Walkthrough for the quest Contract: Doors Slamming Shut in the game Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. This page covers all main objectives, key steps, or helpful tips to guide you through the quest smoothly. Whenever possible, the guide points out locations for key items and details interactions with NPCs, among other tips. To ensure maximum clarity, in-game screenshots are included for easy-to-follow visual guidance.
Quest Group: Witcher Contracts
Suggested level: 24
Location: Novigrad
You can start this quest by reading the "Haunted House" contract posted on the Hierarch Square Notice Board or on the Gildorf Notice Board.
Sprawling out-of-town manors always hide their fair share of mysteries, and the residence on Novigrad's outskirts were no exception. When Geralt found out about a haunted manor owned by a certain Kurt Dysart, he agreed at once to look into the matter.
Hierarch Square Notice Board
Velen / Novigrad
Gildorf Notice Board
Velen / Novigrad
Kingfisher Inn
Velen / Novigrad
Moldavie Residence
Velen / Novigrad
Therazane
Velen / Novigrad
Go to the Kingfisher Inn and talk to Kurt Dysart, who you will find on the first floor. He'll tell you about the mansion he recently bought. Unfortunately it's haunted and he needs the help of a witcher. You can negotiate with him about the amount of money - 267+ crowns. He'll also give you the key to the mansion - Key to an abandoned house.
Go to the Moldavie Residence. Go inside and get down to the basement. You'll find a weak wall there that you can destroy with an aard sign.
In the underground, find and read the Amaverick of Sorano's journal...
Amaverick of Sorano's journal
When dealing with Beings of this Nature, it is most vital to achieve Equilibrium between giving free rein to its Will and obstructing it with the Fetters of Servitude. The sagacious Elementalist who has tamed a magic Minion should not heed the sweet yet pernicious Urge to unbind the Being, for only Harm will come of it, Wailing and Gnashing of Teeth will be the only result. Likewise he who tightens his Servant's yoke overmuch will gain nothing from it, for his enchained Being will be to him dumb and dull as a Lump of Earth.
The Key is to prepare a proper magic Barrier, one whose effectiveness shall be backed by a crystal of power. This crystal is of the utmost importance: if it should break, the barrier shall fail, yet worry not overmuch, for neither axe nor blade can harm it. A barrier thus secured shall serve as the Minion's Prison without unduly hindering its Power. The Ability to erect it properly, however, demands a high level of Proficiency, the kind no mere superficial Study or Practice can provide. The Bunglers and Ne'er-do-wells of our Profession need not apply!
Right. Sounds suitably pompous. Must have Dukas make a clean copy of this first draft, prepare it for publication. Wonder where that clod is, I sent him out for cheese and ink ages ago…
...and examine the root of a magic plant. Then you'll come to the conclusion that you're dealing with an earth elemental.
Geralt discovered the haunted house hid secrets not within its walls, but underneath its foundations. A powerful earth elemental, also known as a d'ao, had been imprisoned in its basement. Geralt knew the creature would destroy the entire neighborhood in the blink of an eye were it ever to break free. He had to act quickly.
Find a lever in the side corridor, use it...
...and then the passage to the room where the earth elemental is located will open.
Use the aard sign and hit the egg-shaped stone on the pedestal. When you do that, the barrier will disappear and you will be able to kill the earth elemental - Therazane.
In his corpse you will find earth elemental trophy (10% Chance to dismember), and a relic steel sword - Cleaver hood.
Go back to the inn, tell Kurt about the elemental and collect your reward.
Geralt deactivated the magic barrier which had kept the elemental imprisoned and then destroyed it. Once this was done, he had but to visit the manor's owner to collect his reward.