The Witcher

Ohh...

If there is one thing in this hellish world I cannot abide,

it is wasted talent.

Ten years

in this dimeritium shit-den

over a petty debt to the Cintran crown.

For a mage of your ability, it's...

...criminal.

What do you want, Lydia?

Don't be so sour, Rience.

You must shoulder some of the blame for your current situation.

Only a fool would cross Calanthe without covering his tracks.

Hm. May she rot in peace.

Calanthe is dead?

As a desert spring.

Not that it helps you much.

Your conviction lives on.

But perhaps...

we can find a remedy.

There is a girl, a little lost cub.

My sources tell me she was last seen at a market on the outskirts of Sodden.

For now, only the White Flame is hunting her.

But when others learn of her, they'll hunt too.

And we must get to her first.

And are willing to, say...

put another iron in the fire to ensure it.

My freedom in exchange for being the White Flame's bounty hunter...

I have no interest in owing a favor to Nilfgaard's false god.

How fortunate, then, for us both that I'm not working for Nilfgaard.

When I was a lass,

me playmate had a little brother that was born with no ears.

Just some little lumps of flesh, like cauliflower. Deaf as a post.

I'd give anything to switch places with him now.

"Boats no longer safe for elves," says Fringilla.

"Now we need a land route to Cintra," says Fringilla...

Well, the Yaruga is flooded and unpassable.

Foltest has fortified Brugge beyond recognition.

Brokilon...

No.

Huh.

Either point me to something useful or kindly piss off!

There you go.

Stay back!

Jaskier, where the fuck are you?

String up the scum.

I'll give you "Fuck the North."

Come on, men! We're sailing!

Anyone who's comin' with us, get on board.

This is the last call!

Shit.

Oh, oww...

Uh...

Hello?

Is anyone there?

Well, that's unsettling.

Uh, look, I don't have any money.

I am but a, uh... a humble bard.

Or... or if this is about your wife, your mistress, niece,

then I... I... I can... I can promise you that wasn't me.

I've never met them. You've got the wrong man!

Look, if you're just a really big fan,

then please note that I'm not willing to discuss the subjects of my work,

its inspiration or characters, fictitious or otherwise.

So why don't you just show yourself,

and we can have a nice chat, and you can tell me what you want from me?

- Fucking... fuck! - Shhh.

Hello, Jaskier.

I said, who the fuck are you?

I heard. I heard.

My name is Geralt of Rivia.

I apologize for the abrupt intrusion.

Time was of the essence.

Triss Merigold sent me to you.

I need your help.

You're a witcher.

And you're a monolith expert.

Do you know of the stellacite tower just outside the city?

Yes, I know it. I know it's one of the oldest in existence.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news. It fell during the Slaughter of Cintra.

And now a new subspecies of monsters are coming out of it.

My theory is that they were nesting in the subterranean structure for years,

which might explain the unique mutations.

Tell Triss, uh... I don't understand the prank, but...

points for imagination.

And they say witchers are humorless bastards.

All respect, Mr... Mr. Rivia.

I'm trying to help elves find refuge here.

You have any idea how completely fucking insane you sound?

Hmm.

Sh...

Will you help me or not?

Hello. How are you, then, my sweet?

- Mornin' special. - Please, sir!

- I'm not in the mood. - You owe me money from last week. You do.

Come on, come on.

- Come on, you know you want some! - Come on!

- Where would you be going? - Oi! Hey!

Don't walk away from it now!

Come inside!

I've got some fluffy biscuits need butterin'.

Oooh! Fancy a bit of how's your father?

How would you like to make some money on your feet instead of your back?

Hmm.

Aren't you a pretty thing?

I could be convinced.

A twisted mermaid. Cost you extra, though.

My knees aren't what they once was.

My friend, he's missing.

I fear he may have got into some trouble with one of the guards down at the dock.

I need you to go to the garrison

and see if any little shit-birds under the name of Jaskier have been caged.

You're going to all that trouble, paying someone

for such a simple task?

Half now.

Half when you return.

Well, then. Never look a gift whore in the mouth.

I'll be seeing you.

Are you always this talkative, or should I take it personally?

Why don't you tell me more about this monolith?

I can tell you it's indestructible.

They all are.

How can mysterious monsters be nesting inside a solid structure?

How can you be sure it's this one?

This is the only one that shattered.

The sheer force it would require, what could possibly do that?

You're the expert. Why don't you tell me?

It's this way.

Hmm.

- Try to keep up. - Hah!

You know, I've never actually seen this one.

Calanthe didn't allow access.

And Nilfgaard did.

What are you saying?

- You only came here to study monoliths? - No, I came here to help the elves.

You want to help the elves

by joining a kingdom that regularly massacres whole villages?

On the surface of it, there seems to be a bit of a conflict there.

I suppose you only believe in helping the vulnerable if there's coin in it?

Everyone has an agenda.

Even the helpful few, like yourself.

Charming.

You two, back on the road!

It's all right. I'm an official researcher for Fringilla Vigo. It all checks out.

I don't give a shit. You're trespassing Nilfgaardian land.

Sir, be reasonable. We're passing through.

- We don't want... - If you aren't fucking deaf,

you're fucking stupid.

I said...

Hey, you, stay where you are!

Stay where you are!

See?

I am helpful.

Hmm.

I've been looking for you all over!

Given up on magic lessons already?

Geralt said when you know how to fight something, it becomes less threatening.

Do you even know what you're fighting?

Come inside.

Let's do something that will actually challenge you.

I'll be in soon.

Are we going to talk about this?

- There's nothing to talk about. - The hell there isn't.

- A Cintran princess with Elder blood. - Legends aren't science.

We don't know that Elder blood can make witcher mutagen.

We don't even really know what it is!

I watch my men die,

waiting for the final blow to destroy us.

But now, Ciri is here.

And you arrive too.

It can't be a coincidence.

She is a living, breathing girl.

Not some tool for you to use when you're desperate.

I'm not desperate.

I'm hopeful.

For the first time in a long time.

You, me, and Ciri,

we have a chance to do something extraordinary.

I liked you better when you were a cynical old codger.

If we do this...

it's because she wants to.

She gets to decide.

Get off my daughter!

Leave her alone, now!

You cannot do this! Stop!

No!

- Mummy, don't let them take me! - It's okay!

- Give her back. - Mummy!

- Get your hands off my daughter! - Mummy!

- Dirty little... - No, stop!

Your power, you need it.

All you have to do is ask.

No!

Oi! What's wrong with your hand?

- No! - Nothing.

My friend?

No one by the name of Jaskier.

Oh, I feel you, sister.

Frequent any taverns?

- Huh? - Just sayin'.

From experience.