abraxas:: SNAPSHOTS
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Patron of the Unsung
full name:
Jaskier
alias:
The Sandpiper; the Phoenix
age:
~845
arcana:
The Sun
Blessing:
Harmony
Affliction:
Atonality
Motifs:
answer
The Piper (The Man)
Appearance
A brown-haired, blue-eyed man with a shifting number of wings, springing from his back, his shoulders, and sometimes as his arms, with feathers of bright red and orange. Twisting pearlescent horns grow from his brows. His voice is light and airy, and he is known for being the most verbose of the gods; very rarely does he speak in riddle, or beat around the bush, though he does love a metaphor. His appears most often nude, with feathers and wings crossed over his unmentionables – an attempt at modesty, but more likely a sort of joke, considering his reputation. Flowers spring up in his wake and with his steps, and fruit trees will grow heavy with fruit as he passes. At times he is seen with an ancient stringed instrument, and will play and sing for any onlookers, and will fill the air with birds and birdsong as he does.
You should not leave before his performance is done, or you may face a fiercer image of the same man.
You should not leave before his performance is done, or you may face a fiercer image of the same man.
The Patron of the Unsung is known for being a mercurial god. That's only because no one's asked what boils his blood (and, frankly, more should ask him how he is rather than what he is). To Jaskier, he is endlessly fair – blessing those who acknowledge him and look to him for guidance (as they rightfully should) and being less than kind to those who demean the gifts he bestows or question his existence. He does not suffer those who find pleasure in cruelty, and has been known to actively seek them out to make their lives absolutely miserable.
As far as rumors go, he is known for never directly causing death, even to those who rile him.
As far as rumors go, he is known for never directly causing death, even to those who rile him.
Personality
The Gryphon (The Beast)
Appearance
The Patron as a beast is reminiscent of the mountain gryphons, and stories abound that he is the creator of the first gryphon, thus making the creatures sacred to his followers. He has the front legs of a hawk, and back legs the furred clawed toes of a wolf. He runs on all fours but is capable of flight with a pair of great, feathered wings. He retains the pearlescent horns of his more human appearance, which can sometimes drop chips and pieces that are blessed with good luck. His tail, large and fluffed, glows at the tip and resembles a flame in the dark.
A known (and surprisingly joyful) cuddler. Stories of children lost in the woods that were found were discovered curled up in a patch of clovers with the Beast, kept warm through the coldest of nights and kept safe from the dark. Seeing the Beast running past means he intends to be followed. Many claim appearances of the Beast have led people to stray livestock, lost horses, or missing family.
He leaves bright flowers and warmth in his wake, and brings sunny days with him.
A known (and surprisingly joyful) cuddler. Stories of children lost in the woods that were found were discovered curled up in a patch of clovers with the Beast, kept warm through the coldest of nights and kept safe from the dark. Seeing the Beast running past means he intends to be followed. Many claim appearances of the Beast have led people to stray livestock, lost horses, or missing family.
He leaves bright flowers and warmth in his wake, and brings sunny days with him.
More trustworthy is the Patron as a beast, seemingly unmoved by insult or jeer. In fact, the Patron is excessively friendly when he appears on all four feet, and nearly all are blessed when gifted with his appearance. Those who are granted the god's direct favor are left leavings in his wake: a broken feather, a single yellow dandelion, or a bottle of wine, which can be used in times of crisis to summon the Patron's direct intervention. Thus have stories risen of slaves and those enshackled being released by the Patron, or saved from disease or starvation by a blessed feast.
Oftentimes, he can be seen flying among the gryphons, seemingly guarding the creatures during violent storms or encroaching battles. He can also be spotted running with the werewolves during their Turning, encouraging the change to take them over for the first time. On more occasions than not, the Beast will be seen accompanied by a white wolf that follows in his tracks.
Oftentimes, he can be seen flying among the gryphons, seemingly guarding the creatures during violent storms or encroaching battles. He can also be spotted running with the werewolves during their Turning, encouraging the change to take them over for the first time. On more occasions than not, the Beast will be seen accompanied by a white wolf that follows in his tracks.
Personality
Lore
Cult of the Piper
Stories abound of the Patron mingling with humanity, settling down in villages for years at a time to sing in the local tavern and give out coin to the less fortunate on their hardest days. Still more importantly do the stories sing of his wild sexual prowess and appetite: a night with the Patron is said to bring on blessings in the arts, bringing both untold pleasures and an offering to act as a living muse, inspiring those suffering lulls in their creativity.
He also has an insatiable lust for gossip; it is said that the easiest way to summon him is to offer something particularly juicy as news, in which he'll be ecstatic to listen and bless the storyteller after.
Offerings of gryphon feathers can be made to goad the Beast to show. His appearance often foretells flourishes in crops and bountiful wild game, but also the coming of monsters. Despite the god's seeming affections for humanity, further still does he seem to have affection for the beasts that live on the outskirts.
He also has an insatiable lust for gossip; it is said that the easiest way to summon him is to offer something particularly juicy as news, in which he'll be ecstatic to listen and bless the storyteller after.
Offerings of gryphon feathers can be made to goad the Beast to show. His appearance often foretells flourishes in crops and bountiful wild game, but also the coming of monsters. Despite the god's seeming affections for humanity, further still does he seem to have affection for the beasts that live on the outskirts.
On more than one occasion has the many-winged Patron been spotted standing among the ruins of abandoned villages or attending to the wake of what the locals call the Drelch. In these same villages will blessings fall after his appearance, the abandoned fields overflowing with flora, and the nearby forests rife with wild game...seemingly to tease mortals to return.
There is a story of one cursed with Vhóel Ichaer, facing sure death, who called upon the Patron of the Unsung. It is said that after he shared his story, the Patron touched upon his breast and healed the poison swirling in his veins. However, there has been no evidence this happened but the lone survivor claiming his truth, and it has never happened a second time.
Many consider the Patron simply too capricious to be relied on when death's hand draws near, especially when he appears so often in the wake of the great White Wolf. Others still claim the Patron is there to clean up mistakes. He is often seen in or around the Luna territories, and will exact swift vengeance on anyone who attempts to harm the werewolves.
There is a story of one cursed with Vhóel Ichaer, facing sure death, who called upon the Patron of the Unsung. It is said that after he shared his story, the Patron touched upon his breast and healed the poison swirling in his veins. However, there has been no evidence this happened but the lone survivor claiming his truth, and it has never happened a second time.
Many consider the Patron simply too capricious to be relied on when death's hand draws near, especially when he appears so often in the wake of the great White Wolf. Others still claim the Patron is there to clean up mistakes. He is often seen in or around the Luna territories, and will exact swift vengeance on anyone who attempts to harm the werewolves.
Song of the Wolf
Abilities
Precipitato.
Weather manipulation. Sunny days. The coming of spring rains. Thunder in the distance.
Scatenato
Rapid plant growth. Forests springing overnight. The death of a wheat field. Ripe fruits and creeping vines.
Passionato.
Giving voice. The blessing of artistic inspiration. Rapid, easy creation. Seeing the forest and the trees. Music, painting, writing, sculpting; sharing one's life in illustration with perfect understanding.
Fuoco.
Blessing of the Phoenix. Complete control over all fire and flames. Burning to bring new life. The destruction of the natural world. Undying. Healing.
Festivamente.
Intimate connections with the natural world – with birds, and forest creatures, and monsters. A fierce defense of the less savory beasts of the world, but returned adoration.
Silenzio.
Stealing another's voice. Emptying of thoughts and ideas. Inspiration gone in an instant.
Diminuendo.
Turning others against you. Sharp words and sharper knives. Tongue-twisting. Manipulation. Evoking the lowest of emotions. Ostracized.
Tempo Rubatoe.
Purification of the sick, the poisoned, or the dying. Creation of a grand feast to feed the starving. A single spark of hope, igniting the flames.
History
- Jaskier's first real stint into godhood was a several year-long romancing of the god Lyfbringr. After many years of rather dependable exaltations (in the form of song), Lyfbringr granted him several boons to increase his magic control over the natural world. He was blessed with a single pair of wings, and when he said that was a bit of a cliché, he was blessed with two more pairs. Rumours abound of the time the Patron, in his youngest ascending years, slept with Lyfbringr and brought a whole new forest to life in a single night.
- At Lucifer's goading, Jaskier picked a small village and appeared frequently, directly interfering in their lives until a cult formed around his name and deeds. However, they became a little too enthusiastic in their escapades for sexual energy and pursuit of him and he eventually left them completely, withering their crops so they would “break up.” He hasn't checked on them since.
- Jaskier gradually began forgetting his memories of the Continent, and only held on to memories from his life in Abraxas, to the point where he accepts he's always been here. He remembers being human once, but the memories he's “lost” have been stored into a songbook, locked to all eyes but his, where his memories have been translated into verse.
- While there are stories of his being wed to Nadine, Jaskier has never been married. The two of them meet almost annually at the end of winter to participate in a harvest festival to bless the coming spring. Usually this involves a fantastic display of sex, in which mortals are invited to watch, and an orgy that forms around them. Thus have some mortals associated Jaskier with fertility and birthdays.
- Rumours spread of artistic inspiration after a night spent with Jaskier spread wide, and Astarion, as if to tease him, attempts to play the violin (and succeeds – terribly) afterwards. Jaskier takes the offense full to heart and proceeds to belittle his fellow Summoned to anyone who will listen.
- Over time, the dedication to his music wore on his right hand the most, eroding pieces of it away and turning the muscles as tight as wire. Before his power was strong enough to heal his body, he lost feeling in it and was unable to play the lute any longer. After a meeting with Viktor and a sacrifice of some flesh, he now has a prosthetic entwined in his hand and fingers that lets him play once again. In beast form, one of his front paws appears to be entirely metallic and gold.
- At the same time every year, Jaskier goes completely missing – until he's seen once again in the presence of Wolf, either nipping at his heels, riding his shoulder, or walking with him as a man. Mortals say this is the telltale sign that winter will not return for the year.
- At Lucifer's goading, Jaskier picked a small village and appeared frequently, directly interfering in their lives until a cult formed around his name and deeds. However, they became a little too enthusiastic in their escapades for sexual energy and pursuit of him and he eventually left them completely, withering their crops so they would “break up.” He hasn't checked on them since.
- Jaskier gradually began forgetting his memories of the Continent, and only held on to memories from his life in Abraxas, to the point where he accepts he's always been here. He remembers being human once, but the memories he's “lost” have been stored into a songbook, locked to all eyes but his, where his memories have been translated into verse.
