There is an area of Skellige called the Whale Graveyard. While there’s nothing particularly special around the location, there are plenty off undiscovered locations and collectibles to grab your hands on. Here is a Wticher 3 Whale Graveyard walkthrough, featuring plenty of the things you can collect in the area.

Smugglers Cache(s) (Levels 13 and 16)¶

Return to Arinbjorn by whatever means suit you the best and once there commandeer a boat (there’s usually one north of the town, or one along the southern end of the island upon which Eldberg Lighthouse is located)… or swim. Either way, make your way west of Arinbjorn to find a Smuggler Cache event. This first one is free, but you’ve got to expect the other ones will have guardians.

Speaking of which, another Smuggler’s Cache event - guarded by Ekhidna (level sixteen) - can be found to the north-west. You’ll find a third Smuggler’s Cache west and slightly south of the jetty along the southern end of the island upon which the Eldberg Lighthouse is, which is guarded by a flock of Sirines (level thirteen). A fourth is to the north or the last one, and is also guarded by Sirines (level thirteen).

Smugglers Cache(s) (Level 16)¶

Another host of Smuggler’s Caches can be found east of the Eldberg Lighthouse Isles, the first of which is east and slightly north of the relevant signpost. Here you’ll encounter several Ekhidna (level sixteen) instead of the usual Sirines. To the north-west is another Smuggler’s Cache with the same foes flying (or swimming) about. A third lies to the north-east, a fourth is to the west and slightly north, and a fifth is north-east of there… that’s right. Zig-zag and score loot. If they’re not already marked on your map, just sail in those general directions and let the flying beasties guide you more precisely to where the treasure lives.

Hidden Treasure (Level 18)¶

Back to the south-west is a small island you passed earlier during the last bout of Smuggler’s Cache zig-zagging. This island is marked on your map, and can be found north and slightly west of the Eldeberg Lighthouse island. Stop your boat nearby and swim to it to find that it’s occupied by a several Drowned Dead (level eighteen). After smiting them, climb a ledge and loot a chest to claim the treasure and finish the event.

Smugglers Cache (Level 13)¶

Your next destination is a larger (but still fairly small) island a good distance away, more specifically it’s to the north-east, north-west of the island upon which Kaer Trolde looms. That’s right, you’re finally cresting the northern edge of Ard Skellig! En route from the smaller island with the Hidden Treasure to the larger island you’ll find a Smuggler’s Cache near an abandoned longboat now serving as a floating Sirine nest. Kill some Sirines (level thirteen) then loot the floating chests.

Spoils of War (Level 16)¶

Sail north-east to reach the aforementioned island north-west of Kaer Trolde and search the southern coast of the island to find a submerged ship, its mast and decorative prow the only two parts giving it away by poking out above the water line. Kill the Ekhidna (level sixteen) flying around, then swim down to the ship where you’ll find you can swim into the interior of the ship via its shorn western half. Loot a container in the interior of the ship, then return to your ship.

Hidden Treasure (Level 18)¶

Sail around the western end of the island to find another shipwreck, this one on land along the north-western part of the island. Instead of Ekhidna you’ll have to deal with a pack of Drowned Dead (level eighteen). Kill them and search to the south-east of the shipwreck to find a ledge you can climb. Scale it to find a chest worth looting near a long-abandoned campsite.

Smugglers Cache (Level 13)¶

Board your boat and pilot it to the north-east to find a standard Smuggler’s Cache event, which is north of the island’s eastern end, but not so far east that it actually clears the island’s eastern-most expanse. As usual, this Smuggler’s Cache is guarded by several Sirines (level thirteen). You know the drill, dive, kill them, loot, then hop back on your boat.

Spoils of War (Level 18)¶

Once you’ve looted the chests, sail south past the island and make your way to the northern tip of the Kaer Trolde island, where you’ll find a Spoils of War event. At least it’s not another Smuggler’s Cache, right? Disembark and dive into the water to find a ship in a ravine, east of which is a chest. Kill the Drowners (level eighteen) swimming around, then loot the chest which is between the two halves of the ship, west of the half of the ship with the mast on it.

Smugglers Cache(s) (Levels 16 and 18)¶

Return to your boat and set sail to the north-east to find… another Smuggler’s Cache. Ah well… These three chests are guarded by Drowners (level eighteen). There are three more Smuggler’s Cache events in the immediate area; to the north-east and south of here is another Smuggler’s Cache guarded by some Ekhidna (level sixteen), while to the south-east is a Smuggler’s Cache guarded by more Drowners (level eighteen).

Crime and Punishment (Level 18) Walkthrough¶

Sail south and slightly east from the south-eastern most of the recently-looted Smuggler’s Caches to find an alcove where you’ll find an “Ancient Crypt” signpost. Might as well grab it to make it easier to come back here later. Continue sailing east along the northern coast of Skellige, where, on a coastal outcropping east of the “Ancient Crypt” signpost you’ll find a chained prisoner named Yorg, who is beset by Harpies (level eighteen). Kill the flying pests, then talk to Yorg, who will claim that he’s been framed for murder. If you free him he’ll thank you, and promise to return the favor at a later date.

Smugglers Cache(s) (Levels 13 and 18)¶

Return to the water, ye salty dog, and make your way to the north-east to find a Smuggler’s Cache guarded by Drowners (level eighteen). Another nearly identical event can be found to the south-east, while a third such event - this time guarded by Sirines (level thirteen) - is to the north-east.

