This is from our very first session of Curse of Strahd. My character was woken up to a single ring of a bell when he went to investigate he was stunned by the scene our DM described.
The Witcher School of the Viper made their home in the stronghold of Gorthur Gvaed. Guarded by a remarkable tower adorned by a frighteningly ominous spiral coiled around its contours. Yet it held not a candle to the terrifying moat that surrounded it—deep by several hundred feet and truly… breathtaking. No one could tell if what was filling it should still be called water. The smells above the moat were, to put it mildly, hard to forget. Viper witchers, who survived the fall of the stronghold, later joked that it was the stench that led the Usurper’s army to find Gorthur Gvaed. Countless soldiers died in this gutter. According to legends, so many perished that one could have made their way to the other side of the moat on a bridge composed entirely of their corpses. And the odour grew even worse
Located in Tir Tochair (a scarcely inhabited mountain range that divides the Korath desert from the modern-day northern and central provinces of the Nilfgaardian Empire. It is known as the largest lasting enclave of gnomes.)
There were many scrolls and manuscripts about the legend of the Wild Hunt.
Founder
Ivar Evil-Eye
There’s a terrible tale behind each and every scar—you’d be surprised just how many are true.
Ivar was one of the unfortunate few who endured the mutations extremely well, and so was selected for further, more complicated experiments. Of those subjected to these enhancements, only he survived—perhaps due to the mages only managing to partially complete the trial.
As a result of these experiments, Ivar gained his moniker, as well as a new sight. His so-called “Evil Eye” saw a different world. Many other worlds, really. With his eye, he watched as ghostly riders dashed along the Spiral, and observed how they’d kidnap, kill, and conquer. Forever haunting Ivar’s special vision, these spectres became his obsession.
Training
Each student is given a pet to raise during their stay at Gorthur Gvaed, in order to form a strong emotional bond throughout their training. Years later, before becoming a fully-fledged witcher, they are ordered to slaughter their companion in cold blood.
Viper Witcher Mentor
Viper mentors are especially cold and ruthless in order to prepare their students for the harsh life that awaits them.
Some Lore from Gwent
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Or weaker. It depends, really.
It is often said that witchers took on the characteristics of their schools' namesake creatures. Without a doubt, this was true of the Viper School. They were agile, quick, and frequently made use of deadly poisons.
As with the other witcher schools – the Wolves' Kaer Morhen as sole exception – none were aware of the Viper School's location. Only one detail ever became widely known... That it stood somewhere south of the Yaruga. In Nilfgaard.
Perhaps it's no wonder then that Vipers were less inclined to neutrality than other witchers. The Empire would never recognize such a stance. There is only obedient servant... Or mortal enemy.
Emperor Emhyr var Emreis gave them a choice they could not refuse: assassinate a few kings in the Northern Realms in exchange for rebuilding the school to its former glory.
The emperor, however, did not keep his promise and instead of rebuilding the school, he sent bounty hunters after its few remaining members to remove any loose ends.
Armor and Equipment
Viper Witchers are trained to fight with twin blades, often referred to as “fangs”. This style focuses on fast and furious strikes aimed to overwhelm their target, be it monster or man.
These blades would often be coated with poison as the school made great use of its knowledge of alchemy.
No need to strike deep when but a scratch will prove fatal.
Five More Witchers
Letho of Gulet
Witchers never die in their beds. - Letho
Some friends you see after many years apart and you immediately develop a headache. Not out of antipathy, but as a somatic premonition of the hangover sure to follow your drunken reunion. Seeing others, however, gives you an itching pain in your back and a desire to reach for your blade.
For Geralt, Letho of Gulet had a foot in both of these camps.
Letho, if Geralt doesn’t ask him to go to Kaer Morhen, says, that he will be heading to Zerrikania citing a possible reason that it's a matriarchy and he's always had a deep belief "that it's women who should rule the world."
Serrit and Auckles
He seems different, but in reality is so similar. Our paths have been the same: we survived the Trials, endured the same training and have slain so many monsters that we no longer keep count. So many men, also. The difference is in the details – when I see him moving in combat, I want to laugh, but I also see that he is just as effective, if not more so. There is, however, one critical difference I cannot describe adequately. He has a goal, he is committed to something. He doesn't wander the world as if blown about by the wind. I believe he feels emotions at a level I cannot attain, yet these emotions are not typically human. Is it an illness of some kind? I think he teeters on the brink of instinct and emotion, and that he uses up a lot of energy to maintain his mental health. I hope I get a chance to know him better and learn from him. Nothing specific – just life. - Serrit about Geralt
Serrit was a lot more hot-headed than his brother, complaining about the lack of action they had in the past days.
