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{{Character Tabs|first = main|second = netflix}}
 
{{SpoilerBanner}}
 
{{SpoilerBanner}}
 
{{Infobox Character
 
{{Infobox Character
 
|Image = Triss-TW3-new-render.png
 
|Image = Triss-TW3-new-render.png
 
|Aka = Fourteenth of the Hill<br>Merigold the Fearless
 
|Aka = Fourteenth of the Hill<br>Merigold the Fearless
|Hair_color = Chestnut {{Small|text=canon}}<br>Red {{Small|text=games}}
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|Hair_color = Chestnut {{Small|text=canon}}<ref>Books describe her hair as chestnut, which is a brown and red coloring. In {{TLotL}} it's further noted as "ginger" and while this usually pertains to redheads, in some cases it also means a brown red color.</ref><br>Red {{Small|text=games}}
 
|Eye_color = Cornflower blue {{Small|text=canon}}<br>Green {{Small|text=games}}
 
|Eye_color = Cornflower blue {{Small|text=canon}}<br>Green {{Small|text=games}}
 
|Race = [[Human]]
 
|Race = [[Human]]
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|Abilities = [[Magic]]<br>[[Alchemy]]
 
|Abilities = [[Magic]]<br>[[Alchemy]]
 
|Partner = [[Geralt of Rivia|Geralt]] {{Small|text=former lover in books, possible lover in games}}
 
|Partner = [[Geralt of Rivia|Geralt]] {{Small|text=former lover in books, possible lover in games}}
|Voice = [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0209035/ Jules de Jongh] ({{Tw1}})<br>[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1881580/ Jaimi Barbakoff] ({{Tw2}} and {{Tw3}})
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|Voice = [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0209035/ Jules de Jongh] {{Small|text={{Tw1}}}}<br>[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1881580/ Jaimi Barbakoff] {{Small|text={{Tw2}} and {{Tw3}}}}
 
|Lookalike = [[Anna Shaffer]]
 
|Appears_books = {{TLW}}<br>{{SoD}}<br>{{BoE}}<br>{{ToC}}<br>{{BoF}}<br>{{TTotS}}<br>{{TLotL}}<br>{{SESB}}
 
|Appears_books = {{TLW}}<br>{{SoD}}<br>{{BoE}}<br>{{ToC}}<br>{{BoF}}<br>{{TTotS}}<br>{{TLotL}}<br>{{SESB}}
 
|Appears_games = {{Tw1}}<br>{{Tw2}}<br>{{Tw3}}<br>{{BaW}} {{Small|text=dependent}}
 
|Appears_games = {{Tw1}}<br>{{Tw2}}<br>{{Tw3}}<br>{{BaW}} {{Small|text=dependent}}
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}}
|Lookalike = [[Anna Shaffer]]}}
 
 
{{Quote|text = No! I will not give in and I won't be swayed! I am the "Fourteenth of the Hill"! I am not a little frightened girl from a dark Maribor Tower anymore...|citation = Triss in {{BoE}}}}
 
{{Quote|text = No! I will not give in and I won't be swayed! I am the "Fourteenth of the Hill"! I am not a little frightened girl from a dark Maribor Tower anymore...|citation = Triss in {{BoE}}}}
 
'''Triss Merigold''' of [[Maribor (city)|Maribor]] was a legendary [[Temeria]]n [[sorceress]] of the 13th century. Called '''Fourteenth of the Hill''' by her contemporaries because she was erroneously thought to have been killed during the [[Battle of Sodden Hill]], she passed into history as '''Merigold the Fearless'''. A member of [[King]] [[Foltest]]'s [[Temerian Royal Council|royal council]] along with [[Fercart]] and [[Keira Metz]], as well as a founding member of the [[Lodge of Sorceresses]], she was involved in politics for most of her life.
 
'''Triss Merigold''' of [[Maribor (city)|Maribor]] was a legendary [[Temeria]]n [[sorceress]] of the 13th century. Called '''Fourteenth of the Hill''' by her contemporaries because she was erroneously thought to have been killed during the [[Battle of Sodden Hill]], she passed into history as '''Merigold the Fearless'''. A member of [[King]] [[Foltest]]'s [[Temerian Royal Council|royal council]] along with [[Fercart]] and [[Keira Metz]], as well as a founding member of the [[Lodge of Sorceresses]], she was involved in politics for most of her life.
   
She was friends with [[Yennefer]] and the [[witcher]] [[Geralt of Rivia]], but also unhappily in love with the latter.<ref>In {{BoE}} it's mentioned that Triss couldn't understand Yennefer and Geralt's relationship and it had fascinated her to such an extent that she had seduced Geralt with the help of a little magic.</ref> Triss took care of [[Ciri]] at [[Kaer Morhen]] for some time and is like an older sister to her. It was through her intervention that Ciri was not subjected to harmful hormone changes at Kaer Morhen, stripping her of her secondary gender traits.
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She was friends with [[Yennefer of Vengerberg|Yennefer]] and the [[witcher]] [[Geralt of Rivia]], but also unhappily in love with the latter.<ref>In {{BoE}} it's mentioned that Triss couldn't understand Yennefer and Geralt's relationship and it had fascinated her to such an extent that she had seduced Geralt with the help of a little magic.</ref> Triss took care of [[Ciri]] at [[Kaer Morhen]] for some time and is like an older sister to her. It was through her intervention that Ciri was not subjected to harmful hormone changes at Kaer Morhen, stripping her of her secondary gender traits.
   
 
She was a skilled healer and carried with her many magical potions, but she never uses them on herself because ironically, she was allergic to potions. She was also quite a powerful mage, certainly when it counted most. She wore an amulet - sapphire overlaid with silver.
 
