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Main quest
"Pomp and Strange Circumstance"
Tw3 baw pomp and strange circumstance
Details
Type
Main quest
Expansion
Blood and Wine
Suggested level
49
Location(s)
Beauclair Port
Beauclair Palace
Palace Gardens
Temple Cemetery
Mère-Lachaiselongue Cemetery
Region(s)
Toussaint
Source
Entering Pierre's workshop after defeating Dettlaff
Reward
200 XP earned based on the Story and Swords! difficulty level / 5000 crown(s) / The Order of Vitis Vinifera
Related
Tesham Mutna
Be It Ever So Humble…

Pomp and Strange Circumstance is a main quest in the Blood and Wine expansion.

Journal entry[ | ]

The witcher had, at last, defeated the Beast of Beauclair. Her Enlightened Highness Duchess Anna Henrietta invited him to a ceremony where she would award him the Vitis Vinifera Medal, Toussaint's highest honor.
Geralt, famous for being one of the world's leading scruffs, possessed no outfit that would not violate protocol or be remotely suitable for such an occasion. In her generosity, the duchess agreed to fund a new robe.
Regis, having nothing better to do, accompanied the witcher to the tailor's for his fitting. There, the vampire revealed the thought that was tormenting him. Namely, he believed Syanna had planned five murders from the start. He wished to know the identity of the fifth intended victim. He suggested to Geralt that they investigate the matter to the end.
Geralt investigates the potential 5th victim by talking to the bootblack:
They first sought out the bootblack. The boy directed them to a poorhouse. It was there they learned Syanna had indeed planned five murders. All to wreak vengeance upon those who had caused her to be banished from the court and the Ducal Palace. The final victim was to have been her very own sister, Duchess Anna Henrietta. Geralt considered confronting Syanna.
Geralt talks to the confined Syanna, tries to reason with her:
Geralt reached the tower where Syanna sat confined. After speaking to her, he made his way to the ceremony, during which he was to receive his distinction.
On her own behalf and that of her subjects, Anna Henrietta thanked Geralt for slaying the Beast of Beauclair and awarded him the Vitis Vinifera Medal. Thankfully, the ceremony was brief, so the witcher lacked time to demonstrate his ignorance of protocol and thus violate the majesty of the court.
Geralt has successfully reasoned with Syanna before the ceremony:
After the ceremony, Sylvia Anna faced her accusers. When Geralt had spoken to Syanna earlier, he had broached some sensitive issues. These now came to the fore, and a heated argument erupted between the sisters. Those valuing convention and decorum undoubtedly considered it an unsavory public airing of matters private. Yet my own heart inclines me to think it a fortunate turn of events. For we cannot know what might have happened had there been no release of resentments that had accumulated over decades.
Upon quitting the palace Geralt rejoined Regis at his crypt. They indulged in some well-deserved respite while sipping Regis' exquisite (as they both assured me) mandrake hooch.
Geralt failed to prevent Syanna from killing the Duchess:
After the ceremony, Sylvia Anna faced her accusers. Alas, her interrogation ended in tragedy. Though her murderous scheme had been thwarted when her "murder weapon," the vampire Dettlaff, had been removed, Syanna decided to see the matter through. Feigning a willingness to reconcile, she tricked all those present and ran a hair pin through her sister's heart. Anarietta died instantly, and no one, not even the witcher with his lightning fast reflexes, could prevent it.
A woman of great beauty, in the prime of her life, Anna Henrietta breathed her last at the foot of her own palace. As she died her thoughts went to the undersigned… Grief grips my heart as I write this, tears flow of their own from my eyes.
The bad seed, Sylvia Anna, perished immediately afterwards, without trial or due process cut down by a ducal guardsman loyal and true.
Geralt visited the crypt where both sisters had been laid to rest. Then he rejoined Regis to enjoy some well-deserved respite, aided by a jug of the vampire's mandrake hooch.

Walkthrough[ | ]

  • At the Tailor's Workshop Geralt receives a new outfit:
  • Pierre: On robes and refinement.
    • Not about to debate taste. (××)
    • Use to wearing something different. (×)
  • Regis: On finding out who the fifth victim would have been.
    • You're right. Need to talk to the bootblack. Let's go. (××)
    • Not bad as ideas go, talking to the bootblack. Let's meet there. (×)
    • No point investigating any further.


