There is a tremendous amount of detail in the world of The Witcher series. However, the world itself seems to be lacking a name and is simply referred to as the "world," "globe," or even "Earth." This is because the brilliant minds that created the lore and stories within this unnamed world focused on more immediate details in order to make the setting feel more vivid and alive, and successfully so.
The most relevant area of the world in this incredible series is the aptly named Continent. Yes, it is indeed called "The Continent." With such sparse details about great chunks of this fascinating place, it is understandable that gamers would have questions.
10 What Is In The Blue Mountains?
This range of mountains is one of many that pock the surface of The Continent, though special for a few reasons. It acts as a natural barrier between the Northern Realms and other parts of the world like Haakland and Zerrikania. These mountains are also where Kaer Morhen is located and can be seen in-game, though it does not seem possible to explore them. Being so close to a witcher school, it could make one wonder what kinds of monsters would dare lurk these misty slopes.
9 Why Doesn't Haakland Invade The Northern Realms?
People from this land across the mountains are renowned for learning how to ride horses before they learn how to walk. Combined with a natural affinity for archery, they can be fearsome foes. Thankfully for the Northern Realms, they can't be bothered to cross the Blue Mountains too often. In fact, they only did so once, but when they did they apparently slaughtered all in their path and left ruins in their wake, celebrating by drinking from the skulls of their foes for a full year. With such power, why don't they flex it more often?
8 What Is Zerrikania Really Like?
Known mostly from rumors and myths, Zerrikania is apparently a land of dragon worshipers and warrior women surrounded by deserts, wastelands, and mountain ranges. With so much hostile terrain between there and the Northern Realms, it is no wonder little is known about this far away land. It is also apparently the birthplace of the formula for explosives, including the bombs witchers use. What other kinds of brightly burning mysteries could be hiding in the far east?
7 Why Is The Nilfgaardian Empire So Successful?
This expansive empire has conquered countless lands and has no plans to stop anytime soon. Emhyr var Emreis, a rigid and unrelenting ruler, seems to want to cover the world in black and gold; the colors of his nation. Nilfgaard boasts an excellent military, brilliant scholars, adept mages, and many other sophisticated qualities that benefit them and their conquests.
But is it by chance they have such useful assets or is it something more? Their emperor has been know to deal with magic in past, after all, even at one point being cursed.
6 Are The Fiery Mountains A Chain Of Volcanoes?
Northeast of the Northern Realms lies a range of mountains that touch the western part of Zerrikania. Little is known about these great hills, though their name might have something to do with dragons. In Zerrikanian lore, a mighty golden dragon scorched all the lands around Zerrikania in order to protect it and the dragon resting grounds it encompassed. Describing mountains as fiery can summon thoughts of flowing lava, though it has never been confirmed if these mountains are volcanoes or if their name is simply a reference to the legend.
5 Why Cross The North Sea?
There was once a time when Skellige was not inhabited by humans, but only elves, monsters, and giants. It is not technically part of The Continent, being composed of a few islands, but the people that first settled there were from the mainland, who had to cross dangerous and frigid waters to do so. With a harsh sea full of beasts from the deep, and land covered in similar horrors, it is a wonder that the clans that started living there even bothered.
4 What Kind Of Beasts Lurk In The Sands Of The East?
In the lands east of the Nilfgaardian Empire, there exists little and this place is sparsely inhabited. The Korath Desert spans a great distance here and is filled with more than just burning sands and immensely strong sunlight. There are fiends hiding beneath the scorching dunes of mysterious and scant descriptions.
Once during her travels, Ciri once slew such a beast that was attacking a unicorn, though was only able to identify a squat trunk and massive crab-like claws from the hidden assailant.
3 Is The Far North Like Skyrim?
With rumors about fur-clad and incredibly skilled craftsman, massive wooly mammoths, and exceptionally rare white dragons, the Far North is as mythical as the Eastern Realms and Zerrikania to the people of the Northern Realms. Most of what can be gleaned about the people and culture of this frozen tundra are that they are tough as nails, speak unrecognizable languages, and make the best bows on The Continent. Though, little else is known as not many venture this way.
2 Is Life Better Down Where It's Wetter?
The Great Sea is a large expanse of water to the west of The Continent. There are a few islands here that do trade with the Northern Realms and Nilfgaard, but there are significantly more interesting people here than human islanders. For this ocean is populated beneath the waves by cities of the elegant merpeople, defensive nereids, and aggressive vodyanoy. From what has been relayed by sailors, these denizens of the deep have a more liberal way of living and exist in less rigid social systems. Furthermore, they interact openly and positively with marine life like krakens, sharks, and dolphins. Even though this kind of life could be chaotic and uncertain, it may very well be more enjoyable than the horrors that dwell on land from what players have seen.
1 Why Is Rivia Such A Mess?
This small kingdom is the birthplace of Geralt, the protagonist of The Witcher series, though is never seen and is described scantly. Mostly only referenced as an origin place where some things in the White Wolf's past occurred. Other than that, Rivians are different enough from Temerians, and other Northern Realm kingdoms, that they get spoken of in a derogatory manner. Called "Rivs" and being branded as thieves, they usually get shunned. Though, Rivians aren't exactly known to be hospitable to outsiders either, having a very distinct ghetto full of dwarves that are taken advantage of. It's probably for the best that the games and books don't venture here, for it doesn't seem like that great of a place to be.