Also known as Voloth Meir, the Deathless Mother is a malevolent being that appears in the Netflix adaptation of the popular gaming franchise The Witcher. She assumes the role of the main antagonist but remained mostly hidden until Season 2.
The Deathless Mother seems like a benevolent god when the Elves talk about her, but humans regard her as a shadowy force of evil. More of the truth was revealed in the finale of the second season, although the source and nature of her powers remain unknown as the season comes to a close. As the mystery unravels, and the storyline progresses to a third season, it seems that the Witchers, Ciri's power, those weird crystals, and the Deathless Mother are all deeply connected.
Updated August 13, 2023, by Kristy Ambrose: Season 3 of The Witcher on Netflix continued the dramatic saga of Geralt of Rivia, telling a story that was unique from both the games and the novels. It tied up a few story threads and dropped a few others, including the continuing plans and ultimate fate of the Deathless Mother and her connection to Ciri. The progression of the plot also reveals more of the weaknesses, desires, and motives of the Deathless Mother, uncovering more of her dark secrets. With new knowledge revealed, this article has been updated to include the new lore of this character.
10 She's A Type of Demon
Before the Deathless Mother actually appears onscreen, there are already stories about her. The Elves see her as an ancient god that was worshipped by their ancestors, but the story Fringilla tells is one that the viewer is more familiar with the vision of a dangerous hag living in the forest who hunts children.
The Deathless Mother is neither a god nor a sorcerer. She's a demon with dark elf blood that came into the world during the Conjunction of the Spheres, and before that time, monsters didn't exist on this plane of reality. It's implied that Season 3 will have more information about this event, but meanwhile, the books and video games already have it as a part of the lore.
9 Pain Is Nourishment
The deal that the Deathless Mother made with Yennefer, Fringilla, and Francesca was subtle, and the details were easy to miss. This demon has a specific need. She feeds on pain, and each of the gifts that she offers comes with that price.
This is a deceptive creature, and she's not entirely honest about what she wants. The Deathless Mother appears before her victims in a shape from their own memories or fantasies as part of the trick, and Fringilla and Francesca agree to her terms only to find the true cost later. Yennefer is the only one who manages to escape this fate by doing what she does best: doubling down and beating the Hag at her own game.
8 The Conjunction of The Spheres
It's been 1500 years since the Conjunction, and the Deathless Mother has been tormenting her victims ever since that time. The character of Istredd explains this in some detail in the episode "Turn Your Back" when he talks about the history of the obelisks and the appearance of monsters on our material plane.
The exact connection that The Deathless Mother has with the elves is still in question. So far, however, with Ciri's Elder Blood making her some kind of magical weapon and the connection to the Wild Hunt, it seems that this isn't the first time someone made a deal with the Deathless Mother using pain as the currency.
7 A Baba Yaga Reference
"Hut of brown, now sit down." Some folks who are familiar with the old Sierra CRPG games couldn't help but remember this old poem when Francesca repeated her chant to the little forest house. Although this recurring character is always dangerous, as any folktale child will attest to, she can often be bargained with, and so it is in The Witcher.
Popular culture is filled with references to folklore's favorite witch, the incomparable Baba Yaga. Her appearance is always connected to a little house in the woods, often standing on giant chicken feet, and visitors need to know the magical chant to reach the door.
6 The Witchers Were Created To Fight Her
The Witchers weren't just made to Deathless Mother, but the whole host of weird and dangerous monsters that also ended up in this plane of existence after the Conjunction. In the episode "Voloth Meir," there's some brief exposition about the first Witchers entombing the Deathless Mother in her own hut, which can appear in dreams or visions.
Fringilla, Yennefer, and Francesca found the hut through a shrine in an old elvish ruin. They used an incantation to enter the Hut and speak to the Deathless Mother, who offered them power in return for their pain.
5 Trapping The Deathless Mother
Like most other powerful and supernatural beings, the Witchers knew that the Deathless Mother could not be killed, which is why they decided to trap her instead. The Witcher stronghold of Kaer Morhen, where trainees undergo the Trial of the Grasses, holds a memorial for Klef, one of the warriors who died in the battle, to entomb her permanently.
Her defeat is an important part of Witcher's history. Successfully caging the Deathless Mother was one of their earliest and greatest victories, and it gave them the credibility they needed to continue to exist. There are some strong hints in the final episode that indicate there's another story behind this connection, namely the secret obelisk under the Witcher memorial tree.
4 How She Escaped
However, this captivity wouldn't last forever. The Deathless Mother needs more power to get what she wants, and she grows more powerful by feeding on pain. Francesca and Frugilla granted her the energy she needed to break free from the hut where the Witches had imprisoned her.
Francesca's pain, not only of her downtrodden people but also of her lost child, was an obvious node of energy, and the Deathless Mother knew the elf noble would be desperate. Frigilla's deal was more about her own personal lust for power and a feeling of inadequacy compared to other mages. Yennefer was saved by her love for Ciri and changed her mind about finding her and giving her to the Deathless Mother.
3 Returning To Her Own Realm
The Deathless Mother offers gifts in exchange for obedience or favors, but what does she want? The answer is almost too easy. She only wants to return to the otherworldly plane that she came from in the first place.
Although it hasn't been completely revealed yet, this is why she's after Ciri. The girl's power can either be used to free her from her prison or cause another Conjunction that would open a way back to the demon's original plane of existence.
2 And Home Is Where The Hunt Is
The planes of reality clash when the Deathless Mother appears to return to this otherworldly realm. Season 2 ends with the Deathless Mother being expelled from Ciri's body to join the Wild Hunt, the mysterious group of armored knights that appear to pursue Ciri.
They appear again when she tried to leave Arituza, but they don't want to fight Geralt, who shows up to save her. Given that Season 3 is mostly concerned about politics as opposed to magic, this is the only appearance they make. It's assumed that the Deathless Mother is still among them.
1 She Only Appears In The Netflix Series
Big historic events like the Conjunction are a part of the lore in The Witcher franchise and appear in every incarnation of the books and video games. It's an essential part of the story to explain the monsters, mages, and the Witchers themselves.
The Deathless Mother is present as a result of that event, but the character was created solely for the Netflix series. At the end of Season 2, the character also known as Voloth Meir evolved into one of the main antagonists, and audiences have still only seen a fraction of her devastating power. At the end of the final episode, it's revealed that the Witchers themselves are also connected to the mysterious crystal obelisks, and therefore also the Deathless Mother somehow, but the explanation as to how or why will have to wait until Season 3.