Witchers: Not Quite the Devils You Thought
A conviction has arisen amongst both mages and the hoi polloi that witchers barely rise a hair’s breadth above animals, that they are deformed and bloodthirsty mutants, and that in slaking this thirst they do not limit themselves to the fluids of monsters. Meanwhile the research and observations of Virgil of Ban Ard paints an entirely different picture of this caste.
Of course, it is an indisputable fact that the mutations witchers undergo influence their temperament, immune system, strength and endurance, yet one cannot consider them unthinking beings forged only for killing as a result. In fact, witchers cultivate a unique culture, a specialized body of knowledge, an effective training system, and even a code of honor. They know an incredible amount about the effects of ingesting various organic and inorganic substances, and also a small amount, but nevertheless, something about the fundamentals of magic (by which I mean the simple spells they call “Signs”).
On the surface the witchers appear to be a homogeneous social entity, but in truth their fighting styles, training regimens, and world views differ significantly depending on which school they adhere to. The best-known witcher schools on the Continent are: the Wolf School, the Bear School, the Griffin School, the Viper School, and the Cat School.
Fairytales and Stories
Then the fairy said to the witcher: “I will tell you what to do: put on a pair of iron shoes and pick up an iron staff. Walk in the iron shoes to the end of the world, pat the ground before you with the staff, and sprinkle it with tears. Walk through fire and water, do not stop, do not look back. And when your shoes wear out, and when the iron staff shatters, when the wind and the heat dry your eyes so that you cannot shed another tear, then you will have reached the world’s end, and you will have found what you seek and what you love. Perhaps.”
And so the witcher walked through fire and water without looking back. But he took neither the iron shoes nor the staff. He took only his witcher’s sword. He did not heed the words of the fairy.
And that’s a good thing, because she was an evil fairy.