Main Characters - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Database

The being trapped within Uma’s tortured husk turned out to be Avallac’h – a powerful Sage of the Aen Elle elves. Geralt had made his acquaintance years before. Already during these prior encounters Avallac’h had displayed an intense and, frankly, rather unnerving interest in the Elder Blood and its bearer, Ciri. His exact motives were unclear at the time, and he had made no particular effort to explain them to Geralt.

Geralt likewise had no idea what bound Ciri and the elf now. There was no doubt Avallac’h had helped her, had saved her numerous times from the Wild Hunt – but why? Alas, the Sage, quivering on a razor’s edge between life and death, offered no answers to Geralt’s burning questions.

He did, however, muster enough strength to utter a crucial piece of information – Ciri’s location.

When Geralt got a chance to talk to Ciri about Avallac’h, he learned that the Sage had been her tutor and mentor for some time. They were bound by a common enemy. Avallac’h had been the chief advisor to the previous ruler of the Aen Elle, whose demise had precipitated a conflict between Avallac’h and the successor, Eredin. The Sage had thus made it his mission to protect Ciri from his new king’s malicious designs, whatever the cost.

Ciri made it clear to Geralt that she trusted the Sage. He had saved her life on numerous occasions – including when, feeling the onset of the curse that would transform him into Uma, he resolved to hide her form the Wild Hunt on the Isle of Mists.

Avallac’h played a key role in staving off defeat during the defense of Kaer Morhen. After the battle, he advised the witcher that ultimate victory over Eredin and his ghastly cavalcade would only be possible with magic assistance. That meant Geralt would have to once again pact with members of the infamous Lodge of Sorceresses…

Seizing the calm before the storm, Avallac’h tried once more to teach Ciri to control her incredible talent. He soon found that Ciri was as stubborn a pupil as she was gifted - something that Geralt had discovered for himself much earlier.

Drawing on his knowledge of internal Aen Elle politics and the strengths and weaknesses of the Wild Hunt’s commanders, Avallach crafted a plan to eliminate one of Eredin’s most powerful allies - his master of manipulation, Ge’els.

In order to accomplish this, Avallac’h was willing to do anything - even risk a dangerous journey to Tir ná Lia.

Geralt’s trip to Avallac’h’s laboratory confirmed that the Sage was interested in Ciri and her genealogy.

Based on the notes found in Avallac’h’s secret laboratory, it seemed the Sage had been researching Lara Dorren’s gene for over two centuries. Clearly the elves were investigating the possibility of producing a child with extraordinary abilities – like those which Ciri possessed.

The elf they stumbled across in Avallac’h’s laboratory claimed his interest in Ciri was purely pragmatic and that he secretly loathed her for the human blood in her veins. Was Avallac’h truly so two-faced - or was the mysterious she-elf merely twisting his words to hurt Ciri?

Avallac’h remained shockingly unperturbed when he heard Geralt and his companions had visited his secret laboratory. He openly admitted that he was interested in Lara’s bloodline and in protecting her descendants.

When it was suggested that he was more interested in controlling Lara’s bloodline and her descendant - namely Ciri - the Sage reacted coldly, curtly dismissing such insinuations.

When they brought up the she-elf they came across in his lab, Avallac’h reacted with mild amusement, as if that particular subject was not worth treating seriously.

The witcher considered the matter and decided Avallac’h could be trusted.

Avallac’h played an active role in the war council preceding the luring of the Wild Hunt into their trap. During these discussions he and Ciri briefly got into a heated argument because Avallac’h firmly insisted she not engage directly in the coming conflict.

Eredin’s last words sowed seeds of doubt in Geralt’s heart, and Ciri and Avallac’h’s sudden disappearance led them to spring into thorny shoots. Everything seemed to indicate that the Sage had been pursuing a hidden goal the whole time – to open the gates between worlds.

Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon – what can I possibly say about her? That we call her Ciri for short, that she was born in 1251, that she has ashen hair and a scar on her cheek?

All true, and that’s the Cirilla I know best, the one I first laid eyes upon those many years ago, the one who seemed thoroughly, well, not ordinary, but certainly not as extraordinary as she in fact is.

For Cirilla is also a highly-skilled witcher, heiress to several thrones, the last bearer of the Elder Blood, a powerful Source endowed with exceptional magic talent and the Lady of Time and Space. Her hair color and date of birth seem… rather incidental now, don’t they?

