Where Children Toil, Toys Waste Away in The Witcher 3: Bootblack, Fistfight and Toy Shop Clues
Witcher 3 Where Children Toil, Toys Waste Away: where to find the bootblack, the port fistfight, pay or Axii the boy, and the clues in The Rocking Horse.
In this article (0 sections)
Updated October 2026. Where Children Toil, Toys Waste Away is the short Blood and Wine quest that picks up right after the Resonance vision. Geralt and Regis track down the bootblack boy who carried Dettlaff's letters, deal with a few port thugs, and follow the trail to an abandoned toy shop. There's one fistfight, one small choice about money, and a clue that changes how you see Dettlaff.
Quick answer
Start: automatically after La Cage au Fou. Recommended level is 42.
The bootblack: find him at Beauclair Port (he works roughly 8am to 8pm). Beat the thugs in a fistfight, then get him to talk: pay, haggle, or use Axii.
The clue: follow Regis to The Rocking Horse toy shop, read the letters upstairs, and you learn Dettlaff is being blackmailed.
Small missable: paying the boy the full 500 crowns counts toward a later dialogue option in There Can Be Only One.
Quest Overview
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Quest type | Main quest (Blood and Wine) |
| Suggested level | 42 |
| Starts after | La Cage au Fou |
| Location | Beauclair Port, then The Rocking Horse in Beauclair |
| Rewards | About 1,600 XP total, plus 400 to 600 XP for the fistfight |
| Next quest | Wine is Sacred |
Walkthrough
1. Find the Bootblack at the Port
The vision gave you one lead: the boy who polished boots near the port and passed messages for Dettlaff. Head to Beauclair Port and look for him by the docks. He only works during the day, so if he isn't there, meditate until morning.
2. Deal with the Thugs
Before the boy can say much, a group of local toughs show up and pick a fight. However the conversation goes, it ends in fists, not swords. Win and you get the bigger XP reward. Lose and the quest still carries on with a smaller one. Afterward a guard turns up and hauls the thugs away.
Keep your guard up, counter instead of mashing, and back off when you're low. The fight ends at zero health, not death.
3. Get the Boy to Talk
The boy knows where the letters went, but he wants 500 crowns for it. You have three ways to handle him:
| Option | What happens | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Pay 500 crowns | He tells you everything right away. | Counts as a "proof of generosity" for a dialogue option in There Can Be Only One. |
| Haggle | You pay less and still get the info. | Cheaper, but no generosity credit. |
| Axii (Delusion) | Geralt makes him talk for free. | Needs Delusion at level 2. See our signs guide. |
Worth knowing: paying the full 500 crowns is the only choice here that carries forward. If you want every dialogue option open in There Can Be Only One, pay instead of haggling.
4. Follow Regis to The Rocking Horse
The trail leads to an abandoned toy shop called The Rocking Horse. Follow Regis there. The door is locked, but Regis gets it open for you.
5. Search Upstairs for Clues
Go upstairs and use your witcher senses. Two clues matter:
- A suspicious letter in a small jug near the stairs.
- More letters in the corner to the right of the work table.
Put them together and the picture changes: Dettlaff isn't killing on a whim. Someone is holding the woman he loves and using her to make him do it. Regis decides to wait at the shop in case anyone comes back, and the quest ends.
Next up is Wine is Sacred, which sends Geralt to the next name on the killer's list.
Video: Where Children Toil, Toys Waste Away
Frequently Asked Questions
QWhere is the bootblack in Where Children Toil, Toys Waste Away?
At Beauclair Port, during the day (roughly 8am to 8pm). If he isn't there, meditate until morning.
QCan I lose the fistfight?
Yes. The quest continues either way. Winning just gives more XP.
QShould I pay the boy 500 crowns?
If you can spare it. Paying the full amount counts as generosity for a dialogue option in There Can Be Only One. Haggling or Axii are cheaper.
QWhere are the clues in The Rocking Horse?
Upstairs: a letter in a small jug near the stairs, and more letters in the corner right of the work table.
QWhat quest comes next?
Wine is Sacred.
Before this: La Cage au Fou. More: Regis explained, Wine Wars, Blood and Wine endings and all Witcher 3 quests.
Sources: in-game quest text and journal; steps, choices and rewards checked against the Witcher Wiki and Fextralife pages for Where Children Toil, Toys Waste Away. Screenshots: gameplay frames from YouTube walkthroughs by misternoobie, The Game Bar, Jason's Video Games Source and Quick Tips.
Kai Mercer covers game news, free games, release calendars and guides for xGamerss.
More from Kai Mercer →
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first!
Sign in or create an account to earn karma — or comment as a guest.