Making decisions inThe Witcher 3: Wild Huntcan be as stressful as battling monsters, especially when it comes to choices that affect the fate of major characters. One such decision revolves around Phillipa Eilhart and whether or not to tell King Radovid V that she is dead. This situation comes up during the questline involving the lodge of sorceresses and Redania’s pursuit of power. Choosing what to reveal, and to whom, can have major consequences that impact not only the ending of the game but also the fate of entire regions and key characters.
The Context: Radovid and Phillipa’s History
To understand the weight of this decision, it’s important to know the background. King Radovid V is the ruler of Redania, a powerful and ruthless leader who sees sorcerers and mages as threats to be eliminated. Phillipa Eilhart, a cunning and powerful sorceress, was once a close advisor to Radovid’s father. However, after the events of the previous games and books, she became one of Radovid’s most hated enemies. Radovid believes that Phillipa was behind his father’s assassination, and he is obsessed with hunting her down.
DuringThe Witcher 3, Geralt is drawn into this conflict. Whether he chooses to involve himself in politics or not, the game presents moments where the player must decide what information to share. One of the more pivotal moments involves Phillipa’s status and whether to inform Radovid of her death or to keep the truth hidden.
The Question: Should You Lie or Tell the Truth?
When you come across the opportunity to tell Radovid that Phillipa is dead, you’re actually presented with a moral and strategic dilemma. Telling the truth or lying both carry consequences. Here’s what each option could mean for Geralt and the world around him:
Option 1: Tell Radovid Phillipa Is Dead
If you inform Radovid that Phillipa is dead, you’re giving him a sense of victory. It might seem like a strategic move if you’re trying to earn his trust or influence his actions. However, Radovid is not the kind of king who rewards honesty or shows mercy. Even with this news, he continues his crusade against mages and shows no sign of softening his brutal policies.
- Radovid feels satisfied, believing one of his key enemies has been eliminated.
- No major reward or lasting benefit is granted for this honesty.
- It may slightly shift how Radovid treats Geralt in dialogue, but it does not change his plans.
Option 2: Keep Phillipa’s Survival a Secret
Choosing not to tell Radovid the truth preserves Phillipa’s ability to influence future events. Though she is not a trustworthy ally, she is one of the few mages who has both the power and the motivation to stand against Radovid. By keeping her death a secret, Geralt is essentially taking a side against Radovid’s tyranny, even if that means aligning with dangerous people.
- Phillipa may later assist with plans to remove Radovid from power.
- This choice opens paths for quests that shape the political future of the North.
- It aligns Geralt with the mages, who are often portrayed as victims in Radovid’s campaign.
Consequences of Your Choice
One of the strengths ofThe Witcher 3is that consequences are not always immediate. Telling Radovid that Phillipa is dead may seem insignificant in the moment, but it plays into broader outcomes depending on other choices you make.
If You Side With the Mages and Remove Radovid
Keeping Phillipa alive supports the mages’ cause. It also allows you to participate in the assassination plot against Radovid. If successful, Redania will fall into different hands depending on your other decisions, and the continent’s political balance will shift. Radovid’s death, influenced in part by Phillipa’s survival, can lead to a more stable or at least less tyrannical outcome.
If You Don’t Get Involved in Politics
If you choose to stay out of political matters and leave Radovid unchecked, telling him that Phillipa is dead doesn’t make much difference. He continues his war, executes sorcerers, and eventually becomes a tyrant ruling over a devastated land. In this timeline, not involving Phillipa allows Radovid to pursue his purges with fewer obstacles.
What Kind of Witcher Are You?
This choice also ties into Geralt’s character role-playing. Are you a pragmatic mercenary who plays both sides to stay alive and finish contracts? Or are you someone who takes a stand against cruelty, even if it means walking into murky moral waters?
- Neutral Witcher: Telling Radovid the truth fits the role of staying out of politics and simply reporting facts.
- Rebellious Witcher: Protecting Phillipa despite her past actions aligns you with a rebellion against an oppressive regime.
It also brings up the theme of trust. Phillipa is known for betrayal and manipulation. Helping her is risky, but the alternative letting Radovid continue unchallenged may be worse in the long run.
Role in the Ending of the Game
Your choices involving Radovid and Phillipa contribute to one of the many variations ofThe Witcher 3‘s ending. In one possible outcome, Redania becomes a cold, fascist state under Radovid’s rule. In another, Nilfgaard conquers the North, bringing its own sense of order but at the cost of freedom.
If Radovid lives, many mages, non-humans, and free thinkers are hunted or exiled. If Radovid dies, a power vacuum forms, but opportunities arise for a more balanced future. Phillipa’s survival plays a significant role in making the assassination possible. Choosing not to tell Radovid she’s alive can tip the scales.
Which Choice Is Right?
There’s no universally right answer to whether you should tell Radovid that Phillipa is dead. It depends on how you interpret Geralt’s role in the world and what kind of future you want to shape. If you value order at any cost, telling Radovid may seem justified. If you want to challenge tyranny and support freedom even with morally gray allies then keeping the secret is the better path.
In terms of story impact and meaningful outcomes, most players find that keeping Phillipa’s survival secret leads to richer quests, more engaging political drama, and a greater sense of agency in the world’s fate.Whichever you choose, the game ensures that you feel the consequences of your decision, making this moral dilemma one of the many that defineThe Witcher 3‘s lasting impact.