Villentretenmerth (Borch Three Jackdaws): The Witcher Character Analysis

Race: Golden Dragon / Human

Sex: Male

Alignment: Lawful Good / Neutral Good

Villentretenmerth, one of the only known golden dragons to exist in the Continent's long and storied history, is a character of immense significance and mystery in the Witcher universe. Often remembered by his assumed human name, Borch Three Jackdaws, he represents a rare blend of immense draconic power, ancient wisdom, and a deep empathy for both humans and nonhumans alike. His presence in Andrzej Sapkowski's short story "The Bounds of Reason," later adapted into The Witcher television series and alluded to in CD Projekt Red's Witcher games, cements him as a key figure in both the literary and visual media of the franchise. A polymorph of exceptional skill, a father, a philosopher, and a warrior when needed, Villentretenmerth is as elusive as he is impactful. This is also our first character introduced as two separate entities in The Arena, possibly a feature that could be expanded upon...or lost to time.

Borch Three Jackdaws, or, Villentretenmerth

What Is the Significance of the Name Villentretenmerth?

In the Elder Speech, Villentretenmerth translates to "Three Black Birds"—a meaning reflected in his common alias, Borch Three Jackdaws. While dragons often bear names steeped in mythology and meaning, the symbolism here is layered. The jackdaws represent both his tendency to watch and observe (as birds do from above) and the triple nature of his existence: dragon, man, and father. It is this multiplicity—this philosophical triad—that defines him. His name, rarely spoken aloud in draconic form, becomes an emblem of his choice to walk among humans, not above them.

How Does Villentretenmerth's Ability to Polymorph Impact His Interactions With Other Characters?

Villentretenmerth’s polymorphic powers are not mere illusions; they are complete physical transformations that allow him to function as a peer within human society. Unlike many dragons who either isolate themselves or engage with humans only when provoked, Villentretenmerth chooses to live alongside them. As Borch Three Jackdaws, he seamlessly adopts the role of a wealthy, eccentric traveler accompanied by his Zerrikanian bodyguards, Téa and Véa. These transformations allow him to engage with people as equals, granting him access to Geralt’s circle and affording him opportunities to influence events without invoking fear. It also allows him to conceal his true purpose—protecting his kin—from the greedy and glory-seeking dragon hunters that roam the Continent. His skill in polymorphy is so refined that even trained magic users such as Yennefer fail to see through it.

Why Is Villentretenmerth Also Known as Borch Three Jackdaws?

The alias Borch Three Jackdaws functions as both disguise and metaphor. In this persona, Villentretenmerth poses as a nobleman with no apparent political agenda or magical ability, only an enigmatic charm and a philosophical bent. He travels with Téa and Véa, who he describes as his "weapons," a phrase never fully explained but hinting at the lethal protection they offer in place of arms he himself refuses to bear. The name allows him to participate in human society unburdened by the reputation or fear a dragon would typically attract. It is also under this guise that he forges his bond with Geralt of Rivia—a rare friendship for one of his kind.

Who Are Téa and Véa in Relation to Villentretenmerth?

Téa and Véa are two Zerrikanian women who serve as Villentretenmerth’s constant companions and protectors in his human form. They are deadly warriors in their own right, loyal to Borch and seemingly aware of his true identity. Their presence is never fully explained, yet they serve both as bodyguards and foils to Borch’s gentle demeanor. They are introduced as his "weapons," but more than instruments of violence, they are extensions of his will and moral compass. When he needs protection, they intervene. When he needs a point made, they enforce it with silence and steel.

What Role Does Villentretenmerth Play When Geralt Meets Him at the Inn?

Their meeting occurs under unassuming circumstances. Borch sees Geralt intervene in a bar brawl and invites him to drink and dine. Over the course of their interaction, the two men engage in philosophical dialogue, notably concerning dragons and the ethics of killing them. Geralt asserts his belief that golden dragons are a myth, declaring, “Only legends permit what nature condemns.” Borch doesn’t dispute him, only smiles enigmatically. This subtle intellectual fencing is where Borch’s influence begins. He doesn’t command or instruct—he nudges. He plants doubts. His quiet confidence and humility leave an impression long before his true nature is revealed.

