History Videogame / TheWitcher2AssassinsOfKings

* WhatTheHellHero: If you import a save from the original game where you [[spoiler:spared Adda]], expect to get an earful from a certain priest upon reaching Vergen.

* WhateverMancy: Lesbomancy!
* WhamLine: "They have your eyes, Sire." Not a particularly noteworthy line in itself, but [[FiveSecondForeshadowing the fact it's said by a blind man]] isn't lost on King Foltest or Geralt. Foltest has enough time for a [[OhCrap look of stunned realization]] before the 'blind man' whips out a knife, [[LightningBruiser bolts across the room]] and kills him.

* AwesomeButImpractical: The [[InfinityPlusOneSword Kinslayer equipment]], obtainable only in Dark Mode in the last chapter. Looks badass and has the best stats of any weapons or armor in the game, but the shorter length of chapter 3 significantly limit its use.

* HandsomeLech: Dandelion, best exemplified when Geralt asks him for some help [[HornyDevils with a Succubus]].

* HornyDevils: The Succubus, naturally.

* DifficultySpike: The Witcher 2's claim to infamy, despite being an intentional choice on the part of the developers. A tutorial was eventually patched in to explain the many, many new gameplay mechanics. The tutorial can be one of the hardest bits of the game, as Geralt has very few of his abilities unlocked but enemies aren't any weaker to compensate.

* NintendoHard: Many players find this [[SequelDifficultySpike game extremely difficult compared to the first]], particularly early on. The enemy AI actively attempts to flank you and damage dealt from behind does double damage, it takes practice to avoid being trapped in a bad situation by enemies. This makes the prologue one of the toughest areas of the game, making the game have a reverse difficulty curve.

* CorruptHick: Loredo. [[spoiler:If you decide to kill him life instantly improves for the people living there.]]

** One would think Letho will rest after betraying both [[spoiler:Iorveth]] and [[spoiler:Sile]], and settle with his alliance with [[spoiler:The Nilfgaardian Empire]]... until the ending, when in one variation he [[spoiler:[[BigDamnHeroes fights through an entire Nilfgaardian military camp to secure Triss.]]]] Though this is justified by Wild Hunt, where it is revealed no matter the outcome if Letho survives Emhyr goes back on his word and tries to have Letho killed, thus in this ending Letho is breaking a deal he likely already knew someone like the [[ManipulativeBastard Emperor]] wasn't going to keep anyways. Especially given he is a highly cunning southerner who would know Emhy'r reputation and character well, and [[AnOfferYouCantRefuse he was strong armed]] into the entire arrangement in the first place.

** One would think Letho will rest after betraying both [[spoiler:Iorveth]] and [[spoiler:Sile]], and settle with his alliance with [[spoiler:The Nilfgaardian Empire]]... until the ending, when in one variation he [[spoiler:[[BigDamnHeroes fights through an entire Nilfgaardian military camp to secure Triss.]]]] Though this is justified by Wild Hunt, where it is revealed no matter the outcome if Letho survives Emhyr goes back on his word and tries to have Letho killed, thus in this ending Letho is breaking a deal he likely already knew someone like the [[ManipulativeBastard Emperor]] wasn't going to keep anyways.

** One would think Letho will rest after betraying both [[spoiler:Iorveth]] and [[spoiler:Sile]], and settle with his alliance with [[spoiler:The Nilfgaardian Empire]]... until the ending, when in one variation he [[BigDamnHeroes [[spoiler:fights through an entire Nilfgaardian military camp to secure Triss.]]]] Though this is justified by Wild Hunt, where it is revealed no matter the outcome if Letho survives Emhyr goes back on his word and tries to have Letho killed, thus in this ending Letho is breaking a deal he likely already knew someone like the [[ManipulativeBastard Emperor]] wasn't going to keep anyways.

** One would think Letho will rest after betraying both [[spoiler:Iorveth]] and [[spoiler:Sile]], and settle with his alliance with [[spoiler:The Nilfgaardian Empire]]... until the ending, when in one variation he [[spoiler:fights through an entire Nilfgaardian military camp to secure Triss.]] Though this is justified by Wild Hunt, where it is revealed no matter the outcome if Letho survives Emhyr goes back on his word and tries to have Letho killed, thus in this ending Letho is breaking a deal he likely already knew someone like the [[ManipulativeBastard Emperor]] wasn't going to keep anyways.

* EvilSoundsDeep: [[OneSceneWonder The Draug]], the spirit of a leader who died while experiencing the rage and suffering of a battlefield, takes this trope UpToEleven.

