Monstrum, or Description of the Witcher

Monstrum, or Description of the Witcher (also translated as Monstrum, or a description of a witcher) is an anonymous piece of hate literature which purports to be about witchers.

Excerpt

Verily, there is nothing so hideous as the monsters, so contrary to nature, known as witchers for they are the offspring of foul sorcery and devilry. They are rogues without virtue, conscience or scruple, true diabolic creations, fit only for killing. There is no place amidst honest men for such as they.

And Kaer Morhen, where these infamous beings nestle, where they perform their foul practices, must be wiped from the surface of this earth, and all trace of it strewn with salt and saltpetre.

pg. 43, Blood of Elves (UK edition)

They roam the land, importunate and insolent, nominating themselves the stalkers of evil, vanquishers of werewolves and exterminators of spectres, extorting payment from the gullible and, on receipt of their ignoble earnings, moving on to dispense the same deceit in the near vicinity. The easiest access they find at cottages of honest, simple, and unwitting peasants who readily ascribe all misfortune and ill events to spells, unnatural creatures and monsters, the doings of windsprites or evil spirits. Instead of praying to the gods, instead of bearing rich offerings to the temple, such a simpleton is ready to give his last penny to the base witcher, believing the witcher, the godless changeling, will turn around his fate and save him from misfortune.

pg. 165, Blood of Elves (UK edition)

It is well known that when a witcher inflicts pain, suffering and death he experiences absolute ecstasy and bliss such as a devout and normal man experiences during sexual congress with his wedded spouse, ibidem cum ejaculatio. This leads one to conclude that, also in this matter also, a witcher is a creature contrary to nature, an immoral and filthy degenerate, born of the blackest and most foul-smelling Hell, since surely only a devil could derive bliss from suffering and pain.

pg. 193, The Tower of the Swallow

The Witcher

Monstrum, or Description of the Witcher

Describes how ordinary people perceive witchers and recounts the story of Kaer Morhen's destruction.

Journal Entry

Monstrum, or a Portrayal of Witchers
Anonymous

"Indeed, there is nothing more repulsive than these monsters that defy nature and are known by the name of witcher, as they are the offspring of foul sorcery and witchcraft. They are unscrupulous scoundrels without conscience and virtue, veritable creatures from hell capable only of taking lives. They have no place amongst decent and honest folk.

And this Kaer Morhen where these villains nest and practice foul rituals must be wiped off the face of the earth, and all evil traces of it need be treated with salt and saltpeter to complete the deed."

Journal Entries

• Glossary: Witchers

Location

• a crate in the armory on the second floor of Kaer Morhen
• Antiquary in the Outskirts' Inn
• Antiquary in the Temple Quarter
• Bookshelf in Triss Merigold's house in the Trade Quarter (Act III)

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings

Monstrum, or Description of the Witcher

This book can be purchased from Einar Gausel in Flotsam during Chapter I.

Journal Entry

Once as numerous as the beasts they fought, today the witchers are seen as a relic of times long gone. The exact nature of their training remains a mystery. It is known it consists, among others, of the Trails – processes that transform the organism using a specific combination of secret herbs and infusions. Those who survive them gain superhuman reflexes, speed of reaction, the ability to see in the dark and many other traits making them lethal foes. During their training they learn swordplay and basics of magic, known as Signs. Armed in this set of abilities, the witchers can effectively fulfill their objective, that is protect humans from the monsters inhabiting our world.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

There are two volumes of this work in the third game:

• Monstrum, or a Portrayal of Witchers. Volume 1
• Monstrum, or a Portrayal of Witchers. Volume 2