The Dungeons of the La Valettes

The Dungeons of the La Valettes is a quest in the Prologue of . There are four different variants of this quest: two for saving Aryan La Valette (if you convinced him to surrender during the assault), and two for saving Baroness Mary Louisa La Valette (if you killed Aryan).
== Associated quest ==
* At the Fore: Geralt's choice and Aryan La Valette's fate in that quest decide the course of events in this one.
== Walkthrough ==
* This is in fact the first active quest of the game; its first objective is to report the witcher's version of the previous day's events to Vernon Roche. Once Roche is satisfied with Geralt's interrogation (consisting of the 'flashback' scenes By the King's Will, At the Fore, To the Temple!, Trial by Fire and Blood of His Blood), he reveals a report from five years ago which helps Geralt remember another crucial moment from his past.
Sneaking out of the dungeon without killing guards is one of the most frustrating and difficult parts of . Of course, you don't have to sneak through the dungeon, you can just hack and slash your way through, but if you want to be sneaky, read on. Be prepared to save often and reload your saves if you intend to take this route. Following this step-by-step guide will help.
=== Mary Louisa La Valette Tortured Version ===
Choose this path if you are sadistic. You need to have killed Aryan La Valette to get this version.
# Geralt will say, "Damn torches. Can't sneak out in this light." Immediately press to quick save the game. Then press to put out the torch. Peek through the door by positioning the camera to make sure that the guard is standing down the hall with his left side to you. Next, open the door and sneak over to the first cell on your left. If the guard is positioned correctly he will say, "Huh?" and move to the now open door. Walk up behind him and use to smack him on the head. Move up to the top of the stairs putting out the torches along the way.
# When you get to the top of the stairs stop before entering the landing and press to quick save the game. After saving, position Geralt so that he is pressed along the wall to his left (not in the hall but at the entryway coming up from the stairs). The guard will talk to himself as he walks around. Take a minute pressed up against the wall to get an idea of his routine if you need to. Wait until he comes up towards the lit torch just around the corner in the hallway. After a pause he will turn around and head back the other way. There is another guard in the next room. He walks around but usually stays in the room. Make certain that the second guard does not have his face pointed in your direction as the first guard turns his back to you. If it is clear, sneak up behind the first guard and press to knock him out. If the second guard is looking in your direction he will see you take the first guard down so if it is not clear wait for his cycle to repeat. Then move into the first cell on your left and press to quick save the game.
# Ignore the people talking in the cell across the way or pause to listen to their humorous dialogue. Do not move if you want to wait and hear what they have to say. When you are ready, sneak to the torch on the left side of the hall and put it out. The guy in the cell by the torch will yell for the guards to come. Ignore him, put the torch out and run back to the cell that you were just in. When the guard in the next room comes out he will talk to the prisoner but he will also turn to relight the torch. As he does this sneak up behind him and press to knock him out. Press to quick save the game. There are a few bags to loot in the next room. Press to show their location.
# Turn around back out the way you came, past the two unconscious guards, and up the steps (to the right of the steps leading down to where Geralt was imprisoned). Sneak up the steps and you will see a guard. He will be on your right hand side and after a moment, will present his back to you. When he does so quickly sneak up behind him and knock him out with . A second guard will be talking to a lady in a cell just beyond. His back will be toward you. Quickly take him down before he finishes talking. This second guard will have a key on him. Press to quick save the game. (Note that if you wait until the second guard finishes talking you may get caught because he will turn around.)
# Go back down the stairs. The key that you just acquired is for the door now on your right (across from the stairs leading down to where Geralt was imprisoned). Jump down the trap door. Press as there are several lootable locations along this route. In the first collapsed cell, before you jump over the wall, there is a bag with a bunch of items in it. There is an oddly named polarm leaning on the wall of one cell. Move across the wooden bridge and up the ramp. You will hear Lady La Valette and the interrogator. Go to the wall directly in front of you and press to peek through the crack. You will see a scene with a topless Mary Louisa La Valette. After the conversation is done press to quick save.
# Go down the hall to where the grate is on the floor. Move to the left wall and press when you see the CLIMB indicator. Climb up and jump down. Knock the scribe out and fight the interrogator using your newly acquired weapon. Note that there is no way to avoid fighting the interrogator. He will see you even if you do not knock the scribe out. While you're here press and loot the room. Loot the scribe and the interrogator for a schematic and some armor respectively.
# Press to quick save and then go up the steps, open the door and walk up the prisoner. Press repeatedly to silence him before he calls the guards. Peek through the door on your left to meet a charming fellow. There is a set of stairs just beside the interrogation room. Go up the steps and you will hear Fitz-Osterlen tell a guard to follow him, giving you the opportunity to escape.
