Table Of Contents 3 Chapter 3: Races of the Continent 5 Ch

Chapter 1: Welcome to the North 3.1 Dwarves 5.

Skellige and the Northern Realms 3.1.1 Dwarf Names 5.
The World and Its Lands 3.1.2 Mahakaman Dwarves 5.
Time in the Continent 3.1.3 Assimilated Dwarves 5.
A Brief History 3.1.4 Dwarven Deities 5.
Magic in the Continent 3.2 Elves 5.
Religion in the Realms 3.2.1 Dol Blathana Elves 5.
Deities of the North 3.2.2 Scoia'tael 5.
3.2.3 Aen Elle 5.
2 Chapter 2: Skellige and the North 3.2.4 Elven Deities 5.
2.1 The Four Kingdoms 3.3 Halflings 5.
2.1.1 Redania 3.3.1 Halfling Deities 5.
2.1.2 Temeria 3.4 Humans 5.
2.1.3 Aedirn 3.4.1 Human Ethnicities of the World 5.
2.1.4 Kaedwen 3.4.2 Human Deities 5.
2.2 Minor Northern Kingdoms 3.5 Dopplers 5.
2.2.1 Kovir and Poviss 3.6 Dryads 5.
2.2.2 Hengfors League 3.7 Gnomes 5.
2.2.3 Cidaris 3.8 Half-Elves 5.
2.2.4 Lyria and Rivia 3.9 Werebbubbs 5.
2.2.5 Verden 3.10 Vodyanoy 5.
2.2.6 Cintra (1263) 3.11 Vran 5.
2.3 Isles of Skellige 3.12 Optional Races 5.
2.3.1 Clan an Craite 3.12.1 Half-Orc
2.3.2 Clan Brokvar 3.12.2 Orc 6 App
2.3.3 Clan Heymaey 3.12.3 Tiefling 7 App
2.3.4 Clan Dimun 3.12.4 Triton
2.3.5 Clan Drummond 3.12.5 Dragonborn 8 App
2.3.6 Clan Tuirseach
2.3.7 Clan Tordarroch 4 Chapter 3: Classes and Subclasses
2.4 Independent Realms 4.1 Barbarians
2.4.1 Brokilon 4.2 Primal Path
2.4.2 Dol Blathana 4.2.1 Path of the Svalblod Cultist
2.4.3 Mahakam 4.3 Bards
2.4.4 Novigrad 4.4 Clerics
2.4.5 Saskia's Free State (1271) 4.5 Divine Domains
4.5.1 Dragon Domain
4.5.2 Lovecraft Domain
4.5.3 Prophet Domain
4.5.4 Seduction Domain
4.6 Druids
4.7 Fighters
4.8 Martial Archetypes
4.8.1 Field Medic
4.8.2 Witch Hunter
4.9 Monks
4.10 Paladins
4.11 Paladin Orders
4.11.1 Melitele Guard
4.11.2 Order of the Flaming Rose
4.11.3 Temple Guard
4.12 Sacred Oath
4.12.1 Oath of the Knight-Errant
4.13 Rangers
4.14 Rogues
4.15 Roguish Archetype
4.15.1 Troubadour
4.15.2 Sindicate Boss
4.16 Sorcerers
4.17 Warlocks
4.18 Witchers
4.19 Wizards
Preface
Chapter 1: Welcome to the North
O
N THE WORLD OF THE WITCHER,
between the windswept Great Sea to the west
and the mysterious lands of Zerrikania to the
east, lies the Continent. A place of varied
cultures and races, the Contintnent is
dominated by human lands, be they kingdoms,
independent cities, or carefully maintained
alliances. Interspersed among the lands of humans are the
old dwarven kingdom of Mahakam and the Valley of Flowers,
assimilated populations of nonhumans, and, perhaps, more
exotic folk.
A great deal of adventure is to be had in the world of the
witcher, for those willing to seek it out. The routes between
cities and nations often cross into the territory of brigands or
monsters. Every forest, swamp, and mountain range has its
own perils, whether lurking bandits, crones, savage beasts, or
mighty creatures such as giants and dragons. Ruins,
especially those left by the elves' retreat, dot the landscape
and the caverns that wind beneath the surface. In these
places, treasures of every living race- and perhaps a number
of dead ones- wait for adventurers intrepid enough to come
and claim them.
The Continent is filled with rich history and wondrous
tales of adventure and magic, but the lifeblood of its common
people is agriculture and trade. Most rural folk depend on
farming to eat, and Nordlings who live in cities ply skilled
trades or use brawn to earn their keep, so they can purchase
the goods and food provided by others. News and gossip are
carried between population centers by caravans and ships
that bring in supplies for trade and by traveling bards and
minstrels who recount (or invent) stories to inform and
entertain people in taverns, inns, and castles. Adventurers
also spread news- while also creating it!
The common folk of the Continent look on most
adventurers with a mixture of admiration, envy, and mistrust,
but that is to say nothing of witchers. Folk generally believe
that any stalwarts willing to risk their lives on behalf of
complete strangers should be lauded and rewarded. But such
adventurers, if they become successful, amass wealth and
personal status at a rate that some people find alarming.
Even people who admire these adventurers for their energy
and their acts of valor might have misgivings: what horrors
will be unleashed if adventurers, heedless or unknowing of
the danger, unlock a ruin or a tomb and release an ancient
evil into the world? Most of the people who populate the
Continent have little or no knowledge of lands outside of the
North. The most educated among the populace agree that the
Continent is but one continent and that the World is the
whole of the world, but for the majority of people, who don't
experience intercontinental travel or extraplanar exploration,
"the Continent" is more than large enough of a concept for
them to comprehend. Except in the most remote or insular
places, Nordlings are accustomed to seeing people of
different cultures, ethnicities, and races, who they generally
treat with hatred, or, at the least, suspiscion.
Adventurers tend to be more tolerant, accepting exiles,
misfits, and redeemed folk from strange lands and with
occasionally unusual shapes into their company.
Skellige and the Northern
Realms
Running along the Great Sea from north of the Amell
Mountains to the Dragon Mountains, the Northern Kingdoms
are a group of human states whose inhabitants are called
Nordlings. It is bordered by the Great Sea to the west and the
Blue Mountains to the east.
More broadly, the North refers to all the territory north of
the Amell Mountains, dominated primarily by the Four
Kingdoms - Aedirn, Kaedwen, Redania, and Temeria. Aedirn
is lies between Temeria and the massive Mahakam
Mountains to the west, and the Blue and Fiery Mountains to
the east. Kaedwin's ruler, Henselt, quarrels frequently with
the monarch of neighboring Aedirn. Kaedwen also shares
borders with the kingdoms of Redania and Caingorn and
with the duchies of Yspaden and Creyden. Portions of the
Fiery Mountains, the Kestrel Mountains and the Blue
Mountains run through the kingdom. Situated between the
Braa River in the north and the Pontar in the south, Redania
is one of the North's more important kingdoms. Temeria is
bordered on the north by the great Pontar River. The eastern
border is the Mahakaman Mountains. On the western side,
Temeria is largely isolated by the Brokilon Forest and in the
south, Temeria borders the Temerian protectorates of Brugge
and Sodden, now lost to Nilfgaard.
Most of the communities, nations, and governments of the
North can be grouped into five categories: the Northern
Kingdoms, the nonhuman lands scattered throughout the
area, the isles of Skellige off the coast, the independent city of
Novigrad nestled along the Pontar, and the former lands, now
conquered but, perhaps, ready to rise up again. Each
category is discussed briefly here; more details can be found
in chapter 2.
The Northern Kingdoms
The Northern Kingdoms are a group of, more or less, united
kingdoms and settlements in the north, bound together by
the threat of Nilfgaard to the south. New kingdoms are
occasionally formed, and old kingdoms and regions are
sometimes conquered, but the region is fairly stable in and of
its self. Here are all the kingdoms of the north, with
parenthetical years for kingdoms which no longer exist, as of
the year 1272:
Aedirn, formerly ruled by King Demavend the Third.
Cidaris, ruled by King Ethain.
Cintra, formerly ruled by Queen Calanthe Fiona Riannon,
the "Lioness of Cintra" (1263).
Emblonia, ruled by inept monarchs (1195).
Hengfors League, ruled by King Niedamir.
Kaedwen, formerly ruled by King Henselt (1272).
Kerack, ruled by King Tarrand.
Kovir and Poviss, ruled by King Tankred.
Lyria and Rivia, ruled by Queen Meve.
Redania, ruled by King Radovid the Fifth.
Temeria, ruled by King Foltest (1272).
Verden, ruled by King Kistrin (1263).
CHAPTER 1 | WELCOME TO THE NORTH
5

The Northern Realms include the strongest mercantile and
political powers of the North. The northern kingdoms
generally provide military support to one another and allow
leaders to meet peacefully to discuss major political events.
Nonhuman Lands
The forests of Brokilon, the Valley of Flowers, the Mountains
of Mahakam, and the Blue Mountains are all states , at least
in part, ruled and populated by nonhumans.
Brokilon, also known among humans as the Forest of
Death, is an ancient forest queendom on the Continent and
the sole nonhuman state in Northern Realms never
conquered nor subjugated by Nordlings. Ruled by dryads and
hamadryads, it hosts many other races and species
persecuted in the outside world.
Dol Blathanna, known also as the Valley of Flowers in
Elder Speech, was a kingdom and now a freehold in Aedirn.
It is bordered on the north by Kaedwen and the Blue
Mountains to the east. As a result of peace treaties, humans
and elves have equal rights here.
Mahakam is both a vassal state and mountain range
between the kingdoms of Temeria, Aedirn, Lyria and Rivia,
and Sodden and is inhabited by dwarves, gnomes, halflings,
and werebbubbs. Although the kings of Temeria are titular
lords of Mahakam, in practice its dwarves and gnomes keep
the region largely autonomous as any foreign intervention
would cause them to stop the supply shipments and flood the
mines.
CHAPTER 1 | WELCOME TO THE NORTH
ART CREDIT: CD PROJECKT RED
6
The Blue or Grey Mountains are a large mountain range
dividing the Northern Kingdoms from Haakland and
Zerrikania. The mountains form a natural border for at least
Lyria, Aedirn, and Kaedwen. Dol Blathanna, the Valley of
Flowers, lies at the very foot of the mountains, and the river
Yaruga's spring is hidden among the rocky heights. The free
elves have made their abode in the mountains; amongst them
were Ida Emean aep Sivney and Filavandrel aén Fidháil.
The Skellige Isles
Skellige, commonly referred to as the Skellige Isles or the
Isles of Skellige, is an archipelago and one of the Northern
Kingdoms. The group of six islands is situated in the Great
Sea, off the coast of Cintra and southwest of Cidaris and
Verden. It's legendary, famous for the unrivaled corsairs and
swift longships that sail many seas.
Its people are united under the King of the Skellige Isles,
who's elected by the jarls of the seven major clans during
traditional moots. In practice, however, the kings are from the
same clan or at least related.
Even though their relations with most of the North were
always tense, to say the least, they were longtime allies of
Cintra, due to the marriage between Queen Calanthe and
Eist Tuirseach of Skellige. After King Eist's death in the
Battle of Marnadal, the Islanders concentrated their raids on
the Nilfgaardian Empire in an act of revenge.
Novigrad, the Free City
Novigrad is a free city within Redania and is therefore not
subject to the rule of that kingdom. It is one of the major
ports on the continent and populated by nearly 30,000
inhabitants, making it one of the largest cities in the North.
Like any true metropolis, Novigrad has many factories and
is home to all manner of craftsmen offering every ware
possible and one can even find the occasional con-man or
shady dealer. The city is also home to numerous banks and
even has a zoo. The Eternal Fire is said to protect the city's
inhabitants from all evil, monsters included. The thick city
walls have never been breached, as they were tactfully
designed by the architects of the Oxenfurt Academy.
Novigrad is inhabited by an unusually colorful group of
both permanent residents and those in town on long and
short-term visits. Most eye-catching amidst the throngs of
common townsfolk, stall-keepers, and craftsmen are those
practicing the more roguish professions. There is no army in
the city but it does have a secret service, an ever-present
Temple Guard, and a powerful Temple Fleet.
Former Lands (1272)
Lower Sodden was the northern part of the former kingdom
of Sodden, the area around the Yaruga river between Cintra,
Brugge, and Riverdell. In the aftermath of the First Northern
War, Sodden was divided between Nilfgaard and the
Northern Kingdoms into Upper Sodden (the southern region)
and Lower Sodden. After the death of Ekkehard of Sodden,
King Foltest of Temeria became the ruler of Lower Sodden
because, as Ekkehard's nephew, he was the logical heir. It
was later reunited with Upper Sodden and became Sodden
once more, though this time as a vassal state to Temeria
rather than a kingdom.
Saskia's Free State was a state in Upper Aedirn created by Ofir. Ofir or Ofier is a landmass in the region known to
Saskia, the Virgin of Aedirn. Theoretically, it is a country Nordlings as "beyond the seas" near Zangvebar, south of the
without prejudice. Being tolerant of all nations and races, Nilfgaardian Empire. It consisted of various fallen empires,
elves, humans, mages, and even trolls could live side by side, kingdoms and tribes, which were unified by malliqs before
as was Saskia's vision. However, the Lodge had different the 1270s.
plans for the Free State and planned to take over the country Not counting trade in hubs like Novigrad or Cidaris, Ofir
and use it for their own purposes. The leaders of this nation rarely has any contact with the Northern Kingdoms and
were to become Philippa Eilhart and Sheala de Tancarville. remains largely unknown there.
After Geralt lifts the spell from Saskia, she regains her power Zangvebar. Zangvebar, also spelled Zangwebar or
in the country. It was bordered by the Blue Mountains to the Zanguebar, is a country found beyond the seas, right next to
east, the Dyfne river to the south and west, and the Pontar to Ofir and south of the Nilfgaardian Empire. Zangvebar lies
the north, but conquered by Nilfgaard, though Saskia down off the Continent's southern edge, although some
escaped. Nordling scholars like Markus Hohlenberg think it's the same
landmass connected by an isthmus of deserts and savannas.
Its landscape varies from wastes to thick forests with mimosa
The World and Its Lands trees.
The World is a vast and wondrous plane, filled with an The Zangvebari are primarily a trade nation. They are often
immense diversity of peoples and a rich, full history. For most seen in Nordling ports engaged in the commerce. They sell
folk of the North, however, knowledge doesn't extend much various products including mimosa bark or even the enslaved
beyond the confines of the Continent, and anything "known" cynocephali. The cynocephali are also often engraved on
outside of the Northern Realms proper is based more in Zangvebarian clocks and compasses.
rumor than in fact. Some Nilfgaardians tend to see Zangvebarians as
barbarians no different than Zerrikanians or Nordlings. For
The Continent example, Ardal aep Dahy mockingly suggested that if the
Emperor couldn't find Ciri, he may as well present an
The vast central continent of the world, the Continent is a empress of Zerrikanian or Zangvebarian origin.
land mass divided by the Blue Mountains. The lands beyond
the North can be roughly divided into those to the south and
those to the east, becoming more foreign to the folk of the
Continent and the North the farther away they are.
Lands to the South
Nilfgaard. The Nilfgaardian Empire (Ceas'raet in
Nilfgaardian) is the most powerful empire in the history of
the known world. It is located in the southern part of the
Continent and boasts both a thriving economy and a strong,
well-trained army with talented commanders. It has
expanded mostly through the conquest of foreign countries,
which were then turned into provinces of the Empire. The
Empire's inhabitants believe that "real" Nilfgaardians are
only those born in the heart of the Empire, and not those
born in the conquered provinces.
The provinces are ruled by either stewards or kings (in
cases in which a king willingly surrenders, he retains his
throne but is subject to the Emperor or just a vassal). The
empire has expanded throughout the years, conquering new
lands and going as far to the north as the Yaruga River during
the reign of Emperor Emhyr var Emreis.
In the Witcher saga, the Empire is portrayed as an
overarching antagonist, with many free people of the North
expressing hatred towards it with passion. It is introduced in
Sword of Destiny, when it invades Cintra.
Barsa. Barsa is a half-mythical land lying to the south of
Nilfgaardian Empire along with Ofir, Zangvebar, and Hann.
According to Dandelion, who likely heard it from travelers,
local customs demand that all girls guard their virginity until
they wed.
Hannu. Hannu or Hann is a half-mythical land lying to the
south of Nilfgaardian Empire along with Ofir, Zangvebar, and
Barsa. Yennefer once mentioned the land while describing
her powers.

