Skellige is a mess. Honestly, by the time you reach the feast at Kaer Trolde, you’ve probably spent forty hours tracking down a serial killer in Novigrad or haggling over drowners in a Velen swamp. You’re tired. Geralt is tired. But then The Witcher 3 King's Gambit happens, and suddenly the game shifts from a monster-hunting simulator into a high-stakes political thriller where the literal future of an entire culture rests on whether you decide to follow a hot-headed warrior or a calculated strategist. It’s a turning point. It's also the quest that makes most players realize that CD Projekt Red doesn't care about "good" or "bad" endings—they care about consequences that actually hurt.
The setup is basically a Viking funeral gone wrong. You’ve helped Hjalmar and Cerys an Craite with their individual trials. You’ve killed a giant on Undvik and exorcised a Hym in Spikeroog. Now, it’s time to celebrate. But while the ale is flowing and the warriors are boasting, a massacre occurs. Berserkers—men turning into bears right in the middle of the hall—start tearing people apart. It’s chaotic. It’s bloody. And how you react to this mess determines who sits on the throne of Skellige for the rest of your playthrough.
The Cerys vs. Hjalmar Debate: It's Not Just About Stats
Most people play this quest and immediately think about which ruler is "better." But if you look at the writing, it’s actually a test of your own investigative style. Cerys wants to find out why this happened. Hjalmar just wants to find out who did it so he can put an axe in their head.
If you choose to help Cerys, you’re playing a detective game. You’ll find yourself sniffing around cellars, looking at honey-laced horns, and uncovering a plot involving Birna Bran. It’s subtle. It's smart. Cerys represents a future for Skellige that isn't just constant raiding and dying for "honor." She brings peace. She brings prosperity. But—and this is the part people miss—she also turns Skellige into a more "civilized" nation, which some lore purists argue kills the spirit of the Isles. She is the choice for players who want stability.
Then there’s Hjalmar.
Choosing Hjalmar is basically choosing the path of maximum violence. You go to a village, you fight some Vildkaarls, and you find the culprit through sheer aggression. It’s satisfying if you’re playing Geralt as a man of action who doesn't have time for politics. If Hjalmar takes the throne, Skellige stays "Skellige." They keep raiding Nilfgaard. They keep dying in glory. It’s traditional, but it’s arguably doomed in the long run. If you’re looking for the "best" outcome for the war against the Blackfurs, Cerys is usually the objective winner, but Hjalmar’s ending feels more in line with the rugged, stubborn culture we see throughout the game.
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What Happens if You Walk Away?
Here is the thing almost nobody does: you can actually ignore the quest. If you choose not to help either sibling during The Witcher 3 King's Gambit, Svanrige Bran takes the throne.
Svanrige is the "secret" third option.
Initially, he seems like a puppet for his mother, Birna. But if he becomes king because Geralt stayed out of it, he actually steps up. He establishes a monarchy. He stops the infighting by force. It’s a fascinating, darker outcome that proves the game continues even if the protagonist decides he's too busy for royal drama. It’s arguably the most "realistic" outcome for a Witcher who is supposed to remain neutral, though it feels like "losing" content to most players.
The Berserker Mystery and The Trap of Tradition
The lore behind the bears is often overlooked. These aren't just random monsters. They are Vildkaarls. In the world of The Witcher, the transition from man to beast is usually a curse or a mutation, but here, it’s a religious, drug-induced fervor. The honey in the mead triggered the transformation.
Birna Bran’s involvement is the real kicker. She’s a villain, sure, but her motivation is something any parent might understand, even if they don't agree with the mass murder part. She wanted her son on the throne. She saw the "selection" process of the jarls as an antiquated system that kept Skellige weak. By trying to force a hereditary monarchy, she was trying to modernize her country. She just used horrific, dishonorable methods to do it. When you follow Cerys, you expose Birna. The scene where she is sentenced to be chained to a rock and left for the sirens is one of the most chilling moments in the entire Skellige arc. It’s brutal.
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Missing the "Best" Rewards
Don't just rush the dialogue. There are things in this quest that affect your endgame.
- The Skill Point: If you help Cerys, you get access to a Place of Power that is otherwise incredibly difficult or impossible to reach later. It's in the cellar during the investigation.
- The Allies: This quest is a prerequisite for "Brothers In Arms: Skellige." If you don't finish the succession line, you won't have the full support of the Isles when the Wild Hunt finally shows up at Kaer Morhen.
- The Fate of the Clans: Who you pick changes the flavor of the world. Seeing Hjalmar’s banners vs. Cerys’ banners around the islands might seem like a small cosmetic thing, but it changes how NPCs talk to you.
The quest isn't just a side story. It's the soul of the Skellige map. It bridges the gap between the personal story of Geralt finding Ciri and the larger geopolitical movements of the Continent.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Playthrough
To get the most out of this experience, don't just click the first yellow dialogue option. Think about what kind of world you want Geralt to leave behind.
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- Check your gear first. The fight against the three bears in the hall happens fast. If you’re playing on Death March difficulty, those bears will shred you in three hits. Use Quen. Use Beast Oil. Don't get cornered by the tables.
- Follow Cerys for the lore. If this is your first time, Cerys’ path provides significantly more context about the conspiracy. It feels like a complete story.
- Loot the cellar. Seriously. There are unique crafting materials and that aforementioned Place of Power.
- Watch Svanrige. Even if you don't pick him, pay attention to his reactions during the feast. You can see the moment the boy realizes his mother is a monster.
Whether you want a peaceful Skellige or a warrior nation, the choice you make here sticks. There’s no undoing it. Once the crown is placed, the fate of the North is sealed.