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1. #1

   Keys: Cidaris, Temeria, Rivia, Kovir, Lyria, Kaedwen, Verden, North, Redania, Poviss, Aedirn, Cintra, Northern Kingdoms, Hengfors League, Skellige

   Northern Kingdoms Also called the Northern Realms, the Northern Kingdoms comprise the territories located north of the Amell Mountains. These include: Cintra, Aedirn, Lyria, Temeria, Redania, Cidaris, Hengfors League, Verden, Kaedwen, Kovir, Rivia, Poviss, Skellige.

   Humans created the Northern Kingdoms after seizing control of land inhabited by the Elder Races. Certain strongholds, like Mahakam, are mostly inhabited by the Elder Races.

   The Northern Kingdoms are at war with the Nilfgaardian Empire, which seeks to conquer the North. The Nilfgaardian Empire’s attack on Cintra — which resulted in the death of Queen Calanthe (Ciri’s grandmother) — started the First Northern War in 1263.

2. #2

   Keys: The Nilfgaardian Empire, Nilfgaard, Emperor Emhyr var Emreis

   The Nilfgaardian Empire is the most powerful kingdom on the Continent. Its territories are located south of the Amell Mountains.

   Nilfgaard began as a mixed settlement of humans and elves. As the population grew, the city of Nilfgaard expanded into a kingdom, absorbing nearby territories.

   For centuries, Nilfgaard operated as a republic in which the kings were advised by a senate, which was later abolished.

   Nilfgaard is ruled by Emperor Emhyr var Emreis. A cut-throat imperialist, Emhyr was the son of Fergus var Emreis, former Nilfgaardian king who was overthrown by a usurper in 1233.

3. #3

   Keys: halflings, The Elder Races, elves, dwarves, gnomes

   The Elder Races refer to the species that inhabited the Continent before the humans arrived during the Conjunction of the Spheres. These include:

   gnomes, dwarves, halflings, elves. the Elder Races and humans are constantly at war with one another, as well as fighting amongst themselves. The opening chapter of Blood of Elves establishes that each species mostly keeps to itself, showing little tolerance toward others.

   gnomes inhabited their world first, then dwarves, then halflings, then elves.

   Dwarves expresses some disdain toward elves, who he says “happen to be strangers just as much as humans, although they arrived in their white ships a good thousand years before you.”

4. #4

   Keys: School of the Griffin, Witchers, School of the Wolf, School of the Cat

   Witchers are monster slayers who have rudimentary magical powers. They travel the Continent killing monsters for coin.

   Although more witcher schools exist in the games, three witcher schools exist in the books:

   School of the Wolf (Geralt’s school, housed in Kaer Morhen) School of the Cat School of the Griffin

   To become witchers, young boys must endure rigorous physical training and a dangerous witcher mutation process called the Trial of the Grasses.

   During the trials — which took place in a now-unused laboratory deep within the Kaer Morhen vaults — the boys were given magical elixirs, hormones, and herbs.

   The trials last roughly 7 days. If the boys survived, they’d emerge with cat-like witcher eyes, a longer lifespan, and sharp senses and reflexes.

   The witcher trade is dying — no one knows how to use the laboratory or brew the potions needed for the Trial of the Grasses anymore.

   Aside from Geralt, four other witchers are mentioned in the books: Vesemir, Lambert, Eskel, and Coën. (Another witcher, Brehen, is mentioned in Season of Storms.) Letho, a witcher from the School of the Viper, also appears in Witcher 2 and 3 (but not the books).

5. #5

   Keys: Vesemir

   Vesemir is the oldest living witcher and sole survivor of the 12th-century massacre at Kaer Morhen. A fencing instructor, Vesemir maintains the keep and is a father figure to Geralt, Eskel, and Lambert.

   When Geralt first finds Ciri in the Brokilon Forest, he tells her Vesemir used to tell him bedtime stories as a young witcher. Ciri affectionately calls him “Uncle” Vesemir and Triss calls him “Grandfather”. Fans of the franchise call him “Papa” Vesemir.

