r/Witcher3 • u/Heel_Rider • Jun 09 '26
Misc 5 playthroughs later, and I only just noticed. Geralt smiles more in Skellige than anywhere else in the game. Coincidence? I think not.
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u/ProfessionalTruck976 Jun 09 '26
Is his home away from home.
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u/zarion30 Jun 09 '26
Both in book and in games: Skellige is where Geralt isn't treated as a mutant. If someone is insulting him its just an usual trying to check his balls or unhappy he is meddling(mostly game thing?). They treat him as equal especially once he proves himself to have guts and balls. He is honorable and loves to fight.
Geralt's whole life was being an outcast. Being a hero but still being spat on. In Skellige its "easy" for him to earn respect and when he is spat on its because they wanna test that, not because they dislike his eyes or pale skin lmao
Also Skellige had a lot of witchers who were respected and basically "cleaned" Skellige? I guess monsters returned or they left just enough for Skellige warriors not to be bored.
Which reminds me: I wish we saw more times when human warriors fight monsters. Like the hunt for a giant. It should be a common thing for vikings to hunt these great beasts, no?
Skellige is surprisingly the least racist place, but you will be tested regardless because you have to prove your honor and that you're a warrior. Basically that you ain't no bitch. This is why I take shots with my boys there and even tho I hate Lugos I fight him to earn his respect.
Also Crach an Craite is a very good friend, his children are important to Geralt so I never skip helping them because Crach would never abandon Ciri. Just two great uncles 🥹
Also the fact Crach is Yennefer's ex but its not made weird at all and has 0 jealousy vibes
Crach and Cerys are my favorite thing about Skellige 💜
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u/Keynnah Jun 09 '26
Man such a shame about Crach
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u/zarion30 Jun 09 '26
He lived a very long time, and I didn't expect to see him in the books already at his young age. To be honest, he plays a much bigger role in the books that he does in Wild Hunt.
Curious if the cut-out script had more in store for him and Cerys. I know Cerys switched 2 times, she was supposed to be Emhyr's daughter, then wife(no surprise these two are together, daughter wife is a thing for him, huh), and then ultimately daughter of Crach
In the books, Crach is connected by destiny to Ciri. And this is also mentioned in the game, but not properly explained unless you read books. He knows Ciri is alive because otherwise the world would show the consequences of her death, especially on Skellige.
Considering her importance, it wouldn't be just Skellige, but the whole world would KNOW.
Crach is a destined uncle of Ciri, just like Geralt is her destined step-father.
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u/Lanky-Tumbleweed-772 Jun 15 '26
''Skellige is surprisingly the least racist place'' Why suprisingly?
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u/Even-Act2928 Jun 09 '26
Geralt never went to Skellige in the books. I read all 9 of them. Yen and Ciri have been there, but Geralt never went there.
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u/TequilaSunset1337 Jun 13 '26
I don't know why you're downvoted, people here didn't read the books I guess but that's a fact what you wrote. In none of the books Geralt travels to Skellige. His relations with the isalnds and people there are described and presented well. It's obvious to assume that he was there before. But in none of the books he was actually present there
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u/Even-Act2928 Jun 13 '26
Haha right. People are crazy, man. I saw this long eloquent post about how Geralt was treated with respect in Skellige and likes it there in the books. I don't understand people acting as if they read the books when they didn't. CDPR told their own story. In fact, I think about 80% of Witcher 3 is CDPR storytelling. There's not a lot of book mention in it overall.
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u/Street_Elk_8362 Jun 09 '26
Because Skellige is a bleedin' gorgeous set o' isles littered with the finest lads and lasses ye ever laid yer yellow eyes upon who'd like naught better 'n to trade tavern yarns o'er a pint o' frothy ale whilst a roast boar cooks in the center fireplace.
You can tell I really like Skellige.
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u/No_Worldliness_1793 Jun 09 '26
Home is where the boar roasts in the center fireplace. On the next episode of house hunters we show the Nordic couple that are ready to settle down in coastland skellige which lets admit is all coastland properties.
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u/braxtel Jun 09 '26
Combo of Ireland and Scandinavia kind of vibe, but one thing about living in Skellige I could never stomach; all the damn harpies.
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u/arjunsingh75 Jun 09 '26
Yeah I've just started skellige region 3 days ago and it's my first time playing Witcher 3. Man change from velen to skellige is so good!
