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The Witcher 2SPOILERS - So really, what happened to Geralt?(39 posts)(39 posts)
(39 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted July 03, 2011
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AudreyWinter: As I gathered, Geralt was a perfectly mormal boy, but another witcher helped his father. As payment he wanted to have "that which you find upon returning home and don't expect". What the father didn't expect was that while he was away, his wife had bore a son. Some years later, the witcher came to his home and took little Geralt with him to become a witcher.
Which book/story is that? I have been reading in a random order, and in "Something More" he said that he was not a Child Surprise.
Posted July 03, 2011
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vAddicatedGamer: Which book/story is that? I have been reading in a random order, and in "Something More" he said that he was not a Child Surprise.
You got me there. That was something I read back when it was the first game and my memory may deceive me. OR it was in the tv series... yes, I'm pretty sure that is the first epsiode. But I have no clue how true to the books they are.

I'm not through with the stories yet, so I still have to read Something More. Does he not say what else he was, then?
Posted July 03, 2011
To VAdd--Ohh?? I always thought he was as well. hmmmm.....?

Perhaps it was another person who was the surprise then? now I need to go look at the books again darnit :)



The OP wanted to know what happened in a timeline kind of fashion, and the events listed seem about right. I too am unclear about the information of Geralt leaving the pursuit of the Wild Hunt with the Snake school guys. Is that because I just cannot seem to get all of the entries for the Wild Hunt in one play? I always get three or four, but never all of them.

Aside: And now I am looking into the Polish and surrounding area mythologies. Wikipedia is such a strange place to know if something is true or not, but at least many of the oddities in the games are mentioned in this article, which I find fascinating. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavic_mythology
Posted July 03, 2011
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AudreyWinter: But if Avallach is supposed to be Avalon: in the legend of King Arthur, this is where you go after death. Not bandaged and patched up, though.
To an extent, it depends on which flavor of Arthurian legend you're reading. Avallach = Avalon in any of them; the name is straight Welsh for "[Island] of Apples". But whether Arthur died or didn't quite die, or was revived or awaits his resurrection, depends on whose Arthur you're reading.

To me, Geralt's situation is similar: to all appearances, he died, and Yennefer died, and they were given an Arthurian send-off. But as in Arthurian legend, death is not necessarily the end, nor is return an impossibility.

Since the canon ended with the apparent death of Geralt, all we can ask is that any explanation in game not be grossly inconsistent with canon. Since virtually any reasonably well told story of his survival or revival is not so inconsistent with the Arthurian model that Sapkowski was using, I think the one we're given in game and related by yagha in the OP is a perfectly good one.
Posted July 03, 2011
Some answers for questions in this thread:
There was a lot of plot involving Wild Hunt in books, but it was more Ciri's side of story (for the most of the story Ciri and Geralt were separated), so in books Geralt didn't know too much about it.

Geralt wasn't first Witcher. He is special because he didn't lost his feelings during his mutation. He is son of sorceress/druid called Visenna and fighter called Korin. There is short story how they met, it's called "A Road of No Return" in book "Something ends, Something begins" but it wasn't released in English . Somewhere in the saga Geralt said that his mother left him as infant in a temple and he never met his parents. Later he was found as homeless child by some unnamed witcher.

Sapkowski based his story on many many myths and legends.There is even story inspired by Call of Cthulhu.
Post edited July 03, 2011 by Aver
Posted July 03, 2011
Great, thank you for the explanations!
So not ALL sorceresses are sterile, huh?
Posted July 03, 2011
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Aver: There is even story inspired by Call of Cthulhu.
What isn't?
Posted July 03, 2011
Only those which was trained in official schools are sterile. His mother was more like druid with magic powers. They make them sterile in schools because children of two magicians are often magically unstable and mentally handicapped.

Btw. One very powerful sorcerer told Geralt that he, as son of magic user, has magic talent and after training he can become a sorcerer. But Geralt refused.
Posted July 03, 2011
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AudreyWinter: So not ALL sorceresses are sterile, huh?
That is one detail that has annoyed me greatly as it is stated numerous times in the games and the few Witcher books I've been able to read.

I've wondered if the reason MOST sorceresses are sterile is because of their "beauty" treatments. Dryads have magic, are human compatible and obviously have offspring, but I doubt they indulge in the beauty regime. Also at least two of the main characters and one of the minor characters in the series are the offspring of sorceresses. SPOILERS

Geralt, Ciri, and Ciri's grandmother (Calanthe) are all the offspring of sorceresses. The beauty of the mothers' of these characters is not emphasized, unlike pretty much any other sorceresses mentioned.
Posted July 04, 2011
@Xohan: what are you talking about? Have you read the books? It's clearly stated that the reason why sorceresses are sterile is because their offspring tend to suffer from strong mental illness, and with a power to control magic, pose a threat to society. It's also implied that sorceresses should focus on developing their abilities and serving in the name of magic instead of starting a family and raising children. As far as I am concerned, among more than dozen female mages, none of them is married. And none has children.