- While there are stories of his being wed to Nadine, Jaskier has never been married. The two of them meet almost annually at the end of winter to participate in a harvest festival to bless the coming spring. Usually this involves a fantastic display of sex, in which mortals are invited to watch, and an orgy that forms around them. Thus have some mortals associated Jaskier with fertility and birthdays.
- Rumours spread of artistic inspiration after a night spent with Jaskier spread wide, and Astarion, as if to tease him, attempts to play the violin (and succeeds – terribly) afterwards. Jaskier takes the offense full to heart and proceeds to belittle his fellow Summoned to anyone who will listen.
- Over time, the dedication to his music wore on his right hand the most, eroding pieces of it away and turning the muscles as tight as wire. Before his power was strong enough to heal his body, he lost feeling in it and was unable to play the lute any longer. After a meeting with Viktor and a sacrifice of some flesh, he now has a prosthetic entwined in his hand and fingers that lets him play once again. In beast form, one of his front paws appears to be entirely metallic and gold.
- At the same time every year, Jaskier goes completely missing – until he's seen once again in the presence of Wolf, either nipping at his heels, riding his shoulder, or walking with him as a man. Mortals say this is the telltale sign that winter will not return for the year.
Connections
Horizon
Jaskier's domain is much of the same as it has been for years, only vastly expanded. Bleobheris, the Great Oak, has grown so tall it can seemingly be seen from any spot in the Horizon. His once small glade has expanded into an enormous rainforest, a range of mmountains, and a life-giving river that runs through it all. Small towns have been built on the banks of the river, but seemingly only appear to be occupied by beasts and monsters. His forests are full of monsters, kept protected. Gryphons, wild vampire horses, peacocks (both white and blue) ran rampant. A giant, crystal-studded bird soars the skies, but no one can quite remember where it came from. There's even rumours that those who are good and kind-hearted will spot the fabled Moogles, guardians of the forests, who appear as boisterous, winged bear cubs.
At the foot of Bleobheris live a pair of Moogles who are never seen apart. They are fierce protectors of the tree, riding a matching pair of golden chocobo mounts. If anyone is absolutely beloved of Jaskier, it's this pair. On the edges of Bleobheris's base is a neatly organized vineyard, with barrels upon barrels of the sweetest wines in every flavour and note, freshly made from the forest's flowering trees.
At the foot of Bleobheris live a pair of Moogles who are never seen apart. They are fierce protectors of the tree, riding a matching pair of golden chocobo mounts. If anyone is absolutely beloved of Jaskier, it's this pair. On the edges of Bleobheris's base is a neatly organized vineyard, with barrels upon barrels of the sweetest wines in every flavour and note, freshly made from the forest's flowering trees.
ooc info:
player name . timezone . contact . pb info
abraxas:: AU INFO.
Basics
Guardian of the Torn
Geralt of Rivia;
Moniker
Wolf ◈ The White Wolf ◈ Gwynbleidd
Age
~906 (appears late-30s)
Blessing
White Knight
Affliction
Black Knight
Arcanum
The Hanged Man
Call Signs
Snow; paw prints
Appearance
At first glance, Geralt takes on the appearance of a great wolf [ 1 | 2 ], but this is an illusory shroud that forms around him when he pulls up the hood of his fur cloak. Underneath that, Geralt is physically unchanged, although his hair is slightly longer and his eyes shine in the dark. He's never seen without a sword [ 1 | 2 ] on his back or strapped to his horse. His shadow always takes the shape of the same large wolf.
He's followed by the forest, which springs up around him wherever he goes: lush trees, thick grass, pine needles, blooming flowers (notably, lilacs and dandelions). It isn't just pretty aesthetics. If you're careless, you'll trip over roots or have an unfortunate brush with poison ivy. The occasional half-eaten corpse of a small prey can be seen. When he brings the forest, he brings all of it.
He's also accompanied by either a sandpiper or a swallow, both of which frequently sing familiar songs from long ago. A glowing phoenix feather is often tucked into his hair cord.
When his ire is provoked or he's in a fight, the forest will transform into a frosty blizzard. He will take on a more monstrous appearance, with pitch-black eyes, darkened spiderweb veins, and lengthened teeth and claws. If he bleeds, it's an inky black.
He's followed by the forest, which springs up around him wherever he goes: lush trees, thick grass, pine needles, blooming flowers (notably, lilacs and dandelions). It isn't just pretty aesthetics. If you're careless, you'll trip over roots or have an unfortunate brush with poison ivy. The occasional half-eaten corpse of a small prey can be seen. When he brings the forest, he brings all of it.
He's also accompanied by either a sandpiper or a swallow, both of which frequently sing familiar songs from long ago. A glowing phoenix feather is often tucked into his hair cord.
When his ire is provoked or he's in a fight, the forest will transform into a frosty blizzard. He will take on a more monstrous appearance, with pitch-black eyes, darkened spiderweb veins, and lengthened teeth and claws. If he bleeds, it's an inky black.
Demeanor
Geralt is defined by his desire to protect, whether it be his family or someone who hasn't got anyone else to help them. He has little wish to be worshipped or recognized, but will acknowledge that it's unavoidable—a facet he was used to long before he stepped into Abraxas, thanks to a certain bard. He will virtually never linger once he's accomplished whatever task he came to do, vanishing immediately.
To the other Summoned, he's called Geralt or Wolf (a nickname granted to him by an old mentor he no longer recalls). He will leave you alone if you leave him and his people alone. Geralt is keen to hold onto the ones he considers his family, rebuilding the brotherhood lost to time: the Witchers, old friends...souls left behind on the Continent and now replaced by the clearer faces of others in Abraxas.
Each winter, he hibernates in the mountains somewhere unknown. He doesn't exactly slumber, but he will spend the season alone except Ciri or his adopted "wolves," who may or may not choose to join him. When spring arrives, he will venture down and bring the blooming woods. The first person he always looks for is Jaskier.
To the other Summoned, he's called Geralt or Wolf (a nickname granted to him by an old mentor he no longer recalls). He will leave you alone if you leave him and his people alone. Geralt is keen to hold onto the ones he considers his family, rebuilding the brotherhood lost to time: the Witchers, old friends...souls left behind on the Continent and now replaced by the clearer faces of others in Abraxas.
Each winter, he hibernates in the mountains somewhere unknown. He doesn't exactly slumber, but he will spend the season alone except Ciri or his adopted "wolves," who may or may not choose to join him. When spring arrives, he will venture down and bring the blooming woods. The first person he always looks for is Jaskier.
Lore
Creed of the Path
Stories involving the White Wolf comprise equal parts truth and tall tales. Consistent motifs are his white hair and demon eyes: black or yellow, depending on who you ask. He may or may not turn into a wolf or resemble a wolf, but in many tales, he's simply a man. In others still, he's an unknown beast. His horse is often a chestnut or bay, sometimes black. She appears white only to those he seeks to guard.
To some, his arrival signifies a monster in the shadows or death looming. To others, he's a symbol of safety, a guardian knight. He usually does leave something behind: bodies, bloodshed, or the corpse of a beast haunting a town. Whether the violence is justified, or whether he's terrifying or comforting to behold—that's for you to decide.
Mortals who earn his favour will find a whittled wolf left at a shrine or by a window. Typical recipients are children, but anyone who needs a guardian can receive one. It's said the carvings can be used to call upon him in times of need. The token cannot be lost. Once you have it, it's yours for life...unless you commit an unforgivable sin.
Feast of the Wolf
Offerings to the White Wolf are in gold or other currency. That's the only kind he'll accept. The money disappears once your problems are solved, never before. He's known for being apathetic, refusing to intervene if he decides you aren't fit. There are claims he'll show up unasked, too, under certain circumstances.
Do not try to remove or steal the payment placed out for him. You will regret it.
Cry of the Songbird
Over the centuries, the Wolf can leave great destruction in his wake, especially when those he loves are threatened. Between the gaze of the Drelch, which turns villages into desolate landscapes, and the stain of Vhóel Ichaer, which marks its victims for death, his presence can be as bloody as it is protective.
Legend tells of a many-winged figure who swoops in afterwards to restore such abandoned towns or, in one rare instance, cleanse a mortal of his curse. When the Wolf departs, many listen for the flutter of wings and birdcall that signals the Piper's arrival.
Flight of the Swallow
Heavily associated with the Huntress, the two are occasionally seen riding across the skies together. Stories say the Wolf will only rouse from his midwinter slumber when she faces danger or calls for him.
No one is sure what the nature of their connection is, but the Wolf is seemingly never far behind, carefully watching over her for all time. Those who cross her often discover this in the bloodiest way possible.
Abilities
Along with his strengthened Signs, Geralt possesses the following:
Cáerme Gláeddyv
Forged from silver and steel, his sword can cut through anything: rock, iron, water itself, dividing lakes in half. The blade never dulls. It cannot be wielded by anyone else except his daughter—the other edge of Destiny.
Stráede
Geralt's tracking skills have taken on new life. He can find anyone or anything, given enough time and determination, and can spot tracks eroded by wind and rain. His ability to detect a scent is greatly enhanced.
Drelch
Those caught in the path of his clawed and black-eyed form will flee in terror. At its strongest, he can clear a village simply by walking through. Not always within his control, it often manifests when he's angry.
Vhóel Ichaer
When his blood is spilt or he spills mortal blood, anyone who comes in contact with it will be marked for death, whether right then or later—violence begetting more violence.
Bonds
History
Pre-500 Years
— ◈ Thorne's collapse results in a reckless act by Yennefer that places her life in grave danger. This sparks an explosive fight between he and Yennefer, one that breaks them apart for the next century. They reconcile following the recovery of his memories.— ◈ The second he's capable of leaving the desert borders, Geralt begins to winter in the northern mountains. The rest of the months, he wanders the continent. Elements of the forest start to sprout around him where he goes, and he takes on the form of a great white wolf when donning his fur cloak (gifted by Hilda).
— ◈ John begins to spend some winters with Geralt. Their friendship becomes a kinship.
— ◈ Cassian, newly reformed after a "dusting," is scrounging for food. Geralt stops to help this sad dusty man.
— ◈ Rocket begins to appear in Geralt's forest and Horizon domain as an occasional companion. In the latter, he frequently "steals" Geralt's ale. River also walks with him in his forest every so often.