  • [Optional] Talk to the bootblack during the day.
    • Geralt: On beggars delivering the notes.
      • Where'd the beggars get the letters from?
      • Remember what they looked like? (×)
    • [Optional] Find the shelter.
    • Defeat the attackers. (at the shelter)
    • Beggar: "I still have mine. I'm to deliver it two days after the Feast of Saint Barnabas."
    • Regis: Suggesting to ask Syanna about her motives behind all this.
      • Love to learn her motives. (×)
      • Think it's a good idea?
    • Geralt: "I'd need to get past some guards to see her." (50 XP earned based on the Story and Swords! difficulty level)
      • Coming with? (×)
      • Meet after the ceremony?
    • [Optional] Talk to Syanna.
    • Geralt: Tells guard he needs to talk to Syanna.
      • She's suspected of planning the duchess' assassination.
      • Wanna talk to her, plain and simple (×)
    • [Optional] Follow the guard to Syanna's cell.
    • Syanna: Why do you think she wants her sister dead?
      • Curse of the Black Sun.
      • Because you envy her.
      • Cause she turned her back on you, forgot you. (×)
    • Syanna: Will probably kill her sister, if she has the opportunity.
      • Ah, honestly, finally.
      • Ever thought to forgive her. (×)
      • Think I'd heard enough.
    • Syanna: Why did she forget me?'
      • Might ask her that.
      • She was a child. (×) (Syanna mentions the "happily ever after" Geralt may have chosen in the Land of a Thousand Fables. There is also mention of Geralt having read the nanny's diary.)


  • Talk to Damien. Geralt follows the clues to the 5th potential victim.
    • Damien: "Ready for the ceremony?"
      • We can start. (×)
      • Fifth victim – know who it was supposed to be. (×)
    • Duchess: "Are you content?" (200 XP earned based on the Story and Swords! difficulty level, 5000 crown(s), The Order of Vitis Vinifera)
      • Can't wait.
      • Truly honored. (×)
      • Got bad news – Syanna was out to kill you. (×)
    • Syanna: "The witcher will take part in our talk?"
      • Duchess asked me to stay. (×)
      • Free to do as I choose.
    • Duchess: "I shall now hear what he has to say."
      • Syanna's crimes were horrible, but she had cause to feel pain. (×)
      • Syanna's clearly guilty. That's all that matters.
    • Syanna seems to forgive her sister.


  • Talk to Damien. (××) Geralt ignored clues to the 5th potential victim.
    • Damien: "Ready for the ceremony?"
      • We can start. (××)
      • Don't look too good. (××)
    • Duchess: "Are you content?" (200 XP earned based on the Story and Swords! difficulty level, 5000 crown(s), The Order of Vitis Vinifera)
      • Can't wait. (××)
      • Truly honored.
    • Syanna: "The witcher will take part in our talk?"
      • Duchess asked me to stay.
      • Free to do as I choose. (××)
    • Duchess: "I shall now hear what he has to say."
      • Syanna should be punished like any criminal. (××)
      • The good of the duchy, that's what matters most.
    • Syanna kills the Duchess, and is killed herself.
    • Florist: "How could it happen?"
      • I let the duchess down.
      • Never thought Syanna would be so unrelenting.
      • Anna Henrietta was too trusting. (××)
    • Place a flower on Anna Henrietta's grave.
    • Damien: "Yet I let her down."
      • Don't blame yourself. (××)
      • Stop feeling sorry for yourself.
    • In the Ducal Crypt:
      • [Place flowers on both graves.] (××)
      • [Place flowers on Anna Henrietta's grave.]


  • At the cemetery talking to Regis: (200 XP earned based on the Story and Swords! difficulty level)
  • [Optional] Put on a mask and gloves.
  • Collect mandrake roots. (2)
  • Return to Regis.
  • Use your Witcher Senses to find Regis.
  • Help Regis defeat the vampires.
  • Regis: "Shall you hang your swords over the mantle and take to pruning vines?"
    • Yes. Think I'll settle down there for good. (××)
    • No. I was made to kill monsters.
    • Don't know yet. (×)
  • Thus Geralt's adventure ends.

Gallery[ | ]

Notes[ | ]

  • A chat with the bootblack updates his character entry.
  • Curiosity: When Geralt investigates the 5th note coming from the tailor, he will be in ceremonial attire. Choosing to change into combat attire to talk to the bootblack, should make that armor his last armor set. At the ceremony Geralt automatically dons the ceremonial attire. Should all go well, Geralt then meets up with Regis at the cemetery, there Geralt does not don his last armor though, he falls back to the armor before visiting the tailor. In my case the black Tesham Mutna armor set while fighting Dettlaff.
  • The talk with the bootblack also takes place in Burlap is the New Stripe.
  • If Anna Henrietta dies, a statue is erected in her honour.