The Witcher - Story, Characters, Creatures & Places
Story of The Witcher
You start with your main character Geralt in an old fortress called Kaer Morhen. After defeating the intruders and learning
how the skills work you leave Kaer Morhen to find the stolen secrets of the witchers. Your way leads to Vizima, a dark city
with all kinds of violence, racism and sex... and not to forget the enemies.
At some points in the game Geralt has to make decisions, you as the player can decide whatever you think is best. The story
goes on with Geralt searching for contracts to fulfill, slaying monsters to make money (as witchers do) and find out about
the stolen secrets.
You have to decide to fight along with the Scoia'Tael, a non-human rebelling group fighting for their rights, or
you can fight with the Order of the Flaming Rose and cut off the revolts.
You have to go to many places to reach your own goal, you have to fight a sorcerer and his summoned monsters, you have to
find out about a child which is talking about old prophecies, you encounter an old fishfolk named Vodyanoi and you have to
fight against your destiny.
The game has three different endings, you can try to stay neutral, or fight for one of the sides. Which is good and which
is evil? Well, there is not a good and not an evil, it depends on your point of view if something is better than the other,
that's all. That's true witchery.
Characters
The player has not the option to play another character than Geralt of Rivia, 'cause he's the main actor and the hero of
the story. So you always start as the witcher Geralt. There are also some more important characters between the witchers,
they are no less important than Geralt but in the game they are not often to be seen.
Geralt of Rivia has to interact with several NPC's during his adventure, he has
to rescue some of them from impossible situations, others will help him with his search for the stolen secrets of the
witchers.
The Witchers
In the game itself are more witchers than listed here, Lambert is shown at the beginning of the game and also Leo, who
will die within the tutorial then. All witchers, except Geralt, have only a very short introduction and then are never
shown again within The Witcher 1.
Also another witcher named Berengar appears later in the game for only a short quest.
Geralt
Geralt is the main character of the game and the player has no other choice than to play him. Geralt of Rivia is a
witcher, a mutant who survived several trials while becoming a witcher, and his white hair is the result of the
Trial of the Grasses which only a handful of witchers normally survive.
However, Geralt is also known as Gwynnbleid, which means in the elder speech of the Dryads
The White Wolf. When the witchers found him in the surroundings of Kaer Morhen, Geralt couldn't remember
anything. It is up to the player to lead Geralt through the game and find out a few things about Geralt's past with the
help of some of his friends.
Eskel
Eskel is Geralt's best friend, they grew up together in Kaer Morhen. Eskel is a calm and reasonable witcher and he only
appears in the prologue of the game within Kaer Morhen.
However, he is playing a more important role in the official module Price of Neutrality, where he has problems
with Deirdre Ademeyn and fights side by side with Geralt. Here also the question where Eskel got his ugly scar from will
be answered.
Vesemir
Vesemir is the oldest and most experienced witcher in Kaer Morhen. He is like a father to Geralt and the other witchers.
When Geralt starts the game in Kaer Morhen, it is Vesemir who introduces the necessary skills to him and also some
important facts about another witcher called Berengar, who is part of a quest.
Important NPC's
There are several important NPC's in The Witcher 1. Some of them are Geralt's
friends and some are his enemies. This is only a short overview of the most important
NPC's in the game, the ones like Yaevinn or Siegfried of Denesle are standing
for different ways that the player (as Geralt) can choose.
Yaevinn
Yaevinn is an elf and the leader of the non-human rebelling group called Scoia'Tael. He is playing an important
role in the game and Geralt can decide to join Yaevinn's Scoia'Tael, fight against them or stay neutral.
As an elf Yaevinn often speaks in verses or metaphors like all of his kind and he treats Geralt with hesitant respect.
Shani
Shani is an old friend of Geralt and she is playing a halfway important role in the game. She is a healer and will always
heal Geralt when he's in her reach. Geralt needs Shani to perform some special quest parts.
While Geralt can't remember her until a special point in the game, Shani is still loving him. When it comes to the party
in Shani's house, Geralt will hear about some details of his past. Shani is also one of the two women who will watch
over the child Alvin later, depending on Geralt's decision to whom he will bring this child.
