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Coën (d. March 1268) was a witcher of the School of the Griffin,[1] originally hailing from Poviss and active during the 13th century.
Quick Answers
What school of witchers did Coën belong to?
What childhood illness left scars on Coën?
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How does Coën's early life differ from most witchers?
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Coën was mutated to become a witcher. His mutation process wasn't very smooth, and as such, he had red threads in the whites of his eyes. He also bore scars from chickenpox, suggesting that he either contracted the illness unusually early or began his witcher training later than most. He grew a beard to hide these scars.[2] He developed a particular fondness for one of his instructors, "Old" Keldar, who taught monster knowledge at the school.[3]
Kaer Morhen[]
In 1265, Coën spent his first winter at Kaer Morhen, the fortress of the School of the Wolf. One day, Geralt arrived with Ciri. Coën, alongside the other witchers, set about training her. He supervised Ciri when she practiced on the comb. During a trance, Ciri foresaw the deaths of both Geralt and Coën. Concerned, Geralt called for the sorceress Triss Merigold. When she arrived, Geralt introduced Coën and the sorceress to each other. Like the other witchers, he did not want to betray any witcher secrets and acted so natural toward Triss as to almost be unnatural.
When Triss confronted the witchers about failing to consider that Ciri would get periods, Coën got a sheepish look before cursing and saying they had been idiots. After Ciri came into the hall and said she was indisposed, Vesemir stated that she was not to train if she wore a dress, and Coën gave the old witcher a look entirely devoid of respect. When the first snow started to fall, Coën was cleaning the stables, grooming the horses and repairing a harness, when Ciri joined him in his tasks.
On the night of Midinváerne, while the other witchers and Triss were talking, Coën and Ciri were sitting by themselves playing a hand-slapping game. While the game was monotonous, it did not diminish the enjoyment of either. Eventually, Ciri got the upper hand, prompting Coën to smile, likely letting her win. A little while later, Ciri accused Coën of cheating, to which he put his arms around her and laughed. He then carried her piggyback to the others to wish them a good night. When they reached the table, Ciri said she was thirsty, and while Eskel moved his vessel of White Seagull away, Triss gave Ciri hers, leaving Coën to stand between the now hallucinating Ciri and the hearth. After that night, Coën continued swordsmanship training with Ciri. When she asked if he was the greatest swordsman, he said he knew many who claimed to be, but they could all be found in cemeteries.
During Triss's stay at the fortress, she would often try to talk to the witchers about politics, but Coën, like the others, wasn't interested. He would openly yawn and look at the ceiling whenever she broached the topic. As spring approached, the witchers grew more talkative, discussing what paths they would take and what monsters they might face. Coën agreed with Lambert that there would be plenty of work in Sodden, Mahakam, and Angren, as after wars many women and children would be on their own and easy prey for monsters. When Triss became annoyed and said the world was ending, Coën replied that he had heard that phrase very often, but after Triss told of what she went through at Sodden Hill, Coën, like the other witchers, remained silent.[2]
Death[]
In 1268, Coën fought in the Second Northern War. He was mortally wounded when a pitchfork or two-pronged guisarme pierced his heart, rupturing his aorta. Despite the injury, he survived long enough to be brought to the care of Milo Vanderbeck, a halfling field surgeon known as "Rusty."[4] While he was being transported to the field surgeon, he made one of his companions, a man later known simply as Gardener, promise that he would ensure his silver sword ended up in the hands of a witcher.[5] Despite the medics' efforts, Coën died of his injuries, fulfilling Ciri's prophecy.[4]