CHAPTER 1 | WELCOME TO THE NORTH

7
 Lands to the East
Zerrikania. According to the book, The Wonders of
Zerrikania, the land is filled with temples dedicated to the
worship of dragons. Warrior maids "clad in leopard skins,
tattooed from head to foot and giving no ground to witchers
in mastery of the blade," make their home here. Mages who
channel power from fire, or pyromancers are found there.
The book concludes that, "In short, Zerrikania is a land
where the fantastic is normal, and the impossible occurs
daily..."
Zerrikania is a vast realm located to the east of both the
Northern Kingdoms and the Nilfgaardian Empire. Isolated
from the westerners by mountain ranges, deserts and
wastelands, it is often perceived as a mysterious land of
warrior women, dragon cults, and exotic beasts.
Hakland. Hakland or Haakland is a land located east of the
Tir Tochair and Fiery Mountains, beyond Elskerdeg Pass,
lying further than Zerrikania, which it borders in the
northeast. Haak people are said to be the finest horsemen in
the world, learning the art as babies before they even learn to
walk. They are also remarkable archers and combining this
with excellence in horsemanship, they become formidable
warriors. Smooth silk, sold for large sums in Redania, comes
from Hakland.
Beyond the Great Sea
The Western Continent, an unnamed landmass, referred to
as the New World or New Continent by immigrants and
colonizers, is located west to the Great Sea ocean.
Discovered by Fabio Sachs, it became a target of colonization
over the course of century or two. Many exotic and strange
beings inhabit these lands, including the vampires of Tribe
Ammurun. Legendary sites include the Golden Cities of the
Autochthonous and the Valley of the Vran.
Time in the Continent
Although a number of means exist for marking the days and
the passage of time during a year, many folk in the North have
adopted the Elven Calendar. Even the cultures and races that
don't favor this method of marking time are aware of it, with
the result that it is recognized across nearly all races,
languages, and cultures. In addition to the elven calendar, the
Gregorian Calendar is also used (the one used in the real-
world), except each month is exactly 30 days, following the
cycle of the moon.
A year on the Continent consists of 360 days. In the Elven
Calendar, the year is divided into eight months, called Savaed,
of fourty-four days. A month is made up of six weeks, plus two
extra days, one at the beginning following the festival, and
one at the end to prepare for the coming festival, which are
marked by the new moon. Four annual holidays occur of
magic occur and divide the months, along with the two
equinoxes and two solstices.
CHAPTER 1 | WELCOME TO THE NORTH
8
Coin in the Continent
Nearly every major power of the Continet has its
own currency: coins minted within its borders that
represent both its influence and material wealth.
Most coins of pure composition and standard
weight are accepted at face value across the
continent, though not every city-state or nation
bothers to mint every sort of coin.
Some of the most commonly found, and widely
accepted, currency in the Northern Realms and
Nilfgaard is summarized below. The equivalent
value in typical D&D currency is listed in
parentheses. Most people across the Continent
refer to coins by whatever name the issuing
government uses, regardless of origin.
Kovir and Poviss: Bizant or Bezant (4 gp), Koviri
Mark (240 gp)
Redania, Novigrad, and Brugge Copper (cp), Crown
(gp)
Arcsea and Ebbing: Denar (gp)
Cintra, Kaedwen, Aedirn, and Skellige: Ducat (3 sp)
Oxenfurt: Copper (cp), Farthing (sp), Crown (gp)
Nilfgaard: Silver Penny (sp), Floren (17 sp),
Nilfgaardian Mark (102 gp)
Gors Velen: Groat (cp), Noble (gp)
Temeria: Oren (15 cp)
Lyria and Rivia: Gulden (gp)
Hengfors League: Lintar (2 gp)
Maribor: Oren (15 cp), Mariborian Crown (gp)
Narok: Mark (4 sp), Bizant or Bezant (4 gp)
Cidaris: Copper (cp), Thaler (sp), Crown (gp)
While the conversion numbers above come from
the books and other sources, the Witcher 3: Wild
Hunt, taking place in the year 1272, has different
conversions. The value of an Oren has risen to 1
gp, while the value of the Floren has also risen and
threatens the economy of the Four Kingdoms, all
the way to 3 gp, and, thus, the value of the Mark to
180 gp, with the value of a Silver Penny being 3 sp.
The Syndicate, an association of gang bosses in
Novigrad, also mints a coin, called simply the
Syndicate's Coin (gp). Anyone who accepts a
Syndicate Coin as payment must honor the deal
and follow through - or be hunted down and killed,
without exception.
Individual days of a week have no special names. Instead, Belleteyn (April 30). Belleteyn or Beltane, sometimes
they are denoted by counting from the beginning of the known as "May Day", "May Night" or "Blossoming", is a
period ("first day," "second day," and so on). Days of the month fertility festival beginning at dusk on the 29th and continuing
are designated by a number and the month name. For until the dawn of the 1st. It is also a traditional time to begin
example, sages would record an event as occurring on "1 (or end) relationships of a physical nature. Food, drink and
Yule" or "27 Feainn." People might also refer to a given day by love are the order of the evening making this celebration a
its relationship to the current date ("two weeks from today") time of many marriages. Bonfires abound, and revellers are
or the nearest holiday ("three days past Belleteyn"). encouraged to jump the flames for luck and their own fertility.
This holiday of the elven calendar marks the beginning of the
Special Calendar Days fifth savaed, Blathe, as well as being the birthday of the famed
Every nation, faith, and culture across the Continent has its sorceress, Yennefer.
own special festivals and holidays, the observances of which Midsummer (May 15). Midsummer or Midaëte is the
are governed by the cycles of the sun, the moon, the stars, or summer solstice, the longest day of the year, celebrated as
some other event. In addition, the Elven Calendar specifies part of the elven year. It marks the beginning of the sixth
eight annual festivals keyed to the changing of the seasons savaed in the elven calendar, Feainn. Summer Shrines are
and months, with particular celebrations varying based on errected on this day "to give praise to the sun and life, while
local traditions and popular faiths. acknowledging death's certainty". They are supposed to draw
Saovine (October 30). Saovine or Samhain is a holiday of power from the sun's heat and protect all living things. They
the elven calendar celebrated at the beginning of the new are used by witches to bless crops and summon fires, as well
year, and the first savaed, with which it shares the name. as by witchers to increase the intensity of their Signs.
People have taken a habit to burn a figure representing Falka, Lammas (July 30). Lammas or Lughnasadh is the harvest-
a famous rebel, on a bonfire during the Saovine. It's holiday also called the "Feste of the Scythe", which begins the
considered bad luck to play an instrument or enter a seventh savaed. According to the ancient book Physiologus,
graveyard during the time between Saovine and Imbolc. It's Dana Méadbh, the nonhuman goddess, can be seen most
also believed that a child born during the time between the likely around this festival.
two holidays will become a striga, and on Saovine night, Velen (September 15). Velen is the autumnal equinox. It's
beann'shies appear to weep for those who will die in the a holiday which gives the name to the eighth, and last savaed
coming year. of the elven calendar and is usually marked with a harvest
Midwinter (December 15). Midwinter or Midinváerne is feast.
the day of the winter solstice, celebrated as part of the elven
year. Being the longest night of the year, it's considered to be The Elven Calendar
infused with magic. It marks the beginning of the second Month Name Season
savaed, Yule.
Imbolc (January 30). Imbaelk, also known as Imbolc Saovine Invaerne
(Common for "Sprouting") is celebrated at the beginning of 1 Saovine Invaerne
the third savaed of the year, to whom it lends its name. It Midwinter Invaerne
heralds the end of winter. The holiday is a festival of the
hearth and home, and a celebration of the lengthening days 2 Yule Invaerne
and the early signs of spring - that's the reason why Imbaelk Imbolc Unknown
is often called "Sprouting". Celebrations often involve
hearthfires, special foods, divination or watching for omens, 3 Imbolc Unknown
lighting candles or a bonfire if the weather permitted. Fire Birke Unknown
and purification is an important part of the festival. The 4 Birke Unknown
lighting of candles and fires represents the return of warmth
and the increasing power of the Sun over the coming months. Belleteyn Aete
In some regions blessed candles are lit during storms and 5 Blathe Aete
placed in windows to ward off thunders. Imbaelk is also
traditionally a time of weather divination - people are making Midsummer Aete
predictions about weather in the coming year. 6 Feainn Aete
Birke (March 15). Birke is the spring equinox, a Lammas Unknown
celebration that marks the end of the savaed Imbolc and the
beginning of the savaed with the same name, fourth of eight 7 Lammas Unknown
in the elven calendar. An important event was the day of Birke Velen Unknown
in the year 1133 when the Prophet Lebioda preached to his
followers under the big oak tree near Sylvan Dam. On each 8 Velen Unknown
Birke day, the closing ceremony of the novitiate connected
with admission to Melitele's priesthood was organized.
Keeping Time from Day to Day
Most people don't keep track of the time of day beyond
notions such as "mid-morning" or "nigh sunset." If people
plan to meet at a particular time, they tend to base their
arrangements around such expressions.
The concept of hours and minutes exists mainly where
wealthy people use clocks, but mechanical clocks are often
unreliable, and rarely are two set to the same time. If a local
temple or civic structure has a clock that tolls out the passing
of the hours, people refer to hours as "bells," as in "I'll meet
you at seven bells."
A Brief History
The known history of the Continent spans thousands of
years, extending back thousands of years before the
Resurrection, before the arrival of elves and dwarves.
Comparatively recent history is the story of the rise and
deeds of humans and other younger races. Much of what
follows in this section is known mainly by sages, many of
whom have been alive for the last few centuries of the North's
history. The common folk across the continent have little
knowledge of, and little use for, events that have transpired
far away in time and space. News does travel, of course, so
even people who live in a village along the Pontar might get
wind of happenings in distant lands.
The Arrival of Nonhumans
Dwarves arrive in the lands of Continent in 2700 BR, when
the gnomes already have small colonies in Mahakam and Tir
Tochair. Human scholars debate whether elves arrived,
during the Age of Migration, 1460 years later, or a mere 470,
due to the source stating only "2000 years before the arrival
of humans," who arrived in the world during the Conjunction
of Spheres, but did not land on the Continent until the First
Landing.
The Conjunction of the Spheres
The Material Plane collided with a variety of other worlds,
bringing monsters into it. Along with them came the humans,
who, if you ask a nunhuman, might be the greatest monsters
of all. The first to come, the Dauk and Wozgor people settled
in the Continent's north, beginning to worship Melitelle and
write in a language known as First Runes, which has an
alphabet of twenty-four runes.
The Ressurection
An event known as the ressurection, by which the years are
divided, occurs.
The Age of Man
Known as the "First Landing" or "Landing of the Exiles", the
arrival of men in the north is a very important event in human
history. According to scholars, humans most likely came
ashore at the mouth of the Yaruga and the Pontar Delta.
Once on land, Jan Bekker was quick to discover and harness
the Force found there and humans set up the first settlement.
It took several hundred years for the elves to notice the
growing threat posed by the newcomers. Fen Carn, an elven
burial ground is created.
The reign of King Dezmod, of Temeria, and of Sambuk, of
Redania, begin ruling simultaneously, while, in the south,
Toussaint's last elven king, Divethaf, is defeated and Ludovic
becomes the first human king of Toussaint. The Novigradian
Union is also formed.
Finally, the modern alphabet, still of twenty-four runes, is
introduced.
The Rise of Mages
Geoffrey Monck takes a group of children to be trained by the
elves at Loc Muinne, while the mages' seat in Mirthe is
established. A massacre at Loc Muinne and Est Haemlet
carried out by Raupenneck of Tretogor's army occurs, souring
relations. Raffard the White ends the Six Years' War, and,
while he does not officially rule, becomes the first advisor to
Temeria's mentally ill king, Abdank, commanding power from
behind the throne.
The Conclave of Mages is created and the laws drawn up
by Herbert Stammelford, Aurora Henson, Ivo Richert, Agnes
of Glanville, Geoffrey Monck and Radmir of Tor Carnedd are
adopted. Later, the Chapter and Supreme Council of Mages is
formed, which executes all those who do not recognize the
Conclave and new laws, incuding Raffard the White. Aretuza
and Ban Ard are subsequently created. Witchers are also
created by the mages Alzur and Cosimo Malaspina.
Emiel Regis Rohellec Terzieff-Godefroy, vampire and good
friend of Geralt, is also born.
The Decline of the Elves
The elf Aelirenn, who was later known as the White Rose of
Shaerrawedd, led a final suicidal assault against the humans,
which resulted in her and her army's noble death.
Early Modern Period
Years and days are known for the events of this period, and
some mages, such as Stegobor, lived throughout it. Thus, any
adventurer seeking to learn about it in a library, or at
Oxenfurt Academy, almost certainly finds what they're
looking for. What follows is only the most influential of
events, with the notable exclusion of the deeds of the witcher
Geralt, told of in Dandellion's tales.
Founding of Kovir
King Radovid III, looking for resources to wage war against
Aedirn, decided to tax the Appanage of Kovir in 1140. The
Appanage declares itself as the independent Kingdom of
Kovir, resulting in war between the new kingdom and
Redania. Despite support from ally Kaedwen, the war ends
with Kovir's victory and the First Treaty of Lan Exeter is
signed.
Falka's Rebellion
Falka's Rebellion was a major uprising predominantly across
the kingdoms of Redania and Temeria that occurred in the
1150s. It was started by Falka, the disinherited daughter of
King Vridank, and initially led as an attempt of the legal
firstborn to gain the throne which was rightly hers. As such, it
was even supported by some members of the Temerian and
Koviri nobility. But it soon changed into peasant war, larger
and bloodier than the Northern Kingdoms had ever
witnessed, with both sides committing gruesome atrocities.
To keep herself in command, Falka had generously
bestowed her charms on all leading officers, from the
noblemen to ordinary thugs.
The rebellion reached its largest size when Falka killed her
father, his second wife Cerro and her two half-brothers
Heltmult and Denhard with her bare hands. Due to this, she
passed into legend as a bloodthirsty demon. Fighting under
words like "Death To Kings" or "Death To Priests, Nobility,
Gentry and Anybody WellToDo" and later "Death To
Sorcerers", these forces were responsible for burning down
the entire Mirthe, ancient city of mages in Gelibol, and
skinning of Master Radmir of Tor Carnedd alive.
After crossing Pontar river and declaring war on Temeria
as well, they made themselves headquarters at Castle
Houtborg where they imprisoned then-pregnant Princess
Riannon. While in prison, Riannon gave birth to a set of twins
and then went mad. Around the same time, Falka also gave
birth and left her newborn in the hands of the deranged
prisoner proclaiming that only queens were worthy of the
honor of being wet nurses to her bastard, and a similar fate
would await every queen and princess in the new order Falka
would build after her victory.
This enraged Riannon's husband, valiant Goidemar, who
stood in charge of Temerian Army and, with a bit of luck,
defeated rebellious armies in several battles, even at
Houtborg itself. Around this time she lost grounds in
Redania, where the throne was taken over by Vridank's uncle,
Vizimir I.
Not long after the rebellion was quelled, Falka the Bloody
was tried and condemned to die by burning on a stake;
henceforth, people of Temeria and Redania have thrown a
figure representing Falka on the bonfires during the Saovine
celebrations. According to the legend, Falka cursed all the
people present and promised that they and their progeny
would suffer in the hands of a child bearing her blood.
Whoever her heir was, she was spared by mages who
discovered her identity, but did not wish to see a child
executed.
Founding of Hengfors League
After King Baldwin Thyssen of Kovir and Poviss was
overthrown in the 1230s, Audoen proclaimed independence
of Arcsea and Hengfors and named himself their king.
Queen Calanthe's First Battle
The Battle of Hochebuz took place in 1233 and was Queen
Calanthe's first major battle and was fought against Nazair.
She admitted herself that it was a trivial battle, fought over
money and nothing more, but three thousand troops died
there. Later on, songs were sung in her honor about it.
First Northern War
In 1263, the Nilfgaardian Army, led by Menno Coehoorn,
crossed the Amell Mountains through the Marnadal Stairs on
the orders of Emperor Emhyr var Emreis. A full scale
invasion of the north was launched and the Battle of
Marnadal fought against the Cintran Army at the mouth of
the mountain pass, resulting in the defeat of the Cintrans and
the death of their king Eist Tuirseach.
The army moved north through Erlenwald to the capital of
Cintra where they sacked and slaughtered the entire city, with
Queen Calanthe committing suicide, rather than be taken
prisoner by the Nilfgaardians, and the death of most of the
royal family.
After taking Cintra, the Nilfgaardian Army moved north
into Sodden, conquering and burning the region of Upper
Sodden in a decisive battle which ended in a Nilfgaardian
victory.
After burning Upper Sodden, the Nilfgaardian Army
marched north and crossed the Yaruga into the region of
Lower Sodden. They reached Sodden Hill and faced the
armies of Redania, Temeria, Aedirn and Kaedwen, where the
Battle of Sodden Hill, with over a hundred thousand
participants, commenced. Over thirty thousand were killed,
including thirteen northern mages, and the result ended in a
sound Nilfgaardian defeat.
The Nilfgaardian Army retreated south, followed by the
northern armies, until they crossed the Yaruga, and so across
the river both armies reached a stalemate, and the
Nilfgaardian Army retreated south back past the Amell
mountains.
Second Northern War
The second Northern War was an attempt by both Nilfgaard
and the Northern Kingdoms to attack each other. In the case
of the North, the rulers believed Nilfgaard would keep
attacking them and thus they should be the first to strike but
make it look like Nilfgaard was the instigator, while Nilfgaard,
learning of this, prepared its arms to quickly subdue any
kingdom that stood in its way.
In the end, Nilfgaard once more suffered a defeat due to
lacking intel during the decisive Battle of Brenna. Despite
this, Emperor Emhyr var Emreis ended up marrying False
Ciri (who everyone but a few rulers and mages believed was
the real Ciri), thus solidifying Cintra as part of the Empire.
The Second Northern War is ripe with opportunities for
adventure.
Before the War
The Kings of the Nordlings met in Hagge to discuss plans to
cross the Yaruga and retake Cintra, following a staged act of
aggression by Nilfgaard. Learning of this, Emperor Emhyr var
Emreis moved a huge force into Dol Angra.
Start of the War
The Thanedd Coup, assassination of King Vizimir of
Redania, and the attack on Lyria took place nigh-
simultaneously.
CHAPTER 1 | WELCOME TO THE NORTH
11
 Thanedd Coup
Emperor Emhyr, having suffered a humiliating loss in the last
war during the Battle of Sodden Hill thanks to the North's
mages, resolved to take care of the mages before another
attempt at war with the North. For this, he employed
Vilgefortz, a member of the Chapter, to help stage a coup and
take out the opposing mages in the Brotherhood. Vilgefortz
soon learned that things weren't as harmonious between the
Northern rulers and their mage advisors either: instead of
employing their mages to send messages to each other, the
rulers were using the longer and older method of royal
messengers to ride to and fro, having grown wary of their
mages growing too politically powerful. Using this, Vilgefortz
leaked this information to the mages who then called for a
conclave at Thanedd Island to discuss how to deal with the
new situation.
Mages began to arrive at the magical island for the meeting
and held their usual banquet beforehand, where everyone
mingled and acted cordially. However, there were heavy
undertones about everyone's political alliance and warning
each other who a mage spied for, even if they were technically
on the same side. Several non-mages were also included in
these festivities: Geralt of Rivia, who'd been brought along by
Yennefer, and Dijkstra, who'd been brought along by Philippa
Eilhart.
The next day the two groups of leaders, the Chapter and
the Council, were to meet in Garstang, a tower on the island
that had been embedded with spells to prevent any magic
inside it, making it safe for heated discussions between
mages. Unbeknownst to the Northern supporters, Francesca
Findabair, another member of the Chapter and Nilfgaard
supporter, had successfully snuck in a boat of Scoia'tael
beneath the hollowed island and remained hidden, waiting to
enter through Garstang and take out the North's supporters
during the next day's meeting there. Despite not knowing
this, the Northern supporters knew there were traitors
among them and made plans of their own and instead of
going to bed, they stayed awake through the night to make
their move while the rest went to sleep.
Just before dawn, the Northern supporters made their
move and began to arrest the Nilfgaard supporters with the
help of Dijkstra and his Redanian soldiers, handcuffing the
traitors in Dimeritium shackles before taking them to
Garstang to be tried and hanged for treason. While they were
trying to prevent as much violence as possible, Lydia van
Bredevoort, Vilgefortz's assistant, was killed in the
commotion, though her death was actually caused by
Vilgefortz himself to buy him and Rience time to prepare.
Despite this, all the Nilfgaard supporters were successfully
arrested without much trouble and taken to Garstang, where
all the mage advisors to kings were also called even if they
remained neutral, like Dorregaray.
CHAPTER 1 | WELCOME TO THE NORTH
12
Once in the tower, Philippa began to draw up the charges
against the group, including Vilgefortz, Francesca, Artaud
Terranova, and Fercart. When the arch-mistress of Aretuza,
Tissaia de Vries, interrupted, she pointed out that all the
Northern supporters were also biased, backing kings rather
than being independent mages, and that she knew of the
plans the North had for war but to make it look like Nilfgaard
started it. When Philippa pointed out that the Nilfgaard
supporters weren't any less innocent, having decided to back
the Empire after being promised to rule over the Northern
lands if they won, Tissaia demanded proof. However, as proof
could be fabricated, the arch-mistress instead brought in
Yennefer with Ciri, who had been put in a trance to act as a
medium, as one couldn't lie while in an augury. In her trance,
Ciri revealed the truth behind the attack in Dol Angra where
Demavend tried to use it to incite war against Nilfgaard.
However, as it'd been a technical attack against the Empire,
Emhyr's troops answered back and began to push into Aedirn
and Lyria. She then further revealed that King Vizimir II had
been assassinated last night.
As Philippa cried out this was all a lie, Tissaia made up her
mind and removed the magical spells preventing the use of
magic in the tower and freed the Nilfgaard supporters from
their shackles and a battle broke out immediately, with
several dying within the first few minutes and the Scoia'tael
being allowed in by the now freed Francesca, causing more
chaos. Seeing the bodies, Tissaia tried to calm down
Vilgefortz to stop the killing, but the sorcerer merely laughed
in her face and continued. Distraught, Tissaia ran off while
the fighting continued between the two sides. Neither side
ended up truly winning, as many had died or been injured
during it.
Following the coup, confidence in mages seriously declined
and many of them were expelled from the royal courts. It is
also cited as one of the precipitating events of the war that
followed. For her role in the coup, Francesca Findabair was
made queen of Dol Blathanna, a free elven state, under the
condition that she would openly denounce the violent actions
of the Scoia'tael, while allowing them to continue to harass
the Northern Kingdoms. With the fall of the main leaders of
the Brotherhood of Sorcerers, the organization was dissolved
and a few weeks later Philippa and other sorceresses
forming the Lodge of Sorceresses, but this time also included
Nilfgaardian mages.
Assassination of King Vizimir
King Vizimir II the Just was assassinated by an elven blade,
succeeded by the Regency Council, headed by Sigismund
Dijkstra and Philippa Eilhart. This caused temporary chaos
thoughout Redania.
Attack on Lyria
Meanwhile, the northern rulers planned to stage an attack at
Dol Angra to make it look like Nilfgaard had attacked Lyria
and Aedirn, giving them an excuse to attack Nilfgaard and
take Cintra back. However, Emhyr came to know of these
plans and sent a large battalion just across the border,
waiting for the right excuse. King Vizimir II of Redania and