6. #6

   Keys: Eskel

   Eskel is presumed to be younger than Geralt, but the two witchers grew up together. He’s first mentioned in the short story “The Last Wish”.

   As Geralt watches the djinn struggle to escape Yennefer’s trap, he recalls a memory in which he and Eskel trapped a bee with a thread tied to a jug. As the young witchers watched the bee struggle to get free, they “were in fits of laughter” — until they were caught and disciplined by Vesemir.

   In Blood of Elves, Eskel takes a firm approach in training Ciri but is well-mannered, unlike Lambert.

7. #7

   Keys: Geralt of Rivia, Gwynbleidd, The Butcher of Blaviken, White Wolf

   Geralt of Rivia is the protagonist of the Witcher books, games, and Netflix show. Born to the sorceress Visenna, Geralt was surrendered to Kaer Morhen as an infant.

   Although he’s arguably the most successful witcher on the Continent, Geralt endures prejudice from most people. He’s called a mutant, a freak, and other cruel names by the general public.

   Geralt is in a tumultuous, on-and-off relationship with the sorceress Yennefer of Vengerberg. The couple is bound by destiny and a wish Geralt made to a djinn in The Last Wish.

   His best friend is Dandelion, a flamboyant poet and bard who’s somewhat of a damsel in distress. Geralt features in many of Dandelion’s ballads, which are famous throughout the Continent.

8. #8

   Keys: Ciri, Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon, Lion Cub of Cintra, Swallow, Zirael, The Lady of Space and Time

   Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon, or Ciri for short, is a Cintran princess destined for much greater things. After the death of her mother, Pavetta, Ciri became the sole heir to the Cintran crown.

   Ciri is a child of the Elder Blood and possesses powerful magical abilities that let her travel between worlds and through time. In Blood of Elves and Time of Contempt, Yennefer teaches Ciri to harness and control her powers.

   According to Ithlinne’s Prophecy, Ciri’s child will stop the White Frost and prevent the end of the world.

   Throughout the books and games, Ciri is hunted by several people who want to control or abuse her powers for their own gain. These include Vilgefortz, Avallac’h, Emperor var Emreis, and the Lodge of Sorceresses.

   As we already mentioned, Ciri is bound to Geralt by destiny. Geralt first met Ciri in the Brokilon Forest when she was around 10 years old.

   She’d lost her way in the forest after running away from Cintra to escape her arranged marriage with Prince Kistrin, future king of Verden. (But we don’t want to spoil their story for you — go read The Sword of Destiny to learn more!)

9. #9

   Keys: Yennefer of Vengerberg, Yennefer

   Yennefer of Vengerberg is a powerful sorceress, Geralt’s partner, and Ciri’s adoptive mother. Before she became a mage, Yennefer was a hunchback born to abusive parents.

   Her father called her a “hunchback monster” and blamed Yennefer’s mother for the disability. Yennefer is part elf, descended from elven sorceresses on her mother’s side. In The Tower of the Swallow, she says she’s 94 years old.

   One of her main goals throughout the books and TV show is to cure her infertility. (Most mages are sterile, although there are some exceptions, like Geralt’s mother.) To achieve this, she tries to capture a djinn in The Last Wish, which is how she ends up bound to Geralt.

   Yennefer takes Ciri under her wing in Blood of Elves, testing her abilities and teaching her how to control her powers. Throughout the books, she does everything in her power to protect Ciri, even if it means sacrificing her own safety and freedom.

10. #10

    Keys: Triss Merigold, Triss

    Triss Merigold is a sorceress, healer, and member of the Lodge of Sorceresses. Also called “Fourteenth of the Hill”, Triss was believed to have died during the Battle of Sodden during the First Northern War. Although she was seriously injured, she survived with the help of powerful healing magic.

    Triss first appears in Blood of Elves. When Ciri begins having trances and predicting the future, Triss is summoned to Kaer Morhen to help. She spends the winter at Kaer Morhen, mentoring Ciri and teaching the witchers to cater to the unique needs of a growing girl.

