Cabaret Walkthrough
From Dandelion at the Rosemary and Thyme in Novigrad after completing the ‘A Poet Under Pressure’ quest.
This quest will begin by speaking to Dandelion in the Rosemary and Thyme.
After a brief conversation, he’ll send you off to Madame Irena at the Mummer’s area (where we did the play earlier in the game). Speak with her to receive a Blunt Sword. Now head over to the next objective marker. We’ll need to meet Dandelion here after sundown, so meditate until the appointed hour (8PM should do it!).
Once you are there at the right time, you’ll converse with Dandelion who’ll fill you in on his master plan. During the ensuing scene, you’ll have a timed decision to make:
- Read from the card
- Gimme your purse
Neither of these options really matters outside of dialogue, so feel free to choose either. You’ll soon break into a sword fight. The trick here is to let your opponent whack you a few times (he’s only level 1 so he shouldn’t hurt you too much).
Once you have taken enough damage another scene will play, after which we’ll need to head back to the Rosemary and Thyme. Meditate until morning.
You’ll be thrust into a conversation with Pricilla at this point and have to make a decision about the building’s décor. You can choose either:
- Boudoir
- Theatrical
- Let the builder choose (Randomly selects one of the other two options)
As far as I can tell there is no real impact on the game from making either of these choices other than the aesthetics inside the Rosemary and Thyme, however dialogue suggests that Dandelion seems to appreciate the Theatre option more.
Following your decision, the quest objectives will update. We’ll now need to find Dandelion – make your way over to the new objective marker to find him. Speak with him.
When you leave the conversation, activate your Witcher Sense and search the immediate area for the hidden key. You can inspect the following:
The rock on the ground by the door. Cup on the bench to the right of the door. Bucket near some crates to the right of the door.
Once you have located the Key, use it to unlock the door. This will trigger a conversation. During the chat, you’ll have a pair of timed decisions to make:
- “Let Dandelion explain…”
- “Ask for a beating…”
Choosing the first option will defuse the situation peacefully, whilst threatening the cranky man will have the scene break out in a fist fight in which you’ll need to take him down. Either way you choose to approach the situation, the scene will end pretty much the same way – Dandelion will head back to the Rosemanry and Thyme and you’ll get another task to do.
This time we’ll need to head over to the port area. Enter the marked house for a scene. No matter what option you choose during the ensuing conversation you’ll end up in a fist fight. Once you have beaten the pair up, you’ll be told where to find our target – Vegelbud Estate.
Fast travel to the Vegelbud Residence signpost and make your way over to the racing area. You’ll want to find and speak with Rautlec here – he’s a dwarf standing by the stands. Here are the consequences of your conversation choices:
- “I’ll win the race for you” – You’ll take place in a race. Completing said race victoriously will net you the placards, a Mastercrafted Saddle and 80 Crowns. Losing the race will have you go back to Dandelion emptyhanded. Pay his debt (200 Crowns) – Rautlec will pay off his debt and he’ll deliver the plcards to Dandelion. “Dandelion’ll have to live without placards” – You can return to the Rosemary and Thyme without placards.
No matter your choice or outcome here, you can return to the Rosemary and Thyme at this point and speak with Dandelion and Pricilla to end the side-quest.
Note: The follow-up ‘Carnal Sins’ side-quest will commence immediately.