his head of intelligence, Sigismund Dijkstra, learned of this
betrayal and sent word to Aedirn's king, Demavend, not to
stage the attack as now Nilfgaard was prepared to attack if
they went through with it. However, the royal messenger was
killed while traveling to Aedirn and Demavend never received
this crucial information. Aedirnian troops attacked
Glevitzingen, a frontier fort in Dol Angra, precipitating the
Second Northern War.
Aggression in Dol Angra
Nifgaard quicky forced Queen Meve out from Lyria and
northwards, surrounding one fifth of the Lyrian troops and
confining them to fortifications in Aedirn, taking the Scalla
and Spalla fortresses, along with Rivia. Nilfgaard then began
the invasion of Aedirn, winning at Aldersberg and taking
Vengerberg, and taking the Pontar Valley as far as Dol
Blathanna.
Queen Meve of Lyria and Rivia, along with King Henselt of
Kaedwen, begin pushing back, with Henselt taking the
Lormark region of Upper Aedirn. Verden pays tribute while
Emhyr var Emreis blocks the mouth of the Yaruga preventing
Foltest's counter-attack, which leads to King Foltest
hammering out a truce with the emperor, allowing Temerian
troops to enter and occupy the western Aedirn fort of Hagge.
Meanwhile, Demavend of Aedirn flees to Redania while the
army of Aedirn marches to Temeria via the Mahakam
Mountains.
Invasion of Brugge and Sodden
After sixteen days of waiting, Emhyr breaks his truce with
Temeria, marching against Brugge from the west and south,
while the kingdom was attack by Scoia'Tael via Brokilon from
the north. The army lays seige to Brugge, Dillingen, and the
fortresses of Razwan and Mayena. They also engage in
battles for the Chotla, Armeria, parts of Angren, and Maribor
before retreating back to Sodden.
Then, Emperor Emhyr var Emreis gave up his immediate
military pursuits and decided to put off the offensive for a
year. He did so for two reasons: The upcoming winter was
predicted to be particularly harsh and cold, which
complicated the key issue which was supplying the army. Any
passable roads were very important; and the second reason
was that the attack on Temeria, while resulting in a victory at
Maribor, was simply too quick and easy. The number of
troops was technically insufficient to win the battle,
suggesting that the fortress at Mayena had been left under-
defended. A great offensive was planned, but it would not
begin until the following spring.
The primary target of attack was Temeria. The Center
Army Group was to depart for attack from Sodden under the
command of Field marshal Menno Coehoorn. They were
ordered to invade the kingdom of Temeria and reach the river
Pontar, the main Novigrad-Vizima-Ellander trade route. On
the Eastern Front, the East Army Group, under the command
of duke Ardal aep Dahy, was to attack the Pontar valley and
kingdom of Kaedwen, moving from Aedirn, and securing
Menno Coehoorn's flank. The divisions from the East Army
Group were to prevent king Henselt of Kaedwen from aiding
king Foltest of Temeria. The Verden Operations Group, led by
duke Joachim de Wett, was to take Cidaris and move towards
north to completely cut off Novigrad, Gors Velen and Vizima.
The general staff decided that it was necessary to block these
three important settlements.
300,000 troops (counting the main forces and reserves),
both men and elves, were to take part in the spring offensive.
The Great Offensive for Temeria
In this phase, the Nilfgaardian attack reaches its apogee and
has an unseen scale. However the Northern Kingdoms, after
heavy losses in the previous two phases, stand side by side to
face the common enemy together. The united allied forces
make bold offensive actions against the enemy, becoming a
worthy opponent for the, so far unbeaten, Nilfgaardian
invasion forces.
The Western Front
On the western front, the offensive on Temeria did not bring
the expected result, this was caused by foolishness and
decrepitude way of command of main commander, duke
Joachim de Wett. The annalists say that "Duke de Wett led
his Operation Group "Verden" in a way that the word
"bogocity" is too delicate."
Joachim de Wett was an active plotter in the nobles'
conspiracy. The other main plotters were dukes Ardal aep
Dahy, Berengar Leuvaarden, count Broinne and emperor's
coroner Stefan Skellen, who also had the support of the
sorcerer Vilgefortz. The conspiracy was to overthrow and kill
the Nilfgaardian Emperor, Emhyr var Emreis. The great
dukes of Nilfgaard felt humiliated, deceived and betrayed by
Emhyr, for he rejected their offers to marry their daughters
and decided to marry Cirilla of Cintra instead. However,
Emhyr var Emreis had a vast number of supporters,
including the inner troops and fanatic guard called the
"Impera Brigade", but civil war was not taken into account.
The plotters planned to assassinate Emhyr using a
hypnotized killer, the sorceress Yennefer, who was
imprisoned by Vilgefortz. They assumed they would be able
to convert the remainder of the army to their side, especially
the officers, for they were angry at Emhyr for the purging
after the loss at Sodden, and the people, for they were sick of
the destructive ongoing war. After the assassination of the
emperor, the plotters planned to put Prince Voorhis or his
son Morvran on the throne so the Council of Regency, the
great dukes and high nobles, would rule in his name. Emhyr
var Emreis, predicting the plot, sent Ardal aep Dahy and
Joachim de Wett to command the armies of Nilfgaard in the
war with Temeria. By doing so, he moved them and their
loyal troops away from throne. But when Emhyr did that he
"signed the declaration of his own death", because the dukes
did not want Emhyr to win the war.
CHAPTER 1 | WELCOME TO THE NORTH
13
 Joachim de Wett was lingering with the offensive toward
north, the only kingdom in his way being Cidaris, and
Nilfgaardian army outnumbered them two to one. He
concentrated his army to fight with Verden's guerrillas,
wanting to secure his back and wipe out all the rebels and
brigands first. On his order, the Operation Group "Verden"
committed many cruel acts during the fightings with
guerrillas and on the innocent civilian Nordling people as
well. Verden's guerrillas counted about five hundred in force
in winter, then in the spring the entire country had rebelled
against the invaders. King Ervyll of Verden, who was loyal to
Nilfgaard, was murdered and his son, prince Kistrin, was
placed as a leader of the uprising.
The Operation Group did not have to fight only with the
Verden's guerrillas but also with the army of King Ethain of
Cidaris, who used the situation and attacked with the aid of
Crach en Craite of the Skellige Islands, who had made some
bold attacks on the west shore of Verden. Joachim de Wett
was forced to fight on all fronts and lost battle after battle,
blocking the Center Army Group under the command of
Field marshal Menno Coehoorn instead of the west flank of
the Nordlings.
The Eastern Front
The situation remaining unchanged, Ardal aep Dahy,
commanding the East Army, occupied Lyria, Rivia and
Aedirn. He did not attack Kaedwen either, which had taken
the upper part of Aedirn. Because of this action, Ardal aep
Dahy was unable to attack Temeria from the flank.
The Center Front
The actions of duke de Wett had a great psychological effect.
The myth about the invincible army of Nilfgaard was gone -
like snow in the spring - and hundreds of volunteers started
to join the army, especially to the threatened army of Temeria
and the famous "Poor Fucking Infantry" division. Queen
Hedwig of Redania had sent King Foltest of Temeria
Redania's troops to aid him and his kingdom. Once separated
at the beginning of the war, now, the Northern Kingdoms
stood united to fight their common enemy. The Nordlings
were also supported by the "Free Company," Dwarves from
Mahakam sent by the elder, Brouver Hoog.
The Nordlings quickly used Nilfgaard's failures and
counterattacked, pushing the enemy troops away from
Maribor, preventing Nilfgaard from conquering the fortress,
and moving into the north part of Sodden. They were pushing
the army of Nilfgaard steadily toward south when the Battle
of Mayena took place, where the Nordlings continued to
prevail. Some troops, due to their losses, moved back and
regrouped in Vizima while the uprising in Verden stopped
Field Marshal Menno Coehoorn for some time. Therefore,
Coehoorn decided to move out and attack, departing from the
river Ina with his army, which numbered over one hundred
thousand troops. The Nilfgaardian forces defeated at Mayena
then proceeded to besiege the fortress a second time.
CHAPTER 1 | WELCOME TO THE NORTH
14
It was clear that Temeria's and Redania's forces were
unable to defeat Menno Coehoorn and his entire army. The
East Army was expected to assault the eastern flank of
Temeria through the Pontar valley. From the Pontar valley to
the west to Temeria and Redania, it was a straight and open
road to the two kingdoms. However, to get to Pontar valley,
duke Ardal aep Dahy would have to attack Kaedwen, where
King Henselt expected he could not stop the East Army on
his own.
Nordlings, aware of this, quickly changed their strategy.
They decided to continue their offensive actions, especially
when they had the forces and supplies to continue them, and
they did not allowed Nilfgaard to respond to these bold
attacks. The entire allied army, counting the regular and
reserves of Temerian and Redanian troops and allied
divisions, marched south to aid fortress of Mayena, hoping to
get there before Menno Coehoorn's Middle Army. Field
Marshal Coehoorn immediately marched to the west in order
to block the allied army from getting to Mayena. Dividing his
force, he sent the entire infantry to Mayena to aid in the siege
while he took the IV Calvary Army and the entire cavalry
from the III Army wit himself, totaling about forty-six
thousand men. Thanks to his decision, Menno Coehoorn was
able to move faster and made his way towards the allied army
of the Northern Kingdoms. The main commander of the
allied army, King Foltest of Temeria, faced the incoming
power of Nilfgaard, putting his army between the Chotla river
and the village of Brenna (which had been previously burnt to
the ground). Everything indicated there would be a great
battle between Nilfgaard and the Nordlings.
The Battle of Brenna
For their initial incursion, Nilfgaard sent the heavily armed
Alba Division. After some success on the battlefield, the Alba
Division had reached the center of the Temerian Army and
was stuck there. The Nilfgaardian soldiers' heavy armour
restricted their movements making them easy targets for the
pikes and spears of the Temerians, and, ultimately, the
Temerian infantry prevailed.
Menno Coehoorn responded to this attack by bringing in
his own troops (the Deithwen cavalry and a heavy battalion,
Ard Feainn) and assaulted the enemy lines above Golden
Pond, where the troops from Brugge had made their stand.
The troops from Brugge managed to fend off the
Nilfgaardians for a while, but their morale was low and their
weapons inferior. Fortunately, the Free Company arrived with
much needed help, and the enemy troops were halted, with
heavy casualties on both sides.
Nevertheless, Nilfgaard was still close to breaking through
to the front, so the Free Company and troops from Mahakam
joined the fray and took on Ard Feainn, managing to push
them back. Seeing this, Field Marshal Coehoorn sent in the
elven Vrihedd brigade to try and divide the Temerian and
Redanian armies. Their hope was to break through to the
front before the dwarves and other reinforcements arrived to
bolster the Nordlings, which they managed, panicking the
Northern Army. In response, King Foltest and John Natalis
sent in Bronibor's and Blenckert's troops from Redania.
Field Marshal Coehoorn gathered his remaining troops (the
Nauzicaa and 7th Daerlan brigades) and attacked the
position of the elves, not counting on Bronibor's infantry
fighting so bravely against a larger foe. On the left flank,
Nilfgaard's army was in ruins, and troops fighting at the
center front were losing to the Nordling armies. Nauzicaa
was surrounded and destroyed and the 7th Daerlan brigade
was defeated by the Poor Fucking Infantry and by the Free
Company. The entire Nilfgaardian Army was either defeated
or surrounded. Menno Coehoorn was killed trying to escape
from battle by Zoltan Chivay's company.
Northern Coalition Counter-Offensive
The fourth phase, known also as the "Counter Attack of the
Nordlings". After the significant victory of the allied army over
the more powerful Nilfgaardian Middle Army after the Battle
of Brenna, the offensive was broken. The greatest forces of
Emperor Emhyr var Emreis were shattered, and all of the
world learned of it soon after. Bravery and confidence came
to the Nordlings' hearts, like the sun rising after a dark night,
and, following the counterattack on the central front, other
allied armies moved towards south.
The Center Front
The rout of the Middle Army after the battle of Brenna,
caused by Temerian and Redanian forces, had long term
effects. The tide of war was on the side of the Northern
Kingdoms, and they decided to take advantage of the success,
instead of stopping to celebrate. The most active commander
on the front was John Natalis, the constable of king Foltest,
commanding, side by side with him, the allied forces under
Brenna. Natalis quickly took, following the example of Menno
Coehoorn, the cavalry unit and marched from Brenna's fields
to the fortress of Mayena. In the mean time, the other group
of the Middle Army, after learning there was a huge army of
Nordlings awaiting the Niflgaardian army, moved towards the
north to aid Coehoorn. However, the remainder of the army
did not know about the outcome of the battle which gave John
Natalis big advantage. With the cavalry unit, whose main
body was the Free Company from Kovir, he attacked the
column of the Middle Army's infantry, with the attack so
sudden Nilfgaard's forces routed. Thus John Natalis fulfilled
the full defeat of Coehoorn's army on the central front. The
unnamed battle took place on the road between Mayena and
Maribor. The commander of the Nilfgaardian troops in
Sodden, after learning the outcome of the battle of Brenna
and Natalis' victory over the army that was to aid Coehoorn,
decided to retreat to Riverdell and Angren, in order to
separate his army from the army of Nordlings by the Ina river.
Meanwhile, John Natalis surprised everyone, when, instead of
advancing to Mayena and chasing the Nilfgaardian army, he
moved to the west, to the Chotla river, to release Brugge from
the Nilfgaardian occupation and strike on the forces of the
duke Joachim de Wett, settling the war on the western front.
The Western Front
Commander Joachim de Wett faced his doom. The only
direction from which Nordlings did not attack him was the
east, from Brugge. John Natalis marched from Sodden,
leading the Temerian and other allied forces, and wanted to
attack de Wett from the east. Natalis was heading east with a
forced march, however, his army had slowed down in central
Brugge, where his forces were forced to besiege the cities of
Brugge and Dillingen. This gave de Wett enough time to
prepare. The "Verden" Group could not settle the fate of the
war on the western front. He could not win with the
guerrillas from Verden, with Kistrin leading them, and he
could not stop the warriors from the Skellige Islands and was
unable to respond on attacks from Cidaris, with king Ethain
leading their army. It was obvious to him the fight with John
Natalis could only worsen the already catastrophic situation
in Verden. De Wett decided to evacuate back via the Yaruga
river to Cintra. He secured his retreat by leaving strong crews
in the powerful fortresses of Verden - Nastrog, Rozrog, and
Bodrog. Joachim de Wett, after retreating back to Cintra, was
able to defend himself from behind the Yaruga, as the crews
he had left in the fortresses were defending themselves from
the Nordlings until the end of the war and left Verden after
Peace of Cintra.
The Eastern Front
The eastern front was the only front in which Emhyr var
Emreis had an advantage over the Nordlings, which all
changed after the battle of Brenna. First, after the Temerian
and Redanian victory over Menno Coehoorn in Sodden, it
was time for Kaedwen's army and the remains of the Aedirn
troops to demonstrate themselves in the war. The victory at
Brenna gave a new shot of bravery and confidence, bringing
together the quarreled kings Demavend and Henselt, who
both shook hands in a symbolic promise to work and
cooperate with one another. Secondly, the East Army, under
the command of Ardal aep Dahy, had the task of aiding
Coehoorn's offensive on Temeria after getting help from
Kaedwen. Meanwhile, the Middle Army was completely
vanquished, leaving the goal of the Nilfgaardian army in
Aedirn unknown. The Nordlings immediately took advantage
of the Nilfgaardian hesitation. Still few in numbers, the
recreated army of Demavend, with the Temerian crew, left the
fort of Hagge and marched southeast, while Henselt's army
crossed the armistice line on the Dyfne river and began the
offensive against Ardal aep Dahy's army.
CHAPTER 1 | WELCOME TO THE NORTH
15
 The Nilfgaardian commander, not knowing what to do, began
to retreat southwards, which proved to be a big mistake. He
could have defended himself easily from the Nordlings on the
Kaedweni border, while the retreat meant that he had to
stretch the defensive line, because Demavend was closing in
from the west. Moreover, he had to prepare for an attack from
the north and defend Dol Blathanna, because Francesca
Findabair and Filavandrel did not have enough elves to form
a capable army. Thus the valley of flowers was written off
after the vicious revenge of the Nordlings, and it was called
later "The Valley of Ashes". Duke Ardal aep Duhy stopped
retreating and decided to stop in southern Aedirn to defend
himself there, the line of his defence settled by the city of
Aldersberg. The forces of Nilfgaard and the Nordlings were
balanced, so Henselt and Demavend were not hasty to attack.
Everything changed when, suddenly, the main commander of
the East Army, Ardal aep Dahy, died. After the Nordlings
found about this, they attacked and the battle was later
known as the "Second Battle of Aldersberg," where the
conjoined forces of Aedirn and Kaedwen defeated the East
Army, settling the war of the eastern front. This started the
liberation of the kingdom of Aedirn, with the capital city of
Vengerberg as one of the first cities liberated, the chaotic
retreat of the East Army through Lyria where Queen Meve
fought a guerrilla war, and the march of the Kaedwen's forces
to the river Yaruga.
The End of the War
On the western front Verden was liberated, however, there
were still three fortresses occupied by Nilfgaard still resisting
the Nordling's forces. King Foltest and his army liberated
Lower Sodden from the Nilfgaard's occupation, and the
Nilfgaardian forces, greatly outnumbered, retreated through
the Yaruga river to empower the defence there. On the
eastern front the Nilfgaard forces retreated back to the
empire, and Kaedwen's army reached Dol Angra, the place
where the war started. Nilfgaard was losing on all fronts, but
the Northern kings gave up the idea of liberating Cintra, as
they already controlled the right shore of Yaruga and all the
retreating Nilfgaardian forces were there, together a great
military power. Both north and south had enough of the
destructive war. The negotiations started and there was a
proposed truce to stop the military actions and border
crossings. It was settled that on the 2nd of April, all leaders of
countries involved in the war were to meet in Cintra to
negotiate a peace and bring a new order to the world.
The Peace of Cintra
Signed on 2 April 1268, the Peace of Cintra was the peace
treaty which ended the Second Nilfgaard War between the
Northern Kingdoms and the Nilfgaardian Empire. The talks
were held in Cintra between the kings and princes of the
North, and the representatives of Emperor Emhyr var
Emreis. Although the negotiations were ostensibly conducted
by the monarchs, the treaty was actually the work of the
Lodge of Sorceresses, using their powers of persuasion with
the various rulers.
CHAPTER 1 | WELCOME TO THE NORTH
16
Dol Blathanna was to become an allod (a free and
autonomous land), to swear fealty to Aedirn but without
tribute obligations. Additionally, there were to be
repatriations for the people of Dol Blathanna, with the
restoration of property rights and an equitable split of
resources between humans and elves. Scoia'tael
commanders were branded war criminals, and expected to
be given fair hearings by the North leading to benign and
rapid judgments or amnesty. Kaedwen was forced to pay
restitution to Demawend for the taking of Upper Aedirn. The
settlers of Brugge and Lyria were repatriated and the lands
given back by Nilfgaard. Riverdell, Sodden and Angren were
recognised as provinces of Temeria. With Ehmyr's marriage
to False Ciri, the issue of Cintra's throne was resolved, and,
finally, the Redanian and Temerian armies were to withdraw
from Hagge.
Witcher Game Period
The witcher games take place in the years 1270-1272, with
each game composing the events of that year. Blood and
Wine takes place seperately, in the year 1275. Following the
events of Loc Muinne, witch hunts begin in 1272 and
continue until 1276. The second outbreak of the Catriona
plague also accompanies the coming of the witch hunts.
Magic in the Continent
Magic plays a large and central role in the witcher universe. It
is used not only by witchers, but by the many mages, priests,
druids and myriad other magical creatures that inhabit the
literature. Magic is used by harnessing the power of Chaos.
While a few simple spells, like a witcher's Sign can be used
by anyone, only those born with the power, known as
Sources, are capable of truly wielding its incredible power.
Brances of Magic
Magic is divided into Air, Fire, Earth, and Water, the Four
Elements, which determines what element must be drawn
from in order to cast a particular spell, with Fire, at least
sometimes, leading to deceitful pyromantic visions which
encourage the user to seize the power of fire to prevent
horrific events it foretells. Goetia, used to summon demons to
bargain with, and Necromancy, used to communicate with
the dead or relive their last moments, are both banned by the
Brotherhood of Sorcerers.
Places of Power
Places of Power are locations where humanoids know the
Power is strong and have thus erected a stone obelisk there,
with a hollow section where magic can be brought to the
surface and coalesced. While the power is everwhere, it is
particularly strong here and easily drawn, with sites like the
Temple of Melitele run by Priestess Nenneke being built near
one.
Magic Items Religion in the Realms
An item can be suffused with magic by leaving it near a Place Religion in the Northern Realms is not meaningfully different
of Power for a set period of time and then manipulating the from that in Faerun, except that persecution, as is often the
magic absorbed to provide a certain effect. Witcher case in the witcher, is more common. Such information can
medallions are well-known magic items, as are magic be found in the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide.
swords. Magic items generally function as their own sources
after becoming magically, and therefore do not need to be
recharged. Some magic items require attunement, a special
bond between it and its user.
Deities of the North
Nordlings believe in a vast pantheon of numerous gods,
goddesses, mystical powers and local forces, as well as
Magic spells and effects human Prophets and Saints. Their religion is not as
Certain spells allow casters to perceive or organized as the Imperial Cult of the Great Sun – it lacks of
manipulate the effects of Chaos in particular ways. one head above the whole cult, instead being centered
The Chaos itself also has irregularities that affect around regional hierarchs, archpriests of given deities and
spells. charismatic leaders such as Grand Masters of knightly orders
Detect Magic. Detect magic reveals the presence and self-proclaimed Prophets.
of magic in an item. The item appears alight with a Settled priests usually follow a single deity but
magic aura matching the school of magic it comes acknowledge and respect others while the wandering ones
from. Necromancy gives off black wisps of smoke, tend to invoke all the gods. Some of the deities are known as
while evocation magic is a red flame. Enchantment the Immortal Ones.
magic sprinkles with hot pink, while abjuration It should be noted that while most of one deity's followers
shows a sweeping, pulsing coating around the believe in the existence of another one, they do not
object. Illusion magic waves and flexes like cloth
blown in the wind, showing a bright green.
necessarily worship the latter in the same way as the primary
Meanwhile, conjuration magic, and any rune used
one – and, in extreme cases, can even hate it and its
therein, glows bright orange. Divination is a blue, followers, as in case of the persecuted Coram Agh Tera cult.
enveloping flame with the shape of a serpent's iris
in it. Finally, creatures under transmutation magic
have an indigo outline, glowing brightly around
areas transmuted.
Dispel Magic. Dispel magic rids the world of the
effects of Chaos placed on an element of it.
Antimagic. Antimagic effects can dispel existing
spells and unravel any magic drawn for the Chaos.
Permanent effects, such as those from magic
items, are usually suppressed by anti magic: while
the effect is within an area of anti magic, the
source of magic remains, but is unable to affect the
outside world.
Dead Magic. In rare areas of dead magic, the
Power is absent. Not only do spells and magic
items cease to function, but even the supernatural
abilities of creatures that are innately tied to Choas
might fail as they find themselves unable to
replenish their magical supplies.
Wild Magic. In an area of wild magic, the Chaos
becomes "tangled," spontaneously forming its own
combinations of elements and resulting magic. It
also tends to twist the constructs of Chaos created
by spellcasting, causing unexpected results.

