I'm playing TW1 again and I have thoughts about this tiny little sequence in the Chapter 2 quest "Memories of a Blade", which amounts to the only mention of Coën in the game.
When undertaking this quest, Geralt is investigating the origin of the silver sword he was given to slay a cockatrice; he mistakenly believes that it might be Berengar's sword since he knows the other witcher to have been in the area. A conversation with Thaler, from whom the sword was confiscated by the guard, will lead him eventually to speak to the Gardener outside St. Lebioda's hospital in Vizima. This man used to be a mercenary under Pretty Kitty, but has since retired and works as a gardener, and had lost the silver sword at dice poker. When interacted with, he will begin any conversation with "Look how they grow!", referring to the plants in his garden. The player can then initiate the quest dialogue with option one, "I'm more interested in silver swords".
GERALT: I'm more interested in silver swords.
GARDENER: I knew one of you would come by eventually.
GERALT: You lost it playing dice?
GARDENER: I was sure I'd win. Beware, the sharp one plays well.
GERALT: Where did you get this sword?
GARDENER: Five years ago, there was a battle near Brenna. When the dust had settled, our men had beaten the Nilfgaardians. We ceased to call ourselves an imperial province that day.
GERALT: You captured the sword during the battle?
GARDENER: Yes, it was witcher Cöen's [sic]. A strapping fellow and a rare breed. Not very talkative, mind you.
GERALT: Like most of us.
GARDENER: I gave my word the sword would find another witcher. As he lay dying, he mumbled about teeth and destiny. Then he laughed -- at his own death.
GERALT: Yet you lost it gambling?
GARDENER: I kept it hidden for five years. I lost hope I'd ever run into another witcher. Miss Shani knew Cöen [sic]. She works at the hospital.
GERALT: Thanks.
GARDENER: Good luck on the path!
The quest will lead you to speak with Shani, then Zoltan, but neither will provide further information on Coën, aside from Shani mentioning that he died on her operating table -- Shani's dialogue is to provide her backstory as a medic at Brenna and to mention Rusty, and Zoltan simply assesses the quality of the blade to ensure that it is a witcher blade of good workmanship. It has no further significance to Geralt, who, without his memory, has no idea who Coën is and has more pressing matters to deal with than to look into the past of a man who died five years ago (according to the somewhat off-kilter game timeline, anyway). But it's the only mention of Coën in the games, and I find that it's a very interesting way to manifest his presence.
I think it is reasonable to tie Coën quite closely to his sword on a symbolic level, if one considers his appearance in the novels where he not only trains with Ciri, but his prowess with a sword is unrivaled even by the other witchers to the point where she believes that he may be the best swordsman in the world. Additionally, the fact that he fought at Brenna at all means that he offered his sword in the service of the Northern Kingdoms, and when he dies, he is identified by his peers as a "master swordsman" rather than as a witcher, despite the fact that they know of his nature. As such, Coën's sword is a very important possession for him to leave behind.
And from there, there is a connection to Lambert, left unsaid. To go beyond the simple fact that Coën was Lambert's friend, someone dearly loved who was close enough with Lambert and his family to get on with the other wolves and stay a winter at Kaer Morhen, the importance lies with the sword. As with any witcher, Coën wouldn't have much in the way of worldly possessions to bequeath onto someone else in the event of his prophecied death. But he does have his swords, which are established as symbolically important to him. A steel sword could be taken up by any warrior capable enough to use it, but a silver sword belongs in the hands of a witcher, and that is what Coën asked for on his deathbed, for his silver sword to be given to another witcher. While it's very possible that this is meant in a general way, that he just wanted any other witcher to take it up, to avoid the sword being wasted, broken, or dismantled for its composite parts, it also strikes me as possible that he could have intended it for a specific witcher.
Lambert is one of the instructors for Ciri when she's first learning the swordplay and acrobatics associated with being a witcher. Lambert is the one in the first game to provide the instructional descriptions of the Fighting Styles for Geralt to regain his swordplay competencies after losing his memories. And there is another bit of dialogue in TW3 that really emphasises both Lambert's connection to Vesemir, the swordmaster of Kaer Morhen, and the idea of swords as inheritance, as a manifestation of closeness:
LAMBERT: Knew the old man couldn't live forever. Huh, even told Eskel that when it came time, I'd get his sword. Fits my hand perfectly, you know.
Which is a heartbreaking notion in and of itself upon which I could expostulate, the symbolism there in the fraught relationship between Lambert and his father figure reduced to something as simple as a hilt that fits two hands perfectly. But if this is the inheritance that Lambert wants, it makes it all the more pertinent that Coën desperately wanted his silver sword to make it into the hands of another witcher. Lambert, the son of a swordmaster, wants to take on a sword as a memento of someone he has lost, and Coën, the master swordsman, left his sword behind. Even if Lambert were not the specific intended target of the sword, he would have possibly or even likely known Coën well enough to fulfill his wishes, whatever they might be.
