Witchers in the schools of the west developed a process of how go about their work. From the moment they are contacted, to the moment they get paid. This process is called Witchering. Some schools ritualized the process more than others.
Questioning and Assessing – Initial questions the witcher asks a potential client are important. They give you clues as to the nature of the danger you'd face should you accept the contract, and a way to assess the compensation you should ask for. This also is the opportunity to get a read on the client or clients themselves. Do not make the questioning too forceful or intrusive, a cooperative client is much better than one that fears to share information with you.
Negotiating – it is a process of bartering for the pay after the contract. The very minimum the Witcher can afford to ask is what they expect the repairs, supplies and so on needed to complete. But a Witcher needs to eat and pay for sleep and so on, and so, generally you want to ask a bit more. However this must be weighed against what the client, often the people of some village are able to afford. In the end, some contracts are not viable if they force the you to pawn in your gear just to get by.
Committing – once you decided to take the contract you commit to it. It is critical for the reputation of Witchers that we do not back off, and that we get the task done efficiently. However, it is also important to relay that you might need some level of cooperation from the clients, if not with resources and physical help, then with information.
Gathering Clues – Once you accepted and committed to a task, you must ascertain what is it you're dealing with. Hence, you must gather as many clues, because preparation is the key for Witchering. Ask the client, or people involved questions that might narrow down your search. Go to a site of an attack, or the haunted place and scour it for information. Also, carefully follow trails and leads. Try not to be confronted by what you seek before you did the critical next step.
Preparation Ritual – as the last point before you confront your quarry, you should give yourself a few moments to look at all the clues you have, what conclusion you have as to what you are facing, and with this find a strategy and the means to do so as safely as possible. Match bombs, elixirs, oils to the creature type you're going to face, decide when and how to meet or provoke them, and prepare the abilities, spells and items accordingly.
Face The Monster – after all that, you are left with facing off with your quarry. Find a place where you can either isolate them, or where they are likely to be so that you can force them not to run away. When first approaching, prefer a surprise. But be aware that it sometimes impossible, Ekimeras feel slightest tremors, so unless you can teleport behind them you can't surprise them. However flushing out your quarry is a good method and should be considered. Burning down nests, using bait or distractions, etc.
Gather Proof of Success – gather a trophy of your quarry, and bring it to your client. Prove them that you did everything possible. Sometimes, especially when the subject is a Specter, there won't be physical evidence of the job's completion, but definitely something can prove you were successful. find an approach, but don't expect the client to just take your word for it.
Get Paid – a witcher, much like any traveling artisan, has to make money to survive. We cannot live on charity, and cannot be charitable. You must get paid. However, do not intimidate, or take your due by force. We cannot be perceived as thugs. Use reason, perhaps a subtle use of @Axii (Sign) , at most make it clear that no other witcher will accepts contracts from them, and that once they face monstrous challenges again, they will do so alone.