What Happens During the Dragon Hunt?

[Spoiler warning for The Bounds of Reason.]

When news breaks of a dragon near Barefield, a variety of factions converge for the hunt: noblemen like Prince Niedamir, mages like Dorregaray and Yennefer, mercenary bands like the Crinfrid Reavers, and even famed dwarves like Yarpen Zigrin. Borch joins not as hunter but observer, quietly committed to protecting the dragon, Myrgtabrakke—his former mate. He watches the others unravel into squabbling and betrayal, saying little until necessary. When Geralt and Yennefer are nearly killed in a landslide, Borch vanishes from the group. What follows is a display of raw draconic power and moral certainty.

The golden dragon, revealed as Villentretenmerth, descends not to slaughter, but to warn. He offers the group a chance to leave, or to fight him fairly. One knight chooses battle and is swiftly thrown aside. The Reavers, undeterred, prepare to ambush him. Yennefer, though initially on their side, ultimately opposes them, only to be restrained. As the dragon is overwhelmed by numbers, the tide turns when Téa and Véa arrive to free him, followed by Geralt and Yennefer’s intervention. It is only then that Villentretenmerth reverts to his human form and reveals the truth to all: that he has not only been watching, but judging. His mission was to protect his child—his and Myrgtabrakke’s newly hatched golden-green offspring.

What Happens to Villentretenmerth After the Hunt?

Though Villentretenmerth’s final lines in the story are cryptic, his meaning is clear. He parts with Geralt and Yennefer in peace, expressing admiration for their choices while predicting the eventual collapse of their relationship. He flies off, hatchling in tow, having fulfilled his role as both protector and philosopher-judge.

His later years, as depicted in CD Projekt Red’s Witcher games, show him continuing to shape the next generation. He raises his daughter Saesenthessis—better known to players as Saskia—teaching her honor, equality, and restraint. While she is not a pure golden dragon and thus limited in her transformations, she carries on his ideals. By the time Geralt meets her, Villentretenmerth has vanished from active involvement, trusting her to live by the values he instilled.

What Makes Villentretenmerth Unique Among Dragons?

Golden dragons are not only rare; they are theoretically impossible. Geralt notes early on that such a creature could not be born naturally. Villentretenmerth, then, is a miracle—perhaps a myth given flesh. But it is not only his biology that makes him singular. It is his choice to live humbly among humans, to intervene only when necessary, and to show restraint when provoked. Unlike most dragons who guard treasure, he guards life. Unlike those who lash out in fury, he challenges with principle. And unlike those who demand reverence, he earns it through deeds.

Whether in the books, on screen, or in the games, Villentretenmerth stands apart. He is not merely a dragon in disguise, nor a wise sage in scaly skin—he is the embodiment of balance. A creature who walks between power and humility, danger and peace, the wild and the civilized. In a world full of monsters, he is proof that even the rarest beasts can be the most human of all.

Villentretenmerth's Raw Power

Villentretenmerth: 9.0 / Borch Three Jackdaws: 4.5

Villentretenmerth, in his true form as a golden dragon, possesses extraordinary raw power that places him firmly among the higher tiers of fantasy characters across universes. This rating reflects the full breadth of his innate magical capabilities, supernatural physiology, and overwhelming presence in combat scenarios. However, as Borch Three Jackdaws—the polymorphed, unarmed wanderer with no visible signs of force—his raw power is intentionally suppressed and veiled, reducing his effective score significantly when assessed independently. The disparity between the two forms is key to understanding how this character operates across multiple narrative layers: the dragon who could raze armies, and the man who chooses not to lift a weapon.