Letho's got a plan… what could go wrong? - Auckles
Auckes seemed to be the less serious of the brothers, being sarcastic at times while being very confident of his skills.
He appeared to regard Geralt as a friend, which is reflected when he asked if Geralt wasn't hanged for Foltest murder and Letho asked him if he wanted to see him hanged, he lowered his head and just answered "no".
Along with his brother, Auckes was fond of using bear traps.
Kolgrim
Fate seemed to take pleasure in torturing Kolgrim. Fortune only smiled upon him if it was accompanied by a stroke of very bad luck. It was always thus, even before Kolgrim became a witcher. When he was still a young harmless brat...
On the eve of Saovine small Kolgrim was kidnapped by a weeper, which replaced him with its own cursed offspring. Fortunately, the monster was slaughtered by a witcher that very same night. The boy's savior, having taken pity on him, decided to escort him back home. Kolgrim was relieved to be returning to the warmth and safety of his mother, unaware of his impending misfortune.
The woman greeted the witcher with hatred in her eyes, not believing a single word that came out of his mouth. Blinded by her contempt, she refused to even look twice at her own crying son, utterly convinced that the weeper's baby was her real child. With the door slammed shut in their face, the witcher had no other choice than to take Kolgrim with him – straight to the Viper School.
Over many future years, fate mocked Kolgrim many times – both during his murderous training and the later travels around the Continent. His life ended most ironically. For he, who was once stolen and then rejected from his mother, was accused of kidnapping a child.
Warritt The All-Seeing
By slightly modifying the Supirre sign, Warritt gained the ability to see... everything.
Supirre is a Sign enhancing the auditory perception of the user. Drawn on a solid surface, it allows the people near the Sign to hear sounds which would be normally inaudible due to the distance or background noise. As such, it is often used for eavesdropping.
It compensated the monster hunter's lack of sight by giving him the ability of echolocation.
Just where is the School of the Bear? Some say hidden amidst the Slopes. Others argue it's found farther south, beyond the Amell Mountains. In fact, no one truly knows. And it's no surprise that Bear witchers have kept their whereabouts a secret, for the slaughter of the Wolf and Cat schools was known far and wide...
Alas, angry mob later found and banished witchers from Haern Caduch.
Founder
Arnaghad
“A witcher’s job is to kill monesters and collect coin. No more, no less.”
- Arnaghad
Arnaghad, some would say, was born stubborn. Insolent toward those in authority, he loathed anyone who tried to impose their will upon him, favouring autonomy above all else. This, in large, was the bedrock of why he went on to form his very own witcher school.
After he learned that another witcher had already taken his contract, Arnaghad's blood boiled. He found the witcher in the forest and cut him shoulder to waist, he only escaped after allerting the chort, which forced Arnaghad to fight it.
Training
To become a Bear Witcher, all students must pass the Trial of the Mountain. This requires venturing to the peak of Mount Gorgon to retrieve a special runestone as proof of ascent—an especially brutal challenge, as many boys freeze to death long before they find the summit.
Bear Witcher Mentor
If you’re unsure of the way, just keep a lookout for markers—the frozen corpses of would-be witchers.
Some Lore from Gwent
The School of the Bear... Little is known about it, yet one look at their custom armor reveals telling details of the witchers who wear it. A hardy quilted gambeson, heavy mail extending to the knees, plate armor spaulders to protect the shoulders...
A witcher equipped in such gear would not leap from raking claws, nor sidestep a beast's gnashing fangs. There is no need, for he can endure the blows... And ensure a short distance from which he can exact his revenge.
Unlike witchers from the Wolf School – who possess strong bonds of friendship and brotherhood – those from the Bear School prefer a solitary lifestyle, away from the company of other witchers. Should they encounter others on the path, however, rarely does it end without bloodshed.
Bear witchers often travel to the Skellige Isles – and this should come as no surprise. For the islands have no shortage of monsters and the witchers get along rather well with the similarly brash, bearded locals...