# Press to quick save again and then follow the hallway on your right. Around the corner you will see a rack of barrels. Sneak up to them and press to peek through and see Shilard Fitz-Oesterlen walk past into a room. After the door shuts you can easily walk up to the gate on the other end of the room (North end on the map) and escape. Past the gate there is a sword. Before going outside press to quick save the game.
# If you convinced him to wear armor, you will run into Newboy outside. He'll thank you for saving his bacon and give you a book. He will also distract the guards for you. Make sure that you give him time to do so and don't mess round on the dock too long or you'll have to fight him and the other guards. Go up to the landing and then follow Triss to freedom. There are two chests worth opening along the way.
=== Mary Louisa La Valette Standard Version ===
Choose this path if you killed Aryan but like stealth gameplay.
# Geralt will say, "Damn torches. Can't sneak out in this light." Immediately press to quick save the game. Then press to put out the torch. Peak through the door by positioning the camera to make sure that the guard is standing down the hall with his left side to you. Next, open the door and sneak over to the first cell on your left. If the guard is positioned correctly he will say, "Huh?" and move to the now open door. Walk up behind him and press to smack him on the head. Move up to the top of the stairs putting out the torches along the way.
# When you get to the top of the stairs stop before entering the landing and press to quick save the game. After saving, position Geralt so that he is pressed along the wall to his left (not in the hall but at the entryway coming up from the stairs). The guard will talk to himself as he walks around. Take a minute pressed up against the wall to get an idea of his routine if you need to. Wait until he comes up towards the lit torch just around the corner in the hallway. After a pause he will turn around and head back the other way. There is another guard in the next room. He walks around but usually stays in the room. Make certain that the second guard does not have his face pointed in your direction as the first guard turns his back to you. If it is clear, sneak up behind the first guard and press to knock him out. If the second guard is looking in your direction he will see you take the first guard down so if it is not clear wait for his cycle to repeat. Then move into the first cell on your left and press to quick save the game.
# Ignore the people talking in the cell across the way or pause to listen to their humorous dialogue. Do not move if you want to wait and hear what they have to say. When you are ready, sneak to the torch on the left side of the hall and put it out. The guy in the cell by the torch will yell for the guards to come. Ignore him, put the torch out and run back to the cell that you were just in. When the guard in the next room comes out he will talk to the prisoner but he will also turn to relight the torch. As he does this sneak up behind him and press to knock him out. Press to quick save the game. There are a few bags to loot in the next room. Press to show their location.
# Enter through the door here and watch the cut scene with Mary Louisa and the Nilfgaard Ambassador. Move into the room and turn to your left towards the stairs. When you get towards the top of the stairs look out for the guard standing there. Wait until his back is turned and then sneak up behind him and knock him out by pressing . Quickly put out the two nearest torches and take the path to your right.
# Watch your mini-map and wait for the nearest guard to walk down the short hall. He will stay in this hall because the AI doesn't recognize the guard's bodies on the ground. You can take him from either direction just make sure that his back is to you. You can also put out the torch on the east wall and he will investigate it. Either way, after you press to take him down press to quick save.
# Move towards the barrels on the rack and press to peek through. You will see a guard walking around. Watch his path for a moment to figure out how to best take him down. Move to the left and put out two more torches. Press to quick save again.
# There is another guard patrolling around the corner. Wait for him to move down the hall. He is difficult to get to with all of the obstacles so just go around the corner and hide behind the second set of barrels. Put out the nearby torch so that he won't see you. Wait for him to turn his back and then press to easily take him down. Press to quick save your game.
# The last guard will pause in the Northeast corner of the room. When he does so move down the hallway near where you knocked the last guard out. Around the corner to the left there is a small section where you can hide. This is useful because it can be difficult to get to him by running down the hall before he turns around and sees you. While you wait, loot the three bags in the room. He will pass by and stop for a moment at one end or the other of his patrol giving you enough time to take him down. After you do, press to quick save your game again.
# Open the door on the East wall and talk to Mary Louisa La Vallete and Shilard Fitz-Oesterlen. Mary Louisa will convince the ambassador to help you escape. After the guard is lured away you can easily sneak out to the gate on the other end of the room (North end on the map) and escape. Past the gate there is a sword. Before going outside press to quick save the game.
# If you convinced him to wear armor, you will run into Newboy outside. He'll thank you for saving his bacon and give you a book. He will also distract the guards for you. Make sure that you give him time to do so and don't mess round on the dock too long or you'll have to fight him and the other guards. Go up to the landing and then follow Triss to freedom. There are two chests worth opening along the way.
