Can You Save Saskia in The Witcher 2? A Comprehensive Guide
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Yes, you absolutely can save Saskia in The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. However, the path to saving her isn’t straightforward and depends heavily on the choices you make throughout the game, particularly within Chapter 2. Successfully rescuing Saskia, also known as Saesenthessis, the dragon who can shapeshift into human form, is one of the most rewarding outcomes of the game, though it does come with its own set of consequences. Let’s dive into the intricacies of how to achieve this and what it entails.
The Crucial Choice: Roche vs. Iorveth
The entire trajectory of The Witcher 2, and your ability to save Saskia, hinges on a pivotal decision at the end of Act I: choosing to side with Vernon Roche or Iorveth. This choice dramatically alters the gameplay, story, and the characters you’ll interact with. To potentially save Saskia, you must choose to align with Iorveth.
Why Iorveth’s Path Matters
Choosing Iorveth throws you into the heart of the non-human struggle and brings you face-to-face with Saskia and her ideals. You’ll witness the formation and the challenges of Vergen, a town where humans and non-humans attempt to coexist. It’s within this context that you’ll encounter Saskia’s poisoning and have the opportunity to cure her. Choosing Roche’s path will not allow you to encounter the necessary steps to cure Saskia.
Saskia’s Poisoning and the Quest for the Cure
Saskia, a charismatic leader and revered figure in Vergen, is poisoned during the events of Chapter 2. This poisoning throws Vergen into chaos, and Geralt, along with the other characters, must discover the source and find a cure.
The Key Ingredient: Philippa Eilhart’s Dagger
To cure Saskia, you need a special enchanted dagger. This dagger is obtained by helping Philippa Eilhart, a powerful sorceress, during Chapter 2. You’ll need to navigate through various quests and challenges, aiding Philippa to acquire this essential artifact. If you do not help Philippa, you will not obtain the dagger, and Saskia’s life will be doomed.
The Ritual and the Dragon’s Awakening
Once you have the dagger, you’ll need to use it on Saskia while she’s in her dragon form. Geralt must use the dagger to perform a ritual that dispels the magic poisoning her and returns her to her human form. This is a pivotal moment, showcasing the power of Geralt’s actions and the potential for healing within a world torn by conflict.
Consequences of Saving Saskia
Saving Saskia has far-reaching implications.
- Vergen’s Future: Saskia’s survival ensures the continuation of Vergen as a beacon of hope for humans and non-humans seeking peaceful coexistence. However, the challenges of maintaining this fragile alliance persist.
- Political Landscape: With Saskia alive, she continues to play a role in the shifting political landscape of the Pontar Valley, influencing the power dynamics between kingdoms and factions.
- Personal Satisfaction: Successfully saving Saskia provides a significant sense of accomplishment, knowing you’ve directly impacted the fate of a major character and a struggling community.
What Happens if You Fail?
If you fail to obtain the dagger or make choices that lead to Saskia’s demise, the consequences are dire. Vergen’s future is uncertain, the alliance between humans and non-humans crumbles, and the political stability of the region is further compromised.
Conclusion
Saving Saskia in The Witcher 2 is a testament to the impact of player choice. It requires careful navigation, strategic alliances, and a commitment to aiding those in need. This outcome represents one of the most rewarding paths in the game, highlighting the potential for compassion and cooperation even in a world filled with darkness and deceit.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does saving Saskia affect Witcher 3?
Interestingly, the decision to save Saskia in The Witcher 2 doesn’t have a direct, substantial impact on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. While choices from The Witcher 2 can be imported (or simulated via dialogue), Saskia’s fate isn’t a major plot point in the sequel. You may encounter references or hear about the events of Vergen, but her presence, or lack thereof, doesn’t fundamentally alter the main storyline of The Witcher 3. If you do not import a save game, you will get asked questions to simulate.
