Ask About The Shawls Owner Quest Details And Possible Answers
The quest objective to ask about the shawl's owner in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt occurs during "The Nithing" side quest in Skellige. Players are tasked with investigating a deadly curse cast upon a young boy and tracing footprints that lead to a discarded shawl. Navigating this portion of the quest requires tracking scents, speaking with local villagers during specific daytime hours, and ultimately making a moral choice.
How to Locate the Owner of the Shawl
After finding the shawl hanging on a branch, Geralt must follow its scent using Witcher Senses toward the village of Rannvaig. The trail disappears near the village signpost, triggering the objective to ask locals about who owns the item.
If you arrive in Rannvaig at night, the villagers may be inside their homes, making it impossible to advance the objective. You must meditate until daytime to find the designated woman standing near the shore wearing a blue and green outfit.
Uncovering Jonna and the Origin of the Curse
Interacting with the correct villager reveals that the shawl belongs to Jonna, the local herbalist. Heading to her hut allows Geralt to learn the motivation behind the dark ritual affecting Lothar's son.
Jonna explains that the curse is an act of revenge against Lothar for abandoning her to marry another woman. She demands that Lothar renounce his current family and return to her if he wishes for the curse to be lifted voluntarily.
Possible Answers and Quest Outcomes
When returning to Lothar, Geralt presents the ultimatum set by Jonna, leading to two distinct resolution paths. Players can either agree to force Lothar's hand or choose to reverse the curse back onto its caster.
Choosing to redirect the curse requires carving Jonna's name into the Nithing pole, which saves the child but ultimately ends Jonna's life. Alternatively, refusing to harm Jonna forces Lothar to leave his family to save his son, leaving him bitter toward Geralt.
Moral Implications of the Nithing Quest
This storyline presents a classic moral dilemma where no single outcome is completely pure. Players must weigh the ethics of sacrificing an vengeful adult versus forcing a father into an unwanted marriage to protect his innocent child.
Understanding these consequences helps players align their choices with their vision of Geralt's personal code. Whichever option you select, resolving the mystery of the shawl provides a memorable example of Skellige's dark folklore.