=== Aryan La Valette Tortured Version ===
Choose this version if you are sadistic and want to see Aryan La Valette get his ass beat.
# Geralt will say, "Damn torches. Can't sneak out in this light." Immediately press to quick save the game. Then press to put out the torch. Peak through the door by positioning the camera to make sure that the guard is standing down the hall with his left side to you. Next, open the door and sneak over to the first cell on your left. If the guard is positioned correctly he will say, "Huh?" and move to the now open door. Walk up behind him and press to smack him on the head. Move up to the top of the stairs putting out the torches along the way.
# When you get to the top of the stairs stop before entering the landing and press to quick save the game. After saving, position Geralt so that he is pressed along the wall to his left (not in the hall but at the entryway coming up from the stairs). The guard will talk to himself as he walks around. Take a minute pressed up against the wall to get an idea of his routine if you need to. Wait until he comes up towards the lit torch just around the corner in the hallway. After a pause he will turn around and head back the other way. There is another guard in the next room. He walks around but usually stays in the room. Make certain that the second guard does not have his face pointed in your direction as the first guard turns his back to you. If it is clear, sneak up behind the first guard and press to knock him out. If the second guard is looking in your direction he will see you take the first guard down so if it is not clear wait for his cycle to repeat. Then move into the first cell on your left and press to quick save the game.
# Ignore the people talking in the cell across the way or pause to listen to their humorous dialogue. Do not move if you want to wait and hear what they have to say. When you are ready, sneak to the torch on the left side of the hall and put it out. The guy in the cell by the torch will yell for the guards to come. Ignore him, put the torch out and run back to the cell that you were just in. When the guard in the next room comes out he will talk to the prisoner but he will also turn to relight the torch. As he does this sneak up behind him and press to knock him out. Press to quick save the game. There are a few bags to loot in the next room. Press to show their location.
# Turn around back out the way you came, past the two unconscious guards, and up the steps (to the right of the steps leading down to where Geralt was imprisoned). Sneak up the steps and you will see a guard. He will be on your right hand side and after a moment, will present his back to you. When he does so quickly sneak up behind him and knock him out with . A second guard will be talking to a lady in a cell just beyond. His back will be toward you. Quickly take him down before he finishes talking. This second guard will have a key on him. Press to quick save the game. (Note that if you wait until the second guard finishes talking you may get caught because he will turn around.)
# Go back down the stairs. The key that you just acquired is for the door now on your right (across from the stairs leading down to where Geralt was imprisoned). Jump down the trap door. Press as there are several lootable locations along this route. In the first collapsed cell, before you jump over the wall, there is a bag with a bunch of items in it. There is an oddly named polarm leaning on the wall of one cell. Move across the wooden bridge and up the ramp. You will hear Aryan La Valette and the interrogator. Go to the wall directly in front of you and press to peek through the crack. You will see Aryan being beaten with a hot poker. After the conversation is done press to quick save.
# Go down the hall to where the grate is on the floor. Move to the left wall and press when you see the CLIMB indicator. Climb up and jump down. Knock the scribe out and fight the interrogator using your newly acquired weapon. Note that there is no way to avoid fighting the interrogator. He will see you even if you do not knock the scribe out. While you're here press and loot the room. Loot the scribe and the interrogator for a schematic and some armor respectively. Set Aryan down to loot the room if you have to.
# Take Aryan to the next room and set him down there. When you get to the room be sure to quiet the prisoner by pressing repeatedly. Take the set of stairs to the right of the room you just came out of. Press to quick save.
# Watch your mini-map and wait for the nearest guard to walk down the short hall. He will stay in this hall because the AI doesn't recognize the guard's bodies on the ground. You can take him from either direction just make sure that his back is to you. You can also put out the torch on the east wall and he will investigate it. Either way, after you press to take him down press to quick save.
# Move towards the barrels on the rack and click to peek through. You will see a guard walking around. Watch his path for a moment to figure out how to best take him down. Move to the left and put out two more torches. Press to quick save again.
# There is another guard patrolling around the corner. Wait for him to move down the hall. He is difficult to get to with all of the obstacles so just go around the corner and hide behind the second set of barrels. Put out the nearby torch so that he won't see you. Wait for him to turn his back and thenpress to easily take him down. Press to quick save your game.