Geralt's mother was most likely a druid. Ciri's ancestors were of ancient powerful Elven Blood, which blessed them with power far beyond magic such as time and parallel universe travel. They have no genetic ties to mages whatsoever.
Posted July 04, 2011
@ Germanicanus

As a mono-lingual english reader I have not been able to read all the books. That is why I qualified my statements with " few Witcher books I've been able to read".

It still raises a question though, why can dryads, druids, and those of ancient Elven Blood have healthy children and sorceresses cannot?

To me it would indicate that something the sorceresses do to themselves or put themselves through causes the problem.
Posted July 04, 2011
@Xohan:
Dryads are not humans. I don't think druids and mages use magic on the same level. Though we hardly meet any druids in the novels (and those who we meet tell us absolutely nothing about their abilities), one of the most powerful mages happen to be taught by druids - and ridiculed it to a great extent. In the canon druids can use only elemental magic, and despite having a much longer life-span than humans, do not posses as vast amount of skills as typical mage. Elven Blood is, as the name suggests, elven, so it has nothing to do with human mages. Francesca Findabair, one of the few Elven Sorceresses from the books, said she is unable to bear a child due to her old age (more than hundred years old), so she wasn't infertile.

Nenneke, the healer and priestess of Melitele, said Yennefer is infertile because of irreversible damage of gonads. It's fair to conclude that some human sorceresses cannot use magic without making themselves infertile. However, those who can, produce a very weak, mentally ill offspring. Since an unstable source cannot control magic, they are dangerous to the others and have to be eliminated. This is why Tissaia de Vries decided to make all sorceresses sterile. There is no hint, no suggestion or even not a single word about "beauty treatments" being responsible for it.

P.S. I don't think we can call Calanthe or Pavetta a sorceress before defining this term. If it means a woman capable of using magic, every female druid, witch or priestess are automatically sorceresses. In my opinion, it's better to assume a sorceress is a female competent and educated in the use of magic, in either one of magic academies like Aretuza, or by other mage. In the books a druid or priest is never called a mage.
Post edited July 04, 2011 by Germanicanus
Posted July 04, 2011
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Germanicanus: @Xohan:
Dryads are not humans. I don't think druids and mages use magic on the same level. Though we hardly meet any druids in the novels (and those who we meet tell us absolutely nothing about their abilities), one of the most powerful mages happen to be taught by druids - and ridiculed it to a great extent. In the canon druids can use only elemental magic, and despite having a much longer life-span than humans, do not posses as vast amount of skills as typical mage. Elven Blood is, as the name suggests, elven, so it has nothing to do with human mages. Francesca Findabair, one of the few Elven Sorceresses from the books, said she is unable to bear a child due to her old age (more than hundred years old), so she wasn't infertile.

Nenneke, the healer and priestess of Melitele, said Yennefer is infertile because of irreversible damage of gonads. It's fair to conclude that some human sorceresses cannot use magic without making themselves infertile. However, those who can, produce a very weak, mentally ill offspring. Since an unstable source cannot control magic, they are dangerous to the others and have to be eliminated. This is why Tissaia de Vries decided to make all sorceresses sterile. There is no hint, no suggestion or even not a single word about "beauty treatments" being responsible for it.

P.S. I don't think we can call Calanthe or Pavetta a sorceress before defining this term. If it means a woman capable of using magic, every female druid, witch or priestess are automatically sorceresses. In my opinion, it's better to assume a sorceress is a female competent and educated in the use of magic, in either one of magic academies like Aretuza, or by other mage. In the books a druid or priest is never called a mage.
I agree. I think in "Something More" it says that only younger elves are re-productive (when Ciri and Geralt was visiting the ruins of Sherrawedd). Also, I think I read in Blood of Elves (probably Triss said it in Kaer Moehn) that most sorceress are infertile because the use of magic alters the body that it disrupts its natural function, while the rest are made infertile (in magic schools) because they give birth to unstable magic-users.
Posted July 10, 2011
I had originaly read this in spanish (my native language) and have it half translated when I realize that "Blood of Elves" is alredy avaible in inglish.

