Frozen Reflections



Frozen Reflections is considered a secondary quest, but it is unavoidable narratively. It is triggered by Geralt's entrance in the Cloister of the Order of the Flaming Rose. It is received automatically as Geralt enters The Cloister to speak with the Grand Master of the Order.

Walkthrough
Our hero has just fought his way through a now blazing Temple Quarter and a zeugl-infested sewer, not to mention several greater brothers with the help of his ally (Yaevinn, Siegfried or Triss) and then inside the gates of the Cloister of the Order of the Flaming Rose. Now for the Grand Master... Geralt confronts Jacques, whom he finds surrounded by those few "selected" by the Order to receive sanctuary inside the Cloister. De Aldersberg makes one last (conventional) attempt to convince the witcher that his plan is for the "good" of mankind, but our hero will not be swayed.

This results in both Geralt and Jacques being tranported to a dream world of the Grand Master's making, the Ice Plains. De Aldersberg explains that what Geralt sees are the remains of Vizima, now more or less encased in ice and snow. He lays out how his grand plan was to gather "humanity" and migrate south to avoid this precise eventuality. Of course the fact that any non-humans would be stepped on in the process poses no moral dilemma for the delusional. The witcher quite rightly cuts to the heart of the matter and exposes the insanity of this plan. Seeing that he can not convince Geralt, Jacques summons a number of ifrit to deal with the witcher and teleports away.

Having dispatched the immediate threat, Geralt realizes that he can not go back. He can only proceed further into this strange vision. He moves on and is soon joined by an unexpected ally.

Together, they move on, fighting skullheads along the way, until they reach an ice bridge and Abigail appears.

But more obstacles have yet to be overcome. Our team moves on, this time encountering wraiths of the hunt, skullheads, as well as being subjected to more raving by the Grand Master. Geralt can discern twisted versions of his own words in these sermons but he casts aside any doubts and keeps going. And what journey would be complete without an appearance by the King of the Wild Hunt? That wraith just can not help himself! The usual sort of exchange ensues.

It seems that Jacques is not content to leave his argument stand and throws yet another curve ball in the witcher's direction.

This event is followed by a few more encounters with some monsters and yet another "conversation" with the Grand Master. He does go on! There is really nothing new, he is still delusional and Geralt knows it, but Jacques keeps disappearing, forcing our hero to forge ahead lest he be consumed by the deadly blizzard dogging his heels as he climbs ever higher into the icy mountains. De Aldersberg pulls every trick he has to try to persuade Geralt: guilt, self-doubt, flattery, ... anything. More skullheads, wraiths and mutants attack as our duo advances until the past once again rears its ugly (revisionist) head:

More mutants. Then, suddenly, Alvin appears, but says nothing. Geralt is again tormented by his past decisions and the consequences of his choices, but he keeps moving, only to be "rewarded" with yet another lunatic rant by the Grand Master. The monsters that follow are actually a welcome relief from the evangelizing. Just when things seem endless, some unexpected help materializes.

After a spectacular leap across a collapsing ice bridge, Geralt and his entourage now must face some Knights of the Order as well as a few greater brothers. Once the battle is over however, his allies inform him that they can not follow him farther into the Grand Master's vision. The witcher must go on alone, but that is what witchers do anyway. He proceeds into the ruined temple and faces de Aldersberg who still chooses to hide behind smoke and mirrors.

As Geralt approaches, Jacques first summons a ring of greater mutants which surrounds our hero, forcing him to fight them first. Seeing that his first ploy was wasted, the Grand Master then surrounds the witcher with a magical (and deadly) ring of fire complete with ifrit. Our hero is not so easily stopped though, and makes his way to his target. The two men finally face each other, but just as Geralt manages to knock Jacques to the ground, the King of the Hunt decides to interfere. Are we surprised? I should think not!

The specter spins all of Geralt's choices so far in the ugliest possible manner and throws each and every one of them back in the witcher's face. He also demands the Grand Master's soul for himself. Another choice!