— ◈ Ciri commissions a new sword from Hilda for Geralt. The weapon is skillfully enchanted and melds silver and steel into one. He has the phrase Duettaeánn aef cirrán Cáerme Gláeddyv engraved on the blade in Elder runes, and carries this sword for the rest of time.
— ◈ Geralt becomes aware of a schism between Dean and Sam Winchester, but does not intervene directly.
— ◈ Geralt comes across a decimated village burnt to ash. Locals claim it was set ablaze by a horned beast that spouted flames, and that a massive dragon came down from the heavens to battle the beast. He recognizes the description as Clive, and surmises that the dragon must have been Dion. He does not act on this information.
— ◈ Geralt intervenes in a small town with Jo. When the bloodshed is over, they get to know each other a little more. This becomes a habit for them every few decades.
— ◈ Geralt brings a young girl to a refuge outside the Witchwood. He meets Cid for the first time, though they exchange very few words.
— ◈ A village suffering devastation under a callous leadership comes to his attention. Geralt takes care of the men responsible and leaves the village in Teddy's hands. Though he does not return unless called upon, its well-being is important to him.
Amnesia Period
— ◈ Roughly 300 years in, an accident involving Haelva, Astarion, and some unfortunate crossfire strips Geralt entirely of his memories. He spends the next few years gradually regaining them. Some memories will return within a week while others take much longer.— ◈ Blake brings Geralt to the closest friend he knows of: Jaskier.
— ◈ Distressed, Ciri refuses to be around Geralt. They are estranged for the next 10 years.
— ◈ Dean helps Geralt unearth the training that lies beneath his consciousness, but an incident with Steve Harrington causes Geralt to cut things short. He spends the remainder of the winter with Sam Wilson before returning to Dean.
— ◈ Jaskier assists Geralt with his recollections from the Continent while Ciri seeks a cure from others. Yennefer becomes a grounding force where he retreats to when he does not wish to dwell on the absence of his memories. Istredd offers his library as a place of refuge.
— ◈ Occasional meetings with Jo Harvelle get him away from the complications of the situation.
— ◈ Geralt spends a brief period with Steve Rogers, who is reminded of an old friend when he realizes Geralt is missing some pieces of his life. He also visits the Doctor, who lends an ear, and Sabine walks with him in a small memory in an attempt to help.
— ◈ Geralt intervenes in a small village on the outskirts of the Velan Republic, but a spark of memory results in things getting out of hand. A young boy is inadvertently marked by the Vhóel Ichaer, something Geralt realizes only after the fact. This becomes the one and only time Jaskier arrives to undo the curse.
— ◈ After Ciri is gravely injured, Geralt returns to her side to protect her. This act finally returns his memories of her.
— ◈ By the end of the decade, he'll have recovered even the inconsequential memories, but a few pieces are lost for good: his mother's name and face, the incident at Blaviken, and the gold dragon. While flashes of the Trials and his childhood return, he can't recall it all in full. His unwillingness to re-examine such traumatic events means they slowly begin to fade.
Year 500
— ◈ Geralt ceases to identify as a Witcher. If asked what he is, he refers to himself as the White Wolf. He responds more readily to this title, or simply Wolf.— ◈ His Horizon domain becomes a modest log cabin in the snowy mountains. Aside from his medallion, all traces of his past as a Witcher vanish with Kaer Morhen.
— ◈ Geralt continues to bring one or two rescued mortals to Cid's village every few decades. They are often children with no parents and nowhere to go.
— ◈ The Doctor becomes a familiar presence over the decades, occasionally seeking Geralt out for simpler times.
Year 600
— ◈ Over time, Geralt uses his wolf shroud more frequently. When amongst the mortals, he becomes a strange amalgamation of beast and man, lurking from underneath his cloak...if he shows himself at all.— ◈ He begins to forgo cooked meat, consuming what he hunts raw. He'll still enjoy a properly prepared meal if offered one and will cook and hunt for those who continue to indulge in food.
— ◈ Briefly assists a lost child in the woods with Adrienne. He leaves as soon as the child is safe, letting Adrienne take the child without lingering. He does not introduce himself, though she may recognize the White Wolf regardless.
Year 700
— ◈ Geralt settles fully into a contented life. For the first time, he lets himself believe that he and his family can be safe for good.Year 800
— ◈ Little changes from here. Geralt continues to wander the continent. He has a fondness for the Lunae Settlement and the Nether. He very rarely ventures into the crumbled Thorne kingdom or the Feywilds.SENSES PERMISSIONS
Info
Geralt possesses enhanced hearing and smell, both of which he uses to determine information about people and his surroundings. Each person carries a unique scent to him and he can tell when someone's nervous or lying by their pulse. Geralt is not the type to divulge anything he learns, but he will file the information away for himself. His senses are at their sharpest when he's under the effects of his elixir ability, which only happens in combat.
On a day-to-day basis, he isn't paying close attention to everything and anything, otherwise it'd be pretty overwhelming. There can be many reasons why he misses a cue or doesn't pick up on stuff. Let me know below what you're okay with when it comes to his interactions with your characters!
On a day-to-day basis, he isn't paying close attention to everything and anything, otherwise it'd be pretty overwhelming. There can be many reasons why he misses a cue or doesn't pick up on stuff. Let me know below what you're okay with when it comes to his interactions with your characters!
Form
Form below! Comments are screened. Feel free to come back and update/edit as things change.
abraxas:: THEORY BOARD
The Board
Broadly, the notes added to the board appear to be related to the Singularity, monoliths, the multiverse, the summonings, and other nebulous concepts. Sam's kept it from prying eyes less out of secrecy and more because it's just a damn mess that's impossible to explain at this point.
Contents can be found in the comments below. Trusted CR belonging to either Geralt or Sam—especially those who live with or visit Sam's home frequently—are all free to have stumbled over and know of the board's existence, and to make their own contributions. Just tack on a comment of your own on this post at any time! Feel free to shitpost here and there, but this is technically work and the board only has so much room—anything irrelevant, Geralt is likely to toss, and if you stick too much random shit on he's going to tell you to stop fucking about, if Sam doesn't first. But it'll be seen while it's there.
KINK LIST
Yes
(♥ Indicates fave.)
✔ Restraints
✔ Biting ♥
✔ Voyeurism
✔ Wall/furniture sex ♥
✔ Praise kink
✔ Mild blood play
✔ Clothed sex
✔ Frotting
✔ Scratching ♥
✔ Size difference ♥
✔ Rough sex ♥
✔ Hair pulling ♥
✔ Handjobs
✔ Oral sex ♥
✔ Shower/bath sex
✔ Anal
✔ Toys
✔ Massages
✔ Public/exhibitionism
✔ Might get caught ♥
✔ Pegging
✔ Commands
✔ Overstimulation
✔ Sensory play
✔ Dirty talk
✔ Strip tease
✔ Multiple partners
✔ Edging
✔ Penetration
✔ Temperature play
✔ Orgasm control
✔ Worship (receiving)
✔ Mild animal/monster transformation/parts (ears/tail/claws/wings)
✔ Restraints
✔ Biting ♥
✔ Voyeurism
✔ Wall/furniture sex ♥
✔ Praise kink
✔ Mild blood play
✔ Clothed sex
✔ Frotting
✔ Scratching ♥
✔ Size difference ♥
✔ Rough sex ♥
✔ Hair pulling ♥
✔ Handjobs
✔ Oral sex ♥
✔ Shower/bath sex
✔ Anal
✔ Toys
✔ Massages
✔ Public/exhibitionism
✔ Might get caught ♥
✔ Pegging
✔ Commands
✔ Overstimulation
✔ Sensory play
✔ Dirty talk
✔ Strip tease
✔ Multiple partners
✔ Edging
✔ Penetration
✔ Temperature play
✔ Orgasm control
✔ Worship (receiving)
✔ Mild animal/monster transformation/parts (ears/tail/claws/wings)
Maybe
(* Character-specific Maybe)
◌ Spanking*
◌ Pain play*
◌ Intense bondage
◌ Food play
◌ Impact play*
◌ Begging*
◌ Knife play*
◌ Power imbalance*
◌ Worship (giving)*
◌ Sex pollen (mutual)
◌ Rimming
◌ Piercing (temporary)
◌ Sounding
◌ Spanking*
◌ Pain play*
◌ Intense bondage
◌ Food play
◌ Impact play*
◌ Begging*
◌ Knife play*
◌ Power imbalance*
◌ Worship (giving)*
◌ Sex pollen (mutual)
◌ Rimming
◌ Piercing (temporary)
◌ Sounding
No
(* Character-specific No)
✘ Dehumanization*
✘ Branding*
✘ Scarification*
✘ Bestiality
✘ Fisting
✘ Humiliation*
✘ Pet play*
✘ Master/slave
✘ Age difference
✘ Dubcon/noncon
✘ Infidelity
✘ Abuse
✘ Torture/violence
✘ Scat/watersports
✘ Age play
✘ Vore
✘ Feminization
✘ Chastity*
✘ Gags/muzzles*
✘ Body modification*
✘ Knotting
✘ Mind control*
✘ Dehumanization*
✘ Branding*
✘ Scarification*
✘ Bestiality
✘ Fisting
✘ Humiliation*
✘ Pet play*
✘ Master/slave
✘ Age difference
✘ Dubcon/noncon
✘ Infidelity
✘ Abuse
✘ Torture/violence
✘ Scat/watersports
✘ Age play
✘ Vore
✘ Feminization
✘ Chastity*
✘ Gags/muzzles*
✘ Body modification*
✘ Knotting
✘ Mind control*
Code by Yuff
abraxas:: HORIZON DOMAIN
Kaer Morhen
Resting upon some high peaks, the looming fortress known as Kaer Morhen is old and crumbling. It is always winter here. The cold is biting, the frost thick. Normally, reaching Kaer Morhen is a long and difficult journey even for those who know the way. Here, it takes only a short trek up a snow-covered trail. The surrounding mountains extend further than most domains. A cabin sits in the distance beyond the walls. If asked, he will tell you he shares his space with another—an ashen-haired young woman who may be seen wandering about.
A vast expanse of mountains and snow can be seen in the distance, aptly named the Blue Mountains. The closer you come, the easier it is to realize it isn't real, just a rising backdrop. Still makes for a nice view, though, and the sun sets and rises over the mountains at regular intervals.
