Old Graz

Biodata

Background / History

Education and Earlier Travels

Old Graz studied at Ban Ard in his youth and was a pupil of White Raffard. Raffard entrusted him with the Ring of Favor, an heirloom originally given to Raffard by an elven sage. Graz carried it for decades before passing it to Witt 26 30.

During his younger years, he received help from friendly elves and visited Toussaint, which he remembered fondly. He later met Geralt at an inn in Kovir, where Geralt accepted his contract to kill sirens harassing local fishermen 13 23 25.

As a teacher, Graz continued instructing Lowell in alchemy and medicine after discovering his lack of magical talent. To protect him from bullying at Ban Ard and provide him with a livelihood, Graz arranged his employment as White Mist Village’s herbalist 14.

The White Mist Griffin Contract

Graz encountered Geralt and Witt near Buina Village while they were preparing to burn monster remains. He bought their drowner corpses and swamp hag remains for research, then offered them a contract to hunt a griffin near White Mist Peak. The witchers agreed to meet him after winter 4.

When they arrived at Lowell’s home in spring, Graz welcomed them and helped investigate the attacks. He initially defended Lowell against Witt’s suspicions, citing his former student’s diligence and the more than twenty years he had known him 13 14.

After Lowell attacked Witt and fled, Graz recognized the abandoned dagger as one he had given Lowell during dissection lessons. He prepared a magically enhanced sheep decoy and joined the griffin ambush in case two monsters appeared. The hunt moved too quickly for him to intervene before the wounded male escaped into the forest 17 18.

There, Miley told Graz that she had killed Lowell after discovering his membership in the Cult of the Lionhead Spider. Disappointed, Graz began questioning his earlier decisions concerning his student 18.

The Elven Refuge

Graz accompanied Miley to the elven camp because he wanted the griffin’s corpse for research. Fascinated by the surrounding ruins, he studied their inscriptions and magic circle, confirming the site as Tivissough’s Winter Palace 19.

His declared neutrality did not immediately earn Miley’s trust. When she requested supplies rather than money for the camp’s crystals, Graz felt unable to agree because of his obligations to Kovir and Ban Ard. He nevertheless spent much of the night magically healing wounded elves while the witchers pursued the remaining griffin 20 23.

Miley offered him a large uninscribed crystal in thanks. Recognizing its suitability for a teleportation device, he paid her roughly five hundred crowns—his remaining money—rather than accept it without compensation. He also helped Witt select five crystals that resonated with the runes on his arm 23.

Witt’s Magical Talent

After witnessing Witt’s unusually powerful Aard, Graz became interested in his innate magic. Back at Ban Ard, he identified Witt as a likely Source and offered to introduce him to Hen Gedymdeith. Witt declined a change of profession but agreed to provide blood for research into the origins of Sources 25 29.

Graz gave Witt the Ring of Favor as advance payment for the commission associated with Sabrina. He then explained that Witt’s innate talent had changed his casting: instead of relying solely on stored witcher magic, he was drawing chaos magic from the air. Accidentally drawing the wrong elemental force caused his episodes of unconsciousness 30.

Hector’s Betrayal and Its Aftermath

Graz’s apprentice Hector Rience attacked him during the destruction at Ban Ard, leaving a poisoned dagger embedded in his abdomen. Graz used magic to stabilize himself while Geralt protected him. Hector accused his teacher of favoring Witt and Zatt before escaping through a portal 36.

After Sabrina treated his injuries, Graz revealed that Hector had also stolen Witt’s blood sample. He blamed himself for the breach of trust, although Witt refused to hold him responsible for his students’ crimes 37.

Graz’s research had found vitality and magic characteristic of pure-blooded elves in Witt’s blood. He proposed that an inherited elven bloodline had changed unusually in Witt, then realized it might be Elder Blood. This remained a suspicion, and he urged Witt to keep it secret 38.

When Witt sought the advanced Trial of the Grasses, Graz supported his decision despite Geralt’s concern. Still recovering, he personally obtained forktail spinal fluid and traced another required ingredient to Laud Böll in Ard Carraigh, refusing to entrust the witchers’ confidential ingredient list to an apprentice 39.

Appearance

Old Graz visibly retains the signs of age, unlike spellcasters who use magic to preserve a youthful appearance 4.

• Hair and beard: Groomed, shoulder-length white hair and an equally white beard 4.
• Face: Wrinkles at the corners of his eyes; brown lips largely concealed by his beard 4.
• Clothing: A thick coarse-cloth coat with fine lining when first encountered; coarse linen clothes while tending herbs; an elaborate mage’s robe at Ban Ard 4 13 36.
• Accessories: Uses a pipe and wears glasses to read Geralt’s ingredient list 14 39.

Personality

Graz is warm, hospitable, and bluntly inquisitive. He welcomes the witchers into his accommodation, jokes readily with Geralt, and repeatedly asks permission to dissect them—offering a thousand crowns for either witcher. Geralt considers him a good man while finding this particular enthusiasm deeply uncomfortable 4 13 26.