She was a skilled healer and carried with her many magical potions, but she never uses them on herself because ironically, she was allergic to potions. She was also quite a powerful mage, certainly when it counted most. She wore an amulet - sapphire overlaid with silver.
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==Biography==
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Not much is known about Triss' upbringing. Not even a precise time of her birth, which is a subject to some degree of confusion - see below. What is known is the fact, that she was born and lived as a child in [[Maribor]]. Sometime during her childhood, she had a conduit moment and was noticed by [[sorcerer]]s. Thus, she found her way to [[Aretuza]]. Here, she became a sorceress on her own, specializing in making of magical potions, mainly healing ones. This was rather amusing twist of fate as she herself was allergic to magical potions and could only tolerate non magical ones.
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After the graduation, she became a very well known and respected sorceress taking her assignment as a advisor to the throne of [[Temeria]].
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During her studies, she befriended a fellow sorceress [[Yennefer of Vengerberg]]. During 1249, which is a time when a story "[[The Last Wish (short story)|The Last Wish]]" takes place, the two of them were already close friends and colleagues.
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===Romance with a Witcher===
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Some time later, Triss found out about her friend's on and off relations with [[Geralt of Rivia]]. Curious about the nature of that relationship, she used a magic and seduced the [[witcher]], resulting in them spending time together in [[Kaer Morhen]] as lovers. During those time, Triss became very good friend with some of the other witchers, [[Vesemir]] and [[Eskel]]. The former liked her so much that he started to call her "little daughter". Since then, she was always welcome in the witcher's keep.
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After some time however, the spell faded and Geralt simply ended the relationship. This proved to be a very difficult for Triss as she fell in deep love with Geralt. Despite that, the two of them remained very good friends in years to come and even though Triss was still unhappily in love with him, he did not wish to start anew.
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===The Battle of Sodden Hill===
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When the Great War with [[Nilfgaardian Empire|Nilfgaard]] started and the Kingdom of [[Cintra]] was destroyed, sorcerers under the leadership of [[Vilgefortz|Vilgefortz of Roggeveen]] decided to stand with the North and manned an old Elven ruin on [[Sodden|Sodden Hill]]. Here, they wanted to stop the invading forces. Triss was among those who volunteered. The battle was brutal and the mages stood against incredibly strong forces but in the end, they managed to defeat the invaders. The cost of victory was high, though, as 13 mages died. As a matter of fact, it was first believed that the number of dead was 14 - the last one being Triss. She was very seriously wounded, not only sustaining a deep cut on her chest, but also having all of her hair burnt off. With Yennefer, the only mage that would have still recognised her, blinded during the battle, she was counted amongst the dead.
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When Geralt rode near Sodden some time later, he saw the memory stone erected in remembrance of those who gave their lives to protect the North. Triss was among them, which saddened Geralt very deeply. When it was later discovered that Triss had indeed managed to survive the battle, she became known as "the fourteenth of the hill".
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===Kaer Morhen===
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Not long after the battle, Triss received a message from Geralt, asking her to come to Kaer Morhen, to help him with his Child of Surprise - [[Ciri]]. Ciri was trained by the witchers, yet she started to show some strong magical abilities that were beyond what was conventional for witchers. Thus, Triss accepted and went there, but she was reluctant to be near Geralt again as her feelings for him had not faded. During her stay, she constantly struggled with the way she felt but she eventually managed to clear her mind and do her job. Ciri, as she discovered, was a young lady with sad history and the two of them took liking to each other instantly. Their bond was so strong that Ciri started to consider Triss her older sister and vice versa. Some disquiet between Triss and the witchers surfaced when Triss discovered that the witchers want to submit Ciri to special potions. While not as invasive as the [[Trial of the Grasses]], the potions would still cause harm to her body and most likely leave her barren. She begged them not to give her those, and eventually they agreed.
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The other problem was that Ciri slowly became a woman and, being only girl in the keep, she had nobody to ask about specifics that comes with that. When Triss discovered that Ciri had no idea about her own cycles and that the witchers were unaware of them as well, she was furious. Since then, whenever Ciri came in dress, the training would stop until she change to the training attire.
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===Caring for Ciri===
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More problematic, however, was her increasingly strong proficiency with magic. Witchers told Triss, that since Ciri came to the keep, she had 3 incidents where she spoke a different voice in unrecognizable language and had trance - like state. In the last one, she also foretold the death of Geralt. They said that the first time it happened was after Ciri accidently drunk a potion, the same potion, that now stood before Triss. When Ciri came, Triss tricked her into drinking said potion to the shock of all the witchers. She told them however, that she knows what she is doing. Ciri started to dance and not long after fell into a trance. Triss teleptaically connected with her and tried to find out what is the problem. While connected to the young girl, she felt a strong presence inside her. Triss used all her power and identification spells but it all proved futile. This battle of wills proved very draining and Triss passed out.
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Later, she woke in her bed with Geralt next to her. He told her that she was out for six hours and ensured her that Ciri is alright and sleeps in her room. The sorceress told Geralt that whatever bounds with Ciri is way too powerfull for her and that he should contact Yennefer, who is more knowledgable about such things. Geralt was reluctant, considering their past, but Triss insisted it would be the best for the girl. After Geralt agreed, Triss told him that when spring comes, they should take Ciri to the Temple of [[Melitele]]. The witcher agreed and then spent the night with the old friend, taking care of her.
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Next few months, Triss spent every day with Ciri and tought her various topics, including the [[Elder Speech]]. But she also showed her a delicacy of make-up. As the spring neared the witchers were slowly preparing to go on the path once again and they wanted to know all the relevant news from the continent so to decide where to go.
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Triss told them everything she knew and they eventually talked about the possibility of second war with Nilfgaard. This resulted in a heated debate about witchers and their neutrality.
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That night, they decided that with the morning light, they will go to the temple.
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===Path to the Temple===
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Triss, along with Geralt and Ciri went on the way. Not long after, Triss became ill, having very strong stomach ache. Her illness was worse and worse to such a state, that she was not able to hold herself in the saddle. Thus Geralt had to carry her on his horse. But even with that, they were slow and had to stop for the sorceress to relieve herself.
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Eventually they arrived to a village. This however proved not a good sign, because the settlement was attacket by elven commandos of [[Scoia'tael]]. Triss was laid down with the other wounded while Geralt went to find out what are their options. He learned about the attack and the planned retaliation. However he knew, they have noone, who could cure Triss. What was worse, the men started to think, that Triss may have some infection that could spread. Even though Geralt told them, that mages cannot have an infection due to their immunity, and that it had to be a case of food poisoning, they did not want her there.
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Thus the trio was forced to go on. Fortunately, Geralt learned about a convoy that went the same way as they need to so they rode to them. There they discovered that in the convoy was an old friend, [[dwarf]] [[Yarpen Zigrin]]. Geralt persuaded Yarpen and a knight in charge of the convoy to allow the trio to join them. Triss was laid to one of the vagons but her state was still very severe. She was no longer able to relieve herself on her own and Geralt had to carry her into the woods.
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Other dwars watched this with a surprise. They were not sure if they would do the same for their own wives. When Ciri told them, that Triss and Geralt were not couple but friends, they could not believed it.
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They continued of the way and Triss started to feel better. But she was still very weak thus Geralt and Ciri had to help her with bathing and clothing. As a matter of fact, despite her state, Triss rather enjoyed Geralt holding her so tightly and caring for her.
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Sometime later the convoy was approached by soldiers from [[Kaedwen]]. Those soldiers warned the men that [[Scoia'tael]] are near so they should continue very carefully. Not long after that, the elves indeed attacked the convoy. Triss was thrown out of the vagon and had nasty wound on her head. The attack was swift but the defenders managed to repel it. By that time, Triss was well enough, to be able to take care of the wounded and help them with her magic.
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The rest of the journey was without any incident and they succesfully arrived in the temple. Triss then went on her own giving her farewells to both Ciri and Geralt.
   
 
== {{tw1}} ==
 
== {{tw1}} ==
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She is also the one to nurse Geralt back to health after his first battle with [[Azar Javed]] in the [[Swamp]]. Once Geralt regains consciousness, he finds himself in the bedroom of her [[Triss' house|luxurious Trade Quarter home]], and he sees her talking presumably to another sorceress. She diligently "checks him for internal injuries".
 
She is also the one to nurse Geralt back to health after his first battle with [[Azar Javed]] in the [[Swamp]]. Once Geralt regains consciousness, he finds himself in the bedroom of her [[Triss' house|luxurious Trade Quarter home]], and he sees her talking presumably to another sorceress. She diligently "checks him for internal injuries".
   
=== Journal entry ===
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=== Journal Entry ===
 
:''Along with me and the other witchers, Triss fought in defense of Kaer Morhen. The sorceress stood against the mysterious mage, one of the leaders of the assault. She was injured and lost consciousness. Ironically, Triss is allergic to magic and she can only be administered natural healing potions.''
 
:''Along with me and the other witchers, Triss fought in defense of Kaer Morhen. The sorceress stood against the mysterious mage, one of the leaders of the assault. She was injured and lost consciousness. Ironically, Triss is allergic to magic and she can only be administered natural healing potions.''
 
:''Triss Merigold is my friend. She saw me die and my return to the world of the living surprised her. Triss is a sorceress — one of the most influential and talented of her kind. She has numerous powerful friends, and she knows the Kaer Morhen witchers. She is one of the few people who know the way to the fortress. I have a feeling Triss likes me a lot.''
 
:''Triss Merigold is my friend. She saw me die and my return to the world of the living surprised her. Triss is a sorceress — one of the most influential and talented of her kind. She has numerous powerful friends, and she knows the Kaer Morhen witchers. She is one of the few people who know the way to the fortress. I have a feeling Triss likes me a lot.''
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If it was Triss and not [[Shani]] who was chosen to take care of [[Alvin]] the second romance option becomes available if she is given a [[ruby]] ring, and in regards to Alvin, Geralt must be strict at least once.
 
If it was Triss and not [[Shani]] who was chosen to take care of [[Alvin]] the second romance option becomes available if she is given a [[ruby]] ring, and in regards to Alvin, Geralt must be strict at least once.
   
