The Witcher storyline

Note: This article concerns only the original computer game.

Major locations | More information

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The game is centered around Geralt of Rivia, who is found unconscious and suffering from amnesia at the beginning of the game. He gradually learns that he was a renowned witcher, and that he has friends and enemies almost everywhere (who do not suffer from amnesia...). Through the player's actions, he will redefine those relationships and choose his path in the political intrigue that surrounds him.

Spoiler warning: Significant plot details follow.

Paths

In the game, Geralt will be forced to choose his path. There are three primary paths available to him. In this wiki, they will be referred to as follows:

	The Scoia'tael path (with the squirrel puff icon): on this path, Geralt allies himself with fellow non-humans, the Elves.
	The Order path (with the Flaming rose insignia icon): on this path, Geralt allies himself with the Order of the Flaming Rose, whose mission is to protect the citizens of Temeria.
	The Witcher / neutral path (with the witcher medallion icon): on this path (the truest to the original books), Geralt sides with neither the Scoia'tael nor the Order - either to maintain 'witcher neutrality' (referred to several times in the game, presumably referring to politics) or simply to do what he feels is right. (Whatever the reasoning, only the witcher's closest friends will understand - let alone agree with - this path.)

Prologue (Kaer Morhen)

Kaer Morhen exterior concept painting

Geralt starts his adventure in the citadel of Kaer Morhen where bandits attack led by two shady characters, the Professor and a mysterious mage. The player eventually learns that they are part of a criminal organization called the Salamandra, and that they are after some special potions and equipment which were developed to genetically alter witchers to give them their powers. What they want with those potions is unclear.

The chapter ends as the Professor and the mage teleport out of Kaer Morhen with the potions. The remaining witchers and allied characters decide to split up and search for information about the Salamandra to eventually stop them.

Links

• Quests in the Prologue
  • Primary quests
  • Secondary quests
• Prologue category
• Maps in the Prologue

Chapter I (Outskirts of Vizima)

Vizima gate concept painting

This chapter opens introducing Alvin, an unusual child whose path will repeatedly cross Geralt's. Hot on the trail of the mysterious men with Salamander badges, our witcher explores the outskirts of Vizima, where a terrifying beast harasses the villagers by night. The witcher encounters old friends (whom he doesn't recognize at first) and makes connections with locals while seeking a way into the city, even finding a hint or two about the fate of his fellow witcher Berengar. After striving to gain the trust of several prominent locals and perhaps dealing with a few less-than-prominent ones, Geralt manages to get through the Miller's Gate into Vizima proper - though not on his own terms...

There are two trophy quests in this and each subsequent chapter.

Links

• Quests in Chapter I
  • Primary quests
  • Secondary quests
  • Contracts
  • Trophy quests
• Chapter I category
• Maps in Chapter I

Chapter II (Temple Quarter of Vizima)

Temple Quarter concept painting

Geralt now has access to the Temple Quarter, where he will have to solve a mystery. Who is involved with the Salamandra? Several influential people in the city are suspects, and Geralt has the help of the private investigator to sort through the clues and follow up on them.

Note that Geralt no longer has access to the Outskirts in this chapter, but he gains access to the Temple Quarter, part of the Sewers, the Vizima dike, the Vizima cemetery and the Swamp.

Links

• Quests in Chapter II
  • Primary quests
  • Secondary quests
  • Contracts
  • Trophy quests
• Chapter II category
• Maps in Chapter II

Chapter III (Trade Quarter of Vizima)

Trade Quarter concept painting

During Chapter III, Geralt will have to follow new leads on the Salamandra, while investigating the mysterious powers of the child Alvin whom he rescued in Chapter I. The Scoia'tael also start being more bold in their attempts.

Important: The choice of whether to bring Alvin to Triss or Shani may alter the events in the remaining chapters.

Note that Geralt still has access to the areas he had access to in the second chapter, and he additionally gains access to the Trade Quarter as well as new areas of the Vizima sewers.

Links

• Quests in Chapter III
  • Primary quests
  • Secondary quests
  • Contracts
  • Trophy quests
• Chapter III category
• Maps in Chapter III

Chapter IV (Lakeside)

Lakeside concept painting

Geralt now finds himself in a totally new area of Temeria, far from Vizima and cut off from most of the people he knew. Dandelion and Alvin are with him though, as is Abigail (if Geralt saves her from the villagers in Chapter I, otherwise the village healer is an old woman) and there are new intrigues around him. Depending on the choice made in Chapter I, the resolution to The Heat of the Day quest is different.

The chapter ends with a showdown between the Order of the Flaming Rose and the Scoia'tael, where Geralt must finally declare his chosen path and act accordingly.

Note that Geralt no longer has access to the areas he had access to in any of the previous Chapters. He can now explore the areas of Lakeside, Murky Waters village, the Fields and Black Tern Island.

