Geralt of Rivia goes up against many monsters in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt; some vengeful, some mislabeled, and some that are just plain grumpy. Meeting the latter in the depths of a long-forgotten ruin is what makes the often-missed Tome Entombed quest so unexpected and iconic. A good Witcher knows to expect anything when they’re up against deadly monsters, but sometimes even Geralt can be surprised by a monster that’s so - well, relatable.
The Witcher 3 is one of the best fantasy RPGs on the market, even over six years after its initial release. CD Projekt Red’s video game is praised for its superb narrative, immersive world, and well-written story. Their attention to detail and branching paths comprise some of the game’s most memorable moments. All the game’s quests get the same treatment - whether it’s Geralt’s struggle to find Ciri and defeat the Wild Hunt, or if it’s one of The Witcher 3’s weirdest side quests - like Tome Entombed.
The quest can be difficult to find, as it’s triggered in the Novigrad sewers, a location that there’s little reason to ever visit. It can be found either in the middle of The Bits or just past the Tretogor Gate signpost. Upon entering the door in the archway tower there, Geralt can follow the path to a room with ladders. After climbing down and entering the sewer proper, Geralt can follow the path, turning left after reaching the second gate. Along the brick tunnel just before the gated archway there’s a weak juncture Geralt can find with Witcher Sense. After breaking it with the Aard sign, he encounters Professor Vairmont Jonne trying to open the sarcophagus buried within.
Why Tome Entombed is An Iconic Side Quest in The Witcher 3
So far removed from the beaten path, not to mention deep beneath in the maze of a city that Novigrad is, it’s no surprise that Tome Entombed is a Witcher 3 side quest that most players miss. It’s worth completing, however, as it’s one of the game’s funniest moments. Professor Jonne explains to Geralt that he believes there to be an Elven Manuscript inside the sealed sarcophagus, and he enlists Geralt’s help in getting it open. To their surprise, there’s a vampire inside.
The expectation is that the famed creature of the night will rise like Dracula and attack the player, but that’s not exactly what happens. The first words out of the vampire’s mouth are, “Just five more minutes,” before turning and groggily asking, “Is it 1358 yet?” Geralt tells him no, and the vampire impatiently says, “Then f*** off.” Vairmont insists that Geralt open the coffin once more, and if he acquiesces he must then fight the annoyed Katakan.
Witcher 3’s Tome Entombed Side Quest
Fighting higher vampires is always a tricky venture, but it’s nothing Geralt can’t handle with a silver sword and judicious use of Witcher 3’s most overpowered Sign, Quen. Once the Katakan is dead, the quest is complete. It can be started and finished all in that tiny room and takes only a few minutes. A Tome Entombed is one of many small secondary quests in The Witcher 3 that injects some unexpected humor and levity into the game’s typically dark world.
The encounter challenges the player’s expectations of how a vampire will react to being disturbed. This subversion is especially hilarious when set against the gravitas and high stakes of the vampires in the game’s Blood and Wine DLC. It’s moments like this that keep players on their toes throughout The Witcher 3, and keep the game fresh even many playthroughs after their first.
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