The School of the Vipers.
Your Imperial Majesty, greetings and felicitations. I trust this missive finds you in good health and it is my fondest wish that you remain so from now until the end of your days, as it is the wish of all true sons and subjects of Nilfgaard. For the past half decade I have, as per your last command, spent my time studying the strange mutant species known as Witcher's to the Nordling's and known to themselves as Viper's. The results are rather astonishing and one may easily see why your esteemed attention has been focused upon them.
Overview: The Viper's are a very old school of Witcher's that were here long before Nilfgaard brought civilisation and peace to these benighted marches, they arose with the first incursions of Humans into the area and this information I recieved from an Elven colleague of Dol Blathanna who is a first hand witness of these events, so its authenticity is surprisingly trustworthy. They were formed to combat monsters and abominations, creatures of the Conjuction that had crossed over from what hellish realms one shudders to think of.
The world as we know it was different then, great shining Elven Kingdoms graced our fair world, and bathed under a young fierce sun. The Aen Seidhe were unrivalled masters of the land and could see no threat, not from the monstrous creatures of the Conjuctions or the strange hairy barbaric Apes which they judged us to be.They had grown lazy and over-confident, with a certain sense of ennui resulting from their virtually immortal lifespans, thus they were doomed.
The world moved on and our people, raucous and rude, took what they needed and bred like rabbits. A superior species had entered the biosphere, the results were the same as in any other, the weak native fauna began to fail. With immortality breeding was not such an issue for the Aen Seidhe, and though mighty in spell and arms, their armies were never many, while there were always more of us. By the time they saw that something needed to be done it was too late, and they had begun their centuries long fall. Simple attrition.
This is where the Witcher's stepped in, the land was still largely wild and haunted by monstrous denizens, that had thrived on the wars between our peoples, and the Witcher of the Viper school were the solution here. In essence we created cunning monsters to deal with monsters, and they were surprisingly effective. In rural communities and pioneer settlements these monster slayers were in high demand, and earned good money pursuing their trade, but they were never viewed favourably, and asked to move on once the threat had been removed.
The mutations, magics and alchemy that had created them had created in truth a new species, for it could not breed with us, and thus it was hated and feared, maybe more so than even the other non humans. There is much contention among the scientific and philosophical community as you know, stating that the Elves being able to breed with us are merely a long lost race of Humanity, or that we are a part of their species. Witcher's however are both too near and too far away from us to be comfortable with them, they evoke the fear of the Changeling, the spy and the serpent nestling in our midst.
The Vipers: There were schools established all over the world, all slightly different and influenced by the Mage's, scholar's, alchemist's, philosopher's and (it must be said) madmen who created them. The Viper school had a few notable differences from the Witcher that you have repeatedly come into contact with, whom I believe is a rather famous individual of the Northern school of the Wolf.
First and foremost the Viper's still bear twin swords, but these are often smaller blades used at the same time, and often coated with oils, venoms and runic symbols specific to the monsters they are currently fighting. Due to their modern day penury they are rarely silver coated as I believe the Northerners are wont to do. These are often referred to as the forked tongue of the Viper, and used with extraordinary skill and lethality, in a fighting style that is most probably an Elven derivative, but far more deadly.
They make great use of magical signs, alchemical potions and devices that conjure different effects, they are most skilled with these things but largely relegate their use to the older members of the Order. A jealously guarded secret, as it should be.
They remain lightly but sturdily armoured, leather jacks with whatever piecemeal pieces of plate or mail they can scrape together, and often wear a hood to hide their identity from the common folk as they travel. As you know they are not a welcome sight, and the people are no longer in much need of their services, especially in a peaceful, prosperous realms such as you own, your magnificence.
Their philosophy is the main difference between these Witcher's and their Northern cousins, the Viper's believe that one blow can solve all matters, when delivered at the right point and time. They preach to their initiates that they must know their enemy, discover its weakness, lead it to where they wish the confrontation to occur and then take advantage of this with one fell strike. Strike like a Viper from hiding, strike once and true.
To do this they study, and my lord I am truly humbled by their learning, libraries of tomes long since lost to history lie in their private dens. Bestiaries, alchemical tomes, folklore, biological treaties and so much more. They are truly well read and educated individuals, and mastery of the mind is just as keenly drilled into their initiates as mastery of their swords With the fall of their last stronghold and the removal of their library into our care I can personally assure you that all care and maintenance shall be exercised to preserve this precious knowledge, and I of course give our Fraternities most humble thanks to your blessed kindness and charity.
Biological Abnormalities: As you noted from your own experiences Majesty this species is extraordinary: Superhuman speed and grace, a constitution that beggars belief and shrugs off disease with an astonishing ease, strength as great as any warrior and the training to apply these gifts in a frankly terrifying manner should they choose. Whoever created these creatures knew exactly what they were doing, and was either a genius or a sadistic fool, as the transformation must be enormously painful for both the psyche and the physical body.
They also seem to have some difficulty processing some of the more complicated emotional aspects of Humanity, but I remain unsure as to whether this is a symptom of their unique condition, or a side effect of the life they lead and the trauma they suffered.
The Viper's however have an additional flaw in their physical make-up. They do not stop growing until death, and their body are subject to change and strengthening as they age, becoming ever more muscled, huge and imposing. The older members of the profession whom suffer from this are called by the younger ones Dragons, an affectionate nickname, and seemingly obeyed without questioning. These large specimens are no doubt extremely dangerous, cunning, experienced and brutish looking to the average man in the street.
Specimens: There are currently three groups operating in you Majesties realm, two of whom are keeping very quiet and eeking out an existence as their profession entails, we know only their general location. However the third group is accompanying a rogue Sorceress of unknown identity north, and through no fault of their own have attracted attention numerous times. The Sorceress seems to be of a...fiery disposition and is blowing any cover they seek to maintain.
They are three Viper's, using the names Aucke's, Serrit and Uta. They are led by a fourth, a Viper "Dragon" known as Letho, and are to be considered extremely dangerous, cunning and resourceful.
Your humble servant.
Bertram DeAldersburg.
Hmm, maybe Quen might interact directly with the shield, through a technique that makes the witcher one with his shield?