Links

• Quests in Chapter IV
  • Primary quests
  • Secondary quests
  • Contracts
  • Trophy quests
• Chapter IV category
• Maps in Chapter IV

Chapter V (Old Vizima)

Old Vizima concept painting

Note that Geralt no longer has access to the areas he had access to in Chapter IV. He can now explore the areas of Old Vizima, the swamp cemetery and the old manor area.

Scoia'tael path

Geralt fought with the Scoia'tael in their battle with Flaming Rose forces in Murky Waters. Now Vizima is burning, the conflict taking more and more casualties. Geralt meets Zoltan once again, and must help him and the refugees flee Old Vizima for the relative safety of the swamp cemetery. King Foltest has returned just as his daughter Adda seems to be having a relapse of her Striga curse. Geralt must do what he can for the princess; in return, Foltest will divulge what he knows about the Salamandra hideout so that Geralt can finally deal with Azar Javed.

Order path

Geralt fights for the Order in the conflict between the Order of the Flaming Rose and the Scoia'tael in Murky Waters. But Vizima now burns, the conflict taking more and more casualties. Geralt meets Rayla once again, and must help her in Old Vizima and get to Siegfried who lies wounded in the field hospital. At the same time, King Foltest returns and his daughter Adda seems to be having a relapse of the Striga curse. Geralt must do what he can for the princess, and in return, Foltest will divulge what he knows about the Salamandra hideout, and as a result, Azar Javed's location

Choosing the Order path means that Zoltan is rather miffed at Geralt, and he must find an Order armorer.

Witcher / Neutral path

Geralt does not escape the conflict between the Order of the Flaming Rose and the Scoia'tael in Murky Waters but ends up having to fight both sides. But Vizima now burns, the conflict taking more and more casualties. Geralt meets some nurses who are trying to get to Shani at the field hospital. The witcher must then also help Shani get out of Old Vizima to the swamp cemetery to get medicine from the druids. At the same time, King Foltest returns and his daughter Adda seems to be having a relapse of the Striga curse. Geralt must do what he can for the princess, and in return, Foltest will divulge what he knows about the Salamandra hideout, and as a result, Azar Javed's location.

Links

• Quests in Chapter V
  • Primary quests
  • Secondary quests
  • Contracts
  • Trophy quests
• Chapter V category
• Maps in Chapter V

Epilogue

Cloister of the Order concept painting

With Princess Adda's curse resolved, King Foltest and King Radovid of Redania forge an alliance. If Adda survives, Foltest agrees to give her hand in marriage to Radovid in exchange for Radovid's army's help in resolving the Order/Scoia'tael conflict. It is revealed that Grand Master Jacques de Aldersberg was behind Salamandra all along, using it and Azar Javed to build an army of mutants, overthrow Foltest and take the throne. With Javed dead, the Grand Master will be expecting Geralt's visit...

Foltest and Radovid agree to use their armies to attack the Order of the Flaming Rose. Geralt is given permission to eradicate the Grand Master and any of his servants.

Scoia'tael path

Yaevinn asks for freedom for the elves, and King Foltest acknowledges him cautiously, stating that he will only pardon those who lay down their arms. Foltest recommends that Yaevinn leave the kingdom, a symbolic gesture allowing people to perceive the banishment as punishment for his crimes during the uprising. Foltest then promises Geralt that he will protect the witcher's friends from harm and not pursue Yaevinn terribly vigorously.

Geralt and Yaevinn confront Siegfried shortly thereafter. Siegfried calls Geralt inhuman and expresses regret for not killing him when they first met. Siegfried dies.

Geralt and Yaevinn are then ushered into a safe house, where characters from various chapters and locations are hiding. Golan Vivaldi pities himself, stating that both the Order and the Scoia'tael loathe him and consider him a traitor. Vaska is unhappy about war spreading to her village. The Hermit wanted to give advice to King Foltest, but did not arrive in time. The novice nun reminds Geralt of the prophecy of Ithlinne, stating that the world is near its end. Carmen is also there, if Geralt previously killed Vincent. In the cellar, Vetala and the resolute girl from Lakeside idle. Geralt and Yaevinn proceed through the cellar into a monster-infested basement. Upstairs from there, a madman advises them to exit through his window.

Another fight ensues outside, and Geralt takes a key from a wounded Order knight. Geralt and Yaevinn descend into the sewer where they face another tough monster, the zeugl.

After traveling through dire sewers, Geralt and Yaevinn finally reach the cloister where the Grand Master resides. Yaevinn is wounded and tells the witcher to go on without him.

Order path

Siegfried convinces Foltest that the Order can remain loyal to the king despite de Aldersberg's actions, and Foltest names him the new Grand Master. Geralt and Siegfried confront the remaining knights of the Order shortly after.

