Witchers' funeral rites

While it is true that witchers, as skilled monster hunters, often meet their demise while facing dangerous creatures on the Path, the concept of funeral rites is not entirely foreign to their way of life. The Order of Witchers, along with the various schools that emerged after its dissolution, developed distinct customs and practices to honor their fallen comrades who died in combat or were reported missing in action.

## Order of Witchers

The Order of the Witchers embraced the practice of honoring their departed with funeral pyres, deriving inspiration from their esteemed founder, Alzur. Alzur, being a mage himself, adhered to a unique custom of incinerating the bodies of his creations. This was implemented as a precautionary measure to safeguard against rival mages attempting to replicate his creations.

As time passed, this tradition underwent a gradual evolution, ultimately laying the foundation for the funeral rites observed in various schools such as the Wolf, Cat, and Viper. These schools, each with its distinctive methods and philosophies, incorporated the practice of funeral pyres to pay homage to their fallen brethren.

## School of the Bear

The witchers of the School of the Bear, due to their extremely independent and solitary nature, have developed a simple yet meaningful way to honor their fallen comrades. Within the confines of Haern Caduch, a remarkable mural stands as a testament to the memory of those who have perished or gone missing during their perilous endeavors.

This mural, immense in scale and grandeur, serves as a solemn memorial for the fallen bear witchers. Its significance lies not only in its artistic beauty but also in the engraved names that adorn its surface. Each name represents a witcher who met his end in the relentless battle against monstrous forces or disappeared while carrying out their job.

The process of engraving a witcher's name onto the mural follows a specific protocol within the School of the Bear. For those who have died in battle, their names are etched onto the mural immediately upon confirmation of their passing. This swift acknowledgement ensures that their sacrifice is promptly recognized and that their memory is preserved.

In the case of witchers who have mysteriously disappeared, the School of the Bear exercises patience. A two-decade time frame is generally observed before their names are added to the mural. This time frame allows for the possibility of their return, should they have encountered unforeseen circumstances or undergone an extraordinary ordeal. However, once the designated period has passed without any sign of the missing witcher, their name is inscribed upon the mural, joining the ranks of their fallen brethren.

The act of engraving these names is a solemn and sacred ritual. Accomplished artisans, often skilled witchers themselves, meticulously etch each letter into the mural with precision and care. The decision to include a name on the mural carries immense weight and significance. It is a recognition of the sacrifice, bravery, and commitment demonstrated by the fallen witcher during their time on the Path. Each engraved name serves as a perpetual remembrance, ensuring that the memory of these individuals endures within the collective consciousness of the school.

The mural itself becomes a focal point within Haern Caduch, serving as one of the few things to members of this school, capable of killing each other, that gives them some unity. It is a sacred space of quiet reflection and contemplation, where members of the school can pay their respects and honor the memory of those who came before them. The mural stands as a powerful testament to the enduring legacy of the School of the Bear and the indomitable spirit of the witchers who have bravely given their lives in battle. Despite their individualistic and self-reliant nature, the mural acts as a unifying force, drawing them together in a shared acknowledgment of their common purpose and the shared experiences they have endured. In this space of remembrance, rivalries and differences fade away, replaced by a collective understanding and respect for the sacrifices made by their fellow witchers.

## School of the Crane

The funeral rites of the School of the Crane are a solemn and unique blend of customs, drawing inspiration from various cultures and traditions. A a witcher of the Crane School meets their demise, often at sea where their bodies cannot be recovered, so it becomes a rare occasion for funeral rites to be conducted, but when these ceremonies are usually conducted with great reverence and respect, honoring the fallen Crane and ensuring their spirit finds its way to the eternal beyond.

The centerpiece of the Crane School funeral rite is a magnificent barge, adorned with vibrant flowers and symbols of the witcher's life and accomplishments. The deceased witcher's cherished belongings are placed alongside their body upon the ornate vessel. This barge serves as a vessel of passage, symbolizing the journey of the witcher's spirit as it departs from the mortal realm.

Amidst a gathering of fellow witchers and allies, the barge is launched into the vast expanse of the sea. The sight of the vessel gracefully sailing away, carried by the currents, evokes a sense of farewell and transcendence. It is a moment of profound significance, as the witcher's legacy and spirit become intertwined with the eternal ebb and flow of the ocean.

To complete the ritual, the barge is set ablaze, either through the use of a flaming arrow shot from a bow or a crossbow. As the funeral pyre engulfs the vessel, its flames illuminating the night sky against the backdrop of the sea, it signifies the passage of the departed witcher's spirit into the realms beyond. The crackling fire represents the transformative power of death, the release from the mortal coil, and the rebirth into a new existence.

Following the sea burial, a practice reminiscent of the Skellige Islands, the School of the Crane incorporates elements from the School of the Bear into their funeral rites. A massive wall within the Crane School's fortress, Kaer Darh, serves as a memorial to honor the fallen witchers. Upon this wall, the name of the deceased witcher, along with their cause of death and notable achievements, is meticulously inscribed.

