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| “ | Evil is evil. Lesser, greater, middling... makes no difference. The degree is arbitrary. The definitions blurred. If I'm to choose between one evil and another, I’d rather not choose at all. | „ |
| ~ Geralt of Rivia. |
| “ | You send assassins after me, conjure up beautiful words, threaten to kill me. But you're scared to death and simply postponing the inevitable. | „ |
| ~ Geralt of Rivia. |
Geralt of Rivia is the titular main protagonist of the Witcher franchise, serving as the titular main protagonist of the games and novels and the titular character and one of the three main protagonists (alongside Ciri and Yennefer) of the 2019 Netflix adaptation and he is set to return as the overarching protagonist in the upcoming video-game The Witcher IV.
He is a witcher, a magically-enhanced mutant who slays monsters for a price, and is the adopted father of Ciri. Despite the fact that witchers have a reputation for being heartless and the mutations are meant to kill emotions, Geralt still has a conscience and generally helps others because it's the right thing rather than to get paid, though he rarely goes out of his way to admit this.
In the video games, he was voiced by Doug Cockle, who also voiced Harry Tipper in TimeSplitters 2. In The Hexer (film and TV series), he was portrayed by Michał Żebrowski. In the Netflix series, he was played by Henry Cavill (seasons 1-3), Liam Hemsworth (season 4), and Tristan Ruggeri (young Geralt in season 1).
History[]
Background[]
Despite his name, Geralt does not come from Rivia: he grew up in the witchers' keep of Kaer Morhen in the realm of Kaedwen. In the interest of appearing more trustworthy to potential clients, young witchers were encouraged to make up surnames for themselves by master Vesemir. As his first choice, Geralt chose "Geralt Roger Eric du Haute-Bellegarde", but this choice was dismissed by Vesemir as silly and pretentious, so "Geralt" was all that remained of his chosen name. "Of Rivia" was a more practical alternative, and Geralt even went so far as to adopt a Rivian accent to appear more authentic.
Later, Queen Meve of Lyria knighted him for his valour in the Battle for the Bridge on the Yaruga conferring on him the formal title "of Rivia", which amused him. He is, therefore, a knight of Lyria, and not a commoner. His status is, in one example, acknowledged during the first Witcher game, when he is twice invited.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Geralt was the son of sorceress Visenna and (presumably) a warrior called Korin. Shortly after being born, Geralt was taken by his mother to the Wolf School — the Kaer Morhen stronghold (from Elder Speech Caer a'Muirehen meaning "Fortress of the Old Sea"). Geralt survived numerous mutations during the Trial of the Grasses, through which he gained practically superhuman physical and mental abilities (increased reflexes, speed, strength and enhanced hearing) surprisingly well.
Because of that, as one of the few he was selected for additional experiments, and of the few he was the only one that survived. His white hair, completely lacking pigment, is a side effect of these experiments. After finishing the witcher training, he embarked into the world on his horse called The Roach (he gave the same name to every one of his horses) to become a monster slayer for hire.
Although Geralt did not believe in destiny, he demanded the unborn child of princess Pavetta and her husband Duny as a reward for his services. As the child turned out to be a girl, he did not take her. However, fate or blind chance caused Geralt and Ciri, the daughter of Duny and Pavetta to cross paths thrice, and after the death of her grandmother, queen Calanthe, Geralt ended up taking care of the girl and loving her as his own daughter. His best friend was Dandelion the bard, while his lover and the love of his life was Yennefer.
In Other Media[]
In the Movie[]
| “ | There is no lesser evil, Renfri. Evil is evil and always will be. I won't kill Stregobor, and nor will you. I won't allow any carnage here. Give it up. All of it. Then you'll prove for yourself that you can cut this chain of fate. That you can forgive. You can become someone else. | „ |
| ~ Geralt to Renfri. |
In The Hexer movie and TV series, the major role of Geralt as an adult was played by Michał Żebrowski (who also voiced Sinbad in the Polish dub of Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas, Doctor Strange in Doctor Strange and Thor: Ragnarok in the Polish dub, Johnny Silverhand in the Polish dub of Cyberpunk 2077 and provided the Polish dubbing for Netflix Geralt), but a younger Geralt was portrayed by Maciej Łagodziński. Both the series and the movie were based largely on the previously published short stories, taking a few liberties here and there with the narrative.
In the TV series[]
| “ | I thought the world needed me too. | „ |
| ~ Geralt in the Netflix series. |
Geralt is also the main character of the 2019 Netflix series "The Witcher", which was largely inspired by the short story collection "The Last Wish" and took place years before the events of the games.