I could also tell you she is Geralt’s adopted daughter – but that would be a gross simplification. Ciri is much more. She is his Destiny, his Unexpected Child, someone bound to the witcher by Fate’s most inextricably tangled fetters.

Following age-old witcher tradition, Geralt took Ciri to Kaer Morhen when she came into his care. There he and Vesemir taught her in the ways of the professional monster slayer. It was then that her magic talents were first revealed, and they discovered she was a Source.
Ciri’s gift proved a curse as well. Because of it, she would one day have to hide from the entire world – even Geralt.
Ciri’s biography contained one more great secret. Her natural father was none other than the emperor of Nilfgaard, Emhyr var Emreis. His words confirmed the fears swirling in Geralt’s mind. Ciri had returned and was in mortal danger, for the unrelenting Wild Hunt was on her trail.

Eredin wanted the power latent in her Elder Blood. She also let Geralt know that Ciri had been seen in war-ravaged Velen as well as in Novigrad, the largest city in the world.

Reports that Ciri had spent time at Crow’s Perch proved true. She was there as the guest of the local warlord, Phillip Strenger, also known as the Bloody Baron. Despite his violent moniker, this man treated Ciri with kindness and respect.

It seemed that during Ciri’s time in Velen she got into a quarrel with some sort of witch or witches in the swamps.

Geralt learned the truth of Ciri’s time in the swamps from the mouths of the hideous Crones themselves. Even Ciri, better able to hold her own than most anyone in existence, was lucky to escape from these powerful beings alive and intact.

Ciri had played a role in the magic catastrophe on Ard Skellig. More importantly, they confirmed she had been in Skellige - and then fled in the face of grave danger.

Ultimate, tangible proof of the truth that the emperor had spoken the truth about Ciri’s pursuers came in the form of a corpse – one belonging to a warrior of the Wild Hunt. The Riders truly were on Ciri’s trail.

In hindsight, putting Ciri in touch with Whoreson was not one of my brightest ideas. In my defense, I can only say that her situation was so perilous even the riskiest plan seemed better than inactivity.

After many adventures and mishaps, Geralt finally found Ciri on the Isle of Mists. When he crossed the threshold into the room in which she slumbered, the protective spell Avallac’h had cast upon her snapped under the sheer weight of their combined destinies. Geralt was reunited with his adopted daughter after years of separation and searching. No words can describe the joy he felt in that moment.

Avallac’h’s prediction that the Wild Hunt would descend on Kaer Morhen as soon as Ciri arrived was proven true. All present spared no effort in defending her. In the end, though, it was she who defended them – through an outburst of unbridled power, the raw strength of her Elder Blood, she saved the protectors of Kaer Morhen from certain death.

Though it was Cirilla who convinced Geralt to go with her to exact vengeance on Imlerith, it was the witcher who stood against Vesemir’s killer in a final duel. Ciri slay some evil that day, however, killing two of the three monstrous sisters who had usurped for themselves rule over Velen.

Ciri had not seen her father since she was a young child. Emhyr was in effect a stranger to her, and one responsible for the deaths of many people she cherished at that. Standing face to face with him was surely one of the most difficult challenges she had ever undergone.

Ciri passed this trial with flying colors, but the fact that Geralt accepted payment for bringing her in for this talk caused her great pain.

Ciri emerged from this trial victorious, and with an enhanced awareness of how deeply and unconditionally Geralt, her adopted father, loved and cared for her.

Ciri had not seen her father since she was a young child. Emhyr was in effect a stranger to her, and one responsible for the deaths of many people she cherished at that. It was thus no surprise that Ciri did not even want to see him.

Confronting the Lodge – now there is a difficult task, one many a brave soul would move mountains to avoid. Cirilla, however, decided to stand and face the powerful sorceresses. From the accounts that reached my ears I can conclude that she let the mistresses of magic know in clear terms that she had a mind of her own and would not be a servile tool in their hands.

Confronting the Lodge – now there is a difficult task, one many a brave soul would move mountains to avoid. Cirilla, however, decided to stand and face the powerful sorceresses. From the accounts that reached my ears, I can conclude that, with a bit of help from Geralt, she let the mistresses of magic know that she had a mind of her own and would not be a servile tool in their hands.

A visit to Avallac’h’s secret laboratory revealed facts that shook Ciri to her core. Though she had long known she was the last of Lara Dorren’s line, the only remaining heir to the so-called Elder Blood, only know did she realize this line had been an object of unbroken interest to elven Sages and human mages for two centuries. Another blow came from the words of the arrogant she-elf, which rankled in her heart like a thorny bramble.