    Triss had a brief love affair with Geralt at some point after The Last Wish, while Geralt and Yennefer were quarreling. In the books, Triss admits she seduced Geralt using magic. Although Triss and Yennefer claim to be friends, there is jealousy on both sides. Yennefer even confronts Triss about it in Time of Contempt and The Lady of the Lake.

    Triss is allergic to potions and uses amulets to heal herself. After their winter at Kaer Morhen, Triss and Geralt take Ciri to Ellander to study magic at Melitele’s temple. Along the way, Triss becomes very ill and realizes she lost her amulet. Geralt helps care for her on the road.

    While she’s a relatively minor character in the books, she’s a major character in the games. Triss is also a romance option in Witcher 3 — in the books, Geralt is in love with Yennefer and resists Triss’ romantic advances.

11. #11

    Keys: The Conjunction of Spheres

    The Conjunction of the Spheres refers to the collision of worlds that trapped creatures in other universes.

    This cataclysm not only created new worlds, but also brought humans, Aen Seidhe elves, and monsters to the Continent. The Conjunction also introduced Chaos, the force that allows humans to wield magic.

    Before the Conjunction, the elves (and presumably other species) traveled freely between worlds. After the Conjunction, they lost this ability.

12. #12

    Keys: Ithlinne’s Prophecy

    Ithlinne’s Prophecy foretells an Ice Age that ends the world, killing all life. The prophecy predicts that only a child of the Elder Blood — specifically, Ciri’s child — can prevent the White Frost and save the Aen Seidhe elves.

    The Elder Blood involves a centuries-long genetic experiment undertaken by elven Sages. The goal of the experiment was to produce even more powerful magic than that possessed by Sages. Lara Dorren, Ciri’s ancestor and an elven Sage, was a result of that experiment.

    In The Tower of the Swallow, Avallac’h tells Geralt that Lara Dorren “should have given birth to a unique child”.

    But instead of mating with an elven Sage as planned, Lara Dorren fell in love with a human sorcerer called Cregennan of Lod, with whom she conceived a half-human, half-elf child. Their union incited an ongoing war between humans and elves.

    Despite the deviation from the elves’ original plan, the Elder Blood mutated and passed down through Lara’s descendants. Only females could inherit the “true” Lara gene.

    Lara’s male descendants inherited activator genes, while some females inherited latent genes. To produce a child with the “true” Lara gene, a female carrying the latent gene would need to mate with a male carrying the activator gene.

    Over time, the Elder Blood line was manipulated by sorceresses (including Yennefer) to control who ruled various Northern Kingdoms.

    The genetics get a little complicated — read Baptism of Fire for an in-depth explanation courtesy of the Lodge of Sorceresses.

13. #13

    Keys: The Wild Hunt, The Red Riders

    Also called “The Red Riders”, The Wild Hunt is a group of Aen Elle elves (elves that live on a separate world). Eredin Bréacc Glas is the leader of The Wild Hunt and the main antagonist of The Witcher 3.

    Humans believe The Wild Hunt is a ghostly omen of war. In the winter, The Wild Hunt travels to the Continent to abduct humans and enslave them in the Aen Elle realm.

    In Time of Contempt, The Wild Hunt rides through Gors Velen, where they sense Ciri’s power. Yennefer and Geralt rescue her from the Hunt, but the Red Riders continue to pursue her. Eredin captures her in The Tower of the Swallow and takes her to the Aen Elle world.

    Before the Conjunction of the Spheres, the elves traveled freely between worlds through Ard Gaeth, or the Great Gate. After the Conjunction, Eredin and Avallac’h lose their ability to fully breach Geas Garadh, the magical barrier surrounding their world.

    The Wild Hunt is eventually able to reach the Spiral, a connection between worlds that only some are capable of using:

    But the Fox [Avallac’h] and the Sparrowhawk [Eredin] cannot gain mastery over the Ard Gaeth, the Gate of Worlds. Once they had it. And then lost it. Now all they can do is wander between the worlds as impotent ghosts.

    The Fox has reached Tir Na Bea Arainne, and Sparrowhawk and his riders can get to the Spiral. They do not have the strength to go anywhere else. That’s why they dream of Ard Gaeth and power.

