There Can Be Only One - The Witcher 3

On the lakeshore Geralt encountered a hermit who promised the witcher a wondrous blade. To receive it, Geralt had to prove he lived by the five chivalric virtues.

Step by step, in trial after trial, Geralt demonstrated that he was indeed in possession of the Five Chivalric Virtues. It was an achievement, this cannot be denied, for many before him had tried to do the same, yet had failed.

The test culminated with a last, secret trial. Geralt had to defeat a hermit in a contest that took place upon the lake's surface. Soon after, to his great surprise, the old man proved to be none other than the Lady of the Lake in disguise. Geralt had encountered the Lady on his Path, though quite some time past. In gratitude for fulfilling her demands, the Lady once more bestowed upon Geralt the legendary blade called Aerondight.

While traversing Toussaint, Geralt encountered a hermit who brazenly challenged him to a duel. As you might suspect, there was more to the matter than the old man's sudden compunction to brawl.

After a fierce and beautiful fight, Geralt defeated the hermit. The witcher was then greatly surprised to learn the man was in fact the Lady of the Lake in disguise, a woman Geralt had encountered long past on his Path. As the hermit had promised, the Lady bestowed upon Geralt the legendary sword called Aerondight.

Witchers are not knights and do not share their priorities. This is probably why Geralt failed to prove he was in possession of the Five Chivalric Virtues. The mystery of the hermit's true identity remained unresolved.

Geralt overheard a conversation between two knights. One of them had recently undergone a mysterious trial. This had played out on the shores of Lac Célavy.

Though Geralt reached the isle upon Lac Célavy, he found no one there. Most likely he had waited too long to investigate the matter, and after all, we well know Destiny does not like to wait…

Many consider themselves courageous, yet when confronting true danger prove consummate cowards. Naturally, this applies in no way to Geralt, who faced mortal danger and vanquished it post haste, thus successfully passing the Trial of Valor.

At times it is hard to keep one's word and thus demonstrate honor when faced by temptation. Luckily, Geralt was stouthearted and successfully completed the Trial of Honor.

Mercy is not something folk expect of witchers. As it is, they were created to hunt and kill monsters, and the mutations they undergo as children customarily strip them of all emotions. Yet Geralt had always been somewhat different, so when push came to shove he passed the Trial of Compassion, for he had always striven simply to be a decent man in spite of all.

Paradoxically, it is sometimes easier to demonstrate valor or honor than it is to show generosity. For the fact is many are courageous and honorable simply to advance their own cause. Geralt, like all witchers, worked for coin, but always knew well when a situation required him to show generosity. No surprise, then, that he successfully passed the trial meant to test this virtue.

Among the virtues, wisdom is arguably hardest to prove, for many consider themselves wise, yet the world is full of fools. Geralt never thought of himself as excessively wise, and perhaps this is why he managed to prove this virtue was no stranger to him.

Upon a notice board in Toussaint, Geralt found a call to all who wished to submit to a Test of Virtue. The notice's mysterious author summoned any who dared to an isle upon Lac Célavy, where they would have a chance to prove their worthiness of character. He who successfully completed the test would receive a reward. Though Geralt had never thought of himself as particularly virtuous, he found the summons intriguing and decided to go to the appointed spot to learn what the trials entailed.