#also on medium

[revoevokukil]

The Unpublished Ending of The Witcher 3

In 2014 The Witcher 3’s design documents leaked ahead of the game’s publishing. In 2021 the game’s source code and original story drafts escaped.

The Witcher 3 has a slapdash III Act. Battle with the Wild Hunt was supposed to take place in Novigrad. Avallac’h, instead of Eredin, was the “final boss.” Let’s talk about that.

In a follow-up to TW3 Story Leaks I asked for more details on the final twist and got them. I’ll include screenshots of the 2014 documents for correlation and comparison. Keep an eye on the witcher subreddits in February 2025 (current ETA) and on this user’s Nexus page for a compilation of the story changes The Witcher 3 underwent before the 2015 release. (Others have compiled such information in the past.)

Keep an eye on the witcher subreddits in February 2025 (current ETA) and on this user’s Nexus page.

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It’s a public secret that in the course of development, The Witcher 3 changed considerably: CD Projekt Red toned down the maturity of the story, simplifying when they could not decide on their vision, did not wish to risk audience confusion, or could not find proper technical solutions. One of the casualties of the rewrites of The Witcher 3 was the plotline involving the Wild Hunt, the Aen Elle elves, and the wrap-up of the game.

In the finalé, Geralt would get the chance to stop Ciri from going through with a “ritual” in the elven tower on Undvik. He would consequently fight Avallac’h.

Fans have hypothesized about the nature of the final betrayal for years. The infamous double bottom, however, was supposed to be complicated because Avallac’h was supposed to have a good case for the “noble betrayal.” The player got to know his motives and relationship with Ciri much more thoroughly before the III Act.

For starters, UMA was going to be disenchanted in the I Act (q108) during Forefather’s Eve. The curse had two parts: one affecting the body, the other affecting the soul. (The (idea of) curses got reused in the Hearts of Stone DLC for the toad prince.) During Forefather’s Eve the player entered Avallac’h’s mind and witnessed his memories and fears for the future.

The memories included a conversation with Ge’els at Tir ná Lia, Auberon’s funeral, human slaves and least one unicorn, Avallac’h’s life, struggles, fears for the future (a frozen Vizima & Ciri dead), and relationship with Ciri. Valuable background information¹ for understanding CDPR’s interpretation and development of Avallac’h’s character and bond with Ciri — lost. Much to the book readers’ chagrin in particular. It would have made the final twist more difficult for the player. In particular since the betrayal was supposed to be a noble one.

Here is a reference to the “noble betrayal” in the storyboard section (2014 leaks):

Here is what the person analysing the story changes told me when I first inquired about the ending of The Witcher 3 that never was.

Ritual? One that requires a DOUBLE SACRIFICE!? 👀👀 One that requires self-sacrifice from Avallac’h? So. Many. Thoughts!

First, what is the “ritual” for, and what does it entail?

Is the White Frost as in the published TW3 or is the endgame something totally different? Are we still in the “save all worlds from eventual freezing” scenario (a book retcon) or not?

If the “ritual” is played straight then CDPR gave Avallac’h’s character a “noble” but fatalistic interpretation from start to finish.

If the “ritual” is a ruse, a cover for something unknown (a sequel?), then this would dovetail with the “Ciri missing” ending in both the published game and in Andrzej Sapkowski’s books:

Perhaps death is not an inevitability, but abduction and/or permanent or temporary departure from Sapkowski’s Neverland is?

In the published game, the player can hear Ciri’s mumblings abroad the ship on Skellige: “What if tomorrow I will disappear for good? Maybe then no one close to me will have to die anymore.” Aside exposing us to Ciri’s state of mind, it could be the voicelines are remnants of an earlier draft and point toward one possible ending; with Avallac’h “helping” Ciri disappear forever.

Secondly, it really hammers home the narrative of Geralt & Avallac’h competing over whose influence and philosophy on Ciri wins out. The Greater Good or “if this is what it take to save the world, better let it die.” It also underscores what Avallac’h expressed in The Tower of the Swallow, “…someone else will help her now. you cannot be so arrogant to think that the girl’s destiny is exclusively bound to you.”

Thirdly, the double-sacrifice.

Dying together with the last soul anchoring you to your memories of perhaps the happiest (and saddest time) of your life while saving the sentient life of the universe sounds pretty tragic or tragi-romantic: after everything to end it (and the Elder Blood line with it); for the greater good.

Somewhat twistedly this may mirror Lara and Cregennan (died in the name of peace between races; if that was true).

Moreover Ciri — who, as we will learn in a moment, is there willingly actually — AGREES to Avallac’h’s intentions by default. Ciri’s idealism, but also her unwillingness to let others suffer and die in her place when she could do something about is something that the player should realise during the game.

