The monumental next-gen update for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, released by CD Projekt Red in December 2022, brought a wealth of technical enhancements, quality-of-life improvements, and visual overhauls to the beloved fantasy RPG. Alongside these updates came brand-new narrative content designed to bridge the gap between the game and Netflix’s live-action television adaptation. Central to this addition is the gripping and atmospheric side quest titled "In the Eternal Fire’s Shadow," which sends Geralt of Rivia into the depths of a notorious Velen location to confront dark secrets, ancient curses, and the lingering horrors of a fanatical cult.
For players looking to dive into this chilling narrative and secure the highly coveted Forgotten Wolf School armor diagrams—modeled directly after the iconic attire worn by Henry Cavill in the Netflix series—navigating the twisting tunnels of the old mine requires careful preparation, thorough investigation, and critical decision-making that ultimately shapes the fate of the Velen region.
How to Start ‘In the Eternal Fire’s Shadow’ in The Witcher 3
The journey begins in the heart of Velen, specifically at an ominous location known as The Devil’s Pit. Situated centrally within the war-torn region, the massive, unfinished quarry lies south of Novigrad and southwest of Oxenfurt. Upon arriving at the site, players will encounter an anxious Eternal Fire Deacon waiting near the entrance. Agreeing to assist the representative of the controversial religious order initiates the quest, setting Geralt on a path that winds deep into the earth.
Entering The Devil’s Pit requires clearing out a hostile group of deserters who have repurposed the quarry as a makeshift camp. Once these foes are dealt with, Geralt must descend to the lower levels and locate the entrance to the cave system. The proper path leads through the northwest exit, marked by a pair of heavy double doors bearing strange, weathered white symbols that hint at the arcane and forbidden nature of what lies within.
Investigating the Depths of The Devil’s Pit
Once inside the cavernous network, players are greeted by an environment rich with environmental storytelling and valuable loot. The developers designed the cave system as a self-contained experience, meaning that all available resources and items must be collected before bringing the quest to its conclusion, as the area cannot be looted once the narrative resolves.
Beyond standard resources, the caves are filled with critical investigative clues. These include scattered corpses, distinct Witcher symbols carved into the stone, and a series of five detailed notes left behind by a mysterious man named Reinald. For players who have previously progressed through Keira Metz’s questline, equipping her magic lamp allows them to spot lingering ghostly echoes of past tragedies. While a direct run to the end of the cave is technically possible, a thorough investigation yields substantial narrative rewards, unlocking unique dialogue options during subsequent encounters and providing the vital recipe needed to craft a specialized potion for the upcoming boss confrontation.
As Geralt explores the labyrinthine tunnels, a disembodied, mysterious voice echoes through the stone, repeatedly urging him to abandon his search or avoid specific pathways. In classic Witcher fashion, heeding these warnings or doing the exact opposite often uncovers hidden lore. When the path eventually splits and the mysterious voice strongly advises taking the right-hand fork, exploring the left-hand route instead ensures that all necessary clues are gathered before the final confrontation.
Crafting Reinald’s Philter and Preparing for Battle
The investigation ultimately leads to two crucial discoveries that dictate the flow of the impending combat encounter. The first is an abandoned alchemy station where Geralt can examine a priest’s testament, and the second is a reddish shack situated within a larger chamber haunted by the ghosts of plague victims. Inside this shack, players find the specific recipe and necessary ingredients required to brew Reinald’s Philter.
Once these pieces of evidence are collected, optional objectives appear in the quest log. Players are encouraged to consult Geralt’s bestiary to read up on the Red Miasmal—the malevolent entity haunting the mine—to understand its weaknesses. Simultaneously, opening the alchemy menu and navigating to the quest tab allows for the immediate crafting of Reinald’s Philter, a specialized concoction designed to tip the scales in the upcoming fight.
Freeing Reinald and Facing the Red Miasmal
Reaching the deepest chamber of The Devil’s Pit reveals a large arena where a mysterious figure is trapped directly within a formation of solid stone stalagmites. Claiming to be the long-lost Witcher Reinald, the figure begs for release. Freeing him requires utilizing the Aard sign to shatter the stone prison with a targeted telekinetic blast.
However, the rescue mission quickly takes a dark turn. While the freed man is indeed Reinald, his body and mind have been thoroughly corrupted and possessed by the Red Miasmal. Upon his release, Reinald urgently requests that Geralt hand over Reinald’s Philter. For players seeking a manageable battle, refusing this request is vital; Geralt must consume the potion himself to gain its protective benefits rather than handing it over to the possessed Witcher.
The ensuing boss battle unfolds in two distinct phases. The first phase pits Geralt against Possessed Reinald. The corrupted Witcher frequently deploys a Quen shield, making direct attacks a waste of stamina. The most efficient strategy involves utilizing the Yrden magical sign to trap the entity, followed by a well-timed Aard blast to help expel the Red Miasmal from Reinald’s physical form.
Once the entity is forced out of the Witcher, the second phase begins, requiring Geralt to defeat the Red Miasmal in its true, non-humanoid form. This phase demands heightened vigilance, as the creature possesses the ability to teleport across the arena, summon hostile minions, and unleash a devastating ranged attack that requires precise dodging.
Exploring the Quest Outcomes and Consequences
With the Red Miasmal defeated, the narrative reaches its emotional climax, revolving around Reinald’s demand to bring the waiting Eternal Fire priest down into the mine to face judgment. Players are given the choice to fulfill this request or refuse it outright.
Refusing to bring the priest results in a brief conversation outside the cave, where Geralt can either recount the grim truths of what transpired below or dismiss the details as irrelevant. Regardless of the choice, the devout priest remains skeptical, refusing to acknowledge the atrocities committed in the name of his order.
Complying with Reinald’s demand and bringing the priest down into the arena opens up branching narrative paths with vastly different conclusions. Achieving the good outcome requires carefully managing the dialogue choices between the three characters. By making a strong defense of the priest—selecting supportive dialogue lines during the confrontation—players can convince Reinald to spare his life. In this favorable resolution, the priest survives, renounces the Eternal Fire, and ultimately transforms The Devil’s Pit into a functional hospital for those in need, while Reinald’s spirit finally finds peace.
Conversely, failing to defend the priest properly leads to a dark conclusion where Reinald executes the religious leader in cold blood. In this grim scenario, Reinald’s spirit remains restless, and The Devil’s Pit is left abandoned and overrun by ghouls.
Regardless of the specific moral choices made throughout the narrative, successfully concluding "In the Eternal Fire’s Shadow" grants the player the complete set of Forgotten Wolven armor and weapon diagrams. These schematics can then be utilized to undertake the accompanying scavenger hunt, allowing Geralt to forge the iconic Netflix-inspired gear and add a legendary new set of equipment to his arsenal.