=== Associated quests ===
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=== Associated Quests ===
   
 
<div class="divTable" style="width:100%;">
 
<div class="divTable" style="width:100%;">
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The first real opportunity arises near the end of Chapter I during the quest [[The Rose of Remembrance]]. When given the option to go to the [[Ruined elven baths|elven baths]], Geralt can choose to take the sorceress along with him. After a battle partway through the quest, the ground under their feet collapses, sending the two plummeting into ancient elven baths. Noting that an immediate escape is impossible, the two can take advantage of their location. Selecting the correct conversation options will initiate a cutscene, in which Triss completely takes off her clothes with magic and jumps into the water. Our Witcher soon joins her in the bath. After the lovers enjoyed one another well enough, Triss comments this short time of bliss in such a manner: ''"We should take walks more often. For a while there, I forgot all about Flotsam, the [[Scoia'tael]], the kingslayer, the whole world really..."''.
 
The first real opportunity arises near the end of Chapter I during the quest [[The Rose of Remembrance]]. When given the option to go to the [[Ruined elven baths|elven baths]], Geralt can choose to take the sorceress along with him. After a battle partway through the quest, the ground under their feet collapses, sending the two plummeting into ancient elven baths. Noting that an immediate escape is impossible, the two can take advantage of their location. Selecting the correct conversation options will initiate a cutscene, in which Triss completely takes off her clothes with magic and jumps into the water. Our Witcher soon joins her in the bath. After the lovers enjoyed one another well enough, Triss comments this short time of bliss in such a manner: ''"We should take walks more often. For a while there, I forgot all about Flotsam, the [[Scoia'tael]], the kingslayer, the whole world really..."''.
   
=== Journal entry ===
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=== Journal Entry ===
 
:''I have known the sorceress Triss Merigold for a long time, for she is one of the Geralt's closest friends. The young, pretty, talented, auburn-haired mage from Maribor hardly reminded me of the giggling flapper of years past. Her knowledge, abilities and loyalty had brought her far. A hero from Sodden, known as the Fourteenth of the Hill - for she was mistakenly counted as the fourteenth mage to die in that battle - she sat on the royal council of King Foltest of Temeria. And though they say that a monarch's favor is uncertain - for the king had once expelled all mages from Temeria - Triss had managed to gain Foltest's trust. As regards the witcher, everyone who was witness to Triss' friendship with Geralt, anyone who saw them together, would easily confirm that these two had much in common... And it is common knowledge that an old flame never dies...''
 
:''I have known the sorceress Triss Merigold for a long time, for she is one of the Geralt's closest friends. The young, pretty, talented, auburn-haired mage from Maribor hardly reminded me of the giggling flapper of years past. Her knowledge, abilities and loyalty had brought her far. A hero from Sodden, known as the Fourteenth of the Hill - for she was mistakenly counted as the fourteenth mage to die in that battle - she sat on the royal council of King Foltest of Temeria. And though they say that a monarch's favor is uncertain - for the king had once expelled all mages from Temeria - Triss had managed to gain Foltest's trust. As regards the witcher, everyone who was witness to Triss' friendship with Geralt, anyone who saw them together, would easily confirm that these two had much in common... And it is common knowledge that an old flame never dies...''
 
:''For those reasons, after Foltest's death the sorceress decided that she would help the witcher most by staying by his side. Not heeding her threatened position at court, she harnessed all her strength and powers to helping Geralt, whom she still had feelings to.''
 
:''For those reasons, after Foltest's death the sorceress decided that she would help the witcher most by staying by his side. Not heeding her threatened position at court, she harnessed all her strength and powers to helping Geralt, whom she still had feelings to.''
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{{Quote|text = Sorceress Triss Merigold, Geralt's friend and former lover, is one of the most important supporting characters in The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. She accompanies our hero during his travels, and the choices the player will make concerning her will heavily influence the story.<br>"If Triss Marigold couldn't be my girlfriend, I'd like her to at least be my sister" – this phrase may be humorous, but it still gives a good impression of the effect we wanted to get when working on the sorceress' new appearance. Triss's appearance changed the most of all characters we met in the first game. Her new clothes were to be equally elegant, functional, and comfortable for traveling.<br>We based them on a 15th-century doublet. Its skin-tight cut underlines the sorceress' shapely figure perfectly, especially when coupled with trousers and high topped boots. The male clothing, fingerless leather gloves and pinned up hair make her stand out among other women, and turn her into a "tomboy". Triss' personality has changed too. She's no longer the girl from the novels known to "giggle like a flapper". Now she's a decisive, brave woman. She knows what she wants and she won't hesitate to take risks in order to get it. Her new appearance is also a reflection of this change. One can openly admit that Triss grew up and is more mature, though she has lost none of her personal charm and grace.|citation = pg. 124, {{Tw2}}}}
 
{{Quote|text = Sorceress Triss Merigold, Geralt's friend and former lover, is one of the most important supporting characters in The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. She accompanies our hero during his travels, and the choices the player will make concerning her will heavily influence the story.<br>"If Triss Marigold couldn't be my girlfriend, I'd like her to at least be my sister" – this phrase may be humorous, but it still gives a good impression of the effect we wanted to get when working on the sorceress' new appearance. Triss's appearance changed the most of all characters we met in the first game. Her new clothes were to be equally elegant, functional, and comfortable for traveling.<br>We based them on a 15th-century doublet. Its skin-tight cut underlines the sorceress' shapely figure perfectly, especially when coupled with trousers and high topped boots. The male clothing, fingerless leather gloves and pinned up hair make her stand out among other women, and turn her into a "tomboy". Triss' personality has changed too. She's no longer the girl from the novels known to "giggle like a flapper". Now she's a decisive, brave woman. She knows what she wants and she won't hesitate to take risks in order to get it. Her new appearance is also a reflection of this change. One can openly admit that Triss grew up and is more mature, though she has lost none of her personal charm and grace.|citation = pg. 124, {{Tw2}}}}
   
=== Associated quests ===
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=== Associated Quests ===
 
* [[Trial by Fire]]
 
* [[Trial by Fire]]
 
* [[By the Gods - Stringing Up Sods]]
 
* [[By the Gods - Stringing Up Sods]]
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Following the battle, Triss goes with Yennefer and [[Avallac'h]] to Novigrad to try and reunite the Lodge of Sorceresses, taking up residence at the Rosemary and Thyme, an establishment owned by Dandelion. Unfortunately, they had not much luck, as [[Ida Emean aep Sivney|Ida Emean]] outright refused and [[Francesca Findabair]] wouldn't budge from her realm with a war raging.
 
Following the battle, Triss goes with Yennefer and [[Avallac'h]] to Novigrad to try and reunite the Lodge of Sorceresses, taking up residence at the Rosemary and Thyme, an establishment owned by Dandelion. Unfortunately, they had not much luck, as [[Ida Emean aep Sivney|Ida Emean]] outright refused and [[Francesca Findabair]] wouldn't budge from her realm with a war raging.
   
When Geralt later arrived, Triss berates him for putting Ciri in danger by taking her to the Sabbath to face [[Imlerith]]. Afterwards, she informed him that the only Lodge member she could locate was Philippa Eilhart, who was tricked into her owl form by Arthur de Vleester, who put a [[dimeritium]] band on her leg afterwards. Worse yet, Philippa came into the possession of [[Zoltan Chivay]], who lost her in a card game. Luckily, Triss found a feather. Using hydromancy at the fountain behind the [[Passiflora]] and divined that Philippa was in the possession of Sigismund Dijkstra. They rush to his bathhouse, where Philippa, having regained human form after Dijkstra foolishly removed her dimeritium band, was wreaking havoc. After Geralt managed to subdue her, Triss led her colleague to safety.
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When Geralt later arrived, Triss berates him for putting Ciri in danger by taking her to the Sabbath to face [[Imlerith]]. Afterwards, she informed him that the only Lodge member she could locate was Philippa Eilhart, who was tricked into her owl form by [[Arthur de Vleester]], who put a [[dimeritium]] band on her leg afterwards. Worse yet, Philippa came into the possession of [[Zoltan Chivay]], who lost her in a card game. Luckily, Triss found a feather. Using hydromancy at the fountain behind the [[Passiflora]] and divined that Philippa was in the possession of Sigismund Dijkstra. They rush to his bathhouse, where Philippa, having regained human form after Dijkstra foolishly removed her dimeritium band, was wreaking havoc. After Geralt managed to subdue her, Triss led her colleague to safety.
   
