Summary of the Witcher Lore. [Politics, alliances, and relationships]
I haven't read any of the books, but I've played both Witcher 2 and Witcher 3, so I'm quite familiar with the lore.
This post is spoiler free!
Nilfgaard is akin to the Roman empire, with enormous military power, great tacticians and strategists, and the biggest country in the Witcher universe.
Emhyr Var Emreis is the emperor of Nilfgaard, Morvran Voorhis is one of his military Generals, and John Calveit is the emperor after Emhyr.
Ceallach is Cahir's father.
Stefan Skellen, Vattier de Rideaux, and Cantarella are all part of Nilfgaardian intelligence.
Serrit, Auckes and Letho are Witchers, working as hired assassins.
The Northern Realms are a combination of countries that are basically always at war with each other. Some of the countries include: Temeria, Aedirn, Redania, and Kaedwen. Though some of the countries are later conquered by Nilfgaard.
Foltest is the king of Temeria, Radovid is the king of Redania and Henselt is the king of Kaedwen. Prince Stennis is the heir to the Aedirnian throne. Vernon Roche is Foltests leader of the Temerian special forces - the Blue Stripes. John Natalis is the head Temerian General.
Thaler is the head of the Temerian intelligence, and Dijkstra is the head of the Redanian secret service.
Skellige is a combination of Islands; Ard Skellig (the biggest island), Spikeroog, An Skellig, Hindarsfjall, Undvik, and Faroe.
Skellige politics is comprised of multiple clans with their respective Jarls. However, they do have a king, but the Jarls are still mostly independent.
Clan an Craite - Jarl Crach an Craite, with his children Hjalmar and Cerys. Harald the Cripple of an Craite is also the former king of Skellige.
Clan Brokvar - Jarl Udalryk
Clan Tuirseach - King Bran, with his wife Birna Bran, and his son Svanrige
Clan Heymaey - Jarl Donar an Hindar. Priestesses of Freya are also mostly gathered on Hindarsfjall - the clan's island, and Morkvarg is there too.
Clan Dimun - Jarl Holger Blackhand
Clan Drummond - Jarl "Madman" Lugos, with his son Blueboy Lugos
There's also Clan Tordarroch, but not much is mentioned of the clan in the games, since the clan's home is the isle of Undvik, which is inhabited by monsters, with the former inhabitants driven away. The Tordarroch clan is known for their amazing weapon and armor forging skills, hence cards like Clan Tordarroch Armorsmith and Clan Tordarroch Shieldsmith.
The Scoia'Tael, meaning "Squirrel" in the elder tougne, is a band of nonhumans (Elves and Dwarves), fighting as bandits against the racist and opressive inhabitants of the Northern Realms. The Scoia'Tael have no formal government, but the group is led by Iorveth. Iorveth's second in command is Ciaran.
Even though the Scoia'Tael is just a group of bandits, many of the characters in the Gwent faction are actually political leaders of elven or dwarven states, but aren't a part of the Scoia'Tael. Some even condemn the Scoia'Tael (For example, Brouver Hoog)
Eithné is the queen of the dryads and the ruler of Brokilon
Francesca is the queen of Dol Blathanna and a powerful sorceress. She is also one of the founders of the Lodge of Sorceresses.
There isn't much politics behind the Monsters faction, yet there are still two distinct types of "monsters." The Wild Hunt, and regular beasts. The Wild Hunt is an elder race (elves) from another world. Their king is Eredin, with Imlerith and Caranthir as some of his generals. Ge'els is also a part of The Wild Hunt, though he only harnesses political power (he doesn't ride with The Wild Hunt, but he commands about one third of the Wild Hunt's forces). Avalla'ch comes from the same world as the Wild Hunt.
The rest of the beasts appeared in the world of the Witcher during The Conjuncton of Spheres. Basically an astral communion, some magic and *poof*, monsters appeared in the world.
Most of the monster cards are regular mobs in the Witcher games, with some Silvers and Golds being bosses.
Most of the faction mages don't actually associate themselves with that faction. Usually, it's actually the opposite. Sile de Tansarville, Phillipa Eilhart, Vilgefortz and Fringilla Vigo actually worked against their assigned faction, though some mages are loyal, like Dethmold for example, Henselt's Royal Advisor. Though most of the mages are independent, or loyal to the Lodge of Sorceresses. Some of the "mages" aren't even mages. Gremist, for example is a Druid and a drunkard, but never a mage. Also, Yennefer is very much a part of Nilfgaard during the events of the Witcher 3.
I hope this helped. I tried to avoid spoilers as much as possible, if you're gonna play the Witcher games, you're still going to be as clueless and oblivious as to what's going to happen next as anyone else.