CHAPTER 1 | WELCOME TO THE NORTH

17
 Deities of the Nordlings
Deity Alignment Suggested Domains Symbol
Aesculapius, god of medicine NG Life A snake entwining a staff
Coram Agh Tera, god of death, cruelty, and fate CE Death, Grave, Spiderweb
Trickery
Dagon, great old one UN Lovecraft, Tempest A fishy, toothed maw with tantacles
radiating outwards
Dana Meadbh, goddess of the fields CG Life, Light, Nature A Blossoming Flower
Epona, goddess of horses NG Life, Nature, War Double-headed horse, horseshoe
with an arrow
Huldra, goddess of lust CG Seduction Cow tail
Kreve, god of lightning, power, and expansion LG Life, Order, Tempest, Thunderbolt
War
Lilvani, goddess of the moon NG Light Moon
Melitele, goddess of love, fertility, peace, and nature NG Knowledge, Life, Bunch of berries
Light, Nature
Morrigan, goddess of magic, war, and panthoms CN Arcana, Death, Grave, Raven
War
Nehaleni, goddess of luck and concealment CG Trickery Dog
Sedna, goddess of the sea CN Nature, Tempest Waves
Verna, goddess of mercy NG Light, Seduction, War Hooded woman
Veyopatis, god of rivers LG Nature Head with open mouth

Unaligned: Dagon's goals are incomprehensible to all. The Eternal Dreamer

Aesculapius
The Healer
Aesculapius is a mythological figure after whom the Rod of
Aesculapius on the Merchant Street is named. Shani wears
an amulet depicting its symbol, a snake entwining a staff.
Coram Arg Tera
The Lionheaded Spider, the Great Weaver
The worshippers of Coram Agh Tera consider him to be the
Great Weaver, who weaves the human fate into a great web.
The web is constantly being expanded and corrected.
Sometimes some threads are broken, which results in
someone's sudden death. When one commits suicide, his
thread is broken and he is devoured by Coram. Therefore, he
is worshipped as the god of sudden and unpredictable death.
His temples are typically full of human bones and skulls and
lit by green fire.
Most worshippers are people who lived through some
tragedy (like the death of a beloved) or people with constant
contact with death, who love to inflict pain and suffering, like
executioners, soldiers or bandits. They are all drawn by the
cult's vision of the world, where death is a constant, and even
wanted, part of the reality. The priests are required to keep
Coram's web clean by "breaking the threads" of some people.
Deep in the eternal darkness of the abyss, powers older than
men and elves lie aslumber, awaiting a time known only to
them. When that hour strikes, they will awake and bring an
end to the world. One such being bears the name Dagon.
Dagon's emergence is usually presaged by a thick fog,
impermeable to wind or sun, that suddenly envelops a body
of water. After that comes a gurgling and a powerful waft of
slime and rotten seaweed. And after that... well, no one who's
failed to flee at this point has lived to tell the tale.
When fighting in the fog, it is often difficult to estimate the
enemy's strength. Anyone who has fought the monster hordes
under Dagon's control knows this very well. Those beasts'
numbers seem to double and triple when wrapped up in their
dark lord's tendrils of fog. Within that murky mist, fangs and
claws attack from all sides, leaving no room for retreat, no
chance for rest.
Some claim the more sentient monsters consider Dagon
something of deity, that they worship him, make him offerings
of human sacrifices. It is difficult to say how much truth lies
in this... Though it is clear he commands not just creatures of
instinct and herd behavior, but also headstrong recluses such
as ancient foglets and leshens.

Dagon
CHAPTER 1 | WELCOME TO THE NORTH
18
Dana Meadbh
The Eternal One, Queen of the Fields, Lyfia, Bloemenmagde
Dana Meadbh is a goddess worshipped in the area of Dol
Blathanna, the Valley of Flowers, as well as in Kaedwen and
Aedirn, venerated by peasants, beekeepers and pitch-burners,
all of those who live off gifts of the soil and the forest.
She appears on fields and meadows from May to October,
but most often during Lammas, the Feste of the Scythe. She
looks like a beautiful young fair-haired maiden of radiant eyes
wearing festoons of flowers, cereal ears and bunches of herbs
and flower wreath on her head, surrounded by animals and
plants bowing to her.
Folks do not build temples or chapels devoted to her. She is
worshiped during Lammas when farmers sacrifice cereals,
vegetables and fruits to her on the fields, in faith she would
visit the very their village this year. There are also stories that
one day she would settle down with the people who would
stand out from the others. Why, however, an eternal being
that existed, exists and will exist, loving all the earth and
everything that is alive, would want to bend itself to merely
one place and one folk?
It's the only deity that combines humans, elves, halflings
and even dwarves in one faith. Even if some races do not
worship her like the others, they all adress her with deep
respect.
Epona
The Mounted Lady, Mother of Horses
She is a deity of horses and possesses several shrines
throughout the Northern Realms. Her symbols are double a
horse head and a horseshoe with an arrow. Beauclair's
Epona Square is also named after her.
Huldra
The Seductress, the Cow-Tailed Goddess
Huldra is not a widely known goddess, but is popular in
Creyden and Vespaden. Her temples are usually similar to
elegant inns or massage parlours, where one can find
comfortable sofas, soft pillows, and the best drinks.
Monuments depicting the goddess are rarely seen since her
priestesses look divine themselves, consisting of beautiful
maidens among whom half-elves can be often found. Geralt
learned an "exorcism" from one of these priestesses, though
it turned out to be just a vulgar joke in the secret temple
language.
Kreve
Forefather, Father of Lightning
Kreve is a kind of sky father or thunder god of the Nordling
pantheon. An expansive god, associated with such attributes
as decisive action, energy, power, spontaneity,
resourcefulness, expansion (in any meaning), and defense of
ownership. His symbol is the thunderbolt. Most popular
among soldiers, knights, monarchs, merchants and risk-
takers.
The basic commandment of Kreve's followers is the fight
against evil, understood both internally, as challenging
oneself to fight against one's own weaknesses, and outwardly,
when "evil" means anything that threatens the peoples' lives,
health, souls, and property. This is the reason why Kreve's
clergy are talented exorcists, but also opponents of mages
and exotic, pagan, or sectarian cults like Coram Agh Tera or
Lilith.
They also are often prejudiced in relation to unassimilated
non-humans. Kreve's military arm, Order of the White Rose
founded by Hugues de Napeys, actively contributed to the
extermination of Vrans and the suppression of Aelirenn's
rebellion.
The Cult of Kreve is strongly associated with the cult of the
Eternal Fire. Priests of Kreve often argue and carry out
disputes with priestesses of Melitele but they can cooperate
on important issues. Kreve's clerics are the most vehement
opponents of the worshippers of Lionhead Spider.
Lilvani
The Lady in the Moon, the Silver Goddess
Lilvani is the ancient Nordling goddess of the Moon,
worshipped particularly in Ellander and Velen, where she
had a temple built in a cave system east of Toderas. By 1272,
many of her temples have been abandoned and turned to
ruins.
Melitele
The Trifold Goddess, Great Mother Melitele
Melitele, as a patroness of eternally transient nature, is
presented in three forms: the beautiful young Maiden, the
mature, pregnant Mother and the edentulous, wrinkled
Crone. Under her second aspect, Melitele is the goddess of
fertility, protectress of women pregnant or in childbirth; all
women, regardless of their age, domicile or social position,
have an esteem for her. Melitele is worshiped in most of the
Nordling countries, primarily by the people closely connected
with nature, like farmers, lumbermen or foresters.
The cult of Melitele have a chain of large and small
sanctuaries spread throughout the Continent. If it is
necessary to decide some matters on a nationwide scale,
abbesses of the major centers meet in selected temples and
discuss various issues; though this happens rather rarely and
every major center remains, in point of fact, self-contained.
Priestesses of Melitele often criticize priests of Kreve, argue
and carry out disputes with them, however they can
cooperate together on important issues. They also stay in
good terms with druids or priestesses of Skelliger Freya,
similar to Melitele in many respects.
CHAPTER 1 | WELCOME TO THE NORTH
19
 The future handmaidens of the Goddess are entered into the
novitiate at the age of fourteen, fifteen; adepts learn
arithmetic, biology, botany and medicine, they also acquire
general knowledge about the world. The closing ceremony of
the novitiate, connected with admission into Melitele's
priesthood, is organised on each Birke day. Young priestesses
receive new robes and tasks from the abbess; usually it is
taking care of the rural community or service in one of
temples. Many of them travel around the world as midwives
or healers specialized in illnesses of women and children, as
wandering druidess, teachers and governesses.
Morrigan
Mori Rigain, The Elf of the Sycamomores, the Lady of the
Ravens
Not much is known about the elven practices devoted to the
deity. When Nordlings adapted Morrigan to their pantheon,
they built her a chapel on the Gwyd Mountain. At least one
virgin priestess always lived in the castle, where she was
taking care of the sacred tree, performed rituals for the
goddess and tutored novices as well as the count's children.
The cult spread to different regions but Gwydberg remained
its very core.
Nehaleni
The Hidden Lady
Nehalenia or Nehaleni is goddess of various aspects of luck
and fate, thus including divinations, sooth, dreams and
journey. People tend to call her when they are about to set
out on the road (or are ambushed by bandits while already on
the road), are afraid of bad dreams, when they wish to reveal
– or conceal – something.
While her temples and priests are rather rare, many larger
cities have shrines devoted to her, where people lit the
candles and offer her pebbles from the road. She is venerated
mostly by journeymen, as well as by various farseers, spin
doctors, and fortune-tellers.
CHAPTER 1 | WELCOME TO THE NORTH
20
Sedna
The Lady of the Sea, the Abyssal Goddess
Sedna is the dangerous and wrathful lady of the sea. Folk say
she commands a significant number of known and unknown
sea demons, responsible for winds and sea currents.
Sedna is worshipped and (fearfully) respected by all
inhabitants of the Continent who live off the sea – sailors,
fishermen, and merchants. Just after setting sail, they throw
money into the waves to gain her favor. They also offer her
apeople and animals who died onboard, as well as all those
who have commited severe crimes like murder or thievery –
or have just brought bad luck to the ship.
The goddess does not possess significant temples nor
influential priests; sailors claim that her temple is the sea as
a whole. Their seat is thought to be located in the infamous
Sedna Abyss. Each time a ship vanishes, sailors from the
whole Continent think the goddess is mad at humans.
Verna
Verna the Merciful
Verna is a trifold goddess like Melitele who is worshipped in
Velen at shrines of wooden statues.
Veyopatis
The Totem God
Veyopatis, a forgotten god of the Pontar Valley, is still
worshiped in certain forest settlements, but the times of his
greatness and popularity are long past. A few priestesses and
witches make offerings to him, yet no common folk wish to
take part in their rites. In the era of human colonization,
Veyopatis was a guardian god, often associated with rivers
from which humans drew benefit. He guarded people from
the dangers of the forest. Poles bearing his likeness marked
the border between areas that had been tamed and those that
remained wild and dangerous. Veyopatis gave people fish,
made sailing easier and his name was used to ward off
beasts. Yet, he remained petulant and fierce. In these times, if
those wandering through the woods come across stone idols
with gaping jaws, they believe them to be the likenesses of
fierce monsters rather than statues commemorating a once-
loved deity.
Other Nordling Religions
Religion Alignment Suggested Domains
Church of the Eternal Fire LG
Church of the Eternal Fire
The Sacred Flame, the Everlasting Flame
The Eternal Fire is a symbol of hope, enduring the
misfortune, light pointing the way in darkness, heralding
progress and a better tomorrow. The Eternal Fire is a
religious cult that has many followers among humans of the
Northern Kingdoms. It was founded in Novigrad, where it is
practically law, and the city serves as the religion's de facto
capital. The cult is led by an elected Hierarch, who's chosen
by the Electoral College, with the seat currently being
occupied by Cyrus Engelkind Hemmelfart. The cult's greatest
temple is the Novigradian Grand Picket.
By 1272, the cult has grown in popularity to the point it
was declared as the Church of the Eternal Fire. While it had
no official acting army or military body, the Order of the
Flaming Rose and witch hunters defended the Eternal Fire
and upheld its laws, while the temple guards patrolled and
protected the Grand Picket in Novigrad.
Humans Nordlings Worship
Name Alignment
Adela
Elmo
Gregory
Lebioda
Plegmund
Zoatham
Elmo
Saint, the Helper
Saint Elmo, also known as Elmo the Helper, was an
individual held in high esteem by the Fabiolan sailors at some
point after the 13th century. There is also one weather
phenomenon dubbed St. Elmo's lights in his honor.
Gregory
Saint, the Hero
St. Gregory was a hero of Novigrad living in the 10th century
who was declared a saint after saving the city from a horrible
famine by sacrificing half his fortune to import food from
Nazair. The bridge connecting Temple Isle with the rest of
Novigrad is named after him.
Symbol
Life, Light Burning flame or torch
Adela
The Young
Adela was one of the three children, later known as the
Houtborg triplets, born when Riannon, queen of Temeria,
was imprisoned by Falka. After Falka died, none, including
Riannon, who went insane, knew which of the three children
were Riannon's twins and which was Falka's. The sorcerers
summoned by King Goidemar found out that Adela was
Falka's daughter, but they told the king they weren't able to
determine which child was Falka's, to avoid a scandal and the
execution of a 2-year old child. Therefore, she was brought up
together with Fiona and Amavet.
During an outbreak of the Catriona Plague, she helped
priests in a hospital and died from it at the age of seventeen.
Her body was burned alongside the other victims of the
plague. After her death, King Goidemar visited the hospital
and gave it the name of Adela and arranged a monument of
his daughter.
In one of the Viziman temples she was worshiped as an
incarnation of the goddess Melitele for a period of time.
Suggested Domains Symbol
LG Life Same as Melitele
NG Nature Sail
LG Light Crown (Coin)
LG Life, Light Open Book
LG Life, Light Same as Lebioda
LG Life, Light Crucifix
Lebioda
The Prophet, Evangelizer, Saint, King of the Universe
Lebioda was a prophet whose visions and parables are
contained in the Good Book of Prophet Lebioda's Wisdom.
He became legendary for his goodness, wisdom, and modest
peaceful ways.
As he became well-known, a cult began to form around
him. More and more people started following his teachings
with some of them becoming his pupils, as was the case with
Saint Plegmund who brought his master's words to
Toussaint. He was seen doing miracles, and in short time, his
words and deeds converted the whole duchy along with
Duchess Caroberta who ordered both a temple in Beauclair
and a monument on the west bank of the Sansretour River to
be built. Lebioda himself visited Toussaint at least once to
hear prayers of the faithful.
His wisdom reached even the edges of the Continent far as
Kovir and Poviss where it spread thanks to King Esterad
Thyssen's wife, Queen Zuleyka, who lived most of her life
according to the prophet's teachings.
 He died, eaten by a dragon, which he attempted to stop
harassing Kaedweni villagers near Ban Ard. The remains of
the prophet, recovered from the feces of the creature, were
collected by his students and interned in the sarcophagus in
the Novigrad's Great Temple. On some holidays, the faithful
are allowed to kiss the relic.
He is not only revered by humans but also by several
assimilated dwarves, and even the Cult of the Eternal Fire
follows some of Lebioda's parables.
Plegmund
Saint
Saint Plegmund was an apprentice of Prophet Lebioda who
brought the cult of his master to Toussaint during the reign of
Carolina Roberta. He appears to be highly esteemed in the
Duchy.
Other Entities Nordlings Worship
Entity Alignment Suggested Domains
Gernicora CE Death
The Crones LE Death
Lady of the Lake LG Light, War
The Ancient Leshen CG Light, Nature, Death
The Water Lords NE Nature, Tempest
Gernicora
Gvaern Ichaer, the Bloody Mistress, Queen of Ysgith
Gernichora, also known as Gvaern Ichaer (Bloody Mistress),
was a centuries-old monster that nested in Ysgith. The
ancient elves thought she was a fallen goddess, while the
local human-folk of Angren believed her to be the spirit of a
cursed princess, whose entire retinue had drowned in the
bog en-route to her wedding. Gernichora had managed to
grab a root before the quagmire swallowed her whole. She
screamed for hours, but there wasn't a soul to hear her.
Leeches, hundreds of them, covered her from head to toe as
she lay helpless. They settled in for a royal feast, and sucked
her dry, draining her to the very last drop. Fear and revulsion
so completely overwhelmed her spirit, that she couldn't pass
into the afterlife. So she came back, revived by Ysgith's
magic...
In reality, Gernichora was a repulsive, muck-covered
monster who used leeches and ticks - her "fruit" - filled to the
brim with her own blood, as offerings to the other monsters
of Ysgith. Her blood was so irresistible that it allowed her to
mind-control any monster that drank it.
A witcher, Ivo of Belhaven, had been hired by the invading
Nilfgaardian force to eradicate the beast. Alas, the witcher
could not complete his task as he was wounded in battle. As
the filth stood in the way of Queen Meve and her army, it fell
onto her to remove this so called "Queen of Ysgith."
CHAPTER 1 | WELCOME TO THE NORTH
22
Zoatham
Saint
Saint Zoatham is one of the many men worshipped as saints
in Toussaint and the duchy's inhabitants hold a holiday in his
honor (25 March).
On one Saint Zoatham's day, Louis de Corentin died in
Blaviken.
Symbol
A leech
Frosted cookie
A sword pointing upwards
A leshen's skull
An octopus head
The Crones
The Ladies of the Wood
The Crones, also called the Ladies of the Wood, are three
witches who live in a cabin in the swamps of Velen. Legend
suggests the three are sisters and the daughters of the
original "Lady of the Wood", also known as "She-Who-
Knows". They are named Brewess, Weavess, and Whispess.
Most of the time they communicate through an enchanted
tapestry and a medium, an elderly woman named Gran, in
reality Anna Strenger, who also seems to be their slave, or at
least is bound to them in some way.
The Lady of the Lake
The Knight's Lady
The Lady of the Lake is worshipped by both the inhabitants
of Murky Waters and the Vodyanoi with whom they
grudgingly co-exist. She spends her time in a shallow, lily-pad
filled covered inlet on Black Tern Island and can be consulted
there on various matters relating to Destiny, her servants,
quests for the Holy Grail and the relations between the
locals, as well as near various other, magical lakes in the
world.
The Ancient Leshen
The Lord of the Woods
An ancient leshen can serve as a divine entity for some
communties near their woods. More of the leshen can be
found in Witcher: A Guide to Monsters.
The Water Lords
The Deep Ones
The "Water Lords" are the object of worship among the
brickmakers in the Swamp outside Vizima. Led by their
village eldress, Vaska, they pray daily to their idols and leave
their fates to these mysterious creatures. It is highly probable
that these water lords are vodyanoi, with myths of Dagon
mixed in to refer to the whole race.