He was this time portrayed by Henry Cavill, who is also known for acting in roles such as Superman in "Man of Steel", "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice", "Justice League", and "Zack Snyder's Justice League", and also played Napoleon Solo in Guy Ritchie's The Man from U.NC.L.E. Cavill's performance has been highly praised, with some noting that it's the best adaptation of the character from the books.
In The Witcher computer game[]
| “ | Either leave on your feet or die on your back. | „ |
| ~ Geralt of Rivia. |
Geralt in the Witcher video games.
In the English version of the game, Geralt is voiced by Doug Cockle in the English version, in the Polish version by Jacek Rozenek, in the Russian version by Vsevolod Kuznetsov, and in the Japanese version by Kazuhiro Yamaji (who also provided the dubbing of Maximus Decimus Meridius in Gladiator, Frank Martin in The Transporter trilogy, Jensen Ames in Death Race, Lee Christmas in The Expandables series, Deckard Shaw in The Fast & Furious series, Jonas Taylor in The Meg, Wolverine in the X-Men films, Charlie Kenton in Real Steel, Keller Dover in Prisoners, Marcus in John Wick, Michael Corleone in The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, Dr. King Schultz in Django Unchained, Rorschach in Watchmen, and Cid Highwind in The Final Fantasy series).
After seemingly having been killed by a mob during a pogrom of non-humans at the end of the Witcher saga, Geralt returns to life with no recollection of the details of his sudden reappearance or the intervening five years. He is rescued by the last remaining witchers in the world and taken back to Kaer Morhen. There, he is drawn into a complicated conspiracy concerning the witchers, their secrets and the nefarious forces who are after that knowledge.
In the Comics[]
Geralt has appeared in numerous fantasy comics, starting back in the mid-1990s.
Personality[]
A lifetime of tragedy and rejection made Geralt a cynical, stoic, solitary, apathetic, intimidating, detached and callous man. While there's the misbelief among people that witchers are devoid of emotions, and Geralt certainly prefers it this way, he's also not a a man that is indifferent to the suffering of others, as undeneath his stoic and harsh demeanor, he's a caring and fiercely protective man, especially to the people close to his heart, who despises cruelty and corruption, and can behave altruistically from time to time.
Geralt has also a temperament however, especially when the people he loves are hurt or threatened, at worst, he can be extremely ruthless, violent, brutal and completely merciless to his enemies.
Though cynic, Geralt is also a wise, intelligent, introspective and cold-headed man who often takes a neutral ground during conflicts or disputes, choosing to avoid using violence unless necessary, but willing to take a life if he has no other choice. Geralt also has a dry, sardonic sense of humor, despite his general somberness, being famously sarcastic and cutting when dealing with people he doesn't like, such as the cruel and the foolish, or to simply banter among his friends and acquaintances.
Powers and Abilities[]
Powers[]
Witcher Physiology: After Geralt was injected with various mutagens and potions also known as "the Grasses" during a Witcher enhancement procedure, Geralt's physiology was changed permanently and because he was son of a sorceress Visenna he showed a unusual tolerance for the mutagens so he was subjected to further experimental mutagens which rendered his hair white and may have given him greater speed, strength, and stamina than his fellow witcher brothers. And thanks to his mutations Geralt is able to withstand witcher's potions which would be deadly for normal humans. Also like all Witchers Geralt was taught how to use signs that is a form of lower magic but they are very useful and effective in combat.
- Superhuman Strength: Geralt's strength thanks to his mutations Increased beyond any normal human being. He now possess strength of a ten men. Geralt is able to kill a bear and a Rock troll with one punch.
- Superhuman Durability: Geralt's body is more physical resistant and tougher than any normal human. He is more resistant to certain types of injury than the average person. He can withstand falling from several stories with no injury. Thanks to the Trial of the Dreams witcher's bone marrow mutates, supposedly hardening.
- Superhuman Speed: His speed is greater than any normal human's. Geralt is able to run faster than any human athlete and thanks to that he can attack faster than normal human eyes can follow.
- Superhuman Stamina: Geralt's musculature generates considerably less fatigue toxins than the muscles of an normal human being, granting him exceptional endurance and lung capacity. He can exert himself at peak capacity for several days before tiring. This allows him to withstand more physical damage and load than a normal human can withstand.
