If you're a fan of witches, especially the gnarly medieval types who do genuinely horrible things like eating children and feasting on humans to remain young -- then you might be fond of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's Ladies of the Wood. You'll meet these "ladies" during the aptly titled quest of the same name.
They're also known as the "Crones," three horrifying looking creatures that go by the names of Brewess, Whispess, and Weavess. They're truly the stuff of nightmares, and yet they also bear some similarities to the classic fairy tale witches, especially from Hansel and Gretel. The following list details some interesting facts about the Crones you may not know.
Updated on January 2, 2021 by Josh Davison: In a game full of memorable characters and locales, few stand out more than the Crones of Crookback Bog. They are a trio of terrifying sisters with immense and little-understood power. Their visual design, personality, and interesting role in the grand plot of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt ensured that they will stay remembered in the halls of videogame legend for years and years to come. With the air of mystery that constantly surrounds the Crones, there are certain to be plenty of little details that players missed during their encounters with the trio. With that in mind, let's dive back into the mystery of the Crones with another five things you didn't know about the Crones of Crookback Bog.
14 How Powerful Are They?
Spoilers for Witcher 3: Wild Hunt here and going forward, but many people who made it to the end may find themselves wondering just how powerful the Crones of Crookback Bog are. They are worshipped as gods in parts of Velen, but they are slain by Ciri swinging around her sword inside Bald Mountain. The answer is a little complicated. A lot of their magic seems to be a manipulation of fate, which has vast potential consequences but can do very little on the fly it seems. When Ciri invades Bald Mountain, they can do little but swing their claws, throw viscera, and hope for the best. Given time and preparation for a spell, the Crones seem to be able to shift the foundations of the world if they wish, but they are still vulnerable to an angry woman with Elder Blood. That said, they are also very knowledgeable, and that, of course, is a power all its own.
13 They Are Inspired By A Greek Goddess
There is a long history of trios in the practice of witchcraft and the superstitions that surround it. The mother, the maiden, and the crone are the manifestation of the Triple Goddess in neopagan tradition. These are supposed to represent the different stages of a woman's life, and this is based upon the triple goddess of Greek mythology, Hecate. She is the goddess of witchcraft, and she had three bodies and three visages. Given that the Crones seem to make no decision independent of one another, it is hard to view them as separate beings and easier to see a singe organism gathering knowledge and power.
12 Are They Evil?
Short answer? Yes. However, that feels like too simple an explanation for the Ladies of the Wood. They represent an order in Velen, and they do good as well as ill for the villages such as Downwarren. They respect the magic of the natural world, even if they wish to have more control over it. They fear the Wild Hunt because they know of the apocalypse they bring. They also fear She-Who-Knows, as she seems to be a grand power that could also upend the natural order. They may be evil, but only inasmuch as a predator is evil to the prey — and the Crones, unfortunately, prey upon any mortals that get near them.
11 They Share Movements And Models Other Witcher 3 Monsters
This fact comes more from the coding and programing side of things, but each of the Crones of Crookback bog share skeletal modeling and movement animations with other monsters from The Witcher 3. The Weavess shares her movements with the Water Hags, the Brewess with Gargoyles, and the Whispess with Foglets. Is there any deeper connection there? Probably not, but it is a fun bit of trivia nonetheless.
10 The Crones Are Based On The Fates
If you're familiar with Greek mythology, or you've seen Hercules, then you likely know what we're talking about when we refer to the Fates. They are three sisters who control the Threads of Fate.
In mythology, they're believed to be three sisters who control the thread of life for every mortal being from the point of life until death. Not only did mortals have to submit to their will but gods did as well. They would watch the fate of every being and guide them toward their predestined path.
9 They Seem To Be Attracted To All Genders
The Crones are not exactly the type of creatures or witches you would want to hang out with. They enjoy eating people, which is always important to keep in mind. They also have sexual desires, and they make several pointed comments toward Geralt when you first meet them.
That said, they don't seem to discriminate between genders. Later in the game, they make some rather disturbing comments about Ciri, and they only invite women they deem attractive to their Witches' Sabbath. It seems like they're equal opportunity murderers.
