Reinald was a witcher from the School of the Wolf, active around the late 900s, before his mysterious disappearance.
Quick Answers
What is the tragic story behind Witcher Reinald's disappearance?
What was the contract that Witcher Reinald could not survive?
Who were the priests of the Eternal Fire that hired Reinald?
What is the significance of the red miasmal that possessed Reinald?
Why was Reinald locked away in the mines of Devil's Pit?
Biography[]
During his training, he befriended fellow witcher Osmund. After both became fully-fledged witchers, they frequently undertook contracts together. When Reinald completed his training, he forged his own medallion, as was customary during his time. Being a gifted smith, other witchers often entrusted him with their gear, saying, "Everything you touch turns to gold." Reinald worked on a set of diagrams for witcher gear for the school, forging a prototype set for himself, which he refined while on the Path. He planned to meet Osmund to discuss further improvements to the armor. However, that meeting never took place, as Reinald accepted a contract that would seal his fate. Instead of waiting for Osmund, he set out on his own.
Somewhere around 970 or 980, Reinald was hired by the Cult of the Eternal Fire to cleanse the Devil's Pit of an evil specter that haunted the location. The Cult used the Pit as a containment and confinement area for individuals affected by the scarlet fog. Upon entering the Pit, Reinald encountered creatures he initially assumed to be ghouls but quickly realized they were something far worse. As time passed, Reinald began exhibiting signs of sickness, which deeply concerned him, as witchers are immune to disease. Preparing for the worst, he crafted a potion to use if his condition deteriorated further or if Osmund arrived to assist him.
Tragically, the specter—known as the Red Miasmal—possessed Reinald's body and slowly took control of him. The priests who had hired him decided to lock him inside the mine alongside the infected individuals and one priest who refused to leave. As the Miasmal's influence grew, Reinald desperately tried to convince the priests to send for help, but they ignored his pleas. Knowing his time was running out, Reinald left notes for Osmund, hoping his friend could one day defeat the Miasmal. Venturing to the deepest part of the mine, a salt chamber, he encased himself there to prevent the Miasmal from fully taking over, effectively trapping the specter within him. There he remained, imprisoned for 300 years.
Centuries later, another witcher, Geralt of Rivia, arrived at the Devil's Pit. Geralt had been hired by a deacon to rid the area of the evil that had long plagued it. After Geralt defeated the Miasmal, Reinald's spirit appeared and recounted the tragic events, requesting Geralt to bring the deacon to him so he could find peace.
If Geralt brings the deacon and convinces Reinald to let go of his anger: Reinald, through his conversation with the deacon, came to terms with his fate. He accepted that he wasn't a hero but simply a witcher who had done his duty. Geralt then burned Reinald's body, allowing his spirit to depart in peace.
If Geralt doesn't bring the deacon: Geralt, mistrusting Reinald's spirit, refused to bring the deacon, reasoning that one conversation wouldn't resolve 300 years of torment. He burned Reinald's body, and the witcher departed as a troubled spirit.
If Geralt brings the deacon but doesn't convince Reinald to let go of his anger: Consumed by his rage over what had happened to him, Reinald possessed and killed the young deacon. Geralt then burned both bodies, commenting that Reinald departed as a vengeful spirit.
Journal entry[]
- Reinald's story is one of tragedy. A young witcher who trained in the early years of the School of the Wolf, who explored the world with a curious mind and an eagerness to help others, and who ultimately accepted a contract he would not survive. Possessed by a red miasmal and locked away in the mines of Devil's Pit by the very priests of the Eternal Fire who had hired him, Reinald displayed tremendous strength in resisting the specter's will. He imprisoned himself and the miasmal in the salt cavern where he would remain as his life slowly slipped into darkness and sorrow. The plague spirit's presence kept the witcher's body in a state of undying, while Reinald held onto the sliver of hope that his dear friend would one day come to his rescue. But days turned to weeks, turned to years, turned to centuries...
- If Geralt was able to get him to let go of his anger:
- The wait ended at last with a conversation between the witchers and the young deacon. Geralt had defeated the red miasmal and convinced Reinald that even a cleric of the Eternal Fire was capable of recognizing the Church's heinous mistakes. After witnessing the deacon's sincere regret for the sins of his predecessors, Reinald was able to depart in peace.
- If Geralt refused to bring the priest to him:
- Ultimately, Reinald's end proved no dark grim than the long road leading to it. Geralt defeated the red miasmal and burned the witcher's body, thus forcing his embittered ghost to depart the world.
- If Geralt could not get him to let go of his anger:
- In the end, vengeance became Reinald's means of deliverance. He succumbed to the anger and bitterness that had swelled in him over these many years lost to time. By killing the young deacon from the Church of the Eternal Fire, the long-dead witcher cut the final tether that bound his spirit to this world, then vanished from the vale.
Associated quests[]
Gallery[]
