Ep. 118 — "Crossroads of Ravens"
Bolo from Poland, Gosia from Poland, and Štěpán from the Czech Republic join Alyssa for our discussion of Andrzej Sapkowski’s Crossroads of Ravens. Very important bits include: Preston Holt, Witcher mentor and New York accountant; Latin and the lingering influence of The Hussite Trilogy; mythological and historical deep cuts; regret and gray morals; Roach’s many names; and the narrative power of less. Plus, our definitive opinion on whether Crossroads of Ravens is actually a new entry point to the Witcher.
This episode is available at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Stitcher.
In this Episode
[0:00] Cold Open
[1:20] Introduction
[2:58] Guest Introductions
[9:09] Book Summary
[12:09] Discussion
[1:20:43] Outro
[1:21:06] End Credits
Relevant Links
Transcript
Cold Open
Transcript to come.
[Breakfast in Beauclair theme music by Alex Berner]
Introduction
ALYSSA: Welcome to Breakfast in Beauclair, a global Witcher Podcast. My name is Alyssa from GoodMorhen, and I’ll be your host as you, I, and our international hanza accompany Geralt of Rivia and his destiny, Cirilla of Cintra, across the Continent.
[Announcements]
Two bonus episodes to end Season 8! Our final episode of the season will be a featured conversation with David French, the English translator of the Witcher series, and Peter Kenny, the audiobook narrator.
[Patron Announcements]
Thank you to our patrons and our producer-level patrons: Katie (The Redhead of Toussaint), Jacob B., Charlotte from Vengerberg Glamarye, The Original Roach, Libby, John of Ryblia, Tom from Australia, Jill Cate, The Tabby Witch, Olle from Sweden, James Carson III, Miriam of Temeria, Softie, Lisa C., and Sydna.
If you’d like to learn more about supporting Breakfast in Beauclair, visit patreon.com/breakfastinbeauclair.
[Episode Details]
As for this episode, Bolo from Poland, Gosia from Poland, and Štěpán from the Czech Republic calls in for Andrzej Sapkowski’s Tower of Swallows, Chapter 10. Join us as we discuss Preston Holt, Witcher mentor and New York accountant; Latin and the lingering influence of The Hussite Trilogy; mythological and historical deep cuts; regret and gray morals; Roach’s many names; and the narrative power of less. Plus, our definitive opinion on whether Crossroads of Ravens is actually a new entry point to the Witcher.
Without further ado, let’s get to our discussion of Andrzej Sapkowski’s Crossroads of Ravens.
Discussion
[Breakfast in Beauclair stinger by Alex Berner]
Transcript to come.
ALYSSA (VOICEOVER):
A young Geralt of Rivia, newly left from Kaer Morhen, is arrested after intervening when a man assaults a girl. The alderman condemns the young Witcher for killing, but before the local captain can hang him, another white-haired witcher arrives and demands Geralt’s release.
Preston Holt and Geralt stop at a mining camp, where the elder witcher sends Geralt into the tunnels to face cynocephaly alone. Afterward, at a crossroad where ravens gather, Holt offers Geralt an apprenticeship.
In Spynham, Holt meets a brothel madam while looking for his agent, Timur Voronoff. Soon after, Holt brings Geralt to his country estate, Rocamora. There, he trains Geralt in bare-hand combat and efficient killing techniques. Geralt learns fragments about Holt’s past and the witcher massacre at Kaer Morhen. In the spring, Geralt sets out alone.
Letters exchanged between officials reveal that both witchers are under investigation. Geralt meets Voronoff in Belvoir and takes smaller contracts, some successful, some not. He’s hired to kill a monster that turns out to be a zorril. In another, he saves townsfolk from a great bird later served to nobles as a delicacy. Finally, he gains a new horse he names Roach.
At the Temple of Melitele, Geralt meets Nenneke and the Mother Assumpta. They confirm the truth about Monstrum, the anonymous paper that turned the world against witchers and led to the 1194 assault on Kaer Morhen. Holt survived that attack. The priestesses urge Geralt to leave him behind. Geralt moves on, accepting a curse-breaking job in Glass Mountain where he kills the woman who cast it. Later, he’s drawn into the case of a striga. Uncharacteristically scared, he decapitates the cursed girl rather than saving her, though authorities publicly credit him for ending the threat.
When Geralt returns to Rocamora, he confronts Holt about Monstrum. Holt ends their partnership and sends him away. Alone again, Geralt meets the Ban Ard sorcerer Artamon of Asguth and realizes his connection to Monstrum, the persecution of witchers, the eviction of the priestesses of Melitele. Geralt kills Artamon using Holt’s fighting method—a strike with a key to the throat. The act triggers retaliation: Holt is accused of the murder, confesses to protect Geralt, and is sentenced to death. Geralt tries to take the blame, but the prefect rejects his confession. Holt is executed. The prefect quietly allows Geralt to recover Holt’s body, which he buries himself.
In the aftermath, Geralt is rescued from an ambush by the sorceress Vrai Natteravn, and the Temple is saved from assassins sent by the Marchioness Graffiacane, Artamon’s former lover. Months later, Nenneke learns the marchioness helped fund the original attack on Kaer Morhen. She warns Geralt that revenge will put him outside the law, but lets him go anyway.
Geralt reclaims Holt’s medallion from the marchioness’s chambers and she dies, without Geralt killing her himself. He hunts down her three enforcers across the kingdoms. He kills two, and tracks the last to the coast. When a scolopendromorph threatens nearby children, Geralt abandons revenge to save them.
Outro & Credits
[Breakfast in Beauclair theme music by Alex Berner]
ALYSSA: Thanks for joining us at the breakfast table! For show notes, transcripts of each episode, and a complete list of our social platforms and listening services, head over to breakfastinbeauclair.com.
Breakfast in Beauclair is created by Alyssa from GoodMorhen. It’s hosted by Alyssa. The show is edited by Alyssa and Caleb Buys with music by Alex Berner.
Breakfast in Beauclair is produced by Alyssa in New York City with Katie (The Redhead of Toussaint), Jacob B., Charlotte from Vengerberg Glamarye, The Original Roach, Libby, John of Ryblia, Tom from Australia, Jill Cate, The Tabby Witch, Olle from Sweden, James Carson III, Miriam of Temeria, Softie, Lisa C., and Sydna.
Special thanks to Bolo, Gosia, and Štěpán for joining us for this episode and our international hanza for their support.
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