Striga

A striga (Polish: strzyga) is a woman transformed into a monster by a curse. She is filled with hatred towards all living beings, devouring them without second thought.


 * ''"Where does it come from? Spells, magic?"
 * '' "I have no idea, sire. The Sages research these phenomena. For us witchers, it is enough to know that strong will may create them. We also like to know how to fight them."
 * '' "And kill them?"
 *  "Most frequently, yes. That is what we are usually paid for. Few want the spell lifted. People usually just want to be protected. If the monster has killed people, revenge may be another motive." - in-game journal entry, quote from a conversation between king Foltest and witcher Geralt of Rivia in the short story The Witcher.

Curse and transformation
There is not much known about the curse that turns females into striga. The only well-documented example of a striga's lifetime was that of Adda the White, daughter of Foltest, king of Temeria. She was cursed previous to her birth and then born a striga. Laid to rest in a tomb with her mother, who did not survive the birth, it took seven years for her to fully grow and follow her predatorial instincts.

Some details of the curse that transforms people into a striga, is detailed in Ostrit's journal.

Lifting the curse
In order to lift the curse on a striga, "someone must prevent the striga from returning to her coffin by the third crowing of the rooster. Then she would be cured, turning into an ordinary little girl."

Life after the curse
After a person has been cured from the striga-curse, there is the chance that the person will not fully recover mentally, keeping part of the vicious and somewhat dull-witted nature of her previous striga-form.

There is also the chance of a relapse, turning back into a striga. To prevent this, cured striga wear amulets and participate in rituals designed to ward off the curse.

Occurence
A striga may tolerate necrophages; she needs a hideout during the day, often choosing a sarcophagus in a forgotten branch of a crypt.

Immunity
Resistant to steel.

Susceptibility
Sensitive to silver; a striga may be freed from her curse by those who survive a night near her sarcophagus.

Tactics
A striga is a very strong and agile creature, but not as resilient as she might seem; she attacks by surprise and tries to tear opponents to pieces without giving them a chance to fight back; near her sarcophagus, a striga is always stronger.

Alchemy
Striga Heart.

Location

 * Swamp Cemetery; Striga's Crypt

Source

 * Curses and the Cursed
 * Velerad

Trivia

 * The intro to the game depicts the night Geralt cured Adda's curse.
 * Ostrit's journal is required for the game to progress.

Gallery
Striege Strige Strzyga