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No one is born a wizard. We still know too little about genetics and the mechanisms of heredity. We sacrifice too little time and means on research. Unfortunately, we constantly try to pass on inherited magical abilities in, so to say, a natural way. Results of these pseudo-experiments can be seen all too often in town gutters and within temple walls. We see too many of them, and too frequently come across morons and women in catatonic state, dribbling seers who soil themselves, seeresses, village oracles and miracle-workers, cretins whose minds are degenerate due to the inherited, uncontrolled Force.

These morons and cretins can also have offspring, can pass on abilities and this degenerate further. Is anyone in a position to foresee or describe how the last link in such a chain will look?

Most of us wizards lose the ability to procreate due to somatic changes and dysfunction of the pituitary gland. Some wizards — usually women — attune to magic while still maintaining efficiency of the gonads. They can conceive and give birth — and have the audacity to consider this happiness and a blessing. But I repeat: no one is born a wizard. And no one should be born one! Conscious of the gravity of what I write, I answer the question posed at the Congress in Cidaris. I ask most emphatically: each one of us must decide what she wants to be — a wizard or a mother.

I demand all apprentices be sterilised. Without exception.

Tissaia de Vries .The Poisoned Source.

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Another thing I like to add is that Francesca Findabair has Yennefer's matrix (hers uterus) and that is another reason why Yeenefer is steril.
From "Bautism of Fire":

[TEASER/SPOILER]


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-- Francesca has Yennefer captive and ask her a loyalty confirmation towards de lodge --

Francesca:
- I want let you know, my dear. All the stationary portals at Montecalvo are blocked. Anybody who tries to get in or get out with out Filippas permission will land in a dungeon with dwimerit covered walls. You will not able to open your own tele-port without the components. I don't want to take away your star beacouse you have to be in complete domain of your mind, but if you try something crazy ... Yennefer, I can't allow it ... The lodge couldn't allow you fly alone and crazy to save Ciri and seek for revenge. I still have your matrix, I have the algorithm of the spell. I will reduce you and pack you again as a jade statue. For months if it is needed. Or years.
Yennerfer:
- Thank you for the warning. But but even that way I will not give you my word.

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I hope this clarifies a little the subject of mages sterility.
Post edited July 10, 2011 by jjavier
Posted July 10, 2011
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jjavier: I had originaly read this in spanish (my native language) and have it half translated when I realize that "Blood of Elves" is alredy avaible in inglish.

------------------------------------------------------

No one is born a wizard. We still know too little about genetics and the mechanisms of heredity. We sacrifice too little time and means on research. Unfortunately, we constantly try to pass on inherited magical abilities in, so to say, a natural way. Results of these pseudo-experiments can be seen all too often in town gutters and within temple walls. We see too many of them, and too frequently come across morons and women in catatonic state, dribbling seers who soil themselves, seeresses, village oracles and miracle-workers, cretins whose minds are degenerate due to the inherited, uncontrolled Force.

These morons and cretins can also have offspring, can pass on abilities and this degenerate further. Is anyone in a position to foresee or describe how the last link in such a chain will look?

Most of us wizards lose the ability to procreate due to somatic changes and dysfunction of the pituitary gland. Some wizards — usually women — attune to magic while still maintaining efficiency of the gonads. They can conceive and give birth — and have the audacity to consider this happiness and a blessing. But I repeat: no one is born a wizard. And no one should be born one! Conscious of the gravity of what I write, I answer the question posed at the Congress in Cidaris. I ask most emphatically: each one of us must decide what she wants to be — a wizard or a mother.

I demand all apprentices be sterilised. Without exception.

Tissaia de Vries .The Poisoned Source.

------------------------------------------------------

Another thing I like to add is that Francesca Findabair has Yennefer's matrix (hers uterus) and that is another reason why Yeenefer is steril.
From "Bautism of Fire":

[TEASER/SPOILER]


------------------------------------------------------
-- Francesca has Yennefer captive and ask her a loyalty confirmation towards de lodge --

Francesca:
- I want let you know, my dear. All the stationary portals at Montecalvo are blocked. Anybody who tries to get in or get out with out Filippas permission will land in a dungeon with dwimerit covered walls. You will not able to open your own tele-port without the components. I don't want to take away your star beacouse you have to be in complete domain of your mind, but if you try something crazy ... Yennefer, I can't allow it ... The lodge couldn't allow you fly alone and crazy to save Ciri and seek for revenge. I still have your matrix, I have the algorithm of the spell. I will reduce you and pack you again as a jade statue. For months if it is needed. Or years.
Yennerfer:
- Thank you for the warning. But but even that way I will not give you my word.

------------------------------------------------------

I hope this clarifies a little the subject of mages sterility.
It'd be pretty weird to have a mission to recover Yennefers uterus
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The Witcher 2SPOILERS - So really, what happened to Geralt?(39 posts)(39 posts)
(39 posts)