Dandelion
Dandelion is a bard and one of Geralt's closest friends. There is not one situation Dandelion has no silly verse for,
however, his ballads are well known throughout the land. He is also known for having fast feet when running away from a
women's husband...
At some parts of the game the player has the chance to hear such a ballad, Dandelion doesn't hide his skills when writing
a new ballad about one of Geralt's adventures. He also knows many things about Geralt's past, even if he's telling that
parts in his own way.
Zoltan Chivay
Zoltan Chivay is also a close friend of Geralt, even if Geralt can't remember him. He is a dwarf and his first appearance
in the game is when Geralt approaches a fighting scene in the Outskirts of Vizima where racist thugs are attacking
Zoltan. Zoltan is very pleased to see Geralt, because he saw Geralt dying with his own eyes five years before.
Geralt learns about Dice Poker from Zoltan after this encounter and Zoltan also tells Geralt about the racists and the
Scoia'Tael. He can be chosen as a companion for Shani's party later.
Siegfried of Denesle
Siegfried is member of the Order of the Flaming Rose and Geralt first meets him in the sewers under Vizima.
Geralt can decide to fight with him against a cockatrice there or fight alone. Later in the game Geralt has to decide to
fight against the Order, with them against the Scoia'Tael or to stay neutral instead.
Triss Merigold
Triss Merigold is a sorceress and plays the same important role as Shani, she is the second choice for Geralt to find a
place for the child Alvin. She is wounded in the prologue and Geralt has to learn about potions by healing her with one.
Triss also reveals some things from Geralt's past, but not very much.
She is member of King Foltest's Council and mainly interested in politics.
Creatures
There are also a lot of monsters in The Witcher. Several normal monsters like ghuls and bloedzuigers live in the witcher's world, but there are also some very special bossmonsters like a werewolf or a Striga. Sometimes Geralt is not only a killer, he also has to lift curses from a monster or an NPC.
Bossmonsters
At the end of each chapter of the game you have to defeat a special bossmonster. From time to time there is also a
bossmonster in a special quest, if you get this quest will depend on the way you choose to play.
Frightener
A Frightener is the very first boss monster Geralt has to fight against if he decides to do so. A Frightener is a mean
beast summoned by a mage, in this case it was Savolla who summoned it. It is looking like an insect, if a bit bigger and
it is vulnerable by making loud noise in a high frequency and then attack it. It is sensitive to steel and silver,
skinnable alchemical ingredients are Frightener's Eye and Frightener's Claw.
Hellhound
In the Outskirts of Vizima Geralt encounters a Hellhound, also known as The Beast. It is something like a demon
from underground and it appears where dishonorable people live. It can summon Barghests and it traps its victims in a
circle of fire. It is sensitive to steel, skinnable alchemical ingredient is Trace of the Beyond.
Golem
A Golem is made from stone and animated by mages. In the swamp Geralt will meet this monsters, they can be easily
defeated by a lightning bolt from three nearby stone pillars. However, normally they are mostly immune to steel or silver
and to the most magical effects, excluding the witcher's Igni spell. Skinnable alchemical ingredient is a Golem's
Obsidian Heart.
Werewolf
A Werewolf is a cursed human who is turning into a hairy beast during the full moon, they are also known as Lycanthropes.
When Geralt finds a Werewolf in the game, he has to decide to kill it or to remove the curse (I'm not sure, if removing
was possible here). Werewolves are only sensitive to silver, skinnable alchemical ingredient is the Werewolf Fur.
Kikimore Queen
A Kikimore Queen is looking like an insect and they are creating colonys like ants do. It has a very hard exoskeleton
and is resistant to all effects. It is said that if a witcher encounters a Kikimore Queen, the only way to fight her is
to run away. It is resistant to steel and silver, skinnable alchemical ingredient is the Kikimore Queen's Nerve.
Dagon
The Dagon is an underwater god and a mythical creature. Some people of the fishfolk called Vodyanoi worship this mythical
god. It inhabits the Lake Vizima near the village Murky Waters and the Vodyanoi had build a temple for it on Black Tern
Island. Dagon is a god and for this completely invulnerable, however, he can be killed by defeating his worshippers.
Skinnable alchemical ingredient is the Dagon Secretion.