Though anger and hurt threatened to overwhelm her, Ciri did not give in to her emotions. Geralt’s words helped her in this, leaving her with no doubt how precious she was to him.

Cirilla wanted to visit the grave of Skjall, the young man who had put his life and honor on the line to help her. Though purely symbolic, this gesture brought a modicum of much-needed comfort to her soul.

Eredin had perished - but the evil king’s death only ever heralds the end in fairy tales. In our store, this meant it was time for Ciri to face her destiny. Only she possessed the power to stop the White Frost - the near mythical force which threatened not just our world, but countless others as well.

Though unleashing anger on inanimate objects might not be considered mature behavior, it definitely helps bring one relief. Ciri thus reached for this most simple of solutions.

I would wager anyone that you, dear reader, are a person of culture and taste – and therefore already familiar with me, Dandelion, and the role I am to play in the following tale. Nevertheless, allow me to sketch a few lines by way of self-portrait, for the sake of thoroughness, and in the event you have spent much of the last half-century in some dark corner where the light of my star has yet to reach.

“Born in 1229, a talented poet and troubadour, a graduate of Oxenfurt Academy, a frequent performer at royal courts, an unequaled lover appreciated, and in some cases adored, by ladies worldwide, a skilled negotiator and a stirring orator” – such is the image of the bard Dandelion as painted by his friends and promoters.

This image is, of course, somewhat overbright in its coloring – I personally prefer to think of myself as a dedicated artist in thrall to his Muse, one whose work has benefited immeasurably from the fact that I was, am and forever will remain a close friend and steadfast companion to the witcher Geralt. It is his fate I chronicle in this present work and his story which I shall sing till the end of my days.

Having learned of my disappearance, Geralt dropped everything to find out what had become of me. Though at first he suspected the cause of my trouble lay in my many and turbulent affairs of the heart, he later determined that I had strayed into a life of crime, seeking to steal treasure belonging to one of the leaders of Novigrad’s underworld.

The motivations for my actions only became clear some time later. I proved that, when it comes to helping Cirilla, I would not balk at sticking my head into the lion’s maw, let alone crossing such common scum as Cyprian Wiley, better known (for good reason!) as Whoreson.

Only a madman calls it courage to fight when faced with overwhelming odds. Though known for my capricious and unpredictable charm, I am not yet considered mad, and so, while defending my companion’s escape to the very last, I ultimately allowed the temple guard to take me to their prison, where I awaited my imminent execution.

The saying does not lie - “true friends show when fortune hides her face.” My dear comrades gave ample evidence of this by breaking me free from my prison transport, saving me from certain and painful death.

The individual masquerading as Sigi Reuven was in fact none other than Sigismund Dijkstra, the former head of Redanian intelligence and a man Geralt and I had had many dealings with in the past.

He had fallen out of King Radovid’s favor and nothing had been heard of him for many years. Now it seemed he had finally decided to emerge from the shadows, but instead of returning to high political wrangling he dove deep into the criminal underground - and quickly surfaced as one of its leading figures.

Though he did not show it, in his own way Dijkstra respected Geralt - even though the very thought of their last meeting brought a pained grimace to his face. The two had found themselves standing in each other’s way during the coup on Thanedd Island. The stalemate was quickly broken when Geralt summarily broke Dijkstra’s leg.

This spy’s life story would make for a positively enthralling adventure tale. A victim of Philippa Eilhart’s intrigues, he had been forced to flee Redania at breakneck speed - or have his own neck broken by assassins. For a certain time he sought refuge in far-off lands, but in the end he decided to return to the Free City of Novigrad.

Well aware of Geralt’s extraordinary talents, Dijkstra asked him to help find his stolen treasure. Though Geralt knew the identity of the criminal mastermind responsible, he decided not to divulge this information and set about investigating as if the case were a complete mystery.

Though the witcher’s lips remained tightly sealed regarding my role in the treasure heist, Dijkstra still sniffed out his dishonesty - and made it clear how much he disliked being played for a fool.

Though Dijkstra did not aid the persecuted mages out of the goodness of his heart, Triss appreciated his support all the same, for it proved vital to the endeavor’s success.

Dijkstra opposed the mage hunts sweeping the city, but for Philippa Eilhart he was willing to make an exception. He had never forgiven his one-time friend for betraying and then trying to kill him. Unfortunately, Geralt needed Philippa alive - and was in no mood to negotiate. He thus turned to a tried and true method - and broke Dijkstra’s other leg.

