In the Witcher 3's "Ashen Marriage" quest, set in Novigrad, Geralt assists Triss Merigold and her fiancé, Castello, with their impending nuptials. His tasks include ridding the canals of monsters, procuring alcohol, and selecting a wedding gift for Triss. The gift's significance impacts Triss's response; a memory rose, a callback to Witcher 2, evokes a strong emotional reaction, unlike more mundane presents.
However, Dijkstra's revelation of Castello's connection to witch hunters throws a wrench in the works. Castello, it transpires, is acting under duress due to the hunters' blackmail – they threaten to expose his illegitimate daughter from a previous marriage.
Geralt faces the choice of revealing this truth to Triss, either privately or with Castello present. Regardless, the wedding is called off. Triss is either disillusioned by her fiancé's deception or appreciative of his honesty, ultimately concluding that their rushed engagement was ill-advised.
This plot development presented an opportunity to enrich Geralt and Triss's dynamic, and further explore the complexities of supporting characters.
