far and wide that he would pay a handsome sum to whoever could defeat the beast that had made its nest in the forest outside Oxenfurt. Geralt decided to take on the job.
Related points of interest
Oxenfurt Notice Board
Velen / Novigrad
Hans of Cidaris
Velen / Novigrad
Griffin's Nest
Velen / Novigrad
Opinicus
Velen / Novigrad
Quest stages of Contract: The Creature from Oxenfurt Forest
1. Talk about the contract with the mercenary, Hans.
Talk to Hans of Cidaris. You can haggle with him - 295+ crowns.
2. Examine where the monster attacked using your Witcher Senses.
Go to the place indicated by Hans and examine the traces of blood and body of one of the victims.
A little further on, you'll find more traces: the hand of the second victim and more traces of blood.
3. Follow the blood trail using your Witcher Senses.
Follow the trail until you get to where it ends. Examine the last traces of blood, and then Geralt will conclude that from now on he should follow the cawing.
4. Follow the ravens using your Witcher Senses. / Find the griffin's nest. / (Optional) Return after dark, when the griffin is in its nest.
Head towards the hill over which the ravens fly.
When you get there during the day, then approach the Griffin's Nest and examine the feathers you find there. Then wait till night comes. If you approach the hill where the nest is located after dark, then you will be attacked by a griffin.
Geralt's investigation led him to conclude that an archgriffin had taken up residence in the ravine. This creature was in most respects similar to the royal griffin Geralt had fought in White Orchard, but with the added nastiness of being able to spit a noxious acid at its prey.
5. Kill the griffin. / Take a trophy from the griffin.
Kill the griffin - Opinicus, and loot his corpse: Griffin trophy (10% Chance to dismember), Zireael armor (Relic Heavy Armor), Archgriffin mutagen.
6. (Optional) Check the Oxenfurt notice board for a contract on the monster you killed. / Collect your reward from Hans.
Return to Hans and collect your reward: 300 XP and the amount of money negotiated earlier.
Geralt defeated the beast and collected his reward. For once, there was no backpedalling or chicanery!