Decoding the Roach Tradition: A Step-by-Step Guide to Understanding Geralt's Horse Naming

Overview

For years, fans of The Witcher series have pondered a curious habit of the white-haired monster slayer: why does Geralt of Rivia name every single one of his horses Roach? It’s not exactly a flattering term—it’s the name of a small, common fish. The mystery persisted across books, games, and even the Netflix adaptation. Then, in late 2024, the English translation of Andrzej Sapkowski’s prequel novel Crossroads of Ravens finally provided the answer. This guide will walk you through the canonical explanation, step by step, from the key scene to the lore implications. By the end, you’ll understand how a simple joke between a witcher and a horse breeder became one of the most enduring traditions in the Continent.

Decoding the Roach Tradition: A Step-by-Step Guide to Understanding Geralt's Horse Naming — Source: www.pcgamer.com

Prerequisites

Before diving into the details, ensure you have the following foundational knowledge:

Familiarity with The Witcher universe – basic knowledge of Geralt, his role as a witcher, and the general setting (the Continent, Kaer Morhen, etc.).
Reading or awareness of the other books in the series, especially The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny, though not required.
Access to or memory of the novel Crossroads of Ravens (published in Polish in 2024, English translation 2024). Minor spoilers ahead: if you haven’t read it yet, consider this a guided preview.
Understanding that Roach is consistently a mare – never a stallion – in all of Geralt’s ventures (games, books, show).

Step-by-step Instructions: Unraveling the Roach Origin

Step 1: Set the Scene – Geralt’s Early Days on the Path

Crossroads of Ravens is the earliest chronological novel in the series. It follows a young, idealistic Geralt fresh out of Kaer Morhen, embarking on his first solo monster-hunting contracts in the Kingdom of Kaedwen. The story is less about sweeping epic events and more about the day-to-day reality of being a witcher: prejudice, low pay, and the constant search for the next job. One such job leads him to a riverbank where a giant bird-like creature called a mamutak is attacking crayfish fishermen. Geralt kills it, but in the chaos, someone steals his horse.

Step 2: The Lost Horse and the Unpaid Debt

After decapitating the mamutak, Geralt negotiates with a local restaurant owner to sell the monster’s carcass. He then visits the town’s burgomeister seeking payment for the contract. The burgomeister refuses to pay, but he does offer a solution: his kinsman breeds horses nearby. Following this lead, Geralt heads to the horse trader to acquire a new mount.

Step 3: The Horse Trader’s Insistence on a Mare

At the horse trader’s stable, Geralt selects a mare despite the trader’s protests. The trader believes a witcher should ride a stallion for honor and practicality. In a memorable exchange, the trader says:

“But what is this, a witcher on a mare, not a stallion? It’s somehow dishonourable. … With horses, ha, ha, m’lord witcher, it’s like it is with fish. I’m offering these jennets like lusty pike, and you’ve chosen a little roach.”

The term “roach” here refers to a small, common freshwater fish—the same as the English word for a species of carp or minnow. In Polish, the fish is called płoć, which translates to roach. The trader uses it as a metaphor: among many fine pike (stallion-like fish), Geralt picked a lowly roach (a mare).

Step 4: Geralt’s Reaction – The Birth of a Tradition

Geralt finds the comparison hilarious. The idea of calling his chosen mare “Roach” amuses him so much that he adopts the name for this horse and, as we learn from all later stories, for every horse he ever owns thereafter. Why? Because it reminds him of that moment—a quiet, comedic rebellion against the expectations of others. The name becomes a private joke, a way to honor the simple, unassuming nature of the mares he prefers, and a subtle defiance of those who think a witcher needs a showy stallion.

Step 5: Confirmation Through Later Works

While Crossroads of Ravens provides the in-universe origin, readers and players already knew from earlier books and the games that every mare was named Roach. This novel ties it all together. For example, in The Last Wish and Blood of Elves, Geralt mentions multiple horses named Roach. The games (starting with The Witcher 1) show Geralt calling his horse Roach, and in The Witcher 3, you can even summon Roach with a whistle. The consistency across media now has a canonical reason.

Step 6: The Deeper Meaning – Witcher Identity and Humanity

The scene also reflects a central theme of the novel: Geralt grappling with what it means to be a witcher. Society views witchers as mutants, emotionless monsters. By choosing a mare and naming it after a fish, Geralt asserts his individuality and his sense of humor. It’s a small act of humanity in a world that sees him as less than human. This is why the name sticks for decades of his life—it’s a reminder of his own choice and personality amid the prejudice.

Common Mistakes and Misunderstandings

Mistake 1: Thinking Roach Is a Derogatory Term

Correction: The word “roach” can also mean a cockroach, leading some fans to assume Geralt is calling his horse a bug. In the context of the novel, it explicitly refers to the fish. The Polish word płoć (roach fish) is used, not karaluch (cockroach). The horse breeder’s comparison is between types of fish, not insects.

Mistake 2: Assuming All Horses Are the Same Roach

Correction: Geralt does not have one immortal horse. Each new horse he acquires is named Roach. In the books, he goes through several horses—one dies, another is sold, etc. The name is a tradition, not a continuity error. The games simplify this by having a single Roach, but lore-wise, there have been multiple mares.

Mistake 3: The Origin Is from the Games or Show

Correction: While the games and Netflix series popularized the name, the canonical explanation comes solely from Crossroads of Ravens. The games and show never provided a backstory; they simply adopted the existing lore from the books. Sapkowski created the origin after the franchise expanded, but it fits seamlessly.

Mistake 4: Believing Roach Is a Stallion

Correction: Every Roach is a mare. The trader’s dialogue emphasizes this: “a witcher on a mare” is unusual. Geralt’s preference for mares over stallions is consistent throughout the series. In The Witcher 3, Roach is female (referred to with “she”).

Summary

Geralt names all his horses Roach because of a witty remark from a horse breeder in the prequel novel Crossroads of Ravens. The breeder compared Geralt’s choice of a mare to a small, common fish called a roach, and Geralt found it so amusing that he continued the tradition across all his horse companions. This origin story, revealed in the latest book, adds depth to Geralt’s character, showing his quiet humor and defiance of societal norms. Understanding this lore enriches every future encounter with Roach in games, books, or adaptations.