witcher
Disambig icon This article is about those with extremely magical abilities. For the quest in The Witcher, see The Source.

A Source is a person born with a natural affinity for magical abilities which are rather difficult to control once they have bloomed, which can sometimes lead to mental illness, like catatonia, if not helped.[1]

Quick Answers

What is a Source in the Witcher universe? toggle section
A Source in the Witcher universe refers to a person naturally gifted with magical abilities. These abilities, challenging to control, can cause mental conditions such as catatonia if not adequately managed. Sources can harness the power of Chaos, a fundamental element used in magic.
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What was the purpose of the magical test performed on the settlers' children in the Witcher? toggle section
In the Witcher, magical tests were conducted on the settlers' children to uncover Sources, individuals with innate magical potential. Chosen children, such as Agnes of Glanville, were relocated to Mirthe, the inaugural mages' hub, for magic training. Additionally, it was hypothesized that their blood could potentially produce more witchers, prompting additional examinations and trials.
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What is the significance of Mirthe in the Witcher series? toggle section
Mirt, previously called Mirthe, is a settlement in Redania's Ghelibol region. It was the Brotherhood of Sorcerers' former power center. The name Mirthe is tied to a sorceress who held sway at King Vizimir II's court and was renowned for her potent magical abilities. Tissaia De Vries regarded her as one of her top pupils. Her name comes up in dialogues sporadically, and it's conjectured that she or Keira Metz communicated with Triss Merigold via a magical mirror.
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How can being a Source lead to mental illness in the Witcher universe? toggle section
In the Witcher universe, a Source possesses inherent magical abilities. The control of these abilities, once they've manifested, can be challenging, potentially leading to mental conditions like catatonia without proper guidance. The mental stress from managing these potent abilities can trigger significant distress, potentially resulting in mental health disorders.
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History

Bekker's search

In the 760s, after the First Landing of humans and construction of a settlement, Jan Bekker and Giambattista put the children of the settlers through a magical test as they arrived, in order to reveal Sources. The selected children were taken from their parents and brought to Mirthe, the first seat of the mages, and trained.[2]

Source training

Schools of sorcery, like Aretuza and the facility in Ban Ard, were created to help these children cultivate and control their powers, lest the abilities drive them mad. At one point, if one learned of a Source, mages from these schools would hunt them down and tear them away from their families by force or deceit. However, this practice eventually died out by the 1260s and was replaced with a softer approach: any mage that learned of a Source was required to inform the Chapter of Wizards so they could keep an eye on the Source and, at the right time, try to fascinate them with magic to bring them into the fold.[1]

Limitations

Stressful situations usually work as the trigger of a Source's ability. However, this is double-sided: while Sources can wield an extreme amount of power, it's completely uncontrollable and will only happen when they least expect it as they act more like a transmitter of magical energy, rather than wielders of it. This can lead to dire situations where even a castle or half of a town can be destroyed if not brought under control.[1]

Notable Sources

Notes

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Blood of Elves
  2. ↑ Time of Contempt
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Witcher