Geralt and Siegfried are then ushered into a safe house, where characters from various chapters and locations are hiding. Golan Vivaldi pities himself stating that both the Order and the Scoia'tael loathe him and consider him a traitor. Vaska is unhappy about war spreading to her village. The Hermit wanted to give advice to King Foltest, but did not arrive in time. The novice nun reminds Geralt of the prophecy of Ithlinne, stating that the world is near its end. Carmen is also there, if Geralt previously killed Vincent. In the cellar, Vetala and the resolute girl from Lakeside idle. Geralt and Siegfried proceed through the cellar into a monster-infested basement. Upstairs from there, a madman advises them to exit through his window.

They meet Yaevinn outside. The elf is disgusted with Geralt and they duel. Yaevinn dies. Geralt then takes a key from a wounded Order knight. Geralt and Siegfried descend into the sewer where they face another tough monster, the zeugl.

Geralt and Siegfried finally reach the cloister where the Grand Master resides. Siegfried is wounded and tells the witcher to go on without him.

Witcher / Neutral path

Geralt arrives back in the Temple Quarter with Triss Merigold and informs the king of his findings.

Geralt and Triss confront Siegfried shortly after; Geralt chooses whether to kill or spare the knight.

Geralt and Triss go to a shelter, where Golan Vivaldi, Vaska, the Hermit, and the novice nun have gathered. Vivaldi pities himself, stating that both the Order and the Scoia'tael loathe him. Vaska is unhappy about war spreading to her village. The Hermit states that he wanted to give advice to King Foltest, but did not arrive in time. The novice nun reminds Geralt of the prophecy of Ithlinne, stating that the world is near its end. Carmen is also there, if Geralt previously killed Vincent. In the cellar, Vetala and the resolute girl from the Lakeside idle. Geralt and Triss leave through the cellar, into a monster-infested basement. Upstairs from there, a madman advises them to exit through his window.

Geralt meets Yaevinn outside and has the opportunity to kill or spare him, as with Siegfried earlier. More fighting occurs either way; then Triss says they must descend into the sewer. There is no wounded knight to give them a key - Triss has it already.

After traveling through dire sewers and dispatching the zeugl, Geralt and Triss finally reach the cloister where the Grand Master resides. At this point, Geralt uses a ruse to ditch Triss so he can go on alone.

The Paths converge

From this point, no matter which path Geralt has chosen, he goes on alone. When Geralt finds the Grand Master, it is revealed that everything he has done was to save humanity from the inevitable "Great White Frost" (Ithlinne's Prophecy). All his life, he was plagued by visions of what the future of humanity would look like if nothing was done. His solution was simple: he would become their saviour.

To achieve this, de Aldersberg had recently developed mutants known as Greater Brothers, who had all the strength and skill of a witcher, without the sentimentality. These mutants would shepherd Believers on an exodus to the south, thereby saving them from the dire predictions. Geralt quite rightly remarks at that point that every megalomaniac speaks of a "higher purpose". And with the help of the friends he has made during the course of the story, Geralt makes it through the Grand Master's vision and ends his plans.

Geralt's final choice involves a demand from the King of the Wild Hunt for the Grand Master's soul.

Choice 1: Deny the King of the Wild Hunt's demand, thus freeing himself from his destiny of leaving only destruction behind him. or Choice 2: Allow the King of the Wild Hunt's demand, thus avoiding the fight and learning that the Grand Master was known to him by another name.

Note: In the Epilogue, Geralt no longer has access to any areas in Chapter V. He is now back in the Temple Quarter, to be teleported to the Ice Plains, and finally back to the Cloister courtyard.

Links

• Quests in the Epilogue
  • Primary quests
  • Secondary quests
• Epilogue category
• Maps in the Epilogue

Ending cinematic

In the end, Geralt is seen accepting his reward for dispatching the Grand Master and his mutants. As the White Wolf nears the palace doors, he notices the corpses of the drowsy guards shown in the beginning of the cinematic. He draws his sword and rushes for the king's study, finding Foltest under attack by a lone assassin. A fight ensues between the Witcher and the unknown assailant, and the latter is starting to get the better of the former... until the newly-acquired coin purse is used for a distraction, allowing Geralt to sever an arm. The would-be murderer is unmasked: it is an unfamiliar face... with very familiar eyes.

Significant plot details end here.

List of major locations

Prologue	Chapter I	Chapter II	Chapter III	Chapter IV	Chapter V	Epilogue
Kaer Morhen	Outskirts of Vizima	Temple Quarter of Vizima Vizima cemetery Vizima dike Sewers Swamp	Trade Quarter of Vizima Vizima cemetery Vizima dike Sewers Swamp	Lakeside Murky Waters village Fields Black Tern Island	Old Vizima Foltest's castle Swamp cemetery Old manor	Ice Plains

Additional Information

• Quests
• Oils
• Bombs
• Potions
• Ingredients List
• Spoilers