The "In the Heart of the Woods" contract in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt stands out as one of Skellige's most morally complex side quests. Set in the quiet village of Fayrlund, Geralt of Rivia finds a community deeply divided over how to deal with an ancient Leshen inhabiting the nearby forest. Understanding the consequences of each choice ensures players reach an outcome that aligns with their personal story path.
Investigating the Woodland Spirit in Fayrlund
To begin the quest, Geralt can either inspect a contract notice in Kaer Trolde Harbor or directly approach the arguing villagers in Fayrlund. Upon investigating the forest tracks using Witcher Senses, players discover that the ancient Leshen, known locally as the Woodland Spirit, has marked a villager. Reading the bestiary entry reveals that as long as the marked individual remains in the area, the Leshen cannot be permanently slain.
Using Witcher Senses around the village leads Geralt to Hilde, a young woman who unknowingly carries the Leshen's mark. At this point, two opposing factions in the village offer completely different solutions to resolve the crisis. Elder Harald advocates for restoring an ancient ritual pact, whereas the hot-headed youth Sven demands the beast's total destruction.
Siding with Sven: Slaying the Ancient Beast
If players decide to support Sven, Geralt must first deal with the marked individual before hunting down the monster. You can choose whether Hilde should be exiled or killed, though Sven's faction will enforce her removal regardless. Once the village situation is handled, Geralt enters the dark forest to locate and destroy three hidden totems guarded by wolves.
After destroying the totems, the Leshen materializes for a challenging battle involving root attacks and wolf summons. Defeating the creature grants players valuable monster materials and completion of the contract. However, returning to Fayrlund reveals a grim aftermath where Sven and his allies slaughter the village elders to seize total control.
Siding with Harald: Renewing the Ancient Pact
Choosing Harald's peaceful route avoids direct combat with the Leshen by respecting the tradition of the village ancestors. Harald requests that Geralt gather wolf hearts and offer them at a sacred altar deep within the woods. Completing the ritual appeases the Woodland Spirit and maintains the dangerous symbiotic relationship between the village and the beast.
Although this choice spares the monster, it does not prevent tragedy from unfolding back in Fayrlund. Sven attacks Harald for making peace with the monster, leaving Geralt to decide whether to intervene or walk away. Furthermore, siding with Harald forfeits the Leshen trophy and locks players out of earning the Woodland Spirit achievement.
Choosing the Lesser Evil in Fayrlund
The quest perfectly encapsulates the signature moral ambiguity of The Witcher series, where no outcome leads to a purely happy ending. Slaying the monster protects travelers but results in political violence and fratricide among the villagers. Conversely, preserving tradition saves Harald initially but leaves Fayrlund bound to a bloodthirsty guardian that demands continuous sacrifices.
Evaluating your gameplay goals helps determine which path provides the most satisfying conclusion for your playthrough. Players seeking unique combat trophies or achievements should side with Sven despite the tragic fallout. Those roleplaying a neutral Witcher who respects natural spirits may prefer honoring Harald's ancient customs.
