Explaining Yennefer's behaviour in the game (with a canon Geralt as partner)
Me again
I still haven't given up explaining people who struggle to understand who Yennefer really is and I think the game didn't such a bad job, though it isn't always that easy to understand that, especially if you haven't read the books.
Main new thread: Yennefer of Vengerberg (all spoilers) The-Revival
In my original thread, which is sadly still closed, yet still informative I think, I tried to give people a thread, where they can talk/ask/discuss whatever refers to her, maybe this was a dumb idea, because it evolved in chaos. Too much small talk, too much fan art, too many screenshots and too many "my opinion is an argument and I don't need actually arguments".
That's why I want to do second try, but this time with organisation and structure and with an actually topic instead of a general idea of it:
There is a whole thread dedicated to fan art/screenshots/everything else.
The first one is rather long, as I wanted to show the general idea behind this. The later sequences will be shorter, I will post them, whenever the discussion slows down, though I have no idea how fast I can throw them out.
The start will be the
Here is the whole video series.
‘Geralt?’
‘I’m listening, Yen.’
‘When we … When we were not together, where you with other women?’
‘No.’
‘Not once?’
‘Not once.’
‘Your voice did not tremble. So I do not know why I don’t believe you.’
‘I only thought of you, Yen.’
‘Now I do.’
It also shows that the woman he always think of is Yennefer, in reality as in dreams. It also shows his feelings quite early in this game, showing how important she is in his life.
"What's it matter? Only ever thought of you..."
Also meaning, "What do I care about other women, you are the only one that ever mattered to me."
Something he again and again showed in the books.
I took the freedom to re-add Yennefer again in the following cutscene, because that's where she belongs and not Vesemir.
Something many probably don't really realize, Yennefer and Geralt have actually quite a lot in common and are not those contrasts many see, for example this "nagging" thing. It's something Geralt does actually quite often, I mean, did you know that he had to fight a Zeugl and that he hates teleports?
"I know we will. That's not what worries me."
Self-confidence and determination, something you would also accredit Yennefer.
"He's always poked his nose in beehive. Courtly intrigues here, assassins' conspiracies there. What do you expect?"
"Don't know... Guess I thought, once we were finally reunited, things would be calm. At least for a while."
"Calm? With Geralt? Hmph. Good Luck."
Funny, isn't it? Could be a talk with 2 sorceresses instead of 2 witchers.
Geralt actually lived with Yennefer for a while in Vengerberg, it was really dull and boring for him, he didn't want to calm down at this point in his life, so he ran away. Only at the end of the books he and she want the same in life, a peaceful home.
Again, Geralt and Yennefer show the same attributes, yet it is implied that only Yennefer had this bad characteristic, when in actual fact both think the same.
All in all I thought we would find out much more about her, so new players would know who she is and who she is for Geralt.
She is not like every woman, she is unique.
Her name has a reputation, she has a reputation.
Her name and their relationship is mentioned in ballads through the northern realms.
The ballads are about their passionate love life.
Geralt perfectly describes her, giving the player information about the key figures of her.
Geralt is also known in the world, even as The Butcher of Blaviken, which was already a book reference in Witcher 2.
Gaunter O'Dimm asks Geralt, whether it is about love? And playing as a canon Geralt, yes, it is about love.
Gaunter starts to describe her again, probably just like in one of those ballads, giving an impression how they are. In the books, we actually witness such a ballad once as Dandelion performs it in front of a group.
The whole reunion here is really awkward, if you ask me. Both don't really know what to say, both don't really know what to do. You can see the awkwardness in their faces.
Yennefer sticks to the business and keeps the feelings away, for now. Geralt does the same, he doesn't really know what to make out all of this and just goes with her, what else would he do anyway? He was looking for her, there she is.
I wish CDPR would have made it more clear how exactly she was put in this position, this way it almost looks like she voluntarily did it for Emhyr, but she would have done this anyway, but working with Emhyr meant also having his ressources, also his agents, which were to this point quite useful apparently. She didn't take his "offer" like it is suggested to Geralt, she did it just like Geralt for Ciri.
Despite being Geralt now "in the same boat" like her, the game kinda shows even though both are doing the same now, the game decides to show Yennefer working with or for Emhyr, while Geralt does it on his own, even though he can actually take crowns for bringing Ciri back to Emhyr!!!
It's a shame the game doesn't make it more clear how Yennefer stands to all this.
