Editing The Witcher (section)

==Races==

Like most dark fantasy settings, the Witcher includes your standard Fantasy Races with a gritty, grimdark twist. These include

*'''Humans''' - Same as every other fantasy setting: Mundane humans, superstitious and with a boner for killing (or raping) things that aren't human. Like the elves, they came to this world via the Conjunction, although most humans are pretty ignorant of their history, knowing only as much as "there's us, the guys from the other kingdom next over, the bad guys over the horizon, and all the stunties/knife-ears." They are further subdivided into:
**Nordlings - All the not!Europeans north of the Yoruga; their homeland is to the west somewhere, but they have all but forgotten where exactly. 
**Nilfgaardians - Citizens and vassals of the Nilfgaardian Empire. Nilfgaardians from the city of the same name consider themselves to be above everyone else, but are more traders than soldiers, like the Imperials from TES. Notable for being slightly-not-as-racist as the other humans, just imperialist, if you care about such distinctions. Their culture was actually built from a mixing of Elves and Humans, and the Nilfgaardian language is related to Elder Speech. They invaded the Northern Kingdoms not for land, [[Grimdark|but to destroy their economy and make them reliant on Nilfgaardian exports]]. It was just the cherry-on-top that Imperator Emreis sent most of his enemies to the grinder.
**Zerrikanians - A matriarchic people east of the setting, past the desert and mountains. They worship Dragons and are led by a HIgh Priestess. Other than this, not much is known about them, which led to the Games and TV show expanding their lore. Apparently, they even have their own School of Witchers, the School of the Manticore. 
The following, though human, are <s>genetically</s> ''alchemically/magically-enhanced'' and are basically treated by the rest of Humanity as basically another species:
*'''Witchers''' - Monster-hunters-for-hire. Exclusively male, raised from abandoned orphans, and trained in secret schools, they are very long-lived and possess a wide variety of skills. They are [[Adeptus Custodes|alchemically-augmented]] and can do basic magic in the form of Signs ([[Weeb|think hand signs from Naruto. No, seriously]]) . For a more in-depth look, [[Geralt of Rivia|check this page]].
**In the original Polish, Sapkowski calls them "wiedźmin" which is just how Sapkowski wrote the male-form of "Witch". Why is it important? Because "Witcher" makes them sound like Witch Hunters, which they arent, they're more like Witches but '''Manly'''. They make use of herbs, potions, and Signs (very simple magic); monster hunting is their most common task, but they're also well-versed enough in lore to break curses, treat others, and be able to discern which non-humans are a threat and which aren't; the games also imply Elven and even female Witchers exist, but these would be the prerogative of individual schools, not of the entire profession. Unlike Sorcerers, they practice a more down-to-earth form of magic, are not interested in politics, and they make their services available to anyone who can pay. Also like Witches, they're often the target of persecution and vicious rumors. Just like in real-life, pamphlets were spread around to convince the common folk that Witchers were their enemy and should be eradicated, and is the reason why many schools (Like Geralt's Kaer Morhen) are either extinct or going extinct. This is also why there are so many alternate translations (Hexers, Warlock, Witchman), but because Geralt doesn't really do a lot of magic but does a lot of killing, the game translation of "Witcher" stuck and became canon.
*'''Sorcerers/Sorceress''' - Just like [[Psykers]], Mages are the un/fortunate few who are born with innate magical power ("Chaos"). Those who are ''untrained'' are called Sources, and unless properly trained to harness their powers, they will eventually end up insane or [[BLAM|worse]]. They can draw upon the elements and they are drawn to places where there is an abundance of natural magic (big deal, so are cats). They are all trained in magical schools, like <s>Hogwarts and Oxford</s> Aretuza and Ban Ard, where they get into all sorts of shady, boarding school hijinks like sex, studying dusty tomes, sex, politicking, and of course, sex. 
**Because Mages are often assigned to Nobility as advisors, they are often trained in matters of court. Of course, with all their magical power, long lives, and sterility, they get bored really quickly, and end up manipulating the nobles they're supposed to be serving. In order to maintain their power and influence, they formed the Brotherhood of Sorcerers, so that they could organize themselves and manage their affairs. Of course, putting a [[Fa/tg/uys|whole bunch of nerds]] in [[1d4chan|one room]] and [[Skub|expecting them to agree]] is pretty much impossible, and they all ended up killing themselves in a magic war after they couldn't figure out who they should support, Nilfgaard or the Northern Kingdoms. In response, all the surviving female Sorceresses made their own secret club, because they figured that they could do a better job than the men [[DERP|even though the ''Brotherhood'' had both men and women on board]]. Just like Witchers, mages are often *ehem*'''[[PROMOTIONS|enhanced]]''' so they can better <s>manipulate</s> ''service'' their liege.
**Pretty much all of the Mages suck, which is why the few mages that aren't are such outliers. Ever since the Brotherhood/Lodge was founded, the Mages have politicked and manipulated behind the scenes. Centuries of being alive and living in luxury in the courts of local Nobles mean that many of them have delusions of grandeur and see the common folk as nothing more than scum.
**Because of this, in the pseudo-Communist Nilfgaardian Empire, Mages must be sanctioned by the State and no, [[Inquisition|it's not a choice]], [[Astropath|much like a certain other Imperium]]. Mages are so tightly-regulated that when the Nilfgaardian sorceress attended the first meeting of the Lodge, she felt the Northern Mages were too ostentatious by using magic to enhance their appearance, but couldn't help but feel envious that they had the ''freedom'' to do so. In the show, a Mage who defects to Nilfgaard has more freedom to study Elf archeology, but this freedom is only guarantees for as long as he is useful. 
*'''Elves''' - Split between two extant groups, the Aen Seidhe (Hill People) and Aen Elle (Alder People). For some dumb reason, both male and female Elves are only fertile in their youth, but [[Rape of an Eldar|female elves can get pregnant from human male at any time]], [[/pol/|which leads to a whole lot of resentment towards mixed-offspring]]. 
**The Aen Seidhe are the Elves who live on the Continent, and are your standard wood elf hippies. By the time of the books, they have been whittled down by war and only remain in either ghettos or hidden enclaves. They sought to reclaim one of their sacred places, Dol Blathana, by joining forces with the Nilfgaardians, fighting a guerilla war as the Scoiae..Scoit...fuck it, '''the Squirrels''', they're more badass than it sounds. 
**The Aen Elle are their "Dark Elf" counterparts, who during the last Conjunction, invaded another world and made it their own. They are at war with and have blood-grudge towards Unicorns of all things, because of an envy towards the Unicorns' natural power to travel through worlds, a power the Aen Elle lost during the First Conjunction. They are notable for looking like High Elves, but their kingdom is literally built upon the bodies of captured human slaves.