CHAPTER 1 | WELCOME TO THE NORTH

23
Chapter 2: Skellige and the North
The cult of the nobility runs strong in Redania, and that
The Four Kingdoms social stratum possesses more privileges here than in any
Upon the First Landing and the arrival of humans on the nearby realm. Great differences in wealth exist among the
Continent, the Northern Kingdoms were just large areas of gentry, but Redanian law cares for birth, not property, making
uncolonised land inhabited by the Elder Races, and others a well-born beggar the legal equal of the richest magnate.
races such as vrans and werebbubbs, before the eastward Those of high birth and great wealth draw the latter primarily
expansion of the people later known as Nordlings, around from the grain trade and pedigreed horse husbandry. At the
five hundred years ago. last, Redanians excel, outdoing all other nations; Redanian
After the elves were pushed east by human expansion, at steeds are unsurpassed. The Redanian cavalry is thus among
least twenty four cities throughout the kingdoms were built the best of its kind in the world, and with the country's
by the Nordlings on the sites of elven settlements, such as nobility filling its ranks, it is the heart of the Redanian armed
Novigrad and Vizima. forces.
As a consequence of nobility's privileged position, the
Redania peasantry is treated worse here than in any neighbouring
state, and only the king's iron fist keeps them from rebelling.
Redania, named after Roeden, a duke, is a wealthy realm King Vizimir II of Redania was assassinated during the
which profits from trade and agriculture and one of the Four Second Nilfgaard War. During the interregnum, the country
Kingdoms.In Redania, Sambuk ruled an area including was ruled by a Regency Council headed by Sigismund
Novigrad and the Pontar Delta. The port and the river drove Dijkstra, the head of Redanian Intelligence, and Philippa
Redanian trade development. Eventually as the countries Eilhart, head of the Lodge of Sorceresses. Subsequently,
became larger, the Redanian trade empire bumped up against reached the proper age, the country passed in the hands of
the Temerian trade empire across the Pontar, sometimes Radovid V, known as The Stern.
with volatile results. Sambuk’s grandson Radovid I, also
known as Radovid the Great, solidified the Redania we know Arcsea
today. Radovid despised his brother, Troydan, and suspected Gustfields
that he was scheming to take the throne. He gave his brother
what should have been an honor title: dominion over the Oxenfurt
northern province of Kovir; a cruel joke, as the province of Riverside
Kovir has eleven months of winter and August. Little did Tretogor
Radovid know that Kovir contained one of the largest gold
deposits in the North and 70% of the world’s dimeritium. Yamurlak
Kovir and Poviss are now the wealthiest countries in the
North.
The capital city of Redania is Tretogor. Other prominent
cities are Oxenfurt, with the largest university in the Northern
Realms, and the free city of Novigrad. The kingdom's
neighbors are Kovir, Caingorn, Kaedwen, Aedirn, and
Temeria.
The Kingdom derives enormous profits from trade with
Novigrad as well as grain exports. It may be said that the
monarchy is the granary of the whole Continent, and even
other parts of the world. Therefore, the dominant landscape
of Redania is huge, undulating fields of grain. Currently, the
state economy is seriously threatened, because of the flow of
cheap goods from Nilfgaard and others into the country,
which constitute serious competition for local artisans. In
addition, there are very few manufactories.
For ages, Redania has fought a customs war with Temeria,
its primary rival in the North. The country possesses the best
intelligence network in the world, and the government of
Redania is also heavily influenced by sorceresses.
Temeria
Temeria is one of the northern kingdoms, lying south of the
Pontar river. Its neighbors are Redania, Kerack, Kaedwen,
Aedirn, Mahakam, Lower Sodden, and Cidaris.
After the first and second wars, Temeria profited the most
out of the defeat of Nilfgaard, expanding its borders as far
south as Angren and Riverdell, reaching the Amell
mountains. But the Kingdom also received a heavy blow
regarding its economy, which forced it to buy goods from
their southern neighbor.
One of the fiefdoms of Temeria is the dukedom of Ellander
and the magical Thanedd Island, with a school for young
female adepts of magic located off the kingdom's western
shores. Temeria is the strongest of the Northern Kingdoms
and played a key role in the war against Nilfgaard. Temeria is
ruled by King Foltest and its capital is Vizima.
The Temerian population is very polite and religious but
does not accept representatives of the so-called Elder Races.
In general Temeria's residents have a tendency for
xenophobia. This region is the home of powerful sorcerers
and famous travelers.
Temeria is one of the wealthiest realms in the North.
Temerian economy is based on cultivating the production of
various goods, trade, and extracting valuable mineral
resources, from the mountains of Mahakam. The Temerian
oren is one of the most used currencies in the world. Temeria
also remains a land with highly developed agriculture, animal
husbandry, and food industry. As Mahakam is officially part of
the kingdom, Temeria has considerable interests in the
extraction of precious metals and the production of high-
quality weapons.
The most popular and most widespread religion in the
kingdom is the worship of the goddess Melitele but cults of
the Prophet Lebioda and Kreve also have their followers.
Brugge
Dorian
Ellander
Garramone
Gors Velen
Maribor
Pontaria
Sodden
White Orchard
Velen
Vizima

Ancient Kingdoms of the North

Aedirn
Aedirn, named after Aedireen, is one of the Four Kingdoms
which lies between Temeria and the massive Mahakam
Mountains to the west, and the Blue and Fiery Mountains to
the east. The Kingdom is feuding with Kaedwen about the
land called Lormark or Upper Aedirn, depending on the
interested party's political persuasion. These lands have been
disputed for ages, with Kaedwen laying claim to them as well.
Aedirn, adjacent to the mountains forming the western
border of the continent, was one of the latest areas colonized
by humans. Unfortunately, aversion to other races still exists,
especially the elves, whose remnants still inhabit the dense
woodlands and mountain valleys, including nearby Dol
Blathanna. In contrast to it, the situation of dwarves is rather
good; many of them live on an even keel in Upper Aedirn,
near their homeland, the Mahakam Mountains.
Aedirn is an agricultural country full of ridges and hills.
Unchanging, continental climate makes the grounds give
good yields, especially in the east, in the area called the
Valley of Flowers (or Dol Blathanna in Elder Speech), which
forms a real granary to the kingdom.
It also has a well-developed industry. In Upper Aedirn and
at the border with Mahakam, large amounts of minerals,
mainly coal and less precious metals are exploited by
Aedirn's mines. In Lower Aedirn, in Gulet and Eysenlaan,
there are smelters and forges. Vengerberg (which is the
capital of the realm) and Aldersberg are mainly known for
dyeworks and manufactures of wool and textiles. Vengerberg
also has malt mills and distilleries And it's also famous for its
estemeed carpets.
Aldersberg
Lormark
Lower Aedirn
Vengerberg
Kaedwen
Kaedwen (from the Elder Speech "Caedwen," translated as
"White Forest") is the largest of the Northern Kingdoms (and
the second largest country in the Continent, next to
Nilfgaard). Its main cities are its capital, Ard Carraigh, and
the city of Ban Ard, famous for its sorcery school. It is known
for its cold and unforgiving climate, along with the many
forests within its borders.
King Henselt frequently quarreled with neighboring
Aedirn, mostly over the ownership of the Pontar Valley which
once belonged to the Kaedweni. Kaedwen also shares
borders with the kingdoms of Redania and Caingorn; and
portions of the Fiery Mountains, the Kestrel Mountains and
the Blue Mountains run through the kingdom. The witchers'
fortress of Kaer Morhen is located amidst the peaks of the
Blue Mountains, and further south lies the land of the Free
Elves, an enclave established by elves seeking refuge from
centuries of warring with humans.
In the far future, the weather has changed enough that
northern regions, like Talgar, Caingorn, and Kaedwen, are no
longer able to grow certain types of produce due to the colder
climate. In particular, Kaedwen no longer has the capability
to grow grapevines and thus no longer has a wine industry.
Ard Carraigh
Ban Ard
Ban Gleán
Vattweir
Minor Northern Kingdoms
Besides the main Northern Kingdoms of Aedirn, Redania,
Temeria, and Kaedwen, there are other kingdoms in the
north, like Kovir and Poviss.
Kovir and Poviss
The Dauk and Wozgor were the first people to live on the
Continent, settling in the regions of Kovir and Poviss,
specifically the duchies of Narok, Velhad, and Talgar,
according to a classification by the historian Arnelius Grock.
Kovir and Poviss are now the richest realms in the North,
though this was not always the case. The poverty of the locals
was once literally on everyone's lips, in the form of antiquated
common sayings. As recently as the days of Heribert the
Quarrelsome, one spoke of a particularly impoverished
person as being "poorer than a mouse from Poviss," called
bone broth "Koviri delight" and referred to beggars as
"praxedes," after the gulf along the shores of which these
kingdoms lie.
A handful of generations ago Kovir and Poviss were
officially still part of Redania. King Radovid I, known as
Radovid the Great, handed dominion and title of Koviri earl
over them to his hated brother, Troyden, with one stipulation
– that he never leave his newly acquired demesne and not
interfere in matters of state.
Handing over this rocky scrap of far-northern ground
(where, the saying went, the year had two seasons – August
and winter) was naturally meant as a cruel joke, a slap in the
face for the overly ambitious Troyden.
Yet time soon proved that Radovid the Great had made a
grave error. Before long it was discovered that Kovir's bare
rocks hid priceless treasure in the form of enormous deposits
of precious metals and rock salt. This discovery, in turn, led
to tremendous growth in productive industry. Mills, forges,
and workshops sprouted up like mushrooms after a hearty
rain.
Radovid III decided to correct his famous forebear's
mistake and take back the northern frontiers of his kingdom.
He was convinced the combined armies of Redania and its
then-ally Kaedwen ruled by Benda would quickly bring this
ever more audacious vassal led by Gedovius in line. History
took a different turn, however, and Kovir won a resounding,
crushing victory. Radovid III was forced to sign the First
Treaty of Lan Exeter, granting Kovir independence while
binding it to eternal neutrality – a promise Troyden's
successors have kept with great diligence.
 Until the later years of 13th century Kovir was ruled by
Esterad Thyssen, a king as wise as he was greedy. Even his
untimely demise did not stop his lands from developing and
blossoming under to his extreme free market policy. Koviri
metallurgists proudly compete with the best Mahakam can
offer, and many believe the University of Lan Exeter long ago
surpassed the famous Oxenfurt Academy as the leading seat
of higher learning in the North. And so it has come to pass
that, over the course of a few generations, the Koviries and
Povissites have turned from paupers into princes, from
beggars into bankers.
The Kingdom of Kovir and Poviss (also known shortly as
Kovir and Poviss or simply Kovir) is one of the Northern
Kingdoms located on the Gulf of Praxeda. It is also the
largest exporter of mineral resources in the known world,
with huge profits from trade. It is ruled by king Tankred
Thyssen of the House of Thyssen and maintained neutrality
during the Second Nilfgaard War, refraining from lending
coin or men to either side.
Because it is so mountainous, the region is rich in mines.
Kovir and Poviss export glass, salt, iron ore, silver, nickel,
lead, tin, zinc, copper, chromium, titanium, tungsten, and
platinum. The Kingdom accounts for three-quarters of the
world's ferroaurum, kryobelitium, and dimeritium and 80% of
the world's gold.
Hengfors League
The Hengfors League was first settled by the Dauk and
Wozgor people before the First Landing, specifically the
lands of Caingorn, Malleore, Creyden, and Woefield,
according to a classification by the historian Arnelius Grock.
During the Secession of Poviss in which King Baldwin
Thyssen was overthrown, Kovir lost control of East March
and the land was divided into minor kingdoms and duchies,
which were later re-united by Niedamir of Caingorn.
Hengfors League, formerly the East March of Kovir, is one
of the minor northern kingdoms.
The capital city of the league is Hengfors, also the capital
of Caingorn. The region is situated between the Dragon and
Kestrel mountain ranges on the Braa.
Like Kovir and Poviss, the League maintained neutrality
during the Second Nilfgaard War.
Cidaris
Cidaris is a small kingdom on the western shore of the
Continent and is ruled by King Ethain. The river Adalatte in
the south forms a natural border between Cidaris,
Bremervoord, and Kerack. East of the kingdom lies Temeria,
west lies Bremervoord.
This vivid country owes its position and prosperity from
maritime trade, shipbuilding industry, vine plantations and
the rational use of the riches of the ocean.
Lyria and Rivia
Lyria and Rivia is a name used while referring to a
confederation of realms in Dol Angra, composed primarily of
Lyria and Rivia. Joined for the first time by King Berrik it
collapsed and reorganized again a couple times more, which
led to saying that "Lyria and Rivia were either at war with
each other or conjoined by personal union."
CHAPTER 2 | SKELLIGE AND THE NORTH
28
While the region is said to have been populated since
ancient times, the majority of its inhabitants settled here in
two waves: the first after the Six Years' War in the 9th century
and the second in the 11th, both comprised mainly of war
refugees and opponents of Temerian and Cintran rulers. Out
of the several principalities and lordships, Lyria and Rivia
became prominent. In 1133 Berrik of Lyria ascended the
Rivian throne and proclaimed the confederation of both
realms. About a generation or two later, King Egon's daughter
Impecca married Prince Ceran of Cintra, forging a lasting
alliance with the kingdom at the mouth of the Yaruga. One of
Berrik's descendants on the throne of Rivia extended his
influences to Angren and Riverdell.
In the first half of the 13th century the kingdoms were
conjoined once more via the marriage of then Princess Meve
of Lyria to Rivia's king, Reginald. On becoming queen, Meve
took care of ensuring that both nations had equal
representation despite their differences. She continued to
rule after her husband's death and became one of the most
important political figures of the Northern Realms,
considerable enough to attend secret meetings with the
leaders of the Four Kingdoms.
In July 1267, during the Second Nilfgaard War, Lyria and
Rivia were invaded and conquered by Nilfgaard without any
formal declaration of war. After the Lyrian golpe, Meve fled
and continued warfare in Aedirn and Angren. The kingdom
was finally liberated some time around the Battle of Brenna
or shortly beforehand.
While Lyrians and Rivians share a large portion of history,
they remain separate nations. Monarchs are assisted by the
Council of Peers consisting of lords from both kingdoms.
Apart from national differences there are also conflicts
between humans and assimilated nonhumans; racial
tensions are escalated due to competition the skilled dwarven
smiths present to Rivian workers.
Rivians speak the Common Speech with a specific accent
unique to themselves. They are distinct enough to face
prejudice in other Northern Realms such as Temeria or
Aedirn, where they are considered thieves and derogatorily
referred to as "Rivs". Lyrians, in turn, are considered good
seasonal workers by citizens of wealthier, neighboring
kingdoms.
Verden
Verden is one of the minor kingdoms in the North, located at
the very mouth of the river Yaruga, with Kerack and Brokilon
on its northern borders and Cintra in the south, just on the
other side of the river.
Up until 1263 it was a vassal state of Cintra. It surrendered
to the Nilfgaardian Empire at the beginning of Northern War
II. Later, it would gain its independence and became a small
kingdom.
Few centuries later, in the age of colonization and piracy,
Verden established a few forts on the Eastern Coast.
Cintra (1263)
Once known as the elven city of Xin'trea, Cintra was built on
its ruins after the eastern expansion of humans
approximately five hundred years ago, and the abandonment
of the city by the elves.
Cintra was one of the Northern Kingdoms, located south of
Sodden, Riverdell, and the great river Yaruga.
Cintra was a very powerful kingdom in the times of Queen
Calanthe, but was conquered by Nilfgaard during the First
Nilfgaard War. After the Second Nilfgaard War, the kingdom
was nominally an independent state, but was actually ruled
by Emperor Emhyr var Emreis of Nilfgaard because of his
marriage to Empress Cirilla, also known as False Ciri.
Cintra's neighbors are Sodden, Brugge, and the Nilfgaard
province of Nazair. When Emhyr var Emreis proclaimed
False Ciri queen, he also named her princess of Brugge,
duchess of Sodden, heir of Skellige, and sovereign of Attre
and Abb Yarra.
Isles of Skellige
Skellige, commonly referred to as the Skellige Isles or the
Isles of Skellige, is an archipelago and one of the Northern
Kingdoms. The group of six islands is situated in the Great
Sea, off the coast of Cintra and southwest of Cidaris and
Verden. It's legendary, famous for the unrivaled corsairs and
swift longships that sail many seas.
Its people are united under the King of the Skellige Isles,
who's elected by the jarls of the seven major clans during
traditional moots. In practice, however, the kings are from the
same clan or at least related.
Even though their relations with most of the North were
always tense, to say the least, they were longtime allies of
Cintra, due to the marriage between Queen Calanthe and
Eist Tuirseach of Skellige. After King Eist's death in the
Battle of Marnadal, the Islanders concentrated their raids on
the Nilfgaardian Empire in an act of revenge.
Before the first appearance of a human, the isles were
apparently inhabited and dominated by Aen Seidhe elves who
shared it with giants and frost giants.
Humans who came to settle the isles had first divided
themselves into independent clans with jarls, clan chieftains,
as sovereign rulers of their respective islands.
Thus were the petty jarldoms of Skellige, small in size,
several times invaded by rising powers of the Continent
throughout the years. Most menacing of such invaders being
Cidaris whose kings made attempts at full insurrection,
however, no one ever managed to conquer them. On the
contrary, the threat of larger kingdoms and uncivilized
barbarians from smaller islets further away caused Skelligers
to unite. Skellige then became an elective monarchy, ruled by
a king chosen from among the jarls.
Clan an Craite
Clan an Craite is the second most powerful clan in Skellige
and the most important ally of Clan Tuirseach, the longtime
holders of the throne. Its jarls reign over the northern half of
Ard Skellig from Kaer Trolde citadel. Legend has it that the
keep was single-handedly carved out of a large boulder by
Grymmdjarr, son of Hemdall and Heulyn famed for his
strength, who then started the clan.
Their colors are red and black, which they carry on their
shields, tartans, and sails along with three black longships
symbolizing either their marine prowess or mighty fleet.
Clan Brokvar
Clan Brokvar is one of the seven most influential clans of
Skellige from Svorlag in northeastern Spikeroog. The
progenitor is, according to legend, Sove who had to suffer a
great deal until his father Hemdall and goddess Freya gave
him Understanding. The name of the clan is derived from the
ancestral family steel sword Brokvar that was in the family
for generations.
They are considered cowards by members of Clan an
Craite and Clan Tuirseach since one of their jarls withdrew
from a battle when he saw that the enemy showed larger
numbers. In spite of that the clan is famous for its archers
that are said to have no equal on any of the isles.
Clan Heymaey
Clan Heymaey, also known as Clan an Hindar because of the
holy grave located in their domain, is one of the seven most
influential clans controlling the Skellige Isles. Their territory
is Hindarsfjall according to the legends given by Freya and
Hemdall to heroic progenitor Otkell, one of Hemdall's sons.
Distinction of this clan from the others is their piety
resulting from the fact that the Temple of Freya, the greatest
church for this goddess and the holy grave of Hindar, are both
located here. This clan does not have a specific rival in the
Isles, only some "classic" disputes with Clan Drummond.
Clan Dimun
Clan Dimun or also Clan an Dimun is one of the seven most
influential clans controlling the Skellige islands. Their
territory is Faroe ruled from Harviken. Members of the clan
developed a reputation as cheats, thieves, and marauders
worse than any other from the archipelago. Islanders
consider Broddr to be the progenitor of the clan, quite
strange as the hero was a paragon of virtue.
Clan Drummond
Clan Drummond is one of the seven most influential clans
controlling the Skellige islands. Their territory was originally
Undvik but then they left the island and settled in the
southern half of Ard Skellig which centers in Holmstein and
Kaer Muire. The founder of the family is said to be Modolf
who ruled by the will of his father Hemdall.
Jarls from this clan do have a tradition in pillaging
possessions of Heymaeys on Hindarsfjall but the biggest and
only true rival for them is Clan an Craite. The Jarls
established seat is the fortress of Kaer Muire while the role
of capital is in the hands of Holmstein.
Clan Tuirseach
Clan Tuirseach is one of the seven most influential clans
controlling Skellige. It rules over An Skellig, its southern part
is low and flat while the hidden northern side precipitous and
scored with fjords. Their emblem is head of a white bear on a
blue or teal shield. This is tied to a legend of Tyr, the son of
Hemdall and Heulyn famed for his cleverness, who defeated
powerful Yngvar with an enhanced sword and founded a clan.
They gave the Isles at least two kings and held positions like
Jarl of Skellige or King of Cintra, as they were connected to
House of Raven through marriage. They also have ties to
another powerful family, Clan an Craite of Ard Skellig.
Clan Tordarroch
Clan Tordarroch is one of the seven most influential clans
controlling the Skellige Isles. Clan Tordarroch is native to
Undvik. They are renowned for master smiths and excellent
fisherman. A famous forge where the best tools and weapons
in all of isles were once made belonged to them. They were
ultimately driven off the island due to the Frost Giant.
However some of them survived, hid on Ard Skellig, and
later, after Hjalmar an Craite and his crew slew the giant,
returned and repaired their former homes.
Independent Realms
The North is home to a handful of independent realms,
mostly nonhuman lands, who are either officially their own
states, or are functionally independent due to political
machinations.
Brokilon
Brokilon (Brokiloén in Elder Speech), also known among
humans as the Forest of Death, is an ancient forest
queendom on the Continent and the sole nonhuman state in
Northern Realms never conquered nor subjugated by
Nordlings. Ruled by dryads and hamadryads, it hosts many
other races and species persecuted in the outside world.
According to the dwarven accounts, the dryads had been
present in the world "since always", some even speculating
they were here as early as the first tree. Thus it can be
assumed that Brokilon itself is equally old. When Aen Seidhe
arrived in the Continent, dryads adopted certain elven
customs as language, as well as interbred with them. At least
one elven town, Craag An, was built within the forest's
borders but was abandoned and ruined an unknown amount
of time later as the forest's inhabitants were not very tolerant
towards those who modify the natural environment to one's
will.
The biggest threat to the forest, however, was yet to come.
Early after First Landing, humans perceived nymphs as
monsters, demons who had to be either expelled or destroyed
in order to obtain new lands. Leimoniads and oreads faced
near extinction, the number of hamadriads decreasing with
each cut tree. While other dryad forests surrendered and
eventually forged a relative peace with humans, who were
after all potential fathers of their children, Brokilon never
subjugated. The major, ongoing conflict started in the 11th
century, over the course of which Brokilon lost, among
others, Burnt Stump, Eight-Mile and Owl Hills. Dryads never
recognized the human borders and continued to attack
humans as far as Sodden.
Brokilon and its neighbouring Nordling realms remained
hostile towards each other, though attempts at making peace
were made by at least few human monarchs, such as Venzlav
of Brugge. The negotiations were usually turned down by
Queen Eithné who perceived most of the human side's
conditions, such as giving up half of the forest, as
unacceptable.
During the Northern Wars Brokilon supported Scoia'tael
guerrilla, providing them a safe place to retreat, heal and find
guides. At the early stages of war, dryads organized
ambushes at unsuspecting scalp hunters from Verden and
Kerack who were lured into the forest by Milva,
impersonating a "guide".
Brokilon is inhabited by numerous intelligent races, some
of them almost extinct outside of the forest's border. Apart
from the dryads and hamadryads, one can encounter
leprechauns, pucks, and other nymphs such as rusalkas. The
dryad society does not include members of these other races,
but dryads occasionaly meet them in order to mate.
The dryads of Brokilon are organized in a quasi-monarchic
society, for centuries led by Queen Eithné residing in Duén
Canell. She administered the forest through messengers and
operatives, such as Sinéad and Milva.
As forest nymphs, dryads are spiritually connected to the
nature. They seem not to have objections against hunting but
deeply care for trees and other plants. It is absolutely
forbidden to bring fire into the forest or to cut a tree with axe.
Instead of cutting wood to construct buildings, hamadryad
magic allows the dryads to shape the living trees and shrubs
whichever way they want. This way, they can have huts, or
even large houses, either on the ground or in the treetops.
Dol Blathanna
Dol Blathanna,translated from Elder Speech as the Valley of
Flowers, was a kingdom and now an allod to Aedirn. It is
bordered on the north by Kaedwen and the Blue Mountains
to the east. It belonged to the elves for ages, until humans
came and laid claim to the land about one hundred years ago,
and the elves fled to the mountains.
The region, while originally held by elves, later fell to
humans around the 1160s and, by the summer of 1267, was
ruled over by a governor from Vengerberg in Aedirn.
Emperor Emhyr var Emreis of Nilfgaard, however, looking
to take out the Northern mages and prevent a humiliating
defeat like during the First Northern War, enlisted the help of
Francesca Findabair, promising to give her Dol Blathanna
and make her queen. After the Thanedd coup, while there
were heavy casualties on all sides, Francesca was successful
and, true to his word, the emperor made her queen, giving the
elves a kingdom of their own.
This was short-lived. Following the Battle of Brenna in
March of 1268, Nilfgaard once more suffered a devastating
defeat and by early April, meetings were held to hash out the
terms of peace. Meanwhile, Aedirn's king, Demavend III,
acknowledged the new land, but as a duchy rather than a
kingdom, and requested he be paid a tribute and that Dol
Blathanna grant equal rights to both humans and elves.
Francesca, having heard all this upstairs with the other
Lodge of Sorceresses' members, agreed to all of Demavend's
conditions except paying tribute, making Dol Blathanna a
freehold and lowering her status to that of duchess.
Mahakam
Mahakam is both a vassal state and mountain range between
the kingdoms of Temeria, Aedirn, Lyria and Rivia, and
Sodden and is inhabited by dwarves, gnomes, halflings, and
werebbubbs.
It is the biggest known exporter of iron and steel to the
Northern Kingdoms and Nilfgaard, and many mines,
foundries, forges, and ironworks are located there. Mahakam
iron is famous for its quality and is considered to be the best
in the world. Aside from its iron, Mahakam is famous for its
weapons, especially gwyhyrs forged using advanced gnomish
technology.
Although the kings of Temeria are titular lords of
Mahakam, in practice its dwarves and gnomes keep the
region largely autonomous, as any foreign intervention would
cause them to stop the supply shipments and flood the mines.
The real power lies in the hands of local clans governed by a
chosen elder who rules absolutely for life. During the reign of
King Foltest, the position was held by Brouver Hoog.
Apart from the rich mines and breathtaking strongholds,
the enclave is famous for its Ale Festival, which takes place
every twenty-five years and attracts thousands of participants
from every part of the world. This is the only occasion where
the gates of Mahakam are opened to everyone. When the
festival is ended, no one can enter the enclave, except with
the permission of the Elder-in-Chief, who usually gift the
visitor with the Leaden Ring, which allows him to stay in
Mahakam as long as he desires.
Apart from the rich mines and breathtaking strongholds,
the enclave is famous for its Ale Festival, which takes place
every twenty-five years from the end of September to mid-
October and attracts thousands of participants from every
part of the world. This is the only occasion where the gates of
Mahakam are opened to everyone. When the festival is
ended, no one can enter the enclave, except with the
permission of the Elder-in-Chief, who usually gift the visitor
with the Leaden Ring, which allows him to stay in Mahakam
as long as he desires.
1267 Mahakaman Ale Festival
All have heard of Mahakam, yet few have seen the
famed dwarven homeland and stronghold from
within. Elder-in-Chief Brouver Hoog is ever
distrustful of travelers and opens the gates to them
with the greatest reluctance... unless, that is, they
come to attend the Great Mahakam Ale-Tucking.
For you see, once each quarter century, Mahakam
opens its doors to any who wish to celebrate... uh,
well, hm, drunkenness, really. Yet while the
librations are volatile and the hangovers brutal, the
feast itself usually remains a peaceful affair... except
for once, when guests from Skellige boasted they
could out drink the dwarves by barrels. Naturally,
Brouver Hoog could not let the insult stand
unchallenged!
The quarrel between the dwarves and Skelligers
had been barely resolved when another vicious
dispute erupted. Draig Bon-Dhu boasted he alone
of all the world's bards could flawlessly perform the
infamously demanding chorus to "The Virgins of
Vicovaro" after downing a fifth of Mahakaman
spirit. Upon hearing the claim, Dandelion grabbed
the nearest flask, drained it in three slurps and
began strumming his lute with deft fingers...
If Brouver Hoog had had his fill of fracases for
the day, he was sadly in for a disappointment.
Towards the evening's end, three unexpected
guests crashed the feast. Even more unexpectedly,
they were neither dwarves nor men, but rock trolls.
Offended Hoog had not sent them an invitation,
the trolls took to tearing the feast fall apart. Most
of the warriors had already fallen, casualties of a
doomed battle against mead... but not Odrin. The
brave Kaedweni wiped the foam from his mustache
and stood to face both the enraged trolls and
gravity.
Brouver Hoog drew two conclusions from the
whole affair. First - one should never mix plum
brandy and Nilfgaardian lemon schnapps. Second -
next time, he would either need to invite the
trolls... or order his guards to being no strong drink
to their lips. His guests left Mahakam hoping that
they would attend the next Ale-Tucking in twenty-
five years - and that their hangovers would abate by
then...