And while Elder Blood may be needed for special feats (though Avallac’h also carries Elder Blood), I would like to think that in case this “ritual” is played straight there may be an element of “in the end, you don’t have to be alone when you go.” Oddly befitting, in my eyes, for an elf associated with the Afterlife.

A lot to think about. But it gets better!

I have taken the liberty of adding who says what as I understand this, since the Polish text is in the impersonal voice.

323576|00000000|| [DEBUG] (Avallac'h) Greets the witcher grimly, he hoped the witcher would not follow them. 323578|00000000|| [DEBUG] (Geralt) Tells him to free Ciri. 323580|00000000|| [DEBUG] (Avallac'h) Replies that Ciri is here of her own free will. 323582|00000000|| [DEBUG] (Ciri) Confirms Avallach's words. (Ciri) Explains to Geralt that they fled Novigrad surreptitiously knowing that Geralt would never agree to Avallach's plan. 323584|00000000|| [DEBUG] (Ciri or Avallac’h explaining) Tells Geralt what his plan is all about. He (Avallac’h) doesn't care about power, he just wants to stop the cataclysm that is the white cold. 323586|00000000|| [DEBUG] (Geralt) Asks what this ritual is about. 323588|00000000|| [DEBUG] (Avallac'h) Says that he must sacrifice his life and Ciri's. Only the elder blood can close the passages between worlds. Geralt’s CHOICE: 323590|00000000|| [DEBUG] Convince Ciri to give up her plan. 323592|00000000|| [DEBUG] Allow the ritual to be completed. Convincing Ciri: 323594|00000000|| [DEBUG] (Geralt) Convinces Ciri that the plan is madness. It's unclear if Avallach is right, and even if he is, the cataclysm could be hundreds of years away. There must be another, better solution. 323596|00000000|| [DEBUG] (Ciri) Allows himself to be convinced by Geralt, apologises to Avallach. 323598|00000000|| [DEBUG] (Avallac'h) States with sadness in his voice that he cannot let them do this. The cause is too important and too much depends on it to squander it in the name of selfish motives. Moving on to the fight. Agreeing to the Ritual: 323600|00000000|| [DEBUG] (Geralt) Agrees sadly that the cause is noble and Ciri has the right to decide her fate. 323602|00000000|| [DEBUG] (Avallac'h) Thanks the witcher. States that he has taught him a great deal about the human race and that he has judged people too hastily in the past. He bids farewell to the witcher. 323604|00000000|| [DEBUG] (Ciri) Bids farewell to Geralt. Combat Dialogue (?): 323607|00000000|| [DEBUG] (Avallac'h) States that he doesn't want to hurt the witcher but will if he has to. 323609|00000000|| [DEBUG] (Geralt) Replies that he could say the same. 323612|00000000|| [DEBUG] (Geralt) Declares that it is not too late to stop this madness. 323614|00000000|| [DEBUG] (Geralt) Replies that in that case Avallach should let them go. 323616|00000000|| [DEBUG] (Avallac'h) States irritably that the witcher is stubborn as all dhoine. 323619|00000000|| [DEBUG] (Avallac'h) Exclaims to the witcher that enough is enough. If the witcher does not come to his senses, Avallach will have to kill him.

What do we learn?

For one, the ritual is still for the retconned White Frost, and it necessitates the closing of passages between worlds. Elder Blood is used to close the passages, implying, perhaps, that the “special individuals” who were able to move freely in the multiverse (e.g. Ciri, the Sages, unicorns) may have invited CDPR’s rendition of the cosmic White Frost in the first place. Further, we can't be certain no deception is involved in the aftermath of the "ritual." (Would Tor Gvalch'ca still serve as a Threshold of Time, would they both still enter it?) Hence there is still some cause to theorize that if Ciri remains missing/presumed dead then she might not actually be dead as some other shenanigans go down off-screen. Finally, this unused ending is wholly about Geralt vs Avallac’h, and their philosophies. The bet boils down to Geralt’s trust or distrust in the sincerity of Avallac’h’s intentions, and to how the player has read the story: is the tale about saving the (impersonal) world/universe or is it about saving (our) beloveds. Which is more important? How broad (in time and space) is your decision scope?