The main doors to the inside of the keep will open only to those he trusts, but anyone is free to enter and roam the exterior so long as you don't fuck around.
If you want to drop something off for Geralt when he isn't around, leave it with the white wolf in his inbox.
Exterior
A gate once stood at the front entrance, but something's since smashed it down. There's clear effort to maintain the walls, but the stone is nonetheless chipped and worn, and outright destroyed in places. The walls of the keep encircle his space; the only way in is from the front. If Geralt is in his domain, his black mare named Roach will be seen in the stables and, inexplicably, a modern motorbike. If he isn't, the stables will be empty. Some high training posts can be spotted, as well. Geralt can occasionally be found atop them.
Underneath layers of snow, old bones can be seen scattered about the grounds. Some are of strange creatures—but many are clearly of people. They don't seem to have been moved from where they died. Instead, it's as if the bodies were left there, for time and nature to take care of.
Prowling the grounds is a white wolf. Originally made by Jaskier when he bore no memories, the wolf has made its home in Kaer Morhen. It has suspiciously similar scars to Geralt, the significance of which Geralt will never confirm nor deny. To those who are a friend, the wolf will respond as such and allow itself to be pet and given treats. Otherwise, it tends to stand guard or lurk, watching. It will never attack or threaten unless it senses clear danger.
Main Hall
Inside, the main hall greets you. The area shows signs of wear and tear, and a few bloodstains that didn't come out. Braziers and a cooking fire are always lit when he's around, though it does little to keep out the winter chill. A rat or two scurry in the shadows. The tables are usually set with ale and bread and cheese. Help yourself, if you want. If you're really here to indulge, he might even bring out some White Gull.
Most prominent is the medallion tree. Once split down the middle, then pushed back together, a crack now runs up the center of the ancient trunk. While each medallion has a unique edge, they all carry the same wolf motif similar to the medallion Geralt is never seen without.
Go past the main hall to find an armoury. Practical tools like replacement weapons, training swords, and grinding wheels can be found, but there are also older pieces of equipment displayed, tracing back to the ancient days of the first Witchers.
Temple
The Temple of Melitele, where Geralt spent a portion of his childhood, is down a set of stairs that once led to his nightmarish cellar. Inviting and serene, the temple is perpetually in spring. The scent of fresh flowers follows the cool breeze. Food provided is more delicate than the rustic cheese and ale found upstairs: small cakes, biscuits, fruit, and tea line the tables. The pillars shine with golden suns and stars, a touch added by Jaskier, who helped him build. Come nightfall, hundreds of candles glow.
Guest bedrooms are around the corner. Some have one bed, others have two. Take a nap if you want. Geralt won't care where you go or look in the temple. It's open for travellers passing through. Geralt's room is typically locked, but if you know him well, you can go in. There, you'll find a potted sunflower, a miniature foliage horse that's very much alive, and other gifts he's received: a tome on myths from Julie's world, a leather-bound copy of The Odyssey, and a pair of oddly realistic wolf ears and tail (don't ask). Deep in some drawers are letters that smell strongly of lilacs and gooseberries, but these are unlikely to ever surface for anyone to see.
Weapons will vanish as soon as you step through. If you ask Geralt about this, he'll shrug. No violence in the temple. Do as he says, not as he does.
Visiting
A wanderer by nature, Geralt often isn't in his domain. Instead, he can be found in the domains of friends who've opened their doors to him. You can usually tell where he is by the presence of his horse, his motorbike, or his wolf.
The Great Oak Bleobheris
Belonging to Jaskier, the lush greenery and blooming florals are a far cry from the frosty mountains Geralt has created. He'll usually be in the workshop Jaskier made for him, whittling rough unskilled wood carvings of various animals (horses, mostly), or sitting by the glade near a gentle stream.
The Bunker
Belonging to Dean Winchester, the underground bunker is many things, including a library. Geralt has his own room inside. You probably can't access the bunker unless you also know Dean, but Geralt's occasionally above ground by the entrance, or at the Roadhouse nearby, though that's rarer.
The Club
Belonging to Julie Lawry, Geralt tends to only be here when he's visiting Julie, but he'll sometimes be there to have one of the supremely potent drinks that only Julie's bartender seems capable of making (and maybe to make use of her hot tub upstairs). He's also fond of her small pets, a few of whom he created for her, and will come see them.
Sam Wilson's House
Belonging to, well, Sam Wilson, Geralt will sometimes take up residence on the porch steps or by the dock. Unless he's looking for Sam, he usually won't go inside except to retrieve a beer, even though he knows he has an open invitation. He just prefers the view outside.
Belonging to Jaskier, the lush greenery and blooming florals are a far cry from the frosty mountains Geralt has created. He'll usually be in the workshop Jaskier made for him, whittling rough unskilled wood carvings of various animals (horses, mostly), or sitting by the glade near a gentle stream.
The Bunker
Belonging to Dean Winchester, the underground bunker is many things, including a library. Geralt has his own room inside. You probably can't access the bunker unless you also know Dean, but Geralt's occasionally above ground by the entrance, or at the Roadhouse nearby, though that's rarer.
The Club
Belonging to Julie Lawry, Geralt tends to only be here when he's visiting Julie, but he'll sometimes be there to have one of the supremely potent drinks that only Julie's bartender seems capable of making (and maybe to make use of her hot tub upstairs). He's also fond of her small pets, a few of whom he created for her, and will come see them.
Sam Wilson's House
Belonging to, well, Sam Wilson, Geralt will sometimes take up residence on the porch steps or by the dock. Unless he's looking for Sam, he usually won't go inside except to retrieve a beer, even though he knows he has an open invitation. He just prefers the view outside.
abraxas:: INBOX
Inbox
» action
» text
» Horizon
To talk to him in person, you'll need to be in Cadens or go to his domain, a snowy mountain fortress. Yard is open; doors are locked. If he isn't around, leave a delivery with the white wolf.
abraxas:: IN-GAME INFO
Basics
Geralt of Rivia
the white wolf;
Impressions
Appearance
Long white hair, tied back in a half-ponytail. 6'1. Yellow eyes. His build is best qualified as big.
Multiple scars, some resembling bites and claw marks. Most are beneath his clothes, but a couple of small ones are on his face and there's a large one over the back of his left hand that runs up his forearm. Rough hands, doesn't much care about his appearance. He spends an extended amount of time hunting in the desert, which shows.
Prefers leather and shades of black. Loose shirt, tucked into tight pants. Sometimes favours a leather jerkin on top. When fully geared, his outfit is protective but fairly lightweight.
Around town, he will almost never appear armed and armoured. He'll only gear up when he's riding out to hunt. Sharp eyes might spot the dagger in his boot, though.
Multiple scars, some resembling bites and claw marks. Most are beneath his clothes, but a couple of small ones are on his face and there's a large one over the back of his left hand that runs up his forearm. Rough hands, doesn't much care about his appearance. He spends an extended amount of time hunting in the desert, which shows.
Prefers leather and shades of black. Loose shirt, tucked into tight pants. Sometimes favours a leather jerkin on top. When fully geared, his outfit is protective but fairly lightweight.
Around town, he will almost never appear armed and armoured. He'll only gear up when he's riding out to hunt. Sharp eyes might spot the dagger in his boot, though.
Demeanour
Taciturn and reserved. He'll say what needs saying, no more no less. A dry sense of humour. He's easy to exasperate on the surface, but difficult to truly provoke, possessing a steady temper and an almost stubborn patience. Carries himself like a fighter, but not like he's looking for a fight. He'd rather not start something that doesn't need to be started. Once he feels the need to pick up his sword, he won't hesitate. Conversations with Geralt tend to follow his own beat: you might get an answer; you might not. Or you might get an answer that you didn't ask for altogether.
Aural
For someone his size, Geralt moves pretty silently when he wants to. His voice is most accurately described as gruff, a low rumble, with a noticeable English accent and a steady cadence. He's hard to read from tone alone; most of what he says is deadpan whether he's joking or not. Rarely raises his voice. Will make any variety of affirming noises to acknowledge you in conversation if he doesn't care to answer in words.
Abilities
Physiology / Combat
Geralt is a Witcher or a mutant. His senses, speed, strength, and durability are enhanced. He's resistant to diseases to the point of near-immunity, and his system is designed to withstand poisons and toxins due to the deadly elixirs he ingests regularly. He's a formidable opponent, trained since childhood to kill things much bigger than him, and has been doing it for a century. He is also equally capable of being deeply wounded. Geralt heals well and quicker compared to a human, but it isn't near instant and he still needs days to recover, if not more. For full details of his powers and abilities, see his abilities section.
Enhancements aside, he's a skilled fighter. Especially adept with a sword. His fighting style is built around his heightened reflexes. Humans tend to pose little problem to him and he'll cut most of them down with ease. Can handle himself without a weapon. He's quick to adapt and has no qualms about doing what's needed to make sure he walks out alive.
Enhancements aside, he's a skilled fighter. Especially adept with a sword. His fighting style is built around his heightened reflexes. Humans tend to pose little problem to him and he'll cut most of them down with ease. Can handle himself without a weapon. He's quick to adapt and has no qualms about doing what's needed to make sure he walks out alive.
Survival / Knowledge
Raised on the treacherous mountains in and around the Witchers' keep, Geralt can survive on his own without much and is capable of learning the land quickly. Most of his life is spent under the stars in the middle of nowhere. He's a skilled tracker and hunter, and is entirely at home in the wilds.
As a Witcher, a good chunk of his time is spent investigating a case before he even gets to fighting any kind of monster. He's observant as a result, good at piecing details together, and has a keen sense for when people aren't being upfront with him. Knows everything there is to know about monsters, curses, and all things strange.
As a Witcher, a good chunk of his time is spent investigating a case before he even gets to fighting any kind of monster. He's observant as a result, good at piecing details together, and has a keen sense for when people aren't being upfront with him. Knows everything there is to know about monsters, curses, and all things strange.
Alchemy / Magic
Geralt is familiar with different types of herbs, flowers, and other ingredients, and their uses in brewing potions, including toxins and poisons and healing salves. His knowledge is more specific towards what he uses for his Witcher elixirs. Substances that would be toxic to a human is sometimes used to heal for Witchers.
He can also use Signs, which are a few minor spells that aid him in a hunt or during his travels. He's resistant to magical persuasion and can sense when there's an illusion. It isn't possible for him to see right through them, but he knows there's something. Full list of Signs.
