One of the best things about The Witcher series is the strength of its characters. Sure, the lead Geralt is badass enough to carry the games (and books), but he’s also surrounded by friends and enemies who you love or love to hate.

What I really enjoy is the ambiguity of the characters. Geralt isn’t always a heroic guy; on the flip side, characters you might think of as villainous are not quite villains. I’m thinking of a certain “bloody” leader who — even as you despise him for some of the terrible things he’s done to his family — expresses regret in a realistic, sympathetic way.

This will be a multi-post affair, because The Witcher 3 is filled with characters and I have a lot left to play. For now, here are a few of the characters I find most interesting so far.

Keira Metz

Once an advisor to King Foltest of Temeria and a member of the Lodge of Sorceresses, Keira Metz is now now the local witch in a small town. To me, she’s one of the most multi-faceted and fascinating characters in the game. Witty, flirtatious, well-versed in making aphrodisiacs, a little bored by rural life, scared of rats… There are all kinds of little facts to learn about this woman. I also love that she’s built a portal to an idyllic little garden with deer, bunnies, flowers, and a bath as her retreat from the dull stress of life as a small-town witch — and how she seems to enjoy making fun of everything and everyone.

Priscilla

Priscilla is a bard in The Witcher 3, which is a nice change of pace from the usual parade of sorceresses that we see. (Three of the other main women in the game — the ones Geralt can pursue some sort of relationships with — are all witches.) She’s a confident, talented performer, and I love that she can get nerdy about what she likes. One quest has her writing a play for Geralt to perform in, which she gets a little excited and stubborn about. It’s no wonder Dandelion, who is normally a womanizer, is so into her; he feels like he’s met his match.

If you haven’t seen her yet, definitely listen to her performance of “The Wolven Storm.”

Zoltan Chivay

Zoltan is a familiar character in The Witcher series, and it’s great to have him back. Tough and sarcastic, he’s a dwarf with a mohawk and one of Geralt’s closest friends. He’s fond of drinking and making jokes, making him one of the most entertaining guys to have around. While he may seem to share Geralt’s cynicism much of the time, he’s actually soft-hearted with a good head on his shoulders, which is the real reason I like him.