Just as Yennefer says, Emhyr killed her friends and she won't forget that, she won't forget what he did, yet she is reasonable and thinks of the living, of Ciri. She is more important, even though she has to swallow her pride.
Not only means that she is as beautiful as she always was, it also means she is the same woman he is thinking of, dreaming of.
Maybe Emhyr didn't allow it, but why would she listen?
Maybe she did send a letter, but it only reached him much much later.
Maybe she contacted the Lodge and they prevented it.
Maybe, maybe.
Anyway, it's still interesting.
First, why didn't she contact him? I already tried to explain it above, but there is another explanation, the one the game gives you and one the books already showed:
She didn't want to spoil things and she trusted him.
You might say, but wait, isn't Ciri more important than that? Yes, she is, but guess what Yennefer and Geralt did in the books. They got split, though against their will, but who was Geralt looking for after he recovered? Yes, it was Ciri and not Yen (until he learned where Yennefer is and looked for her instead, since the leads to Ciri were ice cold long ago).
Who was Yennefer looking for after she recovered? Yes, it was Ciri and not Geralt.
This is not a problem of trust or love, it's the opposite. Because they trust each other, know each other strengths, they know each one of them will manage even without the other one.
What she didn't know was that NOBODY FUCKING CARED ABOUT CIRI IN THE WHOLE FIRST TWO GAMES and about her too except Geralt in Witcher 2, but nobody really wanted to talk straight with him...
This isn't a fault by Yennefer per se, it's indeed a fault by CDPR. If Triss or Dandelion had told Geralt about Ciri and Yennefer the very first moment, he would have gone on a trip to look for her instead of playing bodyguard for a king. So how exactly is that a fault by Yennefer then?
The best we can do is just ignore that, just like the game ignored a lot of decisions from the previous games.
Second, "Let's drop it, all right?"
Yes, she might appear harsh to new people here, yet the whole situation is actually harsh to her.
It isn't new to her that Geralt left her and banged the next woman, even other sorceresses, but this time it is actually a really different thing.
Geralt went after the Wild Hunt to free Yennefer, but he couldn't do it, so he offered his life for hers to the King of the Wild Hunt and he accepted. He was giving his life for her.
After Geralt managed to escape the Wild hunt, what does he do? Exactly, bang a dear friend of her and play politics for the next 2 years, but she is the one being harsh? She is the one who swallows down again her pride and wants just to forget that this ever happened, it doesn't matter anymore, the only thing that matters is that they are back together and to find Ciri.
She is reasonable, she knows Geralt and knows that he probably have decided otherwise, if he had regained his memory much earlier, but he didn't, but so what? Let's drop it. We are adults, people have sex, that happens, let's get to more serious issues like finding our daughter.
First Ciri is more important than anything else, she is the reason she considered to work with Emhyr or with his ressources and the same counts for Geralt now. They are in the same boat now.
Both put their own feelings aside, it has to wait, Ciri is more important. They can always later come back to this, as we will see.
Yet, she still shows how much Geralt actually means to her, yes, Ciri is important, "but try not to be a hero, all right?"
Don't risk your own life for stupid things, just like she always wanted that he stops living so risky and do stupid things like getting involved in everything.
She doesn't want to lose him again.
And that's it, the introduction of Yennefer in the first hours. The next time we see her again will be in approx. 15-25 hours, which is really a shame, considering how short this introduction was for such a character. Only a certain ballad will mention them again.
For me personally the whole presentation was really good, but I also read the books and I can understand how they react to each other, it feels natural between them and not forced, but I can't imagine that new players were already satisfied with just this, especially if you consider that it will take A LOT of time to see her again, the real reunion, if you ask me.
This was a brief introduction and yes, it already showed a lot of her character and the relationship between her and Geralt, yet the real deal starts at Skellige.
It's really unfair that in the whole time until that you learn almost nothing new about her except for the ballad by Priscilla and just as many fans of Triss criticize that there is too few content for Triss in the latter part game, I wished Yen had more content in the earlier parts of the game, especially because she is a new character. I thought the very first part of the game would be much much more longer about looking for Yennefer, a real introduction for her to the new players, hmm Looking for clues about her whereabouts, while learning who she is.
It couldn't be much worse that you can finish whole questlines and already lock yourself onto Triss, while you didn't even really become acquainted with Yennefer, not really fair in terms of information, especially if the real reunion starts at Skellige, after all of this, but that's just my humble opinion and aside of that (and the part in Kaer Morhen), the rest of this project will be exclusively about Geralt and Yennefer so what do you think?