Armor
They wear heavier armor, favoring defense over agility.
Why try to sidestep the blow , when you can easily bear the brunt?
Three More Witchers
Junod of Belhaven
Rumour has it he was born of an unusual love between a lady giant and one VERY brave dwarf.
A witcher from the School of the Bear once ventured into Toussaint. Junod of Belhaven was his name – as big as a mountain, with a beard that would put a dwarf elder to shame. He accepted a contract to slay a monster that dwelled in the caverns beneath Marcescent Forest. Alas, he was never seen again...
Dammit, should never have taken this contract. Still not sure what sort of monster I'm up against. Worried I won't be able to prepare properly.
Stupid of me to bet the coin I set aside for armor. Elves just love squeezing folk of their last copper, and those skinflints at Tufo (vineyard) aren't any better. But no point feeling sorry for myself. And no point going back until I got a full set of gear.
Well, as long as you're sinking, might as well walk on the bottom.
I'll find a way, dammit.
- Junod in his journal
Ivo of Belhaven
It's not reason I'm devoid of, just emotion.
Queen Meve of Lyria and Rivia once encountered a witcher from the School of the Bear. His name was Ivo. His dark complexion suggested he originally hailed from the warm climate of the Continent's southern regions. Whereas, the bluntness with which he responded to the queen's questions suggested he rarely conversed with heads of state...
It is said that all the witchers from the Bear School are huge, broad-shouldered and bearded fellows. Ivo of Belhaven, however, did not quite fit this pattern. While he did have a beard, his posture and agility made him more fit to be a Cat or a Viper. Ironically, this made his character perfectly fit to his school...
Bears are loners, known for their aversion to the company of other witchers, and Ivo excelled in this field. This originated during his training in Haern Caduch. He did not like other students, to put it mildly. One could even say that it was hate at first sight. This cost Ivo... Many wounds, much pain, and a lot of lost blood. Stronger partners did not show him mercy during training. Yet the fight was always matched and Iwo would always pay them back in their own coin. Blood for blood.
He remained indifferent to the news about the fate of the others, and did not show any interest, even when the angry mob banished witchers from Haern Caduch. This had nothing to do with anger or animosity, the mutations successfully neutralized such pointless feelings in him. He just did not care how others did.
What counted was that he would get by.
Of course, from time to time, Ivo would run into another witcher.
One such encounter was quite memorable. He met a Bear he knew from the school. His name was Junod, and just like Ivo, he assumed the moniker 'of Belhaven'. However, unlike Ivo, he did not come from Belhaven. When asked, about the choice, he replied with refreshing candor, that he just liked the sound of the name – and, since he did not expect the smaller Bear to live very long, he did not have any qualms to steal his moniker.
Ironically, a couple of years later Ivo heard about Junod's death. And he felt...
Nothing, actually.
Gerd
He was contracted to slay a dragon, a siren, and a striga. He was also being pursued by a vengeful knight, bounty hunters, and bandits. Despite all this, he still found time for a round of Gwent.
Let it hereby be known that the witcher known as Gerd has committed foul crimes against the Ducal Tiara, namely: insulting Her Grace's majesty, resisting Her Grace's guards, collaborating with the usurper and other such deeds bringing harm to Ducal Tiara.
I’m hyperfixating on witcher lore this month,.,.,. gimme the happy hormones mhmmmhmmn
Kaer Seren
Kaer Seren’s literary collection was its greatest treasure and the envy of a group of overzealous mages. In their attempt to seize it for themselves, they destroyed the very thing they desired most.
Located at the sea end of a mountain range in Kovir and Poviss.
Reaching Kaer Seren by land proved too daunting a task for most. The locale also provided the residents of Kaer Seren access to seafaring traders, ensuring they were always well-supplied. Armed with crossbows, a secured position, and a reliable source of provisions, the Griffins remained ready and capable to repel any assault.
Nevertheless, not a single soldier was prepared to fight an avalanche unleashed by the Council of Mages.
Founder
Erland of Larvik
Erland founded the School of the Griffin, and hoped his emphasis on knightly values would help elevate the reputation of witchers among the common folk. Alas, his efforts would go in vain.
Erland stood as an example for the new witchers, training them to have honor in their practice and conviction in their hearts. Together, with the head sorcerer of the school, a new discipline was crafted, focusing on magic, preparedness, and flexibility.