# The last guard will pause in the Northeast corner of the room. When he does so move down the hallway near where you knocked the last guard out. Around the corner to the left there is a small section where you can hide. This is useful because it can be difficult to get to him by running down the hall before he turns around and sees you. While you wait, loot the three bags in the room. He will pass by and stop for a moment at one end or the other of his patrol giving you enough time to take him down. After you do, press to quick save your game again.
# You will get a message telling you to go back for Aryan. Do so. If you see the scribe up and walking around kill him. Its some sort of glitch but doesn't seem to affect whether or not you were able to escape without creating a bloodbath. Guide Aryan to the oil room and he will reveal a secret passage.
# If you convinced him to wear armor, you will run into Newboy outside. He'll thank you for saving his bacon and give you a book. He will also distract the guards for you. Make sure that you give him time to do so and don't mess round on the dock too long or you'll have to fight him and the other guards. Go up to the landing and then follow Triss to freedom. There are two chests worth opening along the way.
=== Aryan La Valette Standard Version ===
Choose this version if you want to see Aryan La Valette be a bad-ass for about three seconds.
# Geralt will say, "Damn torches. Can't sneak out in this light." Immediately press to quick save the game. Then press to put out the torch. Peak through the door by positioning the camera to make sure that the guard is standing down the hall with his left side to you. Next, open the door and sneak over to the first cell on your left. If the guard is positioned correctly he will say, "Huh?" and move to the now open door. Walk up behind him and press to smack him on the head. Move up to the top of the stairs putting out the torches along the way.
# When you get to the top of the stairs stop before entering the landing and press to quick save the game. After saving, position Geralt so that he is pressed along the wall to his left (not in the hall but at the entryway coming up from the stairs). The guard will talk to himself as he walks around. Take a minute pressed up against the wall to get an idea of his routine if you need to. Wait until he comes up towards the lit torch just around the corner in the hallway. After a pause he will turn around and head back the other way. There is another guard in the next room. He walks around but usually stays in the room. Make certain that the second guard does not have his face pointed in your direction as the first guard turns his back to you. If it is clear, sneak up behind the first guard and press to knock him out. If the second guard is looking in your direction he will see you take the first guard down so if it is not clear wait for his cycle to repeat. Then move into the first cell on your left and press to quick save the game.
# Ignore the people talking in the cell across the way or pause to listen to their humorous dialogue. Do not move if you want to wait and hear what they have to say. When you are ready, sneak to the torch on the left side of the hall and put it out. The guy in the cell by the torch will yell for the guards to come. Ignore him, put the torch out and run back to the cell that you were just in. When the guard in the next room comes out he will talk to the prisoner but he will also turn to relight the torch. As he does this sneak up behind him and press to knock him out. Press to quick save the game. There are a few bags to loot in the next room. Press to show their location.
# Enter through the door here and watch the cut scene where Aryan escapes. After talking to him, take the stairs to the left of the door you came through. Make sure to quiet the prisoner before he alerts the guards. Press to quick save your game.
# When you get towards the top of the stairs look out for the guard standing there. Wait until his back is turned and then sneak up behind him and knock him out using the . Quickly put out the two nearest torches and take the path to your right.
# Watch your mini-map and wait for the nearest guard to walk down the short hall. He will stay in this hall because the AI doesn't recognize the guard's bodies on the ground. You can take him from either direction just make sure that his back is to you. You can also put out the torch on the east wall and he will investigate it. Either way, after you press to take him down press to quick save.
# Move towards the barrels on the rack and click to peek through. You will see a guard walking around. Watch his path for a moment to figure out how to best take him down. Move to the left and put out two more torches. Press to quick save again.
# There is another guard patrolling around the corner. Wait for him to move down the hall. He is difficult to get to with all of the obstacles so just go around the corner and hide behind the second set of barrels. Put out the nearby torch so that he won't see you. Wait for him to turn his back and then press to easily take him down. Press to quick save your game.
# The last guard will pause in the Northeast corner of the room. When he does so move down the hallway near where you knocked the last guard out. Around the corner to the left there is a small section where you can hide. This is useful because it can be difficult to get to him by running down the hall before he turns around and sees you. While you wait, loot the three bags in the room. He will pass by and stop for a moment at one end or the other of his patrol giving you enough time to take him down. After you do, press to quick save your game again.
# You will get a message telling you to go back for Aryan. Do so. If you see the scribe up and walking around kill him. Its some sort of glitch but doesn't seem to affect whether or not you were able to escape without creating a bloodbath. Guide Aryan to the oil room and he will reveal a secret passage.
# If you convinced him to wear armor, you will run into Newboy outside. He'll thank you for saving his bacon and give you a book. He will also distract the guards for you. Make sure that you give him time to do so and don't mess round on the dock too long or you'll have to fight him and the other guards. Go up to the landing and then follow Triss to freedom. There are two chests worth opening along the way.
