The Enigmatic Rats of The Witcher: Unveiling the Mysteries Behind the 6 Members

Summary

The Witcher season 3 introduces The Rats, a violent and troubled gang that Ciri joins after escaping the Frying Pan.

Giselher, the enticing and perilous commander of The Rats, ultimately meets his demise due to his hubris when confronted by a skilled bounty hunter.

Mistle, a resilient individual who has endured the horrors of sexual abuse, develops an intimate bond with Ciri and becomes instrumental in shaping Ciri's forthcoming odyssey in The Witcher season 4.

Warning: This article may contain MAJOR spoilers for The Witcher

This article contains references/discussions to sexual assault

In The Witcher season 3, a new group called The Rats is introduced, consisting of six members. They play a crucial role in Ciri's storyline and are depicted more faithfully to the source material compared to the previous seasons. After escaping the Frying Pan, also known as the Korath desert, Ciri joins The Rats. Her journey with them in season 4 aligns with the events depicted in The Time of Contempt, the book adapted for season 3.

Ciri's experience with The Rats is one of the darkest chapters in The Witcher saga. This group comprises troubled individuals who have endured significant hardships and losses before crossing paths with Ciri at the end of season 3. The Rats are exceptionally violent and derive twisted pleasure from killing, primarily targeting those who have wronged them in some way. Understanding their origins and who they are is essential before Ciri embarks on this part of her journey.

6 Giselher

In The Witcher book series, Giselher is the leader of The Rats and a deserter from an unknown army. After leaving the army, Giselher joins a local gang similar to The Rats. However, Giselher and his unnamed gang mistakenly venture into free elf territory and are attacked by elves shooting arrows. Giselher is the sole survivor but gets impaled by an arrow, leaving him pinned to a tree. The next day, Iskra, a female elf, frees him and eventually becomes a member of The Rats and Giselher's lover.

Giselher's charm and cunning result in his unofficial leadership of The Rats, playing a crucial role in the gang's formation. Additionally, he is a formidable warrior who relishes violence. Unfortunately, Giselher's arrogance and excessive confidence eventually lead to the downfall of both himself and The Rats. In a devastating turn of events, Giselher meets his demise at the hands of Leo Bonhart, a deadly bounty hunter who effortlessly massacres The Rats. This storyline may be explored in season 4 of The Witcher.

5 Mistle

Mistle, a member of The Rats, shares a tragic past similar to her fellow members. Hailing from the affluent noble family of Thurn in the Nilfgaardian-controlled Kingdom of Maecht, Mistle faces displacement during a rebellion and becomes a victim of abduction by bandits. Alongside other female captives, she endures repeated sexual abuse before being discarded in a roadside ditch. Out of all the captives, Mistle miraculously survives and is eventually discovered by another member of The Rats, named Asse.

Her harsh experiences shape Mistle into a tough individual. In The Witcher books, she develops a physical relationship with Ciri, who struggles to emotionally connect due to her recent traumatic encounters. However, before Ciri departs from The Rats upon learning of Emhyr's intention to marry a false Ciri, she confesses her love to Mistle and pledges to return with a six-horse carriage and attendants. Tragically, Leo Bonhart kills Mistle before Ciri can come back and attempt to save them. Nonetheless, Mistle plays a significant role in Ciri's imminent transformation in The Witcher season 4.

4 Kayleigh

Kayleigh, a notorious member of the Rats, plays a significant role in Netflix's Witcher adaptation. In the series, she is found tied up with Ciri after the latter manages to flee from the Korath Desert. Originally hailing from Ebbing, Kayleigh was adopted by the castellan of the town. However, following an uprising which led to chaos, Emhyr Var Emreis dispatched the Nilfgaardian Army to suppress the rebellion by any means necessary. Tragically, Kayleigh awoke to the horrifying sight of his burning castle walls and the lifeless bodies of his adoptive parents.

Amidst the chaos, Kayleigh encounters Reef, a severely wounded soldier who had been abandoned by the Nilfgaardian Army due to his injuries. Instead of seeking vengeance on him, Kayleigh chooses compassion and assists Reef in his survival. She tends to his wounds and assists him in escaping the area. Together, they embark on a journey away from Ebbing, eventually arriving in Geso. It is in this city that they meet the remaining members of The Rats, ultimately joining forces to form the infamous gang.

3 Reef

Reef, a former Imperial Army member, was left behind during the siege of Ebbing. While his birthplace remains unknown, he is recognized for his distinctive accent, suggesting he hails from the heart of the Nilfgaardian Empire where unique accents are commonly found among its people. Notably, Reef struggles with the addiction to fisstech, a drug prevalent in The Witcher world. It is after being critically wounded and abandoned during the siege that he crosses paths with Kayleigh.

Together, Reef and Kayleigh embark on a path of survival, resorting to highway robbery as a means of sustenance. Preferring targets who possess wealth, the duo revels in the thrill of roving the countryside while profiting from their illicit activities. Reef's background aligns closely with that of the other members of The Rats, which likely facilitated an instant connection when they initially met in Geso.

2 Asse

Asse, the son of a blacksmith in Thurn, found himself joining The Rats after a rebellion erupted in the area. In response to the uprising, the Pacifiers descended upon the region, showing no mercy in their mission to bring it to an end. Tragically, they mercilessly slaughtered Asse's family while he helplessly observed from his concealed spot amidst the surrounding foliage. Determined to seek retribution for his loved ones, Asse doggedly trailed the Pacifiers as they departed, driven by an unyielding thirst for vengeance. However, fate intervened when he stumbled upon Mistle, barely clinging to life in a nearby roadside ditch. Acting on a sudden instinct of compassion, Asse chose to save her, altering the course of his path. United in their shared journey, Asse and Mistle forged ahead, eventually arriving in Geso, where they encountered the remaining members of The Rats.

1 Iskra

Iskra, an elf, was exiled from the realm of free-elves for unknown reasons. Left to her own devices, she would have likely perished, but fate intervened when she stumbled upon Giselher impaled with an arrow, pinned to a tree. Together, they formed an alliance to ensure their survival amidst the trials and tribulations. Iskra's affinity for violence, much like her companions known as The Rats, ultimately led to her demise when they confronted the formidable Leo Bonhart in Jealousy. Notably, Iskra initially harbored disdain towards Ciri, which gradually waned as Ciri became increasingly entwined in acts of brutality and participated in the slaughter alongside The Rats. This serves as a testament to Iskra's true nature in the world of The Witcher.