Was the introduction good enough for you? As book reader? As a player? As a complete new player?
Do you agree with what I see in those dialogues or do you see even more or other things?
Their whole relationship isn't easy to explain, it is unique and not your usual relationship you will find in videogames or even other mediums. That's why I want to try to explain it and not just with the books, but actually with what the game offers me and the player, because I think the game does indeed a lot to explain it, but just as their relationship it isn't always so easy to see it at first.
They love each other, but they are clearly past this first loveydovey phase. They already have seen the best and worst parts of each other and still love, respect and trust each other. This isn't a relationship of a newly wed couple anymore, but of two people, who know each other for more than 20 years, yet as we will see later, the sparks between them are still there burning brighter than ever. Maybe even more after each break, because they realize how much they've missed each other, makes the reunion even more delightful
The next part will be about the ballad, depending on how the discussion, if one arises, goes along, I will post the next parts sooner or later. This way we have some kind of structure, talk and discuss about the above and I will bring the discussion to the next part, if it fits or I can't wait to post it
But that doesn't mean you can't ask questions about other parts already, so if you have a burning question, just post it.
Me again
I still haven't given up explaining people who struggle to understand who Yennefer really is and I think the game didn't such a bad job, though it isn't always that easy to understand that, especially if you haven't read the books.
Main new thread: Yennefer of Vengerberg (all spoilers) The-Revival
That's why I want to do second try, but
There is a whole thread dedicated to fan art/screenshots/everything else.
The first one is rather long, as I wanted to show the general idea behind this. The later sequences will be shorter, I will post them, whenever the discussion slows down, though I have no idea how fast I can throw them out.
The start will be the
- Dream sequence - White Orchard - Vizima
- The Wolven Storm
- Kaer Trolde and a feast Part 1 - Part 2
- Echoes of the Past
- A trip to Hindarsfjall and Freya's Garden Part 1 - Part 2
- The Last Wish (whole dialogue as textfile)
- Meeting Emhyr again (textfile)
- Arriving at Kaer Morhen and helping out the other Witchers (textfile)
- Helping Yennefer with her Megascope 1/2 (textfile)
- Talking with Yennefer (textfile)
- Helping Yennefer with her Megascope 2/2 (textfile)
- An Evening off (textfile)
- Removing the Curse + Cooking Time (textfile)
- Isle of Mist
- Ciri at Home
- The Battle of Kaer Morhen
- Aftermath and a Funeral
- Cheering up Ciri and getting Revenge on Imlerith
- Back to Novigrad and questioning an ex-prisoner
- Infiltrating a prison
- Unfinished business with Ciri
- Meeting the Lodge
- Sailing to Skellige
- Meeting Emhyr & Fringilla
- Avallach's laboratory
- Philippa's comment on Geralt's relationship
- Preparation for the Final Battle
- Yennefer's wish for the future
- The End
Here is the whole video series.
Reference to the books, when Geralt meets Yennefer for the very first time, he brings her apple juice, just because of that, she listened to his appeal and so their fateful relationship started.Dream
You know I don’t find that amusing.
It wasn’t meant to amuse, but to prod you to hurry. It’s midday, already
Pfff….
You promised Ciri you’d train with her.
Go, before Vesemir bores her to death with those etchings.
So… later, then?
Mmh. See you later.
You’re running out of juice.
I know. You might bring me some more once you’re done training.
Indeed he does, we will see it later in the game.Lilac and gooseberries, of course.
Geralt, stop fingering my toiletries.
Nothing but silver…
Gold clashes with my complexion. You should know that.
"unreasonable" is really something Yennefer-like, she never does something without a reason and she does never something unreasonable.Got any clothes that aren’t black or white?
Mhm. Undergarments.
See, I thought Ciri could stand to wait a little longer.
It’s uninstructive. Not to mention unreasonable.
Another reference to the books, after a long long trip she asks him:Wanna stay with you a little longer.
I missed you. A lot.
And I missed you. But we’ll have plenty of time to make up for that.
Go and train with her. Then come back. It’ll give me a chance to put my face on.
Of all the women I’ve known, you’re the only one who does that before…
You’ve known many?
What’s it matter? Only ever thought of you…
‘Geralt?’
‘I’m listening, Yen.’
‘When we … When we were not together, where you with other women?’
‘No.’
‘Not once?’
‘Not once.’
