The Nithing in The Witcher 3: Who Owns the Shawl, Jonna and the Best Choice
Witcher 3 The Nithing walkthrough: where to ask about the shawl's owner, who cast the curse, whether to kill or spare Jonna, and the rewards for each choice.
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Updated October 2026. The Nithing is a short Skellige side quest in The Witcher 3. A father named Lothar finds a cursed pole outside his home, and his young son is wasting away. Geralt tracks down who cast the curse, and then has to decide who pays for it. There is no fight, but the choice is a hard one.
Quick answer
Start: the "Nithing" notice on Rannvaig's notice board, or Lothar's hut southeast of Rannvaig. Suggested level 14.
Shawl's owner: after the scent trail fades in Rannvaig, ask the woman near the harbor (daytime). The shawl belongs to Jonna, the herbalist.
Choice: turn the curse on Jonna (she dies, Lothar keeps his family, 60 crowns) or spare her (Lothar must leave his family and go back to her).
Tip: Jonna is an alchemist. Buy what you need from her before you turn the curse on her.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Quest type | Secondary quest |
| Region | Skellige (Ard Skellig) |
| Location | Rannvaig and Lothar's hut |
| Suggested level | 14 |
| Reward | Kill Jonna: 60 crowns + 25 XP. Spare Jonna: 75 XP |
How to Start The Nithing
Read the "Nithing" notice on the board in Rannvaig, or just head southeast of the village to Lothar's hut and talk to him. A nithing, a pole with a horse skull used to lay a curse, has been planted outside his home, aimed at his young son Tjalve.
Geralt knows two ways to break it: get the person who cast it to lift it, or turn it back on them. Either way, you first need to find out who did it.
Ask About the Shawl's Owner
Examine the nithing, then follow the tracks with your Witcher Senses until you find a Skellige shawl with a clear scent. Follow the scent into Rannvaig. There it fades out, and the objective changes to "Ask about the shawl's owner".
Go down towards the harbor during the day and talk to the Skelliger woman there. She recognises the shawl straight away: it belongs to Jonna, the herbalist. If you can't find her, come back in daylight.
Talk to Jonna
Jonna admits she planted the nithing. She and Lothar were together for ten years, until he left her without a word and married someone else, and the whole village laughed at her. She will lift the curse on one condition: Lothar must come back to her and renounce his son, which would leave his wife and children without honour or support.
The Nithing: Best Choice
Take Jonna's terms back to Lothar. He is furious and asks Geralt to turn the curse on her instead.
| Choice | What happens | Reward |
|---|---|---|
| Turn the curse on Jonna | Geralt carves her name into the nithing and turns the skull towards her. The boy recovers, Lothar stays with his family, and Jonna soon dies and disappears from the game. | 60 crowns + 25 XP |
| Spare Jonna | Geralt refuses. Lothar says goodbye to his family and goes back to Jonna to save his son. Later he tells her he agreed to return to her, not to love her. | 75 XP |
Which is best? There is no clear good ending. Turning the curse saves the family but kills Jonna, and you lose her as an herbalist. Sparing her saves her life but breaks up Lothar's family. Neither choice affects the main story. If you plan to kill her, buy any alchemy ingredients you want from her first.
Video Walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
QWho owns the shawl in The Nithing?
Jonna, the herbalist in Rannvaig. Ask the woman near the harbor in daylight and she will tell you.
QWhere is the woman to ask about the shawl?
Near the harbor in Rannvaig. She is there during the day, so wait or meditate until morning if you can't find her.
QShould you kill Jonna or spare her?
It is your call. Killing her saves Lothar's family and pays 60 crowns; sparing her keeps her alive but Lothar has to leave his family. Neither affects the main story.
QWhat happens to Jonna if you turn the curse?
She falls ill and dies, and she disappears from the game, so you can no longer buy from her.
QWhere does The Nithing start?
From the notice on Rannvaig's notice board, or by talking to Lothar at his hut southeast of Rannvaig.
Quest details checked against the Witcher Wiki in October 2026.
Kai Mercer covers game news, free games, release calendars and guides for xGamerss.
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