Training
At Kaer Seren, students are afforded the luxury of choice when it comes to their final Trial. They either locate and retrieve a griffin’s egg, or recite the entirety of Liber Tenebrarum verbatim. To Old Keldar’s dismay, no one has ever chosen the latter.
Throughout the ages, the other schools respected the Griffins for their study of magic and fighting style that emphasized multiple opponents
They are unparalleled masters in the art of tracking and hunting, even amid the most inhospitable of environments. No matter the trail, they won’t rest until their prey is captured, or killed.
Most Griffins can split an apple in two from a hundred paces. Just make sure you don’t move.
Witcher Mentor
Knowledge will keep you alive far longer than might, dear boy.
Keldar was in charge of monster knowledge tutoring.
He had memorized the whole Liber Tenebrarum and was easily infuriated when his students provided stupid or no answer, mocking that they would likely go to hunt vampires covered with garlic and armed with Lebioda figurines.
When Kaer Seren was destroyed, he was the sole survivor of those at the fortress. He still guards the ruined fortress of his beloved school.
Some Lore from Gwent
Despite his many successful hunts and the renown and respect the School of the Griffin enjoyed, the tide eventually turned against the witchers. They had been too successful and by the late 1160s many monsters had been eradicated.
Suddenly rulers became suspicious and wary of the independent schools of hardened killers and as witchers were less useful, the churches saw a new opportunity to spread more anti-witcher propaganda.
Seizing on this moment, jealous sorcerers in turn caused an avalanche that buried Kaer Seren.
Erland was not at the keep when it happened, he was close enough to see the culprits and, not knowing how many of his brothers had survived, he decided to leave and found a cave in the mountains. Here, he wrote down all the knowledge he possessed into journals so that, when the last witcher had fallen and the monsters grew in numbers once again, humanity would know how to fight back.
What happened to Erland after this is unknown.
Armor
Griffin School equipment is of medium weight and amplifies the intensity of the wearer's Signs; as such, it is heavily implied that the school and its disciples may have specialized in the use of magic.
Three More Witchers
Coën
Coën spent his first winter at Kaer Morhen when Ciri was in the keep. He trained Ciri in sword combat.
'Coen?'
‘Aha?'
'I'm still not fast enough—'
'You're very fast.'
'Will I ever be as fast as you?'
'I doubt it.'
'Hmm . . . And are you—? Who's the best fencer in the world?'
'I've no idea.'
'You've never known one?'
'I've known many who believed themselves to be the best.'
'Oh! What were they? What were their names? What could they do?'
'Hold on, hold on, girl. I haven't got an answer to those questions. Is it all that important?'
'Of course it's important! I'd like to know who these fencers are. And where they are.'
'Where they are? I know that.'
'Ah! So where?'
'In cemeteries.'
- Ciri and Coën
His features are described as unusual for a witcher, as he retained scars from early childhood diseases, like chicken pox, which he covers with a beard, while most witchers were immunized before contracting such illnesses. This would suggest that he either contracted the disease unusually early in life, or that his witcher training began later than most.
HERE - If you want to know what happend to him. (minor SPOILER for books)
Jerome Moreau
Gonna give that old bastard a piece of my mind! - Jerome about his father
From Gwent
In 1087, after saving professor Tomas Moreau, a witcher demanded that which the scholar already had, but did not know of. From this day forward, Jerome, son of Tomas, became one of the children bound by the Law of Surprise.
A few years later, the witcher came for young Jerome to take him to Kaer Seren, the home of the School of the Griffin. The boy was subjected to the usual physical training and mutations necessary to forge a witcher. Yet the process seemed mild to him as if he was particularly well suited for it.
As a result, he mostly resembled an ordinary man, leaving only his silver sword and Griffin medallion to prove the contrary. Strangers and friends alike treated him better than the average witcher, with many failing to realize the fact that a mutant stood before them.
Unfortunately, extraordinary resistance was to become Jerome's undoing. For professor Moreau did not forget about his lost son, keeping him under constant observation. His normalcy led to his father's belief that the mutations could still be reversed.
