Bloody Baron Quest Overview
The Bloody Baron, known as Phillip Strenger, appears in The Witcher 3 when Geralt is sent to Crow’s Perch in Velen during the search for Ciri. After the Nilfgaardian Connection, the quest begins at Crow’s Perch, where guards may be wary if you previously killed the Baron’s men. You can either accept a 15‑crown donation from a middle‑aged man in green‑and‑yellow garb, which reveals the exact location of a nearby shrine, or decline and save the money while learning less about the situation.
The Baron Takes Anna to the Blue Mountains
The most favorable ending for the Baron’s story occurs when you choose to kill the spirit in the Whispering Hillock quest, or you free the spirit beforehand by visiting the Ancient Oak and entering the cave beneath the tree. In the “Return to Crookback Bog” quest, Geralt helps the Baron retrieve his daughter Anna, who has become crazed from the earlier decision. The Baron then takes Anna to a hermit in the Blue Mountains, securing a bittersweet conclusion in which both he and Anna survive, though the price of sacrificing the orphans and Anna’s mental health remains a heavy moral choice.
The Baron Dies
If Geralt releases the spirit during the Whispering Hillock, the Baron is guaranteed death. Anna then transforms into a water hag, and the curse can be lifted only by using the doll with a violet hollyhock bloom, Anna’s favorite flower. Selecting the correct doll restores her humanity for a short time, allowing a final goodbye before she dies; choosing any other doll causes her to burst into flames, a tragic scene that leaves the Baron without a chance to apologize. Regardless of the outcome, Geralt must return to Crow’s Perch to collect his payment, where he finds the Baron hanging from a tree, a grim end shaped by regret, grief, and drink.
