Kindest greetings, fellow knowledge-seeker. I am Dandelion, your humble and undeniably attractive scribe – a tour guide, if you will, on this journey through a treacherous world rife with horrible beasts, gluttonous monsters and foul demons – and that’s just the humans, hah! In all seriousness, I’m no different from everyone else in this world, in that life has thrown its share of peril my way. None of us are safe, and to take that fact for granted is to beg for an early trip to the grave. I’ve often relied on the help of my closest friend, Geralt, to make it through, and indeed, he has saved my neck on more than a few occasions... Oh, I could go on for days about our amazing adventures, about the monster-slaying brotherhood of the witchers, and about how Geralt has become the most famous of all… thanks in no small part to my *ahem* wondrous retellings of his adventures. But that’s a tale for another day.

I’m meant to document the state of our world. And a sorry state it is, and has been for as long as I can remember. In fact, I have a hard time imagining life anywhere else! I often hear other bards singing about glorious fantasy worlds where ancient concepts like good and evil are two distinct forces engaged in an eternal battle. I do wish it was all that simple – I’d likely be writing a lot more about flowers and bunnies and beautiful women and less about Geralt’s latest death-defying struggle. The truth is that over the years good and evil have given way to something much more sinister.

These days deceit, betrayal and disloyalty are common tools for even the noblest of men; there’s always someone more devious and cunning out there, willing to step all over you to get what he (or she) wants. The concept of unquestioned trust is laughable – I even find it difficult to trust myself sometimes! But that’s all I have. I know my own motivations for my actions, and destiny will take care of the rest. In his line of work, my friend Geralt faces countless situations where he must simply choose what he feels is the best course of action. The world may have a different outcome in mind than he does, but destiny is not some simple toy to be played with. In our world and particularly in Geralt’s life, one must carefully consider the effects of one’s decisions; a wrong choice – from which there is no return – could cost the life of a friend or could unintentionally benefit our rivals. Though I suppose that very uncertainty is what makes life exciting… right? I do what I can to be optimistic… lest my life become one terribly depressing and frightening experience.

Were it not for destiny, one could look upon the plight of non-humans or the poor and diseased across much of the land – particularly in the large cities – with not but sorrow in our hearts. Who are we to question the path destiny has carved for these unfortunate souls – segregated from “normal” society, spat upon for their mere existence, little more than garbage in the eyes of their privileged human counterparts? Despite being in demand for his services, Geralt himself deals with this intolerance on a constant basis. Were it not for his sharp wit and sharper blade, I’m certain he’d be dead… well… he was dead. Ah, again I digress with another unmatched tale of Geralt’s resiliency and skill. But it is destiny that proclaims its presence, ever the reason for the plight of one or many.

And so, destiny has a grip on the land – from the Dragon Mountains in the north to the grand city of Vizima to Mount Gorgon in the south – and is the only certainty in this world. It determines the different courses our lives will take. What is meant to be shall come to pass. All that we can do is make our decisions as situations warrant and hope for the best. At the moment, I’m hoping that my decision to court the barmaid will leave me with a nice bowl of soup and a cask of wine… and maybe a bit more. Ah, if Geralt was here, this would all be much easier.

So until we next speak, fair traveler. Safe travels.