Vodyanoi seldom come on shore, but when they do, it is typically thought to be with evil intentions toward Ανθρώπινωνs. They avenge real or imagined injuries, retaliating against pearl divers who trespassed on their territory or simply going on crusades. Warriors make up the core of the underwater army and while they must wear breathing gear on land, they are at least the equals of their Ανθρώπινων counterparts in the art of combat.
In the short story "Trochę poświęcenia" ("A Little Sacrifice") in the Το Ξίφος του Πεπρωμένου (Miecz przeznaczenia), the residents of the underwater city of Ys are not called "vodyanoi" but simply "People of the sea" ("Morski lud"), but it seems quite clear that the creatures in the game were based on this story. In the novel Season of Storms an actual vodyanoi appears under this name.
Written sources confirm that the fishpeople are very religious and hold their priests in high esteem. If only they could restrict themselves to praying at their underwater altars! Unfortunately, during vodyanoi raids on shore, the priests support their warriors with religious spells. In these instances, an honest, hard-working Μάγιστρος must put in that extra effort.
"A Description of the Vodyanoi or the Fishpeople" grants Γκέραλτ all he needs to know about the Vodyanoi.
The brickmakers in the Swamp, under the guidance of Vaska, worship the "Water Lords", which Γκέραλτ suspects to be vodyanoi.
Notes[ | ]
- Vodyanoy is a creature from Slavic mythology.
- Dagon worshippers are not actually described in the game. That term is used to describe the "bad" vodyanoi.
Monsterbook[ | ]
Developer CD Projekt's characterization of the Vodyanoi taken from the monsterbook, which was enclosed with the Collectors Edition of the computer game The Witcher for Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic:
The race of the underwater creatures described in the short story 'A bit of Devotion' is undoubtedly intriguing: a civilization thrives in the depths of the sea, developing in parallel to those on land. This motif provided an opportunity to tell a tale of two worlds colliding. In the game, relations between the vodyanoi (inhabitants of the Underwater City whom Ανθρώπινωνs contemptuously refer to as "fishpeople") and the villagers of Murky Waters are tense. A mysterious deity named the Lady of the Lake and, of course, our protagonist Γκέραλτ της Ρίβια, step in to mediate.
The sketches depict members of two vodyanoi castes as well as acolytes of the menacing water god Dagon. The artist concentrated on clothing and accessories in an effort to emphasize the distinctive nature of the underwater civilization. The priest wields a staff and wears a high hat with straps of leather falling on his shoulders — objects resembling the staff, miter and vestment of a bishop. His mask and the bracelets on his hand emphasize that the vodyanoi know metallurgy and view metal as a rare and valuable rescource. The remaining elements of this ceremonial outfit feature more common materials: his belt is made of oyster shells and stones, the straps of his vest of leather, his stone-encrusted breast-plate of wood. The stones have a religious significance connected with the cult of the water god known as Dagon.
The vodyan warrior wears a lighter outfit. His armor does not restrain his movement, enabling him to fight ably both under water and on land. As vodyanoi absorb oxygen naturally only from water, he wears a mask that allows him to breathe on land. Modeled after old gas masks, this breathing apparatus grants the warrior and all vodyanoi a singular appearance.
The straps and plate on the warrior's chest are also lighter. They are not armor, but (as in the case of priests) religious objects. The netting evokes connotations with water, and was probably looted off of fishermen during a raid.
In the early development stages, vodyanoi — as opposed to other monsters — were supposed to use weapons, hence the harpoon in the sketched warrior's hand. This idea was ultimately abandoned: even though they are thinking creatures, fishpeople use their claws in combat.
The third sketch depicts a vodyan dissident and worshipper of the menacing water god Dagon. The schismatic and his comrades emphasize their autonomy by wearing a different mask, one modeled after a knight's helmet. The breast plate is larger than that worn by warriors, because Dagon's acolytes consider themselves to be priests.
| “ | "The ocean is vast, Agloval. No one has ever seen what is there, beyond the horizon, if there is anything there at all. The ocean is larger than any wilderness to which you have exiled elves. It is less accessable than any mountain or valley where you might have massacred bobolaks. And there, at the ocean bottom, lives a race that uses weapons, knows the secrets of working metal. Beware, Agloval. If archers begin following the divers to the surface, you will provoke a war with something you know nothing of. The thing you wish to disturb may prove a hornets' nest. I advise you to leave them the sea; the sea is not for you." | ” |
— pg. ?,
"A Little Sacrifice", in the collection Το Ξίφος του Πεπρωμένου (untranslated)
| ||
Gallery[ | ]
Vodyanoi concept art
early sketch Vodyan warrior
sketch Vodyan priest
sketch Vodyan dissident, Dagon's worshipper