Dijkstra opposed the mage hunts sweeping the city, but for Philippa Eilhart he was willing to make an exception. He had never forgiven his one-time friend for betraying and then trying to kill him. Unfortunately, Geralt needed Philippa alive - and knew how to free her.

Though Dijkstra craved vengeance, he was willing to resign from his plans in return for valuable information.

Anyone who thought Dijkstra had broken all ties with the world of political schemers and plotters was sorely mistaken. His great comeback was to be a patriotic act that would free Redania from the rule of a madman - the assassination of King Radovid.

As an experienced dragonslayer once commented, more than once heads have only rolled after the dragon’s been slain, the mead broken out and the campfire lit, for when it comes time to share the treasure, hunters of beasts often become slayers of men instead. Such was the case after the assassination of Radovid, when Dijkstra tried to renege on the terms of their arrangement and do away with Thaler and Vernon.

Dijkstra counted on Geralt maintaining witcher neutrality in this matter - a miscalculation which cost him his life.

As an experienced dragonslayer once commented, more than once heads have only rolled after the dragon’s been slain, the mead broken out and the campfire lit, for when it comes time to share the treasure, hunters of beasts often become slayers of men instead. Such was the case after the assassination of Radovid, when Dijkstra tried to renege on the terms of their arrangement and do away with his allies, who wanted to negotiate with Nilfgaard.

With this move the former spy achieved his goal, fortifying himself in a position that allowed him to continue the war against Nilfgaard.

Few names in the Continent’s history arouse as much terror and respect as that of Emhyr var Emreis, Deithwen Addan yn Carn aep Morvudd - the White Flame Dancing on the Graves of his Foes. Emperor of Nilfgaard, lord of Metinna, Ebbing and Gemmera, sovereign of Nazair and Vicovaro, he was ruler of half the civilized world and aspiring conqueror of the other half. He was a personage whose deeds and decisions shaped the fates of whole kingdoms and populations.

What then could he possibly want of a simple witcher?

The emperor clearly and succinctly laid out what he wanted. His daughter and Geralt’s ward, Cirilla, was in great danger, for the Wild Hunt was on her trail. Geralt, a superb tracker linked to Emhyr’s daughter by the iron bonds of Destiny, stood a better chance of finding her than anyone else in the world.

Thanks to Geralt’s efforts, Emhyr finally had the chance to talk to his daughter face to face after long years of separation. Geralt doesn’t know what topic was broached during their conversation, save that Ciri stormed out of it in a visible huff.

The name of the King of the Wild Hunt, the identity of the lord of nightmares, the being behind the frightful mask - this long remained unknown. Over time, however, scraps of information gradually coalesced into a full likeness of our foe - but did nothing to detract from the terror he inspired.

The Wild Hunt was in truth an elite cavalry brigade from the world of the Aen Elle, the Alder Folk, and was commanded by their ambitious and ruthless king, Eredin Bréacc Glas. He would travel via secret paths through the cold emptiness between his world from ours to capture victims and take them back to his homeland as slaves.

The current object of his Hunt was Cirilla, whose power he wanted to harness for his own uses. The only obstacle in his path - Geralt of Rivia.

Ciri was able to shed a bit of light on the King of the Wild Hunt’s motivations. The threat of annihilation hung over the Aen Elle homeland. Eredin, a warrior and a conqueror by nature, decided to solve this problem in the simplest possible way - by seizing our world. The key to doing so? Ciri’s power, which would allow him to open the gates to a full-scale invasion.

Trusting in the strength of his magic and the skill of his Riders, Eredin boldly launched a frontal assault on Kaer Morhen. Despite the defenders’ noble sacrifices, he came close to victory. Only Ciri’s unleashed power forced Eredin to fall back. It was clear, however, that he would learn from this defeat and that his next attack would be insurmountable.

According to Avallac’h, it was Eredin who bore responsibility for the death of Auberon Muircetach, the previous ruler of the Aen Elle. Revealing this fact would certainly not earn him friends and popularity amongst the Alder Folk.

Eredin’s last battle is worthy of a poem - nay, an epic - all to itself, yet this is neither the time nor the place to pen it. To be brief, on that fateful day the cruel King of the Hunt seemed unstoppable and tore asunder all who dared stand in his way - until, that is, his way led him smack into Geralt of Rivia. The two expert fighters faced off in a last skirmish on the ghastly deck of the Naglfar. The fight was long and difficult, but the witcher’s blade struck true in the end, cutting down Eredin’s dreams of power and conquest.

