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Thanks for pointing that out. It's been some years since I've read all the books.
Yeah Adda was 14, while Foltest was around 35, so he had her when he was 21. In TW2 he looks over 50 I'd say.
But when Saga ends, how old is Ciri? 16-17 I think ? And was she born after or before the Adda curse short story? I don't remember. If she was born after this story, then it would not make sense that Dandelion is so young, yeah.
To all those wondering about Witcher's world being the equivalent of our own - at least two such theories were confirmed by Sapkowski in interviews.
In one, he said that in his mind Nilfgaard resembles Roman Empire much more than Nazi Germany (especially given its tolerance towards non-humans which is contrary to racism of the Nazis). But in another he confirmed that the scene of Kaedwen partitioning Aedirn together with Nilfgaard is based on Ribbentrop-Molotov pact. So it seems that Sapkowski doesn't stick to just one historical period.

However, since Sapkowski is a Pole, I believe that there are certain parallels which every Pole has to recognize: the elven units having SS insignia, peace conference in Cintra (Yalta conference), post-war expulsion of Nilfgaardians (expulsion of Germans from Eastern Europe), pogrom in Rivia (Kielce pogrom - in both cases the catalyst is a child and there's much speculation on government's involvement), the comment about "elvish question" being "finally solved" (Holocaust). All of those historical moments are very important in Polish antional memory so Sapkowski couldn't have just put it in accidentally and never realized the similarity. However, this doesn't mean that everything is based on WWII. In "Times of Contemp" there's a chapter describing the history of magic and it tells about the landing of Human colonists on the new continent and how they massacred the native races and forced the surviviors to live in reservations. In my opinion, it's a clear parallel to Native Americans.
Post edited May 31, 2011 by chicra
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chicra: But in another he confirmed that the scene of Kaedwen partitioning Aedirn together with Nilfgaard is based on Ribbentrop-Molotov pact. So it seems that Sapkowski doesn't stick to just one historical period.
He once clearly stated that this was based on Poland's participation in dismemberment of Czechoslovakia in 1938.
Post edited May 31, 2011 by Isambard
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chicra: However, since Sapkowski is a Pole, I believe that there are certain parallels which every Pole has to recognize: the elven units having SS insignia, peace conference in Cintra (Yalta conference), post-war expulsion of Nilfgaardians (expulsion of Germans from Eastern Europe), pogrom in Rivia (Kielce pogrom - in both cases the catalyst is a child and there's much speculation on government's involvement), the comment about "elvish question" being "finally solved" (Holocaust). All of those historical moments are very important in Polish antional memory so Sapkowski couldn't have just put it in accidentally and never realized the similarity. However, this doesn't mean that everything is based on WWII. In "Times of Contemp" there's a chapter describing the history of magic and it tells about the landing of Human colonists on the new continent and how they massacred the native races and forced the surviviors to live in reservations. In my opinion, it's a clear parallel to Native Americans.
Sapkowski is an artist. All of those things that every Pole has to recognize were grist for the mill, but that's not the same as his making an exact historical parallel to any one time, place, or event. Of course those things influenced Sapkowski -- how could they not? -- but it's mostly lesser authors who write stories that are exact parallels of history. Some elements from Rome, some elements from WWII, some elements from the European conquest of the Americas -- all of that and more was added in, shaken up, and made new.
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Isambard: He once clearly stated that this was based on Poland's participation in dismemberment of Czechoslovakia in 1938.
Nah, he was just making it up. In an interview with Polish press he recalled how Russian interviewer had once asked him about this being the parallel of Ribbentrop-Molotov act and he stated that it's not and he based in on Czechoslovakia. But this interview was posted on some forum I've read and someone digged up the original interview in Russian and it turns out that his exact explanation was that "everyone sees a different parallel - Czechs see it as Czechoslovakia's dismemberment, Poles as Ribbentrop-Molotov pact. Then he went on to say that although he was inspired by both versions, as a Pole he feels more connected to the latter"
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teh_beard: Well now, Geralt with all his wisdom, voice of tiered cynic and "I`m too old for this" stuff might give you impression that he saw Yaruga Landing and Conjunction of Spheres but it is not so.

He is certainly old for a man who does so much of buttbickin` but he was born circa 1210. Ergo he was 58 at the the time of Rivian Pogrom, and 63 at the time events of Witcher 2 take place.

Triss at this time must be 38 years old, and Yennifer - 99.