- Superhuman Agility: Geralt is more agile than a normal human being. He can perform any complicated sequence of gymnastic stunts such as flips, rolls, and springs. He is able to achieve a state of perfect equilibrium in any position and adjust his position by instinct, allowing him to balance himself on any object, no matter how small or narrow.
- Superhuman Reflexes: Geralt's eflexes are far better than human's. His reaction speed is ten times faster than normal humans, allowing him to automatically and casually dodge point blank crossbow bolts from multiple assailants. He's able to instantly discern the motivations of people and situations, allowing him to instantly act and react to danger.
- Accelerated Healing: His healing factor is faster thanks to his witcher mutations. Geralt is described as having "exceptional powers of regeneration" and can recover from fatal wounds, such as being sliced across the throat so deep that the insides of his neck were visible, however it still took months for the wound to fully heal. He can heal/mend damaged or destroyed bodily tissue with far greater speed and efficiency than an ordinary human. Able to recover from virtually any non-lethal wound including injured tissues. crossbow shot and stab wounds, cuts, and broken bones can perfectly heal in several hours. However his own healing is great he still needs some healing potions to help him heal.
- Witcher Senses: As a witcher, Geralt's senses are much more enhanced compared to normal humans, making it much easier for him to track down and hunt prey. He also gained night vision that allows him see clearly in the darkest night. His hearing is also enhanced, as he can hear the breathing of elven archers and identify how many of them there are, even saying that one of them is sick. It is impressive due to the elves being masters of stealth in forests. His senses makes him a great tracker and hunter.
- Increased Metabolism: The metabolism of witchers is much higher compared to that of a normal human being, allowing them to ingest potions that would otherwise be lethal to common folk. And he is also immune to any natural diseases.
- Longevity: Geralt possess a greater lifespan witchers tend to live centuries, yet their appearance changes slowly. Geralt does not age beyond his prime, allowing him to retain his physical prowess, health, vitality, and youthful appearance indefinitely. This ultimately makes him immune to natural death. But it's unknown in which age witchers die because none of the witchers die on their dying bed.
- Signs: Geralt also has a range of effective, albeit limited, spells and signs that he can use to subdue enemies.
- Igni: Igni allows Geralt to light enemies on fire. When he use this sign a stream of fire shooting out of the his palm. Can be used to ignite gas emitted by some bombs. While used by an opponent wearing a helmet, a blast of Igni was able to set his head on fire and burn off his skin.
- Quen: Quen casts a protective but breakable shield around Geralt. This shield can absorb all of the damage and deflecting some of it back at the enemy for 30 seconds. In its alternate form is a bubble shield which could survive two massive fireballs casted by a master mage Triss Merigold, one of which was easily capable of wiping out all Wild Hunt in the vicinity.
- Axii: Axii allows Geralt to charm opponents, stun them and make them the his allies for a limited period of time, or persuade targets outside of combat. The Sign however can sometimes fail (mainly during persuasion). It is still most of the time capable of calming down aggressive targets, to gain informations from person who isn't willing to give them to him and even going as far as making enemies shoot their friends and kill themselves. He sometimes uses it to calm his horse.
- Yrden: Yrden allows Geralt to create a magical trap which can incapacitate monsters. After being deployed, Yrden immobilizes the opponent (slows them down in The Witcher 3). It can set up three at once, creating a barrier between the Signs. Yrden could also be used on items so that they can not be moved.
- Aard: Aard allows Geralt to telekinetically blast enemies, stunning them or knocking them back. When Geralt use this sign he release a telekinetic wave that can stun or knock down enemies and destroy weak obstacles, like crumbling walls or barrels. It can also be used to create a telekinetic wave all around the user, giving them some breathing room. Aard can be used in focused waves to disarm opponents, or more powerful ones to move large amounts of stone rubble out of the way and send opponents flying.
- Heliotrop: Heliotrop create protective bubble or shield that protects Geralt from magical and physical damage, albeit not as effectively as Quen.
- Somne: Somne can be used to put someone to sleep.
Abilities[]
- Weapon Mastery: Although Geralt like all Witchers mostly use Sword like his main weapon he and the other witchers are known to use most if not all other kinds of weapons like axes, bows, crossbows, picks, slingshots and hammers.
- Master Swordsman: Years of training in Kaer Morhen have turned Geralt into a killing machine and a danger both to humans and monsters. Geralt's weapons of choice are two swords: one for humans, and another for monsters. His fighting style consists of both heavy and light blows, although he prefers to use quick, yet deadly attacks. Geralt is known as the best swordsman the North has ever seen.
- Master Marksman: He is skilled in using bows and crossbows. In Witcher 3 Wild Hunt Geralt use a crossbow as a main long-range weapon.