    -Ihuarraquax, The Lady of the Lake Unlike the Wild Hunt, Ciri is able to travel freely between worlds thanks to the powers granted to her by the Elder Blood.

    This is why Eredin and Avallac’h imprison her — they want her and their king, Auberon, to conceive the prophesied Child of the Elder Blood, whose powers will be able to reopen the gate.

    There’s not much lore on The Wild Hunt in the books — the games expand on The Wild Hunt’s backstory.

14. #14

    Keys: The Law of Surprise

    The Law of Surprise is an ancient tradition that applies when one person saves another person’s life. The savior can demand one of two things: the first thing that comes to greet the victim upon their return home, or what they find at home but do not expect.

    This creates an “an indissoluble tie of destiny between the person demanding the oath and its object.” People who break the oath can suffer curses and even death.

    Geralt unknowingly claimed Ciri through the Law of Surprise twice. The first time was in The Last Wish, at Pavetta’s 15th birthday celebration, when Geralt saved Ciri’s father, Duny, from being stabbed by palace guards. When Duny asked Geralt to name his price, he invoked the Law of Surprise. Then, they discovered Pavetta was pregnant with Duny’s child — Ciri.

    The second time was in The Sword of Destiny, when Geralt helped a merchant named Yurga retrieve his cart, which became stuck in the boards of a rotting bridge. To repay him, Yurga promised he’d give Geralt whatever he asked for.

    Geralt demanded “the thing that [he] did not expect to find on returning home.” Yurga and Geralt returned to find Yurga’s wife had “adopted” Ciri, believing she was a war orphan.

15. #15

    Keys: Timeline

    The Witcher lore timeline is a bit confusing, and there’s some conflicting info out there — we’ve done our best to provide accurate dates.

    ~1,500 years before the books: The Conjunction of the Spheres; first humans arrive on the Continent ~760s: First Landing — a new wave of humans arrive on the Continent in four ships and begin conquering the surrounding lands to create the Northern Kingdoms (Blood of Elves) 1173: Yennefer of Vengerberg born. 1217/1218: Queen Calanthe born. 1233: A usurper overthrows Nilfgaardian king Fergus var Emrhys. 1236/1237: Pavetta born. 1252/1253: Ciri born. 1263: First Northern War begins; Battle of Sodden fought.

16. #16

    Keys: {{user}}

    {{user}} is a witcher, a monster hunter. Some people see {{user}} as a savior, other see him as a mutant abomination. Witchers are famous for the lasciviousness, stamina and yellow eyes.

17. #17

    Keys: Hatri, Vintyr, Supirre, Volun, Yrden, Moahk, Aard, Shadi, Somne, Axii, Igni, Vorg, Witcher Signs, Quen, Heliotrope

    Aard

    Aard is a simple magical sign used by witchers. The Aard sign is a simple magical sign used by witchers that directs a blast of telekinetic energy to stagger opponents, leaving them open for a subsequent attack. Aard can also blow out any existing fires, blast open poorly secured doors, or punch through cracked or damaged walls.

    Sweep- Aard Alternate Form Aard's alternate form turns it into a bubble of telekinetic energy that focuses around the witcher and expands outward with destructive force.

    Igni The Igni sign is one of five simple magical signs used by witchers and causes a burst of fire that can repel and ignite opponents, as well as start fires.

    Firestream- Igni Alternate Form Igni's alternate form turns the burst of fire into a sustained stream of sparks and flames.

    Quen The Quen sign is a simple magical sign used by witchers that forms a protective field around the caster. Quen's basic ability is to cover a witcher in a basic shield that absorbs a limited amount of damage.

    Active Shield- Quen Alternate Form Quen's alternate form creates a bubble of protective energy to form around the witcher it is stronger than the original form but is more draining on the witcher and requires them to remain in place.

    Yrden The Yrden sign is a simple magical sign used by witchers that forms a circular, magical trap. The trap triggers a certain number of times when traversed by a foe, causing knock back, damage, and a chance of inflicting ailments on its targets Most foes that wander into the ring are significantly slowed, though some monsters are unaffected by it. Yrden is one of the witchers best tools for controlling multiple enemies in melee range. It's also particularly valuable for witchers when up against noonwraiths and nightwraiths, who remain incorporeal most of the time unless caught within a Yrden circle.

