Epilogue? i think you mean the final cutscene

[KnightofPhoenix]

(the most beautiful intro I personally vote for is of Assassin's Creed 2)

It's the music.

And I share the sentiment, TW2's ending is one my favorite and most memorable endings as well.

 

[Aditya]

It's the music.

And I share the sentiment, TW2's ending is one my favorite and most memorable endings as well.

yes indeed

 

[nstiver]

I spared Letho in my first playthrough, but then later I had to see what happens when you kill him, and his death was genuinely sad. The music added to the effect a lot, and when he finally fell I felt as if he was another casualty of these pointless wars and, in some sense, of human nature.

This.


I always let him go, but on my last playthrough I loaded the save and killed him just to see what happens. It was totally hollow revenge--seeing his lifeless corpse drop to the ground, I felt bad for him. Geralt just walks off, and I was stuck by the feeling that killing him didn't change anything, and revenge will never bring you peace.

 

[Randomdrowner2015]

I felt that I had to kill him. Not just because how far he had crossed the line and strayed from the path, but also because I felt that I owed Foltest and Roche. I had defended Vergen, saved Triss, and spared the dragon. (If Letho had saved Triss, I would probably not been able to kill him, owing him too much.)

I was not happy to do it though, and I found it rather tasteless that Geralt stated that he would gladly kill him in the battle after they had shared that little chat and vodka.

Oh well, maybe Geralt needed to talk himself into it a bit to continue the fight without doubt and regret eating at him during the fight.

 

[martiansinuranus]

I fought Letho in Act I, and killed him in the Epilogue.

I know it's kind of dickish to kill him after all he did, but I don't remember any of it, and Geralt has a new girlfriend now.

Plus he kind of betrayed everyone when he joined Nilfgaard. The fall of Tameria was pretty much his fault because I had to save Triss instead of Anais. And almost killing Triss is another reason he should die.

 

[anglachelh]

Tamriel? Someone has been playing The Elder Scrolls hehehe

 

[martiansinuranus]

Tamriel? Someone has been playing The Elder Scrolls hehehe

Uh...yea. I was wondering that. Is there s relation with "Tam..." something and dark-age mythology? Tamriel and Tameria sound way to similar to be coincidental. Did ES take references from the same book as The Witcher?

 

[anvos]

When Letho told me his story, I couldn't help but tell myself: "He's in this because of ME". Think about it, if he and his company had just left Yennefer behind - they had no reason or obligation to look after her - they would never have been captured. They would never have been sent to the Northern Kingdoms. His willingness to look after her proves that Letho is, in his way, a man of his word. He owed Geralt his life and he repaid him, even when Geralt was no longer in a position to force him to return the favour.

To be fair here, I'm not seeing a reason why they had to stay in the south when their order was ruined and nilfgardians shunned them. In fact considering this was before the whole rebuild the order thing came up logic would say seek out one of the other witcher schools.

Even after that, when he fought with Geralt and decided to spare his life. Letho said he owed him, but did he really? He had already done his part by looking after Yennefer as long as he could, in the first place. And yet, he left Geralt live. Finally, if you chose that path of course, he ends up saving Triss. Why? What more does he owe to Geralt? He already looked after one sorceress, spared the Witcher's life and now saved another of his lovers. To me, this is an obvious indicator that the man is not completely lost. Yes, he did a lot of harm - he killed a lot of people, but if you look at it that way - did Geralt not do the same?

With Triss an arguement could be made that maybe its because he feels guilty that he steps in and saves Triss, since after all her current situation is like 90% due to him abducting her in Flotsam.

Because we play as Geralt, he is the main character in this story, it is only human nature to sympathise with him more. We associate with him and we assume that his way is the right way. And yet, when we look at it - the Outskirts of Vizima, the assault of the La Valette castle, the pogrom in Flotsam (which is one possible outcome, but still), the the battle of Vergen (if the mist had just stayed there Henselt would have no choice but to turn back) and, in the end, Loc Muinne. Some of this is not directly connected to his actions, but Geralt's overall meddling did stir up a lot of problems. In a way, depending on the player's actions, he could potentially cause just as much harm as Letho did.

Outskirts were messed up already and if not for Geralt the spirit would probably still be haunting the land and even stronger when the order bautched slaying it by thinking "cleansing" the town with holy fire would solve things.

La Valette castle would have still happened with or without Geralt present, the only change is even more lives would have been lost.

The problems in Flotsam were yet again already there before hand. Geralt was one of the few people actually doing stuff about problems.

Vergen if the mist had stayed both countries and maybe eventually the world would have been doomed as the mist was growing about 2 feet a day according to the observations of Adam Pangrant and his mercenaries.

Loc Muine had a high chance of conflict to begin with, without Geralt the only difference would be the conference became known as the day mages slaughtered the peacefully gathered rulers of the north.

And let's not forget the motive. Letho didn't do this for gold or glory, or some other such. He did it for his School and, ultimately, that is what moved me. Witchers are a dying breed, if one is trying to restore a part of what was lost, who am I to get in his way? More so, with so few of them left, isn't it criminal for them to murder each other? For no particular reason, aside from the fact that they got caught in the major powers' political ploys?

Which sadly was a deluded dream much as Jacques' dream for the future. Under Emyr the new viper school would likely be little more than state police and assassins. Just because witchers need a future doesn't mean they must or should give up all that was good about their orders just for survival's sake.

When you think about it, Letho and Geralt are not that different. They are social outcasts, rejected by society for whom they are. And each of them is trying to make his own way in the world, doing this that may not always be classed as good or honourable. In the end, both are trying to make the two ends meet, using their unique skillset; only when politics enter the mix do they fuck things up as usual.

Actually I'd say there is a bit of a flaw in that argument as similarities rarely distinguish one person from another but rather their differences do. As for Geralt I get a feeling he is far more accepted than Letho ever has been, not to mention many times in both games I've found background peasents inquiring if Geralt would be willing to settle down and become their resident protector and monster slayer.

Odd how two people can look at the same stuff and get vastly different thoughts on the same information, but none the less the bolded stuff is my own thoughts on stuff.

 

[FoggyFishburne]

@KnightofPhoenix @Costin Moroianu - You summed up my feelings nicely. The ending is so sublime and so magnificently mature, I find it hard to believe that I've had the honor to play this game. Thanks CDPR. You're my new favorite developer. Played Witcher and Witcher 2 back to back quite recently. Finest gaming experience of my life.

@Blackrock @Thothistox - Bloody awesome analysis. Cheers lads!

 

[Guest 3593423]

Weird, I never felt very sorry for Letho. I mean, he seemed to be trying to get on Geralt's bad side every chance he had... Maybe it was the accent he had in the English version which got to me. But no, good morla choices which aren't black/white, that's what the Witcher is all about!