The Witcher: Vesemir Explained – Who is Geralt’s mentor in Season 2?

The Witcher Season 2 begins in December, bringing a significant expansion of the show’s cast of characters and a notable cast including Bridgerton’s Adjoa Andoh as Priestess Nenneke and Game of Thrones’ Kristofer Hivju like the cursed noble Nivellen.

One of the most important new characters is Vesemir, who will be played by Kim bodnia from Killing Eve (despite rumors at one point that the role would go to Mark Hamill). During Netflix’s presentation at Tudum, the streaming giant released a new trailer for the Witcher franchise, featuring never-before-seen footage from Season 2, including our first up-close look at Bodnia’s rendition of the famous Witcher.

Netflix has created anticipation for his appearance and provided viewers with a way to get to know the character better by giving him a starring role in the anime’s prequel. The Witcher: Wolf’s Nightmare, where Divergent’s Theo James voiced a younger version of the character.

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But who is Vesemir exactly? Read on or watch the video below or at the top of the page to learn more!

Vesemir is the oldest and most experienced surviving sorcerer from the Netflix series and the surrogate father of Geralt of Rivia. Vesemir grew up as a servant of a noble family, but escaped to seek his fortune as a monster hunter after helping the warlock Deglan exorcise a monster that possessed his lover.

After undergoing the brutal trials and training required to become a witch, Vesemir spent decades enjoying his profession. When the warlock fortress Kaer Morhen was destroyed and most of the older warlocks were killed, Vesemir took it upon himself to protect and train the last of his kind.

Vesemir’s powers and abilities

Like all warlocks in the School of the Wolf, Vesemir received intense training in combat and survival in Kaer Morhen. He underwent the Test of Herbs, which mutated him to give him the same golden eyes that Geralt would also acquire, and imbue him with superhuman strength, agility, and toughness while significantly slowing down his aging process. The trial also leaves the survivors sterile.

Vesemir has the ability to use magic signs to do things like take down enemies or create fire. Like other warlocks, he is also trained in alchemy, crafting concoctions that can enhance his own senses or be used as destructive bombs. He is a particularly skilled swordsman and taught swordsmanship to new recruits in Kaer Morhen when he was not sneaking out to drink and flirt in nearby taverns. As a veteran warlock, he has extensive knowledge of the monster abilities and weaknesses. He also wears a medallion from the School of the Wolf, which allows him to feel the magic being used nearby.

Origin and background: Geralt’s mentor

Vesemir first appeared in Sapkowski’s Witcher novel Blood of Elves, which serves as the source for most of the plot in The Witcher Season 2. He was mentioned before by Geralt in the short story collections. The last wish and the sword of destiny. Geralt refers to Vesemir as his father and the old warlock helps train Geralt’s own surrogate daughter, the surprise girl Ciri, in Kaer Morhen. Vesemir is tough on all of his students, but believes that approach gives them the strength and determination necessary to survive their dangerous profession. She also shows compassion, telling her children stories about recruits to help them fall asleep and ignore the pain of a hard day of training.

Most of the warlocks in the School of the Wolf treat Vesemir like their father and he does everything he can to protect them. Because the secret of the Trial of Herbs was lost in the Kaer Morhen massacre, Vesemir believes that they will be the last students he will train. He is something of a tragic figure, a survivor of a bygone golden age whose monster hunters become less needed and more vilified.

Vesemir on the Witcher, the games and beyond on Netflix

Vesemir (voiced by) is a key character in the CD Projekt Red video games. He is one of the first characters Geralt encounters in The Witcher, serving as a quest giver and guide for navigating Kaer Morhen.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt also begins with Geralt and Vesemir together as they try to find the sorceress Yennefer. While Vesemir spends most of the game in Kaer Morhen and away from the action, he plays a major role in The Witcher 3’s climax.

The Netflix animated film The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf significantly developed Vesemir’s backstory, describing his childhood romance and dreams, his arrogant youth as a master monster hunter, and his role in the destruction of Kaer Morhen. He also shows his compassion for elves, who are treated with contempt or exterminated by most humans. Vesemir has had other adventures referenced in the Witcher games that could provide material for a follow-up movie.

Before coming to Netflix, The Witcher books were adapted into the Polish TV movie and series The Hexer. Vesemir appears in the series played by Jerzy Nowak, but is a priest rather than a witch. In that series, Geralt is mentored by a character only referred to as the Old Warlock. Vesemir has also appeared in Gwent cards (a Witcher card game) and in Witcher comics.

For more information on the Witcher, check out the Season 2 franchise trailer with more Vesemir and Nivellen, our Nightmare of the Wolf review, and the names of season 2 episode titles. The Witcher Season 2 will premiere on Netflix December 17. Let’s talk about Vesemir and the rest of The Witcher characters in the comments!