Geralt of Rivia
Geralt of Rivia is a male character who features in The Witcher.
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Biography
Geralt of Rivia was a male human born on the Continent where he was the son of the sorceress Visenna. Shortly after his birth, his mother left him at the School of the Wolf in Kaer Morhen where he was to be made into a Witcher. As a child, he was subjected to the Trial of The Grasses. He managed to survive the many blistering mutations required to grant Witchers their abilities. After displaying unusual tolerance, Geralt was selected for further experimental mutations which granted him considerably greater strength, speed, endurance, resilience, healing, senses, complete immunity to diseases and conventional poisons, and extreme resistance to pain. This resulted in his hair turning white, and he received the nickname 'White Wolf'. Geralt was trained by his mentor Vesemir, whom he came to regard as a father figure. He soon met his fellow classmate Eskel, and the two became good friends and as close as brothers. One time, they captured a large forest bumblebee and tied it to a jug. The pair laughed at its antics until they were discovered by Vesemir who punished them with a leather strap.
Due to his brilliant success in training, Geralt was selected for additional mutation experiments. He was the only witcher to have survived these experiments, his stark white hair being a side effect of these additional mutations. He also spent time training with Mother Assumpta and priestess Nenneke at the Temple of Melitele in Elsborg. After completing his witcher training, Geralt set off into the world on a horse named Roach, a name he would bestow upon every one of his later horses. Thus, he became a monster slayer for hire. Originally, Geralt was convicted and enthusiastic, holding faith that he was needed in a world full of monsters and beasts to protect the innocent, although Vesemir greatly advised him not to play at being a knight errant or uphold the law. After travelling about 50 miles after leaving Kaer Morhen, Geralt was anxious to kill his first monster. He encountered a bald man with rotten teeth, who stopped a peasant's cart and pulled out a young girl whilst his companions held down her father as the bald man tore off her dress yelling it was time for her to meet a real man and attempted to rape her. Geralt rode up and told him the time had come for him to meet one too. The thug released the girl and charged at him with an axe. Geralt managed to strike him twice with his blade and killed him. The young witcher turned, expecting gratitude, but the father fled with the attackers, and the girl, who was drenched in the man's blood, vomited, became hysterical, and then fainted in fear when Geralt approached her. This event caused Geralt to rarely interfere with such matters. Following advice from Nenneke, at one point during or after 1231 he began to study at Oxenfurt Academy, where he attended some lectures including astronomy. Over the years, Geralt traveled across the continent. He visited towns and fortresses looking for proclamations nailed to the posts at crossroads with the words 'Witcher urgently needed'. His adventures led him to sacred sites, dungeons, necropolis, ruins, forest ravines, and hidden grottos in the mountains. Throughout his career he killed a manticore, wyvern, fogler, aeschna, ilyocoris, chimera, leshy, vampire, ghoul, graveir, werewolf, giant scorpion, striga, black annis, kikimore, and several other creatures.
Overview
Personality and attributes
He came to be known as the White Wolf whilst in Elder Speech he was known as Gwynbleidd.
On the surface, he was shown as being introverted, tight-lipped, and even gruff.
Most of the time, he could be apathetic, cynical, and threatening. Despite his outwardly cold nature, Dandelion noted that behind his exterior was hiding a fiercely loyal friend, and a man of good humour and as someone not indifferent to suffering. Geralt had many good friends all over the Northern Realms, such as Caldemeyn of Blaviken, Zoltan Chivay, and of course Dandelion. He was also very protective of and loyal to his friends and companions, and was willing to go to great lengths for those who mattered to him. He could be kind-hearted and caring to the people he loved.
Geralt was also shown to be extremely adept at allaying intense, and at times bleak, situations and as a man who would much sooner have everyone return home than draw their swords. His lifespan made him a world-weary man, often expressing disdain and circuitous insults to those he considered cruel, foolish, etc. He may have risked Temeria's future to save Triss Merigold from the Nilfgaardians. He also was shown requesting Scoia'tael to spare Dandelion and kill only him.
As a result of the Law of Surprise, he came to be the adoptive father of Cirilla of Cintra.
Powers and abilities
Originally, Geralt was once an ordinary human being until he was left at Kaer Mohan where he underwent the trials to become a Witcher. This resulted in him becoming a human mutation where he an exhibited an unusual tolerance for mutagens that granted Witchers their abilities.
Due to receiving a potion during a Witcher enhancement procedure, Geralt's physiology was changed permanently. First, the procedure crippled his mind and body. Then, the experiment rebuilt his physical and mental faculties further than a human could process or build. These enhancements make Geralt at the low levels of superhuman conditioning. Geralt is able to kill a bear with one punch and able to kill a human. His physical strength is enhanced to levels that are much greater than normal humans and has been said by Geralt himself that his strength is that of ten men. Geralt's body is physically tougher and is more resistant to certain types of injury than the average person, making him very durable. He can withstand falling from several stories with no injury.
Since childhood, he had undergone rigorous sword and sorcery training in order to make him a superhuman monster slayer.
He was knowledgeable in the use of Signs that were magical spells used by the Witchers. These were adapted from spells and made use of the fact that they did not require knowledge of magical formula. Instead, these simply required concentration and gestures which was why they were called Signs.
Geralt was shown to carry two different swords with one made of silver and the other of steel. It was claimed by some that the former was used to kill monsters whilst the latter was to kill humans.
Notes
- Geralt of Rivia was created by Andrzej Sapkowski where he featured in the setting of the The Witcher.
In other media
Television
- In The Witcher, Geralt of Rivia appeared in the setting of the live-action Netflix television series where he was portrayed by actor Henry Cavill.
Video games
- In Soul Calibur VI, Geralt of Rivia appeared as a playable guest character in the setting of the 2018 fighting video game where he was voiced by actor Doug Cockle.
Appearances
- The Witcher:
External Links
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