Match 19581 Galadriel vs. Geralt of Rivia

[Culwych1]

Elven Magic, Witcher Steel

In a world twisted and knotted by the weave of destiny and arcane magic, Geralt of Rivia found himself standing on foreign soil. No longer did he walk the grim, monster-infested lands of the Northern Kingdoms. No longer did he wander through realms of ghastly necrophages and wretched spirits. He was in Lothlórien, a sanctuary crafted by the hands of Elves, and preserved by the indomitable will of one being—Galadriel, Lady of the Wood.

Though Geralt was a Witcher, hardened by a lifetime of slaying dark creatures and brokering peace at the blade’s edge, he felt it—a surge of unease that gnawed at him like a tick. It was said that Galadriel possessed a relic that could reshape reality itself, the Phial of Galadriel. A new darkness had fallen over Geralt's realm, an abomination resistant to silver, to magic, to the very tools that made a Witcher. He needed the Phial.

Mystical whispers caressed the air, the language unknown but the intent clear. "Witcher, tread carefully. You wander a path fraught with perils your sword cannot cleave." The ethereal voice condensed into an Elf, a sentinel garbed in a blend of gold and green, his bow trained at Geralt. Another Elf materialised out of the shadows next to his fellow, his eyes never leaving the Witcher.

"I seek audience with your Lady," Geralt said, his voice tinged with a gruff urgency.

"You speak the language of necessity, but is it true need or veiled greed?" The Elf’s eyes bore into Geralt’s soul.

"Is it greed to seek a cure for a plague?" Geralt retorted.

One of the Elven guards, an overzealous guardian named Eolande, was not content to merely lead the Witcher to his Lady. Suspicious of Geralt's intentions and sceptical of the outsider's claims of desperate need, Eolande confronted him "Turn back, Man of the North, for your kind brings nothing but ruin!"

Geralt felt the tightness in his chest that always preceded violence. The muscles in his arm tensed, ready to draw his sword. With a rapid motion too swift for the mortal eye, Eolande released his arrow. Geralt, just as quickly, unsheathed his steel sword and sliced the projectile in mid-air. Without waiting for what would come next, he lunged at the elf. Their blades clashed, but the steel of a Witcher's sword is not ordinary steel. With a decisive thrust, Geralt pierced Eolande's heart. As the elf fell to the ground, his eyes full of disbelief, Geralt muttered, "Your arrow was meant for me. My sword was merely an answer."

The deed was done. In a land where life was cherished, he had taken one.

The other Elf looked deep into Geralt’s eyes and then lowered his bow. He recognised the painful necessity of the Witcher’s actions, even as he knew the recklessness of his fellow’s.

"Follow me. The Lady will decide your fate."

 

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Eclipsed by towering trees veiled in luminescent enchantments, a grand palace emerged. Its design mimicked nature, yet whispered of a craft far superior. Geralt found himself in a hall bathed in an otherworldly glow, and there she stood—Galadriel, an epitome of grace, majesty, and an undefined aura that transcended both.

"Geralt of Rivia, I sensed your coming long before your footsteps echoed in our sacred woods," she said. Her voice was as serene as a calm lake but as potent as a tempest. "Why do you seek the Phial?"

"To combat an evil unlike any other, an abomination that threatens to engulf my world in eternal darkness" Geralt answered, gripping the hilt of his silver sword.

"You ask for the essence of our realm, a treasure safeguarded through the ages," Galadriel spoke, her eyes shimmering pools that seemed to reflect the secrets of the universe. "Do you expect me to part with it so easily?"

"If the legends hold true, Lady Galadriel, you detest evil as much as I. With the Phial, I could—"

"— you could corrupt its purpose, transform a gift into a curse. Power, Witcher, is a sword with no hilt. To wield it is to invite your own destruction."

Galadriel raised her hand, and Geralt felt a force yank at the core of his being. He saw it then, an abyss filled with monsters, but not the kinds he’d slain. These were monsters of doubt, of hatred, of despair, spawned from the crevices of his own mind.

"The power of the Phial brings forth the light, but in doing so, it casts a shadow. Would you confront your own darkness, Geralt of Rivia?" Galadriel’s words encircled him, mingling with the haunting spectres of his inner world.

With a feral cry, Geralt drew his silver sword. Arcane runes flickered along its length as he channelled a Quen sign, an ancient protective spell. His blade met the incorporeal forms of his inner demons, and as the sword passed through them, they shrieked and dispersed into tendrils of black smoke.

Unfazed, Galadriel descended from her ethereal position. She clasped the Phial, now levitating between them, and it dimmed into an ordinary glass vial. "Your heart is a battleground, Witcher. While you have tamed your inner demons, the battle is far from over. Power does not eradicate evil; it merely provides a means to confront it."

Geralt sheathed his sword, his breaths heavy but his spirit unbroken. "Then let us confront it together, for the greater good."

Her eyes met his, and for a moment, just a fleeting moment, Geralt saw a flicker of doubt shadow her celestial visage. "The time for words has ended, Witcher. Steel yourself, for you now face not just the Lady of the Wood, but the embodiment of this realm’s essence."

As Galadriel spoke, the air thickened, laden with an electric charge that made the hair on Geralt's arms stand on end. His amber eyes met her radiant gaze, each assessing the other not as mere mortals but as guardians of their respective worlds.

And so, with the Phial as the silent witness, two powers stood on the precipice of a cataclysmic duel. Witcher and Elf, Man and Immortal, each a living embodiment of their world's hopes, fears, and indomitable will.

Swords unsheathed and eyes locked, they lunged at each other, and as their blades met, a spark erupted that promised to set both their worlds ablaze.

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[Callisto]

Learn More About
Galadriel
Read more about Galadriel at Wikipedia
Official Site: The Tolkien Estate Links: Wikipedia Tolkien Gateway The Thain's Book

Geralt of Rivia
Read more about Geralt of Rivia at Wikipedia
Official Site: Atari Links: Wikipedia The Witcher Wiki Giantbomb

[Culwych1]

A stright up battle between the two, no interference from the outside. Both are in character, and to a degree recognise the motivations that drive the other. This was originally the story I had planned for the Writer's Challenge but couldn't find the right story. Couldn't believe that both of these characters had no fights to their name!

[Macklemore]

I would say that Galadriel has an advantage over Geralt in terms of magic, age, and experience. However, Geralt also has some advantages over Galadriel in terms of physicality, adaptability, and unpredictability. It would all depend on how you see this fight unfolding. Based on the setup, I'm from the belief that even though the fight takes place on Galadriel's grounds, Geralt can still take this fight more often than not by virtue of being a person who beats supernatural beings that are stronger and more magical than him for a living. Good fight!

[Pizzaguy2995]

I only know of Geralt from the Witcher’s television series but I think I’ll favor him over Galadriel. Even though she’s had far more combat experience at this stage in her life it’s been a while since she’s actually had to fight for real and will probably be a bit rusty. Geralt is probably closer to his prime then her and I think that’ll play a huge roll in this fight.

[DSkillz]

Set-up looks great as usual, Culwych. I'm not familiar with The Witcher, though, and the only things LotR-related I've seen are the animated Rankin/Bass films from way back in the day, so I can't really comment on who would win this. 

[Callisto]

Match Final Results

Member Ratings:
4.80 - DSkillz
4.80 - Boratz
5.00 - Macklemore
4.20 - Pizzaguy2995
5.00 - patrickthekid

FPA Calculation:
5 Total Votes cast
23.80 Total Combined Score
23.80 / 5 = 4.76 Final Rating on the match

MATCH SCORE
Galadriel: 1
Geralt of Rivia: 4