Notably, Ciri’s own choice in this unused ending is entirely subject to the decisions, intuitions, and wants of another (Geralt, the player). If Geralt objects, Ciri changes her mind and aligns with Geralt. If Geralt agrees, Ciri remains in Avallac’h’s sphere of influence (and we can argue about whether this is also her own default position but the point is that functionally Ciri’s fate is being wielded; in contrast to the published game where she enters the Tower no matter what). By default, Ciri and Avallac’h leave Novigrad together and in secret, and Ciri is prepared to sacrifice herself in the Tower. She is not on Undvik against her will. It’s her resolute idealism, amply demonstrated in the books, that the elf is relying on. Avallac’h expresses as much in the published The Witcher 3 too, clashing with Geralt over how well either of them reads Ciri (Geralt says Ciri gets her “fire” from her father, but Avallac’h objects: Emhyr is a pragmatist, Ciri an idealist).

It’s only after Geralt — through his bond with Ciri — tries convincing Ciri to abandon the idea that the “betrayal” comes into play: Avallac’h cannot take this no at this moment for an answer. Geralt interferes with what Ciri herself has already decided (as Geralt notes in case he agrees to the “ritual”). A fate, a Plan, that Avallac’h has worked painstakingly to bring into fruition is to be foiled by a mortal mutant (another echo of Cregennan?). It’s at this stage that Avallac’h is no longer willing to give Ciri a choice. Believing, probably, that Geralt — like Cregennan — is interfering out of pure selfishness; that Geralt’s kind of love, in the grand scheme of things, is selfish.

It’s really interesting how this unused ending can echo the entire Crevan-Lara-Cregennan configuration from the books. The notion of “selfish” and “unselfish” love, for example. In what scale, you might want to ask? Geralt is not wont to believe in prophecies or the ability of individuals to alter the course of history for “its own good”; he will not believe Ciri — a girl who has suffered tremendously and has been the object of everyone else’s desires for power — should have to sacrifice her life for those others. Cregennan probably had, or benefitted from, a similar “follow your heart” mindset. It depends on how you look at it: individual freedom and hope that things will work out anyway, or duty and hope that things will not go badly despite of it. Essentially, the clash is a clash of philosophies for how to deal with prophecies and problems that are bigger than the individual. Who decides? Why them? Are we sure?

Geralt’s viewpoint, among these three characters, is the “normal one.” Avallac’h’s is that of a mystic; he sees time totally. In CDPR’s interpretation, he is also a character who selflessly (?) seeks the Greater Good; his dialogue reflects sadness, reluctance, and even newly-found respect for Geralt and humanity (true, the latter only when Geralt acquiesces). Ciri’s point of view is also that of a mystic and a legend, given both her visions and powers; in this respect, she relates to Avallac’h in a way that Geralt can never understand. But Geralt’s and Ciri’s bond is also something that Avallac’h cannot replicate. And Geralt, who loves Ciri for her own sake alone, somehow loves her selfishly? Well, from Avallac’h’s point of view, yes; in interrupting, Geralt refuses to take a stance on what Avallac’h sees as ultimate Evil. Ciri, famously, always wants to stand against Evil. That’s the Fox’s hook, and it may well be an unintentional one. If the prescient powers of the Aen Saevherne are real then they are unable to close their eyes to things that Geralt can close his eyes to. Consult your Frank Herbert. Therefore Geralt’s love for Ciri, by which all he wishes for her is peace and happiness at last, is blind; blind in how only a parent’s love can be. It reckons with the universe’s unknowns and says, I don’t know, and it reaches for his experiences with men and power and says, I don’t trust them, and so Geralt finds that there must always be another, kinder solution toward the beloved individual. By contrast, if the future can be known and the lives of millions, born and unborn, are set above all, then individual, temporal love pales; no matter how it can hurt or no matter what joy it can bring. A loving act in that case can merely alleviate rather than put a stop to the pain that is seen as inevitable, lest there be even greater pain.

How great a moral duty can even be set on an individual?

I don’t think, however, that Avallac’h was ever intended to be a clear-cut “villain” at the end of The Witcher 3. It does not follow from the way he was written in either the books or the game.

His dialogue is laced with sadness and regret. Not to say that before the III Act the player was meant to get deeper insight into Avallac’h’s reasoning, life, and motives. The choice at the end was supposed to be difficult on account of knowing our opponent better, but also because of knowing Ciri better.

I will say that I like The Witcher 3’s published ending more on account of Ciri’s decision over entering the tower remaining wholly her own. Again, we can argue about the nature of Avallac’h’s influence on her, but if so, then it seems The Witcher 3 currently gives the answer as to what Ciri would decide for: to help. To fight and not run away. Geralt’s success, as a father, is in giving reason for Ciri to return home. No more.