2. Can you save Saskia and Triss?
The narrative structure of The Witcher 2 doesn’t allow you to simultaneously save Saskia and maintain the same close relationship with Triss Merigold. The act of aiding Saskia, which involves siding with Iorveth and engaging in the events unfolding around Vergen, steers you away from Triss’s storyline on Roche’s path. Triss won’t die regardless of the outcome.
3. How do you cure Saskia in The Witcher 2?
To cure Saskia, you must:
- Choose Iorveth’s path.
- Help Philippa Eilhart.
- Obtain the enchanted dagger from Philippa.
- Use the dagger on Saskia (in her dragon form) to dispel the poison.
4. What happens if Stennis dies?
If you allow Prince Stennis to be killed by the mob, Saskia will have no opposition in claiming sovereignty over the Pontar Valley after Henselt’s surrender. However, Aedirn will be left without a crown and potentially collapse into anarchy. If you spare Stennis, it will be revealed that he was indeed involved in Saskia’s poisoning.
5. Should I let Stennis get lynched?
Whether you let Stennis get lynched is a moral decision. While he is guilty of poisoning Saskia, allowing a mob to execute him is arguably not justice. Sparing him allows for a more structured form of punishment, even if it’s just imprisonment.
6. Is Stennis guilty of poisoning Saskia?
Yes, Stennis is guilty of being an accessory to the assassination attempt on Saskia. Whether he directly administered the poison or was merely complicit is a point of debate, but he was involved.
7. What type of dragon is Saskia?
Saskia is a green dragon, also known as Saesenthessis. While not a golden dragon like her “father” Borch Three Jackdaws, she possesses the rare ability to shapeshift into human form, a skill taught to her by a golden dragon.
8. Where can you get Vandergrift’s sword?
On Iorveth’s path, you can only get Vandergrift’s sword after saving Saskia. The sword is in Saskia’s possession, and she will give it to you once she is healed. In your journal, the sword will be named “Commander’s Sword.”
9. Why is Iorveth not in Witcher 3?
The developers of The Witcher 3 have stated that Iorveth’s role became too complex for the scope of the game. They had initially planned a larger storyline involving him but had to cut it due to time and resource constraints. They considered including his dead body with a note explaining his fate, but this was ultimately scrapped. To learn more about the challenges of game development and design, consider exploring resources like the Games Learning Society.
10. What happened to Anais Witcher?
Anais, the older of Foltest’s two children, is the rightful heir to the Temerian throne. She is captured by Henselt’s forces and held in a Kaedweni camp. You can choose to rescue her and give her either to Redania or Temeria, with significant consequences for the political landscape.
11. Is there a way to save the orphans and Anna in Witcher 3?
In The Witcher 3, concerning the Whispering Hillock quest, you can save the orphans by freeing the spirit of the Whispering Hillock before starting the Ladies of the Wood quest. The Hillock will save them which will result in the Crones cursing Anna into a water hag.
12. Can you save Uncle Vesemir?
Unfortunately, Vesemir’s death is a fixed point in the Witcher 3‘s narrative and cannot be prevented. While you can’t save him at the climax of the battle against the Wild Hunt, you should complete the Berengar’s Blade quest to talk to him.
13. Can Anna Henrietta be saved Witcher 3?
Yes, Anna Henrietta can be saved in The Witcher 3‘s Blood and Wine expansion. To achieve this ending, you must retrieve a magic ribbon from a fairy-tale world and kill the higher vampire Dettlaff.
14. What happened to Saskia Witcher?
The game implies that Saskia never made it out of Vergen alive. However, she in fact retreated and, for the remainder of the war, stayed alive and well.
15. Is Saskia Borch’s Daughter?
Saskia, the Virgin of Aedirn, is possibly Borch’s adopted daughter. Her dragon name is Saesenthessis. However, she is not a golden dragon, and her shapeshifting capabilities are limited.
For more information on gaming and learning, explore the GamesLearningSociety.org.