 
===Romance===
 
===Romance===
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{{Quote|text = Triss Merigold is easily one of the most important supporting characters in our series of games, having appeared and played a key role in all three installments. This young but extraordinarily talented sorceress shares a complicated history with Geralt, one that exists somewhere on the spectrum between an on-and-off love affair and a deep, years-long friendship.<br>The main traits of Triss Merigold's appearance, such as the shape of her face, her hairstyle, and her figure, were mainly based on the model created for her in the second game in the series. Only her clothing has changed significantly - it is now more elegant, more in fitting with the reigning style in Novigrad, the city of riches and fashion in which she now lives. Triss' clothes still reflect her own tastes, however, including her fondness for cuts that emphasis her slim waist, a point of extreme pride for Triss in the books.|citation = pg. 120, ''[[The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Artbook]]''}}
 
{{Quote|text = Triss Merigold is easily one of the most important supporting characters in our series of games, having appeared and played a key role in all three installments. This young but extraordinarily talented sorceress shares a complicated history with Geralt, one that exists somewhere on the spectrum between an on-and-off love affair and a deep, years-long friendship.<br>The main traits of Triss Merigold's appearance, such as the shape of her face, her hairstyle, and her figure, were mainly based on the model created for her in the second game in the series. Only her clothing has changed significantly - it is now more elegant, more in fitting with the reigning style in Novigrad, the city of riches and fashion in which she now lives. Triss' clothes still reflect her own tastes, however, including her fondness for cuts that emphasis her slim waist, a point of extreme pride for Triss in the books.|citation = pg. 120, ''[[The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Artbook]]''}}
   
=== Journal entry ===
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=== Journal Entry ===
 
:''I always considered it a point of particular pride to count Triss Merigold of Maribor among my closest and dearest friends. This exceptionally talented sorceress was a shining star of her profession, the former mage advisor to King Foltest, and a famous hero of the Battle of Sodden, known as the Fourteenth of the Hill. yet in no way did she resemble her often unbearably haughty sisters in magic. Her deft mind, warm smile and considerable personal charm had always won over even the hardest of hearts.''
 
:''I always considered it a point of particular pride to count Triss Merigold of Maribor among my closest and dearest friends. This exceptionally talented sorceress was a shining star of her profession, the former mage advisor to King Foltest, and a famous hero of the Battle of Sodden, known as the Fourteenth of the Hill. yet in no way did she resemble her often unbearably haughty sisters in magic. Her deft mind, warm smile and considerable personal charm had always won over even the hardest of hearts.''
 
:''Though my personal relations with Triss never ventured beyond the fraternal, Geralt of Rivia at one point found her allure irresistible. From then on the two shared feelings that ran far deeper than a superficial and fleeting fancy.''
 
:''Though my personal relations with Triss never ventured beyond the fraternal, Geralt of Rivia at one point found her allure irresistible. From then on the two shared feelings that ran far deeper than a superficial and fleeting fancy.''
 
:''Yennefer told Geralt that Triss had recently taken up residence in the Free City of Novigrad.''
 
:''Yennefer told Geralt that Triss had recently taken up residence in the Free City of Novigrad.''
 
:''It seemed Triss had gone into hiding from the so-called witch hunters persecuting magic wielders in the city, turning to one of the leaders of the local underworld for protection.''
 
:''It seemed Triss had gone into hiding from the so-called witch hunters persecuting magic wielders in the city, turning to one of the leaders of the local underworld for protection.''
:''After a bit of a run-around Geralt found the sorceress, who had indeed entered into an arrangement with the so-called King of Beggers. She paid for his protection by providing magic services to his organization. Though Triss did not know anything about Ciri and her stay in Novigrad, she promised to do all within her power to aid Geralt's search.''
+
:''After a bit of a run-around Geralt found the sorceress, who had indeed entered into an arrangement with the so-called King of Beggars. She paid for his protection by providing magic services to his organization. Though Triss did not know anything about Ciri and her stay in Novigrad, she promised to do all within her power to aid Geralt's search.''
 
:''Though theoretically Triss and Geralt had ended their romance half a year earlier, it was clear the feelings they felt for each other had not vanished so easily. To deal with this, the sorceress pretended that nothing had happened and the witcher, as is his wont, sheepishly masked his feelings with a mix of hesitant interest and fake indifference. It must be said that both of them handled the situation quite awkwardly.''
 
:''Though theoretically Triss and Geralt had ended their romance half a year earlier, it was clear the feelings they felt for each other had not vanished so easily. To deal with this, the sorceress pretended that nothing had happened and the witcher, as is his wont, sheepishly masked his feelings with a mix of hesitant interest and fake indifference. It must be said that both of them handled the situation quite awkwardly.''
 
:''The plan to get close to Caleb Menge that Triss presented to the witcher was very risky and placed her in great danger. The sorceress knew, however, that Ciri's life might be on the line, and so did not hesitate for even a moment.''
 
:''The plan to get close to Caleb Menge that Triss presented to the witcher was very risky and placed her in great danger. The sorceress knew, however, that Ciri's life might be on the line, and so did not hesitate for even a moment.''
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:''Geralt and Triss met again at Kaer Morhen. Triss arrived there at the witcher's behest to help defend Ciri, whom she had always treated as a younger sister.''
 
:''Geralt and Triss met again at Kaer Morhen. Triss arrived there at the witcher's behest to help defend Ciri, whom she had always treated as a younger sister.''
   
=== Associated quests ===
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=== Associated Quests ===
   
 
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== {{TWAG}} ==
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:''In the world of ''The Witcher'', only a select few talented and highly trained individuals can wield magic. As casting every spell requires knowledge, time, and diligent preparation, only the most adept in the mystic arts are proficient enough to use them on the battlefield. One such individual is Triss Merigold, considered to be among the most powerful members of the Lodge of Sorceresses, a secret organization of prominent female mages. Depending on whether the sorceress is your ally or your enemy, she can either annihilate you in a shower of flames or heal you in your hour of need. A dear friend to Geralt of Rivia and the personal advisor of King Foltest of Temeria, ruler of one of the richest kingdoms in the North, she has played a key role in the most important events of recent Northern history.''
  +
:''Triss's power comes from knowledge, and whether it entails spying on others through her magical devices or using raw force to extract the information she needs, she always finds a way to get to the heart of the matter. Most of her spells take time to prepare but, given the proper momentum, she's an unstoppable force that can break through any obstacle in her path. Using her intellect and magical prowess, Triss is able to bend the rules in her and her party's favor, which will frequently come in handy during the numerous adventures to come.''
   
 
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Revision as of 04:36, 26 August 2020


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"Do you really wish to know?" — Spoilers from the books and/or adaptations to follow!
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Big Quote Left
No! I will not give in and I won't be swayed! I am the "Fourteenth of the Hill"! I am not a little frightened girl from a dark Maribor Tower anymore...
Big Quote Right
- Triss in Blood of Elves

Triss Merigold of Maribor was a legendary Temerian sorceress of the 13th century. Called Fourteenth of the Hill by her contemporaries because she was erroneously thought to have been killed during the Battle of Sodden Hill, she passed into history as Merigold the Fearless. A member of King Foltest's royal council along with Fercart and Keira Metz, as well as a founding member of the Lodge of Sorceresses, she was involved in politics for most of her life.

She was friends with Yennefer and the witcher Geralt of Rivia, but also unhappily in love with the latter.[2] Triss took care of Ciri at Kaer Morhen for some time and is like an older sister to her. It was through her intervention that Ciri was not subjected to harmful hormone changes at Kaer Morhen, stripping her of her secondary gender traits.

She was a skilled healer and carried with her many magical potions, but she never uses them on herself because ironically, she was allergic to potions. She was also quite a powerful mage, certainly when it counted most. She wore an amulet - sapphire overlaid with silver.