== Notes ==
* After you help Aryan (regardless of the "version"), exit the dungeon, and reach the ship, Roche will give you a comment on how you accomplished the task, which will be different depending on whether or not you managed not to kill any guards (stunning them all instead). Helping Aryan inevitably leads to him blowing up the oil store, which Roche will also comment on, believing that it was your doing.
** If Newboy is there when you exit the dungeons, killing him and the other guards will not count towards the "bloody" comment by Roche.
* If you see the scribe up and walking around after you knocked him out, you can either ignore him or kill him. It doesn't seem to have any effect on the game.
* There are a lot of skeletons laying around with a few orens on them. For some reason they don't show up when you use the Medallion key to highlight items.
* When a guard approaches a torch that you extinguished to rekindle it, he may be heard muttering "Rage, rage against the dying of the light...", which is taken from a poem by Dylan Thomas "Do not go gentle into that good night".
== Journal entry ==
: My story begins after the fateful events in which the witcher Geralt of Rivia, known also as the White Wolf, saved Foltest, Lord of Temeria, from an assassin. From that moment on, the monarch would not quit the witcher's company, turning him from an itinerant monster slayer into a royal bodyguard and thus causing him to suffer increasingly. However, since it is unwise to deny a king, Geralt now found himself in the lands of the La Valettes, where Foltest had taken personal command of the siege of the rebel family's walled town and castle. Witchers know well how fickle fortune can be, and accordingly luck had abandoned our hero within the castle walls. Due to a tragic mistake, Geralt was imprisoned in the castle's dungeon, where he had to patiently recount recent events to Vernon Roche, Foltest's right hand man. If you wish to know just how the witcher plunged from the pinnacle of success to the depths of misfortune, listen to my tale.
: Geralt had been in trouble many times and in the slammer at least three - including once in my esteemed company. He had always been able to get out, either with the help of friends or by turns of good fortune. This time, however, things looked bleak. Almost everyone thought the witcher had murdered the king. Luckily, Vernon Roche had his doubts. Roche completed his grueling interrogation of Geralt and left the witcher to the guards, but not before leaving our hero the key to his manacles and adding that he would await aboard his ship. All Geralt had to do was to escape from the dungeon on his own. A trifle.
: Prison guards are the same the world over: dumb and short-tempered. Geralt succeeded in provoking his "caretakers" as easily as a cook fries an omelet.
: If Geralt spared Aryan La Valette:
:: Life can be surprising, especially when you're trying to evade death. Sneaking through the dungeon, Geralt chanced upon Aryan La Valette. The erstwhile foes, brought together once more by fate, became allies. Aryan knew the castle like the back of his hand, but the witcher had a sword. So he went forth to clear the way.
:: Before anyone could say, "We've two vacant cells and several openings for new jailors, "Geralt dealt with the guards and turned back to find Aryan La Valette.
:: The young baron knew of a secret passage, so the fugitives headed off in its direction.
:: The witcher escaped from the fortress, but Aryan chose to remain behind. Pride would not allow him to leave his family seat in enemy hands. The ensuing fire was the talk of the surrounding villages for years, and to this day the phrase "bright as the night the castle burned down" remains in the local vernacular.
:: Geralt was free. He rushed towards the riverboat of the special forces, his head a jumble of questions. Triss Merigold and Vernon Roche awaited him on board the vessel, but alas, they had no answers. Future event would shed light on the mystery, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.
: If Geralt kills Aryan La Valette:
:: Scurrying through the corridors, Geralt encountered Shilard Fitz-Oesterlen leading the Baroness La Valette out of her cell. The Nilfgaardian emissary proved an ally of sorts, as he did not alert the guards. Fitz-Oesterlen left to pursue his business with the baroness, and Geralt crept on behind them.
:: When friends become foes, one must forge alliances with former enemies. Fitz-Oesterlen drew the guards away, thus helping the witcher escape. Yet nothing comes free in diplomacy, as subsequent events would show.
:: Geralt was free. He rushed towards the riverboat of the special forces, his head a jumble of questions. Triss Merigold and Vernon Roche awaited him on board the vessel, but alas, they had no answers. Future events would shed light on the mystery, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.
== Videos ==
File:Baroness (Prison)
File:Baroness (Torture)
de:Im Kerker der La Valettes
fr:Le donjon des La Valette
it:I sotterranei dei La Valette
ru:Подземелья замка Ла Валетт (квест)
Category:The Witcher 2 quests