Geralt then proceeds to eliminating the wounded Grand Master once and for all. He draws his steel sword and attempts to deliver the fatal blow when the Grand Master, in a last pitiful attempt at saving his life, uses magic to deflect the blade and sends the sword flying out of reach. Without any hesitation, Geralt then draws his second silver sword and while he positions the blade right on top of the terrified Grand Master, the latter objects that this sword was only made to slay monsters. Of course, it couldn't have been more appropriate.

Back in the real world once more, Geralt is met by Dandelion who has been standing vigil the whole time unable to do anything but wait. The bard points out that the Grand Master is indeed lying dead, just a few paces away in the courtyard of the Cloister. They discuss what became of Yaevinn (or Siegfried, or Triss) and then the witcher searches the remains of Jacques de Aldersberg, retrieving the stolen secrets and revealing an amulet, identical in every way to the dimeritium amulet Geralt had given Alvin in Murky Waters, only much older and worn.

So ends the quest and the game. Geralt has recovered the stolen witchers' secrets thereby completing the mission Vesemir gave him.

Snow and Ice
Vizima is ice-bound, all is covered in snow. The Grand Master claims this awaits us in the future... I must proceed, find an escape or a way to disperse this illusion. I must move on and face the Grand Master no matter what appears in my way.

Abigail
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="3"
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 * If Geralt saved Abigail: So these huge anthropoids are the remnants of humanity? I wonder what else awaits me in this strange land. I must go on, pay no heed to the ghosts of the past. or
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 * If Geralt left Abigail to be lynched: Abigail claims these anthropoids are the descendants of humanity. I think she wants to avenge her own death. I will have to fight her. A fight with Abigail is unavoidable.
 * width=30 |
 * width=30 |
 * width=30 |

The Spirit Defeated
I defeated Abigail, or rather her spirit. I can proceed. I must go on, pay no heed to the ghosts of the past.

Anthropoids
So these huge anthropoids are the remnants of humanity? I wonder what else awaits me in this strange land. I must go on, pay no heed to the ghosts of the past.
 * }

A Conversation with the Master
The Grand Master's words seem familiar, though I'm not sure to what... I can't let myself be deceived by his visions. I must move on. ''I cannot let myself be deceived by the Grand Master's visions. I must go on.''

The King of the Hunt
I spotted the King of the Wild Hunt. That can't be a good sign. It's getting colder... I must move on. ''Death follows me. I must go on.''

Another Conversation
I've heard this speech about nonhumans before... If I could only remember where... The Grand Master speaks with great conviction, though his words are the ravings of a mad man... ''I must move on. He cannot flee eternally.''

The Duel
This land distorts everything, even memories. It is empty, cold, the wind is biting... If it is the reflection of the Grand Master's thoughts, of his soul, I can begin to understand his behavior. Understanding doesn't necessarily bring forgiveness. The way is clear, I can move on.

Alvin's Spirit
I saw little Alvin's spirit. I wonder where he is now... ''I cannot be distracted. I must go on.''

The Master's Eloquence
Where does he get these ideas? Well, no point in debating him. I must fight him as soon as I'm able to catch up. ''It won't be long now. I can feel it. Onward.''

The Heart of the Vision
I'm nearing the heart of the Master's vision. I must go alone. The confrontation draws near. ''I must go alone. The confrontation draws near.''

Fighting the Master
Somehow I doubt we'll make a deal. We can only fight. May the best man win. I must defeat the Grand Master in combat.

The Return
In the real world again... I must recover the stolen secrets and end this story. The Grand Master should have them. ''To end this story, I must recover the stolen secrets. The Grand Master should have them.''

Stolen Secrets
I've recovered the stolen witchers' secrets, completing the mission Vesemir gave me. Time to close this act. I wonder if Dandelion will find it inspiring... Something ends, something begins (10000 XP)

Video
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