The Ladies of the Wood, better known as the Crones of Crookback Bog, are three ancient witches who rule over a wide part of Velen. Their names are Brewess, Weavess and Whispess, and they are feared and worshipped by the local villagers, who leave them offerings and pay a heavy price when they stop.

They play a central role in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, especially in the quests around the Bloody Baron. Geralt has to deal with them to find the truth about the Baron’s family and to follow Ciri’s trail, and the choices he makes in Crookback Bog have real consequences for the people of Velen.

The Crones are dangerous, cunning and often cruel, but they are also more than simple villains. They are part of the region’s folklore, and the game uses them to show how old beliefs and fear keep a place like Velen alive.