The Witcher
Netflix’sThe Witchermythology is closely based on the books by Andrzej Sapkowski , and that means a complicated language that can be dash to watcher new to the prop . The Witcherfollows the dangerous undertaking of Geralt of Rivia , a witcher whose professing involves the intimate cognition of and power to slay monsters . It ’s a grievous job , but it ’s a living , asThe Witcheris absorb in monsters and magic , both adult and modest . In fact , even before the Netflix serial , Sapkowski ’s novels and their video plot adaptations have already establishedThe Witcheras the definitive easterly European take on authoritative high phantasy .
Indeed , like its predecessors , The Lord of the RingsandDungeons and Dragons , The Witcher ’s mythology bleed deeply and is loop with the show ’s politics , character development , and arch over plot of land . This is why it ’s always ready to hand to sweep up on the staple . From facts about the origin of witchers and monsters to the Wild Hunt ’s plan threatening to come to realization inThe Witcherseason 3 , the show has systematically delve deeper into Sapkowski ’s lore with each new season and installment . For viewers without an encyclopedic knowledge of the book and who may be in indigence of a refresher on the general lore , there are some key aspects ofWitcherterminology and mythology to think .
What Witchers Are: The Basics Explained
What is a witcher , and how were they created ? Typically , a witcher is a baby who has undergone unbelievable amount of preparation and sport in edict to grow up with everything necessary to get and toss off goliath without die out . The price of these sport is that they not only dull the emotion of witchers , but also cause them sterile . All of this is achieved through the Trial of the Grasses , an extremely painful alchemical process that inculcate witchers with enhanced athleticism , a longer lifespan , strange eyes , and more unique ability . A fundamental facet ofWitchermythology , the Trial of the Grasses ishow witchers are made .
As seen inNightmare of the Wolf , the Trial of the Grasses find at the School of the Wolf at Kaer Morhen keep , a crumbling castle situated on the northeast of the kingdom of Kaedwen , nestle in the Blue Mountains near the Gwenllech river . This secluded , godforsaken location furnish the ample space , the herbaceous plant , and everything else witchers require to make and develop more of their ranks . Children are the idealistic candidate for new witchers , because compared to adults , it ’s sluttish to completely mold and rail the nous and body of a child to attain and hold out through their first monster - killing line of work . Children are also more likely to outlast the Trial of the Grasses .
The Trial of the Grasses begins with campaigner drinking a special tea that paralyse the body , follow by dissimilar herb , elixirs , monster extractions , and mutagen being straight off inject into their bloodstream . Over three Day , the initial mutations get down , pull through by only 30 to 40 % of would - be witchers . The survivors enter a thick spell as more secret substances are injected into their bodies , after which they retch violently , get cold sweats and high fevers , and sometimes even have seizure . The sickness makes agency for the mutagen to in full transform their bodies , which are no longer human by the end of the week - foresighted ordeal .
From there , those who outlive the Trial of the Grasses are trained to expeditiously employ their superhuman strength , speed , endurance , reflexes , and senses for the job at hand . Survivors can also safely drink the potions that further enhance witcher abilities , which are deadly to humans . Apart from monsters , witchers are also expert in herbology and the use of goods and services of sign , simple-minded magic spells useful in and out of combat . Geralt of Rivia share all this with his fellow witchers , but has higher-ranking abilities ( and white hair ) due to receive more mutagens in a modified and more grave Trial of Grasses . This alchemic process dates back over 1,200 years before the series .
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The Key Events That Happened Before The Witcher Series
The Witcher’smythology and ancient chronicle begin with the imp defeating the midget and obtrude upon their land of Darwen in the south , Pryshia in the north , and Xin’trea in the Occident of the Continent . The ancient hero named Solryth claimed the Continent for her kind and led the ELF to a united , advanced , and enlightened Golden Age of magic , technology , and culture . subsequently , Solryth ’s expiry contribute to the longsighted , historical warfare between Xin’trea , Pryshia , and Darwen , each kingdom fighting for ascendence over the intact Continent for centuries . The 1,000 - Year War was almost end by a peace treaty propose by Xintrea ’s King Alvitir - but his Chief Sage Balor had other plan .
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As seen inThe Witcher : Blood Origin , seven warriors ring together to take down the Golden Empire . This includes the mage Syndril , who plan to shoot down Balor ’s beast through the first rendering of the Trial of Grasses . The warrior - bard Eile ( Ciri ’s oldest sleep together ancestor inWitchermythology ) , also jazz as The Lark , volunteers to undergo the translation . Prior to Balor ’s coup , Eile encountered the untested girl who would become the fabled prophesier Ithlinne , who told her:“The Lark ’s most cute banknote shall be the keystone to all thing , ” “ one will become two,”and“the clip of the spheres is upon us . "
The night before undergoing the mental process , Eile makes love with Fjall , her former sworn foeman . The break of the day after , Eile finds out that Fjall sacrifice himself to brave out the brutal transformation in her place . Meanwhile , Empress Merwyn and Xin’trean regular army air force officer Eredin conspire but fail to bring down Balor . After Balor sacrifice his confidant and apprentice Fenrik , Balor gains enough pandemonium to deport Eredin and his troops to a different dimension - theorigin of the Wild Hunt . subsequently , when the seven last attack the palace at Xin’trea , Eile kills Merwyn . Fjall defeats Balor ’s beast but also lose his humanity , forcing Eile to kill Fjall .
