The Witcher Season 2 will focus more intensely on the defining story between Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer, as well as the main conflicts, particularly the fierce war between Nilfgaard and the northern kingdoms. However, this does not mean that the series will neglect its most distinctive feature: the variety of strange and powerful monsters lurking in every corner of the Continent.
The latest trailer for this season has confirmed that Geralt will have to confront a bruxa (also referred to as bruxae) on his journey to escort Ciri to the witcher stronghold of Kaer Morhen. Specifically, this bruxa is named Vereena (played by Agnes Bjorn), a type of vampire that first appeared in the short story “A Grain of Truth” by author Andrzej Sapkowski.
The Witcher Season 2 will first bring vampires to the small screen.
A witcher must have a solid understanding of the monsters they hunt to be adequately prepared. Viewers should also be informed about the creatures that will appear in the film to avoid being caught off guard. Let’s delve into some crucial details about the origin and strengths of the bruxa in the witcher universe.
Origin of the Bruxa in The Witcher
The Witcher draws inspiration from various folk tales from many different cultures to create its own unique monster lore. Among these, the bruxa is based on the bruxa, a type of vampire in Portuguese folklore.
Bruxas are typically female and many believe that they are powerful witches who can transform into a wide array of animals. Notably, they are not affected by sunlight and can unleash their full deadly powers at night. Bruxas usually appear as beautiful women, but they can also take the form of a monstrous creature. This is why many women often dress their children in iron clothing or hang iron objects above their cradles to ward off bruxas.
Strengths of the Bruxa in The Witcher
The bruxa’s natural form is a large black serpent with sharp teeth and razor-sharp claws. However, to blend into human society, they often transform into attractive women. Geralt has previously encountered this deadly vampire when he confronted Vereena in “A Grain of Truth.”
Bruxas are known for their agility and can be quite challenging to defeat in battle, which is why Vereena (in her true form) can easily evade many of Geralt’s attacks. The only way to harm and wound a bruxa, like many other monsters, is through the silver sword of witchers. This is also how Geralt manages to regain his strength in battle while forcing Vereena to revert to her human form. However, to completely eliminate this type of monster, Geralt must decapitate Vereena, as mundane methods such as striking her with a wooden stake have no effect in the witcher universe.
The strengths of the bruxa are more apparent and visual in the game The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
The strengths of the bruxa are explored in greater depth in the game The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, particularly in the expansive Blood and Wine DLC. As mentioned earlier, this type of vampire is not affected by sunlight, can emit a piercing screech, and can fly over considerable distances to attack unsuspecting targets. Additionally, they can shift shape within a short time frame, moving with incredible speed to approach and “swoop down” on their victims. And of course, bruxas can bite and drain blood from their victims, but they do not transform into a vampire or any other type of monster.
Returning to the folklore of Portuguese origin, many believe that the bruxa’s powers come from a pact made with Satan. This is why they are often grouped together to perform dark rituals and become more formidable after each successful spell. Furthermore, bruxas also have the ability to shape-shift into other creatures to hide themselves effectively.
What does the appearance of the bruxa mean for the Netflix series The Witcher?
Currently, the most apparent reason for Netflix introducing the bruxa into its series is due to the fact that this type of monster previously appeared in “A Grain of Truth” – a short story that will be adapted into the upcoming season of The Witcher. However, this could also serve as a pretext for building other storylines related to vampires in the future, especially when a close companion of Geralt also encounters this formidable creature.
In the witcher universe, vampires are classified into two grades: Lower Grade and Higher Grade. Bruxas belong to the Higher Grade group, alongside other types such as alp, katakan, mula, nosferat, and higher vampire. However, only bruxas, alps, mulas, and higher vampires are not affected by sunlight. In contrast, lower-grade vampires include ekimmara, fleder, garkain, and plumard.
The appearance of the bruxa in Season 2 will provide viewers with an initial glance at vampires in the witcher universe, opening the door for other types of monsters to emerge, primarily higher vampires. These are particularly powerful beings, resembling humans, and will only reveal their true nature when they choose to. Even magical spells cannot identify whether someone is a higher vampire or not – a detail referenced in the novels of The Witcher. Moreover, this group is noted for their intelligence, not needing to drink blood to survive, and only viewing blood as a mere beverage. Geralt’s companion is also classified as a higher vampire, but we will keep their name hidden to avoid spoiling information from future seasons.
According to ScreenRant