8 It Is Possible To Kill The Crones Early In The Game
During Ciri's first quest, "Ciri's Story: Fleeing the Bog," which occurs after the "Ladies of the Wood" main quest, it is possible that Ciri can return to the cabin and kill the Crones. However, this appears to be a game glitch as if you actually go through with it, you'll receive a game over.
The reason being is that Ciri doesn't actually kill them in the flashback and you won't face off in combat against the three witches until much later in the game during the "Bald Mountain" quest.
7 Further Inspiration For These Characters Comes From Baba Yaga
You might have heard of Baba Yaga before. She is an old woman from Slavic folklore that is often depicted as a witch. Stories of Baba Yaga have existed for many years and the name pops up in a number of films, stories, and television shows.
A few that have referenced Baba Yaga include the Tomb Raider games -- there's an entire DLC with Baba Yaga as an antagonist, Ant-Man and the Wasp, and Lost Girl. Baba Yaga is often said to live in a hut in the woods that stands on top of chicken legs, which is depicted in the Tomb Raider DLC.
6 The Ghost In The Tree Is Likely The Crones' Mother
While not officially confirmed, it is heavily implied that the ghost imprisoned in the tree that Geralt finds during "The Whispering Hillock" quest is actually the Crones' mother. There is a book you can find in the game called She Who Knows that divulges an interesting legend about the original Lady of the Wood who constructed three daughters out of dirt and water.
Supposedly, the mother eventually descended into madness and it spread across the land. Her daughters tried to save it and did so by killing their mother and burying her body in the bog. They then imprisoned her soul beneath the Whispering Hillock.
5 No One Knows Their Real Names
While the game refers to the three women as Brewess, Whispess, and Weavess, these are not the real names of the Crones. The names were given to them by the local folks who have been traumatized by and terrified of them for years.
Whispess was given her name for her creepy collection of human ears, she can supposedly hear things from their owners with them. Brewess concocts magical mixtures and potions -- her specialty is human soup. Finally, Weavess got her name for her talent of weaving magic tapestries together made of human hair.
4 They Were Inspired By Shakespeare's Weird Sisters
It's apparent that the Crones were inspired by a multitude of literary references as we've touched on a few in this article. But perhaps the most obvious one is the Weird Sisters from Shakespeare's famous play, Macbeth.
In fact, the bestiary entry for the Crones even borrows a quote from a play called "Macveth" in The Witcher universe, which is an obvious reference to the real play. Like the Weird Sisters, the Crones are dangerous monstrosities who can control and alter destiny. Visually, they look somewhat similar to the film version of Macbeth by Roman Polanski.
3 The Ending Implies That Ciri Hunted Down Weavess
During the "Bald Mountain" quest, Ciri will have to face off against the Crones once and for all. After you fight them, two of them will wind up dead (or should, anyway, it is a tricky fight). However, Weavess uses her ability to turn into a flock of ravens to escape. When she does so, she steals the wolf medallion from Ciri.
Depending on the ending of the game, Weavess may wind up dead after all, but who kills her can vary. If Ciri dies, then Geralt hunts her down. But if Ciri lives, then you'll see her wearing her medallion again which would mean she went and retrieved it from Weavess on her own.
2 Each Crone Has Her Own Gwent Card
For those of you who are avid Gwent card collectors, you'll want to make sure you get your hands on each Crone's card. They're all part of the Monsters deck, which is quite fitting.
All of them are close combat cards. Weavess's card can be won from the Old Sage during the "Gwent: Velen Players" quest. Brewess's card is a random reward from a Gwent player, and Whispess's card can be purchased from the innkeeper in Arinbjorn in Skellige.
1 Their Designs Include References To The Way Witches Were Often Killed
If you pay close attention to the design of the Crones, you'll notice that the developers included some truly creative details to their work. Each witch represents one of the many ways witches were brutally massacred during the witch hunts.
Weavess has a noose left around her neck as if she was hanged. Brewess has a lock around her neck attached to a chain to keep her tethered underwater and drowned. Finally, Whispess wears a mask over her face to hide her burns. It is confirmed that she was burned alive in Chuchote Cave by a knight she refused to help.