- Master Hand-To-Hand Combatant: Due to his training, Geralt is a seasoned fighter in unarmed combat as well, being able to outmatch many competitors in fist-fighting tournaments.
- Encyclopedic Knowledge/Monster Expert/Skilled Alchemist: Being a witcher means that Geralt needs to always be one step ahead of his enemies when it comes to monsters. Fortunately, thanks to years of reading about various monsters and their weaknesses, Geralt has amassed knowledge which allows him to craft the proper bombs, create the proper oils, and cast the proper spells in order to always have the upper hand in a fight.
- Parkour Expert: Geralt is a master acrobat thanks to his training at Kaer Morhen. He is highly agile thanks to his witcher physiology and he is capable of performing skillful acrobatic maneuvers in combat.
- Skilled Investigator: Geralt is an experienced investigator thanks to his witcher senses, hunting and tracking skills. When Geralt pursues the mysterious Salamandra, then in the process meets many people from his past, as well as new acquaintances who either require the witcher's help, or offer their own in his quest to regain his identity.
- Master Hunter: Thanks to his training at Kaer Morhen and learning from various of books about monsters and because of this he can identify monsters and hunt monsters. Geralt track down and hunt down many monsters over the years and became professional but he can track down humans if it is needed.
Equipment[]
- Steel Sword: Geralt possess a conventional steel longsword that Geralt wields against humans and some monsters that are not sensitive to silver.
- Silver Sword: Like all Witchers Geralt possess longsword made of pure silver. He wields it against Supernatural monsters.
- Witcher Wolf Medallion: Every Witcher possess their own medallion. Medallion reacts to magical aura including monsters and spells and immediate danger. When medallion sense magic, monsters or any other danger it starts vibrating and the warning gives its user some time to react. Geralt's own medallion is called "The Signs of Wolf School" because of its shape of a wolf's head. According to Geralt no monster can touch a Witcher's medallion.
- Daggers: Geralt also has two daggers one made from steel and one made from silver.
- Witcher Potions: Geralt like all Witchers use a various potions for various effects for example healing potions in order to heal him self faster, enhance himself like his endurance, resistance, vitality, senses, strength and poison his blood so it will become lethal for monsters for example Vampires to drink or Increase the intensity of ssigns. These potions are also poisonous to normal humans so only Witchers can drink them.
- Witcher Oils: Geralt use special oils. He applies them on his swords in order to Increase their effectiveness.
- Crossbow: In Witcher 3 Wild Hunt Geralt was given a crossbow by Vesemir. He use it as his main long-range weapon. He can use it to shoot down the flying monsters like Griffins from the sky.
- Hook: This hook Geralt use to hold the heads of monsters for proof that he killed them. It can be used in combat. This hook also can be pinned on a silver chain.
- Silver Chain: Witchers use the silver chain to bind monsters. Geralt use this chain in his fight with Adda when she was a Striga.
Quotes[]
Novels[]
| “ | People"—Geralt turned his head—"like to invent monsters and monstrosities. Then they seem less monstrous themselves. When they get blind-drunk, cheat, steal, beat their wives, starve an old woman, when they kill a trapped fox with an axe or riddle the last existing unicorn with arrows, they like to think that the Bane entering cottages at daybreak is more monstrous than they are. They feel better then. They find it easier to live. | „ |
| ~ Geralt in The Last Wish. |
| “ | You can't stop a soldier from being frightened but you can give him motivation to help him overcome that fear. I have no such motivation. I can't have. I'm a witcher: an artificially created mutant. I kill monsters for money. I defend children when their parents pay me to. If Nilfgaardian parents pay me, I'll defend Nilfgaardian children. And even if the world lies in ruin—which does not seem likely to me—I'll carry on killing monsters in the ruins of this world until some monster kills me. That is my fate, my reason, my life and my attitude to the world. And it is not what I chose. It was chosen for me. | „ |
| ~ Geralt in Blood of Elves. |
Netflix Series[]
| “ | You don't get to use that name! Vesemir gave me that name! | „ |
| ~ Geralt. |
Video Games[]
| “ | Time eats away at memories, distorts them. Sometimes we only remember the good... sometimes only the bad. | „ |
| ~ Geralt in the Blood and Wine expansion. |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Geralt has his own postage stamp available in Poland.
- Michał Żebrowski also provided the Polish dub for Geralt in the Netflix series.
External Links[]
- Geralt of Rivia on the Witcher Wiki.
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