He can also use Signs, which are a few minor spells that aid him in a hunt or during his travels. He's resistant to magical persuasion and can sense when there's an illusion. It isn't possible for him to see right through them, but he knows there's something. Full list of Signs.
Items
Weapons
His primary weapon set: a meteorite steel sword, with a phoenix medallion from Jaskier in place of Renfri's brooch, and a "silver" sword, forged from Nocwich's unique metal designed to fight things of a magical nature. Elder runes are carved down the length of his steel blade.
Geralt rarely wears a sword on him unless actively hunting, in part to avoid attention and in part because his sheath is designed to let him draw his weapon from his back, which exposes much of the blade to the elements. To protect the blade, he often carries both swords in a leather carrier that he slings over his shoulder or straps to his horse.
Geralt rarely wears a sword on him unless actively hunting, in part to avoid attention and in part because his sheath is designed to let him draw his weapon from his back, which exposes much of the blade to the elements. To protect the blade, he often carries both swords in a leather carrier that he slings over his shoulder or straps to his horse.
A small dagger, hidden in his boot. Even when Geralt appears unarmed, he'll have the dagger on him. Plain and solid, the grip is made simply by wrapping the handle with a leather cord. It's notched to have a blade-catcher, allowing it to defend against a sword if needed.
Other than his swords, this is the only other weapon Geralt will have on him. He tends to arm himself minimally.
Other than his swords, this is the only other weapon Geralt will have on him. He tends to arm himself minimally.
Utility
A hunting knife, primarily used for butchering and skinning game, harvesting parts from monsters, gathering plants, and other practical purposes.
Not designed for combat, Geralt keeps this knife in his saddlebag instead of on his person.
Not designed for combat, Geralt keeps this knife in his saddlebag instead of on his person.
More than a piece of jewellery, Geralt's silver medallion can sense magic close by. When it does, it gives a faint vibration or hum. It was "recreated" by a dreamer, though Geralt has no idea. Yennefer gave it to him when he was recaptured by Thorne.
His medallion never comes off. The back has a series of Elder runes inscribed.
His medallion never comes off. The back has a series of Elder runes inscribed.
A lightweight desert cloak that keeps the wearer regulated in temperature. Handy for the sweltering desert heat. It showed up randomly in his home, gifted by some unknown entity. Geralt doesn't know this is the case. His assumption is that Jaskier bought it for him.
An enchanted leather bag of holding. It can store much more than it looks. Again, he believes Jaskier made the purchase. Geralt hasn't bothered to confirm. He's only thanked Jaskier offhand, to which Jaskier being Jaskier presumed he was naturally owed some thanks by the Witcher and didn't question why.
Without access to all the ingredients for his elixirs, his set now largely consists of Nadine's potions. He does have a version of his own healing elixir made from the toxic herbs he knows from home, grown with Jaskier's magic. Less potent than what he's used to, but it works. Don't drink that one, though. It will kill you.
One of Jayce's custom multi-tools. Gifted to him by Ciri. Though Geralt typically prefers to stick to the equipment he knows, the tool is compact and simple to carry. He's added it to his pack.
Embossed with the familiar sign of a snarling wolf's head, the canteen's metal is enchanted to cool any water put in it, and keep it cold indefinitely. A gift from Ciri.
Other
A black mare, acquired a few months after he arrived in Cadens. Bred for desert travel. He promptly named her Roach. Geralt will spend long periods talking to her, especially late at night or early morning. He's been gifted new saddlebags from Ciri and horse brushes from Nadine that he's put to good use.
A magically crafted snow globe of Kaer Morhen, gifted by Julie. It looks exactly like the Kaer Morhen he built in the Horizon, complete with prowling wolf, horse, and falling snow. He keeps it on a shelf near the bed. He'll occasionally watch it, as one might watch a tranquil fish pond.
A Leosylph named Coram ("Lion") or Coram An as Ciri calls it ("Little Lion"). Temporarily given to him by the Cadens hospital staff for "comfort," Jaskier took it upon himself to buy Geralt the animal. Geralt insists Coram isn't his, and that it belongs to Jaskier and/or Ciri, despite having built it a small bed and named it. When he's home, it follows him about.
Other
Magic / Enhancements
Cáerme Gláeddyv
The primary sword he wields can cut through any natural material like stone and armoured beasts. The blade never dulls. He cannot slice through forged steel or reinforced materials. In other words, if he clashes swords with another, he won't break his enemy's blade or pierce their shields (unless the shield is made of wood).
Vatt'ghern Cerrn
The enhanced Witcher abilities normally provided by his elixirs trigger under duress or emotional stress. This boosts his speed, reflexes, and Signs. In return, it makes him somewhat feral: though he'll remain in control, holding back his full strength takes greater effort. His eyes become pitch-black with black veins and his skin paler. He's unable to feel pain, injuries, or fatigue, possibly to his own detriment. Afterwards, he'll suffer from the toxicity withdrawal. Currently, he can't control this ability.
Drelch Treise
His teeth and/or nails can sharpen on instinct, particularly if he's in an aggressive fight or experiences heightened emotions. At its full potential, his eyes will also become pitch-black. While no toxicity effect comes with this, he later acquired a passive taunt trait that makes his enemies target him first. His sharpened nails leave behind a corrosive burning in the wound if he strikes. With his teeth, his appearance is similar to this. He's gotten better at controlling this
Drelch Ichaer
He can absorb monster blood and gain a small amount of toxicity from it, which in turn will temporarily grant him one (modest) trait from the monster (i.e. if it has corrosive blood, he will, too). This only applies to non-sentient monsters. He is unable to absorb powers from other characters. He can't choose what he ability he gains nor control when it happens.
Gwynbleidd
A translucent wolf will appear to shield an ally from a blow, then disappear. He'll take half the damage into himself. He can't control this; it'll trigger when he instinctively wants to protect someone he won't get to in time. Only works on others.
Aheil
Passive mending. Items he handles regularly subtly repair on their own. Standard wear and tear on his equipment is slower, though if anything fully breaks or rips, it'll need to be fixed the old fashioned way. He's unaware of this ability.
The primary sword he wields can cut through any natural material like stone and armoured beasts. The blade never dulls. He cannot slice through forged steel or reinforced materials. In other words, if he clashes swords with another, he won't break his enemy's blade or pierce their shields (unless the shield is made of wood).
Vatt'ghern Cerrn
The enhanced Witcher abilities normally provided by his elixirs trigger under duress or emotional stress. This boosts his speed, reflexes, and Signs. In return, it makes him somewhat feral: though he'll remain in control, holding back his full strength takes greater effort. His eyes become pitch-black with black veins and his skin paler. He's unable to feel pain, injuries, or fatigue, possibly to his own detriment. Afterwards, he'll suffer from the toxicity withdrawal. Currently, he can't control this ability.
Drelch Treise
His teeth and/or nails can sharpen on instinct, particularly if he's in an aggressive fight or experiences heightened emotions. At its full potential, his eyes will also become pitch-black. While no toxicity effect comes with this, he later acquired a passive taunt trait that makes his enemies target him first. His sharpened nails leave behind a corrosive burning in the wound if he strikes. With his teeth, his appearance is similar to this. He's gotten better at controlling this
Drelch Ichaer
He can absorb monster blood and gain a small amount of toxicity from it, which in turn will temporarily grant him one (modest) trait from the monster (i.e. if it has corrosive blood, he will, too). This only applies to non-sentient monsters. He is unable to absorb powers from other characters. He can't choose what he ability he gains nor control when it happens.
Gwynbleidd
A translucent wolf will appear to shield an ally from a blow, then disappear. He'll take half the damage into himself. He can't control this; it'll trigger when he instinctively wants to protect someone he won't get to in time. Only works on others.
Aheil
Passive mending. Items he handles regularly subtly repair on their own. Standard wear and tear on his equipment is slower, though if anything fully breaks or rips, it'll need to be fixed the old fashioned way. He's unaware of this ability.
Rumours / Reputations
The White Wolf
A title earned from home, Jaskier is partially responsible for bringing it to Abraxas by continuing to sing his songs. Though Geralt rarely uses it himself, he'll acknowledge the name and doesn't much mind it. He's been mistaken for an actual werewolf once or twice.
A Hunter
To avoid explaining what a Witcher is, Geralt simply identifies as a hunter here. If you're aware of him, this is likely the first thing you'll hear about him. Geralt ensures his reputation is solid: he gets the job done, and he doesn't take payment until after it's complete.
Possibly Not Human
Not a fact he advertises; not a fact he hides. If you ask, he'll be upfront. Geralt prefers not to be called human—he simply does not identify as one. His eyes give him away a bit, though less so amongst the other Summoned whose appearances can be even odder than his.
A title earned from home, Jaskier is partially responsible for bringing it to Abraxas by continuing to sing his songs. Though Geralt rarely uses it himself, he'll acknowledge the name and doesn't much mind it. He's been mistaken for an actual werewolf once or twice.
A Hunter
To avoid explaining what a Witcher is, Geralt simply identifies as a hunter here. If you're aware of him, this is likely the first thing you'll hear about him. Geralt ensures his reputation is solid: he gets the job done, and he doesn't take payment until after it's complete.
Possibly Not Human
Not a fact he advertises; not a fact he hides. If you ask, he'll be upfront. Geralt prefers not to be called human—he simply does not identify as one. His eyes give him away a bit, though less so amongst the other Summoned whose appearances can be even odder than his.
Haunts / Housing
Residence
Along with Jaskier and Ciri, Geralt lives in a two-story home. He finally has his own room after 2 years and is in the process of building a bed for himself. A section of the cellar has been converted into a lab where Geralt mixes his elixirs and butchers monsters for parts.
Mag's Inn & Tavern
The Sarstina Inn & Tavern has become the de facto Summoned hangout, so you'll find Geralt here on occasion, often visiting Sam Wilson. When he doesn't want to be bothered, he'll vanish to the less savoury parts of Cadens to drink.
The desert / Badlands
Since he's capable of surviving harsher conditions than most, Geralt travels far out into the Badlands for 2-3 weeks at a time to hunt. When he's still early in his journey, or returning home, you can spot him riding. Now and then, he can be seen climbing a high cliff before dawn to catch the sunrise up top—what passes as recreation for him.
Along with Jaskier and Ciri, Geralt lives in a two-story home. He finally has his own room after 2 years and is in the process of building a bed for himself. A section of the cellar has been converted into a lab where Geralt mixes his elixirs and butchers monsters for parts.