* ObligatoryWarCrimeScene: The Siege of La Valette Castle is full of it. Roche casually talks about the troops raiding nearby villages, burning and raping as they go, Geralt can save several civilians from being murdered by overzealous soldiers and afterwards there are a whole lot of people tortured in the dungeons, like Aryan La Valette who was promised a fair treatment. It's really driving the point home that in this world, nobody is innocent.

* BonusBoss: [[spoiler:Letho.]] is entirely optional.
** Also the Vran creation known as ''the Operator'', should you manage to complete the "From a Bygone Era" quest in Chapter 3. He's extraordinarily difficult, becoming invincible after he takes a certain amount of damage and summoning incredibly powerful gargoyles.

* BigBadEnsemble: Letho of Gulet, [[spoiler:Filippa Eilhart]], [[spoiler:Síle de Tansarville]].

* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: [[spoiler:Malena]]. First of all, she lured those soldiers into a trap. When she's captured, Geralt may interfere and investigate her case. He can either cover for her, which will earn him [[UngratefulBastard her betreyal]] or tell the truth, but then go with her claim, visit the spot with soldiers and get betrayed again. While the latter is justifable, covering for her only to get into an ambush is really ungrateful.
** One would think Letho will rest after betraying both [[spoiler:Iorveth]] and [[spoiler:Sile]], and settle with his alliance with [[spoiler:The Nilfgaardian Empire]]... until the ending, when in one variation he [[spoiler:fights through an entire Nilfgaardian military camp to secure Triss]]

* KirkSummation: The Temerian lord on the Council of Regents, Baron Kimbolt, has at Geralt with a HannibalLecture, chiding him for being a "thug for hire" and such, saying that Geralt enjoys the bloodshed. Geralt [[NotSoDifferent tells all about how "valiant" knights reveled in the bedlam in the siege in the prologue]], and that the one thing Geralt likes most about being a witcher is that he never has to draw his sword on another's command.

* NotSoDifferent: Roche and Iorveth hate each other for being remorseless killers of elves and humans respectively.

*** If you play with the same guy for a plot relevant spear and lose, he'll mention that a guy named [[VideoGame/Wolfenstein Blazkowich]] tried to get the spear from him earlier.

** The guards' conversation in Flotsam: [[Film/Watchmen "Some day, all the whores and politicians, wallowing in dirt, will look up and cry, 'Save us!'. And we'll say: 'All right'."]]

The story opens with the assassination of Geralt [[HunterOfMonsters the Witcher's]] current employer, King Foltest, and Geralt being pegged as the prime suspect. Now Geralt must [[ClearMyName clear his name]] by bringing the real Kingslayer to justice. However, Geralt soon realizes there is far more at stake than simply hunting down an assassin of kings, as he is once again drawn into the [[DeadlyDecadentCourt political scheming]] of [[PowersThatBe those who wish to seize power for themselves]]. To complete his quest, Geralt must join forces with one of two potential allies; Vernon Roche, the noble, but [[HotBlooded hotheaded and impulsive]] leader of the Blue Stripes, an elite Temerian Army special forces outfit; or Iorveth, a cynical and violent, but [[WellIntentionedExtremist well intentioned]] elf who leads the last remnants of the Scoia'tael.

* OurElvesAreBetter: An interesting case. Aen Seidhe consider ''themselves'' to fit the old High and Wood Elf archetypes of being extremely beautiful long-lived creators of music and poetry who once ruled during an enlightened golden age, while many humans are presented as ugly, vicious brutes. Of course, the truth is each elf has the potential to be just as much a cruel bastard as any human, if not more so.

* FirstEpisodeSpoiler: The death of [[spoiler:King Foltest]] towards the beginning is what kick-starts the plot.

** Joan of Lukomorye mentioned is an linguistic pun on Joan d'Arc and a reference to Creator/AlexanderPushkin's ''Ruslan and Ludmila'').

* AwesomeButImpractical: The [[InfinityPlusOneSword Kinslayer equipment]], obtainable only in Dark Mode in the last chapter. Looks badass and has the best stats of any weapons or armor in the game, but because chapter 3 is so short and the set is so expensive to make, you'll be able to use it for 2 quests AT MOST before the game ends.

** [[spoiler:Only one of the endings kind of subverts this leaving one of the royal children on the throne, with Roche acting as mentor. However the invasion of [[TheEmpire Nilfgaard]] will happend regardless of your choices]]

** Also in Chapter 1, there's a throwaway line from Phillippa about her having contracted Zoltan for crafting a crystal focus for a bit of magicking equipment, noting that it has to be '''very''' precise to work properly. This comes up again at the end of the game [[spoiler:when Letho swapped out Sile's good focus for one with a hard-to-detect flaw]].