What Is The Witcher's Conjunction Of The Spheres? Explaining The Cataclysm
Something I've learned since binge-watching "The Witcher" is that Netflix's Henry Cavill-led fantasy series can leave you with a lot of unanswered questions even as new information is revealed, cleverly sprinkling new details into seemingly casual conversations and interactions. This is certainly the case with the Conjunction of the Spheres. Aside from the fact that it was an influential event which precedes the events of the series, very little is said about what the Conjunction of the Spheres actually is. Luckily, we can Scooby-Doo that s*** with the power of research.
So What Is It?
Not unlike the concept of the multiverse that has been generating buzz in various Marvel properties, the Conjunction of the Spheres was an interdimensional, cataclysmic event. In one of the "Witcher" video games, the Conjunction of the Spheres is defined in the game's glossary as:
"A cataclysm which occurred 1,500 years ago, trapping in our dimension many unnatural creatures, including ghouls, graveirs and vampires. These beasts have no ecological niches of their own and are merely relics of bygone times."
The definition goes on to state that the Conjunction heralded the arrival of humans, who had destroyed their own world prior to ending up on The Continent:
"These human ancestors learned how to harness the power of primordial Chaos, and thus the first human wizards were born. Looking for a place in the world, humans took up arms against the Elder Races, who were unable to withstand the barbarians and ultimately surrendered. This is how humans came to rule the world."
This tracks with the concept of magic being defined and referred to as controlled chaos throughout the series, so it's safe to assume that the lore between the novels, games, and Netflix series is relatively consistent. Further verifying the relative accuracy of this explanation is "The Witcher" showrunner Lauren Hissrich's description of the Conjunction of Spheres in the documentary "Making the Witcher." In it, she defines the mystery-shrouded occurrence as "a bunch of different dimensions smashing into each other."
The game's definition is also consistent with Istredd's brief reference to it when he explains to Yennefer that there exists magic older and more powerful than anything they've been taught, and that the first sorcerers were actually elves who taught humans magic and were slaughtered and oppressed in return for their kindness ... though this version of events varies a bit when it comes to the relationship between elves, humans, and magic based on who is telling it and where their allegiance lies in the great conflict between the various races that populate The Continent. This variation of beliefs in the details surrounding the Conjunction of the Spheres can be seen in the exchange between Geralt and Filavandrel the elf king in the episode "Four Marks," with Filavandrel stating that the elves were robbed of their legacies and magic by humans, while Geralt says that humans were simply better at adapting to the new world created as a result of the Conjunction.
Basically, the Conjunction of the Spheres is essentially a collision of previously separate worlds, resulting in chaos. As for what caused the Conjunction of the Spheres, the specific inciting incident is currently unknown.
Why Does It Matter?
All of the above means that the Conjunction of the Spheres is responsible for the colorful variety of races and creatures that reside on The Continent, as well as for the existence of magic itself, referred to as "primordial chaos." So, the Conjunction of Spheres is the reason why The Continent exists as it does by the time we get to the adventures of Geralt and the gang. From the above definition, we can surmise that there were separate worlds or dimensions referred to as "spheres" that housed their respective creatures and races, and that the conjunction thereof is why all these creatures now exist less-than-peacefully on the same plane.
Furthermore, Witchers were literally created as a means to provide protection and maintain some semblance of order between humans, monsters, and the misunderstood creatures that populate The Continent. There would be no magic, no Witchers, and much less variety in terms of species if not for the Conjunction of the Spheres. The Conjunction is also linked to the monoliths that Istredd has devoted himself to studying, as well as extremely relevant to Ciri and the source and significance of her powers, which is explored toward the latter half of "The Witcher" season 2.
If you find yourself even more curious of about the Conjunction of the Spheres, you're in luck. An upcoming prequel series entitled "The Witcher: Blood Origin," is in the works. The series will take place 1200 years before the events of "The Witcher," and will explore the events that lead to the Conjunction as well as the creation of the first Witcher.