Quick Answers

What is the significance of Triss Merigold being called the Fourteenth of the Hill? toggle section
Triss Merigold, the legendary Temerian sorceress from the Witcher series, is often referred to as the 'Fourteenth of the Hill'. This title has a significant backstory. During a crucial battle, Triss was severely injured and presumed dead. A memory stone was erected in her honor among the thirteen other fallen sorceresses. However, Triss had managed to survive, and when this was discovered, she was dubbed 'the Fourteenth of the Hill', symbolizing her resilience and miraculous survival.
Provided by: Fandom
What role did Triss Merigold play in the Battle of Sodden Hill? toggle section
Triss Merigold, the fiery-haired sorceress from The Witcher, played a significant role in the Battle of Sodden Hill. This battle was a pivotal event in the series, and Triss was deeply involved in the fight against the Nilfgaardians. Her bravery and magical prowess were on full display during this conflict, making it a defining moment in her story. However, the battle also had a profound emotional impact on Triss, as she witnessed the death of her friend and fellow mage, Vanielle.
Provided by: Fandom
How did Triss Merigold become a member of King Foltest's royal council? toggle section
Triss Merigold, the talented and loyal auburn-haired mage from Maribor, managed to gain the trust of King Foltest of Temeria, despite the king's previous expulsion of all mages from his kingdom. Her knowledge, abilities, and loyalty played a significant role in her appointment to the royal council. Triss is known for her close friendship with Geralt, the witcher, and her significant contributions to the realm of magic and sorcery.
Provided by: Fandom
What is the Lodge of Sorceresses and how is Triss Merigold connected to it? toggle section
The Lodge of Sorceresses is a secret organization of prominent female mages in the world of The Witcher. It was founded and led by Philippa Eilhart, a powerful sorceress and former advisor to the king of Redania. The Lodge consists of several powerful sorceresses whose aim is to influence the world's politics and maintain the balance of power. Triss Merigold, the fiery-haired sorceress and dear friend to Geralt of Rivia, is considered to be among the most powerful members of the Lodge. However, her relationship with the Lodge is complex, as there was a time when the other sorceresses stopped trusting her.
Provided by: Fandom

Biography

Not much is known about Triss' upbringing. Not even a precise time of her birth, which is a subject to some degree of confusion - see below. What is known is the fact, that she was born and lived as a child in Maribor. Sometime during her childhood, she had a conduit moment and was noticed by sorcerers. Thus, she found her way to Aretuza. Here, she became a sorceress on her own, specializing in making of magical potions, mainly healing ones. This was rather amusing twist of fate as she herself was allergic to magical potions and could only tolerate non magical ones.

After the graduation, she became a very well known and respected sorceress taking her assignment as a advisor to the throne of Temeria.

During her studies, she befriended a fellow sorceress Yennefer of Vengerberg. During 1249, which is a time when a story "The Last Wish" takes place, the two of them were already close friends and colleagues.

Romance with a Witcher

Some time later, Triss found out about her friend's on and off relations with Geralt of Rivia. Curious about the nature of that relationship, she used a magic and seduced the witcher, resulting in them spending time together in Kaer Morhen as lovers. During those time, Triss became very good friend with some of the other witchers, Vesemir and Eskel. The former liked her so much that he started to call her "little daughter". Since then, she was always welcome in the witcher's keep.

After some time however, the spell faded and Geralt simply ended the relationship. This proved to be a very difficult for Triss as she fell in deep love with Geralt. Despite that, the two of them remained very good friends in years to come and even though Triss was still unhappily in love with him, he did not wish to start anew.

The Battle of Sodden Hill

When the Great War with Nilfgaard started and the Kingdom of Cintra was destroyed, sorcerers under the leadership of Vilgefortz of Roggeveen decided to stand with the North and manned an old Elven ruin on Sodden Hill. Here, they wanted to stop the invading forces. Triss was among those who volunteered. The battle was brutal and the mages stood against incredibly strong forces but in the end, they managed to defeat the invaders. The cost of victory was high, though, as 13 mages died. As a matter of fact, it was first believed that the number of dead was 14 - the last one being Triss. She was very seriously wounded, not only sustaining a deep cut on her chest, but also having all of her hair burnt off. With Yennefer, the only mage that would have still recognised her, blinded during the battle, she was counted amongst the dead.

When Geralt rode near Sodden some time later, he saw the memory stone erected in remembrance of those who gave their lives to protect the North. Triss was among them, which saddened Geralt very deeply. When it was later discovered that Triss had indeed managed to survive the battle, she became known as "the fourteenth of the hill".

Kaer Morhen

Not long after the battle, Triss received a message from Geralt, asking her to come to Kaer Morhen, to help him with his Child of Surprise - Ciri. Ciri was trained by the witchers, yet she started to show some strong magical abilities that were beyond what was conventional for witchers. Thus, Triss accepted and went there, but she was reluctant to be near Geralt again as her feelings for him had not faded. During her stay, she constantly struggled with the way she felt but she eventually managed to clear her mind and do her job. Ciri, as she discovered, was a young lady with sad history and the two of them took liking to each other instantly. Their bond was so strong that Ciri started to consider Triss her older sister and vice versa. Some disquiet between Triss and the witchers surfaced when Triss discovered that the witchers want to submit Ciri to special potions. While not as invasive as the Trial of the Grasses, the potions would still cause harm to her body and most likely leave her barren. She begged them not to give her those, and eventually they agreed.

The other problem was that Ciri slowly became a woman and, being only girl in the keep, she had nobody to ask about specifics that comes with that. When Triss discovered that Ciri had no idea about her own cycles and that the witchers were unaware of them as well, she was furious. Since then, whenever Ciri came in dress, the training would stop until she change to the training attire.

Caring for Ciri

More problematic, however, was her increasingly strong proficiency with magic. Witchers told Triss, that since Ciri came to the keep, she had 3 incidents where she spoke a different voice in unrecognizable language and had trance - like state. In the last one, she also foretold the death of Geralt. They said that the first time it happened was after Ciri accidently drunk a potion, the same potion, that now stood before Triss. When Ciri came, Triss tricked her into drinking said potion to the shock of all the witchers. She told them however, that she knows what she is doing. Ciri started to dance and not long after fell into a trance. Triss teleptaically connected with her and tried to find out what is the problem. While connected to the young girl, she felt a strong presence inside her. Triss used all her power and identification spells but it all proved futile. This battle of wills proved very draining and Triss passed out.

Later, she woke in her bed with Geralt next to her. He told her that she was out for six hours and ensured her that Ciri is alright and sleeps in her room. The sorceress told Geralt that whatever bounds with Ciri is way too powerfull for her and that he should contact Yennefer, who is more knowledgable about such things. Geralt was reluctant, considering their past, but Triss insisted it would be the best for the girl. After Geralt agreed, Triss told him that when spring comes, they should take Ciri to the Temple of Melitele. The witcher agreed and then spent the night with the old friend, taking care of her.

Next few months, Triss spent every day with Ciri and tought her various topics, including the Elder Speech. But she also showed her a delicacy of make-up. As the spring neared the witchers were slowly preparing to go on the path once again and they wanted to know all the relevant news from the continent so to decide where to go.

Triss told them everything she knew and they eventually talked about the possibility of second war with Nilfgaard. This resulted in a heated debate about witchers and their neutrality.

That night, they decided that with the morning light, they will go to the temple.

Path to the Temple

Triss, along with Geralt and Ciri went on the way. Not long after, Triss became ill, having very strong stomach ache. Her illness was worse and worse to such a state, that she was not able to hold herself in the saddle. Thus Geralt had to carry her on his horse. But even with that, they were slow and had to stop for the sorceress to relieve herself.