‘Your voice did not tremble. So I do not know why I don’t believe you.’
‘I only thought of you, Yen.’
‘Now I do.’
It also shows that the woman he always think of is Yennefer, in reality as in dreams. It also shows his feelings quite early in this game, showing how important she is in his life.
"What's it matter? Only ever thought of you..."
Also meaning, "What do I care about other women, you are the only one that ever mattered to me."
Something he again and again showed in the books.
Let’s be unreasonable.
I don’t wanna be reasonable.
Aha! So that’s the way the wind blows…
You’re right. I should go see Ciri.
Ahh, yeah. Better go see Ciri.
I took the freedom to re-add Yennefer again in the following cutscene, because that's where she belongs and not Vesemir.
Haha Vesemir, you know who else is always nagging about something? Yeah, Geralt.Awake from a dream
You all right?
Mhm, Had a nightmare….
About?
Take forever to explain.
Dawn’s some way off. We’ve got time.
I dreamt of Kaer Morhen…
Started in the guest room at Kaer Morhen. I was relaxing in the tub, and next to me…
Triss?
Yennefer. Funny, isn’t it? She’s never been there. Seemed so real in my dream, though.
Was she nagging you about something?
Hm. Mhm.
True to life, indeed.
We’ll find her.
Something many probably don't really realize, Yennefer and Geralt have actually quite a lot in common and are not those contrasts many see, for example this "nagging" thing. It's something Geralt does actually quite often, I mean, did you know that he had to fight a Zeugl and that he hates teleports?
Again, you could almost replace Yennefer with Geralt and the sentences will still make sense:Really rather not talk about.
Rather not talk about.
Gotcha.
I know we will. That’s not what worries me.
You’ve seen her tracks. She’s at full gallop all the time, breakneck speed through wild lands, devastated battlefields… She’s in a hurry to get somewhere, or fleeing something. Either way, it means trouble of some sort.
She’s always poked her nose in beehives. Courtly intrigues here, mages’ conspiracies there. What do you expect?
Don’t know…Guess I thought, once we were finally reunited, things would be calm. At least for a while.
Calm? With Yennefer? Hmph. Good Luck.
"I know we will. That's not what worries me."
Self-confidence and determination, something you would also accredit Yennefer.
"He's always poked his nose in beehive. Courtly intrigues here, assassins' conspiracies there. What do you expect?"
"Don't know... Guess I thought, once we were finally reunited, things would be calm. At least for a while."
"Calm? With Geralt? Hmph. Good Luck."
Funny, isn't it? Could be a talk with 2 sorceresses instead of 2 witchers.
Geralt actually lived with Yennefer for a while in Vengerberg, it was really dull and boring for him, he didn't want to calm down at this point in his life, so he ran away. Only at the end of the books he and she want the same in life, a peaceful home.
Again, Geralt and Yennefer show the same attributes, yet it is implied that only Yennefer had this bad characteristic, when in actual fact both think the same.
In my opinion Geralt wouldn't exactly tell Vesemir what he is doing in his private time, so I took this option. Either way Vesemir can think whatever he wantsThen we trained with Ciri…
In the dream, I went and found Ciri. Then we trained.
Those were the days… Hm, little she-devil.
I’ve trained kids who were faster, stronger – but none had her character.
Didn’t end well, did it? Your dream.
No. The Wild hunt appeared, attacked Ciri… I couldn’t move. Stood there like a stump.
It was just a dream.
…
Time to go
Be dawning soon. Time to go.
Wait. Show me the letter from Yennefer, might’ve overlooked some hint in there.
Didn’t overlook anything. We were meant to meet in Willoughby – that’s what she wrote. Meanwhile one army or another burned the village to the ground. All we can do is follow her trail, so…
Stop talking for a minute and give me the letter. Well, how about that! It does smell of lilac and gooseberries.
You were gonna read it, not sniff it .
“We must meet. Soon”…”Willoughby, near Vizima” … Hm, nothing else to guide us there.
What’s this postscript? “I still have the unicorn?”
That's private.
That's private. Very private.
A-ha... I understand. Least I think I do. Maybe not entirely, but... perhaps that's for the best.
Stuffed unicorn - we used it as bed once.
Stuffed unicorn. Used it once or twice. In certain… situations.
Hm! The things young folk get up to these days…
This letter, great. It's again a book reference, when Geralt wrote Yennefer to take care of Ciri:Back on topic. How’s it look – how far behind Yennefer are we?
