Template:Character infobox Ewald Borsodi was a son of Maximilian Borsodi, brother of Horst Borsodi, and originally heir of Borsodi Brothers' Auction House until his brother had him disinherited and removed from the family because of gambling and profligacy.
Biography
Early life
Ewald Borsodi was born in Novigrad to Maximilian Borsodi and his partner into a large and, at the time, already rich Borsodi family. He grew side by side with his brother, Horst. Even though they were of the same blood, their personalities were absolutely different and soon enough they developed an animosity.
Whereas his brother was more strict and self-centered, Ewald became quite a superficial young man who spent most of his money on cards, hookers, and other pleasures. Nevertheless, he was the favorite son and when his father died, the auction house was supposed to be owned by both of them, no matter their relationship. Horst, however, wanted to keep Ewald as far from family fortune as possible and so he proclaimed himself head of the family, threw his brother out on the street and hoped he would never return.
Living as a criminal
After this turn of events, he lived in the free city's sewers and barely survived. Nevertheless, he managed to get on his feet and became a name in local underground, taking on a job of hired assassin so professional and cruel that even ataman Olgierd von Everec thought about taking him into Redanian Free Company for a moment.
When he gathered up enough resources and checked recently relocated auction house's defense, he began to plot his revenge in Herbalist's Hut near Oxenfurt, the city where auction house was located since a deal between Horst and Radovid V, king of Redania.
Plan and heist
Ewald talking to Geralt
Just around the time when the only thing he needed to break into the auction house was a company, he bumped into witcher Geralt of Rivia. He did not say who he was to him, where he was from, how he knew of the witcher or how he had found him. All he would reveal was that he could help Geralt gain access to the auction house vault – without asking the owner's permission. He proposed they meet somewhere more secluded so he might explain his plan in greater detail.
After some discussion, Geralt came to a conclusion he had no choice but to agree to work with Ewald. Borsodi then gave him information on Eveline Gallo, Casimir Bassi, Hugo Hoff and Quinto – two of which were to help them with the heist. When they got into the auction house, guards attacked and burglary seemed lost Eveline run out of a chimney, not wanting to risk jail.
Quinto, Geralt and Ewald in the vault
Not everything went according to plan. Geralt successfully broke into the vault, though at the cost of some nerve-wracking moments and a good deal of bloodshed. Once in the bowels of the auction house, he found out that his partner-in-crime was none other than Horst Borsodi's long-missing brother, Ewald. Cheated by his brother out of his inheritance, Ewald had planned his revenge during his long years of exile.
Conclusion
- Geralt stands by Ewald...
When Geralt saw the upcoming fight between the two brothers, he sided with his partner, Ewald and with their combined strength defeated Horst and his bouncers. Ewald then revealed he can not give Geralt "Maximilian Borsodi's house", but the witcher is free to choose anything else he fancy.
- ...and does not kill him
Even though feeling cheated, instead of slaughtering Ewald at once, Geralt proposed a compromise both sides would find acceptable. Their paths parted soon afterward, as Ewald left to manage his family fortune and Geralt returned to the Path of a witcher.
- ...and does kill him
Geralt felt like cheated and it pushed him over the edge – his steel sword flew into motion at once and soon Ewald's corpse lay next to that of his hated brother. The tale of the Brothers Borsodi had come to a tragic close. Geralt took "Maximilian Borsodi's house", gave it to Olgierd as they agreed, and with it, ataman caused Borsodis' downfall. Through the whims of fate, auction house ended up in possession of a dwarven banker Vimme Vivaldi.
- Geralt stands by Horst
When it was clear that there would be a fight, Geralt sided with Horst. Though the elder Borsodi was undeniably arrogant and mean-spirited, he, at least, had not tried to cheat the witcher or use him in a private vendetta as had Ewald. The witcher thus foiled Ewald's years of planning moments before they were to come to fruition, then put an end to Ewald's life as well.[1]
Journal entry
- When he found himself witnessing a battle of brothers, Geralt chose to stand by...
- Geralt stands by Ewald:
- ...his partner, Ewald, and with their combined strength they defeated Horst and his bodyguards. Ewald then repaid Geralt in the worst possible way: he tried to cheat him by keeping Maximilian's House for himself.
- ...but does not take the papers:
- Luckily the witcher kept a clear head and, instead of slaughtering Ewald at once, proposed a compromise both sides would find acceptable. Their paths parted soon afterwards, as Ewald left to manage his family fortune and Geralt returned to the Path of a witcher.
- ...but does not take the papers:
- ...but also demands the papers:
- This treachery pushed even the usually level-headed witcher over the edge – his steel sword flew into motion at once and soon Ewald's corpse lay next to that of his hated brother. The tale of the Brothers Borsodi had come to a tragic close.
- ...but also demands the papers:
- Geralt stands with Horst:
- ... Horst. Though the elder Borsodi was undeniably arrogant and mean-spirited, he, at least, had not tried to cheat the witcher or use him in a private vendetta as had Ewald. The witcher thus foiled Ewald's years of planning moments before they were to come to fruition, then put an end to Ewald's life as well.