When his father, professor Moreau, lured him to Toussaint with a contract, he decided to put an end to this charade. Jerome confronted professor Moreau in 1121. After imprisoning the witcher using a paralyzing spell, he proceeded with mad and reckless experiments to free his son from the witcher's mutations. Utterly ignoring his son's contrary pleas for mercy. This process was not mild. Not at all. Brought to the brink of death on many occasions, he rose every time faster and stronger than before. And more... mutated. As a result of old Moreau's experiments and in spite of his determination, Jerome became less and less human. Until the eighth day of autumn in 1122, the professor finally gave up. He collected his notes and closed his laboratory. As for the remains of his failed subject... He just burnt them, unwilling to face what he had done ever again.
It is possible, that Jerome is still alive, because there was no body/skeleton in the cell.
Adela
In The Hexer, a polish movie. there is a school of witchers described as being "beyond the mountains", to which Adela attended. At the time, only the Cat, the Griffin, and the Wolf Schools existed in the franchise, and as she didn't attend the Cat nor the Wolf, it's possible she went to the Griffin School.
Maybe someone uses this as a reference for their Witcher OC’s. Excuse my chaotic organization, I quickly put it together to have something to rely on while creating YET ANOTHER oc. :)
Stygga Castle
The Feline witchers did not stay in Stygga Castle for long. Nor anywhere else, actually.
A vast citadel located on a cliff overlooking a lake somewhere in Ebbing. (One of the largest states dependent on the Nilfgaardian Empire, though officially operates as an autonomous and self-governing kingdom. Situated at the junction of rivers and bordering the Great Sea, it is known for its marshes and swamps.)
Founder
Gezras of Leyda
"Take a contract from an Aen Seidhe over a dh'oine (human) any day, as you’re far less likely to receive a knife between the ribs in place of coin." - Gezras
Training
Cat students hone their balance by walking a tightrope blindfolded. Failure is easy to shrug off at first, but throughout their training, the walk gets higher—and more perilous—as they work toward their final Trial, where failure is not so forgiving.
Cats did not have a permanent home they performed their training wherever they could, even within human cities.
Most of the witcher gals and elven (or half-elven) witchers were from the Feline school.
Cat Witcher Mentor
If you fall, it’s over. Your nine lives are up, kid.
Some Lore from Gwent
Each witcher school holds a unique reputation. Bears – sulkers and firebrands. Wolves – traditionalists. And Cats? Prone to use steel swords more often than silver.
Unlike other witchers, those from the School of the Cat were not committed to a position of neutrality. As a result, they were often hired as spies and assassins. And it's no wonder – assassinating a nobleman usually paid better than slaying a drowner.
The ill repute of Feline witchers became increasingly notorious in royal circles. After a time, kings and queens began to fear in earnest for their lives. For the witchers, however, this came not as a point of pride, but one of concern, for rulers do not like to feel threatened...
One day, an army marched onto the grounds of the School of the Cat. For three days the blood-soaked slaughter persisted, but eventually every last defending witcher perished. As for those who were not present during the attack? They continue to roam the world's roads - embittered, hungry for vengeance, with nothing left to lose...
Armor
Cat school witchers do not deal a lot of raw damage, but can inflict deadly critical hits. By extension, their gear was designed to maximize flexibility and provide the greatest possible range of motion.
Three More Witchers
Gaetan
“Murder me just to save few crowns? I’m supposed to protect whoresons like that?” — Gaetan
Brehen
Known as the Cat of Iello. A moniker earned not from origins, but as a result of slaughtering peasants there. More of a massacre, really.
Like most of his kin, Brehen was a rogue and an outcast. Prone to bouts of heightened emotion and erratic behaviour – attributed to the school's warped mutation process – Brehen's volatile nature was infamous. Mostly due to his hand in the massacre at the town of Iello, which forever branded him with the shady moniker: Cat of Iello.
(Young Brehen with more hair:))
Dragonfly
Born to imprisoned duchess, Dragonfly was to be murdered by order of her usurper uncle. However, when his servant ordered to kill the baby saw it, he decided to instead abandon it alive on a coast. A Cat witcher travelling nearby took the baby to Stygga, not realizing it was the same child he had been earlier promised by her father via the Law of Surprise.
Dragonfly was trained as a proper witcher. In her teenage years the school was visited by her brother who urged her to come with him and dethrone the usurper. She eventually agreed, perhaps under the influence of elder witchers.
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