So died Eredin Bréacc Glas, King of the Wild Hunt.

Many cannot fathom the friendship Geralt of Rivia and I, Dandelion, have shared all these years. When we first began breaking bread together, spiteful tongues said he’d be better off cutting my throat and dumping my body in a hollow tree - before I provoked someone else into doing the same to us both. Those individuals spoke out of pure jealousy, for Geralt was my dearest friend, a fact which he gave ample evidence of on numerous occasions.

I could say a great deal about that world-famous monster hunter, the man known in Elder Speech as Gwynbleidd, or, in our younger (yet no less noble) tongue, as the White Wolf. For Geralt of Rivia is a truly exceptional individual. A brief encounter might tempt one to label him a mere swinger of swords, a simple monster-catcher, a rough-and-tumble practitioner of a dirty trade - but peer closer and you will soon discover he is a man of unplumbed depths, unique views and vast, world-spanning experience.

On the surface, he is introverted, tight-lipped, one might even say gruff, but underneath lies an overflowing sea of goodwill, good humor, and an honest readiness to help his friends, be it with a bit of sound advice or the masterful application of his blade.

Setting aside cumbersome false modesty, I can say that I know his story better than any man alive. I was with him through hard times and good, helping with wise advice, warm words and razor wit. As a result, I am a vital part of his story, both in its earlier and present portions. It is thus my duty to continue my chronicle and, for the benefit of future generations, put in writing the next chapter of his deeds and exploits.

It did not take long for King Radovid of Redania to prove himself a hard and ruthless ruler, one fully deserving to be styled “the Stern.” His father, King Vizimir, was murdered when Radovid was quite young, and his mother, Hedwig of Malleore, and a Regency Council ruled in his stead.

Young Radovid soon seized power in his own right, however, and wrought vengeance on those who had treated him with disrespect. He took to forcing all his potential political opponents to swear allegiance – or face death.

He waged war not only against Nilfgaard, but also against mages, whom he saw as the root of all evil. Radovid also made every effort to gain control over the Free City of Novigrad, whose fleet and treasury could tip the scales of the ongoing conflict in his favor.

Geralt’s meeting with Radovid confirmed the rumors circulating about the king’s mental state. The Redanian monarch was a dangerous madman trapped in his own world of disturbing visions. This did not make him one jot less intelligent or cunning, however.

Despite his mental afflictions, the young king was manipulating his opponents like a highly skilled puppet master.

Radovid burned with particularly intense hostility (first kindled in his early childhood) for the sorceress Philippa Eilhart. Rumors spoke of a special torture regimen he had prepared just for her. And while the two dozen points they mentioned were surely an exaggeration, they accurately conveyed the general scale of his hatred.

The terror of Radovid’s reign had led not just his enemies, but also his allies and even his subjects to long for his death.

The phrase “monster in human flesh” fit Radovid the Stern perfectly. Perhaps it was awareness of all the cruel and bestial acts this madman perpetrated that led the witcher to get involved in the plans for his assassination.

Hatred for Philippa Eilhart proved to be Radovid’s weakness. He was ready to do anything to capture her - even abandon the safe confines of his flagship.

The plan for luring Radovid out of hiding worked, though not without complications. Irritated by Geralt’s typical cheek, Radovid brayed for the witcher’s blood, and Geralt only dodge the executioner’s axe thanks to the intervention of his co-conspirators.

Perhaps the delay this caused was what allowed the ruler to nearly escape his assassins, but in the end he could not cheat fate and died at the hands of Philippa Eilhart, who descended suddenly, a veritable demon of vengeance, to revenge the wrongs he had done her.

During his first encounter with “Baron” Phillip Strenger, Geralt found the man’s many contradictions puzzling. This former Temerian soldier was clearly an opportunist who, after his army’s resounding defeat, served, dealt and negotiated with the occupying Empire of Nilfgaard. The local peasantry anointed him the “Bloody Baron,” a clear indication that he did not handle his vassals with kid gloves. On the other hand, he proved a surprisingly gracious host to an unexpected guest who was also a stranger and a hired monster slayer.

His treatment of children and young women, towards whom he demonstrated a wholly sincere, near fatherly-concern, likewise contradicted his bandit-like appearance and terrifying moniker. Ciri had learned this for herself, finding care and shelter under his roof.

In exchange for information about Cirilla, the baron asked Geralt to find his wife, Anna, and their daughter Tamara. Both had disappeared without a trace some time ago, and Phillip was slowly losing hope of ever seeing them again. Under these circumstances, a witcher was a gift from the gods.