Novigrad
Novigrad is a free city within Redania and is therefore not
subject to the rule of that kingdom. It is one of the major
ports on the continent and populated by nearly 30,000
inhabitants, making it one of the largest cities in the North.
Like any true metropolis, Novigrad has many factories and
is home to all manner of craftsmen offering every ware
possible and one can even find the occasional con-man or
shady dealer. The city is also home to numerous banks and
even has a zoo. The Eternal Fire is said to protect the city's
inhabitants from all evil, monsters included. The thick city
walls have never been breached, as they were tactfully
designed by the architects of the Oxenfurt Academy.
Novigrad is inhabited by an unusually colorful group of both
permanent residents and those in town on long and short-
term visits. Most eye-catching amidst the throngs of common
townsfolk, stall-keepers, and craftsmen are those practicing
the more roguish professions. There is no army in the city but
it does have a secret service, an ever-present Temple Guard,
and a powerful Temple Fleet.
Before the First Landing, Novigrad was a small elven
settlement. When the first human ships arrived in the Pontar
Delta, the city was abandoned by the elves and it quickly
became the capital of a new country created by King
Sambuk, the ancestor of the first king of Redania.
During the reign of Vestibor the Proud, Novigrad was
conquered by Temeria during the Seven Years' War. The
capital of Redania was then moved to Tretogor and Novigrad
became a Temerian city for a long period.
The situation changed again during the reign of Vestibor's
grandson, Radovid III the Bold. After long negotiations, a
compromise was reached and the metropolis was proclaimed
as a free city.
Although Redanian kings are officially recognized as "kings
of Redania and Novigrad", real authority is vested in the
hierarch by the Electoral College
By 1272 the current hierarch was Cyrus Engelkind
Hemmelfart.
Saskia's Free State (1271)
Saskia's Free State was a state in Upper Aedirn created by
Saskia. Theoretically, it is a country without prejudice. Being
tolerant of all nations and races, elves, humans, mages, and
even trolls could live side by side, as was Saskia's vision.
The Lodge, however, had different plans for the Free State
and planned to take over the country and use it for their own
purposes. The leaders of this nation were to become Philippa
Eilhart and Sheala de Tancarville. If Geralt lifts the spell from
Saskia, she regains power in her country. It is bordered by
the Blue Mountains to the east, the Dyfne river to the south
and west, and the Pontar to the north.
After the events of the summit at Loc Muinne, Nilfgaard
defeats Vergen, their defiant city razed to the ground, and
Saskia, with Geralt's help, flees the city after the death of
Barclay Els. After losing the battle with the Nilfgaardians, the
territory is merged with the province Aedirn.
The World of the Aen Elle
Chapter 3: Races of the Continent
T
HE CONTINENT IS HOME TO MANY
races, some of them immigrants from other
worlds who found their way here in ancient
times when gates and portals were more
plentiful, and easier to traverse. Others are
relative newcomers to the world, still finding a
place for themselves among the
longestablished races. The civilizations of the elder races
have declined, while those of the younger races are
flourishing and spreading ever outward.
Only some of the character races described in the Player's
Handbook are found in the world of the witcher, along with
some subraces unique to the Continent. Each character race
has all the traits of the primary race, as given in the Player's
Handbook, plus traits for each subrace that are unique to
those individuals, unless it is an entirely new race. This
chapter provides racial traits for a subrace only when they
differ from or replace those given in the Player's Handbook.
The information in this chapter is specific to the Continent,
so if something stated here differs from what's presented in
the Player's Handbook, this material takes precedence.
Dwarves
"DWARVES," MILVA SAID UNDER HER BREATH. "BUT
they aren't Scoia'tael. They don't have plaited beards." There
were six of them, dressed in short, hooded capes,
shimmering with countless shades of grey and brown, the
kind which were usually worn by dwarves in foul weather.
Capes like that, as Geralt knew, had the quality of being
totally waterproof, which was achieved by the impregnation
of wood tar over many years, not to mention dust from the
highway and the remains of greasy food. These practical
garments passed from fathers to oldest sons, as a result they
were used exclusively by mature dwarves. And a dwarf
attains maturity when his beard reaches his waist, which
usually occurs at the age of fifty-five.
-Andrzej Sapkowski, Baptism of Fire
Dwarves are one of the humanoid races. Together with
gnomes and elves they are called the Elder Races, and along
with gnomes they were one of the oldest sentient races on
the Continent. An adult dwarf grows as tall as a human
male's chest. They are more sturdy than humans, which
makes them tougher and stronger. They usually grow long
beards. Dwarves are often excellent soldiers, artisans and
businessmen. While they tend to be uncouth, they are also
jolly and cheerful.
The motherland of dwarves is Mahakam. Like other
nonhumans, dwarves are often persecuted by Nordlings.
Because of that, some dwarves were members of the
Scoia'tael guerrilla allied with Nilfgaard during the empire's
invasion of the Northern Kingdoms. These dwarves
distinguished themselves from their brethren by wearing
their beards in plaits, though dwarves from Mahakam have
many laws on how to wear their beards.
Short and Stout
Bold and hardy, dwarves are known as skilled warriors,
miners, and workers of stone and metal. Though they stand
well under 5 feet tall, dwarves are so broad and compact that
they can weigh as much as a human standing nearly two feet
taller. Their courage and endurance are also easily a match
for any of the larger folk.
Dwarven skin ranges from deep brown to a paler hue
tinged with red, but the most common shades are light brown
or deep tan, like certain tones of earth. Their hair, worn long
but in simple styles, is usually black, gray, or brown, though
paler dwarves often have red hair. Their women are also
capable of growing beards, and it is difficult to convince any
dwarf humans are not in love with their women's kitten-soft
facial hair. Dwarves value their beards highly and groom
them carefully.
Long Memories
Dwarves are solid and enduring like the mountains they love,
weathering the passage of centuries with stoic endurance
and little change. They respect the traditions of their clans,
tracing their ancestry back to the founding of their most
ancient strongholds in the youth of the world, and don't
abandon those traditions lightly.
Individual dwarves are determined and loyal, true to their
word and decisive in action, sometimes to the point of
stubbornness. Many dwarves have a strong sense of justice,
and they are slow to forget wrongs they have suffered. A
wrong done to one dwarf is a wrong done to the dwarf's
entire clan, so what begins as one dwarf's hunt for vengeance
can become a full-blown clan feud.
Clans and Mahakam
The dwarven lands of Mahakam stretches deep beneath the
mountains where the dwarves mine gems and precious
metals and forge items of wonder alongside the gnomes.
They love the beauty and artistry of precious metals and fine
jewelry, and in some dwarves this love festers into avarice.
Whatever wealth they can't find in their mountains, they gain
through trade. Trustworthy members of other races are
almost never welcome in dwarf settlements, with the
exception of the Ale Festival and those bearing the Leaden
Ring, who may extend their welcome to their companions.
The chief unit of dwarven society is the clan, and dwarves
highly value social standing. Even dwarves who live far from
their own kingdoms cherish their clan identities and
affiliations, recognize related dwarves, and invoke their
ancestors' names in oaths and curses. To be clanless is the
worst fate that can befall a dwarf.
Dwarves in other lands are typically artisans, especially
weaponsmiths, armorers, and jewelers. Some become
mercenaries, bodyguards, or cutthroats, highly sought after
for their courage and loyalty.
For Riches and Clan
Dwarves who take up the adventuring life might be motivated
by a desire for treasure-for its own sake, for a specific
purpose, or even out of an altruistic desire to help others.
Other dwarves are driven by the command or inspiration of a
deity, a direct calling or simply a desire to bring glory to
Bloemenmagde. Clan and ancestry are also important
motivators. A dwarf might seek to restore a clan's lost honor,
avenge an ancient wrong the clan suffered, or earn a new
place within the clan after having been exiled. Or a dwarf
might search for the axe wielded by a mighty ancestor, lost on
the field of battle centuries ago.
Dwarven Names
A dwarf's name is granted by a clan elder, in accordance with
tradition. Every proper dwarven name has been used and
reused down through the generations. A dwarf who misuses
or brings shame to a clan name is stripped of the name and
forbidden by law to use any dwarven name in its place.
Male Names: Addarion, Amadeus, Baltimore, Barclay,
Berthold, Blasco, Boros, Brendan, Brouver, Caesar, Caleb,
Carlo, Casimir, Cecil, Cosma, Dennis, Eggar, Einar, Elkana,
Fabian, Felix, Fergus, Ferko, Figgis, Gabor, Gabron,
Gaspard, Giacomo, Golan, Gunn, Gunter, Gus, Haggard,
Harald, Heekernen, Hoog, Hurgan, Igor, Isidor, Justin,
Lucas, Malcolm, Mantas, Merton, Molnar, Munro, Nino,
Ogden, Paulie, Raymond, Regan, Ren, Rhundurin, Rodolf,
Rostan, Ruiz, Schrader, Sheldon, Skalen, Thordak, Tunak,
Vimme, Waldmer, Wilfli, Willis, Xavier, Yaki, Yannick,
Yaren, Yarpen, Yazon, Zahin, Zoltan
Female Names: Eudora, Euphemia
Clan Names: Bach, Bassi, Bilzen, Bhangra, Birut, Bolt,
Brass, Breckenriggs, Bringgs, Bruys, Burdon, Candeleria,
Cianfanelli, Chivay, Cohenn, Corto, Craggs, Cranmer,
Dahlberg, Dorrit, Drozdeck, Els, Favela, Foster, Fuchs,
Gausel, Gessler, Giancardi, Gord, Graem, Grant, Grouver,
Hargis, Hoog, Ingvar, Kay, Kazmer, Merluzzo, Meyer,
Moran, Muggs, Rafiberg, Schmartz, Skaggs, Stein,
Stratton, Varda, Varese, Vivaldi, Zammorto, Zigrin
Mahakaman Dwarves
Mahakaman Dwarves on the Continent have the racial traits
of mountain dwarves in the Player's Handbook. They have
tan or rosy skin, with hair of brown, blond, black, or red, and
eyes of green, brown, or hazel. They wear their beards in
plaits.
Assimilated Dwarves
Assimilated Dwarves on the Continent have the racial traits
of hill dwarves in the Player's Handbook. They have tan or
rosy skin, with hair of brown, blond, black, or red, and eyes of
green, brown, or hazel. They wear their beards loose, and
might grow them shorter than their cousins.
Dwarven Deities
Bloemenmagde, an aspect of Dana Méadbh.

