Picked this game up, was enjoying the main quest. Got to Kvatch and rescued Martin, understood the importance of his character... but as soon as he opened his mouth and I heard Sean Bean's voice, I sighed and realised this character was doomed. He'd die in some climactic way near the end of the main story. From what I've read around now about the main quest, turns out my intuition was right! Dammit Sean Bean... one does not simply survive throughout an entire story.