Strength

As a golden dragon, Villentretenmerth embodies colossal physical power. His sheer size allows for tremendous feats of destructive force. He flings armored knights and horses with a sweep of his tail, absorbs volleys of projectiles, and engages entire mobs without faltering. In his confrontation at Barefield, he defeats Eyck of Denesle—a famed knight in full plate armor—by launching him bodily across a valley, which demonstrates not just raw muscle strength but lethal precision. He does this while sustaining flight and defending a hatchling, underscoring a profound reserve of power. In contrast, Borch Three Jackdaws, though capable of defending himself through indirect means, shows no physical dominance. He is often seated, contemplative, letting Téa and Véa act as extensions of his will. The human form offers him no visible lifting power, striking strength, or brute force, and he does not participate in physical contests.

Magical Ability

Golden dragons possess polymorphism so advanced it transcends mere illusion; Villentretenmerth maintains the Borch persona flawlessly over extended periods. This is not minor glamor—it is a functional, sustainable transformation, allowing him to blend into human society, speak multiple tongues, and fool even Yennefer of Vengerberg. Moreover, his command of draconic telepathy enables him to address entire groups, issue challenges, and project his will without speech. This mental magic does not manifest in elemental spells or teleportation, but it signals a form of magical power deeply embedded in his biology. Borch, meanwhile, reveals only passive remnants of this capability. His magic lies dormant, masked within civility. His occasional foresight and command over Téa and Véa suggest lingering influence, but he casts no spells and conjures no wards. His rating is thus higher than a normal man’s but still modest on the universal scale.

Combat Prowess

As a dragon, Villentretenmerth is a devastating combatant. In his defense of the green dragon and their offspring, he engages multiple elite groups—Reavers, dwarves, mages—and defeats them single-handedly. His strikes are precise, his endurance immense, and his ability to take on dozens simultaneously is unquestionable. His preference for non-lethal force (knocking foes unconscious rather than killing them) reveals a level of restraint and situational control rare even among elder beings. Borch, by contrast, avoids combat entirely but can be considered tactically competent. He recognizes danger instantly, such as when protecting Geralt from scheming villagers, and makes use of allies—namely Téa and Véa—as physical instruments. While he never fights directly, his mastery of bodyguards as extensions of his agency justifies a modest score for combat effectiveness via delegation. He may not draw a sword, but he does not need to.

Villentretenmerth and Borch are, at core, the same being—but evaluated through the strict lens of "raw power," their differences are stark. The dragon is a near-mythic powerhouse whose combination of magic, strength, and battlefield effectiveness places him among the apex-tier beings in the Witcher universe. Borch, though a mask, is not a hollow one: he maintains fragments of that power in subtler forms, a testament to how true power does not always need to be wielded to be felt.

Villentretenmerth's Tactical Ability

Villentretenmerth: 8.0 / Borch Three Jackdaws: 7.0

Across all universes, few characters embody both philosophical foresight and field-tested pragmatism the way Villentretenmerth does. As a golden dragon, his longevity and polymorphic existence provide him with unique opportunities to observe, anticipate, and manipulate events far beyond the scale of mortal timelines. That said, the version known to most characters—Borch Three Jackdaws—is no less tactically adept. While the dragon oversees conflict from above, the man engages it from within, masking intelligence behind the affectation of eccentric detachment. Together, they form a dual-case study in long-view planning and ground-level opportunism, offering distinct but overlapping lenses on what it means to be tactically capable.

Strategic Mind

Villentretenmerth’s most striking strategic asset is his refusal to be baited into unnecessary violence. His participation in the Barefield dragon hunt is not a reactive gamble but a calculated incursion meant to monitor, control, and ultimately protect. He withholds his identity until the moment of critical intervention, letting the various factions exhaust themselves in petty in-fighting. His entrance—mid-conflict, overwhelming, decisive—suggests not only battlefield superiority but also precise judgment about when and how to apply force for maximal outcome with minimal death. Furthermore, he predicts group dynamics with unnerving clarity, foreseeing the betrayal of the Reavers, the shifting allegiances of the dwarves, and Yennefer’s ultimate defection from the prince’s cause.

In human form, Borch demonstrates similar mental acuity, though he channels it through disarming understatement. He selects Geralt as a companion for his philosophical compatibility, manipulates the circumstances of their travel to nudge the witcher into moral clarity, and always seems to be two steps ahead of the social games surrounding him. His insistence on bringing Téa and Véa, for instance, is not decorative—it is a subtle projection of deterrence and control. When Borch discusses dragon myths or morality, it is rarely idle. He is probing. He listens more than he speaks, and when he acts, it’s with the full assurance that his plan is already in motion.

