The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Preview - Key Characters

Developed by CD Projekt Red and released in 2007, The Witcher had you take control of Geralt of Rivia, a "witcher" who excels at hunting monsters. The game was based on a book series of the same name by Polish fantasy author Andrzej Sapkowski and has since amassed a cult following of loyal fans. The game's sequel, The Witcher 2, is now upon us, and hot on the heels of its release we have a plethora of character-specific trailers to give you a who's who in the Witcher universe.

Vernon Roche

Vernon Roche is a specialist in the Temerian military and one of the new non-player characters you'll be able to recruit in TW2. With his gruff demeanor, Roche forms the "bad cop" half of his and Geralt's antagonistic bad cop/bad cop relationship. We got a chance to see him in action (though he wasn't in our party) during our last hands-on session with the game. Roche was ruthless on the battlefield and, when compared with the rest of the cast, seems to be the most well-rounded of the four.

Triss Merigold

Making her return in TW2, Triss Merigold is a powerful sorceress and one of Geralt's primary love interests in the original game. Her healing magic makes her a valuable asset in any battle, and her offensive abilities are just as potent. Along with Vernon Roche, Merigold was one of the primary characters we encountered in the game's opening scenes during our latest preview. Suffice it to say, this redhead's affections for the witcher certainly haven't waned since last we saw her.

Zoltan Chivay

It seems that Zoltan's plans to live happily ever after with his fiancee have fallen through since the previous game. However, his loss is our gain since we are more than happy to welcome back our dwarven friend to a life of excitement and adventure alongside Geralt. Zoltan is a master craftsman and a reliable combatant, and his martial prowess fills the group's need for a sturdy, frontline brawler.

Iorweth

The elf Iorweth is a newcomer in TW2. He's a skilled hunter and tracker, and his abilities may be able to rival those of even the legendary witcher. While the others prefer to fight with swords and sorcery, Iorweth relies on his deadly accuracy with a bow to fell his enemies. He is a self-proclaimed hater of humans and isn't afraid to share his views with (force them onto) those around him. Whether he will become a friend or a foe has yet to be seen.

If you're already playing TW2, be sure to check out our game guide, which includes a walkthrough to help get you started on your quest.