Mag's Inn & Tavern
The Sarstina Inn & Tavern has become the de facto Summoned hangout, so you'll find Geralt here on occasion, often visiting Sam Wilson. When he doesn't want to be bothered, he'll vanish to the less savoury parts of Cadens to drink.
The desert / Badlands
Since he's capable of surviving harsher conditions than most, Geralt travels far out into the Badlands for 2-3 weeks at a time to hunt. When he's still early in his journey, or returning home, you can spot him riding. Now and then, he can be seen climbing a high cliff before dawn to catch the sunrise up top—what passes as recreation for him.
abraxas:: APPLICATION
OOC INFORMATION
Player Name: Noa
Are you over 18?: Yes
Contact:![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
discontinued
Other Characters in Game: N/A
IC INFORMATION
Character Name: Geralt of Rivia
Canon: The Witcher (Netflix)
Canon Point: End of S1, just before he finds Ciri.
Background: Canon wiki | Interactive timeline. (The first season follows his story over approx. 30 years through the course of 8 episodes.)
Suitability: Although Geralt deliberately avoids politics and power struggles, he has a knack for winding up doing the exact opposite. Eventually, there will be a personal reason he gets dragged in, whether out of old regrets in his past, his relationships with others, because he cares more than he wants to admit, or simply because he took a contract that became something much bigger than he anticipated. A part of Geralt’s development in canon is him learning that declining to be involved does not make him as neutral as he wants to believe, and his inaction can carry consequences of their own. It’s a lesson that’ll invariably follow him into this setting, too, where he’s going to be surrounded by a lot of turmoil and will sooner or later find himself on one side or the other—even if it’s a decision undertaken strictly for his own survival.
Most likely, his involvement will be on the ground level, or at least it’ll start that way. Geralt’s not going to actively have big plans to sabotage a faction from the outset—but if they’re pulling some shit and kidnapping children or something, he will probably step in somewhere and thus help sabotage an entire faction in the process, whether that was his main intention or not.
Powers:
PERSONALITY QUESTIONS
Describe an important event in your character's life and how it impacted them.
One of the most defining moments in Geralt's life is the incident at Blaviken, which is also our first introduction to his character in the series. Geralt enters a town looking to fulfill a contract posted by the alderman, but upon his arrival, the townsfolk are all almost immediately hostile towards him. There, he meets Renfri, a woman who steps in to defend him. As early as here, he seems to find her intriguing. Shortly after, a chatty and friendly young girl leads him to a sorcerer's tower, whom the townsfolk believe is another mage who died 200 years ago but who is actually named Stregobor. Geralt quickly deduces Stregobor is in hiding. Stregobor explains that he wants Geralt to kill Renfri, who he says is a princess who was cursed during her birth under an eclipse (the Black Sun). He readily admits to having imprisoned "cursed" girls just like Renfri and tells Geralt she's killed dozens of people, saying her death would be the lesser of two evils.
Geralt turns down the job, noting he'd rather not choose between levels of evil in the first place. Renfri finds him not long after, and Geralt catches on pretty quickly that she's here to get him to kill Stregobor. He advises her to leave town instead and to let go of her need for revenge, suggesting she will never truly have a life when it's consumed by vengeance. When she returns later to tell him she's agreed to leave, they end up sleeping together in the woods. It's clear he feels something towards her, finding a kinship in their mutual status as outcasts. She also gives him a prophecy, telling him that the girl in the woods will be with you always.
When he wakes up the next morning alone, though, he realizes Renfri has lied and has no plans of leaving town. He returns to Blaviken to find her band of brigands confronting him, who inform him she's taken the young girl from earlier hostage, intent on making Stregobor come out of his warded tower by killing everyone until he does. Geralt makes short (and brutal) work of her men before trying to convince Renfri to leave again. She refuses, though her finishing of his sentence implies she's already aware of both his future and her own fate. Throughout the fight, Geralt gives her several openings to back off. Eventually, she pushes far enough that he finally ends her life before she takes his, despite his efforts to avoid this very thing.
Stregobor arrives not long after to collect her body for autopsy. It's clear he has no care for her death, though when Geralt threatens to kill him, too, if he takes her body, Stregobor turns the already fearful townsfolk on him easily. Not even the girl he saved is on his side, and Geralt ends up chased out of town—as Renfri predicted.
The ripple effect of this incident is several:
1) Geralt earns his reputation as The Butcher of Blaviken, for the 8 men he'd slaughtered in the town square. Whether they deserved it or not is up for debate, but the scene was still fairly gruesome for townsfolk who had probably never seen a Witcher until now and who find their fears justified. When we see him a decade later in 1x02, he's pretty broke and obviously is struggling even more to get contracts out of people who mistrust and fear him even more than they do most Witchers. Only when he meets Jaskier the bard does his reputation begin to turn for the better, thanks to Jaskier's extremely stretched truths in his catchy songs that paint Geralt's adventures in a heroic light. Even so, 30 years down the road in 1x08, he's once again called Butcher by a merchant. It's a piece of his history that some still remember no matter how much time has passed.
2) To this day, Geralt regrets the princess he couldn't save and seeks to make up for it where he can, first curing another princess cursed to be a Striga when anyone else would've simply killed the monster, and then later returning to search for Ciri, the princess of Cintra and his accidentally claimed Child of Surprise. In fact, he keeps Renfri's brooch on the hilt of his steel sword so that it's visible whenever he draws it. It's a reminder, according to one interview, that getting involved with others "will always lead to his own personal pain." (The irony is that Geralt can't help getting involved, again and again, sometimes because his regret over Renfri lingers.)
3) Renfri's prophecy comes back to him, time and again, in both his dreams and hallucinations. Geralt likely believes "the girl in the woods" to be Renfri herself, up until the very end of 1x08 when he overhears a merchant say that they found a young girl lost in the woods. It's here that he realizes the girl may actually be Ciri, and it's what drives him to go into those woods to look for her despite previously believing she was lost in the fall of Cintra.
Geralt harbors many regrets in his life, probably too many to count. But Blaviken is one that seems to leave its mark the most, informing a number of his choices and decisions later on.
Does your character have a moral code, or other set of standards they try to live by?
Deep down, things are more complicated. Geralt as a boy is shown to be the opposite of who we see in present day: cheerful, chatty, and, most notably, dreams of becoming a knight. A character once brings up the concept of him being a knight (ironically and yet not), which Geralt never responds to but which suggests some remnant of this desire lives on inside him. Though time and experience has made him grow jaded to the notion that honorable knights exist—and if they do, he's certainly not one of them—Geralt finds himself coming to people's rescue even when there's no money involved and when it risks his life: from Yennefer to the princess in Temeria to Jaskier to a random merchant on the road, he's gotten involved in saving or helping all of them with little benefit to himself. He won't admit it, but there's a part of him that won't let him turn his back on those who need it.
At his core, Geralt is as much a protector as he is a survivor. These two tendencies frequently come into conflict: he knows nothing good will come of him stepping in, but he also can't sit and watch terrible things happen. Ideally, he'd never have to make this choice at all. Life just doesn't work that way, though, and it's a major part of why he constantly finds himself tangled up in sticky situations. He understands, perhaps more than most, that often the real monsters are the humans around him.
That said, Geralt's insistence on not getting involved or passing judgment does not mean he is a pacifist. He might try to avoid spilling blood, but when push comes to shove, he's willing to kill men just as much as he's willing to kill monsters. At one point he doesn't hesitate to use a man as bait for a monster. The man arguably deserved it, but his death was certainly avoidable. Geralt just chose to sacrifice him as a tool. Still, Geralt avoids trouble where he can. He's more likely to pack up and leave a tense situation behind before it turns into an all-out fight. People already don't like him and his kind. He prefers not to stir up any unnecessary bad blood. As he says to the elves about humans, he's learned to live with them so that he can live.
Ultimately, Geralt's morals can be summed up as complex and contradictory: a mix of wanting to do the right thing, wanting to live his life in peace, and the occasional darker desire to see those who wronged him or others get their due.
What quality or qualities do they admire most?
Geralt most values honesty and straightforwardness. He has little patience for those who try to manipulate or dance around a subject. (He's visibly annoyed by Stregobor’s inability to get to the point.) Part of this is the nature of his work, wherein people lying makes it more difficult for him to get a job done, but the other part is simply his preference for cutting through bullshit. He’s a blunt man himself and he’ll take bluntness over superficial politeness any day in return, especially if that politeness is meant to hide one's intentions.
He also appreciates courage and boldness, though this needs to be tempered with a degree of caution and care. Those who rush in without a second thought not only endanger themselves but those around them. Often, too many mistake arrogance or foolishness for courage, but to Geralt there's a significant difference between them.
Finally, strength of character is important to him, too, however one may individually find that strength. Geralt moves through a world that can be incredibly harsh, and he not only admires the resilience of those who survive nonetheless but also finds in them a kindred spirit. It's a large part of why he empathizes with Yennefer so quickly and finds himself falling in love with her.
Do they have a part of themselves they dislike?
This is a complicated question because Geralt's relationship with himself and his being a Witcher is multilayered. It's not wholly accurate to say he hates being a Witcher—on the show, it seems to be a fact he's simply come to accept—but he obviously didn't volunteer, either, and holds a lot of unprocessed grief and anger towards his mother abandoning him as a child to undergo the traumatic Witcher Trials. Still, as he says at one point, it's hard to regret something he didn't choose. In Geralt's mind, it almost doesn't matter how he feels, whether he does or doesn't like it. This is what he is and there's no point in wishing for something that will never change.
Beyond that, he also has conflicting feelings about, well. Having feelings. Rumors say that Witchers are incapable of human emotion, as they're stripped away due to the mutation process. Many Witchers maintain this rumor for their own benefit (to hold firmer ground when negotiating a contract, for example); Geralt, for his part, makes no effort to dissuade these rumors, either, as he sees little reason to when people will think what they want of him in the end, but said rumors are obviously not true. The thing is, it'd be easy if they were true, if things are really as simple for him as many believe them to be: if he doesn't know what it is to suffer a broken heart because he can't fall in love; if the massacre of his people carries no weight on him because his emotions are non-existent.