Resourcefulness

Despite his towering draconic power, Villentretenmerth resists reliance on brute strength. His success is due in no small part to his flexible use of available tools—whether that means drawing out Yennefer’s sense of justice, weaponizing the Reavers’ arrogance against themselves, or collapsing a confrontation into a chaotic retreat rather than a bloodbath. He fights only when all else fails, and even then, he adapts rapidly. His quick, nonlethal dispatching of Eyck shows not only restraint but control, and his counterattack on the townspeople, while brutal, is executed with speed and finality to preclude prolonged engagement.

Borch’s ingenuity is quieter but no less effective. He survives among humans without detection for years, traveling widely and often intervening in delicate social scenarios. He gathers information, allies, and influence without lifting a sword. In the inn, his conversation with Geralt defuses the potential for mob violence by re-centering attention and exerting social gravity. He handles volatile personalities—like the prince or Yarpen’s crew—without confrontation, using misdirection, diplomacy, and implication. In terms of problem-solving under constraint, Borch excels precisely because he presents himself as constrained.

Resource Arsenal

Villentretenmerth commands resources befitting a being of ancient intelligence. His magical abilities, flight, physical might, and knowledge of human, elven, and draconic affairs all form part of a rich tactical inventory. But perhaps more important is his psychological toolkit: a deep understanding of species-specific weaknesses, a long memory of historical alliances, and an ability to gauge future repercussions with alarming precision. He uses his shape-shifting not only for disguise but as a long-term surveillance mechanism, embedding himself in societies to track larger movements of power.

Borch, in contrast, maintains a minimal but precise arsenal. Téa and Véa serve as living extensions of his will, deadly in combat but also symbolically aligned with his identity—his so-called "weapons." He also wields the weapon of reputation: stories follow him, even if they are incomplete or mistaken. His conversation is calculated to disarm or provoke as necessary. Yet Borch lacks a wide array of active resources in human form. He eschews political backing, carries no magical implements, and has few tangible assets, relying instead on subtlety, timing, and the implicit threat of his true nature. His score is lowered by his chosen austerity, though not by any lack of capability. He has tools; he simply prefers not to use them unless required.

Ultimately, Villentretenmerth and Borch Three Jackdaws each embody a distinct tactical philosophy—one of overwhelming reserve, the other of intimate infiltration. Neither relies on conventional strategy or standard battlefield command, but both leave lasting marks on the outcomes of the conflicts they engage in.

Villentretenmerth's Influence

Villentretenmerth: 7.5 / Borch Three Jackdaws: 6.5

Villentretenmerth commands an enduring influence, not by ruling from a throne or commanding armies, but through the careful manipulation of perception, myth, and moral persuasion. As one of only two known golden dragons, his mere existence carries symbolic weight—a living contradiction of accepted natural laws and a challenge to human assumptions. Yet he does not leverage this reputation in brash displays; instead, his influence is more ambient, soft-edged, embedded in the conversations he initiates and the values he defends. In contrast, Borch Three Jackdaws, his most commonly assumed human form, navigates social spheres with a quieter brand of charisma, threading wisdom through wine-soaked dialogue and cultivating loyalty without ever raising his voice. Together, these forms represent two axes of influence: reverent awe on one hand, intimate persuasion on the other.

Persuasion

Villentretenmerth is not a silver-tongued orator. His power to persuade lies more in presence than speech—when he does speak, it is deliberate, direct, often final. He is the kind of figure who ends debates, not initiates them. As a dragon, he rarely engages in open dialogue with mortals, but when he does, the sheer gravity of his form, combined with telepathic communication, strips away artifice. For instance, when offering the assembled hunters a choice—leave or die—he is not negotiating, he is demonstrating moral supremacy through force-backed civility. His persuasion lies in providing his enemies one last chance to act with dignity.