Striga
The Striga is always a woman (princess Adda in this case) on which an evil curse is laying. A Striga is a monster full
of hate against all living beings, it has claws and is very agile, if the curse can be lifted the women have to wear
amulets to prevend them from turning into a Striga again. In the game Geralt has to fight this Striga and kill her. It
is vulnerable to silver, skinnable alchemical ingredient is the Striga Heart.
Koshchey
A Koshchey is also a summoned monster as the Frightener. Born from strong magic of an experienced mage it is very hard
to kill. Geralt has to fight such a beast, that looks like a mix between a crab and a spider with a hard exoskeleton,
in a chamber where he can only fight or die, there's no way out until the beast is dead. A Koshchey is sensitive to
silver, skinnable alchemical ingredient is the Koshchey Heart.
Zeugl
A Zeugl is a beast that is growing up between the dirt and garbage in large human citys. It has tentacles and looks like
a big octopus if a bit more aggressive. Geralt encounters such a beast in the sewers of Vizima and he knows that this
monster is invulnerable by steel or silver and can only be killed by cutting off its tentacles. Skinnable alchemical
ingredient is Zeugl Venom.
King of the Wild Hunt
The King of the Wild Hunt is the most spectacular specter in this game. Well... he is at least something like a specter,
a rare ghost creaping up from the shadows into Geralt's life and with every encounter Geralt learns that he is more his
doom than a monster. The King of the Wild Hunt is the leader of a horde of wraiths raiders.
He is Geralt's destiny even if Geralt declares that he doesn't believe in destiny. The King of the Wild Hunt is the last
big boss monster Geralt has to fight against. Not skinnable, no alchemical ingredients.
Normal Monsters
Beside those bossmonsters there are lots of normal monsters. Well, if you know Sapkowski's books then you know that the
Witcher series contains no normal monsters at all. In this game you encounter monsters like Drowned Deads or
Echinopsae, very special normal monsters. Here are the most important of them.
Drowner & Drowned Dead
Drowners are green and slimy humanoid monsters, they are humans who are drowned in water or during storms. They drag
people down into mires or bubbling eddies and they are easy to kill with normal weapons. A Drowned Dead is a dangerous
variety of a Drowner. Skinnable alchemical ingredients are Drowner Brain Tissue, Ginatz Acid, Cadaverine and Drowned
Dead Tongue.
Ghoul & Alghoul
Ghouls are found in cemeteries, crypts or on battlefields where a large amount of rotten flesh exists. They hate bright
light and hunt at night, if they are hungry they don't hesitate to feed on living beings. An Alghoul is the more
dangerous variety of a Ghoul. Skinnable alchemical ingredients are Abomination Lymph, White Vinegar, Ghoul Blood,
Cadaverine and Alghoul Marrow.
Echinops & Archespore
Echinopsae are carnivorous plants and grow underground. If they recognize a victim near their place they appear and
attack. Archespores grow in places where a crime was committed or on tombs where victims of a crime were burried.
Skinnable alchemical ingredients are Echinops Rootstock, Spores and Archespore Juice.
Bloedzuiger
A Bloedzuiger is a big leech, it spills acid and is immune to poison. Bloedzuigers are living in swamps and when killed
that beast explodes in a cloud of acid. Experienced witchers can avoid this acid cloud. Bloedzuigers are sensitive to
silver and a witcher's Igni sign. Skinnable alchemical ingredients are Abomination Lymph, Albar's Crystals and
Bloedzuiger Blood.
Giant Centipede
Giant Centipedes are like big earthworms living underground, they appear and attack if a victim comes near their path.
They are found in forests or meadows and their body is littered with spikes. They are blind but seeing all with
their nerves, in combat they knock their opponents down and poison them. Skinnable alchemical ingredients are Tracheae,
Venom Glands, Toxin and sometimes a Chitinous Carapace.
Wraith
Wraiths are ghosts that are found near their graves or their old homes. They are restless and hunt everything that lives.
Sometimes they are summoned by magic and witchers have to put them to rest. Skinnable alchemical ingredients are Death
Dust and Ectoplasm.