Two, three days… Trail’s fresh. But it looks like it leads towards the main road. Could be muddled there.
It's a shame that we don't get to see that except in that render video and we don't get much information about her from the first NPCs, at least the last one has actually information and as we already know will this one even be quite important in the upcoming expansion.White Orchard
...
Folk say the lady rode through the village a few days back. Gallopi’ so fast she knocked Radobor into a ditch.
Which way did she go?
Dunno… Lots of tracks leadin’ off the main road. Coulda gone anywhere.
...
Of course not. Unlike the populace, I know the Horsewoman of War is pure poppycock.
Horsewoman of War – what’s that about?
Folk say an omen, a beautiful phantom rides the fields at night. Looks as you described her. Armies follow her, and all who cross her path meet with misfortune.
I can vouch for the last bit. Know where they saw her?
No. Facts interest me, not fairytales.
All in all I thought we would find out much more about her, so new players would know who she is and who she is for Geralt.
This is the only time we actually get information about her from another NPC in a dialogue.Looking for a woman.
Ahh, like everyone.
Not like everyone, and not just any woman. Mine smells of lilac and gooseberries, dresses in black and white.
Two schnappses!
Hah. It’ll lift your spirits.
Fine, I’ll have a drink.
Can we cut to the chase? You seen her or not?
Yennefer of Vengerberg?
Never mentioned her name.
Yet you described her perfectly. And once I hear something, I never forget. Can’t help it.
How do you know Yennefer?
What a question. Master Dandelion’s ballads, of course. The only way a humble merchant might hope to rub up against greatness. Unless, that is, he’s as lucky as I am.
And runs into a very patient witcher?
Into Geralt of Rivia himself. The Butcher of Blaviken.
Recognize me from Master Dandelion’s ballads, too?
To your health.
What do you do? Who are you?
A mangy vagrant. Gaunter O’Dimm, at your service.
Vagrant – that a profession now?
Ah, once a merchant of mirrors. The madding crowd dubbed me Master Mirror, or the Man of Glass.
You seen Yennefer?
Deepest apologies, but I must ask: Is this about love?
Guessed it. It’s love.
I knew it at once.
What do you know? Tell me.
Before you appeared, it never occurred to me that might’ve been Yennefer. Who would’ve have thought…
Get to the point.
A Nilfgaardian scout from the local garrison saw her.
Where?
At their camp. She rode in there – dark of night, black and white, gooseberries and… yes, I know. Had a terse exchange with the garrison commander and raced off.
Where to?
I’m not omniscient. Ask at the garrison.
Thanks.
We men of the road must stick together. Perhaps one day I’ll be in trouble and you’ll be nearby to help.
She is not like every woman, she is unique.
Her name has a reputation, she has a reputation.
Her name and their relationship is mentioned in ballads through the northern realms.
The ballads are about their passionate love life.
Geralt perfectly describes her, giving the player information about the key figures of her.
Geralt is also known in the world, even as The Butcher of Blaviken, which was already a book reference in Witcher 2.
Gaunter O'Dimm asks Geralt, whether it is about love? And playing as a canon Geralt, yes, it is about love.
Gaunter starts to describe her again, probably just like in one of those ballads, giving an impression how they are. In the books, we actually witness such a ballad once as Dandelion performs it in front of a group.
That's something you will hear a lot in the game that Geralt didn't change and so didn't Yennefer, thank god and screw the amnesiaThe short Reunion
Excuses, excuses… You’ve not changed a bit.
Yeah, me too and unfortunately it will take a while until the real reunion comes.Ye… Yen? How?
I received a report. About a witcher who’d appeared in White Orchard. I knew it was you. Looking for me.
I might’ve waited until you found me, but… you know me. Patience has never been my strong suit.
It’s… good to see you, Geralt. I… I’d even embrace you… were you not covered in blood.
Sorry… Wasn’t expecting to see you. To be honest, this isn’t at all how I imagined we’d meet.
How did you imagine it?
The whole reunion here is really awkward, if you ask me. Both don't really know what to say, both don't really know what to do. You can see the awkwardness in their faces.
Yennefer sticks to the business and keeps the feelings away, for now. Geralt does the same, he doesn't really know what to make out all of this and just goes with her, what else would he do anyway? He was looking for her, there she is.
The dialogie is strict to business, she doesn't want to talk about Ciri in public, which is reasonable, so she expects Geralt to just trust her and come along, even though it's Nilfgaard.He didn’t imagine you’d have a Nilfgaardian escort.