Elves
"WE WERE ORDERED TO ROUND THEM UP, BUT HOW
do you catch an elf? It's like trying to catch the wind."
-Lance Corporal Zyvik, Blood of Elves
Elves are one of the humanoid races that inhabit the
Continent. Forming a major part of the Elder Races (along
with dwarves and gnomes), those known as Aen Seidhe came
to the Continent on their white ships much earlier than
humans, but later than the other Elder Races.
Elves are capable of interbreeding with humans (thus
producing half-elves and quarter-elves) and dryads. Though
elves are incredibly long lived, only young elves are fertile,
and thus elven populations tend to reproduce at a slower rate
than humans.
Like other nonhumans, elves are often persecuted by
Nordlings. Because of that, many elves were members of the
Scoia'tael guerrillas allied with Nilfgaard during the empire's
second invasion of the Northern Kingdoms. In return,
Emperor Emhyr var Emreis gave the elves a state of their
own in Dol Blathanna and made Enid an Gleanna its queen.
Aside from Aen Seidhe, there exists another group of elves,
called Aen Elle, that inhabits another world.
Slender and Graceful
Characteristic features of elves include pointed ears and
small, identical teeth lacking cuspids, the canine teeth. Elves
tend to be very tall and lean, and due to their longevity often
appear youthful. Elves are often considered attractive by
humans. They are slightly taller than humans on average,
ranging from 5 feet tall to well over 6 feet. Males and females
are about the same height, and males are only marginally
heavier than females.
Elves' coloration encompasses the normal range of human
caucasians and also includes other skin colors. Elves have no
facial and little body hair. Like humans, elves choose to wear
a variety of different clothing styles. They favor elegant
clothing in bright colors, and they enjoy simple yet lovely
jewelry. Scoia'tael are known to favor furs and hides,
particularly those of squirrels and other forest dwelling
creatures.
A Timeless Perspective
Aen Seidhe can live well over 300 years, giving them a broad
perspective on events that might trouble the shorterlived
races more deeply. They are more often amused than excited,
and more likely to be curious than greedy. They tend to
remain aloof and unfazed by petty happenstance. When
pursuing a goal, however, whether adventuring on a mission
or learning a new skill or art, elves can be focused and
relentless. They are slow to make friends and enemies, and
even slower to forget them. They reply to petty insults with
disdain and to serious insults with vengeance.
Like the branches of a young tree, elves are flexible in the
face of danger. When humans first arrived, they trusted in
diplomacy and compromise to resolve differences before they
escalate to violence and retreated from intrusions into their
woodland homes, confident that they could simply wait the
invaders out. When the need arises, elves reveal a stern
martial side, demonstrating skill with sword, bow, and
strategy.
Hidden Woodland Ruins
Some elves dwell alongside humans on the edge of forests,
while others live in Dol Blathanna, the Blue Mountains, or
city slums. Though many now are destroyed, elves were once
capable of making great cities and palaces out of stone, but
did not make castles or fortresses. Despite their lack of
cuspids, necessity has driven the elves to omnivorism. Elves
hunt game and gather food, but have had difficulty learning to
grow crops and raise domesticated animals, their skill and
magic previously allowing them to support themselves
without the need for clearing and plowing land or consuming
meat. They are talented artisans, crafting finely worked
clothes and art objects. Their contact with outsiders is
usually limited, though a few elves make a good living in cities
and other positions with regular and somewhat friendly
relations with humans.
In battle, elven warriors favor bows and metal swords, as
well as light armor made out of furs and hides. They tend to
be skilled at sword fighting from horseback as well.
Exploration and Adventure
Elves take up adventuring out of wanderlust, vengeance, and
necessity, caused by persecution and hunger. They might
seek to lead normal lives alongside humans, or join with
rebels fighting against oppression. Others are powerful
mages who seclude themselves in ruins, converting them into
laboratories.
Elven Names
Elves are named by their parents and reach full maturity,
losing much of their fertility, reaching the end of their first
century of life. Even before this, only every other or every
third couple is successful in bearing children.
Male Aen Seidhe Names: Aegar, Angus, Caellad, Cairbre,
Cedric, Chireadan, Ciaran, Coinneach, Cuannah, Divethaf,
Durden, Echel, Éibhear, Eldain, Ele'yas, Elihal, Errdil,
Filavandrel, Galarr, Goeveth, Iorveth, Isengrim, Maeglor,
Mael, Maevarienn, Meryn, Nissail, Ra'mses, Reim,
Riordain, Seherim, Til, Tyen'sail, Valdo, Vanadain,
Yaevinn
Female Aen Seidhe Names: Aelirenn, Aenyeweddien,
Aevenien, Aideen, Amrynn, Breainne Diarbhail, Deirdre,
Derae, Ettariel, Eveline, Fionnuala, Francesca, Ida Emean,
Ilona, Ithlinne Aegli, Lorethiel, Malena, Milaen, Moril,
Mottle, Nissa, Saevel, Toruviel, Vernossiel, Vienne, Vinifrida
Aen Seidhe Surnames: aén Fidháil, aep Aevenien,
aep Cathall, aep Dearbh, aep Diared, aep Easnillen,
aep Finavail, aep Sihiel, ap Muigh, Bri Cri, Dá Reo,
aep Sivney, Echrade, Faoiltiarna, Findabair, Gallo,
Gor-Thon, Hattori, Traighlethan
Male Aen Elle Names: Auberon, Avallac'h, Crevan Espane,
Caranthir, Eredin, Ge'els, Imlerith, Inglor, Nithral
Female Aen Elle Names: Lara Dorren, Shiadhal
Aen Elle Surnames: aep Caomhan Macha, aep Shiadhal,
Ar-Feiniel, Bréacc Glas, Helyanwë, Muircetach
 Replacing Trance
Elves of the Continent do not enter a trance - they
sleep, just like humans and dwarves. the trance trait
can therefore be replaced with the following.
Marksman. When you make a ranged weapon
attack with a longbow or shortbow, you can use
your bonus action to make a second ranged
weapon attack with the same ranged weapon.

Dol Blathana Elves

As an elf of Dol Blathana, you have comly features, at least a
small amount of magic in your blood, and an affinity for art.
You have tan skin, with hair of mousy blond, blond, dark gold,
black, or red, and eyes of green or blue, although unusual
colors like yellow and purple have been known to appear.
Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by
1.
Elf Weapon Training. You have proficiency with the
longsword, shortsword, shortbow, and longbow.
Cantrip. You know one cantrip of your choice from the
sorcerer spell list. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for it.
Artistic. You gain proficiency with one set of Artisan's
Tools.
Scoia'tael
Scoia'tael on the Continent have the racial traits of wood
elves in the Player's Handbook, and include both actual
Scoia'tael and elves living amoung humans. They have light
skin, with hair of mousy blond, blond, black, or red, and eyes
of green or blue, although unusual colors like yellow and
purple have been known to appear.
Aen Elle
As an elf of the Aen Elle, years of war with the unicorns has
strengthened and hardened you. You have pale white or pale
blue tinted skin, with hair of mousy blond, black, or brown,
and eyes of silver or white.
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases
by 1.
Red Rider Training. You have proficiency with the
longsword, shortsword, and heavy armor.
Aen Elle Legacy. You know the frostbite cantrip. When
you reach 3rd level, you can cast the armor of agathys spell as
a 2nd-level spell once with this trait and regain the ability to
do so when you finish a short of long rest. Charisma is your
spellcasting ability for these spells.
Elven Deities
Dana Méadbh
Elves believe they were created by Dana Méadbh, unlike
humans, who evolved. For this reason, some elves consider
humans to be little more than hairless apes.
Elves generally avoid discussing their faith in the presence
of humans, because they think the barbarians would be
unable to grasp its philosophical and mystical subtleties.
Most humans, on the other hand, don't care about elven
beliefs.

Halflings
"IT DOESN'T MATTER ... IF THIS ONE HERE ... IS A
peasant, a member of the minor gentry, old nobility or
aristocracy. He's lying on my table. And to me, as I hum to
myself, a duke's worth a jester. Before God we are all equally
wise-and equally foolish."
-Milo Vanderbeck, halfling doctor, The Lady of the Lake
Halflings, sometimes called hobbits and in Elder Speech
Pherians, are one of the non-human races and, despite the
name, are actually a distinct race and not mixed, like half-
elves.
Unlike gnomes and dwarves whom they have best relations
with, halflings don't have any traditional dominion ruled and
inhabited exclusively by them. Instead, they live in human
countries of Northern Kingdoms, despite the prejudice, and
the Nilfgaardian Empire.
The comforts of home are the goals of most halflings' lives:
a place to settle in peace and quiet, far from marauding
monsters and clashing armies; a blazing fire and a generous
meal; fine drink and fine conversation. Though most halflings
live out their days in remote or human agricultural
communities, others form nomadic bands that travel
constantly, lured by the open road and the wide horizon to
discover the wonders of new lands and peoples. But even
these wanderers love peace, food, hearth, and home, though
home might be a wagon jostling along an dirt road or a raft
floating downriver.
Small and Practical
The diminutive halflings survive in a world full of larger
creatures by avoiding notice or, barring that, avoiding offense.
Standing about 3 feet tall, they appear relatively harmless and
so have managed to survive for centuries in the shadow of
empires and on the edges of wars and political strife. They
are inclined to be stout, weighing between 40 and 45 pounds.
Halflings' skin ranges from tan to pale with a ruddy cast,
and their hair is usually brown or sandy brown and wavy.
They have brown or hazel eyes. Halfling men often sport long
sideburns, but beards are rare among them and mustaches
even more so. They like to wear simple, comfortable, and
practical clothes, favoring bright colors.
Halfling practicality extends beyond their clothing. They're
concerned with basic needs and simple pleasures and have
little use for ostentation. Even the wealthiest of halflings keep
their treasures locked in a cellar rather than on display for all
to see. They have a knack for finding the most
straightforward solution to a problem, and have little
patience for dithering.
Kind and Curious
Halflings are an affable and cheerful people. They cherish the
bonds of family and friendship as well as the comforts of
hearth and home, harboring few dreams of gold or glory.
Even adventurers among them usually venture into the world
for reasons of community, friendship, wanderlust, or
curiosity. They love discovering new things, even simple
things, such as an exotic food or an unfamiliar style of
clothing.
Halflings are easily moved to pity and hate to see any living
thing suffer. They are generous, happily sharing what they
have even in lean times.
Blend Into the Crowd
Halflings are adept at fitting into a community of humans,
dwarves, or elves, making themselves valuable and welcome.
The combination of their inherent stealth and their
unassuming nature helps halflings to avoid unwanted
attention.
Halflings work readily with others, and they are loyal to
their friends, whether halfling or otherwise. They can display
remarkable ferocity when their friends, families, or
communities are threatened.
Pastoral Pleasantries
Most halflings live in small, peaceful communities with large
farms and well-kept groves. They rarely build kingdoms of
their own or even hold much land beyond their quiet shires.
They typically don't recognize any sort of halfling nobility or
royalty, instead looking to family elders to guide them.
Families preserve their traditional ways despite the rise and
fall of empires.
Many halflings live among other races, where the halflings'
hard work and loyal outlook offer them abundant rewards
and creature comforts. Some halfling communities travel as a
way of life, driving wagons or guiding boats from place to
place and maintaining no permanent home.
Exploration Opportunities
Halflings usually set out on the adventurer's path to defend
their communities, support their friends, or explore a wide
and wonder-filled world. For them, adventuring is less a
career than an opportunity or sometimes a necessity.
Halfling Names
Halflings all have a first and a family name. They might also
have a nickname. Petunia is a very popular female name,
with many families having at least one.
Male Names: Andy, Arno, Bernard, Bernie, Brean, Brunon,
Cosmo, Dainty, Didi, Folkert, Franklin, Henri, Holofernes,
Hugo, Milo, Otto, Rico, Rocco, Sam, Sandy, William
Female Names: Aloë, Begonia, Cinia, Gardenia, Impatientia,
Incarvilia, Lily, Lotta, Petunia, Tangerinka, Tara, Yasmin
Family Names: Ansbach, Baldenvegg, Bamber, Biberveldt,
Frogmorton, Hardbottom, Herberck, Hildebrandt, Hoff,
Hofmeier, Hotsch, Meiersdorf, Rautlec, Tulle, Vanderbeck
Halfling Traits
Your halfling character has an innate magical resistance and
is inclined to be affable and get along well with others.
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by
2, and your Wisdom score increases by 1.
Age. A halfting reaches adulthood at the age of 20 and
generally lives into the middle of his or her second century.
Alignment. Most halftings are lawful good. As a rule, they are
good-hearted and kind, hating to see others in pain. They are
also very orderly and traditional, leaning heavily on the
support of their community and the comfort of farm life.
Size. Halftings average about 3 feet tall and weigh about
40 pounds. Your size is Small.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet.
Magical Resistance. Whenever you roll a saving throw
against a magical effect, you have advantage. Illusion magic
meant to change or enhance your appearance has no effect
on you. Magic potions also have no positive effect on you.
Farmhand. You have the ability to communicate in a
limited manner with beasts. They can understand the
meaning of your words, though you have no special ability to
understand them in return. You have advantage on all
Wisdom (Animal Handling) checks made to influence them.
Halfling Nimbleness. You can move through the space of
any creature that is of a size larger than yours.
Naturally Stealthy. You can attempt to hide even when you
are obscured only by a creature that is at least one size larger
than you.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and
Halfling. The Halfting language isn't secret, but halftings are
loath to share it with others. They write very little, so they
don't have a rich body of literature. Their oral tradition,
however, is very strong. Almost all halftings speak Common
to converse with the people in whose lands they dwell or
through which they are traveling.
Halfling Deities
Humans
Humans are the dominant race on the Continent, forming the
majority of inhabitants in both the Northern Kingdoms and
the Nilfgaardian Empire. When humans first arrived on the
already-populated Continent, they quickly set about
conquering the lands already inhabited by Elder Races. The
humans thus established themselves as the dominant race
and so elves, dwarves, gnomes, werebbubbs, and halflings
are now generally referred to as "nonhumans."
A Broad Spectrum
With their penchant for migration and conquest, humans are
more physically diverse than other common races. There is
no typical human. An individual can stand from 5 feet to a
little over 6 feet tall and weigh from 125 to 250 pounds.
Humans are not terribly dissimilar from Aen Seidhe elves in
appearance, but humans do not have pointed ears, delicate
features, and their teeth are slightly bigger. While elves tend
to live far longer than humans, humans reproduce at a faster
rate. Humans reach adulthood in their late teens and rarely
live even a single century.
Variety in All Things
Humans are the most adaptable and ambitious people among
the common races. They have widely varying tastes, morals,
and customs in the many different lands where they have
settled. When they settle, though, they stay: they build cities
to last for the ages, and great kingdoms that can persist for
long centuries. An individual human might have a relatively
short life span, but a human nation or culture preserves
traditions with origins far beyond the reach of any single
human's memory. They live fully in the present-making them
well suited to the adventuring life-but also plan for the future,
striving to leave a lasting legacy. Individually and as a group,
humans are adaptable opportunists, and they stay alert to
changing political and social dynamics.
Lasting Insitutions
Where a single elf or dwarf might take on the responsibility of
guarding a special location or a powerful secret, humans
found sacred orders and institutions for such purposes.
While dwarf clans and halfling elders pass on the ancient
traditions to each new generation, human temples,
governments, libraries, and codes of law fix their traditions in
the bedrock of history. Humans dream of immortality, but
(except for those few who seek undeath or divine ascension
to escape death's clutches) they achieve it by ensuring that
they will be remembered when they are gone.
The nordlings are at war with elves in particular and have a
rather poor relationship with the dwarves, halflings,
werebbubbs, and gnomes. The races do live together in the
cities, however, the nonhumans are forced to pay a levy just
for being nonhumans, and several pogroms have taken place.
Many of the larger human cities were built on the ruins of
elven cities which the humans had burned down, like Vizima
and Novigrad.
Exemplars of Ambition
Humans who seek adventure are the most daring and
ambitious members of a daring and ambitious race. They
seek to earn glory in the eyes of their fellows by amassing
power, wealth, and fame. More than other people, humans
champion causes rather than territories or groups.
Human Names and Ethnicities
Having so much more variety than other cultures, humans as
a whole have no typical names. The material culture and
physical characteristics of humans can change wildly from
region to region. In the Continent, for example, the clothing,
architecture, cuisine, music, and literature are different in the
Isles of Skellige than in distant Toussaint or Kaedwen to the
east-and even more distinctive in far-off Zerrikania.
Haak
Markee
Nilfgaardian
Nordling
Aedirnian Names
Cintran Names
Temerian Names
Male Names: Aarhenius, Abdank, Adalbert, Adam, Alvin,
Amavet, Ambros, Angus, Anzelm, Arthur, Aryan, Aubry,
Baltt, Barnold, Bartholomew, Bastien, Berem, Bernard,
Berthold, Bokhai, Bolko, Borzoy, Boussy, Bram, Bronibor,
Bruno, Bytomir, Cedric, Chet, Chorab, Clord, Codringher,
Coleman, Conrad, Crispin, Dagmar, Daniel, Deuslax,
Devereux, Dezmod, Dieter, Dromle, Dune, Enzo, Erkyn,
Falco, Falwick, Fenn, Finch, Florian, Foltest, Franklin,
Frans, Franz, Fuson, Gardik, Geddes, Genny, Gert, Gardik,
Goidemar, Graham, Griffin, Haddy, Hardal, Haren,
Harevard, Hareward, Harn, Herman, Hortensio, Hugo,
Hugues, Humbert, Ignatius, Igo, Igor, Jackamar, Jacob, Jan,
Jarre, Jeremiah, Jethro, Johann, John, Jonah, Jurkast,
Kalkstein, Kobus, Kurt, Lambert, Leslav, Linus, Lodrin,
Louis, Marquis, Martin, Medell, Melfi, Michael, Mikah,
Mikel, Mikkel, Mikul, Milton, Mislav, Morden, Napp,
Nidas, Niellen, Norman, Odolan, Ontan, Orvall, Ostrit,
Oswin, Oven, Pat, Patrick, Paul, Phillip, Pieter, Preben,
Primisalvus, Radko, Raffard, Ragbard, Ralf, Ravanen,
Raymond, Robert, Roderick, Roger, Segelin, Seuxen,
Sheridan, Silas, Stan, Stran, Swann, Symko, Thaler, Titus,
Tobias, Travik, Treska, Valerian, Velerad, Vernon, Vincent,
Vitek, Vitty, Volker, Voytek, Vserad, Walthemor, Willemer,
Wolfstein, Yanos, Yaren, Yontek, Yoël, Zdenek
Female Names: Abigail, Adalia, Adda, Adela, Agneta, Alina,
Annabelle, Anaïs, Anezka, Anna, Annie, Arnesse, Aynara,
Bazyli, Bienvenu, Brigida, Carmen, Caroline, Celina, Claer,
Dea, Debora, Diana, Dolores, Elsa, Eurneid, Fiona, Glenna,
Glover, Gretka, Hanna, Hildegard, Hrosvitha, Ilsa, Iola,
Jayne, Julia, Katje, Keira, Lena, Lessy, Leticia, Liesje,
Mandy, Margret, Margrit, Maria, Marica, Marietta, Matilda,
Mikula, Millie, Muriel, Myrrha, Petunia, Prine, Tamara,
Tangerinka, Thecla, Tomira, Triss, Tvilla, Ves, Yagna,
Yagoda, Yanina, Zula
Surnames: Ansbach, Aubry, Bargee, Blunt, Borel, Brogg,
Candeleria, Charbonneau, Duben, Dysart, Etcheverry,
Fenn, Fishgulper, Geermer, Gielas, Glomb, Grethen,
Hoffman, Hofmeier, Kameny, Kimbolt, Kniprode, Krantz,
Loredo, Maarloeve, Maravel, Merigold, Meis, Merse, Metz,
Mitty, Natalis, Papebrock, Pulcheria, Reardon, Roche,
Sador, Strenger, Szabo, Tailles, Torquil, Trick, Verdun,
Verrieres, Vildenvert, Ygvenn, Zollstock
Noble Titles: de Napeys, de Saint-Villiers, de Weyze,
de Vintre, de Vollen, don Stessa, La Creahme, la Guevre,
La Louve, La Valette, of Garramone, of Maribor,
of Oakdale, of Temeria
Redanian Names
Most Redanians have a first name and a surname, or a first
name and a title.
Male Names: Abbé, Abelard, Abner, Abrad, Adalbert,
Aeramas, Albert, Aldert, Alexy, Alonso, Andres, Anselm,
Bertram, Blenheim, Bohumil, Boratek, Brandon, Bruno,
Carlo, Casimir, Caspar, Centurion, Chappelle, Dambor,
Damiaan, Denhard, Donimir, Dragomir, Duke
Female Names: Aldona, Bea, Celia, Dalimira, Dalka
Surnames: Blenckert, Faria, Geert, Lamch, Lanier, Rizza,
Rycher, Solpietra, Tybalt, Vegelbud, Vierny, Wiley
Noble Titles: de Lauterpacht, de Lettenhove, de Navarette,
de Ruyter, of Oxenfurt, of Tretogor, of Troy, van Schagen, von
Everec
Ofiri
Skelliger
Zangvebarian
Zerrikanian

