In The Witcher 3, and previous games in the Witcher series, there are many different Witcher Schools where students train under the tutelage of master Witchers. Each school has its own particular quirks, and its own ways of dealing with outsiders. Regardless of their differences, though, they generally serve the same purpose to the populace: monster-hunters for hire.
The School of the Bear is one such school mentioned in The Witcher 3. There is little representation of this school in-game. However, players can find plenty of passing references and tie-ins to the school, such as the hunt for the Grandmaster Ursine Gear. They are influential on Geralt's journey, though they have no direct connection.
7 The School of the Bear Was The First To Split Off...
Before the events of The Witcher series, a grand experiment turned humans into monster killers, fit for battle against any foe. Eventually, they became known as Witchers, and the Order of the Witchers was born. The Order was relatively short-lived, though. Ranking members each had different ideas of how Witchers should conduct their work and what their values should be.
The School of the Bear was the first to betray the Order — specifically, a man named Arnaghad. Arnaghad then left with his allies to form a new school in the mountains. Interestingly enough, the School of the Bear was later betrayed by witchers in the school, echoing its founder's actions. These witchers split off and formed the School of the Viper.
6 ... And Old Witchers Call Them Kinslaying Bears
Witchers of the School of the Bear were known for their particularly traitorous betrayal against their brethren by other Witchers for some time. Due to this betrayal and the subsequent founding of the school, Older Witchers in The Witcher series call them Kinslayers.
It's an apt nickname for the school. After all, it was almost singlehandedly responsible for tearing apart the Order of the Witchers and initiating its split into several factions.
5 Bear School Witchers Spend A Lot Of Time In Skellige
Witchers of the Bear School often traveled to Skellige during its golden age, though the exact reasons are scarcely mentioned in the games. The spin-off Gwent: The Witcher Card Game mentions that they liked Skellige due to the number of contracts available there, and that the locals' ways were similar to their own.
The Bear School Witchers are a burly, generally bearded bunch. The residents of Skellige must remind them of their life back at the School. It's not known exactly where the Bear School is, but according to descriptions in the spin-off version of Gwent, some think it's in the Slopes or in the Amell Mountains.
4 It Was Practically Destroyed After A Failed Contract
The Witcher School of the Bear took on tough contracts for near-overwhelming enemies. They managed to pull through every time – well, almost. One day, they took a contract for a cabal of Vampires terrorizing a local town, but failed to eradicate the terrors.
The locals rose up against the Bear School witchers, rioting outside the school, and destroyed the Bear School. With time, Bear Witchers secretly returned. However, according to the Witcher Tabletop RPG, they won't rebuild the school until their work is needed once more.
3 The Bear School (& Cat School) Use Crossbows
The School of the Bear and the School of the Cat might seem like polar opposites at first glance, and indeed they are in many ways. The Bear School puts emphasis on brawn, might, and uses heavy armor, while the Cat School focuses on dexterity, precision, and flexibility with lighter armor.
Where the two schools do overlap, though, is in their choice of using Crossbows in their training and methods. The Witcher School of the Wolf focuses chiefly on swordplay with some magic thrown in, while the Viper school focuses on poisons. Meanwhile, the Bear and Cat school put a focus on ranged attacks instead.
2 Its Trial Is Among The Deadliest Witcher Tests
The Trial of the Mountain is the final trial that students of the Witcher School of the Bear must face. For this challenge, the Witcher-in-training must find the summit of Mount Gorgon. There, they will take a runestone to bring back to their master, as a token of proof that they made it.
This ordeal is one of the most deadly final trials of any Witcher School. Most who attempt the trial freeze to death during the ascent. However, those who do return come back hardened and ready to take on contracts as a full-blown Witcher.
1 The Books Don't Mention The School Of The Bear
The Bear School is interesting in terms of the grand lore of The Witcher series, but they are also one of the main differences between the different media. In fact, the Bear School doesn't exist in the books, and the original Order of the Witchers split apart for different reasons.
They are a group of hardened, massive tanks of men who put an emphasis strictly on defense and tactical maneuvers in combat. Alas, though, they don't show up directly in any main Witcher game. Rather, The Witcher 3 and the spin-off Gwent game only drop hints about their existence.