Don’t get me wrong, Yennefer. I’m glad to see you… but I do think you owe us an explanation.
And I shall provide it… in Vizima. Ready your horses.
Why Vizima?
We can talk here. Some charming orchards nearby. In bloom, even, so you almost can’t smell the corpses.
A tempting proposition. Sadly, I must say no.
You see, someone awaits you in Vizima. Someone who doesn’t like to be kept waiting.
Why the rush?
Spent the last six months in the saddle. Haven’t seen you for two years. Can’t we take a moment to---
Sadly, we cannot. Someone awaits you, Geralt. Someone who doesn’t like to be kept waiting.
Emperor Emhyr var Emreis… or, to those on more intimate terms with him, the White flame Dancing on the Graves of His Foes.
Doubt I number among that group. Far as I remember, last time we saw each other, he wanted to kill me.
Well, now he wishes to make you an offer.
The kind one can’t refuse?
I didn’t. Though I could have.
Suppose I can hear him out…
Fine. Guess I’m willing to hear him out.
The emperor of Nilfgaard, lord of Metinna, Ebbing and Gemmera, sovereign of Nazair and Vicovaro, will feel honored, I’m sure.
Wonder what he offered you.
Must’ve been a damn good offer, then.
Not many things you’d give up your freedom for. And even fewer people.
The sooner we set off, the sooner you’ll find out.
This is the very first real coversation between them, small talk like you would expect between them everynow and then and thank godness, they add A LOT of this in the game, which really made me smile. Shorts like these underline their relationship, their trust, their sincerity, their faith and passion between them.What about you?
I’m going in the opposite direction. I somehow doubt the emperor’s invitation mentioned me. Besides, I’ve got things to do at Kaer Morhen, remember?
Yeah, I remember. Thanks for your help, Vesemir. See you soon.
How’s your horse? Swift?
Can’t complain. Why do you ask?
I’d like to be back behind some thick city walls. As soon as possible.
You know… had a dream about you recently.
Knowing you, it was probably filthy.
Just the beginning. But then—
But then?
Seems reasonable as we will found out later.Ride! Now!
Yennefer, how’d they—
We shall talk of this tomorrow, all right? After the audience.
...
Ha, seeGeralt! That tunic - you look positively smashing.
Ugh, dying to take it off.
I'd consider that a proposition under different circumstances... one I might even take you up on. But we've matters to attend to.
Yeah, I am not so sure about that. CDPR failed to show here the progress from "being a prisoner" to "look for my daughter and you will be free and have access to unlimited ressources by me".Now do you understand why I’m at Emhyr’s court?
Mhm. And seems we’re in the same boat, now.
I wish CDPR would have made it more clear how exactly she was put in this position, this way it almost looks like she voluntarily did it for Emhyr, but she would have done this anyway, but working with Emhyr meant also having his ressources, also his agents, which were to this point quite useful apparently. She didn't take his "offer" like it is suggested to Geralt, she did it just like Geralt for Ciri.
Despite being Geralt now "in the same boat" like her, the game kinda shows even though both are doing the same now, the game decides to show Yennefer working with or for Emhyr, while Geralt does it on his own, even though he can actually take crowns for bringing Ciri back to Emhyr!!!
It's a shame the game doesn't make it more clear how Yennefer stands to all this.
Yes, very important. Geralt wouldn't say that, it's distrusting Yennefer and question her loyality, even though he should know better that all she will do is for the sake of Ciri.Ciri – she’s really back? No chance he’s mistaken?
Look – that’s more or less what she looks like now, or so our agents claim. Out little witcher’s grown into a young lady.
So they’re our agents now?
Hm, so they’re “our” agents now? My, my… you’ve clearly settled in quick.
Geralt, don’t twist my words.
I know who Emhyr is. He started this war and its bloodshed. He had my friends killed. But I haven’t any other choice, so please… let’s not belabor the pros and cons and instead focus on finding Ciri. All right?
Just as Yennefer says, Emhyr killed her friends and she won't forget that, she won't forget what he did, yet she is reasonable and thinks of the living, of Ciri. She is more important, even though she has to swallow her pride.
Once again, "she hasn't changed a bit."Yeah… all grown up
How about that… she’s grown up.
It’s been years since you trained together at Kaer Morhen.
A great deal has changed.
You haven’t. Not a bit.
