Payback in The Witcher 3: Junior, the Golden Sturgeon and the Horse Theft Choice
Witcher 3 Payback: how Junior's fate changes the start, the Golden Sturgeon thugs, Valdo's race, and whether to help Aegar steal horses or fight him.
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Updated October 2026. Payback is Ciri's part of Final Preparations: she has unfinished business in Novigrad, and you go along. How it starts depends on what you did to Whoreson Junior back in Get Junior. After that it's a tour of Ciri's old haunts, a run-in with some thugs, and a night at a nonhuman camp that ends with a choice: help steal horses, or fight for your honor.
Quick answer
Start: meet Ciri at Gildorf Square. If Junior is dead, go with her to Temple Isle; if you spared him, you find him in an alley in the Bits.
Golden Sturgeon: deal with the thugs; scare them off or knock them around.
Farcorners: meet Valdo and Aegar at the nonhuman camp. The horse race with Valdo is optional.
The choice: help Aegar steal horses (sneak into the stables) or refuse and win a fistfight with him.
Payback Walkthrough
1. Meet Ciri
Find Ciri at Gildorf Square and let her lead. What happens next depends on Junior:
| In Get Junior you... | What happens in Payback |
|---|---|
| Killed Junior | Go with Ciri to Temple Isle. Two henchmen guard the way: get past them with Axii (Delusion level 3) or draw your sword and Ciri steps in. On the top floor, a man claims to be Dudu in disguise. |
| Spared Junior | You find him in an alley in the Bits. Leave him alone. |
For the backstory with Junior and Dudu, see Ciri's Story: Visiting Junior and Breakneck Speed.
2. The Golden Sturgeon
Follow Ciri east to the Golden Sturgeon and deal with the thugs inside. You can tell them to leave, or threaten them and knock them around.
3. Farcorners and the Nonhuman Camp
Follow Ciri to Farcorners. She talks with Bea and tells part of her story. Then leave Novigrad, head right to the nonhuman camp, and meet Valdo and Aegar. Valdo challenges you to a horse race; it's optional. Later, Aegar asks you to help steal horses.
4. The Choice: Steal the Horses or Fight Aegar
| Choice | What you do | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Agree | You're teleported to the stables. Climb the shed to the roof, then the platform, climb down near the sleeping guard and take the keys from the stall in the southeast. Keep quiet; if the horses panic and wake the guard, knock him out and calm the horses with Axii. | Ciri and Aegar ride out; Ciri says she'll meet you at Dandelion's. |
| Refuse | Aegar challenges you to a fistfight. Win it. | You're thrown out of the camp either way, and go back to the Rosemary and Thyme. |
Rewards and What's Next
| Quest | Reward | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Payback | XP | Back to Final Preparations; finish The Great Escape and Blindingly Obvious too |
When all three are done, the Lodge meets at the Rosemary and Thyme, and the choice there is one of the most important for Ciri's ending; see our endings guide.
Video: Payback
Frequently Asked Questions
QDoes killing Junior change Payback?
Yes. If he's dead, you go to Temple Isle and meet a man claiming to be Dudu. If you spared him, you find Junior in an alley in the Bits.
QShould I help Aegar steal the horses?
It's your call. Agreeing means a quiet stealth section in the stables; refusing means a fistfight with Aegar. Either way you're banished from the camp.
QHow do I steal the horses without waking the guard?
Climb the shed to the roof and the platform, drop down near the guard, and take the keys from the southeast stall quietly. If he wakes, knock him out and calm the horses with Axii.
QDo I have to race Valdo?
No. The horse race is optional.
QWhat comes after Payback?
It's part of Final Preparations. Finish The Great Escape and Blindingly Obvious, then meet the Lodge.
Part of: Final Preparations. More: all Witcher 3 quests.
Sources: in-game quest text and journal; steps and choices checked against the Fextralife page for Payback. Screenshots: gameplay frames from YouTube walkthroughs by Matty LeBatty, Quick Tips, Rodman.Gaming and Jason's Video Games Source.
Kai Mercer covers game news, free games, release calendars and guides for xGamerss.
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