Yet the baron had hid certain facts from Geralt, such as his wife’s recent pregnancy, her subsequent miscarriage and his own predilection towards strong drink and violent quarrels.

It turned out the baron would drink regularly and to excess, and Geralt got a first-hand view of how dangerous he can be to those around him during such moments when he returned to talk to the baron about what he had learned from the Pellar. Phillip had known from the start that his wife and daughter had fled, not disappeared, but, torn between shame and concern over their fate, he had tried to save face while still doing all he could to find them.

On this subject there was no denying his determination. Paying no heed to the fact that a confrontation with the Crones might end tragically for him, he decided to ride into the swamps and try to free Anna from their clutches.

They say a man’s true nature is revealed in times of crisis. The baron’s reunion with his wife was certainly such a time - her deplorable state shook Phillip to the core. Yet when he learned there was a sliver of hope that Anna could be cured of her madness, the baron seized that thought with all his strength and decided to ride with his wife to the very end of the known world, to the Blue Mountains, and seek help for her tortured mind there.

Despite the combined efforts of the baron, his men and Geralt, Anna could not be saved. Alas, this was not the end of the bad news - Tamara, who had also ventured into the swamp to save her mother, made it painfully clear to the baron that she no longer wanted to have anything to do with him. Having lost on all fronts and without uttering a single word, he trekked back to Crow Perch alone…

Despite the combined efforts of the baron, his men, Geralt and Tamara, who had come for her mother with an escort of witch hunters in tow, Anna could not be saved. The Crones had outwitted them all - they had crafted the curse so that lifting it would lead to Anna’s death. The baron was completely shattered by this turn of events. Turning his back on them all, he trekked back to Crow Perch alone…

Not long afterwards Geralt learned that Phillip Strenger, the one-time terror of all of Velen, had hanged himself out of grief and despair, desolated by the loss of all that he had loved in his lifetime.

It turned out not only Geralt was looking for Cirilla. Also on her trail – a mysterious elven mage. Like the witcher, he had gone to Keira Metz to inquire after Ciri’s whereabouts. During this conversation he also revealed that he kept a hideout in the ruins near the village of Midcopse.

Geralt decided to follow up on this lead. Though he was not able to establish the mysterious mage’s identity, he did learn that he had been traveling with Cirilla some time before and the Wild Hunt was after him as well.

Geralt’s investigation in Skellige unearthed evidence that the mysterious elven mage had protected Ciri from certain death at the hands of the Wild Hunt’s warriors.

As expected, the investigation Geralt and Yennefer conducted in Skellige unearthed valuable information about Ciri. Most interesting of all, they learned Ciri had not fled the Wild Hunt alone, but in the company of a mysterious elven mage.

It was only thanks to his intervention that Ciri was able to slip out of the ghastly riders’ grasp.

Geralt learned that Ciri and her mysterious companion were separated upon arrival in Velen. Like Geralt, the mage had gone to Keira Metz and inquired after Ciri’s whereabouts. During this conversation he also revealed that he kept a hideout in the ruins near the village of Midcopse.

Geralt decided to follow up on this lead. Though he was not able to establish the mysterious mage’s identity, the message the elf had left made it clear he had known Cirilla for quite some time.

Skjall’s words drew a new detail onto the emerging picture of the mage. After the Wild Hunt’s attack, Skjall had seen Ciri and a mysterious elf sail away from Skellige, their course set for the high seas.

I always considered it a point of particular pride to count Triss Merigold of Maribor among my closest and dearest friends. This exceptionally talented sorceress was a shining star of her profession, the former mage advisor to King Foltest, and a famous hero of the Battle of Sodden, known as the Fourteenth of the Hill. Yet in no way did she resemble her often unbearably haughty sisters in magic. Her deft mind, warm smile and considerable personal charm had always won over even the hardest of hearts.

Though my personal relations with Triss never ventured beyond the fraternal, Geralt of Rivia at one point found her allure irresistible. From then on the two shared feelings that ran far deeper than a superficial and fleeting fancy.

Yennefer told Geralt that Triss had recently taken up residence in the Free City of Novigrad.

It seemed Triss had gone into hiding from the so-called witch hunters persecuting magic wielders in the city, turning to one of the leaders of the local underworld for protection.