He does, however, feel all these things. Geralt is aware emotions exist within him. Each time he's confronted with the idea that Witchers feel nothing, he tends to stay silent and even once makes a remark denying it. But there are also times where he claims he neither wants nor needs anyone in his life, usually to deflect a conversation that's getting too personal or when he's afraid of what growing too close to someone might do. When he's rejected by Yennefer, his instinct is not to turn to another for comfort or support. Instead, it's to push everyone away altogether (notably Jaskier, his closest non-Witcher friend). His awareness of his ability to grow close to others is precisely what makes him hesitant to let people in. If he actually did feel nothing, he wouldn't care about people growing close to him—but he does. They can and do become important to him, and that's something he's struggling to learn how to handle, especially when loss and tragedy has been such a common theme in his life.
Would it be easier if he genuinely couldn't feel and didn't have to deal with things like hurt and guilt and loss? Probably. Is that what he actually wants? That's less straightforward to answer. It's not so much Geralt desires being an emotionless monster. Rather, he desires simplicity and quiet in his life, and sometimes it seems like his emotions are what often gets in the way of that.
What is their sign, and why?
The Hanged Man most suits Geralt’s status as an outcast. Although initially forced upon him, it’s also something he’s come to lean into. He’s unwilling to tone down or mince his words solely for the sake of not making those around him uncomfortable or to gain their approval. (This is not to say he has no restraint: Geralt can be fairly restrained, casually ignoring insults and people trying to pick a fight with him—but that’s not about fitting in and more about avoiding unwanted bloodshed.)
SAMPLES & ARRIVAL
Samples: Sample 01 | Sample 02
Arrival Scenario: Imprisoned. Ironically, he'd be more uncomfortable if they treated him as an honored guest. Getting chucked in prison for being himself is what he's used to, and I feel like it'll also give him an opportunity to rely on others and interact more rather than just lurking in a castle.
Player Name: Noa
Are you over 18?: Yes
Contact:
Other Characters in Game: N/A
IC INFORMATION
Character Name: Geralt of Rivia
Canon: The Witcher (Netflix)
Canon Point: End of S1, just before he finds Ciri.
Background: Canon wiki | Interactive timeline. (The first season follows his story over approx. 30 years through the course of 8 episodes.)
Suitability: Although Geralt deliberately avoids politics and power struggles, he has a knack for winding up doing the exact opposite. Eventually, there will be a personal reason he gets dragged in, whether out of old regrets in his past, his relationships with others, because he cares more than he wants to admit, or simply because he took a contract that became something much bigger than he anticipated. A part of Geralt’s development in canon is him learning that declining to be involved does not make him as neutral as he wants to believe, and his inaction can carry consequences of their own. It’s a lesson that’ll invariably follow him into this setting, too, where he’s going to be surrounded by a lot of turmoil and will sooner or later find himself on one side or the other—even if it’s a decision undertaken strictly for his own survival.
Most likely, his involvement will be on the ground level, or at least it’ll start that way. Geralt’s not going to actively have big plans to sabotage a faction from the outset—but if they’re pulling some shit and kidnapping children or something, he will probably step in somewhere and thus help sabotage an entire faction in the process, whether that was his main intention or not.
Powers:
- enhanced strength, speed, and endurance. the mutations that created him were specifically designed for him to fight monsters much stronger and faster than a normal human. This makes him a formidable opponent, but he's not invincible and rough fights can leave him deeply wounded.
- enhanced senses such as hearing and smell. his sense of smell is sensitive enough to identify someone by their scent alone, even if that scent is many years old, and he's capable of seeing in the dark (as he's never seen using a light source at night and mentions his eyesight was improved as part of the process).
- increased healing and durability. Though he doesn't heal instantaneously—he still needs bandages/stitches and he gets scars like everyone else—his ability to recover and withstand damage is more robust. His slower heartbeat aids him in surviving venoms and poisons, and he's highly resistant to disease.
- resistance to magical influence. Yennefer tells him he has a strong will when trying to bewitch him, which implies if his defenses are lowered and the caster is powerful enough, he can still fall under someone's magical sway (which he does to her), but in general it's more difficult.
- an extended lifespan. Although he ages, he does so very slowly. At 103, he appears about in his mid-30s.
- can ingest potions to enhance his abilities further; these would poison or kill a human if they tried to drink it. Though there are few specifics, it seems to allow him to fight longer and endure more, as well as increase the power of his Signs (the minor magic that Witchers use). They wear off after a time. He also has healing potions that help with his already quick healing abilities. Only useful if the ingredients or equivalent substitutes are available around the world for him to gather and brew.
- minor magic known as Signs. These are the ones he’s seen using in the show thus far:
- Aard, a physical force that's capable of pushing people back or breaking weaker structures. He make use of this one the most.
- Yrden, a magical barrier or ward, strong enough to hold back a monster but it can be broken and will wear off after a time. Can also be used to seal doors or other openings.
- Axii, minor mind control. He can do things like tell someone to leave a town or answer a question. He can't give complicated instructions or hold them under his control for an extended period. It is much closer to a hypnotic suggestion than full on taking over. Naturally, player permission will always be obtained before he uses it on anyone, and because canonically magic users can pretty easily resist this, Abraxas being full of mages means he’ll just assume it’s not gonna work. Can also work on animals.
These are the ones he uses in the books, which are likely to appear on the show at some point:- Igni, which can set things alight. He's not described using it in combat, which suggests it has limited use in action. Instead, it looks to be more for things like soldering, lighting campfires, or burning ropes.
- Somne, to put people to sleep. Like Axii, it seems to leave them a bit suggestible, as well. Again, permission will be obtained if it ever comes up.
- Heliotrop, an instant barrier that cushions or protects from impacts of magic, physical blows, or falls.
- Quen, a protective shield that lingers until dispelled. It's only for magical types of attacks, and doesn't seem effective against physical strikes.
- this is not a power, but it's worth noting cats really do not like him or Witchers in general. They will recognize he's a Witcher immediately and hiss at him.
PERSONALITY QUESTIONS
Describe an important event in your character's life and how it impacted them.
One of the most defining moments in Geralt's life is the incident at Blaviken, which is also our first introduction to his character in the series. Geralt enters a town looking to fulfill a contract posted by the alderman, but upon his arrival, the townsfolk are all almost immediately hostile towards him. There, he meets Renfri, a woman who steps in to defend him. As early as here, he seems to find her intriguing. Shortly after, a chatty and friendly young girl leads him to a sorcerer's tower, whom the townsfolk believe is another mage who died 200 years ago but who is actually named Stregobor. Geralt quickly deduces Stregobor is in hiding. Stregobor explains that he wants Geralt to kill Renfri, who he says is a princess who was cursed during her birth under an eclipse (the Black Sun). He readily admits to having imprisoned "cursed" girls just like Renfri and tells Geralt she's killed dozens of people, saying her death would be the lesser of two evils.
Geralt turns down the job, noting he'd rather not choose between levels of evil in the first place. Renfri finds him not long after, and Geralt catches on pretty quickly that she's here to get him to kill Stregobor. He advises her to leave town instead and to let go of her need for revenge, suggesting she will never truly have a life when it's consumed by vengeance. When she returns later to tell him she's agreed to leave, they end up sleeping together in the woods. It's clear he feels something towards her, finding a kinship in their mutual status as outcasts. She also gives him a prophecy, telling him that the girl in the woods will be with you always.
When he wakes up the next morning alone, though, he realizes Renfri has lied and has no plans of leaving town. He returns to Blaviken to find her band of brigands confronting him, who inform him she's taken the young girl from earlier hostage, intent on making Stregobor come out of his warded tower by killing everyone until he does. Geralt makes short (and brutal) work of her men before trying to convince Renfri to leave again. She refuses, though her finishing of his sentence implies she's already aware of both his future and her own fate. Throughout the fight, Geralt gives her several openings to back off. Eventually, she pushes far enough that he finally ends her life before she takes his, despite his efforts to avoid this very thing.
Stregobor arrives not long after to collect her body for autopsy. It's clear he has no care for her death, though when Geralt threatens to kill him, too, if he takes her body, Stregobor turns the already fearful townsfolk on him easily. Not even the girl he saved is on his side, and Geralt ends up chased out of town—as Renfri predicted.
The ripple effect of this incident is several:
1) Geralt earns his reputation as The Butcher of Blaviken, for the 8 men he'd slaughtered in the town square. Whether they deserved it or not is up for debate, but the scene was still fairly gruesome for townsfolk who had probably never seen a Witcher until now and who find their fears justified. When we see him a decade later in 1x02, he's pretty broke and obviously is struggling even more to get contracts out of people who mistrust and fear him even more than they do most Witchers. Only when he meets Jaskier the bard does his reputation begin to turn for the better, thanks to Jaskier's extremely stretched truths in his catchy songs that paint Geralt's adventures in a heroic light. Even so, 30 years down the road in 1x08, he's once again called Butcher by a merchant. It's a piece of his history that some still remember no matter how much time has passed.
2) To this day, Geralt regrets the princess he couldn't save and seeks to make up for it where he can, first curing another princess cursed to be a Striga when anyone else would've simply killed the monster, and then later returning to search for Ciri, the princess of Cintra and his accidentally claimed Child of Surprise. In fact, he keeps Renfri's brooch on the hilt of his steel sword so that it's visible whenever he draws it. It's a reminder, according to one interview, that getting involved with others "will always lead to his own personal pain." (The irony is that Geralt can't help getting involved, again and again, sometimes because his regret over Renfri lingers.)
3) Renfri's prophecy comes back to him, time and again, in both his dreams and hallucinations. Geralt likely believes "the girl in the woods" to be Renfri herself, up until the very end of 1x08 when he overhears a merchant say that they found a young girl lost in the woods. It's here that he realizes the girl may actually be Ciri, and it's what drives him to go into those woods to look for her despite previously believing she was lost in the fall of Cintra.
Geralt harbors many regrets in his life, probably too many to count. But Blaviken is one that seems to leave its mark the most, informing a number of his choices and decisions later on.
Does your character have a moral code, or other set of standards they try to live by?
You know what Vesemir would say? Witchers shouldn't play at being white knights. We shouldn't try to uphold the law. We don't show off. We get paid in coin. And he's right.On the surface, Geralt tries to live his life by the standard that all Witchers (or at least those who come from the School of the Wolf, where he was trained) are taught: he kills monsters, he collects his payment, and he doesn't take it upon himself to exact justice on others, whether in a legal or moral capacity. Nor does he act as a mercenary; he's not for hire for just anything simply because the money's good enough, a fact he makes known quite firmly when he rejects a queen's attempt to enlist him during her banquet. He's a Witcher: they're highly trained for the very specific profession of killing monsters. If you want a sellsword, look elsewhere; if you want a heroic rescuer, look elsewhere, too.
