Does Marlene Stay at Corvo Bianco in The Witcher 3? A Comprehensive Guide
Yes, Marlene can stay at Corvo Bianco in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Blood and Wine DLC. This outcome hinges on your choices during the quest “La Cage au Fou” and subsequent dialogue with Marlene at your newly acquired estate. Allowing Marlene to stay not only provides her with a home but also unlocks a minor quest and contributes towards a specific virtue required for obtaining a powerful silver sword. Let’s dive into the specifics of how to make this happen and what the implications are.
The Spotted Wight and a Second Chance
Marlene, originally a spotted wight, is encountered during the quest “La Cage au Fou.” This quest involves investigating a beast terrorizing the Trastamara Hunting Cottage. Through a series of choices, Geralt can lift the curse afflicting Marlene, restoring her to her human form. Importantly, the choice to cure Marlene is crucial to the possibility of her staying at Corvo Bianco. If you decide to kill her as a wight, this option disappears.
Once cured, Geralt brings Marlene to Corvo Bianco. Initially, she is in a state of extreme hunger, devouring everything in sight. Two in-game days after bringing her home, Geralt begins the quest to check on her well-being. You’ll find her significantly improved near the entrance of the estate.
Making the Choice: Invitation or Farewell?
During your conversation with Marlene, Geralt has two main options:
- Invite Marlene to stay at Corvo Bianco. This is the path leading to her permanent residence.
- Tell Marlene to go to town, where she might find a new life. This option ends the quest immediately, and Marlene departs.
If you choose to invite her to stay, Marlene will offer her services as a cook. Furthermore, she reveals the location of her dowry, hidden in the deepest part of the basement at the Trastamara Hunting Cottage. This initiates a small treasure hunt for some extra crowns and a few valuable items.
The Benefits of Compassion
Allowing Marlene to stay at Corvo Bianco has a few key benefits:
- Virtue of Compassion: This act of kindness contributes towards unlocking the Aerondight silver sword. To obtain Aerondight, Geralt must demonstrate five virtues: honor, courage, compassion, wisdom, and generosity.
- A Hot Meal Always Available: Marlene promises that upon your return to Corvo Bianco, there will always be a hot meal waiting for you. While this doesn’t have a direct gameplay effect, it adds a nice touch of realism and comfort to Geralt’s home life.
- Dowry Treasure: Finding Marlene’s dowry provides a small financial boost, which is always welcome, especially given the costs associated with upgrading Corvo Bianco.
Is Letting Marlene Stay the “Right” Choice?
Ultimately, this depends on your role-playing preferences. From a gameplay perspective, there’s little reason not to let Marlene stay. It contributes to the Aerondight quest, provides access to a small treasure, and adds a sense of warmth to Corvo Bianco.
However, some players may argue that Marlene deserves a fresh start in town, where she could potentially build a new life and family. The choice is yours to make, reflecting Geralt’s personality and the kind of Witcher you want him to be. This is a great demonstration of Games Learning Society principles in action.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Marlene and Corvo Bianco
1. What happens if I send Marlene to town instead of letting her stay?
If you choose to send Marlene to town, the quest ends immediately. You won’t receive her dowry location, nor will it count toward the virtue of compassion for the Aerondight quest.
2. Where exactly is Marlene’s dowry located?
Marlene’s dowry is hidden in the deepest part of the basement at the Trastamara Hunting Cottage. You’ll need to return there and explore the cellar to find it.
3. Does Marlene’s presence affect which character visits Corvo Bianco at the end of Blood and Wine?
No, Marlene’s presence doesn’t influence which character visits Corvo Bianco after the main Blood and Wine questline. The visitor (Ciri, Yennefer, Triss, or Dandelion) depends solely on your choices in the main game.
4. Is Marlene’s cooking beneficial in any way?
While Marlene promises a hot meal upon Geralt’s return, this doesn’t translate to any gameplay benefits, such as increased health regeneration or temporary buffs. It’s purely a narrative touch.
5. Can Marlene die or leave Corvo Bianco after I invite her to stay?
No, once you’ve invited Marlene to stay, she becomes a permanent fixture at Corvo Bianco. She won’t die or leave, even if enemies attack the estate.
6. Does the condition of Corvo Bianco (upgrades) matter when I first meet Marlene?
No, whether or not you’ve upgraded Corvo Bianco has no bearing on whether you can invite Marlene to stay. You can invite her even if the estate is still in its dilapidated state.
7. How do I trigger the quest to check on Marlene after bringing her to Corvo Bianco?
The quest to check on Marlene begins automatically two in-game days after bringing her to Corvo Bianco. Simply meditate or fast travel away and back to trigger the quest.
8. Is it possible to miss the opportunity to invite Marlene to stay?
Yes, if you kill Marlene as a wight during the “La Cage au Fou” quest, you won’t have the option to bring her to Corvo Bianco or invite her to stay.
9. Does inviting Marlene to stay impact the ending of Blood and Wine in any way?
No, inviting Marlene to stay doesn’t directly influence the ending of Blood and Wine. The ending depends on your choices related to Syanna and Anna Henrietta.
10. Can I romance Marlene?
No, Marlene is not a romance option in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
11. What are the other virtues required for the Aerondight quest?
The other virtues required for the Aerondight quest are honor, courage, wisdom, and generosity. Each virtue must be demonstrated through specific actions and choices during the Blood and Wine questline.
12. Does Marlene have any unique dialogue or interactions after the initial quest?
Marlene’s dialogue after the initial quest is limited, but she will occasionally comment on Geralt’s activities and offer a warm greeting upon his return to Corvo Bianco.
13. Can I choose between Triss and Yennefer to stay at Corvo Bianco?
Your choice of Triss or Yennefer is determined by your romantic choices throughout the main game. If you romanced Triss, she will be the visitor. If you romanced Yennefer, she will be the visitor. If you romanced neither or both, Dandelion will typically appear.
14. Is it worth fully upgrading Corvo Bianco?
Yes, fully upgrading Corvo Bianco is generally considered worthwhile. It enhances the estate’s appearance, provides various bonuses (like weapon racks and herbal gardens), and offers a sense of accomplishment.
15. Can Ciri visit Corvo Bianco?
Yes, Ciri can visit Corvo Bianco at the end of the Blood and Wine DLC if certain conditions are met within the main game. This typically occurs if you have a good ending with Ciri and did not romance either Triss or Yennefer.
Allowing Marlene to stay at Corvo Bianco is a relatively minor decision in the grand scheme of The Witcher 3, but it adds a layer of depth and complexity to Geralt’s character. It exemplifies the game’s emphasis on choices and consequences, even on a smaller scale, allowing players to shape their Witcher’s personality and impact on the world. Explore other great game design theories and research on GamesLearningSociety.org.