#witcher saga

"Ignorance is no justification for ill-conceived actions. When one doesn't know or has doubts it's best to seek advice"

Emiel Regis 🌿

And how the main theme of the entire saga is fighting against pre-determined destinies that try to force you into a role you’re not comfortable with? How Geralt constantly struggles with witcher traditions and, let’s call it by its name, toxic masculinity? How Yennefer’s arc is about trying to hold on to her humanity while functioning in a cutthroat world of backroom politics? How Ciri’s entire story is about how everyone wants to use her in some terrible way and force her into some role because of the accident of her birth and the only reason she manages to overcome them all is because of her adoptive parents who love her for who she is and are trying their damn best, despite being deeply flawed people, to keep her safe and happy and free?

How Leo Bonhart is what Geralt is expected to be and what he tried to be, and he’s unambigously the most repulsive monster in the whole series, matched only by Vilgefortz, who’s basically the same thing for Yennefer, and they both serve to contrast the kindness and the moral backbone both Geralt and Yennefer manage to develop in themselves because of the healing power of their unconditional love for their daughter that drives their actions throughout the novels? And how the saga ends with Geralt dying while trying to defend local non-humans from a pogrom, in direct contrast to how he fucked up the situation in Blaviken at the start, and Yennefer dies trying in vain to heal the man she loved, in a final act of defiance towards her role as an unfeeling realpolitick ghoul? Because the whole book series was about how in a cruel and cold world, in the Time of Contempt, love and kindness, and willingness to take the side of the victim, and the side of freedom are the only things that matter?

And do you ever think about how the reason Andrzej Sapkowski started writing the Witcher stories was because he was asked to write some fantasy by his gender non-conforming kid, Krzysztof Sapkowski a.k.a. Catherine Frene?  And what new meanings this brings to this story about a bisexual teenage girl who refuses to become what various creepy fuckers claim she’s destined to be because of the circumstances of her birth? (By the way, I can’t find the source now but I distinctly remember reading some years ago about them straight-up saying that Ciri was recognizably based on them.)

And how then CD-Projekt rolled in and all they took from all that is that Geralt is a cool, snarky killer guy who FUCKS and their game starts with undoing his final sacrifice, and there is no mention of Ciri or Yennefer whatsoever, and the narrative heavily pushes the idea that neutrality is the best choice in a conflict between fucking fantasy fascists and the Scoia’tael? And how when Sapkowski expressed that he dislikes the games, the whole fucking world mocked him?

Lady Lillie Thornhill