As Borch, however, influence becomes a matter of tone, timing, and intimacy. Borch persuades not with ultimatums but with stories, questions, and philosophical nudges. When Geralt dismisses the idea of golden dragons, Borch does not reveal himself in prideful correction; he lets the witcher speak his piece, plants doubt, and waits for the contradiction to emerge in due time. Borch sways people by making them feel as though they’ve arrived at conclusions themselves. This makes his persuasive power slower and more subtle—but arguably more enduring. Téa and Véa follow him with fanatical loyalty, and even skeptical minds like Geralt’s eventually recognize his clarity of purpose.

Reverence

There is no question that Villentretenmerth, in his true form, inspires reverence. Dragons on the Continent are already rare, but a golden dragon is the stuff of legend. He is not merely respected—he is feared, mythologized, dismissed as impossible, and then suddenly present, demolishing centuries of natural philosophy in one swooping, radiant arc. Even experienced warriors falter before him. Eyck of Denesle, renowned for his fearlessness, charges headlong into death against Villentretenmerth, only to be humiliated and sent flying. The reverence stems not only from physical power, but also from what he represents: the unquantifiable, the unknowable, the divine operating in natural disguise.

Borch, however, cultivates none of this aura. He plays the part of a weathered traveler, more likely to draw chuckles than bows. People underestimate him constantly, and he encourages this. As such, reverence is the weakest of Borch’s influence traits. He may win affection, and occasionally admiration, but he rarely inspires fear or awe. His power lies in being dismissed—by the time people realize he is more than he appears, the moment to oppose him has already passed. This is not reverence. It is hindsight.

Willpower

As a creature who has lived for centuries amidst shifting political tides, social decay, and widespread fear of his kind, Villentretenmerth’s continued commitment to peaceful integration demonstrates formidable willpower. He could burn cities, dominate courts, or isolate himself in mountaintop sanctuaries. Instead, he chooses the harder path: coexistence. His restraint is his strength. Even when mortally threatened—as in the mob confrontation at Barefield—he only unleashes violence when alternatives are exhausted. He resists the instinct for retaliation far longer than most beings of his power would.

Borch exemplifies willpower in a different mode: psychological durability. Maintaining a polymorph identity for extended periods, especially among a species as paranoid and hostile as humans, demands emotional discipline and constant mental calibration. Borch navigates dangerous conversations, probes others’ motivations, and endures moral compromise without ever cracking his facade. He refuses to rise to provocation, absorb insult, or reveal his true self unless the moment is absolutely right. His moral compass is firm without being rigid. When his cause is threatened—when a life needs defending, or a truth protecting—he acts decisively. Until then, he watches. This restraint, self-governance, and patience reflect a strength of will that stands out even among far more traditionally commanding figures.

Villentretenmerth's Resilience

Villentretenmerth: 8.0 / Borch Three Jackdaws: 6.0

Villentretenmerth’s resilience is not just a function of his biological durability as a golden dragon, but of a deep-rooted spiritual steadiness that governs how he responds to physical peril, magical threats, and the existential pressures of existing as an impossibility. He is composed, methodical, and when forced into conflict, capable of surviving and retaliating with startling effectiveness. Meanwhile, Borch Three Jackdaws—the identity he wears most often among humans—presents a more fragile, though still quietly formidable, profile. His endurance in human form is primarily psychological and social, rather than bodily. He lacks the outright regenerative capacity of his draconic self, but he endures through tact, patience, and a controlled detachment from the hostilities around him. This contrast reflects the dual resilience of a being who must survive both the battlefield and the dinner table.

Physical Resistance

In his true form, Villentretenmerth is among the most physically resilient beings on the Continent. As a golden dragon, his scales are nearly impervious to conventional weapons. Even renowned dragon hunters armed with siege-level weapons and enchanted blades find themselves utterly outclassed when facing him directly. When he single-handedly defeats the Crinfrid Reavers and a militia mob, it is not only due to his offensive might but also because he can absorb repeated attacks without faltering. He shrugs off arrows, blades, and fire alike. His sheer mass and muscle further amplify his staying power—knights on horseback are treated like toys. Yet his resistance is not just raw durability. He fights with spatial awareness and economy of movement, reducing opportunities for sustained harm.

