„Geralt wouldn't let her do the trials.” Fans speculate why Ciri drinks elixirs in The Witcher 4 trailer
The announcement of the fourth Witcher during TGA shocked the entire gaming world, although fans are somewhat skeptical about one element presented in it.
As every year, The Game Awards couldn't take place without an important reveal for the gaming world. The tenth anniversary brought us the unexpected return of CD Projekt RED, which presented the announcement of Project Polaris, known simply as The Witcher 4. More than two years have passed since the first revelation, during which the devs haven't revealed much information - one could say that the appearance of a document with elements of the third installment cut out is a funny coincidence.
Today we already know that the new protagonist will be Ciri, and not in just any version. The young woman possesses witcher powers, which met with considerable surprise from the fans.
Trial of the Grasses
Connoisseurs of the universe remember that in order to possess witcher powers, a recruit must go through the Trials of the Grasses. They are controversial not only because of the pain they cause but also because of the low survival rate - only three out of ten boys make it through. Ciri's previous training didn't include this element, which deprived her of witcher senses and prevented her from using elixirs.
Today's trailer showed that Zirael has the abilities of a witcher and has therefore passed the infamous trials. This information was confirmed by CD Projekt RED itself on the pages of IGN. As we can read in the interview there, Ciri is just starting her career as a full-fledged witcher.
We want to let players try to define her [Ciri]. She's about to form her own codex on her own terms. The way she actually deals with the monsters, the way she deals with quests, the adventures, it's her own unique way.
- Sebastian Kalemba
At the same time, the CD Projekt Red admitted that the abilities used by Ciri aren't just basic signs, but full-fledged magic. Book fans will definitely recall the magical potential of Geralt's adopted daughter, who in the third installment was already using skills such as teleportation. Kalemba describes her as a "powerful source" that connects the world of witchers and mages.
Who conducted Ciri through the ritual?
The fan community has no doubt that none of the characters we know would have helped Ciri in overcoming the Trial of the Grasses, as it is considered too risky, especially for adults. This implies that the protagonist-to-be has found an alternative way to cope with the ritual, even if she were to do it secretly from her family.
The most obvious fan trope here is the medallion worn by Ciri, which bears no resemblance to the wolf she has worn so far. Commentators are predicting the traits of either the Lynx or the Cat, although the latter school didn't have the best reputation in The Witcher 3. It is worth mentioning that we saw the same medallion in the 2022 graphic.
If it's the same medallion they teased in the snow, then it looks very distinct from the cat school medallion which is overall more rounded and has much tinier, triangular, rounded ears than the pointed ears of the lynx like medallion.
So I guess there's another still active witcher school out there somewhere? There is no way Geralt, Eskel or Lambert would ever sanction her undergoing the Trials even if they still had the knowledge to do so.
- Wortasyy
As one Reddit user reminds us, we witnessed the Trial of Grasses in some form in Wild Hunt while transforming Uma into Avallac'h. The end of the quest allowed the player to keep the ritual manuscripts, noting that the witchers intended to leave them in the depths of the fortress. Taking into account the effect of trials on fertility, Ciri is most likely the last living person possessing the Elder Blood.
Only a few hours have passed since the trailer was revealed, during which we will most likely learn a bit more about The Witcher 4. Meanwhile, let's enjoy the good news and wait patiently for the answers to appear.
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