Geralt must decide whether to kill the spirit in the Whispering Hillock or free it. This decision impacts several outcomes:
>Killing the Spirit
If Geralt kills the spirit, the children who the Crones intended to eat will be doomed, and they disappear, presumably eaten by the Crones.
The village of Downwarren remains safe because the spirit, if freed, would have destroyed it.
The Baron's wife, Anna Strenger, who has been bewitched by the Crones due to a pact made by the Baron, remains under their spell and ends up dying in madness.
>Freeing the Spirit
Freeing the spirit causes it to destroy Downwarren as it escapes, killing many villagers.
However, this act saves the children whom Geralt had earlier found in Crookback Bog, as they are secretly taken to Novigrad to live in safety.
Anna Strenger is released from the Crones' spell but is driven mad by her experiences, leading to her eventual death; however, her death here is due to physical ailment rather than a curse.
Both choices reflect the morally ambiguous nature of The Witcher series, where decisions often come with significant and unforeseen consequences, and no clear moral choices are evident. This choice in particular highlights the series' emphasis on lesser evils and the impact of one's actions on the surrounding world.