    Magic Trap- Yrden Alternate Form Yrden's alternate form creates a stationary glyph of magical energy that strikes at and slows down hostile forces within a certain radius, as well as destroys and projectiles that happen to pass through that radius. Multiple Magic Traps can be placed down at once by experienced witchers.

    Axii The Axii sign can charm an opponent's mind to stun them, temporarily eliminating them from combat. However, the stun effect disappears after seven seconds or when the target receives harmed. This sign can be used by witchers to calm their mounts or on people to gain information or benefits. This sign can usually only affect one person at a time and its effects are visible to other people in the vicinity.

    Puppet- Axii Alternate Form Axii's alternate sign forces an enemy to temporarily become an ally and fight on your side during a conflict for a short time as well as boosting their physical abilities for the duration of the conversion.

    Hatri (Hate-reflecting sign) Hatri is a telempathic sign which reflects the opponent's hate, bloodlust and hunger back to its source, making the monster afraid.

    Heliotrope Heliotrop or Heliotrope is a magical sign used by witchers. It is made by crossing one's wrists, and works as a buffer against physical attacks, combat magic and impacts with walls, ground etc. Contrary to Quen, which is active until broken or dispelled, the Heliotrop is active only for a moment and cushions from a single powerful attack or damage.

    Supirre Supirre is a Sign used for eavesdropping. Drawn on a solid surface, it allows the people near this surface to listen nearby conversations which would be normally inaudible due to the distance or background noise.

    Somne Somne is a simple magicalsign used by witchers. It is used to put the target to sleep, and may possibly also leave them open to some form of suggestion. An unidentified witcher who strongly resembles Geralt uses this sign in the novel Season of Storms to put Nimue to sleep after meeting her in a forest.

    Shadi Shadi is a Sign developed by the School of the Griffin. It is used to temporarily turn its caster intangible, the user can specify whether they fall through the ground as well, allowing for better mobility and the ability to avoid being trapped or barricaded against ones will.

    Invisibility: Shadi Alternate Form Shadi's alternate form is able to cloak a witcher in a field of light refractive magic rendering the witcher temporary invisbile to human sight. It does not negate scent, sound, or any of the other senses.

    Volun Volun is a Sign developed by the School of the Griffin. It is used to shoot bolts of plasma/lightning from the witcher's fingertips, it is an effective scare tactic tool when dealing with peasant mobs. And is an effective weapon against armored enemies.

    Chain lightning: Volun Alternate Form Volun's alternate form is able to shoot a sustained bolt of lightning controlled by the witcher that can jump from enemy to enemy, the more skilled the witcher the more targets it can hit.

    Vorg Vorg is a Sign developed by the School of the Griffin. It is similar to the Quen spell but is more specialized as it creates a barrier that the witcher can walk away from. Useful for blocking narrow passages or creating choke points to deal with group combat easier.

    Boundary: Vorg Alternate Form Vorg's alternate form forms a glowing line or boundary where the witcher points after casting the hand sign then tracing the line, the boundary has an effect like Aard that telekinetic throws anything that comes into contact with it that the witcher deems hostile.

    Vintyr Vintyr is a Sign developed by the School of the Griffin. It is the antithesis of the Igni sign, rapidly cooling or even freezing anything the witcher touches while using the sign or in the cold wave radius. Icy Squall: Vintyr Alternate Form Vintyr alternate form shoots a sustained stream of cold air and ice, rapidly freezing whatever it hits.

    Moahk Moahk is a Sign developed by the School of the Griffin. It is capable of magically creating water, or shooting a wave of water at a target. A good preparation sign to use before Volun. Witchers can use this sign in survival scenarios like in the desert to conjure water. Torrent: Moahk Alternate Form Moahk's alternate form blasts a forceful torrent of water from the witcher's hand, the pressure can be adjusted by focusing more magic through the Sign. It can be used as a peasant mob deterrant, to put out fires or with enough skill and magic poured into it to cut through objects.

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