If you have managed to avoid choosing and siding with any of the vineyard families, and investigate both of their claims, you shall get another quest. This quest, the Deus in the Machina, is about exploring the third party, and working out what is really going on with the Wine Wars saga.

How to start Wine Wars The Deus in the Machina¶

You can start this quest while completing the quest objectives for Wine Wars: Coronata and Wine Wars: Vermentino, specifically by investigating corpses at the Guarded Treasure event in each quest. In either case you’ll find some “Orders on elegant stationery” on the aforementioned corpses, signed “V” in Coronata territory, and signed “C” in Vermentino lands. Once you’ve read both letters and have thus gained enough evidence to suspect a third-party conspirator, this quest will begin. The ideal time to complete this quest is after completing all the objectives for Wine Wars: Coronata and Wine Wars: Vermentino, but before turning those quests in.

Deus in the Machina Key Requirement¶

If you head here too early for whatever reason, you will not be able to access the location until you acquire the Heavy Brass Key. The Heavy Bras Key is an item you loot from the Vermentino quest when you get the note and the key from the lootable items that complete the optional objective at the Guarded Treasure spot during that quest. This key is what allows Geralt to open the warehouse and gain access to to investigate the area.

The Deus in the Machina Walkthrough¶

Unlike the previous Wine Wars quests, there aren’t quite so many objectives for this quest, you need merely find the place mentioned in the letters you found. Fast-travel to Francollarts (southeast of Beuaclair), and from there head southeast through the wilderness to find an isolated hut in the countryside. Loot various objects around the exterior of the building, then head northeast from said building to find a cellar dug into the hillside below it.

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(1 of 3) Kill the Archespore,

Descend into the cellar and loot your way southwest until you reach a depressed section of the cellar with a dirt floor, where an Archespore (level forty-two) awaits. This beast is stronger than others of its kind you’ve fought, but it has all the same attacks. If it’s giving you trouble, remember you can chug a Superior Golden Oriole potion to heal from its poison attacks, making the fight much easier.

Weed the Archespore from this devilish little garden, then search a container in the western corner of the cellar to find the “Stocktaking Report”, which details the nefarious scheme to sabotage both the Coronata Vineyard and the Vermentino Vineyard, as well as exposing the culprit, one Count Vladimir Crespi. Breeding Archespores and letting the loose upon the land is… well, basically the exact opposite of what a Witcher does, and naturally Geralt isn’t a fan of this behavior. Before you leave, examine the dormant Archespore bulbs along the northwestern wall, then follow Geralt’s advice and hit each cluster with Igni.

With that, you’re finally ready to report back in to Liam and Maltida and tell them what you’ve discovered. If you’re following this walkthrough sequentially, by now you’ve hopefully resolved all five issues at each of their vineyards as well. Whatever the case, so long as you’ve completed all the objectives for either of their Wine Wars quests you’ll be able to continue with the next quest in this questline in the following section, Wine Wars: Belgaard (Part 2).