I think saying you "usually" have persuasion options in an RPG is a big overstatement but I know what you are trying to say.
Geralt does have an Intelligence skill tree but it's more to do with the Signs (spells) and does not have dialogue skills on it. You can gain influence with at least some people with "gifts" but I'm not sure how widespread or how much effect this has.
The only guys with scars I've seen are witchers - the game makes it clear becoming a witcher is *very* dangerous - I forget the details but there are three trials and only 40% of people pass the first and then only half of them survive the second, or something like that. In other words, witchers have gone through a *lot*.