Eventually they arrived to a village. This however proved not a good sign, because the settlement was attacket by elven commandos of Scoia'tael. Triss was laid down with the other wounded while Geralt went to find out what are their options. He learned about the attack and the planned retaliation. However he knew, they have noone, who could cure Triss. What was worse, the men started to think, that Triss may have some infection that could spread. Even though Geralt told them, that mages cannot have an infection due to their immunity, and that it had to be a case of food poisoning, they did not want her there. Thus the trio was forced to go on. Fortunately, Geralt learned about a convoy that went the same way as they need to so they rode to them. There they discovered that in the convoy was an old friend, dwarf Yarpen Zigrin. Geralt persuaded Yarpen and a knight in charge of the convoy to allow the trio to join them. Triss was laid to one of the vagons but her state was still very severe. She was no longer able to relieve herself on her own and Geralt had to carry her into the woods. Other dwars watched this with a surprise. They were not sure if they would do the same for their own wives. When Ciri told them, that Triss and Geralt were not couple but friends, they could not believed it. They continued of the way and Triss started to feel better. But she was still very weak thus Geralt and Ciri had to help her with bathing and clothing. As a matter of fact, despite her state, Triss rather enjoyed Geralt holding her so tightly and caring for her. Sometime later the convoy was approached by soldiers from Kaedwen. Those soldiers warned the men that Scoia'tael are near so they should continue very carefully. Not long after that, the elves indeed attacked the convoy. Triss was thrown out of the vagon and had nasty wound on her head. The attack was swift but the defenders managed to repel it. By that time, Triss was well enough, to be able to take care of the wounded and help them with her magic.

The rest of the journey was without any incident and they succesfully arrived in the temple. Triss then went on her own giving her farewells to both Ciri and Geralt.

The Witcher

Triss is a major character in The Witcher computer game. She is one of the first people Geralt meets after being found unconscious in the woods by his fellow witchers.

She is also the one to nurse Geralt back to health after his first battle with Azar Javed in the Swamp. Once Geralt regains consciousness, he finds himself in the bedroom of her luxurious Trade Quarter home, and he sees her talking presumably to another sorceress. She diligently "checks him for internal injuries".

Journal Entry

Along with me and the other witchers, Triss fought in defense of Kaer Morhen. The sorceress stood against the mysterious mage, one of the leaders of the assault. She was injured and lost consciousness. Ironically, Triss is allergic to magic and she can only be administered natural healing potions.
Triss Merigold is my friend. She saw me die and my return to the world of the living surprised her. Triss is a sorceress — one of the most influential and talented of her kind. She has numerous powerful friends, and she knows the Kaer Morhen witchers. She is one of the few people who know the way to the fortress. I have a feeling Triss likes me a lot.
After Leo's funeral, the sorceress teleported to Vizima. She decided to use her extensive contacts and search for information on Salamandra. Triss promised to find me as soon as I arrive in Vizima.
Triss found me in the swamp, where I lay unconscious after my clash with Azar Javed. She transported me to her house in the Trade Quarter and took care of me until I came round. Lying there awake I overheard Triss gossip with her friend on the magic communicator, and I now know that other sorceresses are also interested in Salamandra.
if Geralt leaves Alvin with Shani:
I left Alvin in Shani's care. Triss decided that I don't trust her and that I prefer the medic. She is angry with me and it seems our affair is over.
if Geralt leaves Alvin with Triss:
I concluded that it would be best to leave Alvin in Triss' care. She saw my choice as proof of my trust. She decided I liked her more than Shani, which only improved our relationship.
Dandelion delivered a letter from Triss. The sorceress has asked me to take good care of Alvin. She is also worried about me — she hopes we can have a steady relationship and raise Alvin together when I complete my mission.
I answered Triss' letter and explained my feelings.
After Foltest's return to Vizima, Triss fell into disfavor — the monarch didn't approve of her political scheming. The sorceress is practically a hostage at the Royal Palace and her fate is in my hands.
Witcher medallionTriss joined me during the attack on the Old Manor. As a friend, she aids me in my search. I think she seeks revenge on Azar Javed for their magical duel at Kaer Morhen.
I met Triss, or rather a vision of her, in the Ice Plains. The sorceress helped me pursue the Grand Master.

Romance

For the main article, see The Witcher romance.

Prologue

During the prologue, after dealing with the Salamandra invasion of Kaer Morhen, Triss is gravely wounded and needs a special potion which Geralt must brew to help her recover. If not rushed during the dialogue, after drinking the potion, she offers Geralt his first sexual encounter of the game.

Chapter III

If it was Triss and not Shani who was chosen to take care of Alvin the second romance option becomes available if she is given a ruby ring, and in regards to Alvin, Geralt must be strict at least once.

Associated Quests

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings

Triss

Triss plays a major role throughout the story. She first appears in the prologue as Geralt's lover; her feelings for him have evidently remained unchanged. Triss assists Geralt and Foltest in taking La Valette castle. She gets separated from them when a dragon attacks Foltest's forces. After Geralt is imprisoned for Foltest's murder, she meets up with him and Vernon Roche before they set sail for Flotsam, having lost her position as advisor after Foltest's death. In Flotsam, she meets with fellow Lodge member, Síle de Tansarville, and becomes suspicious of her presence. She helps Geralt prepare to fight a kayran by introducing him to Cedric, finding the Kayran's lair, and helping him create a potion to allow Geralt to resist the beast's poison. After Geralt meets Letho, Triss and Cedric break into Síle's room and Triss uses the megascope to try to gain more information on Síle (by speaking either to Dethmold or Philippa). Shortly after, Letho abducts Triss and forces her to teleport them to Vergen.

In Vergen, Triss gets away from Letho and tries to make contact with Philippa. She finds Philippa's room, but comes upon Philippa's apprentice, Cynthia, there instead. Cynthia, a Nilfgaardian spy, captures Triss using Artefact compression, and smuggles Triss across the mist of wraiths, where Triss eventually makes it into the hands of Nilfgaard's ambassador, Shilard Fitz-Oesterlen. Before Geralt can rescue her, Shilard takes his ship to Loc Muinne.

In Loc Muinne, he commissioned the help of Assire var Anahid to decompress Triss. Triss is restrained and interrogated for more information of the Lodge. If Geralt chooses not to save her, in favor of helping Roche or Iorveth, a massacre erupts in Loc Muinne, with opposing forces fighting not only one another, but also mages after Nilfgaard revealed the Lodge's involvement with the Northern regicides. In the chaos, Letho saves Triss from the Nilfgaardian camp, and takes her to the now abandoned Temerian camp and protects her until Geralt arrives after fighting the dragon. Once Geralt reaches the camp, Triss steps away, while the two witchers talk.

If Geralt chooses to rescue Triss, he breaks into the Nifgaard camp and eventually finds her restrained and asks her about the Lodge and their influence behind the Demavend and Foltest's murders. When Geralt and Triss go to the amphitheater, Triss reveals Síle's role in the assassinations, allowing Carduin to reject Síle from joining the reformed Conclave of Mages. Triss and Geralt are separated again when Geralt goes to fight the dragon, and they meet up shortly afterwards, where Triss tells Geralt that Letho is waiting for him. On their way to Letho, Triss explains that mages helped prevent further bloodshed in the city. Regardless whether Geralt rescued her or not, after Geralt confronts Letho, he leaves Loc Muinne with Triss (and maybe with Roche or Iorveth).

Romance

For the main article, see The Witcher 2 romance.

Tw2 triss screen1

Triss is the default romance option - the game begins with her and Geralt already in a relationship. One of three opening scenes of Geralt's story during the prologue shows him getting up as Triss lies naked beside him as a messenger soldier enters their tent to summon the witcher to the King Foltest's side.

The first real opportunity arises near the end of Chapter I during the quest The Rose of Remembrance. When given the option to go to the elven baths, Geralt can choose to take the sorceress along with him. After a battle partway through the quest, the ground under their feet collapses, sending the two plummeting into ancient elven baths. Noting that an immediate escape is impossible, the two can take advantage of their location. Selecting the correct conversation options will initiate a cutscene, in which Triss completely takes off her clothes with magic and jumps into the water. Our Witcher soon joins her in the bath. After the lovers enjoyed one another well enough, Triss comments this short time of bliss in such a manner: "We should take walks more often. For a while there, I forgot all about Flotsam, the Scoia'tael, the kingslayer, the whole world really...".

