Signs

This fan-fiction article, Signs, was written by Adalwulf of Aedirn and Witcher190. Please do not edit this fiction without the writers' permission.

This article is an expansion based on a canon element. For canon information on this topic, follow the link to The Witcher Wiki: Signs.

Though they are not warrior mages who employ powerful magic, witchers can cast simple magic spells that can prove effective when used properly. Witchers call these spells Signs and usually use them against monsters, though they also have non-combat applications. Because of the Signs, witchers prefer single-handed weaponry since it leaves their other hand free to cast. Some of the Signs are casted by arranging the fingers in specific way, while the other have to be drawn on a solid surface.

Trivia

• It is possible to make the Sign more powerful by enforcing it with the spell. Geralt utilised this method at least once, during his fight with Vereena.
• The witcher Putnam Pitch, is known that he used the Sign of Shadi, during his time in Hannu with the Fabio Sachs´s Expedition when he fought some of the unknown hannuan monsters.
• The major use of the Sign of Volun was during the Haak Invasion of the Northern Kingdoms. Taught by Putnam Pitch to the other witchers on the Northern Front to use against the invaders.

Simple Signs

Sign Symbol	Name	Effect
	Aard	Aard is a simple magical sign used by witchers. The Aard sign is a simple magical sign used by witchers that directs a blast of telekinetic energy to stagger opponents, leaving them open for a subsequent attack. Aard can also blow out any existing fires, blast open poorly secured doors, or punch through cracked or damaged walls.
	Sweep- Aard Alternate Form	Aard's alternate form turns it into a bubble of telekinetic energy that focuses around the witcher and expands outward with destructive force.
	Igni	The Igni sign is one of five simple magical signs used by witchers and causes a burst of fire that can repel and ignite opponents, as well as start fires.
	Firestream- Igni Alternate Form	Igni's alternate form turns the burst of fire into a sustained stream of sparks and flames.
	Quen	The Quen sign is a simple magical sign used by witchers that forms a protective field around the caster. Quen's basic ability is to cover a witcher in a basic shield that absorbs a limited amount of damage.
	Active Shield- Quen Alternate Form	Quen's alternate form creates a bubble of protective energy to form around the witcher it is stronger than the original form but is more draining on the witcher and requires them to remain in place.
	Yrden	The Yrden sign is a simple magical sign used by witchers that forms a circular, magical trap. The trap triggers a certain number of times when traversed by a foe, causing knock back, damage, and a chance of inflicting ailments on its targets Most foes that wander into the ring are significantly slowed, though some monsters are unaffected by it. Yrden is one of the witchers best tools for controlling multiple enemies in melee range. It's also particularly valuable for witchers when up against noonwraiths and nightwraiths, who remain incorporeal most of the time unless caught within a Yrden circle.
	Magic Trap- Yrden Alternate Form	Yrden's alternate form creates a stationary glyph of magical energy that strikes at and slows down hostile forces within a certain radius, as well as destroys and projectiles that happen to pass through that radius. Multiple Magic Traps can be placed down at once by experienced witchers.
	Axii	The Axii sign can charm an opponent's mind to stun them, temporarily eliminating them from combat. However, the stun effect disappears after seven seconds or when the target receives harmed. This sign can be used by witchers to calm their mounts or on people to gain information or benefits. This sign can usually only affect one person at a time and its effects are visible to other people in the vicinity.
	Puppet- Axii Alternate Form	Axii's alternate sign forces an enemy to temporarily become an ally and fight on your side during a conflict for a short time as well as boosting their physical abilities for the duration of the conversion.
	Hatri (Hate-reflecting sign)	Hatri is a telempathic sign which reflects the opponent's hate, bloodlust and hunger back to its source, making the monster afraid.
	Heliotrope	Heliotrop or Heliotrope is a magical sign used by witchers. It is made by crossing one's wrists, and works as a buffer against physical attacks, combat magic and impacts with walls, ground etc. Contrary to Quen, which is active until broken or dispelled, the Heliotrop is active only for a moment and cushions from a single powerful attack or damage.
	Supirre	Supirre is a Sign used for eavesdropping. Drawn on a solid surface, it allows the people near this surface to listen nearby conversations which would be normally inaudible due to the distance or background noise.
	Somne	Somne is a simple magicalsign used by witchers. It is used to put the target to sleep, and may possibly also leave them open to some form of suggestion. An unidentified witcher who strongly resembles Geralt uses this sign in the novel Season of Storms to put Nimue to sleep after meeting her in a forest.
	Shadi	Shadi is a Sign developed by the School of the Griffin. It is used to temporarily turn its caster intangible, the user can specify whether they fall through the ground as well, allowing for better mobility and the ability to avoid being trapped or barricaded against ones will.
	Invisibility: Shadi Alternate Form	Shadi's alternate form is able to cloak a witcher in a field of light refractive magic rendering the witcher temporary invisbile to human sight. It does not negate scent, sound, or any of the other senses.
	Volun	Volun is a Sign developed by the School of the Griffin. It is used to shoot bolts of plasma/lightning from the witcher's fingertips, it is an effective scare tactic tool when dealing with peasant mobs. And is an effective weapon against armored enemies.
	Chain lightning: Volun Alternate Form	Volun's alternate form is able to shoot a sustained bolt of lightning controlled by the witcher that can jump from enemy to enemy, the more skilled the witcher the more targets it can hit.
	Vorg	Vorg is a Sign developed by the School of the Griffin. It is similar to the Quen spell but is more specialized as it creates a barrier that the witcher can walk away from. Useful for blocking narrow passages or creating choke points to deal with group combat easier.
	Boundary: Vorg Alternate Form	Vorg's alternate form forms a glowing line or boundary where the witcher points after casting the hand sign then tracing the line, the boundary has an effect like Aard that telekinetic throws anything that comes into contact with it that the witcher deems hostile.
	Vintyr	Vintyr is a Sign developed by the School of the Griffin. It is the antithesis of the Igni sign, rapidly cooling or even freezing anything the witcher touches while using the sign or in the cold wave radius.
	Icy Squall: Vintyr Alternate Form	Vintyr alternate form shoots a sustained stream of cold air and ice, rapidly freezing whatever it hits.
	Moahk	Moahk is a Sign developed by the School of the Griffin. It is capable of magically creating water, or shooting a wave of water at a target. A good preparation sign to use before Volun. Witchers can use this sign in survival scenarios like in the desert to conjure water.
	Torrent: Moahk Alternate Form	Moahk's alternate form blasts a forceful torrent of water from the witcher's hand, the pressure can be adjusted by focusing more magic through the Sign. It can be used as a peasant mob deterrant, to put out fires or with enough skill and magic poured into it to cut through objects.