Deep down, things are more complicated. Geralt as a boy is shown to be the opposite of who we see in present day: cheerful, chatty, and, most notably, dreams of becoming a knight. A character once brings up the concept of him being a knight (ironically and yet not), which Geralt never responds to but which suggests some remnant of this desire lives on inside him. Though time and experience has made him grow jaded to the notion that honorable knights exist—and if they do, he's certainly not one of them—Geralt finds himself coming to people's rescue even when there's no money involved and when it risks his life: from Yennefer to the princess in Temeria to Jaskier to a random merchant on the road, he's gotten involved in saving or helping all of them with little benefit to himself. He won't admit it, but there's a part of him that won't let him turn his back on those who need it.
At his core, Geralt is as much a protector as he is a survivor. These two tendencies frequently come into conflict: he knows nothing good will come of him stepping in, but he also can't sit and watch terrible things happen. Ideally, he'd never have to make this choice at all. Life just doesn't work that way, though, and it's a major part of why he constantly finds himself tangled up in sticky situations. He understands, perhaps more than most, that often the real monsters are the humans around him.
That said, Geralt's insistence on not getting involved or passing judgment does not mean he is a pacifist. He might try to avoid spilling blood, but when push comes to shove, he's willing to kill men just as much as he's willing to kill monsters. At one point he doesn't hesitate to use a man as bait for a monster. The man arguably deserved it, but his death was certainly avoidable. Geralt just chose to sacrifice him as a tool. Still, Geralt avoids trouble where he can. He's more likely to pack up and leave a tense situation behind before it turns into an all-out fight. People already don't like him and his kind. He prefers not to stir up any unnecessary bad blood. As he says to the elves about humans, he's learned to live with them so that he can live.
Ultimately, Geralt's morals can be summed up as complex and contradictory: a mix of wanting to do the right thing, wanting to live his life in peace, and the occasional darker desire to see those who wronged him or others get their due.
What quality or qualities do they admire most?
Geralt most values honesty and straightforwardness. He has little patience for those who try to manipulate or dance around a subject. (He's visibly annoyed by Stregobor’s inability to get to the point.) Part of this is the nature of his work, wherein people lying makes it more difficult for him to get a job done, but the other part is simply his preference for cutting through bullshit. He’s a blunt man himself and he’ll take bluntness over superficial politeness any day in return, especially if that politeness is meant to hide one's intentions.
He also appreciates courage and boldness, though this needs to be tempered with a degree of caution and care. Those who rush in without a second thought not only endanger themselves but those around them. Often, too many mistake arrogance or foolishness for courage, but to Geralt there's a significant difference between them.
Finally, strength of character is important to him, too, however one may individually find that strength. Geralt moves through a world that can be incredibly harsh, and he not only admires the resilience of those who survive nonetheless but also finds in them a kindred spirit. It's a large part of why he empathizes with Yennefer so quickly and finds himself falling in love with her.
Do they have a part of themselves they dislike?
This is a complicated question because Geralt's relationship with himself and his being a Witcher is multilayered. It's not wholly accurate to say he hates being a Witcher—on the show, it seems to be a fact he's simply come to accept—but he obviously didn't volunteer, either, and holds a lot of unprocessed grief and anger towards his mother abandoning him as a child to undergo the traumatic Witcher Trials. Still, as he says at one point, it's hard to regret something he didn't choose. In Geralt's mind, it almost doesn't matter how he feels, whether he does or doesn't like it. This is what he is and there's no point in wishing for something that will never change.
Beyond that, he also has conflicting feelings about, well. Having feelings. Rumors say that Witchers are incapable of human emotion, as they're stripped away due to the mutation process. Many Witchers maintain this rumor for their own benefit (to hold firmer ground when negotiating a contract, for example); Geralt, for his part, makes no effort to dissuade these rumors, either, as he sees little reason to when people will think what they want of him in the end, but said rumors are obviously not true. The thing is, it'd be easy if they were true, if things are really as simple for him as many believe them to be: if he doesn't know what it is to suffer a broken heart because he can't fall in love; if the massacre of his people carries no weight on him because his emotions are non-existent.
He does, however, feel all these things. Geralt is aware emotions exist within him. Each time he's confronted with the idea that Witchers feel nothing, he tends to stay silent and even once makes a remark denying it. But there are also times where he claims he neither wants nor needs anyone in his life, usually to deflect a conversation that's getting too personal or when he's afraid of what growing too close to someone might do. When he's rejected by Yennefer, his instinct is not to turn to another for comfort or support. Instead, it's to push everyone away altogether (notably Jaskier, his closest non-Witcher friend). His awareness of his ability to grow close to others is precisely what makes him hesitant to let people in. If he actually did feel nothing, he wouldn't care about people growing close to him—but he does. They can and do become important to him, and that's something he's struggling to learn how to handle, especially when loss and tragedy has been such a common theme in his life.
Would it be easier if he genuinely couldn't feel and didn't have to deal with things like hurt and guilt and loss? Probably. Is that what he actually wants? That's less straightforward to answer. It's not so much Geralt desires being an emotionless monster. Rather, he desires simplicity and quiet in his life, and sometimes it seems like his emotions are what often gets in the way of that.
What is their sign, and why?
The Hanged Man most suits Geralt’s status as an outcast. Although initially forced upon him, it’s also something he’s come to lean into. He’s unwilling to tone down or mince his words solely for the sake of not making those around him uncomfortable or to gain their approval. (This is not to say he has no restraint: Geralt can be fairly restrained, casually ignoring insults and people trying to pick a fight with him—but that’s not about fitting in and more about avoiding unwanted bloodshed.)
SAMPLES & ARRIVAL
Samples: Sample 01 | Sample 02
Arrival Scenario: Imprisoned. Ironically, he'd be more uncomfortable if they treated him as an honored guest. Getting chucked in prison for being himself is what he's used to, and I feel like it'll also give him an opportunity to rely on others and interact more rather than just lurking in a castle.
aef:: THREAD TRACKING
2020
:: JULY
Thread
Characters
Info
Intro Log
Various
Arrival at Aefenglom + quests
07/03 Nyx Ulric
Carnival meeting
07/05 Yennefer
A reunion
07/05 Jaskier
Another reunion
07/10 Riku
QUEST: Don't Make Waves (snail hunting)
07/17 Jaskier
drinking and plans
07/18 Yona
EVENT: Northern Outpost blizzard
07/18 Zack Fair
EVENT: Northern Outpost blizzard
07/20 Nico Goldstein
EVENT: underground moss
07/23 Yennefer
A pool date (*NFSW)
:: AUGUST
Thread
Characters
Info
08/03
Various
Full moon feral wolf
08/03 Jaskier + Yennefer
Chew toy bard and post-moon recovering
08/05 Yennefer
Arguing about the wish; other messiness; a quiet end
08/12 Alucard; Reno
Post-full moon drinking
08/12 Lightning
After the attack
08/13 Percy
Commissioning a silver dagger
08/14 Sheva; Lady Maria; Yennefer
Cursed with flowers in his hair
08/14 Jaskier
A decision to bond
08/14 Yennefer
Telling Yennefer he's bonding with Jaskier
08/18 Jaskier
QUEST: Antler fruit
08/18 Killua
QUEST: Antler fruit + screaming horse (not Roach)
08/21 Merrin
EVENT: Darkness & Frost (missing children)
08/21 Leslie
EVENT: Darkness & Frost (escorting)
:: SEPTEMBER
Thread
Characters
Info
09/02
Jaskier + Yennefer
Full moon (bonded)
09/04 Connor
QUEST: Treasure hunting
09/06 Jaskier
Lurking on his bonded's playwrighting
09/07 Yennefer +Leslie, +Nami
Fencing lessons + bumping into folks together
09/07 Leslie, Eren, Aziraphale
QUEST: Nightmare moths
09/08 Zack
Post-moon catch-up
09/09 Waver
Old faces + magic tattoos
09/25 Caster, Rude, Yennefer+Jaskier
EVENT: Price of revolution
09/25 Mikasa
EVENT: Price of revolution
09/25 Berserker
EVENT: Price of revolution
09/27 Xichen
EVENT: Dreamwalking
09/27 Killua
EVENT: Dreamwalking
:: OCTOBER
Thread
Characters
Info
10/01
Lightning
QUEST: Shamblevine truth serums
10/06 Alucard
QUEST: Shamblevine truth serums
10/08 Jaskier
Getting magical help for his truthiness
10/09 Lahabrea
EVENT: Welcome party (intro)
10/10 Karin
Shapeshifting interruptions
10/12 L ("Linden")
QUEST: Orphanage
10/13 Nami
A cat lands on his head
10/16 Sheva
Monster transformation
:: DECEMBER
Thread
Characters
Info
12/05
Sheva
Holiday shopping (feat: cats)
12/10 Xichen
QUEST: Baby hatchlings, many teeth
12/11 Jaskier
QUEST: Jaskier insists Geralt be a novelist's muse
12/13* Jaskier + Yennefer
Holiday shenanigans; NSFW; (*i fucked up the date on the thread)
12/15 Yennefer + Jaskier
EVENT: Scavenger hunting + bonding talk. Also Jaskier gets lost.
2021
:: JANUARY
Thread
Characters
Info
01/02
Guangyao
QUEST: Wet n wild (feat: tumbling snake)
01/03 Zack
QUEST: Wet n wild
01/03 Eren
QUEST: Wet n wild
01/03 Mikasa
QUEST: Wet n wild
01/03 Reno
QUEST: Wet n wild
01/06 Wuxian
Tea time
01/06 Aziraphle
Tea time
01/06 Archer
Tea time
01/07 Alex
Tea time
01/07 Alucard
More tea time
01/08 Lightning
Lightning's bakery secret
01/09 Nico
Selling his own wolf teeth
01/12 Jaskier
They have matching fuzzy ears now (kind of)
01/14 Yennefer
Post-bond house hunting. Very domestic.
01/16 Cloud
NETWORK: An offer
01/19 Killua
INBOX: Informed that Gon is back
01/22 Lady Maria
NETWORK: taste testing booze
01/26 Yennefer+Jaskier
Dreamsharing fuckery
01/27 Killua
Killua gets stood up and finds Geralt instead.
:: FEBRUARY