*'''Unicorns''' - Sentient horned horses that travel the multiverse in herds. They are inherently magical and can sense the "chaos" that resides within magic users; they can also sense evil, and avoid it, which is why some people believe only virgins can catch them. They were the original inhabitants of the world that the Aen Elle now inhabit, which led to a war between the two races. They are telepathic creatures, and even though they are sentient and magical creatures, are not above getting it on with mundane horses. 

*'''Dwarves''' - One of the two races native to the Continent. They are stocky, short, and vulgar, but are an honorable people. They make excellent traders and soldiers, and many make their home throughout the Northern kingdoms. They are strong and robust, and can pull a cart themselves if they don't have beasts of burden. They have one enclave, the "Kingdom of Mahakam," which is home to both Dwarfs and Gnomes. The kingdom itself is vassal to the human kingdom of Temeria, and although they have a dwarf King, most power is concentrated with clan elders. The Dwarves of Mahakam prefer to stay out of human affairs, and are not afraid to flood their mines and stop the export of Mahakam steel should anyone try to interfere with their affairs. Outside of Mahakam, however, the Dwarves are sorely aware of their second-class status, and are often the target of ''pogroms''. One such pogrom targeting the Dwarves resulted in Geralt's own death when he intervened on behalf of his friends. Dwarf women are also bearded, which is why most humans would rather castrate themselves then bed one, but doesn't stop Dwarf men from being very protective of them (and why most Dwarf women stay in Mahakam).

*Gnomes - The other race native to the Continent. They are friendly, intelligent, and are otherwise the polar opposite of dwarves. They are distinguished by their long noses, and though they don't have the long beards of dwarves, they tend to keep theirs short or shave it off entirely. They are excellent craftsmen, and can make enchanted swords, the gwyhyr.

*Vampires - Vampires, like most of the monsters in the Witcher, were a byproduct of the rampant chaos magic caused by the Conjunction. There are many Vampires seen in the series, like Bruxas and Alps, all of which feed on blood and require Witchers to dispatch. But there are exceptions: Higher Vampires, like Elves and Humans, come from another world rather than being mutants, and consider themselves to be ''perfect beings.'' so far above humans that they don't really see them as people. They have none of the weaknesses featured in superstitious folklore, and can recover from being decapitated, staked, and buried, it just takes a really long time to recover, and by then, most of the people that attacked them would probably be dead anyway. Higher Vampires don't need blood to survive, treating blood more like alcohol, and can hide their presence from others. Geralt, badass though he is, has no clue on how to kill Higher Vampires, mostly because they're so rare. 

*Trolls - Trolls are of low intelligence, but have enough cunning to build bridges to tax those who cross them for food.