Chapter 38

After a couple weeks traveling up Pontar and stopping along the various settlements, Rinde thankfully only being a minor stop all told, we had finally reached the end of Temeria's reach and arrived at Flotsam.

As was becoming a common experience for me I noticed how as we made our way into Flotsam how much larger and more active the place was compared to what was shown in the game. For one there were many more docks here than seen in games with everything from flat-bottomed barges like our ship to punts, scows, and even seagoing cogs docked in the harbor, ferrying goods between the various kingdoms and beyond. The town itself was noticeably smaller than the busy docks I noticed, following the same style from the games construction-wise with sturdy if not particularly nice looking buildings surrounded by stone walls to keep the town protected from what inhabited the local forest. Other than the docks the thing that stuck out the most was Loredo's little tower located in the middle of his compound on the western end of town. I could also just barely make out Lobinden on the opposite end, the small village nestled against the walls barely having a palisade for itself despite the vital services it provided for the large town.

The the major river port and trading post was still much smaller than it really should be considering it's position on the border of four major kingdoms and the largest river in the Northern Kingdoms, but I chalked that up to the fact it was also smack-dabbed in the middle of dense and ancient forest which I know was infested with nekkers, endregas, and likely a bunch of other monsters. In fact, if it wasn't for the local troll's bridge there would be absolutely no means of leaving the area by land.

It was truly a frontier town in every sense of the name, and it was run by a complete and total monster nearly on the same level as Whoreson Junior who had at least the tangential authority of the Temerian government. Joy.

---

"Well… this is an extremely unpleasant sight." Ivar said with a scowl.

"That's putting it mildly." I said with equal amounts of disgust as I watched the three corpses swing in the breeze by the nooses around their necks from the gallows. Two elves and a dwarf, male and two females respectively. Judging by the look and smell of them they had been hanging there for nearly a week right in front of the local inn/brothel and people just walked right past it like it was normal, which given Loredo's iron-fisted rule of the place it likely was.

After our ship was docked and we said goodbye to our transporters, who after making their deliveries and pickups would be heading back down the Pontar, we walked into town with the intention of spending the next few days in the inn before hitting the road once more into Aedirn. Of course, seeing rotting bodies on full display tends to sour your mood in general.

"Posting says that they were hanged for theft and supporting the Scoia'tael." Ivar pointed out as he read the sign in front of the gallows.

"Maybe, or maybe the commandant wanted to make an example out of the local non-humans so that they don't even think of supporting them. It's shit like this why there are guerilla forces in the first place." I muttered angrily as I moved past gallows and hitched Griffin to a post, the horse already sticking his face into a nearby water trough as Ivar did the same for his mount.

"Indeed, racism, much like misunderstandings of monsters, is a product of a great deal of ignorance and fear overcoming logic and reason along with a lack of basic empathy. Sadly, there is not much we can do but grin and bear it since those in power support such things and from what you tell me of this Loredo fellow he is not one to cross since he has the support of the local military and criminal elements." Ivar reminded me.

"They are practically one and the same, but yes. The only one that can match him is Iorveth and his unit, and for all that Iorveth would love to mount Loredo's head on a spike even he knows a direct assault would be suicide. The smart thing to do is just keep our heads down and leave as soon as possible, but unlike Whoreson Junior though I'm actually in a position to possibly do some good and stop the terrible things I know Loredo is going to do with at least a possibly grudging ally… though he would never trust me quickly, if at all." I stated, feeling a little bad bringing this up.

It was something that had been grappling me for a while during the trip and after events at Blaviken you would think I would have learned to stay out of local issues when I could, but for the danger involved I didn't regret my actions then and I would work hard to make sure I didn't regret them here. I hated the idea of being a bystander when I was in a position to do some good, and while that attitude might get me killed it was something that I considered morally right.

"Of course, there is also the matter of your Witcher neutrality to consider." Ivar pointed out as we entered the inn and rented one of the rooms for the both of us for at least three days. "It would not do to be seen closely interacting with a group treated as bandits, and rightly so at times, by most of the Northern Kingdoms no matter how much you might agree with their reasons for fighting."

I could only grumble in agreement as we went to our room and sat on the beds, Dogmeat jumping up and claiming the end of mine.

"Yeah. If I do this it would have to be behind the scenes, letting Iorveth and his unit take center stage while I simply provide an opening. That way I can keep my neutrality but still help take down a terrible man who I am sure this town would be better off without. I have an idea for that… but I would need a second opinion on a few things before I do anything."

"Oh? From who?" Ivar asked curiously.

"From a local who is old, experienced, bitter, and who might be willingly to help me assuming he already knows me a bit due to his ability." I answered vaguely.

---

I told Ivar that I would be doing this alone since I thought the person I'm looking for would prefer it that way and he should hang out by the docks with Dogmeat since the locals said that the kayran would sometimes surface a little every couple days and he might get lucky. The idea alone of even catching a glimpse of the unique creature, especially after I told him it would most likely be dead in a few years according to my metaknowledge, got him motivated to do just that while I focused on my own plan.

