Hearts of Stone

Today I want to talk about the first expansion for Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. I consider it to be the best game of 2015.

First some background: Witcher 3 is by CD ProjecktRed, which is a Polish company full of Polish people. I'm not even sure their CEO can even speak English. The game is set in Scandinavia with Polish music played by traditional instruments. Witcher 3 is an open-world RPG. The land is vast, and the graphics top notch. Running around in Skellige where it's snowing, along with Ard Skellig playing is just sublime.

Hearts of Stone revolves around Gaunter O'dimm, a 'mangy vagrant' the player meets very early on in the main storyline. Gaunter O'dimm is 'evil incarnate', and some might call him 'the devil'. He will grant the wish of anybody, but he will grant them exactly what they wished for. He crafts contracts with verbal tricks that lead people to their downfall.

For example, a man named Olgierd seeked out Gaunter O'dimm, looking for immortality. In exchange, Gaunter asked for the soul of somebody he is close to. He cared for only two people in the world: His wife and his brother. He choose to let his brother die. A day later, a bunch of ruffians popped up and outnumbered his brother 5 to 1. Frightened, his brother hid in the cellar, only to be executed unceremoniously.

As Olgierd went on living for years and years, eventually he got a heart of stone. He stopped caring about anything in life. He's already seen everything in the world, and he become apathetic to the it. This includes his wife who killed herself out of loneliness. In getting his wish for immortality, he had lost the two people he cared for in the world and his humanity.

There was one final term in the contract: Olgierd makes up three wishes which have to be fulfilled by somebody other than Gaunter (eg, the player), after which Olgierd and Gaunter must both be walking on the moon in order for O'dimm to get the rights to his soul.

Gaunter eventually tricks Olgierd by meeting with him on a temple with a mosaic of a moon. The contract states that they both have to be on the moon, but the contract didn't specify WHICH moon. This is based on an old Polish folk story, Twardowski. In that story, the devil makes a pact with a man for his immortality. The devil may only take the man's soul should he visit Rome. Eventually the devil has the last laugh, as one day the man visits an inn named 'Rome' and his soul is forfeit.

The 'deal with the devil' is called the Faustian Bargain. The name is from the legend of Faust from German folklore. It's also featured in some Christian folktales. The moral in general is to be careful what you wish for.

Ever heard of the phrase, 'the devil is among us'? It is literally true in Witcher 3, as during the questline, Gaunter O'dimm pops up as random passerbys, wearing a different outfit each time. I played the DLC and I never even noticed this; that is how well he blends in. Gaunter's face looks generic and normal, yet once we learn about his true nature, his face becomes quite sinister. Ironically, the initials of Gaunter O Dimm is GOD, but according to legends he would be the exact opposite of God.

Should the player allow Gaunter to take Olgierd's soul, the player is granted a free wish, which the player can choose to turn down. Either way, the scene ends with Olgierd playing with Olgierd's skull, whistling his theme. It's short but very effective. Very haunting.

Should the player do one of the optional objectives leading up to the final meeting on the moon, the player can choose to risk both his and Olgierd's lives in a battle of wit. The player has answer the devil's riddle by finding it in his little playground. The answer is 'reflection', and there are many mirrors in the world, but O'dimm destroyed each one as the player approached them. Eventually you break a wall and let water leak out. Quickly look into the puddle to see your own reflection. The player defeats O'dimm in a duel of wit. If Gaunter O'dimm is truly evil incarnate, then perhaps evil can never be killed. He will be back; and he says as much as he slowly applauds before he is banished.

The devil is treacherous, but never cheats. He grants people what they ask for, but not what they want. Whereas the main antagonist of the main game are stereotypical bad guys, here the enemy is among us and looks just like everybody else. It's a lot more sinister. Gaunter O'dimm along with the Crones in the main game are what I consider to be among the best antagonists in video gaming history. CD ProjecktRed has turned old Polish myths into haunting and interesting realities. What I write is not as compelling as playing the game yourself. Also, I find most games to have mediocre writing and story. Witcher 3, with both Hearts of Stone and the Baron questlines actually got me to think a bit about the lore and the ramifications of my actions. It's not life-changing stuff, but it's a breath of fresh air.

His smile fair as spring, as towards him he draws you 

His tongue sharp and silvery, as he implores you 

Your wishes he grants, as he swears to adore you 

Gold, silver, jewels- he lays riches before you 

Dues need be repaid, and he will come for you 

All to reclaim, no smile to console you 

He'll snare you in bonds, eyes glowin', afire 

To gore and torment you, till the stars expire