Witcher 3: HEARTS OF STONE ► Violet Rose, the Tragedy in the Painted World #25 

This dlc went from being a bundle of laughs to depressing real fast

We interrupt this Witcher video game to bring you a game of Silent Hill

I have never felt worse for a video game character. Not Bloody Baron. Not Vezemir. Even Hjalmar had a heroic moment saving Ciri. But for Iris, there was nothing but suffering. She was so beautiful and yearning for love but powerless. She had to witness her father killed and fed to the beast. In the end, a once lively woman became lifeless having to live with a demon dog and a demon cat and the Faceless caretaker. Olgierd leaving her was the final nail on her coffin. This story had me alt-tab for a moment and stare at the screen because it was so harrowing. I have seen many comments saying how hard it was for them to choose whether to take the rose or not. After seeing all the terrible things Iris had to suffer, taking the rose was an obvious choice for me. I just told myself "Enough! I'm taking the rose. She will not suffer a moment longer."

Letting iris fade away or choosing to keep her grief trapped there forever was one of the worst choices in the game.. Olgeir suffered terribly, but iris was the true victim in this story. She didn't make any deal with O'Dimmm, she didn't curse anyone, she hurt no one and suffered horribly for it..

Iris von Everec, such a beautiful lady.

"All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."

"I don't wish to suffer any longer... But I fear there will be cold and darkness, until... There's nothing at all." This broke my heart so hard, one of the best storylines in the game :)

This part.... I've no words, it was so great to play through it

It was the two familiar demons that actually swayed me in this. Being eternally shackled to someone drowning in their grief for all time is a fate worse than death in of itself.

- What are you? A ghost? An illusion? - I am sadness. :(

Perfect example of The Witcher 3's mostly bittersweet story. There's hardly ever a truly good ending and even those come at a price. Let her spirit remain in tormenting certainty or free her to an uncertain fate? It's ultimately a game, but most of the quests were so well made that they made you care in some way at least.

Such a beautiful woman, only wanted to be loved. Damn, the feels.

"swept the spiders and toss them into the garden" this is how u can tell Olgierd is a good man

This DLC is even better than the main game. Better story pacing, better boss battles, better level desgn etc. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that the main game is in anyway bad- it is great. However, I like this DLC more for those reasons I just gave. And this part with Iris is my favorite part of the DLC. I guess CD Projekt Red has listened to the fans' feedback, whether good or bad, and has improved almost every aspect in this DLC. Such a great company!

I knew I had to take the rose. I felt that she'd suffered enough. Although it meant erasing her for good and forever, I thought to myself "I hope she can find some peace." I could not condemn her to eternal sadness and leave her with the very unlikely possibility that someone would free her. Taking the rose was showing her mercy.

Well, they've really tried to one up the Barron quest. Also, Iris was quite the lady. Also, I keep trying to imagine how gifiting the dog and cat went down: "Hey, hone, I know my heart is made of stone and I've done many a dark deed, but I still want to make you happy. Here's a talking demon dog and a talking demon cat. Have a good one."

This game... is just ... something else. It's more than just a game. It is art.

This was amazingly well written. I sympathized with Iris completely when she said she didn't wish to suffer anymore but also was terribly afraid of nothingness, of ceasing to exist. I, too, am terribly afraid of death because of that. But I took the rose, because death is as terrible as it is unavoidable, and to live eternally in the world of sadness and pain would end up being a fate worst than oblivion. But man was it hard to decide. I applaud this masterpiece of a game.

The emotion and story in this game is eons above anything Bethesda has done.

Olgierd: "......I've thrown all the spiders into the garden" Geralt: *draws sword* "Oh fuck"

Damn, for a game and Iris von Everec being a fictional character at that, you could really feel her powerful emotions regarding her situation. I remember holding off for at least 5 minutes during that difficult choice, thinking I would feel guilt afterwards. More so, because I felt how she felt about being in a dilemma of 'living' in agony, or ceasing to exist. Ultimately, I just had to 'free' her. IMO, she's suffered long enough. Kudos to her voice actress, Lu Corfield for such an excellent performance!

