The cinematic reveal trailer for “The Witcher 4” was a six-minute indulgent saga of the series' new protagonist, Siri, on a side quest. The whole thing had the feel of the “Killing Monsters” trailer for “The Witcher 3” or the quest where the villagers sacrifice to Lesshen.

It begins with someone taking a bath, but this time not in a tub gellert. A young woman prepares for the ritual, and we are narrated that her father watched her grow up. In between, we are interspersed with images of Siri, a character we have watched grow up, although we do not see her face. She is lighting a fire with the sign of Igni - perhaps burning herbs to prepare a potion. Siri continues to sharpen and prepare her sword, which resembles the silver version of Jireel that appeared in the ending of The Witcher 3, when Siri is following in Geralt's footsteps.

As the young woman walks into the crowd of villagers, one of them spots the Witcher's distinctive pair of swords. He places his hand on the Witcher's shoulder, and when she turns around, she sees Siri's face for the first time. She is older than she was in The Witcher 3 (she doesn't sound like Joe Wyatt anymore) and has the pupils of the Witcher. This means that she has undergone the Trial of the Grass, or at least a version of it. Perhaps Siri survived that ordeal because of her Elder blood? [Or perhaps the “School of Links” has its own formula that it has developed over the years between games. When Siri arrived at the cave where the young lady went to be sacrificed, her Witcher medallion vibrated, and it was the distinctive lynx as seen in the early teases of The Witcher 4.

In the fight that follows, Siri drinks a cat potion (which, assuming she downloaded the 4.0 patch, increases her crit chance by 5%) to help her see in the dark. Given that the potion does not kill her, it is evidence that she has undergone the “grass ordeal” and become a full Witcher. In subsequent fights, she relies more on her swordsmanship and presence than on her teleportation abilities, probably because those abilities declined after she defeated White Frost.

Siri uses the water running down the cave walls to wrap chains around his fists and electrocute the monsters he is fighting. It is cute to recall Geralt's use of chains against Striga in the opening cinematic of the first film, but Siri is clearly more magical than Geralt. Perhaps she will regain her abilities over the course of the story, just as Batman relearns his skills in each Arkham game?

The trailer ends with Siri defeating the monster, only to discover that the villagers have killed the monster's work and sacrifice in the name of God. It is a dark ending, typical of the Witcher. There are no gods here. Only monsters.”

And although only in the trailer for the version released at The Game Awards, we hear Geralt's words. 'The time has come for a new saga. See you on the road.” Given the controversy over whether Geralt, played by Doug Cockle, would return to “The Witcher 4,” this seems to be a last-minute addition to confirm that Geralt has not been completely brushed aside. Perhaps it will be a mentor role, like the one played by Vesemir in “The Witcher 3”. Or perhaps he will play “Gwent” while relaxing in the vineyard.

We'll have to wait a while to find out, as “The Witcher 4” is just beginning full-scale production.