Ahem.. Last book of Witcher series was translated to Russian in 2001, so you see fans have a lot of time to compile more or less believable chronology, one I now referring to.
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Paul_cz: So is Geralt around 100 or 63?

Where did you get his time of being born?

BTW does anyone have a chronological order of the short stories?
Autumn 1256, revered mother Nenneke of Temple of Melitele in Elander tells Geralt that she "knows him since he was waist-high". At this time she is around 60. Pure speculation about her age here, but somehow believable.
I do believe that priestesses do not start educate children before they hit age of 20. So, pushing it, 1256-40=1216 - she first saw Geralt as 5-10 years old boy, learning to read and write in monastery school. So yes... he was born circa 1210.

Numbers such 100 years is way to much for him. It is clear impression through the series that Yennifer considerably older than Geralt. And we have definitive answer about her age - in year 1267 she says: "I`m 94 years old. But take this as a confession". Ergo, she was born Belleteyn of 1173.
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Paul_cz: So is Geralt around 100 or 63?

Where did you get his time of being born?

BTW does anyone have a chronological order of the short stories?
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teh_beard: Autumn 1256, revered mother Nenneke of Temple of Melitele in Elander tells Geralt that she "knows him since he was waist-high". At this time she is around 60. Pure speculation about her age here, but somehow believable.
I do believe that priestesses do not start educate children before they hit age of 20. So, pushing it, 1256-40=1216 - she first saw Geralt as 5-10 years old boy, learning to read and write in monastery school. So yes... he was born circa 1210.

Numbers such 100 years is way to much for him. It is clear impression through the series that Yennifer considerably older than Geralt. And we have definitive answer about her age - in year 1267 she says: "I`m 94 years old. But take this as a confession". Ergo, she was born Belleteyn of 1173.
Well, Geralt was already an accomplished witcher when Kaer Morhen was destroyed and survived because he wasn't present during that event. What year was that? Nenneke could be 80 or even 90 years old, they don't tell her age and even in medieval times such long-living people existed.
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Xayoz: I see Nilfgaard as the Soviet Union rather than Germany.
A massive twisetd empire out to dominate the world with both force and diplomacy.
If it wasn't for the Soviets, you'd be speaking German now. Oh wait, you probably wouldn't mind seeing how a lot of your countrymen joined the Nazis during WWII.
Post edited May 31, 2011 by sb87
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Maerd: Well, Geralt was already an accomplished witcher when Kaer Morhen was destroyed and survived because he wasn't present during that event. What year was that? Nenneke could be 80 or even 90 years old, they don't tell her age and even in medieval times such long-living people existed.
She is not described as an old hag in this scene, I tell you that much. It`s 60 pusing it for sake of old-n-wise-Geralt thing.

Also, according to "History" by Roderic de November Kaer Morhen was sieged and destroyed in 1185-1188. But in 1264 Triss Merigold notes that school does not train new witchers for about quarter of century, meaning since about 1240.
Geralt, in my understanding, is a witcher of one of the last generations, but not the very last.
If he was born in 1210, than he must have hit the road in 1231 at age of 21 - age of adulthood in medieval times. And training at the fortress continued still.
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sb87: If it wasn't for the Soviets, you'd be speaking German now. Oh wait, you probably wouldn't mind seeing how a lot of your countrymen joined the Nazis during WWII.
And if it wasn't for Nazis, half of Europe might be speaking Russian now.
Indeed, most Estonians would have probably picked Nazi occupation over the Soviet one.
This has little to do with Witcher 2 tho.
Let's not derail into political-historical aargument.
Post edited May 31, 2011 by Isambard
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sb87: If it wasn't for the Soviets, you'd be speaking German now. Oh wait, you probably wouldn't mind seeing how a lot of your countrymen joined the Nazis during WWII.
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Xayoz: And if it wasn't for Nazis, half of Europe might be speaking Russian now.
Indeed, most Estonians would have probably picked Nazi occupation over the Soviet one.
This has little to do with Witcher 2 tho.
The Soviets did defeat the Nazis so your argument doesn't hold up. But hey, at least you're being honest, I respect that.
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Isambard: Let's not derail into political-historical aargument.
Agreed! Please cool it, folks.
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Maerd: Yes, as some people mentioned here, Geralt is ~100 years old according to the books. Toxic diet, constant exercising and regular sex with sorceresses do magic. :D I think a natural death of witchers must be related to liver failures. lol
Or crotch rot? ha ha