Iris is so hauntingly beautiful.......

This part is just heartbreaking...I feel so bad for Iris, she loved Olgierd with no reserve, yet look at where she ended up. Ahh this game, never gets old on me.

This is one of the best questchain in the history of gaming. Its incredibly good and impactful.

It's unhuman to leave her to suffer in her memories, she need to finish her line like others that are dead.

Best part of the game .i took the rose to end her world of torment, such a excellent storyline. "Iris ,what a mess we made of it all if I've only know then how it would end"

My pulse was so fast throughout this entire quest chain. Being on that estate is just ghastly. The Caretaker actually curdled my blood when I first saw him, venturing through the manner was so foreboding and overall, the grief of Iris deeply saddened me. Amazing DLC. I actually felt relieved when I was out of the grounds, back at a windmill in the sun with some peasants and more pleasant music. Brilliantly designed game in so many ways.

It really broke my heart realizing that i couldn't do anything for her. She didn't deserve these at all, and so did olgierd. Such a tragic end. I ended up taking the rose just in the hope to free her from the sorrow. Again, great story-writing.

Don't marry someone just because you want to help or heal or feel overly sorry for them, help them but don't share their problems. That's in my great-grandmother's housewife guide thing from Sweden from 1902. It also says you should spike your husband's liquor with arsenic when he has the flu and that "marriage is like a lottery you either win a prize or end up miserable for eternity"

Do you remember the quest with the painter in Cheydinhal in Oblivion? So much feels...

I don't understand those idiots that chose to let her live in this nightmare forever. I mean, really?!

Iris was such a beautiful woman who only sought love... Sad. This quest also raises the question of whether there's an afterlife in the Witcher universe. Obviously, there's supernatural stuff, and ghosts exist, but they are bound to this earthly world for a reason, such as unfinished business. But what happens when this link is solved and they pass on? This quest insinuates that nothingness awaits you. Now what is preferable: a continued existence in a dream world full of pain, or nothingness? Horrible decision.

I actually left her the ross for Olgierd to visit her one last time, so pissed he didnt even mention her in the good ending

One of the saddest missions in the game which includes one of the morally hardest decisions as well- end Iris' suffering but uncertain of what will happen after or let her have the rose that reminds her of her true love and memories but still feels pain. Damn... this game is just a masterpiece.

"I whish to gaze into those eyes... eyes the devil would be proud to have" - I think one of the best lines ever written period.(the guys that wrote this story are big goethe fans, but it's so much more than just a German tragedy... Has elements of ancient Greek tragedies too and they are combined masterfully) (I didn't cry, nope)

The most haunting quest I have ever played she was lovely

This is my favorite part of the entire Hearts of Stone.

Why can't I tell Olgierd to meet Iris after his curse is lifted? If only Geralt can read my mind, maybe the two lover can live happily ever after, together.

this expansion pack is filled to the brim with beautiful exchange of dialogues, interesting characters, haunting music. cd projekt red are not even game devs anymore, they are artists.

i HATE this mission,its so sad,i was in my head like:please let there be a way to make her happy,re-unite them

She looks like Eva Green and he looks like David Beckham

Damn her fucking arachnophobia, those things are always hard to kill... So fast

Iris was loyal wife and beautiful lady but Olgierd banish her so hard from death,I hope iris will stay alive and feeling not suffering anymore since Olgierd now have heart back (I lifted his curse in my gameplay)

A contender for the greatest RPG quest of all time. You'll re-emerge into the Witcher world still trying to process what you just went through.

Good god "I am sadness" just punched me in the gut.

Not only do I feel bad for Iris but you gotta feel for Olgrierd too. He made a deal with Gaunter so he could be with Iris. In doing so he lost himself and his own heart causing his love to become his hate. Not only did he lose his brother, he lost his only love, and himself. This story is haunting. I wish they could meet again under better circumstances. Also fuck the brothers that made the Von Evercs lose their money. All of this shit wouldn’t have happened then. 🖕🏻

i tried to do a evil playtrough of this game, but iris made me so sad that i deleted my save files of it and just stared a good playtrough of it.