As Borch, the picture changes dramatically. In this form, he has no obvious supernatural defenses. His body is that of an aging man, and while he retains keen senses and an assertive presence, he is physically vulnerable. Were he to be stabbed or poisoned, the form would fail. This vulnerability is part of the disguise; he invites underestimation. But it does mean that Borch’s physical resistance must be rated relatively low—he does not (and likely cannot) tank blows in this form. His survival depends instead on his ability to avoid conflict altogether, and on the absolute control he maintains over when, where, and how he might be forced to reveal his true nature.

Magical Resistance

Villentretenmerth demonstrates a remarkable capacity to resist magical interference. Though we don’t witness him subject to direct magical assault in the canonical stories, the context implies high resistance. His species is ancient and preternaturally rare, and magical suppression has no visible effect on him even when surrounded by mages of considerable strength, including Yennefer of Vengerberg. When he challenges the hunters with a telepathic ultimatum, no counterspell is attempted—likely because the assembled sorcerers understand it would be futile or suicidal. His physiology likely offers natural resistance to magical compulsion, manipulation, or binding.

As Borch, the situation is less clear but still notable. His polymorph form does not falter in the presence of magical scrutiny, suggesting that it is maintained not by illusion but by deep transformative magic. He resists magical identification and evades the notice of several sensitive magical practitioners, including Dorregaray and Yennefer, until he chooses to reveal himself. That suggests at least a moderate resistance to passive detection and minor magical probes. However, it is unknown whether high-level spells targeted directly at him in this form would succeed, and for that reason his magical resistance must be treated as uncertain but functionally moderate.

Longevity

Villentretenmerth’s longevity is immense. He has lived for centuries, perhaps millennia, traveling across the Continent without suffering from age, disease, or decay. There is no indication that dragons like him age in a human sense. More importantly, he has survived in a hostile world where his kind are actively hunted to extinction. That feat requires more than toughness—it requires caution, wisdom, and a deep understanding of human psychology. He has witnessed the rise and fall of kingdoms, the evolution of political philosophies, and the encroachment of technology and sorcery upon the natural world, all without losing his footing. He even has time to raise a child and ensure she inherits his values.

Borch, the persona, obviously cannot match this. But in terms of narrative longevity, the identity has lasted remarkably well. He has maintained the Borch persona across long distances and dangerous territories, including regions where dragons are persecuted and spies abound. His ability to enter and exit human society repeatedly, even fooling armed mercenaries, bards, and sorcerers, speaks to an incredible durability in the social sphere. While the Borch identity may not survive a battlefield, it survives bureaucracy, suspicion, and ideological conflict—and in that arena, it is built to last.

Villentretenmerth's Versatility

Villentretenmerth: 7.5 / Borch Three Jackdaws: 8.0

Villentretenmerth and his human persona, Borch Three Jackdaws, display exceptional versatility in distinctly different ways. While Villentretenmerth’s draconic powers offer profound breadth in raw capability, Borch’s adaptability and subtle manipulations of social, political, and personal dynamics reflect a rare finesse. When these two facets are assessed separately, Borch’s strategic agility in navigating the human world may outstrip even the golden dragon’s supernatural range, making this one of the few domains where the disguise proves more versatile than the truth it conceals.

Adaptability

As a golden dragon, Villentretenmerth is biologically and mystically specialized. He is built for dominance in flight, battle, and elemental resilience, but his capacity to operate outside that framework is limited. While he is intelligent, wise, and deeply insightful, he does not easily disguise the sheer weight of his power. His ability to operate covertly, evade detection, or shift contexts on a dime is inherently constrained by his nature. He can shift to human form, but the dragon’s behavior always returns to blunt directness once his true identity emerges.