I missed those awkward compliments of yours…
But let’s focus on Ciri, all right?
Not only means that she is as beautiful as she always was, it also means she is the same woman he is thinking of, dreaming of.
This is indeed strange. Why didn't she contact Geralt earlier? Even if she was in prison during Witcher 1 and maybe 2, after that she was apparently(?) freed by Emhyr and was looking for Ciri. She could have sent Geralt a letter or even just teleport to him, but she didn't.Right. Emhyr said the Wild Hunt’s after her. I’d find that hard to believe – before what happened yesterday. How did they track us down?
Because of me. You see… I’ve spent months searching for Ciri. Using locating spells, haruspicy, geomancy, anything, really. I knew the Wild Hunt might sense it, perhaps even find me, but… I thought I’d tricked them.
Well, guess you were wrong.
Hm. I’ve sensed them on my trail, hunting me, for some time. If not for you and Emhyr’s soldiers, they’d have gotten what they were after.
I can’t risk another encounter like that. It’s time to put away the magic, turn to more traditional methods… to the best tracker I know.
You must find her, Geralt. Before the Wild Hunt does.
Maybe Emhyr didn't allow it, but why would she listen?
Maybe she did send a letter, but it only reached him much much later.
Maybe she contacted the Lodge and they prevented it.
Maybe, maybe.
Yeah, a shitty excuse if you ask me, but it doesn't matter whether you slept with her or not, CDPR forced you to do that and so they forced this dialogue. I think CDPR could have solved this much smoother by savegame import, but...oh well...The Wild Hunt – what could it want from Ciri?
I’ve no clue, Geralt. Might’ve written them to ask, but I don’t have their address.
I know as much as you do. It must be about her blood, her gift.
As for what the Hunt wishes to do with that gift, I—I’d prefer not to think about, really.
So where’s Ciri been seen, exactly?
In two places – Velen and Novigrad.
The trail in Velen is most promising. You should make that your first stop. Ask for a merchant named Hendrik at the Inn at the crossroads. One of the emperor’s agents, he should get in touch with you.
That’s it? No passwords, secret handshakes?
None. Sorry to spoil your fun, your boyhood fantasies about the crafts of the trade.
All we have in Novigrad are unconfirmed reports, rumors. But there you will have the help of our mutual acquaintance.
Triss Merigold. Apparently she’s got a cozy flat on the main square.
Sure she’ll be delighted to see me. What about you? What will you do?
I shall sail for Skellige. There was a magic explosion there recently, blew half a forest down. I believe this had something to do with Ciri. I’ll be in Kaer Trolde. Join me there once you’ve learned something.
One thing before we go… Why didn’t you contact me? Didn’t need me, didn’t even want to see me?
I didn’t want to spoil things. I’d heard you and Triss made a great couple.
Yen… I’d lost my memory.
Really – that’s your excuse?
Let’s drop it, all right? “It’s not what you think” or “it helped me understand how much I love you” – I don’t wish to hear it, any of it.
Anyway, it's still interesting.
First, why didn't she contact him? I already tried to explain it above, but there is another explanation, the one the game gives you and one the books already showed:
She didn't want to spoil things and she trusted him.
You might say, but wait, isn't Ciri more important than that? Yes, she is, but guess what Yennefer and Geralt did in the books. They got split, though against their will, but who was Geralt looking for after he recovered? Yes, it was Ciri and not Yen (until he learned where Yennefer is and looked for her instead, since the leads to Ciri were ice cold long ago).
Who was Yennefer looking for after she recovered? Yes, it was Ciri and not Geralt.
This is not a problem of trust or love, it's the opposite. Because they trust each other, know each other strengths, they know each one of them will manage even without the other one.
What she didn't know was that NOBODY FUCKING CARED ABOUT CIRI IN THE WHOLE FIRST TWO GAMES and about her too except Geralt in Witcher 2, but nobody really wanted to talk straight with him...
This isn't a fault by Yennefer per se, it's indeed a fault by CDPR. If Triss or Dandelion had told Geralt about Ciri and Yennefer the very first moment, he would have gone on a trip to look for her instead of playing bodyguard for a king. So how exactly is that a fault by Yennefer then?
The best we can do is just ignore that, just like the game ignored a lot of decisions from the previous games.
Second, "Let's drop it, all right?"
Yes, she might appear harsh to new people here, yet the whole situation is actually harsh to her.
It isn't new to her that Geralt left her and banged the next woman, even other sorceresses, but this time it is actually a really different thing.