The first part involved me heading out of Flotsam's eastern gate and into the village of Lobinden, or more specifically the raised observation platform built into the side of a tree near it.

A quick climb up the ladder had me face to face with a couple elven guards looking out for movement from the forest, two of whom I recognized as they turned to look at me.

One was a dark haired elf with an eyepatch named Seherim, whose partner Moril would become just another of Loredo's victims if I did nothing, and standing next to him was the man I came to see. Cedric.

"What do you want, vatt'ghern? Notices are posted on the board in front of the inn and if you want payment you go to the local burgomaster, not us." Seherim said a little aggressively.

Before I could even respond to that however…

"Seherim, you're in charge until I return." Cedric said in a tone that brokered no argument. Seherim actually looked a little surprised by that but nevertheless nodded his head as Cedric walked past me and went down the ladder, with me following shortly behind.

We didn't move far from the platform, just out of casual hearing range, before Cedric stopped and turned to look at me seriously before speaking again.

"I know of you, Markus. In the few times I do not drink myself into a stupor I see your face in visions, muddling images that were once so clear and making me question what I thought was so certain. I do not like that feeling on top of everything else these visions make me experience… but at the same time it strangely brings me some form of hope. Hope that what was once doomed to end one way might end another." Cedric got a glazed look over his eyes as he said all this, as if he wasn't totally all there.

This was part of the reason I had come to him. His ability to see visions of the future that Triss was sure was similar to the Grandmaster of the Order and maybe even other beings that have them, Ciri included. Cedric wasn't a Source as far as I know, but he was certainly some type of oracle like Ithlinne herself if not on the same level.

How this was I had no idea, but maybe it had something to do with his age or connection with nature seeing how when he died in game the whole forest mourned his passing.

"I also know that your being, your very soul, is… new. I know not the details and honestly I don't want to know for what little I saw disturbs me. So speak your piece so that we might part sooner rather than later." Cedric said with some annoyance.

"I'm hunting nekkers. Specifically I'm hunting the ones that have taken up residence in a cave near town and rather than dive in there sword in hand like a moron I have a much more efficient idea. Considering your knowledge of the forest and woodcraft I wanted to ask you what would be a good kind of wood to burn, not for heat but for smoke."

"Odd request, it's usually the other way around. Hmmm, you want softwood such as pine, cedar or spruce which you can buy from the village charcoal burners easily enough. It burns rapidly so you will want to get a good amount."

"Thanks. I also would like to buy some trap diagrams from you, specifically ones that could hamper a group of weaker enemies."

"I have many diagrams such as that to provide. You make me curious what you plan to do all this with in regards to the nekkers and why that cave specifically." Cedric stated.

"I plan to smoke out the nekkers rather than fight them on their home turf, and let's just say that cave could be the answer in making this town a much better place in the coming days. It can be very useful to some former comrades of yours in removing a man who works hard to embody all the worst aspects of humanity in general." I said.

At those words Cedric got a look on his face that was equal parts intrigued and worried. I didn't blame him.

"Take care then, Vatt'ghern. Let us hope this is one of those positive changes that come in your wake."

"You and me both."

---

Within the hour I was standing in front of the cave north of Flotsam, along with a rented cart stacked full of various softwoods I had bought and Griffin looking rather put out at being used as a draft horse once more. I made sure to also grab the nekker contract from the inn's notice board so if anyone asked I could just show them that. It also helpfully informed me I would need at least 20 fresh nekker hearts to prove I killed them to claim reward.

I remember the cave from the quest in the game about some of the local guards harassing a elf girl who they were sure was Scoia'tael and had led two of their fellows to their deaths in said cave, something that were actually right about though they had no evidence and were alright with prosecuting her without it. The cave was infested with a whole lot of nekkers, but much more interesting was the ladder and trapdoor in the cave that leads directly into the back of Loredo's compound.

I could only guess that due to how close the river was nearby, along with a few docks which were not technically within Flotsam, that this cave used to be a smuggler's route for Loredo to more subtly move illegal product back and forth from his home with less prying eyes, until the nekkers moved in and shut it down at least. Rather than clear it out all he and his cronies did was lock the trapdoor and abandon the place.

In the game Roche and his Blue Stripes can have Geralt use the path to sneak into the compound to get past its defenses and kill Loredo, so I'm thinking, 'why can't the Scoia'tael do something similar?' Of course, the nekkers have to go first before I reach out to them about anything. Which was why I was currently setting up a large bonfire right inside the cave's entrance and a number of traps past it.

If we assume that nekkers are just this world's version of goblins, more so than actual goblins that is, then it only makes sense to follow the Goblin Slayer's school of thought when it comes to getting rid of a nest of them efficiently.

Namely, asphyxiate them with smoke and kill any who try to leave out the most obvious entrance. As the wood began to quickly burn and give off a lot of smoke, helped along by me blowing the smoke into the cave with a liberal application of low-level Aards, I would like to think that he would approve and that Goblin Slayer would make a good Witcher.

After all, the only good nekker was a dead nekker, and it was time to make these nekkers good.