After a bit of a run-around Geralt found the sorceress, who had indeed entered into an arrangement with the so-called King of Beggars. She paid for his protection by providing magic services to his organization. Though Triss did not know anything about Ciri and her stay in Novigrad, she promised to do all within her power to aid Geralt’s search.

Though theoretically Triss and Geralt had ended their romance half a year earlier, it was clear the feelings they felt for each other had not vanished so easily. To deal with this, the sorceress pretended that nothing had happened and the witcher, as is his wont, sheepishly masked his feelings with a mix of hesitant interest and fake indifference. It must be said that both of them handled the situation quite awkwardly.

The plan to get close to Caleb Menge that Triss presented to the witcher was very risky and placed her in great danger. The sorceress knew, however, that Ciri’s life might be on the line, and so did not hesitate for even a moment.

The sorceress’ laugh, the look in her cornflower blue eyes, the memory of enchanting moments spent together - all that surely weighed on Geralt’s decision to kiss Triss in the Vegelbuds’ garden. And though their moment of sweet oblivion lasted briefly, it breathed a gale’s worth of new life into the feelings between them.

Triss and Geralt had been through thick and thin together, but on that fateful day, on the wind-swept Novigrad docks, they bid their final farewells. She sailed off for Kovir, while he stayed and choked on the smoke wafting off the pyres of Novigrad.

Yet Geralt and Triss in fact met again, at Kaer Morhen. Triss had come on Yennefer’s request to help defend Ciri, whom she had always treated as a younger sister.

Though Triss and Geralt said their final goodbyes on that wind-swept Novigrad dock, in the end the sorceress decided not to leave for Kovir after all. She knew that when Geralt asked her to stay, the witcher was opening up his heart to her for the first time.

Geralt and Triss met again at Kaer Morhen. Triss arrived there at the witcher’s behest to help defend Ciri, whom she had always treated as a younger sister.

Not for the first time Geralt showed what a babe in the wilderness he was in matters involving the fairer sex. For while I can say from experience that there are indeed women who will willingly share a man with their best friend, when trying that with women to whom one has declared true and undying love, things tend to turn out differently.

Toying with Triss’ feelings ended in humiliation for Geralt - a fate which, I must admit, he thoroughly deserved.

When Geralt encountered a misshapen midget at the Bloody Baron’s court, he didn’t think much of it. Yet when he heard a similarly deformed being had washed up on Skellige’s shores in the same boat in which Ciri and her mysterious companion had sailed off shortly prior, he connected the two at once. It was clear this rough-hewn hunk of flesh was the key to finding Cirilla.

Geralt learned that, prior to arriving at Crow’s Perch, Uma had briefly been the possession of Donar, jarl of Hindarsfjall. At some point, however, Donar sold Uma to a merchant from Novigrad, who thought the strange little creature would make a wonderful jester. This must have been the same merchant who then lost Uma to the Bloody Baron in a hand of cards.

We all breathed a sigh of relief to learn that Uma’s twisted body and mind were no cruel joke played by nature, but the result of a curse. Now we needed only find a way to lift it…

Geralt didn’t know exactly what the deformed being that had sailed to Skellige in Ciri’s boat was. He had no doubt, however, that it was somehow tied to her fate - and just might be the key to finding her.

It turned out the diminutive freak had spent some time in the possession of Donar, jarl of Hindarsfjall. Later Donar sold him to a Novigrad merchant who thought he was perfect material for a top-notch jester.

Based on Skjall’s detailed description, Geralt was able to recognize the creature at the Baron’s castle as the very same deformed midget Skjall saw on Hindarsfjall.

Sadly, it was impossible to communicate with this “Uma” (as the creature had come to be called). He seemed to dwell in a world all his own. Yet Geralt knew only Uma held the key to finding Ciri. Even if no pertinent information was forthcoming from the creature’s lips, surely further investigation would squeeze some solution out of this riddle.

We all breathed a sigh of relief to learn that Uma’s twisted body and mind were no cruel joke played by nature, but the result of a curse. Now we needed only find a way to lift it…

Though Yennefer and Vesemir agreed Uma was suffering from a powerful curse, they could not reach a consensus about how to go about lifting it. Sharp words were exchanged before Vesemir stepped in and announced that before Yennefer did anything he would try one of the traditional witcher methods.

All that was left to the others was to wait.

Though Vesemir’s method had worked to disenchant the famous Swan of Poviss, it brought no breakthrough here. Vesemir did, however, succeed in confirming that Uma’s body was a sort of magic prison in which some other being was trapped.