Geralt went after the Wild Hunt to free Yennefer, but he couldn't do it, so he offered his life for hers to the King of the Wild Hunt and he accepted. He was giving his life for her.
After Geralt managed to escape the Wild hunt, what does he do? Exactly, bang a dear friend of her and play politics for the next 2 years, but she is the one being harsh? She is the one who swallows down again her pride and wants just to forget that this ever happened, it doesn't matter anymore, the only thing that matters is that they are back together and to find Ciri.
She is reasonable, she knows Geralt and knows that he probably have decided otherwise, if he had regained his memory much earlier, but he didn't, but so what? Let's drop it. We are adults, people have sex, that happens, let's get to more serious issues like finding our daughter.
Again, really interesting and it shows more than you think at first.Guess this means we need to split up again. Not my preference, but I understand. Clock’s ticking.
It is indeed. So, why don’t I teleport you to Velen, get you there at once?
Not gonna happen. I’ll go on horseback. Soon as I can get changed.
Have it your way. Oh, and… you really look quite dashing in black velvet.
Think so? Maybe I can have some of my armor lined with it. Hm. Good luck, Yen.
Same to you. And if you wish to learn what’s happened in the world while you and Vesemir roamed the wilderness, talk to Ambassador var Attree. That’s him, over there.
And Geralt, I know it’s wartime, but try not to be a hero, all right? Just check those leads and come back to me – in one piece.
*kiss*
I shall be waiting.
First Ciri is more important than anything else, she is the reason she considered to work with Emhyr or with his ressources and the same counts for Geralt now. They are in the same boat now.
Both put their own feelings aside, it has to wait, Ciri is more important. They can always later come back to this, as we will see.
Yet, she still shows how much Geralt actually means to her, yes, Ciri is important, "but try not to be a hero, all right?"
Don't risk your own life for stupid things, just like she always wanted that he stops living so risky and do stupid things like getting involved in everything.
She doesn't want to lose him again.
And that's it, the introduction of Yennefer in the first hours. The next time we see her again will be in approx. 15-25 hours, which is really a shame, considering how short this introduction was for such a character. Only a certain ballad will mention them again.
For me personally the whole presentation was really good, but I also read the books and I can understand how they react to each other, it feels natural between them and not forced, but I can't imagine that new players were already satisfied with just this, especially if you consider that it will take A LOT of time to see her again, the real reunion, if you ask me.
This was a brief introduction and yes, it already showed a lot of her character and the relationship between her and Geralt, yet the real deal starts at Skellige.
It's really unfair that in the whole time until that you learn almost nothing new about her except for the ballad by Priscilla and just as many fans of Triss criticize that there is too few content for Triss in the latter part game, I wished Yen had more content in the earlier parts of the game, especially because she is a new character. I thought the very first part of the game would be much much more longer about looking for Yennefer, a real introduction for her to the new players, hmm Looking for clues about her whereabouts, while learning who she is.
It couldn't be much worse that you can finish whole questlines and already lock yourself onto Triss, while you didn't even really become acquainted with Yennefer, not really fair in terms of information, especially if the real reunion starts at Skellige, after all of this, but that's just my humble opinion and aside of that (and the part in Kaer Morhen), the rest of this project will be exclusively about Geralt and Yennefer so what do you think?
Was the introduction good enough for you? As book reader? As a player? As a complete new player?
Do you agree with what I see in those dialogues or do you see even more or other things?
Their whole relationship isn't easy to explain, it is unique and not your usual relationship you will find in videogames or even other mediums. That's why I want to try to explain it and not just with the books, but actually with what the game offers me and the player, because I think the game does indeed a lot to explain it, but just as their relationship it isn't always so easy to see it at first.
They love each other, but they are clearly past this first loveydovey phase. They already have seen the best and worst parts of each other and still love, respect and trust each other. This isn't a relationship of a newly wed couple anymore, but of two people, who know each other for more than 20 years, yet as we will see later, the sparks between them are still there burning brighter than ever. Maybe even more after each break, because they realize how much they've missed each other, makes the reunion even more delightful
The next part will be about the ballad, depending on how the discussion, if one arises, goes along, I will post the next parts sooner or later. This way we have some kind of structure, talk and discuss about the above and I will bring the discussion to the next part, if it fits or I can't wait to post it
But that doesn't mean you can't ask questions about other parts already, so if you have a burning question, just post it.
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