Witcher 3 A Matter of Life and Death (A Matter of Life and Death) is a quest in Novigrad, where Geralt helps Triss get Lady Vegelbud’s son away from the witch hunters. It opens after Count Reuven’s Treasure and you have to finish it before the Isle of Mists. The core is the masquerade ball at the Vegelbud Residence east of the city, Albert’s escape, and the kiss at the fountain.
Why the ball
Triss in Novigrad hides mages whom the witch hunters burn at the stake. Lady Ingrid Vegelbud can give Triss money, but first she needs one thing from Triss. Her son Albert dabbles in alchemy and the hunters are after him. So Ingrid wants Triss to get him out of the city while she still can.
Triss is afraid the meeting with the servant is a trap, so she asks Geralt for help. When the contact checks out, you agree that Albert will disappear during the masquerade ball, during the fireworks.
Fish market and masks
Go to Triss at her house in the north of the city. She accepts the plan and sends you to the fish market. Look for a servant in a blue tunic with keys on his belt, witcher senses will show you the keys. Say the password about the price of trout and follow him. On the way bandits ambush you. After the fight Triss comes out of hiding and you learn that one of the attackers worked for the hunters. The servant then tells the truth about Albert and about the ball.
Then go to the tailor Elihal. Buy a fox mask for Triss and a mask for yourself. The frock coat, trousers and boots are optional, but Triss notices when you show up dressed. Bring her the mask and after dark go to the Vegelbud Residence. At the gate you hand over your weapons to the local guard.
Ball at Vegelbud
At the ball find Lady Ingrid by her parrot mask. Albert wears a panther mask and arranges a meeting in the maze once the fireworks start. Meanwhile you can walk the garden, meet familiar guests, or play gwent. It does not affect Albert’s escape, but you will not return to the estate after the quest.
Kiss at the fountain
Triss suggests waiting on a bench in the garden. You sit with her and talk. Then she starts flirting and runs off to the fountain in the maze. Go after her into the maze. At the fountain you catch her and the game gives you the choice to kiss, or not. If you want the romance with Triss, you have to take the kiss here. If you refuse her, the quest still finishes, but at the ship in Now or Never the romantic dialogues do not open.
Then Albert arrives in the maze. You swap masks, Triss leaves with him first and Geralt stays in the maze as bait. Witch hunters attack you thinking you are Albert. You beat them with fists and you can use signs. Then run to the stables, where Triss gives you your weapons back and you ride away.
Video
The scene at the bench, the fountain, and the kiss with Triss is here:
Bench in the Vegelbud garden, path to the fountain, and the kiss with Triss during the fireworks.
Now or Never
You get Albert off the estate. Ingrid can then support the mage network and Triss prepares the mass escape in Now or Never, where at the ship the relationship is decided too.
The whole romance line including the dialogues at the ship and the epilogue in Kovir is in the guide to the romance with Triss. An overview of all of Geralt’s relationships is in the guide to all romances. More texts are on the Witcher 3 hub and in the review.