Author's note: This is a work in progress. I intend to add more content once the latest game releases. So if it drops off suddenly for a while, you'll know why.

The Witcher and the Wraith

Chapter 1

Geralt wandered through the Velen countryside atop his horse, Roach. The war-torn landscape looked no more appealing whichever direction he turned, so he continued onwards through the dense forest. In the distance, a small pillar of smoke could be seen. Not the kind that would indicate a blazing inferno, but the kind that indicated civilisation, and likely, work for a witcher. He spurred Roach forward, the horse obliged with a whinny and trod along the beaten path.
He entered a large clearing where the village had been erected. His medallion had shaken some, indicating the presence of magic, once he passed through the tree line.
He dismounted, leading Roach to a nearby trough under the shade of a towering pine tree. It had been very hot recently, and Geralt was in no mood to let his horse go thirsty, lest he need to find yet another Roach.
As Geralt looked around, he noticed that nearly all of the village's occupants were nonhumans. He could see dwarves working at the mill, nothing on their upper halves due to the heat. An elven woman was lounging near what appeared to be the village ealdorman, presumably her husband, and Halfling children were playing nearby. He walked up to the village ealdorman,

"Greetings," began Geralt

"Good day, master witcher. What brings you to our humble village?" the ealdorman looked like a half-elf.

"Nothing specific, just roaming, looking for work. Do you have any for a witcher?"

"Apologies, but we've no need for a witcher, and are unlikely to ever do so. We've a barrier around the village to keep out all manner of beasts and monsters."

"So that's what that was,"

"Yes, our Ceandrar is a talented mage. Although, now that I speak of him, I do recall him saying he was having a spot of trouble in his endeavours, it might be of use speaking to him."

"I don't intend to be a part of some mage's experiments."

"Oh no, nothing like that. I remember him lamenting that he'd need warriors to continue his work. Doubtless to fend off some kind of beast, you'll find him in his laboratory, beyond the smithy, in the elven ruins."

The ealdorman pointed to where a crumbling monument could be seen, covered in moss, behind the blacksmith as he said.

"Thank you," Geralt nodded and turned off to walk there,

"Va faill witcher." Said the half-elf alderman

Geralt walked past several villagers, getting the usual strange looks, but surprisingly, none of them spat or called any sort of abuse at him. It was a pleasant, albeit unusual, change.
The ruins were made of a light grey stone, moss and ivy riddled the portion which remained above ground, surrounded by the imposing trees surrounding the village, it made for an interesting sight to the witcher,

"Nature reclaims its own," he murmured before calling down the entrance

"Hey! Anyone home?"

A muffled voice replied, followed by a loud metallic clattering. A few moments later, a male elf, his dark hair tied back, stuck his head out of the darkness, squinting at the light.

"Yes? What do you want?" the elf said, clearly irritated at being disturbed

"I heard you were looking for warriors, witcher suit you needs?"

The elf's eyes lit up at Geralt's words,

"Yes! Yes indeed, I- please, do come in and follow me."

The elf ducked back into the stairway that lead into the darkened ruins below. Geralt followed behind, his eyes turning from their slits to open wider to allow more light to enter, allowing him to see clearly in the darkness.

"Oh, forgive me, I'll light our way."

"No need, I can manage." Replied Geralt

The two of them progressed down until they reached a large antechamber where the elf had set up his living space. It was meticulous, with everything squared away.

"So," said Geralt suddenly, "Are you going to tell me what this is all about?"

"Hm? Oh yes! Well, you see, I used to be a professor at Oxenfurt academy, but I was constantly mocked for my doomsday theories."

"Doomsday theories?"

"Tell me witcher, how much do you know of the Conjunction of the Spheres?"

"Not a whole lot, why?"

"Why? Why?! The Conjunction is the answer to everything! It brought magic and monsters, and even humans into our world. Unfortunately, my colleagues would not listen to my words, disregarding them as ramblings."

Geralt folded his arms, listening,

"This world was once free of humans, they came and conquered and slaughtered, like they are so wont to do. Imagine that, they are an invasive species, ousting the indigenous species. And now they treat them like dirt! But I do not blame them for such behaviour; it is their nature. And so, I proposed to find a new solution to the problem. If the human race came from a different world, why can't something like that happen again?"

"What has the Conjunction got to do with it then?"

"The Conjunction is my deadline. Once, it brought magic into our world, and the signs point to it being the end of magic when it happens again, and it will happen again witcher, mark my words. I intend to perform an exodus before that happens."

"This doesn't sound like it concerns me all."

"I'm getting to that. I have a portal to a promising new world, where we nonhumans can escape the prejudice and slander the humans cast upon us. Unfortunately, it appears some monsters dwelling deeper in the ruins have made off with some of my crystals needed to power the portal. And that is why I need your help witcher."

"Seems like a lot of effort to avoid racial prejudice. You're talking about uprooting entire civilisations to a new world, I doubt everyone will be happy with that."

"It will be voluntary, those who don't believe it is a good idea are not welcome anyway." Sniffed Ceandrar

"Fine, did you get a good look at the monsters that took your crystals?"

"No; I was awoken by a noise, and when I got there, they had already gone and my crystals were missing. Please find them, I'll pay you handsomely."

Geralt sighed,

"Fine, I'll get your crystals."