Yennefer’s method did not prognosticate a high chance for Uma’s survival - yet was now the only remaining option for lifting the curse.

The ritual succeeded beyond their wildest expectations. The person cursed inside Uma turned out to be none other than Avallac’h, a powerful elven Sage the witcher had met before.
Sadly, there was no communicating with Uma. The gnarled twiglet lived in his own miniature world. Yet Geralt knew Uma was the key to finding Ciri. Even if no pertinent information was forthcoming from the creature’s stunted lips, surely further investigation would squeeze some solution out of this riddle.

Vesemir was the oldest living member of the Wolf School and most likely the oldest witcher of any school on the Continent.

About as long in years as the ruins of Kaer Morhen themselves and though eternally complaining about his creaky bones, this master of the witcher trade gave no thought to a well-deserved retirement. Gray but still spry, he continued to ply the monster hunting trade into his golden years - effectively, too, as he’d seen more beasts than all his students put together.

A harsh and demanding instructor in Geralt’s youth, over the years he had become something of an adoptive father and mentor to the other witchers, always ready to help with sage advice and steady hands.

In the spring of 1272, when our story begins, Vesemir had joined Geralt on his search for Yennefer, trekking with him through war-ravaged Temeria.

Vesemir always said no witcher had ever died in his bed, so death in combat surely awaited him as well. Death’s wait ended on that mournful day when the Wild Hunt descended on Kaer Morhen in pursuit of Ciri. Vesemir gave his all to protect his former ward, whom he had always treated like an adopted granddaughter, and died a hero’s death at the hands of Imlerith, the Hunt’s cruel general.

The witcher first met the raven-haired sorceress a good twenty years back. Their friendship and the feelings between them were born of a common adventure involving a genie and a wish granted to Geralt that intertwined their fates inextricably.

In the time since then their relationship had, however, been quite stormy - rich in ups and downs, crises and break-ups. Geralt and Yennefer’s love provides irrefutable proof of the thesis that “opposites attract.”

A few years ago Geralt and Yennefer had, after a long separation full of adventures for them both, gotten back together again. Their moment of repose was interrupted by the Wild Hunt, which took Yennefer captive. The witcher set out at once to save her, but lost his memory while doing so. When he finally recovered it, he immediately set off once more on his quest to find his beloved sorceress.

The circumstances of Geralt’s initial reunion with Yennefer after two years were quite different than he had imagined. The sorceress was not only safe and sound, but had even secured the aid of an unexpected and mighty ally - the Nilfgaardian Empire.

Geralt’s relationship with Triss during Yennefer’s absence had clearly cast a cloud over their reunion. If the witcher wanted to win back his one-time love, he would need to take bolder steps than relying on his memory loss as an excuse - one which, while valid, did little to repair the damage.

A thick air of repressed hostility reigned during Geralt’s time with Yennefer in Skellige. More than once the sorceress sharply expressed her displeasure, sparing no cutting remark - just like during the best years of their relationship. In the end, however, the witcher’s patience was rewarded, and their expedition to retrieve the mask of Uroboros brought the former lovers back together.

The gulf that had arisen between them during their time of separation seemed that much narrower.

In order to obtain the information they needed Yennefer did not hesitate to resort to necromancy, and destroyed the goddess Freya’s garden while doing so. If the proud sorceress felt any guilt as a result, as usual she showed no sign of it.

The idea of hunting another genie together did not at first arouse Geralt’s enthusiasm, but Yennefer had a truly valid reason for wanting it. If she succeeded in forcing the genie to take back the wish binding her to the witcher, she would finally know if the feelings between them were truly love or merely magic.

The genie granted Yennefer’s request and broke the thread of destiny binding her to Geralt. Luckily it turned out their love could continue - without the need for supernatural assistance.

be careful what you wish for.

Though the sorceress’ difficult character had made life miserable for everyone at Kaer Morhen, in the end it was her stubborn determination that led to Uma’s disenchantment and the lifting of Avallac’h’s curse.

Yennefer had always felt some ends justified otherwise unsavory means. When it became clear rescuing Ciri would require the help of Philippa Eilhart and the other sorceresses of the reviled Lodge, she forgot about any bad blood and convinced Emhyr to grant them amnesty.

One need not be particular skilled in reading human character to have guessed that toying with Yennefer’s feelings would bring retribution. Likewise even Geralt should have known that his attempts to keep a foot in both camps with her and Triss would end badly for him. Considering the raven-haired sorceress’ explosive temperament, the humiliating punishment he met was unusually lenient.