That was once. And it was one of the first stories Sapkowski wrote about Geralt. He had not had enough time to fully "picture" the character in his head. At least that's what I think.
Yeah, "The Witcher" has a number of small inconsistencies with the world as later developed. For instance, mages are referred to as "Knowing Ones" in it, but that later became a title exclusive to certain elven practitioners. Mages are also talked about as though most everyone sees them as quacks and frauds, and not the powerful advisors of kings and queens they are later on. Also, unlike in the first game, it's far from clear that Ostrit had anything to do with the curse. Geralt even says so, right before he cuts him loose to become striga chow.
@Synvael you misunderstood that piece. Geralt actually went to the meeting with the intention to fight (and kill). Until he saw Istredd was gonna fight with the sword instead of magic. That's the glimpse I was talking about. He questions Istredd's actual will, not his. Istredd knew he wouldn't stand a chance in a sword fight with Geralt. And Geralt knew, too. That's why he stopped: he realized that, if Istredd wanted to fight serious, he would have used magic. Using sword, he realized the mage wanted to die. But, if Istredd used magic, showing he was going to fight seriously, Geralt wouldn't have stood back. He would have fought until his opponent's death. Or his death.
@Synvael you misunderstood that piece. Geralt actually went to the meeting with the intention to fight (and kill). Until he saw Istredd was gonna fight with the sword instead of magic. That's the glimpse I was talking about. He questions Istredd's actual will, not his. Istredd knew he wouldn't stand a chance in a sword fight with Geralt. And Geralt knew, too. That's why he stopped: he realized that, if Istredd wanted to fight serious, he would have used magic. Using sword, he realized the mage wanted to die. But, if Istredd used magic, showing he was going to fight seriously, Geralt wouldn't have stood back. He would have fought until his opponent's death. Or his death.
Here I was referring to the part when he discussed with Istredd in his house, and then when he "slept" in the barn (let's say he just slept and not tried to do something else), he regretted that. It was stupid and he showed that when he met Istredd at dawn.
Yennefer sent the kestrels to save them. But I think Geralt didn't want to kill the sorcerer then, he just kicked the asses of those thugs (I don't know their name in english but you understand). Istredd wanted to fight fairly using the sword, and at last neither him wanted to kill Geralt Neither of them was serious, as they realized they were too stupid to do such thing. Geralt then told Istredd that if he wanted to commit suicide he had to hang himself in a barn.
And now I really go to bed, goodnight. This is a really interesting topic.
Alright we are getting a little off topic, so let me refocus it a bit hear. Why does Geralt specifically choose to keep monster hunting. I know he enjoys helping people cursed, and resolving conflicts between the supernatural human worlds. However why does he specifically continue to hunt monsters is it ever explained, or does he have a particular love of fighting bad ass creatures?
He was actually going to retire at the end of the saga. Then he got a little more retired than he wanted. But, really, what answer do you want? He's been trained his entire life to do one thing: kill monsters. He's basically known nothing else.
Alright we are getting a little off topic, so let me refocus it a bit hear. Why does Geralt specifically choose to keep monster hunting. I know he enjoys helping people cursed, and resolving conflicts between the supernatural human worlds. However why does he specifically continue to hunt monsters is it ever explained, or does he have a particular love of fighting bad ass creatures?
Well, let's say he sees that as the only way he can live... he doesn't see himself doing anything else than what he already does: the witcher. Simple as that xD
Well, let's say he sees that as the only way he can live... he doesn't see himself doing anything else than what he already does: the witcher. Simple as that xD
Not so simple. He knows mercenaries; he knows they're respected and paid better than he is. He knows how to kill humans, and he's efficient at it. But he has chosen not to kill humans for coin, and your original question was why. Good answers were given: it is not within his personal code to do so. Whether he kills humans in circumstances where it is needful to do so is not relevant.
Not so simple. He knows mercenaries; he knows they're respected and paid better than he is. He knows how to kill humans, and he's efficient at it. But he has chosen not to kill humans for coin, and your original question was why. Good answers were given: it is not within his personal code to do so. Whether he kills humans in circumstances where it is needful to do so is not relevant.
Right, that is what I think as well. Take this for example. A Baron offers a reward to Geralt the mercenary, to kill a Count that is having a romantic relationship with the Baron's wife. Geralt would not do that. Even if the Count did have these relationships, and even if that same Count, was responsible for the deaths of hundreds. Geralt is not a murder for hire. What you ask is, why is not Geralt a murder for hire or a mercenary, isn't that so @crimzonwarrior ?
Why aren't you?
I hope you're not.
Because you did not grow up to become a murderer. The Michelet brothers grew up to be murderers. Geralt grew up to be a witcher. Even more so, he did not choose to become a witcher.
As he has said many times, the Choice was made for him, by others. He has surrendered himself to that fate. He knows that he is a witcher, a mutant created to fight monsters. That is his role in the world. He does not think he can be anything else, even if he doesn't really like being a witcher. He does not think he can do it. He left Yennefer and her house in Vengerberg, because his "idiotic" mind told him that he can't settle down and live another life. Because he is a "freak of nature", a "mutant", that does not deserve such fate. He only deserves and has the right to kill monsters. That is what he thinks, or rather used to think.
Now imagine himself considering changing his role in Society, and do something that he would not like to do anyway. To do something that is pretty much against his personal code. Like being a mercenary, just to get more money. There is no way he would do that. He could not even settle down with Yennefer, and in my opinion that is what he always wanted in his life. To settle down.
Well, Geralt has to eat, witchering is his job, he even thought to settle down like he did in Toussaint, working and coming back to home at night. So he changed his mind about it.
And then he thought about quitting witcher job, he'll finally become a gardener.