While Balor ’s beast is overcome , the Chief Sage himself controls more Chaos than ever before , so Syndril uses the monolith to stop Balor from becoming too powerful . This last sorcerous battle is what caused the Conjunction of the Spheres , in which unlike dimension passed through each other , force out humans and monsters from different worlds and put them on the Continent . later on , while pregnant with Fjall ’s baby , Eile encounters the prophet Ithlinne again , who tells her:“The seed of The Lark shall bear forth the first note of a song that ends all times … ”In the Continent , the Conjunction of the Spheres Mark Year 0 .
In 839 , the Brotherhood of Sorcerers is founded , resulting in the first draught of the Laws of Magic , and Klara Larissa de Winter get to the magical academy of Aretuza . At Kaer Mohen , mages create the first real witcher in 967 . Vesemir - Geralt ’s Father of the Church trope - was carry in 1095 , and brought to Kaer Mohen by Deglan in 1107 . In 1160 , the druid Visenna gives giving birth to Geralt , whom she later leave alone with the witchers . Kaer Mohen is attacked by humans in 1165 for witchers ' " crime against humanness . " 1187 years after the Conjunction , the building tension between humans and Elder Races result in the passel carnage and translation of countless elves .
Meanwhile , Yennefer was born in 1192 , and Jaskier was born in 1221 . Niilfgard began its aggressive campaign to become an conglomerate in 1239 , and Ciri was bear in 1250 . It is around the 1200s that the events ofThe Witchertake place .
How Magic Works In The Witcher
The Witcher’smythology surrounding the use of magic is all about balance and control . InWitcherlore , magic is the result of controlling Chaos , and every spell cost a sacrifice that ’s commensurate to the desired outcome . This was demonstrated at Aretuza when Fringilla levitates a small rock and roll but accidentally shrivels her hand , and when Yennefer performs the same spell at the cost of killing the flowers she ’s holding . At the Battle of Sodden Hill , Fringilla sacrifices one of her learner to have a powerhouse at the northerly force . When Yennefer unleashes enough fire to bend the lunar time period against Nilfgaard during this conflict , she near dies and temporarily loses the ability to wield Chaos .
Related : The Witcher : How Chaos & Magic Work
While Sources like Ciri and Yennefer have a natural affinity for magic , they are also more likely to be for good altered or torn aside by it . The greater the mean spell issue , the more Chaos is involved , and the more unsafe it is for the mage to perform - unless the mage is prepared for the sacrifice necessary to balance the equation . This is why fire and necromantic magic is forbid by the Brotherhood , who are instead focus on air , earth , pee , foretelling , and mind magicks . Moreover , as the Conjunction of the Spheres mingled the Continent ’s Chaos with that of different dimensions , Chaos is everywhere .
This is why anyone in the continent can learn to vomit simple spells , like how witchers use sign . However , only Sources , trained mages , and those with sr. Blood - descendants of Lara Dorren - are the ones who can truly realize the potentiality of Chaos . The raw Chaos in the Continent also gives force to customs like the Law of Surprise : when one person carry through another , they can propose their savior a reward that ’s unnamed to both parties , but amount in due fourth dimension . Moreover , female are naturally better at wield Chaos , but just like how more males hold out the Trial of Grasses , the understanding for this is unidentified .
The Witcher Monsters Explained In Brief
When it do to the monsters , The Witcher’smythology adopt heavily from Slavic and other European folklore . The insectoid Kikimora for instance , which is unwashed prey for witchers like Geralt , is also a swamp freak in various versions of the tale across unlike Slavic countries . Meanwhile , the terrific Striga can be traced to likewise vampiric fiendish entity originating in early story from eastern and Southern Europe . The Witcher ’s depiction of the Basilisk is also reproducible with how it ’s identify in ancient Greek texts as a reptilian crybaby . There ’s also the winged demon called a Chernobog , cite after the Slavonic god of misfortune . These are just some of the brute fromThe Witcher’svast bestiary .
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While some monsters initiate from the Continent , most were only brought here by the Conjunction of the Spheres . Notably , Nightmare of the WolfexpandedWitchermythology by revealing that Deglen , the witcher who recruited Vesemir , created hybrid monsters to drive up business for witchers . Ultimately , this is what led to Kaer Morhen ’s downfall . Despite this , witchers are needed more than ever as monsters continue to terrorise the Continent . With the Wild Hunt threaten to deplume through the veils between Earth just to get to Ciri , The Witcher ’s bestiary is bound to further expand inThe Witcherseason 3 .