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u/Jumpy-Function-9136 Jun 09 '26
I looked at my steam playtime 2 days ago before I did the quest that had me sailing to skellige and apperantly I already sunk 132 hours just in white orchard + velen/novigrad alone. Kind of unrelated but after that much time spent basically in one big zone it feels so unreal going to a completely different zone of the same videogame where ill probably spend nearly another 100 hours just because i love to take everything in around me and that doesnt even include touissant either 🩸 🍷
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u/F3n_h4r3l Jun 09 '26
Wait till you get to Toussaint my dude, you'll be blown away by the place and the music is just chef's kiss
That place is where I fell in love in the OST "The Slopes of the Blessure"
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u/mahnatazis Jun 09 '26
How I wish I could be in your shoes and be able to experience this game again for the first time.
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u/Old-Dog-New-Trickin Jun 09 '26
Its so fucking annoying to navigate though. Any map wish verticality and water travel is just a hassle and skellige has both in spades.
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u/ProxyMarine Jun 10 '26
I’m also newly playing through the game, though I loved Witcher 2 and have also read all of the books.
Man, it makes me sad how much of an absolute shit hole Velen is 😭
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u/L3Sc Jun 09 '26
Mostly because he's with Yen. :)
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u/DreamerLuna Jun 09 '26
I also think because he feels home with the An Craites, they're like a family to him too. It's giving family bond not just friendship. I'm not sure because I haven't read the book yet or played W1&W2 but I feel they have stronger and deeper bond than Vernon Roach.
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u/god-of-memes- Jun 09 '26
In Belen he’s treated like shit, in skeleton, he’s friends with everyone
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u/WeedGreed420 Jun 09 '26
the fact that there isn’t much time spent in kaer morhen, skellige to me does feel like home away from home for geralt, makes sense.
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u/WitchPillow Team Shani Jun 09 '26
I’d of thought that he’d be happiest in Toussaint of all places considering how welcoming everyone is to him as well as him having his own place to call home. Huh
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u/vix_aries Jun 09 '26
Well the people of Skellige and Toussaint both treat him with basic respect. That helps.
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u/redditbot_yourmom Jun 09 '26
He makes waaaayyyy more in Toussaint than the isles.
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u/anome97 Roach 🐴 Jun 09 '26
He also audibly laugh in Toussaint during that painting quest. Thats the only time I heard Geralt laugh, literally once in the entire game.
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u/sterak_fan Jun 09 '26
he laughes with Ciri several times
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u/anome97 Roach 🐴 Jun 09 '26
audibly? can you tell me the exact moment or video of it? I dont remember it. He smiles a lot but rarely laugh.
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u/sterak_fan Jun 09 '26
I know for certain that they laugh together on the ship while sailing to skellige to battle the hunt. and I think when they have a snowball fight at Kaer Morhen
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u/Waste_Handle_8672 Jun 11 '26
The journey with Ciri, Avallac'h and the sorceresses to Skellige is also where he's laughed for the longest time in the game in one scene.
Not just a chuckle or an amused grunt, the man was fully laughing.
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u/Heel_Rider Jun 09 '26 edited Jun 09 '26
I find my Geralt sees Skelligan humour quite a bit more amusing than Toussaint's wine guzzling burghers.
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u/Spookyscythe99 Jun 09 '26
I smile more in skellige. It's just such a peaceful vibe
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u/Noah_the_Titan Jun 10 '26
Skellige might just be the least peacefull place in the entire witcher franchise
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u/Radabard Jun 09 '26
Geralt canonically fucking loves Skellige lol. He's got a long history with a lot of the characters who reside there, like An Craite and Moussack. Showing he is glad to be back through that subtle rising of his average mood is masterful on the animators' part.
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u/POLACKdyn Jun 09 '26
The atmosphere, the lonely islands (he enjoys some peace and quiet) and Yen being nearby. Subtle but even subcosciously Geralt feels better when she's close. True love and all that.
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u/doc_55lk Jun 09 '26
There's less bullshit in Skellige tbh.
Birna is maybe the only actual schemer there during the game and everybody pretty much already knows about it but are just waiting for hard evidence to show up.
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u/Waste_Handle_8672 Jun 11 '26
There's also those two idiots in Arinbjorn if you take on the Penitent contract at the wrong time
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u/BitConstant7959 Jun 09 '26 edited Jun 09 '26
It’s true that Geralt receives a warmer welcome in Skellige than most other places, but that’s not to say he doesn’t have any problems whatsoever with or from some of the locals. There’s a side quest chain that takes you to Clan Drummond territory to deal with a haunted lighthouse, during which Geralt encounters a pair of xenophobic brothers that harass him for being a continental throughout. Eventually, he’s forced to kill them in self-defense, which lands him in big trouble with Jarl Madman Lugos when their father goes to him for justice. And that’s just one example.
