You’re wandering through the mud and misery of Velen, probably just looking for some monster hair or a decent diagram, when you stumble upon two peasants praying to a pile of rocks. This is how "A Greedy God" starts. It’s a side quest that most players breeze through in ten minutes, but honestly, it’s one of those perfect little vignettes that makes The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt so special. It’s not about saving the world or fighting a Higher Vampire. It’s about a fat guy in a basement eating too much ham.
Seriously.
If you haven't found it yet, head south of the Wasteland area in Velen. You’ll find some ruins and a couple of terrified villagers crying about "Allgod." They think they're being punished because their harvest was trash and they can't provide enough food for their deity. They’re starving, but they’re still leaving whatever scraps they have at an altar. It's bleak. It’s classic Velen. But Geralt, being Geralt, notices something is off immediately.
Finding the Greedy God: The Quest Mechanics
Most people miss the entrance. You talk to the peasants, Geralt uses his Witcher Senses, and you follow a scent trail. It leads you to a wall that looks solid but is actually an illusion. This is where the The Nehaleni's Eye comes in—the Keira Metz quest item. If you don't have it yet, you can't actually finish this quest the "right" way. You’ll just be stuck staring at a wall while a muffled voice tells you to go away.
Once you dispel the illusion, you head down into a cellar. And there he is.
He’s not a god. He’s a Sylvan. If you’ve played the earlier games or read the Sapkowski books, you know Sylvans (or "deovels") are rare, goat-like creatures that are usually more interested in pranks and eating than actual malice. This one, however, has set up a sweet racket. He’s been living under these ruins for years, tricking the locals into bringing him the best food and booze while they eat bark and dirt.
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The Confrontation: Kill Him or Spare Him?
This is where the nuance of The Witcher 3 kicks in. You have three real choices here.
First, you can just kill him. He’s a monster, he’s a liar, and he’s literally stealing food from starving people. If you choose violence, it’s a quick fight. Sylvans aren't exactly boss-tier difficulty at this stage of the game. You loot his body, tell the peasants their god was a fraud, and they’re... well, they’re horrified. They don't thank you. They're actually pretty pissed that you killed their "protector."
Option two: you talk to him. You can try to negotiate. Geralt can basically tell the Sylvan to lower his standards. Tell him the peasants are dying and if they die, the food stops. The Sylvan, being a lazy creature of comfort, usually agrees to "settle" for less lavish offerings. You go back up, tell the peasants the god has had a change of heart, and everyone is happy. Except you know the truth. You’ve basically brokered a deal for a parasitic relationship to continue.
The third option is the "Witcher" way. You threaten him, tell him to stop the nonsense, and then tell the peasants there’s a cellar they should check out.
Why the Sylvan is Actually Kind of a Genius
Let’s be real for a second. In the war-torn landscape of Velen, where the Wild Hunt is riding through the sky and the Nilfgaardians are hanging people from every other tree, this Sylvan found a way to survive. He isn't killing anyone. He isn't eating children. He’s just a glutton.
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In the quest dialogue, he’s incredibly defensive. He argues that he provides a service—hope. The peasants feel better thinking their sacrifices mean something. It’s a cynical, dark take on religion that CD Projekt Red loves to weave into their side content. Is a comfortable lie better than a starving truth? Geralt usually leans toward the truth, but as a player, you might find the Sylvan’s laziness almost charming compared to the horrors of the Crones of Crookback Bog.
Looting the Vault (Don't Skip This)
If you decide to let him live or even if you kill him, don't just walk out. The cellar is packed. Because he’s been collecting "tribute" for so long, there is a ton of high-quality food and alcohol down there. In the early game, when health regeneration is a pain (especially on Death March difficulty), raiding a "god’s" pantry is a legitimate tactical move.
- Roasted Chicken Legs: Everywhere.
- Alcohol: Plenty of Alcohest and spirits for your potion refills.
- Rare Ingredients: Sometimes you'll find monster parts or crafting materials in the crates.
The real "A Greedy God Witcher 3" experience isn't the experience points. It's the realization that most of the "magic" in Velen is just some guy in a basement with a good scam.
Technical Tips for the Quest
If you’re trying to wrap this up quickly, here’s the breakdown.
The quest level is low, usually around Level 7 or 8. You can find it by traveling to the Wasteland signpost. If the peasants aren't there, you might need to progress slightly further in the main Velen arc, but usually, they’re standing right by the ruined manor.
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If you choose to kill the Sylvan, use Igni. Sylvans hate fire. Their fur catches easily, and it keeps them CC’d (crowd controlled) so you can get behind them for critical hits. Don't bother with Axii as much here; they have decent mental resistance. Just burn him and dodge the charges.
If you choose to spare him, make sure you go back and check the area later in the game. The world state doesn't change massively, but the dialogue with the villagers reflects your choice. If you told them about the cellar, they stop praying. If you let the scam continue, they stay poor but "blessed."
Common Misconceptions
People often think this quest leads to a bigger contract. It doesn't. It’s a self-contained story. Also, some players think you need high Charisma/Delusion (Axii) to finish it peacefully. You don't. The dialogue options are open regardless of your skill tree, though having Delusion Level 2 or 3 is always a good idea in Velen for the extra XP during conversations.
Another weird thing: some players report the scent trail being buggy. If the red trail doesn't appear in Witcher Senses, just walk around the backside of the ruins toward the wooden floorboards. The "interaction" prompt for the illusion should pop up once you're close enough to the hidden stairs.
Actionable Next Steps for Completionists
If you’ve finished "A Greedy God," you're likely in the right level range to handle a few other nearby secrets that people often overlook.
- Check the nearby coast: There’s a hidden treasure quest involving a sunken chest just west of the ruins.
- Visit the Pellar: If you haven't finished "A Towerful of Mice," that questline is geographically close and offers a much darker look at "haunted" ruins.
- Upgrade your gear: By the time you're dealing with Sylvans, you should be hunting for the Griffin School Gear. The first set of diagrams is scattered around Velen, and the boots aren't far from where this quest takes place.
- Sell the loot: Take all that wine and food you stole from the Sylvan to the merchant in Midcopse. He gives decent rates, and you'll need the crowns for your first set of Witcher armor.
Dealing with a greedy god in Witcher 3 isn't just a checkbox on a map. It’s a reminder that Geralt’s world is built on small, human (or sub-human) greed. Sometimes the monster isn't a world-eating beast; sometimes it's just a guy who wants a free lunch. Decide if that’s worth a silver sword to the chest or just a stern talking-to.