The Gargoyle Contract

The Gargoyle Contract is a quest in Chapter III of The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings.

Walkthrough
You will need buy the Runes of Power series to decrypt the magical signs and clues in the ruins. There are three ruins located in Loc Muinne. For each ruin, there will be a hint for the correct order to extinguish the runes on the wall or floor.
 * The Runes of Power I
 * The Runes of Power II
 * The Runes of Power III
 * The Runes of Power IV

Extinguish the runes in the correct order and the chest will open. If you extinguish the runes incorrectly, you'll either get burned or shocked. You can cast Quen to absorb the damage.

After completing all the seals, return to Bras of Ban Ard for reward of 200 and 150 XP. It is well worth completing this quest, because one of the final rewards, Addan Deith, is one of the two best silver swords in the game, the other being Zerrikanterment.

First encrypted rune combination

 * A doe's long shadow
 * The moon quietly moans
 * It is autumn already

Solution: Extinguish the runes in the following order: Animal/Sky/Death/Time

Drops: Ancient manuscript and Diagram: Elder Blood boots

Second encrypted rune combination

 * Three field mice
 * Dance in a circle at dusk
 * Stars are like grain

Solution: Extinguish the runes in the following order: Animal/Art/Time/Sky

Third encrypted rune combination

 * Glittering fish
 * Dying on a fresco
 * Struck by lightning

Solution: Extinguish the runes in the following order: Animal/Time/Art/Sky

Fourth encrypted rune combination

 * Behold the comet
 * It is like a wolf in times of scarceness
 * An evil lullaby

Solution: Extinguish the runes in the following order: Sky/Animal/Time/Death

Fifth encrypted rune combination

 * Divertimento!
 * Clouds are like bees
 * When bells ring

Solution: Extinguish the runes in the following order: Art/Sky/Animal/Time

Sixth encrypted rune combination

 * On the dark sky
 * The beauty of a falcon's flight
 * Faster and Faster

Solution: Extinguish the runes in the following order: Sky/Death/Animal/Time

Chest items

 * Diagram: Elder Blood gauntlets
 * 2 Twine
 * 3 Cloth
 * 50 orens


 * Addan Deith
 * Diagram: Elder Blood trousers
 * 50 Orens

Rune Codes (trial and error)
The correct combinations for breaking the seals:

It looks like it randomly picks one of the combination out of each list below. Which combination is indicated by which rune combination is in the Hint section.

(Instructions are from the entrance's perspective.)

Room to the left of the main city gate (South of the red camp in the map):

Room to the right of the main city gate (North of the red camp in the map):

Room in the ruins near the amphitheater:

Journal Entry

 * Due to attacks by gargoyles living in the ruins, not many were willing to attend the Loc Muine summit. The problem became serious enough that the sorcerers decided to hire a witcher. Luckily our hero was at hand. Geralt, as always, decided to learn more about the monsters through fighting them and reading learned tomes.


 * The witcher learned that gargoyles are magical creatures, posted as the city guards. They attacked anyone who entered an area protected by the spell. Finding and deactivating the magical seals that bound the gargoyles would be enough to solve the problem. Armed with a sharp sword and knowledge, the witcher started looking for the seals.
 * Geralt wore down the soles of his shoes and blunted his blade, but he got rid of the gargoyles. His reward waited in the hands of Bras of Ban Ard.
 * Bras of Ban Ard turned out to be a generous employer. The Witcher was pleased.
 * Bras of Ban Ard turned out to be a generous employer. The Witcher was pleased.
 * Bras of Ban Ard turned out to be a generous employer. The Witcher was pleased.