Witcher

From Witcher Wiki

Witchers or hexers are sterile mutants with supernatural abilities, who receive special training and preparation in order to become professional monster slayers for hire. It is believed (even by themselves) that they are unable to have emotions, although this may not be entirely true. Geralt, the central character in the Witcher series, is said in the stories to be one of the best witchers.

"Witcher" is a derogatory term constructed from the word witch (wiedźma) and used by the magicians to describe males with a limited magical ability.

Contents 1 Known witchers 1.1 In the adaptations 2 Name 3 In The Witcher computer game 3.1 Glossary Entry 3.2 Notes

[edit] Known witchers

Known witchers in Andrzej Sapkowski's books are:

• Geralt
• Lambert
• Coën
• Vesemir
• Eskel

[edit] In the adaptations

In the computer game only

• Berengar
• Leo - not actually a full witcher, he had not undergone the mutations

In the movie and TV series only

• Old Witcher
• Gwidon
• Clovis
• Gascaden
• Osbert
• Sorel
• Klef
• Thornwald
• Chireadan
• Dermot Marranga
• Adela

In the graphic novels only

• Aubry
• Frank
• Gardis
• Guxart
• Gweld
• Gwen
• Hemminks
• Rennes
• Tjold
• Treyse

In the PnP RPG only

• Cormac

[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.

In other languages:

• Zaklínač (Czech)
• Hexer (German)
• Raganius (Lithuanian)
• Ведьмак/Vedmak (Russian)
• Sorceleur (French)
• El Brujo (Spanish)
• 巫师 (Chinese)
• Čarovnikar (Slovenian)
• Noituri (Finnish)
• Viještac (Croatian)

In languages from the novel:

• Vedymin
• Vatt'ghern (Old Speech)

In languages from the game:

• Witchmolol-bool (Vodyanoi)

[edit] In The Witcher computer game

[edit] Glossary Entry

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] 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.