Journal Entry

I have known the sorceress Triss Merigold for a long time, for she is one of the Geralt's closest friends. The young, pretty, talented, auburn-haired mage from Maribor hardly reminded me of the giggling flapper of years past. Her knowledge, abilities and loyalty had brought her far. A hero from Sodden, known as the Fourteenth of the Hill - for she was mistakenly counted as the fourteenth mage to die in that battle - she sat on the royal council of King Foltest of Temeria. And though they say that a monarch's favor is uncertain - for the king had once expelled all mages from Temeria - Triss had managed to gain Foltest's trust. As regards the witcher, everyone who was witness to Triss' friendship with Geralt, anyone who saw them together, would easily confirm that these two had much in common... And it is common knowledge that an old flame never dies...
For those reasons, after Foltest's death the sorceress decided that she would help the witcher most by staying by his side. Not heeding her threatened position at court, she harnessed all her strength and powers to helping Geralt, whom she still had feelings to.
I was not there at the time, but I heard tales of the show of power Triss put on at that beach near Flotsam. Though she was weakened and barely conscious, the sorceress managed to sustain a magical barrier and the three survived the Scoia'tael arrows thanks to her.
Nobody was surprised that Triss knew Sile de Tansarville. A more attentive observer would certainly have noticed the chill in their greetings, as well as Triss' evident dislike of her elder colleague.
If Geralt agrees to forget about chasing the king slayer:
The sorceress' greatest desire was to be the one and only woman in Geralt's life, and to forget about all the troubles and dangers they had recently experienced. Geralt agreed to her proposal, but before they could act, Fate showed them how hard it can be to carry out such romantic plans.
If Geralt decides he must continue chasing the king's slayer:
The sorceress' greatest desire was to be the one and only woman in Geralt's life, and to forget about all the troubles and dangers they had recently experienced. Geralt was close to agreeing to her proposal, yet he knew that it would be impossible to lead a quiet life until he could clear his name. His decision saddened Triss, but the sorceress understood.
Triss was kidnapped by Letho. Geralt and I feared what he might do to her. Believe me, it was eating me alive, making rest impossible.
Searching Sile's quarters and talking to her neighbor brought more questions than answers. It appeared that Triss had known the woman she had talked to, but the fragments of the conversation recounted to us remained mysterious.
Triss had reached Aedirn – there was evidence to prove it. Finding her would prove difficult, however.
If Geralt chooses Iorveth's path and helps Philippa in order to lift a curse from Saskia instead of rescuing Triss:
In Aedirn, the search for Triss ended with the discovery of a bitter truth - transformed into a nephrite figurine, she had ironically been in the possession of an oblivious Geralt for a time and he had brought her straight to the Nilfgaardian camp. The Nilfgaardian emissary envisioned a special part for her in Loc Muinne...
If Geralt chooses Roche's path and rescues Anais La Valette instead of Triss:
In the end the sorceress was freed by a witcher, yet it was not Geralt. Thanks to Letho she escaped unharmed, but I am sure she would be glad to forget the time she spent in Nilfgaardian captivity. Thus were the lovers reunited among the ruins of Loc Muinne after their long parting, and the story of Triss Merigold's kidnapping ended.
If Geralt rescues Triss instead of Anais La Valette or Philippa:
Yet the witcher foiled this plan, wrestling Triss from Nilfgaardian hands. I described the story's finale in one of my ballads, omitting the carnage Geralt wrought there, however. For his part, he thinks that my version, with its colorful description of a mounted pursuit of Renuald aep Matsen, a limp sorceress trundled across his saddle, is too pretentious. Witchers...no sense of licentia poetica at all.
Triss had one more part to play, and a significant one at that. Thanks to her, De Tansarville's machinations were publicly revealed. The scene – now known as "Triss Merigold accuses the Lone Witch of Kovir" – passed into history and presently is one of the more common motifs in contemporary painting.
The testimony Shilard extracted from Triss was used to accuse the sorcerers. In this way Miss Merigold contributed involuntarily to a witch-hunt greater than any before it.

Developer comments

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Sorceress Triss Merigold, Geralt's friend and former lover, is one of the most important supporting characters in The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. She accompanies our hero during his travels, and the choices the player will make concerning her will heavily influence the story.
"If Triss Marigold couldn't be my girlfriend, I'd like her to at least be my sister" – this phrase may be humorous, but it still gives a good impression of the effect we wanted to get when working on the sorceress' new appearance. Triss's appearance changed the most of all characters we met in the first game. Her new clothes were to be equally elegant, functional, and comfortable for traveling.
We based them on a 15th-century doublet. Its skin-tight cut underlines the sorceress' shapely figure perfectly, especially when coupled with trousers and high topped boots. The male clothing, fingerless leather gloves and pinned up hair make her stand out among other women, and turn her into a "tomboy". Triss' personality has changed too. She's no longer the girl from the novels known to "giggle like a flapper". Now she's a decisive, brave woman. She knows what she wants and she won't hesitate to take risks in order to get it. Her new appearance is also a reflection of this change. One can openly admit that Triss grew up and is more mature, though she has lost none of her personal charm and grace.
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- pg. 124, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings


Associated Quests

The Witcher Battle Arena

Twba character model Triss

Since March 31, 2015, Triss Merigold is a new playable character in the MOBA "The Witcher Battle Arena".

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Tw3 journal triss

Triss returns in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt as the leader of the mage underground due to the witch hunt begun by Radovid V. Her appearance did not change much but interactions with Yennefer prove quite interesting. There is also a free DLC which gives Triss an alternative outfit.

After the events at Loc Muinne Triss and Geralt (who had now regained his memory) separated. Triss decided to go to Novigrad, which many mages believed to be a safe haven, and set up a shop in the city center. The Eternal Fire religion in the city, however, declared all mages to be witches and traitors and began arresting and murdering them.

Triss was forced to seek the protection of The King of Beggars to whom she paid 80% of her earnings whilst attempting to gain enough money to escape the city with her fellow mages. Geralt, upon arriving at the city, found Triss with the King of Beggars and assisted her ridding a rat infested mill. The Mill owner, however, sold her out to the witch hunters, and if not for the efforts of Geralt, Triss would have been captured.

Triss accompanies Sigismund Dijkstra to Margrave Henckel's house to meet with Geralt, who was searching for Dijkstra's lost treasure; Triss agreed to stick her neck out in exchange for Dijkstra's financial aid in smuggling the mages out of Novigrad. After Geralt told Dijkstra that Caleb Menge, the leader of the witch hunters, had his treasure, and after the ex-spy had left, the witcher informed Triss that Menge had Dandelion imprisoned. To find Ciri, Triss then helped Geralt discover the location of Dandelion by allowing herself to be taken to the witch hunters and tortured whilst Geralt gained the information. Ultimately she kills her torturers before killing Menge.

If Geralt assists Triss in spiriting all the mages under her wing to Kovir, it results in the witch hunters targeting nonhumans. Helping Triss ensures she goes to Kaer Morhen to fight the Wild Hunt. Before the Hunt's attack, she is happily reunited with Ciri, whom she provides with a magical stone that will call down a fireball that would strike down all her attackers except herself.

Following the battle, Triss goes with Yennefer and Avallac'h to Novigrad to try and reunite the Lodge of Sorceresses, taking up residence at the Rosemary and Thyme, an establishment owned by Dandelion. Unfortunately, they had not much luck, as Ida Emean outright refused and Francesca Findabair wouldn't budge from her realm with a war raging.

When Geralt later arrived, Triss berates him for putting Ciri in danger by taking her to the Sabbath to face Imlerith. Afterwards, she informed him that the only Lodge member she could locate was Philippa Eilhart, who was tricked into her owl form by Arthur de Vleester, who put a dimeritium band on her leg afterwards. Worse yet, Philippa came into the possession of Zoltan Chivay, who lost her in a card game. Luckily, Triss found a feather. Using hydromancy at the fountain behind the Passiflora and divined that Philippa was in the possession of Sigismund Dijkstra. They rush to his bathhouse, where Philippa, having regained human form after Dijkstra foolishly removed her dimeritium band, was wreaking havoc. After Geralt managed to subdue her, Triss led her colleague to safety.