On the other hand, in the published ending, we are not given a real choice as a player to trust Ciri. We are put before the fact that she will do what she will do. We will only have an odd effect on whether or not she returns. In the unpublished version, however, the player has an opportunity to stop Ciri. The player can choose not to trust Ciri’s judgement and character. Consequently the decision to “save her” may actually feel bad and, hence, hit harder, as we intervene and are not allowing Ciri to choose for herself. (You might argue though, that if this was the intended meaning, the writing may have made Ciri protest instead of allowing Geralt to sway her.) It might be that in letting the “ritual” procede, in letting Ciri choose self-sacrifice, the player is asked to accept Ciri staying true to her uncompromising character. In an incredibly painful manner.

Footnotes

¹ The players lost out on background information on the Aen Elle and Eredin in general, since another significant questline that got removed involved Geralt and Avallac’h infiltrating Naglfar in order to convince Caranthir to betray Eredin. Furthermore, the player was supposed to experience Geralt’s time with the Wild Hunt during Geralt’s dream sequences.

[southpauz]

DO YOU BLEED?

[cairafea]

my favourite genre of seventeen is when they're straight up lying

ref:

[ruporas]

trigunned the hades or hadesed the trigun (id in alt)

[000marie198]

I don't care how excited it might make some people, I don't like this remake

[welcometogrouchland]

Extremely bad batgirls comic I made featuring Steph's sex life and Cass' ability to read everything but the room

[sasswonfp]

This joke came to me in a fit of laughter (ALT description provided :3!)

[lylahammar]

Zorella, the centaur pop queen ✨

Thank you to everyone who helped me by voting on her final design in the poll from last week! I'm so so so happy with how she turned out 🥰

[benevolenterrancy]

~loathing, unadulterated loathing~

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

A fierce duel commences!

[uncanny-tranny]

You! Internalize that you do not always need to "improve your art/craft" now! It's great to learn and develop your skills, but you do not need to come from a place of hating where you are now! You certainly do not need to force yourself to improve if it is coming in between you and enjoying the things you do. Improvement for improvements sake does not have to be the only goal, nor the only one that "should matter"

You are allowed to have motifs, enjoyment, ameturism, and "less skill." Kill and devour the capitalist in your head that dictates that you must always improve for everybody else's sake and your "productivity."

[freshydip]

hey you. watching the game awards. wondering “why did the cast of alan wake 2 do a full on fucking musical number?”. go play/watch someone play alan wake 2 immediately. this is not a request this is an urgent command

[hi-intrepid-heroes]

hearing adaine described as 'elven oracle, denim jacket wearing cool kid' genuinely means so much to me. she was such a shy anxious girl in season 1 and shes grown so much and really come into her power and i just. i cant wait to see her again

[stitchposts]

This is so obvious it's almost petty to talk about, but it keeps happening so I am increasingly faced with needing to decide to bring it up. Can everyone who advocates for not reposting art and for crediting artists start bringing that same energy to photographs of traditional art? Especially fiber arts and sewing related things, due to very prolific scraping accounts that repost things from elsewhere on the internet here to tumblr and a few years ago stopped crediting the artists at all. They never asked permission, but credit has just dried up entirely and it's galling to see.

I know non fiber artists don't really have the experience to see this, but just like visual arts, fiber artists develop pretty clear styles. So if a blog is posting elaborate pieces of infamously time consuming arts that cover a wide range of styles, once or twice a day, with no credits or discussion of themselves as an artist - that shit's stolen as fuck.

It feels like I'm going insane sometimes because thousands of people who otherwise yell all day about how artists need to be credited, just think that sewing related photographs pop into existence without needing to be linked to the person that made them.

[partywithponies]

Listen to me. If you want your media literacy to improve, you have to consume a variety of media. And I don't just mean a variety of genres or a variety of writers or a variety of target demographics (though absolutely those as well), I mean a variety of mediums. Read books. Watch TV. Watch films. Listen to radio plays. Watch theatre productions. Watch documentaries. Read comics and graphic novels. Goddammit read fanfic and watch youtube videos as well, just for the love of god have variety. Learn to recognise how different mediums convey themes and information in different ways. It's like food groups, you need a little bit of all of them to be healthy.

[erinwantstowrite]

if you want people to get into the canon comics and lead everyone away from fanon misinterpretation (which is a losing battle because there will ALWAYS be this) then why not be helpful instead of being a dick about it 🤨

the comics are hard to get into because it's hard to know where to start, and there's so much content that people are able to fill themselves in by reading fanfic or watching something on tiktok or seeing posts about it on here. perhaps instead of telling people they're stupid for not realizing your favorite character is being mishandled by others, you could write up a list of your favorite comics and/or how, if you could read them for the first time again, you would order your favorite comics to get the best reading experience. and also write your own fanfiction and draw your own fanart or make a passionate post, answer questions politely