Eskel
| Character | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Eskel |
| Occupation: | Contracted Monster Slayer |
| Relationships: | |
| Fandom: | The Witcher |
| Other: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
This article or section needs expansion. |
Eskel is a character in The Witcher books and video games. He will appear in season 2 of the canon's Netflix adaptation.
He is a close friend of the protagonist, Geralt of Rivia, and appears in many fanworks.
Canon
Books/Games
Eskel was raised along with Geralt and Lambert at the Witcher keep of Kaer Morhen.
In book canon, Eskel is more proficient at magic than Geralt is, while Geralt is physically more powerful.
Eskel has a large scar on his face.
Netflix Adaptation
Eskel did not appear in Season 1 of the show. It was announced that he would appear in S2, but due to Covid, had to be recast mid-production.[1] In the months leading to the release of the season, speculation around Eskel's story diverging widely from his book and game canon was rife.[2]
Fandom
Shipping
In September 2020, Eskel/Jaskier was the most written Eskel pairing on AO3 (though not by much).
As of September 2021, the order had shifted slightly:
- Geralt/Eskel: 652 works, often a background pairing in Geralt/Jaskier stories.
- Eskel/Jaskier: 647 uses
- Eskel/Lambert: 328 uses
- Geralt/Eskel/Jaskier: 207 uses
- Geralt/Eskel/Jaskier/Lambert: 140 uses
Common Tropes
- Friends to lovers
- Eskel's scars (in many instances, Eskel is written as not as sexually popular as Geralt due to his scars and only Geralt cares for him)
- Eskel is the Sensible One
- Eskel is the only one who can really understand Geralt or be Geralt's physical match
- Eskel and monsterfucking (in the games, Eskel canoncially has sex with a horned succubus)
Example Fanworks
Fanfic
- The Trial of the Linens by Dira Sudis (underage and non-con warnings) (Geralt/Eskel, Eskel/OMC)
- Scent Memory by hobbitdragon (Geralt/Eskel)
- (Podfic) Urbe Aureā by Dira Sudis (main pairing Geralt/Emhyr, background Geralt/Eskel for the first three works, will change in the 4th possibly to Eskel/Geralt/Emhyr)
- The Accidental Warlord and His Pack [1] by inexplicifics (Geralt/Jaskier, Jaskier/Eskel, Eskel/Geralt/Jaskier)
Podfic
- Controlled Burn, podfics by PhagePods or Chantress
- but your presence by greedy_dancer
Fanart
References
- ^ ‘The Witcher’ Recasts Eskel Role With Basil Eidenbenz For Season 2 After Thue Ersted Rasmussen Exits Netflix Series, Deadline.com, Sept 26, 2020; accessed Sept 13, 2021.
- ^ The Witcher Netflix Report Reveals Big Changes to Eskel, comicbook.com, Feb 10, 2021; accessed Sept 13, 2021.