Borch, in contrast, is defined by adaptability. He moves seamlessly across political territories, from the courts of kings to rural backroads, and converses with witchers, sorcerers, and nobles with equal fluency. He constructs an identity with precise boundaries—wealthy, eccentric, physically limited, but wise—and uses that to disarm suspicion and facilitate manipulation. Borch’s ability to shape his role depending on circumstance, without ever being forced into his true form until it is tactically optimal, marks him as a master of contextual shift. Whether dealing with mercenaries, monsters, or mages, he reads and redirects situations with little reliance on brute force or authority.

Luck

Villentretenmerth’s survival is as much about judgment as luck, but his continued existence as a golden dragon in a world where his kind are nearly extinct suggests at least some extraordinary probability-bending in his favor. He has avoided extinction, exposure, and capture despite the many human and magical forces that hunt dragons for prestige, alchemy, or vengeance. His luck is not explosive or story-breaking, but persistent—an enduring absence of misfortune that hints at an unconscious harmony with fate.

Borch’s luck appears more overt. He manages to fall in with Geralt of Rivia—arguably the one person capable of both helping him and respecting his secrecy—without orchestration. He finds himself in situations where his need to act and his means to act align with uncanny timing. In every scenario where the odds might tilt against a man of his age and alleged disability, the wheel turns just enough to grant him the upper hand. His luck functions like an internal radar: guiding him to the right people, places, and roles at precisely the right moment.

Shaved Knuckle in the Hole

Villentretenmerth’s greatest secret advantage is his ability to completely mask the overwhelming force he possesses as a golden dragon until he chooses to reveal it. This transformation is not illusion but true transmutation; he carries within him the raw physical and magical mass of a beast capable of rending armies, all tucked behind the guise of a well-mannered, silver-haired traveler. His sudden emergence as a golden dragon in the climactic confrontation against the Reavers functions as a narrative and tactical coup—no one anticipated it, no one could counter it, and it ended the conflict instantly. The raw shock value of his reveal, combined with its decisiveness, cements this as a near-perfect execution of a last-resort trump card.

Borch’s “shaved knuckle” is more psychological. He leverages his carefully cultivated persona to lull enemies and allies alike into underestimating him. His age, his prosthetic legs, and his world-weary affect create a profile that draws neither challenge nor fear. The moment he needs to redirect the flow of events, however, he shows just enough competence—through word, wealth, or gesture—to take control. Whether this is brokering decisions in a volatile group dynamic or manipulating others to act on his behalf, his reserve of concealed influence operates as a quieter, more understated advantage. Where Villentretenmerth’s trump card is revelation, Borch’s is concealment.

Villentretenmerth's Alignment

Villentretenmerth, more commonly known in his human guise as Borch Three Jackdaws, is a golden dragon—an extraordinarily rare and intelligent species in the Continent’s bestiary. Unlike lesser draconid types such as green or black dragons, golden dragons are true shapeshifters, capable of assuming human form without magical illusion. This biological polymorphism grants them not only physical flexibility but also social camouflage, which Villentretenmerth uses with masterful discretion. In his Borch persona, he travels with two Zerrikanian bodyguards and operates independently of any kingdom or formal organization, though he can move easily within the social spheres of nobility, mages, and mercenaries alike.

He does not belong to any faction in the political sense. However, his actions consistently favor individual liberty, coexistence between species, and the defense of higher ideals, placing him in alignment with select circles of sages, druids, or pacifist mages—though he officially aligns with none. His identity as a golden dragon makes him a de facto protector of balance on the Continent, at least where moral degradation or bloodlust is concerned.

Villentretenmerth’s Alignment: Lawful Good

When viewed in his draconic form and under his true name, Villentretenmerth most closely fits the Lawful Good alignment. Though he operates covertly, his behavior follows a consistent internal code. He values justice, defends the innocent, and avoids unnecessary violence, even against humans who would hunt or exploit his kind. He places his faith not in political law, but in a moral law rooted in cosmic or natural order. His intervention against the Reavers and his defense of the she-dragon in The Bounds of Reason reflect this alignment: he steps in not for revenge or personal gain, but because the balance of life and dignity is being trampled for spectacle.

