The Witcher is easily one of the most recognizable gaming properties around, and it’s easy to see why this is the case. Everything from the lore to the characters of this universe has become legendary, mainly due to two popular branches of the series — the critically-acclaimed video game trilogy and the popular Netflix original show.
As a result of these two adaptations, many fans of The Witcher think that they know pretty much everything there is to know about the series. However, some fail to realize that the original book series of The Witcher by Andrzej Sapkowski features way more lore about the IP than we see in its screen presence. Keeping this in mind, here are some things about The Witcher that fans of just the shows and the games are often completely unaware of.
10 Ciri Is Nowhere Near As Likable
Ciri is easily one of the best parts of The Witcher III: Wild Hunt. Her persona is also great in the show, although there’s still some time left before she comes into her own as a character.
That being said, one has to admit that Ciri is rather unlikeable as a character in the books. The lowlights of her infamous moments include kicking a dog and enjoying a sadistic pleasure of sorts from killing other people. It’s a phase that might not have lasted for long, but it definitely showcased her character in an incredibly unflattering light.
9 Ciri’s Scar Is Way More Prominent
Ciri’s scar in The Witcher III: Wild Hunt is designed in a way that most people might say that actually accentuates her looks. In the show, she hasn’t really gone through the trials and tribulations that lead to her getting this scar in the first place.
However, in the books, Ciri’s scar is way more noticeable… and quite grotesque as well. After all, getting hit in the eye with a metal throwing star is bound to leave an ugly mark, and the books pull no punches when it comes to describing the scar and the permanent effect on Ciri’s face.
8 The Lodge Of Sorceresses Wanted To Use Ciri In A Despicable Manner
The Lodge of Sorceresses is a rather unlikable band of magicians that end up playing a major role in The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. While their full potential is yet to be seen in the games, the books already make it infinitely clear that this Lodge is not to be trusted in the slightest.
After all, their plan involving Ciri — a child at that time — is nothing short of inhumane. They wanted to keep the Lion Cub of Cintra under their control and impregnate her as soon as possible (once again, keep in mind that Ciri was a minor at this point) before taking the child and raising him under their care to become a pawn of the Lodge of Sorceresses.
7 Triss’ Role In The Books Is Fairly Minor
Triss is easily one of the most beloved characters in The Witcher. Her presence across all three games turned her into an instant fan-favorite that most game lovers absolutely adore. Even in the show, Triss has enjoyed her presence in the limelight as well.
However, in the books, Triss is nowhere near as important as the game or show make her out to be. She does have a fling with Geralt and interacts with Ciri at times, but she quickly turns into a secondary character over the rest of the books.
6 Triss Has A Massive Scar On Her Chest
Near the end of Netflix’s The Witcher, Triss suffers a massive wound on her chest. The aftermath of this attack is yet to be seen in the series, but fans of the games might understandably assume that she used magic to treat this wound.
However, book readers know that’s the furthest thing from the truth. Triss actually has a pretty noticeable scar on her chest that remains on her body for the rest of the series.
5 Triss Is Allergic To Magic Potions And Concoctions
Triss actually suffers from a serious allergy that is yet to be touched upon in either the books or games. In fact, one might argue that these mediums end up forgetting about the fact that Triss Merigold, sorceress extraordinaire… is actually allergic to any potions of a magical nature.
It must be the most inconvenient thing in the world for a gifted sorceress to be allergic to magical concoctions. No wonder Triss was never able to fix the scar on her chest in the books.
4 Yennefer Is Actually A Flawed Beauty
People who see Yennefer in the games or the Netflix show wouldn’t be faulted for thinking that Yennefer is the most beautiful woman on the planet. After all, she’s nothing short of perfect in both these branches of The Witcher.
While Yennefer is also a beauty in the books, book fans know that her beauty isn’t nearly as perfect. Her transformation from a hunchback to a beautiful sorceress has left some marks in the form of uneven shoulders, irregular eyebrows, and a rather large nose. Of course, these nitpicks don’t take away from the fact that she’s still absolutely stunning, just not as flawless as you may think.
3 Geralt Is Anything But Attractive
Geralt is easily one of the most attractive characters in gaming history. The fact that he’s portrayed by Henry Cavill in the Netflix show adds more weight to this notion that Geralt is simply drop-dead gorgeous.
However, in the books, Geralt is positively hideous. His pale skin is painful to look at, and scar tissue has turned his face and body into an absolute mess. Even his smile is anything but photogenic, which makes it rather impressive that he ended up with Yennefer in the first place.
2 Geralt Can Be Easily Beaten In Combat
Geralt’s expertise in combat is well-documented over the course of the Witcher trilogy and the Netflix show. He can take care of monsters twice his size and deal with mismatched odds without even breaking a sweat.
However, Geralt’s skill in combat is overblown in both these iterations of The Witcher. In the books, Geralt is quite vulnerable in combat, despite his Witcher senses. He’s been heavily wounded by monsters several times and even received a rather hefty beating at the hand of a few humans as well, which is not what people expect from the infamous Butcher of Blaviken.
1 Geralt Was Killed By The End Of The Series
The first Witcher game starts off right after Geralt was at the receiving end of a near-fatal blow. In fact, this injury was so grievous that he ended up losing his memories as well.
However, in the books, Geralt never survived in the first place. After a riot against non-humans broke out in the town of Rivia, Geralt fought to his last breath before being impacted by a pitchfork and breathing his last. Yennefer tried to revive him and used too much magical power in the process, which led to her passing as well. A tragic end we haven’t seen in other mediums.