His sympathy for students can make him slow to accept evidence against them. He defended Lowell because he remembered an industrious, bullied apprentice, then felt profound remorse after both Lowell and Hector committed atrocities 14 18 37.

Graz regards the continent’s creatures as children of nature and adopts Kovir’s neutrality in conflicts between humans and nonhumans. His compassion is practical: he heals wounded elves and pays generously for their crystal. He also resists his desire to possess the rare Waters of Brokilon, returning the vial to Miley 19 21 23.

He encourages independence rather than obedience to inherited expectations. In giving Witt the Ring of Favor, he emphasizes conviction and the freedom to build one’s own legacy; later, he supports Witt’s determination to choose his fate 30 38 39.

Abilities & Skills

Natural and Biological Research

Graz specializes in nature and living creatures rather than the manufacture of complex magical-alchemical devices 37.

• Dissection: Purchases monster remains for research and taught Lowell how to dissect monsters 4 17.
• Blood analysis: Detects unusual elven vitality and magic in Witt’s blood, leading to his Elder Blood hypothesis 38.
• Alchemy and medicine instruction: Taught Lowell these subjects to provide a profession despite his lack of magical talent 14.
• Limits: His knowledge of griffin behavior is less reliable than the witchers’ expertise 13.

Spellcasting

Graz commands several practical forms of magic, though the griffin hunt demonstrates his limited readiness for fast-moving combat 17 18.

• Illusion: Makes the constructed sheep bait appear more realistic. He uses a physical decoy because conjured objects would only be illusions 17.
• Air manipulation: Gathers air elemental energy around his feet to lighten his body and keep pace with the pursuing witchers 18.
• Protection: Casts a defensive spell when confronted by elven archers 18.
• Travel assistance: Helps the party reach Ban Ard by the following evening after leaving White Mist Village 26.

Healing

• Treatment of others: Repeatedly casts healing magic on wounded elves over the course of a night 23.
• Self-treatment: Stabilizes his abdominal injury and purges the dagger’s poison from his body 36 37.
• Limits: His own magic does not resolve the entire injury; Sabrina provides further treatment 37.

Magical Scholarship

• Source assessment: Recognizes Witt’s exceptional talent and explains the dangers of uncontrolled innate magic 29.
• Elemental theory: Diagnoses Witt’s loss of consciousness as the result of drawing unsuitable elemental forces from ambient chaos magic 30.
• Elven history: Studies ancient inscriptions and ritual circles to identify Tivissough’s Winter Palace 19.
• Artifact appraisal: Evaluates crystals for use in megascopes and teleportation devices, and helps Witt choose compatible rune crystals 20 23.
• Rare substances: Identifies the Waters of Brokilon from their aura and scent 20.

Equipment / Items

• Magic compression box — A palm-sized square box that draws a mound of monster corpses inside after an incantation; later described as a box for compressing items 4 25.
• Ring of Favor — Formerly worn on his left index finger. It calms competing elemental forces during the manipulation of ambient chaos magic; Graz passes it to Witt 30.
• Uninscribed elven crystal — Acquired from Miley for roughly five hundred crowns; suitable for a magical teleportation device 23.
• Pipe and glasses — Used while considering Lowell’s situation and examining the advanced decoction’s ingredient list, respectively 14 39.

Relationships

• Geralt — Longstanding friend and occasional drinking companion. Their banter masks considerable trust: Graz hires him for dangerous work, and Geralt protects him during Hector’s attack 13 25 36.
• Witt — Research subject, guest, and recipient of Graz’s magical guidance. Graz respects his decision to remain a witcher, gives him the Ring of Favor, and helps him prepare for the advanced trial 29 30 39.
• White Raffard — Former teacher who entrusted Graz with the Ring of Favor and encouraged him not to be constrained by his predecessors’ achievements 30.
• Lowell — Former apprentice whom Graz trained and helped establish as an herbalist. His involvement with a murderous cult leaves Graz disappointed and doubtful of his own judgment 14 18.
• Hector Rience — Apprentice who betrays and wounds Graz, steals Witt’s blood sample, and accuses him of favoritism 26 36 37.
• Miley — Initially distrustful elven leader who thanks Graz after learning that he healed her wounded people 19 23.
• Sabrina Glevissig — Longstanding acquaintance who heals Graz after Hector’s attack and accepts his explanation of his research specialty 37.

Notable Quotes

“May I dissect you? Of course, it doesn’t have to be today.” 4

“It has been a long time since I concerned myself with conflicts between humans and nonhumans. Kovir’s neutral stance is my stance.” 19

“Standing firm in your convictions without misgivings is the meaning this ring carries.” 30

“Geralt, let the boy do it. A wolf cub must suffer before it can grow.” 39