What is The Witcher 3's Story All About? Here's The Full Story

The Story

Witcher 3 is CD Projekt Red’s latest addition into the Witcher series of games. The games were made as an unofficial sequel to the book series written by Andrzej Sapkowski. Luckily, reading the books and playing the previous games are not required to fully enjoy the Witcher 3 story. But before you can play this game, you should probably get to know what’s going on in this world.

1. The World of The Witcher

In the beginning there were primarily just Dwarves and Gnomes. Elves would later join these two races and establish the world’s first empires. But everything changed when a portal opened up and flooded the world with monsters. This portal would also introduce both humans and magic into the world. Over time, humans would eventually conquer the other races and establish themselves as the dominant race. 

Image

During the time of Witcher 3, humans have conquered the entire land while the other races have been pushed into an oppressed minority. The North belongs to several kingdoms that are constantly  warring over supremacy. The South is united under the Nilfgaardian Empire, which acts very similarly to the Roman Empire. Both the North and South have fought two bitter wars and are currently engaged in a third one. 

2. Who or what is a witcher?

Witchers are superhumans who are tasked with fighting supernatural entities. In order to hunt their foes, witchers are enhanced through the consumption of a series of mutagens and trained at a Witcher school. Each school provides Witcher graduates with a medallion that identifies what school they came from (Wolf, Griffin, Viper, etc.).  

Prospective children are kidnapped at a young age and subjected to torturous physical and mental conditioning, along with magical rituals that further enhance them. The end result is a monster hunter who possesses cat-like eyes, is immune to disease, possesses tremendous physical abilities, can quickly cast spells through a system known as the “signs,” has an accelerated healing factor and an extremely long lifespan. However, this comes at the cost of being sterile and a distinct detachment from their emotions. Once a Witcher has completed his training, they are able to set off and become a monster hunter for hire.

Image

The majority of society however, has a healthy amount of mistrust toward Witchers due to both their unnatural mutations and their reputation for only helping people when there is a profit to be made.

Witchers usually try to stay neutral in regards to politics, but due to recent events, some Witcher schools have been pulled into the wars between the North and the South.

3. The main character of the series is a witcher named Geralt of Rivia

Now that we know who the Witchers are, it’s time to meet the main character we’ll be playing as throughout the Witcher 3 story. His name is Geralt of Rivia, Butcher of Blaviken and the White Wolf. He’s also one of the world’s greatest Witchers. Geralt received the title of White Wolf from the white hair he received after undergoing additional mutations and enhancements beyond what a normal Witcher would usually endure. The title of “Butcher of Blaviken” was given to him when he killed a group of normal civilians for seemingly no reason at all. But what the villagers of Blaviken didn’t know was that these civilians were actually bandits planning to murder the entire village to draw out and capture the local mage.

Image

Geralt's romantic interests are two powerful sorceresses, Triss Marigold and Yennefer of Vengerberg. The latter of these two acts like a foster mother to his adopted daughter Ciri.

Ciri is a princess from the land of Cinitra, and was given to Geralt after he saved her country from a curse. Ciri would train with the Witchers and learn their art, but she never went through the mutation process to become fully enhanced. Geralt would soon discover that Ciri has the remnants of elder blood in her, allowing her to have a natural affinity for magic and the potential for an incredible amount of power.

4. The Wild Hunt

The Wild Hunt are a race of spectres lead by The King of The Wild Hunt that usually fly through the sky on ghostly mounts. To the majority of the world, they are simply a random magical phenomena that acts as an omen for death and misery. But in recent times, The Wild Hunt have been abducting people and taking them back to their realms for an unknown reason. This race of skeletal riders have also plagued Geralt since the very first game.

In Witcher 3, they are hunting after Ciri in order to breed her with one of their leaders so she can give birth to a stronger race of Wild Hunt.

Image

5. Where does this leave us in Witcher 3?

During the events of Witcher 2, Geralt was framed for the murder of a King. After clearing his name, the witcher was finally able to free himself from the political intrigues he was caught up in. However, both Geralt and the players learn that some Witchers are being used in the war as assassins.

Witcher 3 begins with a review of how Ciri was trained with the other witchers. During this point in the game, the players are introduced to The Wild Hunt, Yennefer, and Geralt’s mentor. When the players return to the present, Geralt is hunting for a missing Yennefer and Ciri.

But now, the armies of the North and South are preparing to clash again. The Wild Hunt are on the move, desperately searching for Geralt’s adopted daughter. The only thing that can decide how the fate of this world develops is you, the player.

Image

So far in the Witcher saga, what have been your favorite parts? Are there any parts you’re looking forward to seeing the resolution of in Witcher 3?