And yet Coën's sword never makes it home or into the hands of someone who would value it, like Lambert would, this last memory of his dear friend. Geralt makes use of the sword during his time in Vizima, and then it is lost, replaced by the gifted Aerondight. And so Coën is lost with it, never mentioned again.
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@deadlycupid @vampywriter
Still remember my god-chosen concept? Remember how I had not one but three AUs for it? Well, this is a writing piece for one of them.
In this AU, Talon is the god of the hunt and Aiden is his god-chosen. This scene is about Aiden being chosen by Talon after he saved the life of various people during an attack to the god’s temple (almost dying himself).
Aiden thought he must be dreaming. Maybe he didn’t survive the night of the attack after all.
Maybe he’s bleeding out on the temple steps and this was merely his mind trying to console him in his final moment.
How else could it be that he stood in front of a god?
And not just any god, but the god of the hunt, his god, that he had prayed to countless times before.
His god, in whose temple he stood now and who stood right in front of him in all his divine glory.
Aiden had never seen him before, only ever old drawings and statues, but none of them did him any justice.
The god of the hunt was truly beautiful, with sharp features, fair skin and golden hair. It was hard to look at him, but also hard to look away.
Aiden was surprised how young the god looked, like he was just about the same age as Aiden himself.
Golden eyes met his own and suddenly he felt breathless. With a stunned gasp he fell to his knees, lowering his head.
Everyone else in the room did the same.
“My lord,” Aiden whispered. He could feel the god’s eyes on him still, but he didn’t dare to look up.
“Aiden. Look at me.”
Surprised, he raised his gaze. How did he know his name? For a second, the god’s mouth twitched into an amused smile, before his pretty face stilled again.
“You think I don’t know the names of those who pray to me?” he asked, as if he could read Aiden’s mind.
He reached out and lifted Aiden’s chin, his touch making his skin burn.
His beautiful eyes bored into him and it was to Aiden as if his soul was laid bare, as if the god before him knew of all of his thoughts, all of his feelings, all of his doubts.
“You might think I don’t listen when you speak to me, but I have always listened. I know who you are. And I know of your deeds from last night.”
He let go of Aiden’s chin. Mourning the contact, the gentle touch of his god, Aiden lowered his head once more.
“I only did what was right. I helped my people in the way I could best.”
The god shook his head.
“Your modesty honors you, yet it does not change the fact that you saved all these people. Not everyone could have done what you did. Not everyone would have. Where others cowered in fear, you acted selflessly and brave. And that deserves a reward.”
Aiden’s breath caught in his throat. “A reward?” he whispered. Never would he have thought that his actions from last night would lead to this.
He hadn’t thought anything at all. He just wanted to help, acting purely on instincts. He didn’t expect to end up in front of his god, being not only praised, which was already an honor greater than he thought he’d ever deserve, but also given a reward.
He wondered what it might be. Seeing the beauty that was the god of the hunt from up this close was enough of a reward for him already, more than he could’ve ever wished for.
What else could he possibly want to offer him?
The god must’ve known what Aiden was thinking yet again, because he smiled down on him before addressing the people behind him.
Aiden had almost forgotten that they were there, too stunned by the proximity to the god he spent all his life worshipping.
“You all have witnessed the bravery of this young man. You have witnessed how he risked his life to save that of several others, the highest form of service to the people and with that to me as their god,” the god said to his followers.
“Such service, such loyalty must be rewarded.” He faced Aiden again, in his eyes an unreadable look. “Stand up.”
Aiden hesitated only for a moment, taken aback by the order. Then he stood, face to face with his god.
He reached out to touch Aiden again and the boy closed his eyes in anticipation, the pleasant feeling of the god’s touch earlier still lingering in his mind.
“Hereby,” the god’s fingers on his skin were soft, warm, as he touched Aiden’s brow.
“I declare you a chosen one of the god of the hunt. My love and trust will be yours, as long as you swear to stay faithful to me. You will serve me with all your loyalty and in return receive my blessing for as long as you live. This is what I offer you. Will you accept?”
Aiden felt like he couldn’t breathe. Him? A god-chosen?
Being chosen by a god was rare and it was an immense honor. Even if he wanted to decline, he couldn’t have. One doesn’t turn down a god, it was an unwritten rule.
Not that Aiden was thinking about declining even for a single second, even if he still couldn’t see how he was worthy of an offer as meaningful as this.
There would be no greater honor, no greater purpose in the life of a simple hunter such as himself, than to serve the god of the hunt. It was what thousands of people dreamed of. It’s what he himself never even dared to dream of.
He was so stunned that he couldn’t speak. His silence hung heavy in the room. Where people have been gasping and quietly talking at the god’s offer, they were now dead quiet.
The god raised an eyebrow, silently waiting for a reply. Aiden realized that he should better answer quickly, lest the god mistook his silence for a refusal.
He bowed deeply, before taking all his strength, look into the golden eyes of the deity before him.
When gold met brown, a sudden calmness washed over him and with a voice much steadier than he expected from himself, he accepted the offer.
Changing his life forever.
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