series by is a Polish fantasy series translated into many languages and adapted into a popular video game series and a Netflix TV series starring Henry Cavill. But who are the characters behind the story? How are they all connected? And how do they fit into the overall Witcher books? This character guide is a great place to start if you’re new to the book series and tv show and looking for some background information about the Witcher characters. (Warning: some light spoilers for the series may follow.)
The saga focuses on the stories of Geralt of Rivia, a witcher, and Cirilla (Ciri), a princess who becomes a witcher-in-training. With the help of Yennefer of Vengerberg, Geralt must keep Ciri safe from the many people who wish to use her for political gains while training her in the ways of being a witcher. Because Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer are the main characters of this saga, this guide is organized by those three central protagonists, followed by the secondary characters they encounter on their journey.
Geralt of Rivia - Geralt, also known as White Wolf or Butcher of Blaviken, is about a century old when the saga starts. The short stories that were published before the saga follow Geralt’s adventures at a younger age. As a witcher, Geralt underwent mutations and training in childhood that gave him superhuman abilities to hunt monsters, such as super strength and speed. One of the effects of these mutations is Geralt’s bright white hair. Geralt has a romantic relationship with Yennefer of Vengerberg, sometimes on and sometimes off, but ultimately, Yennefer is the love of his life. Geralt’s destiny is tied to that of his ward, Ciri of Cintra.
Dandelion – “Dandelion” is the nickname given to Julian Alfred Pankratz, Viscount de Lettenhove. (On the Netflix series, his nickname is “Jaskier.”) Dandelion is a bard and a poet, and he becomes one of Geralt’s closest friends. He accompanies Geralt in many of his adventures in the short stories leading up to the saga. By the time we reach the timeline of The Witcher Saga, Dandelion is in his early 40s. He writes many ballads about the love between Geralt and Yennefer.
King Foltest – King Foltest is the ruler of Temeria. He has a romantic relationship with his sister, who becomes pregnant with a daughter. Although both the mother and child die in childbirth, King Foltest’s daughter returns to life as a monster called a Striga. Foltest hires Geralt to lift the curse off his daughter.
Milva – Maria Barring is better known as “Milva.” When Ciri is taken, Milva joins Geralt’s quest to find the missing princess. She is a talented archer.
Regis – At the start of The Witcher Saga, Emiel Regis Rohellec Terzieff-Godefroy, or Regis, is around 400 years old. Geralt is at first suspicious of Regis because he is a higher vampire. However, after Regis rescues Dandelion/Jaskier and Geralt, they invite him to join their party. Regis is a barber-surgeon who is fond of intellectual conversations.