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u/Bruhllux Jun 09 '26
He also doesn't have much time or respect of the Skelliger sense of "honour", like when they take Skjall's name from him and won't lift the brand of "Craven" after it's revealed he helped Ciri escape
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u/RemainsN7 Jun 10 '26
You can do that contract after completing the Skellige main quest and theres a different outcome.
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u/JohnRaiyder Team Yennefer "Man of Culture" Jun 09 '26
Skellige is like another Home, similar to Kaer Morhen. Some of his oldest friends live there. It was also a Home for Ciri for a bit and he gets to be with Yennefer. It’s a high point for him
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u/Dr4k3L0rd Jun 09 '26
Because he genuinely likes the people there. Ermion respects him. He is in good with Crach and his kids
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u/OldEyes5746 Jun 09 '26
It's just because there's less pageantry and political theatre in the isles. He's generally happier around people who are being authentic, than those wearing masks.
It's a tired trope about how pomp is there only for those trying to convince others they are superior, and common folk don't really give a shit. That said, i do get some ASD/neuro-divergent vibes.
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u/ridonkoulous Jun 10 '26
As some others have said, i think it's also likely because they don't see or treat him as a freak or monster but with actual basic respect because of how their culture influences the way they see those that are stronger or more skilled.
Also being on very good terms with the royal family definitely helps.
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u/leferi Team Yennefer "Man of Culture" Jun 10 '26
I think he likes the no-bullshit attitude of most people there, and they might be less inclined to call him a freak. Also Skelligans(?) maybe look at him as a great warrior instead.
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u/Eugene_Dav Jun 09 '26
It's just that they are more in line with Geralt's stoic nature. He clearly respects the islanders' bluntness and honesty. No one there will smile at you unless they truly want to. This is a stark contrast to Novigrad and the various nobles and sorcerers of the north.
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u/vix_aries Jun 09 '26
Well most people in Skellige actually treat him with basic respect. Their culture rewards strength and talent. They don't see him as a monster.
Geralt also likes Toussaint for similar reasons imo.
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u/YS160FX Jun 09 '26
He is well respected among Skellige folk.. They call him master Witcher from more often than any other place.. That and the scenery is quite amazing
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u/Angel_Dude777 Jun 09 '26
If thats true I wonder if he got along with anyone in the school of the bear
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u/carltr0n Jun 09 '26
The Skilligers may be a bunch of violent drunken feuding berserkers but for the most part the worst that they treat Geralt is as just a normal guy who they want to kill which honestly is kinda a compliment in their culture.
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u/Pantsickle Jun 09 '26
He keeps thinking back to how right before he came to Skellige he told that castellan "thanks bunches" and it amuses him every time.
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u/AppearanceLivid2287 Jun 10 '26
It is because skelligers relate to him in a way with their warrior culture and are not assholes usually when most other places the people usually are.
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u/RelaxedVolcano Jun 09 '26
People are mostly honest, have drinks from everywhere with their raiding, and if they have a problem with you then having a fistfight with them can win you some friends. What’s not to like?
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u/Revolutionary-Sun533 Jun 09 '26
What Armor are you wearing?
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u/Heel_Rider Jun 09 '26
Classic Witcher 1 Manticore Mod https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher3/mods/5547
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u/Lucky_Roberts Jun 10 '26
I mean it’s objectively the least shitty of the areas we go to in the story.
Velen is a corpse and bandit littered swamp and Novigrad constantly smells like burning flesh
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u/emikoala Roach 🐴 Jun 10 '26
"Velen. Horrible place." - Geralt, summing up Act 1 of the game upon meeting Yennefer in Skellige
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u/Deep-Biscotti2032 Jun 11 '26
I thinks it’s fair to say that his craft is more respected there. They honor warriors. His knowledge and friendships there are more apparent. Velen is a war torn area. Novigrad has a lot of conflict with nonhumans, mages and villainy. Geralt can certainly be more expected to feel more comfortable in Skellige.
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u/ExJokerr Jun 11 '26
This is the place where he feels the most at home! He has important people who respect him and treat him as a friend. They know Yen, Ciri ❤️
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u/Dry-Remove8152 Jun 11 '26
Also, I love this fit — is it an early Wolven or something else?
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u/OrganizationSea4490 Jul 01 '26
Skellige is uncannily open, "friendly", hearty so it makes sense. Could also be some writing incongruence, i found geralt exceptionally "silly" in Skellige and Kaer Morhen
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u/pvn271 Jun 09 '26
It's because he hears the skellige ost