While we wait for The Witcher 4 to rise from the depths of the development process, it’s the perfect moment to reminisce about the absolute masterpiece that was The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. There is something special about this game. It prevents us from forgetting, taking us back again and again to the moments when our Geralt was eaten by a pack of wolves, when Roach amused us with unexpected behavior, or when we first understood how to play Gwent.
Like the original book, this game is deep. The stories that wrap around many quests are rooted in real-world mythology. Today, we’re diving into the Polish folklore that inspired some of The Witcher 3’s most interesting quests and creatures.
Sorcerers
Half of the reason The Witcher 3 is so compelling is because of the absolute iconic sorceresses that inhabit its world. Yennefer is a walking storm that could cut glass. Triss? The most patient woman alive. Philippa Eilhart taught us to “never underestimate an ambitious woman, especially if she can turn into an owl.” They all became echoes of sorcerers who existed long before the current psychics who can be found on the Nebula site.
The concept of sorcerers in The Witcher universe is heavily inspired by historical witchcraft, medieval alchemy, and ancient Slavic beliefs about magic. In real-world European folklore, sorcerers and witches were often seen as individuals who had made a deal with some supernatural entity.
In Slavic mythology, witches were feared and respected in equal measure. They weren’t just wicked old crones who cursed people—they were knowledge keepers, healers, and the medieval version of women who knew how to get what they wanted. While today people can order a free psychic reading at any time, in those days they came to the sorceress’s hut with gifts, bowing and asking for help.
In The Witcher, sorceresses function much the same way. They are not just spell-slinging sidekicks; they are political players, alchemists, strategists, and, occasionally, Geralt’s biggest problem. Their beauty, intelligence, and sheer force of will are their weapons.
The Noonwraith
Riding past Murky Waters, Geralt often encounters a Noonwraith. These ghostly women, draped in spectral white, roam the fields at midday. The game tells us they’re the restless spirits of women who were killed before their wedding day. They appear in the countryside, mostly not far from the place of their death. They often attack people working in the fields, so they become a challenge for the main character. Due to the fact that NPCs in the game do not have the ability to turn to a live psychic for advice, they turned to the Witcher.
In Slavic folklore, the origins of these sun-drenched specters are very similar. The difference lies in how they attacked. They posed riddles to their victims, and their fate depended on their answers.
It is likely that the image of the Noonwraith in Slavic legends was inspired by a natural phenomenon. In the summer, on hot days before a storm, sudden changes in atmospheric pressure caused whirlwinds to appear. These small yet dangerous whirlwinds may have influenced the appearance of the Noonwraith.
Witcher Signs
While Geralt’s swordplay is impressive, it’s the flick of his fingers and the whoosh of a well-timed Igni that makes us feel like we are the Witcher. In the game, Witchers use a set of magical signs—simple yet powerful spells that help them survive when things get ugly. These spells are influenced by real-world occult symbols and Slavic mysticism.
For example, Yrden is a sign that traps spirits and slows down enemies. Like Quen, which is used in the game for defense, this sign is similar to protective runes used in old Slavic rituals, believed to ward off evil. Then there’s Axii, the mind-control sign, which isn’t far off from ancient charms used by sorcerers to sway people’s thoughts. Igni is the fire sign, which might as well be straight out of medieval alchemy, where fire was seen as both a tool of purification.
If you look at the triangular images of these signs and compare them with the element symbols, you can see the similarities. Igni represents fire, and Aard represents air. Meanwhile, Quen can represent the protective power of the earth. The most difficult thing is to identify Axius with water, but if you remember that the flow of human thoughts is as uncontrolled as water, everything falls into place.
The Eternal Fire
If you’ve played The Witcher 3, you’ll know that whenever you hear someone preaching about the Eternal Fire, it’s best to either walk away or get ready for a conversation filled with righteous fury. But what is the Eternal Fire? On the surface, it’s a state-backed religion in The Witcher universe. Its followers claim the Fire represents justice and the eradication of all things dark and evil. Except, much like in medieval Europe, their version of “purity” mostly involves persecuting non-humans and mages.
This whole Eternal Fire concept is inspired by actual historical movements—the Spanish Inquisition and the witch hunts of early modern Europe. Fire, in many mythologies, symbolizes both destruction and purification. In ancient Slavic beliefs, fire was sacred and often used in rituals to cleanse bad energy. The Eternal Fire takes that concept and twists it into an ideological weapon.
Conclusion
The Witcher 3 isn’t just an RPG—it’s a beautifully crafted love letter to European folklore. It borrows the most fascinating and dramatic myths and breathes new life into them, letting players experience these legends firsthand.
As we sit here, hoping The Witcher 4 doesn’t take another ten years, let’s raise a toast to The Witcher 3—the game that made mythology, monster hunting, and morally complex decisions feel so cool.
