The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has proved to be an award-winning game beloved by fantasy and action role-playing fans alike, and its rich worldbuilding and memorable dialogue can all be experienced via the game's rugged, white-haired protagonist, Geralt of Rivia.
However, this video game has come a long way from The Witcher's original short stories. Geralt has been portrayed not only in games but in television and novels, too. Given the range of content that he's appeared in, it's no wonder that this mysterious monster slayer would have lore that his audience wouldn't know.
Geralt's Mother Is A Sorceress
Though none of Geralt's blood relations are shown in the game, it is canon in the novels that he at least knows who his mother is and even meets her at a point. His mother, Visenna, is described as having red hair and facial features that are curiously different than her son's.
Though sorcerers, like witchers, are notably sterile, it seems a miracle that Visenna could bear a son at all. It's not mentioned specifically how she produced Geralt, but it could be possible she underwent a complicated magic reversal of infertility. Nevertheless, her relationship with her son became nonexistent after she gave him up to Kaer Morhen, sealing his fate to be a witcher.
Geralt Is Older Than He Looks
Upon first glance in The Witcher 3, Geralt looks and acts to be around thirty or forty years of age. In all actuality, the witcher is close to being a century old.
Geralt's age is another result of the Trial by Grasses. Along with mutating him for strength and speed, the powerful elixirs used in the trial also slow the process of aging. As a sorceress, Yennefer has a similar promise of a long life, but she has been mentioned to be closer to three hundred years old.
Why Geralt Is Called The Butcher Of Blaviken
Geralt is known by a number of titles, but the Butcher of Blaviken is one with perhaps the darkest connotation. The origins of the name come from a tragic event illustrated in one Witcher short story titled "The Lesser Evil," where Geralt is caught in the middle of a feud between the lost princess Renfri and the powerful wizard Stregobor in the town of Blaviken.
When Renfri and Stregobor threaten each other, using Geralt as a middleman, the witcher feels the moral responsibility to cause the path of the least deaths, or to choose the "lesser evil." This results in Geralt killing Renfri and her men before they even attack, as he believed they were preparing to kill innocent people. All the townspeople saw, however, was Geralt butchering people for seemingly no reason, hence his title.
Geralt Names All His Horses Roach
Anyone who has played The Witcher 3 has had the pleasure of riding Roach, the trusty mare that accompanies Geralt on his quests, and as a hidden detail, even explores on her own. What players might not know is that Roach is not just a single horse but the name of every horse the witcher claims as his own.
It's not surprising Geralt has gone through a few horses, given his age. However, it seems that he loves all of his Roaches equally. Geralt has been known to talk to his horses like a person when no one else is around, according to the books.
Geralt's Scar Is Only In The Game
The jagged slash across Geralt's face is one of his most defining features in The Witcher 3. However, those familiar with The Witcher TV show will notice that Henry Cavill's Geralt has no such scar.
Geralt's scar was a choice made by the developers behind The Witcher games, CD Projeckt Red, in order to make Geralt look more interesting. Though this marking certainly paints the witcher as tough and experienced, it's a detail never mentioned even in the books.
Geralt Is Portrayed By Three Actors
Those acquainted with any three of The Witcher games are familiar with the voice of Doug Cockle, who is the voice actor for all of Geralt's video game appearances. Henry Cavill is also a popular face of Geralt, portraying him in one of the most popular Netflix shows, The Witcher. What some might now know is that there's a third actor who plays the White Wolf.
Long before the games or the Netflix show, The Witcher was adapted into a movie and television series called The Hexer, where Geralt was played by Polish actor Michał Żebrowski. These early 2000s productions, however, were apparently not held quite to the standard of original writer Andrzej Sapkowski, let alone Witcher fans.
Geralt Appears In A Rock Opera
It is common knowledge that Geralt of Rivia can be found in a wide variety of media, including novels, video games, and even comics. What isn't as well known is that this beloved monster slayer also appears in a rock opera.
The Road of No Return is a Russian rock opera by ESSE, a symphonic rock band, and is based on Sapowski's original writings. Eventually, this project was merged to create a fantasy musical by the same name. It's hard to imagine the hardened witcher involved with anything musical, but those who can't get enough of Geralt should check out this full-length production, which has even been recorded in a full-length film.
Geralt's Hair Is Unnaturally White
While Geralt of Rivia may be pushing a hundred, his white hair is not a by-product of his age. Players have no doubt enjoyed choosing Geralt's different hairstyles via the barbershop, but some might not know the origins of the White Wolf's frosty mane.
Geralt's unique hair is a result of the witcher training dubbed the Trial by Grasses, where potions and elixirs are used to mutate young witchers into monster-killing machines. Though not every witcher gets this exact mutation, Geralt's hair, along with his golden eyes, are traits that make him an easily identifiable character.
Geralt's Romance With Yennefer Is Anything But Smooth
Aside from some brutal monster hunting, The Witcher 3 offers many opportunities for romance, including courting Yennefer of Vengerberg. As long as you choose the right path, Geralt can have many heartwarming moments with the sorceress, and can even solidify the relationship in the side quest "The Last Wish."
However, the Witcher novels prove their relationship is actually quite rocky. Even after wishing to be with her forever via a genie, Yennefer remains in and out of Geralt's life unpredictably. The two have many painful fights, and, despite loving each other, fail to articulate their emotions in a way that might lead to a happy, stable relationship.
Geralt Is Not A Fan Of Children
Though one of Geralt's main missions is to be a father figure to Ciri, ironically, the original Witcher novels articulate time after time that Geralt is not a kid person. It's not surprising that the stoic man is awkward around children, but there are several instances where he uses the words "snotty" and "brat" to describe poor tots.
This is even true upon his first meeting with Ciri, who is only around ten when she is introduced in the books. Geralt goes as far as to threaten her with corporeal punishment when she continues to be snarky. Fortunately, their bond grows from there, and the two share a wholesome bond, as is represented in the video games.