Finally managed to convince my girlfriend to try out this quest, she instantly got into it and enjoyed it up until this point but, man, Iris' story had an effect on her, it genuinely saddened her and the whole taking the rose bit brought her to tears, poor thing. Had to take her out the next day, she just didn't feel alright for a day. Such a powerful game.

As strange as it all sounds, this made me hate O'Dimm more than Olgierd. Like I get it, Olgierd made a deal with the devil and he's gotta pay the due, but the damage it caused to the innocents in the crossfire caused nothing but pain truama, heartbreak, and countless unneccesary losses and the worst of it all, O'Dimm let it happen, more likely than not, knowing what would happen and worse off, he almost certainly doesn't care so long as the contract is fulfilled. The Ofieri prince was made a toad and killed, the Borsodi family house drenched in blood by family and innocent, a wedding crashed by an unwanted spectre and to top it all off, an innocent woman who wanted nothing but love was cursed to one of the worst fates I've ever seen in a video game. Say what you want about Olgierd being the trigger of it all in all of this, but Gaunter likely knew the way this would turn out and let it happen caring little of the consequences.

This Quest was one of the best maybe even the best in the game. The music in the Background was horrifiying. The world the colours and Monsters/Bosses terrifiying. It was just a nightmare. After i completed this Quest i had tears in my eyes and was done for the day with Witcher 3 had to process what happened. I took the rose because I had the Same opinion as the cat and the dog had. This world is a nightmare which will never Stop. To exist like this is maybe not worth the existence. I curse you gaunter o dim you are just evil.

This is my favorite DLC- on par with the actual game. The story was so amazingly intriguing and the writing is masterful. I feel for Iris and even Olgierd when I learn that he is suffering himself and yearns for his humanity back. And Master Mirror is frighteningly interesting and mysterious.

21:54 re hearing Iris' faith in Olgierd makes me rethink that saving Olgierd at the end is the good end in my book, as if I'm respecting her last wishes, she truly wanted her husband to live happier.

Vlodimir I felt bad for because he was considered second best to his brother. Iris was just an unnecessary victim in Olgeird’s deal with O’Dimm. This DLC officially made me depressed as hell and sad af nearing the end.

This is like a incredibly dark version of Beauty and the Beast

This is why you never deal with a devil

Missed oportunity for Geralt to ask: "I know this is awkward but... May I pet you guys?"

I wish part of the good ending was to bring Olgierd the painted rose. Then they could reunite happily with both of them loving each other again.

We should get a dog... or a cat and a dog... or better... A catdog.

This is probably my favorite witcher 3 quest

Everytime she speaks I feel so safe

Black cat and dog: You must help free us stranger. Geralt: Sure, but first how about a round of Gwent? Black Dog and Cat: *Nods*

Iris is so elegant and graceful. No wonder Olgierd being crazy after his heart stop his feeling

5:04 Ah yes! Game wouldn't be complete without the classic "spider the size of a buffalo" fight XD

This quest right here is the pinnacle of quest design and narration in gaming.

I got frustrated with the boss here on death march. Fun fight though.

How could you hurt someone that hot.

Such an impacting quest...especially if you're a person who knows what it was like to be in a relationship with a person with a heart of stone, emotionally unavailable.

This DLC was fantastic and the entire Painted World sequence was just...something else.

I fell really sad for iris... the last where geralt says I remember you... the face iris make is so heart warming... played this dlc 3 years ago still feels.. like yesterday. The witcher 3 is legendary game

In my opinion, this is the best quest in the entire gaming industry. Incredible atmosphere, non-trivial gameplay even within the game itself, a strong plot that touches a nerve. Iris herself, again in my opinion, is the best female character in the game.