In addition to these details, a portrait of the departed witcher is created using a painting technique specifically designed to withstand the elements. This portrait serves as a lasting tribute, capturing the essence and visage of the fallen Crane for future generations to remember and honor. It is a testament to the witcher's life, their struggles, and their contributions to the world.

In the unfortunate event that witcher adepts do not survive the Trials, a parallel ritual is conducted to honor their passing. While they may not have achieved the full status of a witcher, their sacrifice and dedication are recognized and respected. In accordance with the traditions of the School of the Crane, their bodies are cremated, following a process similar to that of fallen witchers. This tradition of cremating adept witchers was taken directly from the extinct School of the Cat. More specifically, from their second interaction with Dyn Marv's caravan.

Following the cremation, the ashes of the fallen adept are gathered and prepared for a symbolic dispersal. The beach adjoining the fortress of the School of the Crane serves as the designated location for this act. As the ashes disperse upon the beach, it usually became for the witcher doing this task a moment of reflection and acceptance, acknowledging the adept's valiant efforts and the sacrifices they made in their quest to become a witcher.

Subsequently, to honor their memory, the names of these fallen adepts are inscribed on the Wall of the Cranes within Kaer Darh. Though their portraits are absent, their names and causes of death are meticulously recorded. This inscription serves as a solemn reminder of their sacrifice and dedication, ensuring that their names are forever remembered within the halls of the school.

## School of the Fox

The witchers of the School of the Fox have a unique way of honoring their fallen brethren, provided circumstances allow. Deep within the depths of Burov Mylne, a colossal tree stands, believed to be a mutated Duñak from the time of the Aen Nílfe occupation of the fortress, now completely fossilized. It is upon this magnificent tree that the witchers of the School of the Fox pay homage to their fallen comrades.

When a witcher falls during The Trials or their medallion cannot be recovered, their name and cause of death are solemnly engraved on the tree. These inscriptions serve as a lasting tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of the fallen, forever etched into the aged bark. The names of these courageous individuals become a part of the tree's legacy, intertwining their memory with the history of Burov Mylne.

For those witchers from whom their medallions have been recovered, a special ritual takes place. The recovered medallions, once symbols of their witcher identity, are rendered useless, stripped of their useful properties. This symbolic act represents the end of their journey and the finality of their sacrifice. The witcher's name is then engraved on the back of the medallion, along with the cause of death, ensuring that their story is forever preserved.

With great reverence and care, the medallions are placed on the branches or trunks of the fossilized tree, creating a hauntingly beautiful display. The tree itself becomes a repository of the fallen witchers' legacies, their names intertwined with the branches and the fossilized remnants of the Duñak. It serves as a silent testament to the indomitable spirit of the witchers and their unwavering commitment to their calling.

Visiting the tree in the depths of Burov Mylne is a solemn and reflective experience for the witchers of the School of the Fox. It is a place where they can gather to honor the memory of their fallen comrades, to pay their respects, and to find solace in the presence of those who have gone before them. The tree stands as a powerful symbol of their unity and shared purpose, reminding them of the sacrifices made by their brethren and inspiring them to carry on the legacy of the School of the Fox.

## School of the Wolf

In the School of the Wolf, the funeral rites for fallen witchers vary depending on the significance of the individual within the school. Generally, there are two distinct practices observed: cremation on a funeral pyre and burial with the creation of a tomb. With one tradition inherited from the Order of Witchers and the other created by the Wolves themselves in the aftermath of the Pogrom of Kaer Morhen.

For those witchers who hold great importance and have made significant contributions to the School of the Wolf, the tradition of cremation on a funeral pyre is observed. This practice was directly inherited from the Order of Witchers and has been carried forward to honor the fallen. The fallen witcher's body, along with their possessions such as their swords and medallion, is placed upon the funeral pyre. The pyre is then set ablaze, engulfing the fallen witcher and their belongings in a solemn inferno. This ritualistic act represents the purification of the departed's spirit and their transition into the realm beyond.

In contrast, the burial practice with the construction of a tomb was a tradition born out of necessity. Following the tragic Pogrom of Kaer Morhen, where the stronghold of the School of the Wolf was attacked and many witchers lost their lives, a new approach to funeral rites was developed. Those who fell during this dark period were given a final resting place within the sacred grounds of Kaer Morhen.

Two of the most notable examples of these funeral rites within the School of the Wolf are Vesemir and Leo. Vesemir, a highly esteemed and revered witcher, was honored with the ceremonial cremation on a funeral pyre. His body, accompanied by his treasured possessions, was consumed by the flames, signifying the conclusion of his extraordinary journey as a witcher.

On the other hand, Leo, a young and promising witcher whose life was tragically cut short, was laid to rest through the practice of burial and the construction of a tomb. His body was carefully interred in a designated burial site, and a tomb was erected as a lasting tribute to his memory.

## Trivia

* The way they honor the dead at the School of the Fox is based on the way the Wolves do in Netflix's The Witcher but in a better way.