20 Video Game Side Quests That BROKE You
12. Black Pearl (The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt)
Geralt of Rivia, the iconic protagonist of The Witcher series, has certainly seen his fair share of tragedy. He, and by extension the player, cannot save everyone, and the "Black Pearl" contract is a sad testament to that.
This quest is, overall, pretty par for the course. It starts when an older man in Novigrad, Nidas, asks you to help him track down a unique black pearl in Skellige that he had promised to his wife, Letta, years ago. It all seems sweet, simple, and, if anything, a little mundane by this point in the game. Hell, it doesn't even get more complicated than that, as all you need to do is meet him on the Skellige Isles, dive into the water, find the pearl, and battle a Drowner or two.
Sadly, after getting back to Novigrad, Nidas tells you why he asked for your help in the first place, revealing that Letta is extremely unwell and can't even recognise him anymore, implying she has dementia. The pearl was his last hope of restoring her memories, but it doesn't work, and you're left with the knowledge that not even a Witcher can battle the ravages of time.