13:45 This is the exact moment Olgierd von Everec became Heisenberg.

Dooode, Iris got legs o.O I'd worship her if she were mine

we have to wait two years for another masterpiece of them mate

When all the comments are about the good content of the DLC rather than the price of it, you know they’ve done a good job.

This was a damn ART!!

17:27 This fight with a wrong build was a real pain for me. (Maxed Quen and Axii, used Archgriffin potion).

After I finished this story, I set out of my room and looked my wife at her eyes, I truly am lucky.

U should take the rose

i felt the need to come here and read other people reaction to the Iris quest, cause I was truly and painfully heartbroken, even though its not my first play of "hearts of stone" that's how incredible this game is.

Not taking the rose + not saving Olgierd = G.O.D taking the souls of both Iris and Olgierd to be tortured for eternity. I am so sorry :( But I really wanted the saddle.

Even though i knew the heart of stone was a side effect from O'Dimm doing that Olgierd became emtionless and cruel, still i wouldn't gonna save him after all he's done to Iris. His soul deserves to face the fate worse than death.

FYI.... If you keep the portrait of Iris and Olgierd and instead bury her with the brush or sketchbook, you can later hang the portrait in the home given to you (Corvo Bianco). witcher.fandom.com/wiki/Corvo_Bianco

7:40 Haha, I just like how the way Geralt acting like 'be cool' with this scene when he is a man who witnessing Olgierd's lying on his lovely wife.

I feel an infinite tenderness and love for Iris von Everec. When she said, "I am sadness", I felt like comforting her so bad. She was one of the most beautiful gaming characters I have ever come across. I swear if she existed in the real world, I would love her beyond measure and keep her warm all her life. ❤️🌹 Plus she's a Gothic beauty. I love Gothic women. 💜

Because of iris story i find it hard to spare olgeird buf i remember he had a heart turn to stone by gaunter and the only way he can repay iris is to be a good man and start a new so i let him live gaunter manipulated events to make olgeird desperate i read what happened to the von everecs and its way too comical how they immediately experienced all that bad luck all at once.

I always knew that taking the rose was the right choice.

Anyone thought that if Iris married the Ofieri prince, her life would be a lot happier? Olgierd talked badly about him but i believe that was just him being jealous.

One of the best stories in gaming history. Gut wrenching.

i absolutely adore this dlc. gives me goosebumps everytime. it´s so beautiful and tragic. poor Iris. really broke my heart

And I DON'T WANT THE WORLD TO SEE ME! Cos I don't think that they'd understand. Whe EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE BROKEN! I just want you to know who I am. Sorry, had to.

I felt so bad for her, such a sensitive soul and just wanted love back. I wanted to cry so bad

you know, I chose to save Olgierd because I hope there will be an ending where he will find a way into the painting with her and they will live happily ever after

11:44 I always find the cat's gasp amusing lol

Best quest ever

The game that set the standard, the one to beat this will be something to behold. Everything is 2nd to the story.

Once more Geralt chooses...the lesser evil

I really wished to see Olgierd, in a way, reenter the painted world, encounter Iris again, and just hold her tight, after all the main events have played out and you decide to save Olgierd and let Iris keep the rose. Hell, even if not these circumstances, i wished to see a little cutscene where, after tens of years have passed, Iris would reunite with her husband, in the Void.

Okay this was the best DLC it was so good

The first time I played, I couldn't take the rose because when Geralt first mentioned taking it, she sounded so upset when she said it was the last gift she'd received from her husband. The love in her voice broke my heart. I couldn't do it. And then, when she gives you the painting, saying she wants to be close to Olgierd again, I almost cried. That's what she wanted most. To have her husband back. So, maybe letting her keep the rose and enter the painting gave her the peace she was looking for.

I feel so bad for Iris, makes the final decision tough for me as well. To keep her here is to torment her for eternity, take the rose and you send her to the unknown. In the end, I had to take the rose, to free her. She may not know what lies beyond but at least she has a chance to be released.