Romance

For the main article, see The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Guide to Romance.

Tw3 Geralt and Triss

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Geralt can reignite his romance with Triss in separate stages. While extracting Lady Ingrid Vegelbud's son from her estate past the witch hunters, Triss gets drunk, which leads to Geralt kissing her as the fireworks start. At the conclusion of Now or Never, if Geralt professes his love for Triss and kissed her previously, she seemingly departs on the ship for Kovir. But she returns, interrupting Sigismund Dijkstra's anecdote about his affair with Phillipa Eilhart. She asks to speak privately with Geralt at the lighthouse, where they have sex.

While searching for Phillipa using hydromancy, Triss' spell in the reflection of the pool behind the Passiflora, changes to an unknown house. When pressed by Geralt, she reveals that King Tankred had offered her a position as his court advisor. She also reveals that the house is to be hers in Pont Vanis, where she wants them to live together after the Wild Hunt is defeated.

If Geralt finds one of Triss' lost earrings in their bed back at Kaer Morhen, he can return it to her. During the epilogue, Geralt and Triss settle in far-away Kovir. Geralt would take jobs, more out of habit than need, due to the fortune Triss received as the advisor to Kovir's king. If Geralt romances both Triss and Yennefer, they trick him into thinking they're having a threesome, only to leave him tied to the bed in the Rosemary and Thyme.

If Geralt romanced Triss in the main game, then she makes an appearance during Geralt's adventures in Toussaint.

After the quest Blood Run, Geralt receives a letter from Triss that begins the quest Turn and Face the Strange. The letter is read in her voice and not only details the discovery she made about Professor Moreau's research, but also expresses a desire that Geralt remain safe and return to her quickly.

During the quest The Warble of a Smitten Knight, Geralt can make the necessary vow for the knights' tourney on "his lady's love". In which case, he will say "I vow on the love of my lady, Triss Merigold, to respect the chivalric virtues".

After the main questline for Blood and Wine is complete, Geralt can return to his home in Corvo Bianco and is surprised by Triss, who is waiting for him. After an embrace, the two venture outside to a sunny spot overlooking the vineyard. Once there, they have a conversation about various topics, including current events in Kovir and romantic plans the two have for each other in the future.

Developer comments

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Triss Merigold is easily one of the most important supporting characters in our series of games, having appeared and played a key role in all three installments. This young but extraordinarily talented sorceress shares a complicated history with Geralt, one that exists somewhere on the spectrum between an on-and-off love affair and a deep, years-long friendship.
The main traits of Triss Merigold's appearance, such as the shape of her face, her hairstyle, and her figure, were mainly based on the model created for her in the second game in the series. Only her clothing has changed significantly - it is now more elegant, more in fitting with the reigning style in Novigrad, the city of riches and fashion in which she now lives. Triss' clothes still reflect her own tastes, however, including her fondness for cuts that emphasis her slim waist, a point of extreme pride for Triss in the books.
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- pg. 120, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Artbook


Journal Entry

I always considered it a point of particular pride to count Triss Merigold of Maribor among my closest and dearest friends. This exceptionally talented sorceress was a shining star of her profession, the former mage advisor to King Foltest, and a famous hero of the Battle of Sodden, known as the Fourteenth of the Hill. yet in no way did she resemble her often unbearably haughty sisters in magic. Her deft mind, warm smile and considerable personal charm had always won over even the hardest of hearts.
Though my personal relations with Triss never ventured beyond the fraternal, Geralt of Rivia at one point found her allure irresistible. From then on the two shared feelings that ran far deeper than a superficial and fleeting fancy.
Yennefer told Geralt that Triss had recently taken up residence in the Free City of Novigrad.
It seemed Triss had gone into hiding from the so-called witch hunters persecuting magic wielders in the city, turning to one of the leaders of the local underworld for protection.
After a bit of a run-around Geralt found the sorceress, who had indeed entered into an arrangement with the so-called King of Beggars. She paid for his protection by providing magic services to his organization. Though Triss did not know anything about Ciri and her stay in Novigrad, she promised to do all within her power to aid Geralt's search.
Though theoretically Triss and Geralt had ended their romance half a year earlier, it was clear the feelings they felt for each other had not vanished so easily. To deal with this, the sorceress pretended that nothing had happened and the witcher, as is his wont, sheepishly masked his feelings with a mix of hesitant interest and fake indifference. It must be said that both of them handled the situation quite awkwardly.
The plan to get close to Caleb Menge that Triss presented to the witcher was very risky and placed her in great danger. The sorceress knew, however, that Ciri's life might be on the line, and so did not hesitate for even a moment.
If Geralt kisses Triss:
The sorceress' laugh, the look in her cornflower blue eyes, the memory of enchanting moments spent together - all that surely weighed on Geralt's decision to kiss Triss in the Vegelbuds' garden. And though their moment of sweet oblivion lasted briefly, it breathed a gale's worth of new life into feelings between them.
If Now or Never is completed:
Though Triss and Geralt said their final goodbyes on that wind-swept Novigrad dock, in the end the sorceress decided not to leave for Kovir after all. She knew that when Geralt asked her to stay, the witcher was opening up his heart to her for the first time.
Geralt and Triss met again at Kaer Morhen. Triss arrived there at the witcher's behest to help defend Ciri, whom she had always treated as a younger sister.

Associated Quests

The Witcher Adventure Game

In the world of The Witcher, only a select few talented and highly trained individuals can wield magic. As casting every spell requires knowledge, time, and diligent preparation, only the most adept in the mystic arts are proficient enough to use them on the battlefield. One such individual is Triss Merigold, considered to be among the most powerful members of the Lodge of Sorceresses, a secret organization of prominent female mages. Depending on whether the sorceress is your ally or your enemy, she can either annihilate you in a shower of flames or heal you in your hour of need. A dear friend to Geralt of Rivia and the personal advisor of King Foltest of Temeria, ruler of one of the richest kingdoms in the North, she has played a key role in the most important events of recent Northern history.
Triss's power comes from knowledge, and whether it entails spying on others through her magical devices or using raw force to extract the information she needs, she always finds a way to get to the heart of the matter. Most of her spells take time to prepare but, given the proper momentum, she's an unstoppable force that can break through any obstacle in her path. Using her intellect and magical prowess, Triss is able to bend the rules in her and her party's favor, which will frequently come in handy during the numerous adventures to come.

Trivia

  • Name "Triss" means happy or blessed (from Latin origin).
  • Triss made an appearance in polish Playboy (05/2011), moreover - a front cover girl.

Notes

  • In the Czech translation of the books and the game, Dandelion's name is "Marigold" and Triss is called "Triss Ranuncul". The original name of Dandelion is "Jaskier" (in Polish).
  • After her fall at Sodden Hill and her consequent resuscitation, Triss mentions that she "will never again be able to wear a dress with a low neckline", suggesting that some skin disfigurement still remains on her chest. In the game however, she displays a generous amount of cleavage without any traces of damage whatsoever. Furthermore, in the books it's mentioned that after the battle the injured mages were patched and up and their former appearances restored, though to what extent is unknown.
  • In The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, if the player hadn't recovered Triss' earring in the main game and the romance had progressed into the Blood and Wine expansion, the player won't be able to return the earring to her.
  • In The Witcher, if you decide to get her a ring, it must contain a ruby. She will not take any other types. On top of that, you have to behave like a good father, by being strict with Alvin at least once.
    • You can find Gold Ruby Signet Ring from the Salamanders in the Swamp in Chapter III.
    • The gift of a ring will provide a second opportunity for sex, third if you count the checking for internal injuries.
  • Triss is rarely home in Chapter III and stays at Leuvaarden's party at The New Narakort from 17:30 till 3:00.

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Gallery

References

  1. Books describe her hair as chestnut, which is a brown and red coloring. In The Lady of the Lake it's further noted as "ginger" and while this usually pertains to redheads, in some cases it also means a brown red color.
  2. In Blood of Elves it's mentioned that Triss couldn't understand Yennefer and Geralt's relationship and it had fascinated her to such an extent that she had seduced Geralt with the help of a little magic.

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