I haven't read any of the books, but I've played both Witcher 2 and Witcher 3, so I'm quite familiar with the lore.
This post is spoiler free!
Nilfgaard is akin to the Roman empire, with enormous military power, great tacticians and strategists, and the biggest country in the Witcher universe.
Emhyr Var Emreis is the emperor of Nilfgaard, Morvran Voorhis is one of his military Generals, and John Calveit is the emperor after Emhyr.
Ceallach is Cahir's father.
Stefan Skellen, Vattier de Rideaux, and Cantarella are all part of Nilfgaardian intelligence.
Serrit, Auckes and Letho are Witchers, working as hired assassins.
The Northern Realms are a combination of countries that are basically always at war with each other. Some of the countries include: Temeria, Aedirn, Redania, and Kaedwen. Though some of the countries are later conquered by Nilfgaard.
Foltest is the king of Temeria, Radovid is the king of Redania and Henselt is the king of Kaedwen. Prince Stennis is the heir to the Aedirnian throne. Vernon Roche is Foltests leader of the Temerian special forces - the Blue Stripes. John Natalis is the head Temerian General.
Thaler is the head of the Temerian intelligence, and Dijkstra is the head of the Redanian secret service.
Skellige is a combination of Islands; Ard Skellig (the biggest island), Spikeroog, An Skellig, Hindarsfjall, Undvik, and Faroe.
Skellige politics is comprised of multiple clans with their respective Jarls. However, they do have a king, but the Jarls are still mostly independent.
Clan an Craite - Jarl Crach an Craite, with his children Hjalmar and Cerys. Harald the Cripple of an Craite is also the former king of Skellige.
Clan Brokvar - Jarl Udalryk
Clan Tuirseach - King Bran, with his wife Birna Bran, and his son Svanrige
Clan Heymaey - Jarl Donar an Hindar. Priestesses of Freya are also mostly gathered on Hindarsfjall - the clan's island, and Morkvarg is there too.
Clan Dimun - Jarl Holger Blackhand
Clan Drummond - Jarl "Madman" Lugos, with his son Blueboy Lugos
There's also Clan Tordarroch, but not much is mentioned of the clan in the games, since the clan's home is the isle of Undvik, which is inhabited by monsters, with the former inhabitants driven away. The Tordarroch clan is known for their amazing weapon and armor forging skills, hence cards like Clan Tordarroch Armorsmith and Clan Tordarroch Shieldsmith.
The Scoia'Tael, meaning "Squirrel" in the elder tougne, is a band of nonhumans (Elves and Dwarves), fighting as bandits against the racist and opressive inhabitants of the Northern Realms. The Scoia'Tael have no formal government, but the group is led by Iorveth. Iorveth's second in command is Ciaran.
Even though the Scoia'Tael is just a group of bandits, many of the characters in the Gwent faction are actually political leaders of elven or dwarven states, but aren't a part of the Scoia'Tael. Some even condemn the Scoia'Tael (For example, Brouver Hoog)
Eithné is the queen of the dryads and the ruler of Brokilon
Francesca is the queen of Dol Blathanna and a powerful sorceress. She is also one of the founders of the Lodge of Sorceresses.
There isn't much politics behind the Monsters faction, yet there are still two distinct types of "monsters." The Wild Hunt, and regular beasts. The Wild Hunt is an elder race (elves) from another world. Their king is Eredin, with Imlerith and Caranthir as some of his generals. Ge'els is also a part of The Wild Hunt, though he only harnesses political power (he doesn't ride with The Wild Hunt, but he commands about one third of the Wild Hunt's forces). Avalla'ch comes from the same world as the Wild Hunt.
The rest of the beasts appeared in the world of the Witcher during The Conjuncton of Spheres. Basically an astral communion, some magic and *poof*, monsters appeared in the world.
Most of the monster cards are regular mobs in the Witcher games, with some Silvers and Golds being bosses.
Most of the faction mages don't actually associate themselves with that faction. Usually, it's actually the opposite. Sile de Tansarville, Phillipa Eilhart, Vilgefortz and Fringilla Vigo actually worked against their assigned faction, though some mages are loyal, like Dethmold for example, Henselt's Royal Advisor. Though most of the mages are independent, or loyal to the Lodge of Sorceresses. Some of the "mages" aren't even mages. Gremist, for example is a Druid and a drunkard, but never a mage. Also, Yennefer is very much a part of Nilfgaard during the events of the Witcher 3.
I hope this helped. I tried to avoid spoilers as much as possible, if you're gonna play the Witcher games, you're still going to be as clueless and oblivious as to what's going to happen next as anyone else.
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Not bandits.