Witcher
From Witcher Wiki
Witchers (originally translated as "hexers") are sterile mutants with supernatural abilities, who receive special training at Kaer Morhen and preparation in order to become professional monster slayers for hire. It is believed (even amongst themselves) that they are unable to have emotions, although really doesn't seem to be true. Geralt, the central character in the Witcher series, is said in the stories to be one of the best witchers. He is certainly legendary, but whether famous or infamous is questionable.
A witcher has 2 main tools:
his Witcher's steel sword, and
his Witcher's silver sword.
These are typically carried on his back. He also makes use of potions (or elixirs) and signs.
On the continent, "witcher" is a derogatory term constructed from the word witch (wiedźma) and used by mages to describe males with what they consider to be limited or inferior magical ability.
Contents |
[edit] Known witchers
Known witchers in Andrzej Sapkowski's books are:
Trained by Witchers:
- Ciri - trained in witcher ways of combat and given non-magical herb mixtures to enhance her combat abilities; she was not subjected to mutations or magical herb mixtures
[edit] Adaptations
[edit] In The Witcher computer game only
Additional witchers:
Witcher-in-training:
- Leo - was not subjected to mutations, and could not use signs because of breaking his fingers during a training session
[edit] Glossary Entry
| Witchers
Due to their otherness, unusual abilities and magic skills, witchers are treated as outcasts and sometimes even meet with hatred. This hatred was made manifest during the infamous attack on Kaer Morhen, which led to the destruction of the fortress and the death of most of the witchers wintering there. Those who survived are doomed to extinction since they no longer train successors. People need witchers but are simultaneously afraid of them. The itinerant warriors inspire fear because they are mutants and have superhuman powers. A witcher is rarely a welcome guest and contacts with members of this profession are almost always limited to business. Witchers are invariably attacked during pogroms and social upheavals directed against those who deal in magic. Mutagens and magic render witchers' bodies resistant to all kinds of disease, even to the point of outright immunity. |
[edit] In the Movie and TV series only
[edit] In the graphic novels only
[edit] In Wiedźmin: Gra Wyobraźni only
[edit] Name
The original Polish name for "witcher" is "wiedźmin". The English translation preferred by Andrzej Sapkowski was initially "hexer" and is the name used in the international version of the film adaptation. However, CD Projekt chose to translate it to "witcher" in the The Witcher computer game, and this version was subsequently used by Danusia Stok in her translation of the book The Last Wish, as well as by Sapkowski himself in the book Historia i fantastyka.
Alternatively, the word warlock has been used informally in English translations, while "witcher", being a neologism in English (as wiedźmin is in Polish) arguably describes better the spirit of Geralt's profession.
[edit] In other languages
- Zaklínač (Czech)
- Hexer (German)
- Raganius (Lithuanian)
- Ведьмак/Vedmak (Russian)
- Sorceleur (French)
- El Brujo (Spanish)
- 狩魔猎人 (Chinese)
- Čarovnikar (Slovenian)
- Noituri (Finnish)
- Viještac (Croatian)
- Вещер (Bulgarian)
- Відьмак/Vidmak (Ukrainian)
[edit] In languages from the novel
- Vedymin
- Vatt'ghern (Elder Speech)
[edit] In languages from the game
- Witchmolol-bool (Vodyanoi)
[edit] Notes
- The Witcher is a character class in The Witcher: Versus
- There is a Witcher Larp Group in Germany Wiedzmin.de
| This page uses content from Wikipedia. The original article was at The Witcher. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Witcher Wiki, the text of Wikipedia is available under the GNU Free Documentation License. |
