School of the Cat
They hunt for coin, blurring the sacred line between monster and man.
The School of the Cat remains the most reviled faction among the Witcher brotherhoods in the Northern Kingdoms. While other orders upheld a strict code of neutrality or monster-hunting ethics, the Cats earned infamy for accepting contracts on humans, engaging in banditry, and prioritizing coin over conscience. Once a formidable force within the witcher ranks, they were systematically hunted to near extinction during the great Witcher Purge orchestrated by the Northern Kingdoms. Survivors scattered into the shadows or dissolved into mercenary bands, their numbers dwindling until the school existed only as whispers and warnings—a testament to what occurs when monster hunters abandon their humanity for gold.
- Founder
- Unknown (Historical records are scarce)
- Headquarters
- Destroyed (Formerly located in Kaedwen)
- Philosophy
- Pragmatism and self-interest; no moral code against killing humans
- Status
- Effectively extinct as an organized school
- Notable Members
- Ciri's 'uncle' (folklore), various unnamed mercenaries
Lore & Background
The School of the Cat was founded on a radical deviation from tradition: they believed a witcher's worth was measured solely by contract completion, regardless of the target. Unlike the Wolf or Griffin Schools, which maintained neutrality in human conflicts, the Cats accepted any job for the right price—including bounty hunting and assassination against civilians. Their training emphasized extreme agility and speed over brute strength, pushing initiates through brutal survival trials that culminated in a high mortality rate, yet yielded unmatched killers. The school's downfall arrived when their reputation for violence spiraled beyond utility; increasingly associated with banditry and the slaughter of innocents, they provoked a coordinated witcher hunt by the Northern Kingdoms. Their fortress was razed, their ranks decimated, leaving only scattered remnants to operate as ghosts in society, often mistaken for common brigands rather than the fractured remains of an order.
In Their Own Story
The rain hammered against the thatched roof of the tavern, masking the sound of the door creaking open. A figure stepped inside, cloaked in tattered leather smelling of old blood and damp fur. Patrons fell silent, eyes darting to the two curved blades strapped to his back—the signature steel of a Cat, distinct from the straight swords of Wolves or Griffs. He didn't ask for ale; he simply placed a heavy pouch on the bar, counting out gold coins with a scarred hand. "I hear there's a bounty on a merchant in the next village," he rasped. The innkeeper paled, knowing that when a Cat speaks of bounties, no one is safe—man or beast alike. He took the coin without a word and poured the stranger a drink, leaving his own safety to fate.
Reader's Guide
The School of the Cat represents the darkest potential of the Witcher mutation: power without morality. Unlike other schools that serve as neutral protectors, the Cats operate on a purely transactional basis, accepting contracts to kill humans, bandits, or monsters alike based solely on payment. Their primary goal was survival and profit, often leading them into conflicts where they acted more like mercenaries than monster hunters.
Historically, their membership included some of the most skilled but unstable witchers in history. However, their lack of ethical boundaries led to their downfall. As rumors spread of Cats committing atrocities against civilians, the Northern Kingdoms united to eradicate them. This purge was so thorough that the school ceased to exist as a formal organization by the early 13th century.
In current lore, the Cat is often used as a cautionary tale or a plot device representing the loss of humanity among witchers. While no official chapter remains, their legacy persists in the form of rogue witchers who mimic their methods, operating outside any code and serving only the highest bidder. They play a crucial role in highlighting the societal fear of witchers and the fine line between heroism and monstrosity.
Did You Know?
- The Cats were among the few schools known to accept contracts on humans without hesitation.
- Their destruction was so thorough that very little written record of their specific training rituals survives.
- In adaptations, Cat School witchers are often depicted with curved swords, distinguishing them from other orders.
- The school's name evokes the image of a predator that strikes silently and without remorse.