Level: CD Projekt Red's own release-week guidance put it at 30+; the expansion doesn't hard-block you below that, but fights are tuned for it.
Trigger: The quest "Evil's Soft First Touches", which appears on its own when you load your save, or the Ofieri merchant on the road.
Unlocks: The Runewright (runewords/glyphwords) and unique gear.
1. The Contract
A contract to slay a monster in the Oxenfurt sewers introduces the Toad Prince — a tough early boss (dodge its tongue and toxic clouds, use Northern Wind bombs). Afterwards you're arrested, freed by a strange man, and bound into service to the immortal Olgierd von Everec, who is himself in thrall to Gaunter O'Dimm, the Man of Glass.
2. The Three "Impossible" Wishes
- 1
Dead Man's Party
Grant Olgierd's brother's ghost, Vlodimir, one last night alive — by letting him possess Geralt at a wedding. A hilarious, beloved quest.
- 2
Open Sesame! (the heist)
Rob the Borsodi auction house for the house of Maximilian Borsodi. Recruit a crew and choose your approach — stealthy or loud.
- 3
Scenes From a Marriage / Iris
Enter the painted dream-world of Olgierd's late wife Iris and battle her nightmares and the Caretaker (steal his shovel to reflect his own attacks).
3. The Final Choice
O'Dimm comes to collect Olgierd's soul. You can help O'Dimm (Olgierd is doomed) or side with Olgierd — which means beating O'Dimm at his own game by solving his riddle in the mirror world before time runs out. Siding with Olgierd and outwitting O'Dimm is the "good" ending, and it's the only path that gives you Olgierd's sword Iris (see Rewards below) — pick O'Dimm's side and it's simply gone.
The riddle's answer lies in the environment — read the tombstones and clues carefully; the flower is the key.
4. Rewards
You gain access to the Runewright, who fits swords and chest armor with up to three rune or glyph slots each. Unlocking his full service costs crowns in stages — roughly 5,000 to start (plus jade), another 10,000 to open his second tier of runewords and glyphwords, and 15,000 more for the third — so budget for it rather than expecting it free with the quest. Siding with Olgierd in the final choice also earns Iris, a unique steel sword (not silver) that secretly strikes twice on strong attacks, and can unleash one devastating hit at the cost of 15% of your max Vitality when its blade flashes red.
Hearts of Stone is often called the best short RPG story ever written.