Unlike more impulsive or chaos-driven forces of good, Villentretenmerth seeks measured, morally coherent outcomes. He tests Geralt not with subterfuge but with philosophical questions and contextual dilemmas. His lawful orientation also manifests in his refusal to abuse his powers—he hides his nature until necessary, does not kill unless forced, and expresses reverence for life across species boundaries.

Borch Three Jackdaws’ Alignment: Neutral Good

As Borch, the dragon expresses a slightly different moral posture. Detached from the grandeur and symbolism of his true form, Borch behaves more like a seasoned wanderer with a conscience. His alignment is best characterized as Neutral Good—someone who does good because it is right, not because it is ordered or ordained. He helps those he believes deserve it, supports Geralt in times of crisis, and maintains a cordial if enigmatic presence. He is willing to deceive and manipulate social norms to further moral ends, even violating laws or taboos to protect life or expose corruption.

While Borch’s moral compass aligns with Villentretenmerth’s, his actions as a human are more pragmatic, less symbolic, and often involve subtle nudging rather than direct confrontation. He does not seek to enforce a code; he seeks to act rightly in each moment, balancing risk, exposure, and outcome. He has no loyalty to thrones or borders, but neither is he a saboteur—his neutrality is principled rather than passive.

In both forms, he represents one of the rarest archetypes in the Witcher universe: a being of immense power who chooses not to dominate, but to serve ideals with patience, humility, and conviction. Pride and Prophecy keeps an updated character alignment matrix across all planes of existence.

Villentretenmerth's Trophy Case

Arena Results

Titles & Postseason Results

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Overall Conclusion on Villentretenmerth and Position Across Planes of Existence

Villentretenmerth’s rating of 8.0 reflects the rare convergence of raw magical potency, physical might, tactical restraint, and near-mythic resilience found in golden dragons. Unlike common draconids, he possesses full polymorphic control, long-range telepathy, and enough physical power to obliterate seasoned warriors—all while choosing nonviolence as a matter of principle. His capacity to face down multiple elite hunters without shedding blood, to seamlessly pass among human elites as an equal, and to assert moral and philosophical superiority over even hardened cynics like Geralt of Rivia marks him as an apex being within the Witcher mythos. And yet, his limitations—namely, his preference for concealment over confrontation, and his lack of world-shaping magical interventions—keep him just shy of the highest echelons of fantasy characters across all universes.

Villentretenmerth does not wield chaos magic, alter time, or command armies. Instead, his strength lies in mastery of restraint and selective revelation. He chooses his battles, allowing lesser beings to confront moral crises on their own terms. His existence is not reactive but contemplative. In this way, he represents a philosophical form of power—an immortal who does not intervene unless the situation demands it, and whose agency is governed by principle rather than compulsion. His 8.0 rating reflects an understanding that the most powerful figures are not always those who act, but those who could act, and choose not to.

By contrast, Borch Three Jackdaws is a voluntary mask—an aging, affable wanderer who seems innocuous at first glance. His rating of 6.4 is a testament to how much of Villentretenmerth’s power still lingers beneath the surface, even in disguise. Borch cannot breathe fire or crush stone, but he influences events with a deceptively light touch. His sharp philosophical insight, his control over formidable companions, and his hidden ability to return to dragon form at will—all suggest latent strength. That said, Borch deliberately operates within limits. He exerts social influence, not magical supremacy; he manipulates reputations rather than elemental forces. He relies on memory, relationships, and moral gravitas to shift outcomes subtly.

Borch’s 6.4 places him above most mages, swordsmen, or warlords, because he is more than he appears to be. But he stops well short of his true potential, choosing the constraints of humanity to test the hearts and minds of others. He is not pretending to be weak—he is exploring what strength looks like when it refuses to dominate.

Together, Villentretenmerth and Borch Three Jackdaws offer a rare case study in duality: the difference between having power and embodying power. The dragon ranks among the most noble and capable beings on the Continent; the man he becomes ranks among its wisest. Each form is powerful in its own right, but their impact lies not just in capability, but in choice. Pride and Prophecy keeps an updated power ranking across all planes of existence. This will only be sortable on desktop viewing. The below table shows a summary within the same plane of existence of this article.