Advanced/Combination Signs

Sign Symbol	Name	Effect
	Aagni	The Aagni sign functioned as a combination of the Aard and Igni signs and created a burst of Force filled flame from the users' palm. Like all advanced/combination signs it requires both hands to a degree so using it while holding a sword is possible just unwieldy.
	An-Igni	This Sign is the antithesis of Igni, it has chances of freezing a target instead of igniting them, it can also be used to put out fires. Foes killed with this sign are frozen solid.
	Aceta	This Sign produces a stream of acid, its somewhat good at eating through barriers too massive for Aard.
	Chlorinic	This Sign creates a poison gas jet, where the gas is also somewhat corrosive. Poison and blind chance instead of ignite. Armor is ignored. The gas turns into acid if it comes into contact with water, so if people get it into their eyes, they are blinded (sometimes permanently). Creatures that don't breathe are resistant to the damage. People that know what is being shot at them may opt to hold their breath and close their eyes instead of defending normally, which will avoid poison and blind and reduce damage by half.
	Aethric	This Sign is useful for basic magic analysis. It sends out a cone blast of pure glowing magical energy that will interact with any existing energies, forming colorful lights and patterns that can be interpreted. Aethric will make ghost echos visible and allow pinpointing invisible creatures.

Trivia

• An-Igni, Aceta, Chlorinic, and Aethric were taken from a post of r/WitcherTRPG. https://www.reddit.com/r/WitcherTRPG/comments/cnkequ/nonstandard_signs/ by reddit user MerlonQ.