Wyvern & Royal Wyvern
Wyverns are great flying beasts that are commonly mistaken with dragons. When they swoop down from the sky hunting their
prey they don't make a difference between a sheep or a man. Royal Wyverns are more aggressive and venomous as normal
Wyverns. Skinnable alchemical ingredients are Toxin, Wing Membrane and Venom Glands. Sometimes Wyvern Meat and Wyvern
Eggs can be found on their bodies.
Ifrit
An Ifrit is a variety of Genies that can be summoned from the Plane of Fire by mages who have achieved mastery in
controlling the element of fire. It does not grant wishes like normal Genies but the summoning mage can force them into
servitude and let them kill whole parties. Skinnable alchemical ingredients are Pyrite and Ectoplasm.
Cockatrice & Basilisk
Cockatrices are ornithosaurs that live in caves and dark cellars. Their gaze turns the living into stone and it is said
that an adventurer without a mirror is lost, however, witchers reply that it is far better to smash the mirror at the
creatures head. Basilisks are the greater variety of Cockatrices and even more dangerous, their pure breath is venomous.
Skinnable alchemical ingredients are Toxin, Cockatrice Eye, Cockatrice Feather, Venom Glands and sometimes a
Basilisk Hide.
Greater Brothers & Greater Mutant
Greater Brothers and Greater Mutants are mutants created through experiments with the witcher's mutagenic potions. While
Greater Brothers are super-humans and warriors serving the Order of the Flaming Rose, the Greater Mutants are failed
experiments created by the Salamandra. Both are slow but strong and they are sensitive to steel. Skinnable alchemical
ingredients are Pituitary Gland, Beast Liver, Beast Fangs and Mutagen.
Skullhead
Skullheads died out centuries ago during the last ice age. However, Geralt encounters one in the Ice Plains, where he
has to fight against his last enemy. Skullheads were aggressive barbarians with a low gravity center which makes them
hard to knock down. Skinnable alchemical ingredients are Beast Liver, Beast Fangs, Skullhead Talons and Tendons.
Special Places
Beside the great city Vizima there are several smaller villages and special places well worth seeing. Kaer Morhen is such a special place, here the tutorial of the Witcher is playing and the player will learn the skills of the witchers. From here the player begins his journey to explore more places and help the inhabitants.
Kaer Morhen
Kaer Morhen is an old elven fortress where the witchers are living since a long time now. It is mostly ruined yet, and
the only witcher who lives here always is Vesemir. Other witchers stop by from time to time between their missions,
mostly in winter, to rest and share their storys.
Long ago the fortress was the target of an assault by humans who wanted to see the witchers dead because they are
mutants. Not many witchers escaped this assault and there is only a handful of them left yet.
The laboratory of Kaer Morhen, which is placed in the basement of the fortress, is a place where witchers brew and store
their potions. Here are secret alchemical ingredients kept and in old times new witchers were going through the so
called Trial of the Grasses, a procedur which not many witchers survived.
Geralt begins his journey here in Kaer Morhen, he has to help defending the fortress during an attack of the Salamandra
and a mysterious mage named Azar Javed, this is the game's tutorial for new players. During the main game Geralt will
not come back here, but you can visit Kaer Morhen again in the module Price of Neutrality.
Vizima
Vizima is the capital of Temeria and King Foltest has his castle, the seat of government, in this town. The most
important places in the town are the Trade Quarter, the Temple Quarter, the Royal castle, the Sewers and the Cemetery.
There are more places in Vizima but they are not accessible in the game.
Vizima is build on a small island within the Lake Vizima and Old Vizima, a peninsula accessible from Vizima over a dike,
is closed and used as a ghetto for non-humans. In the sewers are many Drowned Dead and also a Zeugl has it's home build
up here. Well, at least until Geralt arrives.
Vizima itself is a dirty and dissolute city, Geralt will find all kinds of prostitutes here (at least female ones), also
many contracts for a witcher and even two important taverns: The New Narakort and The Hairy Bear. The
Order of the Flaming Rose has its headquarters here in Vizima too.
Screenshots
I could swear I have made tons of screenshots while playing The Witcher, but having the website on the third computer since that time I don't know where the hell I put them. As soon as I find them, I'll place them in a gallery for you. For now there is only the walkthrough and the gallery for my mod Evil Decision linked in the side navigation.