Geralt of Rivia, the protagonist of The Witcher series, has become one of the most recognizable characters in video games these recent years. This is thanks in large part to the critical and commercial success of the Witcher video games, especially The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

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Even so, Geralt remains something of an enigma not only to characters within the series, but to some fans as well. There's a lot people don't known about the mysterious witcher, so let's go through a few. Here's 10 things you didn't know about Geralt.

10 He was almost an Elven sorceress (in the games)

The Witcher may be one of the most famous franchises in video games now, but that wasn't always the case. Because The Witcher novels were really only popular in and around Poland during the early stages of the game's development, CD Projekt Red had a hard time finding a publisher to finance the game.

When the folks at CD Projekt Red finally did find a publisher that showed interest, said publisher wanted to make a few changes. This publisher not only wanted to axe the Witcher name and make it a multiplayer game, they also wanted to change Geralt into an Elven sorceress. As cool as it would have been to play an Elven sorceress in a dark fantasy setting, the developers thankfully passed on the publisher's offer and continued their search.

9 He's stronger and faster than most Witchers

Witchers are made to be incredibly powerful warriors, much stronger than any normal human, because they need the increased strength and speed to successfully hunt the variety of dangerous creatures they're hired to kill. Even so, Geralt stands above just about every other witcher.

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What makes witchers so strong is the Trial of Grasses, a painful ritual performed on witchers at a young age that uses mutagens to basically break down and rebuild their bodies. The reason Geralt ended up being stronger and faster than other witchers is that he showed a higher tolerance to the mutagens, so he was subjected to more mutagens than usual.

8 Geralt hates having a beard

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A small but cool little feature that CD Projekt Red put into Witcher 3 is the ability to let players have Geralt grow a beard, and have it continue growing as they play. Players can then style Geralt's facial hair at a barber, adding a bit of customization player didn't have before.

Unfortunately, Geralt's not a fan. In the second novel of the Witcher saga, The Time of Contempt, Geralt's beard had only a few days growth, but he mentions to his friend, Dandelion, that he hates having a beard and asks to borrow a razor to shave it off.

7 Geralt's mother is a sorceress

Via artstation.com/kkr

Geralt was abandoned as a baby, left at the witcher School of the Wolf at Kaer Morhen to be raised by the witchers there, so for quite some time both Geralt and fans did not know who Geralt's parents were. But though she never makes an appearance in the games, Geralt does get to meet his mother in the books.

Geralt's mother is named Visenna, and she's a sorceress and a druid. Geralt only met Visenna once, in Sword of Destiny, the second collection of short stories preceding the Witcher saga. Geralt had gotten serious injured and was slipping in and out of hallucinations but was tended to by Visenna. It's the only time they meet face-to-face.

6 Geralt marries Yennifer

Witcher 3 Screenshot Of Geralt And Yennefer Kissing

The Witcher 3 gives players the choice of who Geralt can end up with. On top of the slew of one night stands Geralt can have, players can choose if Geralt lives happily ever after with Triss or with Yennifer. However, according to Witcher author Andrzej Sapkowski, there's only one choice.

RELATED: The Witcher 4: 5 Reasons Why Ciri Should Be The Main Protagonist (& 5 Reasons Why It Needs To Be Geralt)

Sapkowski wrote a lovely little short story called Something Ends, Something Begins, about Dandelion sending invitations to Geralt and Yennifer's wedding. Sapkowski wrote this short story as a wedding gift for his friends and the story is non-canon, but it is interesting to know who the author thinks Geralt should end up with.

5 His wolf medallion is not his first

via ign.com

One of the most iconic pieces of Geralt's look is the wolf medallion he wears around his neck, signifying him as a witcher. Every witcher wears one shaped to represent the school said witcher comes from, but it also has magical properties that allow them to detect the presence of magic. But, did you know that the medallion Geralt wears in the games is not actually his original medallion.

In the fourth book, The Tower of Swallows, Geralt's medallion is thrown into a fire and lost after the mage he gave it to was sentenced to burn at the stake. The medallion Geralt wears in the games belonged to another witcher that was killed by a bounty hunter which was then retrieved by Ciri and given to Geralt.

4 Why his hair turned white

Geralt can be recognized by a good number of things, like the two swords on his back, his yellow cat-like eyes, and also his white hair, which earned him the nickname "White Wolf". However, his natural hair color isn't white, it only turned white due to the stress placed on his body from the increased amount of mutagens he was given during his Trial of Grasses.

Interestingly, a Witcher comic published in Poland gave a different reason as to why Geralt's hair turned white. In this comic, Geralt's hair turns white because of the stress and pain of killing his friend Gweld.

3 He's older than he looks

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At first glance, Geralt doesn't really seem to be all that old. Late-thirties to early-forties would be a reasonable enough guess, but he's actually a fair bit older than that. While his age is not something often discussed in either the books or games, in the beginning of Witcher 3, Geralt mentions that he's pushing 100.

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So not only do the Trial of Grasses give witchers increased strength, stamina, and speed, but it also extends their lifespan quite a bit. No one knows quite how long a witcher can live, but Vesemir, Geralt's mentor, is said to be the oldest and most experienced witcher and he's 150.

2 Why he's called the Butcher of Blaviken

Geralt has been known by many names. He's Geralt of Rivia, the White Wolf, Gwynbleidd by the elder races, and he once briefly used the name Ravix of Fourhorn, but perhaps his most notorious nickname if the Butcher of Blaviken. It's a name that strikes fear into the hearts of those who hear it, but just how did he earn that name?

Geralt was given the name Butcher of Blaviken in The Last Wish, the first Witcher book. a gang of bandits were hunting a mage and threatened to kill everyone in the village if the mage did not come out of his tower. Knowing the mage would refuse, Geralt decided to kill the gang before they could do harm, but all the villagers saw was Geralt indiscriminately slaughtering innocent people.

1 He's not actually from Rivia

Geralt always introduces himself as Geralt of Rivia. The thing is, he's not actually from Rivia. To make themselves more trustworthy to prospective clients, witchers usually give themselves surnames, and "of Rivia" was his. He even taught himself to speak in a Rivian accent to seem more authentic.

In the novels, Geralt is later officially knighted by Queen Meve of Lyria as Geralt of Rivia for his valor in helping her army fight of Nilfgaardian forces at the Battle for the Bridge on the Yaruga. Unfortunately, Geralt lost his knighthood soon after.

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