Three more Smuggler’s Cache events can be found in a line, with the first (western-most) one to the north-east. This first Smuggler’s Cache - the western-most of the chain - is south of the island with the “Urialla Harbor” signpost, the middle of the island’s three peninsulas are pointing south at it. The middle one is south of the island’s eastern-most peninsula, while the third and final Smuggler’s Cache is near a tiny island. As for the monsters guarding these events, the first one is guarded by Drowners (level eighteen) while the last two are protected by Sirines (level thirteen).

The third of these locations is the most interesting. For starters, there are FOUR chests at this Smuggler’s Cache. For another thing, the Sirines dwell on the island to the east, and you can avoid provoking them if you’re careful. You want to provoke them, however, as along the northern end of the island you’ll find another chest you can loot, you need merely swim to shore on the western end of the island to find a grassy slope and kill the flock of Sirines guarding said chest.

Bandit Camp/Smugglers Cache (Levels 16 and 18)¶

From the third (eastern-most) of this northern chain of Smuggler’s Caches (just west of a small island) sail south-west to find a larger (but still rather small) island. Along the western coast of this island you’ll find a Bandit Camp, populated by… well, Bandits (levels thirteen, fourteen and sixteen), of course. Kill them and loot some chests under a shelter, then set out to sea again.

Smugglers Cache (Level 18)¶

West of the island you’ll find another Smuggler’s Cache protected by Drowners (level ten)… although this event isn’t marked on your map, it is basically just like any other Smuggler’s Cache event. Maybe this is just treasure belonging to the Bandits on the island, though? Fair enough, sail around the island to find another, legit Smuggler’s Cache to the east of the island. Kill the Drowners (level eighteen) swimming around here and let none doubt the authenticity of this Smuggler’s Cache event!

Smugglers Cache/Guarded Treasure (Levels 13 and 16)¶

East and slightly north of here - a fair distance off - you’ll find a pair of islands. Along the western edge of the larger, southern island you’ll find a Smuggler’s Cache event near an abandoned ship of continental origin. Scatter the Sirines (level thirteen) polluting the air, then loot the chests. Sail between the two islands and land on the northern shore of the southern island to find a Guarded Treasure event. Kill the Bear (level sixteen) then loot a blue-shirted corpse to complete the event.

Smugglers Cache(s) (levels 13 and 18)¶

South and slightly west of these two islands is an atoll, noteworthy only as a landmark… although some Sirines (level thirteen) do lurk in the watery interior of the atoll. South-west of the atoll you’ll find a triangular assortment of Smuggler’s Caches consisting of three events in a line running to the west, and one event to the south. These caches are guarded by the usual assortment of Drowners (level eighteen) and Sirines (level thirteen). North-west of the western-most points of this triangle are four more Smuggler’s Caches with Drowner (level eighteen) protectors. The four events that make up the triangle are just west of the large island south of the atoll, while the four western-most events that make up the square are just north of the eastern-most tip of Ard Skellig.

Bandit Camp (Level 14)¶

Loot and pillage these eight Smuggler’s Cache events, then, from the north-western most of them, sail further north-west to reach the north-eastern coast of Ard Skellig, where a Bandit Camp event can be found. Kill the Pirates (levels twelve to fourteen), who aren’t isolated to just the area around the map marker, bur rather are spread up and down the coast. Kill the Pirates, then loot the numerous chests and sacks around their campsite. Once done, make your way back east to the shore, then swim north along the coastline to find a chest in the water. Two more chests can be found to the north-east, near a conical, tooth-shaped rock.

Superior Griffin Armor¶

Loot the chests then return to shore and continue north up the coast until you find another group of Bandits (level twenty-four) near a camp. Kill them, then search along the western cliffs to find a chest nestled on a boat, behind some rocks. Inside said chest you’ll find the “Diagram: Superior Griffin Armor” , “Diagram: Superior Griffin Gauntlets” , “Diagram: Superior Griffin Trousers” and the “Diagram: Superior Griffin Boots” .

The Family Blade (Level 15)¶

Return south to the “Giant’s Toes” signpost and make your way east to the waterline, which you should follow south until you find the remains of a shipwreck, near which you’ll find two more chests in the water. Loot them, then continue south along the waterline until you find another shipwreck, in the water near which are more parcels, as well as a half-submerged chest near the remains of the ship’s deck. More parcels await you to the south, near some whale bones.

Keep heading south along the shore until you find some Drowners (level eighteen) you’ll need to dispatch. Loot your way to the south until you find the Whale Graveyard, where you’ll find some Skelligers and Renegades (levels fourteen and fifteen). Kill and loot them to find another “Thief’s Journal” and the sword “Kuliu” . If you’re feeling homicidal, there are more Bandits as well as another camp to loot further south.

Finally, you’ve chased down this sword! Grab it and head to the nearby “Whale Graveyard” signpost and fast travel back to the “Kaer Trolde Harbor” signpost, then make your way towards the keep. On the covered bridge running over the harbor you’ll find Olaf. Talk to him and hand over the sword to finally, mercifully, end this quest.

While you’re in Kaer Trolde, you might as well also continue onto the keep and talk to the Blacksmith. Show him the letter you found at the site of the Cyclops attack to complete the quest “Hard Times” .