the-witcher-2
I am trying to complete the quest "Of Flickering Hearts" and the "Symbol of Death". However, the map marks the location north of the Vergen, and the only route I have found there takes me through the battle-field, and I get killed easily there.
Is there another route which I am missing?
After finally beating the Kayran, here are some tips on killing the beast.
You need to trap the tentacles using the Yrden sign (The 4 tentacles with the slightly glowing, thicker part). You can only trap the 4 rear tentacles with the glowing part, the front tentacles of the Kayran cannot be trapped!. If you crafted a Kayran trap, you can use that one for the first tentacle, the location is highlighted if you have the trap in your inventory. You need to place an Yrden trap at a location where the tentacle will hit the ground. The easiest way to achieve this is to stand in the same location as the trap, once the Kayran lifts its tentacles, immediately roll to the side. The tentacle will hit the trap and you can sever it.
Avoiding the tentacles is important, a direct hit can do a lot of damage. Watch the pattern, you'll quickly notice when the Kayran lifts its tentacles and it is time to evade. Sometimes it also hits you from the side with a tentacle, but I haven't found what triggers this attack. You also shouldn't stand directly in front of the Kayrans mouth, it can perform an attack that poisons you (if you didn't drink the Mongoose potion) and immobilizes you.
You can also use the Quen sign to protect yourself from damage, but you have to time the casting right or you'll just be hit by a tentacle while or shortly after casting it.
After severing the third tentacle you get a quicktime event (right click, repeated left clicks and space) which will cause parts of the old bridge to collapse. The Kayran now throws stones after you. You need to go to the left and go up the fallen down part of the bridge that now leads directly onto the Kayran. And then you've finished this fight. Don't forget to loot the Kayran for reagents and crafting material.
Here is a video showing exactly where she is. It's easier to just watch the video to find malena but basically go away from the waterfall along the path leading back to the village, then make a left along a SHORT path, then make a left again on another path that heads south west sort of. You'll see a cut scene with some guy asking for help, then you fight some monsters, keep going up by the broken wall after you fight them, she is hiding behind the wall, watch out for the traps.
Best Answer
To complete of Flickering Hearts/Succubus you need the surgical instruments (you can buy them from a woman merchant) and you need to get to the catacombs and inspect a freshly dead body, there is a way to get there without crossing the battlefield (hint: look for a way of crossing the river, take the exit from Vergen past Iorveth's base). Once you have found and inspected the dead body talk to Dandelion.
You can do the Symbol of Death in the Catacombs at the same time (hint: go to the lower level and find the ghost of Ekhart Henessa).