The Hearts of Stone expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt offers Geralt of Rivia a considerable amount of new content to experience, including the opportunity for consequence-free romance. Players may remember that Geralt was forced to commit to only one formal relationship in the base game lest he ends up alone.
Romance in the Hearts of Stone expansion is treated as separate from the main story, giving Geralt the opportunity to have a bit of fun on his new mission without being scared that Yennefer or Triss may find out. With no chance of romancing Anna Henrietta in Blood & Wine, this expansion marks the only time this is possible.
Shani: A New Romance
Hearts of Stone introduces Shani, a surgeon who has ties to Geralt's past, into The Witcher 3. She serves as Geralt's steadfast companion for a large portion of the main narrative, planting several hints that the coals from the past are still burning. From the moment that you meet Shani, it is apparent she and Geralt have history, but turning that history into a current-day romance for Geralt takes a bit of magic and the help of a seriously suave ghost.
To romance Shani, Geralt should follow these steps:
- Complete the main Hearts of Stone narrative up to "Dead Man's Party."
- Attend the wedding as Volodimir.
- Near the end of the wedding, complete "A Midnight Clear."
Shani And The Dead Man's Party
To set Geralt down the path toward romancing Shani, he must be ready to accept the "Dead Man's Party" mission. Unlike the two main relationships in the base game, this romance will take place during a main mission. The party being referenced in the title of the mission is the wedding of a close friend of Shani's. This coincides perfectly with Geralt's goal of showing the ghost of Volodimir Von Everic a good time.
Geralt attends the wedding while being inhabited by the spirit of Volodimir, and it is in this form that the first steps toward romance are taken. Though Shani is aware of the arrangement, she spends the entire party expressing her desire to know Geralt's feelings, often showing concern that any affection is coming solely from Volodimir. While no actions as Volodimir will affect the outcome of the romance, there are several choices that can enhance the experience. As the evening draws to a close, the opportunity for romance becomes available.
Shani and Geralt after Midnight
Eventually, Volodimir is banished from Geralt's body, though Volodimir's constant harassment and Geralt's seeming indifference have left Shani in a sad state. When "A Midnight Clear" begins, Geralt is tasked with finding something to cheer her up. Earlier in the evening, Shani tells Geralt how much she enjoys Rowan trees. This information is also available in Shani's character entry.
A Midnight Clear:
- Using Geralt's witcher senses, look for the Rowan tree in the courtyard.
- There are several items to find, though the Rowan seems best.
- Bring the item to Shani.
- A dialogue will begin; choose "You've got me" and "Kiss sure didn't sate me."
This will lead to Shani inviting Geralt for a walk. There is one further dialogue choice here, but its outcome does not affect the romance and is better left unspoiled! Geralt and Shani spend the evening together, a single night away from the rest of the world. They will speak again in the morning, but Shani explains that she is needed at the front. The romance ends as quickly as it began. While the romance seems to have more depth than some of the other one-night stands, this relationship is similar to Kiera's in that it will not affect your outcome with Yennefer or Triss. Though it seems that even TV Geralt prefers Yennefer, Shani's romance is a well-deserved distraction for a world-weary witcher.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is available now on PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.