Dopplers
"YOUR PACKAGE? YOUR BROTHER PICKED IT UP. YOU
know, you two're damn near identical... Hey! Where you
running off to?!"
– Hanne Kluger, postmaster
Dopplers, also known as vexlings or changelings, are
beings able to take on the form of any humanoid or animal
they please. This transformation is no mere illusion able to
be shattered with a simple spell, but an authentic and
complete metamorphosis. This means no protective amulets
or witcher medallions will signal a doppler's presence - they
emanate the same aura as the being whose form they have
assumed. This, combined with their incredible intellect and
cunning, would make dopplers supreme assassins or thieves -
had not nature endowed them with generous and timid
spirits which make them avoid the shedding of blood at all
costs.
Hidden People
Dopplers (also called shifters, mimics, doubles, imitators, or
pavrats) are shapeshifters who can take the form of anyone or
any beast they have encountered, provided it has a similar
body weight. They used to live in the plateau and forests
around the Pontar near modern-day Novigrad, but moved to
the city itself after it proved to offer more possibilities of
survival.
In natural form they look quite hideous – like bald, long-
nosed and yellow-eyed midgets with elongated limbs,
tongues, and noses; somewhat resembling a figurine molded
out of dough. They rarely remain so, however – they can
change into any being who they know and who does not differ
from their size. They can copy so precisely that apart from
appearance they acquire physical features (like voice), skills,
mindset, and characteristic behaviors. To do all this they don't
need any previous insightful observation, they do it
instinctively. They also can change fragments of their bodies
into clothes or equipment, like a sword or lute.
Their abilities have some limitations, however: shapeshift
is possible only if they do not touch silver, and any item
created from their body would change into torn out flesh if it
loses contact with the rest of a doppler.
Masks and Personas
Before the First Landing dopplers used to inhabit a plateau
and forests near the Pontar Delta. They spent time taking
forms of wolves and other animals and join their packs or
herds. During winters, they usually hibernated in
windthrows. For a doppler, their shapeshifting provides them
a defense which makes up for their lack of claws and other
features.
All of that changed dramatically when the human settlers
arrived, hunting dopplers like rabid dogs. Only a few survived
and most of those began to move to newly-built Novigrad to
live as humans and members of other more accepted races.
Even that wasn't easy however – the mistrust of vexlings grew
to such levels that some fanatical priests captured the
hapless creatures and killed them in the most excruciating
way: they would be encased in clay vessels and baked until
they burst.
Doppler Names
A doppler's name is usually two simple syllables, such as
Dudu. Otherwise they have no conventions, nor do they
recognize gender in and of themselves, as a doppler might
assume the identity of male for one purpose and a female
identity for another.
Doppler Traits
Your doppler character is blessed with the ability to change
shape and unerringly assume another's identity.
Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by
2, and either your Dexterity or your Intelligence increases by
1 (your choice).
Age. Dopplers mature slightly faster than humans but
share a similar lifespan – typically a century or less. While a
changeling can shapeshift to conceal their age, the effects of
aging still catch up to them.
Alignment. Dopplers are exceptionally kind and gentle
beings in general, for whom the ability of metamorphosis
serves as compensation for lack of aggression, fangs and
claws.
Size. In their natural forms, changelings average between
5 to 6 feet in height, with a slender build. Your size is
Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Change Appearance. As an action, you can transform your
appearance or revert to your natural form. You can’t duplicate
the appearance of a creature you’ve never seen, and you
revert to your natural form if you die or come into contact
with silver.
You decide what you look like, including your height,
weight, facial features, the sound of your voice, coloration,
hair length, sex, and any other distinguishing characteristics.
You can make yourself appear as a member of another
Humanoid race, though none of your game statistics change.
Your clothing and other equipment don't change in
appearance, size, or shape to match your new form, but your
flesh can take on the appearance of clothes and equipment so
long as it remains a part of you. Injuries you sustain persist
from one form to the other.
Even to the most astute observers, your ruse is usually
indiscernible. If you rouse suspicion, or if a wary creature
suspects something is amiss, you have advantage on any
Charisma (Deception) check you make to avoid detection.
Doppler Instincts. You gain any three skill or tool
proficiencies the creature you have turned into has. You can
also choose from Deception, Intimidation, Insight, and
Persuasion, or any tool proficiency. Finally, you can gain
expertise with one skill the creature has, if the creature has
expertise. If you have turned into a creature once, the next
time you turn into that creature you must use the same
proficiencies.
Assumed Persona. While transformed into a creature, you
gain its personality traits, ideal, bond, and flaw, in place or
addition to your own (your choice).
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and
two other languages of your choice.

Dryads
Dryads, also known as eerie wives by humans and Aen
Woedbeanna in Elder Speech, are the nymphs of woods,
concentrated primarily in their forest realm of Brokilon. Born
through sexual contacts with other races or transformed by
Water of Brokilon they are exclusively female and their
descendants remain so for many generations even without
drinking the water.
Transformed dryads are referred to as naturalised dryads,
while the subrace of dryads who have the deepest connection
with the forest are called hamadryads.
Nymphs of the Woods
Dryads tend to have a slender and small build. It is generally
impossible to distinguish a naturally born dryad from the
transformed one; only older girls who became dryads after
age ten can be recognized due to lthe ack of the distinct
dryad sweat, which smells like willow's leaves. Dryads and
hamadryads are generally similar to humans and can be
mistaken for them in certain situations.
Their hair is typically chestnut, green or red and is often
dreadlocked, but also left straight and loose. Born dryads
rarely have blond hair or blue eyes, but these can be inherited
from human or elven fathers. Their skin tones can be
described as similar to humans, though often take on forest-
like tints of olive, chestnut, red, or green. On some occasions
they may appear entirely green. The exact shade is often
unclear due to the Brokilonian habit of painting their skin
camouflage, as well as wearing clothes patched up out of
their natural surroundings, like leaves and twigs, which help
them to blend into the forest. Dryads living in settlements in
the heart of the forest, like Queen Eithné, tend to wear more
fanciful dresses, while those on the outskirts go nude, or
wear "panties" constructed of fabric, vines, or leaves.
Magic of Brokilon
The relation between dryads and magic might be very strong,
though Sources are practically absent among members of
this race. The Water of Brokilon often activates magical
abilities in young girls, functioning in a similar way to witcher
mutagens. Those who drink from the Water of Brokilon do
not remember their lives before doing so, and are helped to
adjust by the other dryads.
Exclusively Female
Beyond Brokilon
The Waters of Brokilon
Dryad Traits
Your dryad character is a stark defender of the woods,
especially of Brokilon, and might be skilled with many kinds
ranged weapons, or a naturally gifted healer and manipulator
of plant-life.
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by
2.
Age. Dryads age at the same rate as humans until they
reach maturity, and then slow their aging, with a lifespan
twice that of a human.
Alignment. Dryads tend to favor the uncaring laws of
nature. They defend their home in Brokilon uncaringly, and
do not show much care when arbitrating outside of it. Most
dryads are lawful neutral.
Size. Dryads are about the same size and build as humans.
Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 35 feet.
Darkvision. Thanks to the waters of Brokilon, you have
superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in
dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in
darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in
darkness, only shades of gray.
Mask of the Wild. You can attempt to hide even when you
are only lightly obscured by foliage, heavy rain, falling snow,
mist, and other natural phenomena.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and
the Dryad Dialect.
Subrace. Some dryads, called hamadryads, are born
dryads, while others were once young girls who entered
Brokilon and were transmuted, becoming naturalised dryads.
Hamadryads
Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 1.
Fey Ancestry. You have advantage on saving throws
against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.
Speak with Plants. You can communicate with plants as if
they shared a language.
Tree Stride. Once per short or long rest, you can enter a
tree and magically transport yourself to an unoccupied space
adjacent to another tree up to 60 feet away. Both trees must
be Large or larger in order for you to do this.
Magic of Brokilon. You know the druidcraft cantrip. When
you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Cure Wounds spell as a
2nd-level spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do
so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you
can cast the Pass Without a Trace spell once with this trait
and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest.
Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Naturalised Dryads
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by
1.
Dryad Weapon Training. You have proficiency with the
spear, shortbow, longbow,
and sling.
Long Watch. You can subsist on half the normal amount of
necessary food per day.
Dyrad Archery. Whenever you make a ranged weapon
attack, the minimum and maximum ranges both increase by
60 feet.
Dryad Accuracy. You gain proficiency in the Wisdom
(Perception) skill.
 Though gnomes love jokes of all kinds, particularly puns
Gnomes and pranks, they're just as dedicated to the more serious
"GNOMES, THOUGH SHORTER THAN DWARVES AND tasks they undertake. Many gnomes are skilled alchemists,
not as strong, are equally resistant to hardship and much jewelers, smiths, and metallurgists. They're willing to make
more agile. This ancient and noble race is characterized by mistakes and laugh at themselves in the process of perfecting
their long, pointy noses, in which they take great pride ... Like what they do, taking bold (sometimes foolhardy) risks and
dwarves, they. love their handiwork, and are particularly dreaming large.
adept at the arts of the metallurgist, the armorer, the jeweler,
and the goldsmith. Not many, however, elect to ply their trade Bright Burrows
beyqnd their native lands, since their grand mastery, and the Gnomes live in Mahakam alongside the dwarves, or deep
profits which it brings, 'inevitably becomes the object of envy beneath mountain ranges in other parts of the world. Since
and thus human aversion, which ends in slander at best and they dig deeper than the dwarves and rarely leave their
pogroms at worst." homes, gnomes are not commonly seen, even within
- Reverend Jarre of Ellander the Elder, The Truthful Mahakam.
Description of the Elder Races Gnomish communities live in human cities as well, where
Gnomes are an old and noble race, one of the Elder Races, their members work as jewelers, artisans, and pawnbrokers.
which came to be the first to populate the northern part of Immature gnomes often work as gofers and office boys for
the Continent. They are related to dwarves with whom they dwarven banks. Some gnomes, on the other hand, tend to
peacefully coexist. prefer less reputable ways of life and become burglars or
In the Northern Kingdoms, many gnomes live in Mahakam highwaymen. During the Second Northern War, a few
alongside dwarves, while the majority of those south of the gnomes became upset by the Nordling prejudice and joined
Yaruga inhabit the Tir Tochair mountain range. Few other the Scoia'tael as a result.
gnomish former settlements can be found throughout the
realms e.g. the Citadel on Mount Cremora and an abandoned Gnome Traits
underground town beneath the modern-day Maribor.
The gnomes on the Continent have the racial traits of rock
Vibrant Expression gnomes in the Player's Handbook.
A gnome's energy and enthusiasm for living shines through
every inch of his or her tiny body. Gnomes average slightly
over 3 feet tall and weigh 40 to 45 pounds. Their tan or
brown faces are usually adorned with broad smiles (beneath
their prodigious noses), and their bright eyes shine with
excitement. Their fair hair has a tendency to stick out in every
direction, as if expressing the gnome's insatiable interest in
everything around.
A gnome's personality is writ large in his or her
appearance. A male gnome's beard, in contrast to his wild
hair, is kept carefully trimmed, shaved, or styled into curious
forks or neat points. A gnome's clothing, though usually made
in modest earth tones, is elaborately decorated with
embroidery, embossing, or gleaming jewels.
Delighted Dedication
As far as gnomes are concerned, being alive is a wonderful
thing, and they squeeze every ounce of enjoyment out of their
three centuries of life. Humans might wonder about getting
bored over the course of such a long life, and elves take
plenty of time to savor the beauties of the world in their long
years, but gnomes seem to worry that even with all that time,
they can't get in enough of the things they want to do and see.
Gnomes speak as if they can't get the thoughts out of their
heads fast enough. Even as they offer ideas and opinions on a
range of subjects, they still manage to listen carefully to
others, adding the appropriate exclamations of surprise and
appreciation along the way.
Half-Elves
Walking in two worlds but truly belonging to neither, half-
elves combine what some say are the best qualities of their
elf and human parents: human curiosity, inventiveness, and
ambition tempered by the refined senses, love of nature, and
artistic tastes of the elves. Some half-elves live among
humans, set apart by their emotional and physical
differences, watching friends and loved ones age while time
barely touches them. Others live with the elves, growing
restless as they reach adulthood in the timeless elven realms,
while their peers continue to live as children. Many half-elves,
unable to fit into either society, choose lives of solitary
wandering or join with other misfits and outcasts in the
adventuring life.
Of Two Worlds
To humans, half-elves look like elves, and to elves, they look
human. In height, they're on par with both parents, though
they're neither as slender as elves nor as broad as humans.
They range from under 5 feet to about 6 feet tall, and from
100 to 180 pounds, with men only slightly taller and heavier
than women. Half-elf men do have facial hair, and sometimes
grow beards to mask their elven ancestry. Half-elven
coloration and features lie somewhere between their human
and elf parents, and thus show a variety even more
pronounced than that found among either race. They tend to
have the eyes of their elven parents.
Diplomats and Wanderers
Half-elves have no lands of their own, though they are
tolerated in human cities and in elven forests. In large cities
in regions where elves and humans interact often, half-elves
are sometimes numerous enough to form small communities
of their own. They enjoy the company of other half-elves, the
only people who truly understand what it is to live between
these two worlds.
In most parts of the world, though, half-elves are
uncommon enough that one might live for years without
meeting another. Some half-elves prefer to avoid company
altogether, wandering the wilds as trappers, foresters,
hunters, or adventurers and visiting civilization only rarely.
Like elves, they are driven by the wanderlust that comes of
their longevity. Others, in contrast, throw themselves into the
thick of society, putting their charisma and social skills to
great use as advocates or as swindlers.
Half-Elf Names
Half-Elves on the Continent have the racial traits of Half-
Elves in the Player's Handbook.
Werebbubbs
Vodyanoy
Vran
Chapter 4: Classes and Subclasses
Barbarians
Primal Path
Barbarians in the Northern Realms have the following Primal
Path option, in addition to those in the Player's Handbook.
The barbarians of Skellige tend to follow the Path of the
Svalblod Cultist.
Path of the Svalblod Cultist
Svalblod cultists, sometimes called Vildkaarls (meaning
"wild men" in Skellige jargon) are a brotherhood of warriors
in the Ard Skellig highlands, independent of any clan. They
eat what they hunt and live only to kill.
What's unknown to rest of the islanders is that they
secretly worship the forbidden deity Svalblod and all the
blood they spill is meant to be in sacrifice to him. The
remaining priests of Svalblod submit vildkaarls to trails
meant to ensure only the strongest individuals pass and then
recreate them into werebears ("berserkers" on Skellige) via
ancient ritual.
Berserker’s Form
Starting at 3rd level when you choose this subclass, you can
use your rage to magically assume the shape of a Large
brown bear. While you are transformed, the following rules
apply:
Your game statistics are replaced by the statistics of the
beast, but you retain your alignment, personality, and
Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores. You take the
higher of the two ACs. You also retain all of your skill and
saving throw proficiencies, in addition to gaining the
perception skill, using the higher of the two values, along
with advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely
on smell.
When you transform, you retain your hit points and hit die.
If your rage ends as a result of dropping to 0 hit points,
you remain in the bear’s form.
You can’t cast spells, and your ability to speak or take any
action that requires hands is limited to the capabilities of
your bear form. Transforming breaks your concentration
on a spell you’ve already cast.
You retain the benefit of any features from your class,
race, or other source and can use them if the new form is
physically capable of doing so. In addition to any extra
attacks, you also gain the bear’s multiattack feature. You
can use any of your special senses, such as Darkvision,
but remain sunlight sensitive if you are so.
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You choose whether your equipment falls to the ground in
your space, merges into your new form, or is worn by it.
Worn equipment functions as normal, but the DM decides
whether it is practical for the new form to wear a piece of
equipment, based on the creature’s shape and size. Your
equipment doesn’t change size or shape to match the new
form, and any equipment that the new form can’t wear
must either fall to the ground or merge with it. Equipment
that merges with the form has no effect until you leave the
form.
Tooth and Claw
Beginning at 6th level, when you hit a creature with a melee
weapon attack while raging, you can use your reaction to
make another attack against a creature within 5 feet of you.
Primal Strike
Starting at 10th level, your attacks in bear form count as
magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and
immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage.
Champion of Svalblod
Starting at 14th level, the beast within grows so powerful that
you can spread its ferocity to your allies. When you enter your
rage, you can choose a number of willing creatures you can
see within 30 feet of you equal to your Constitution modifier
(minimum of one creature). Until your rage ends, the chosen
creatures gain the Reckless Attack feature and you have
advantage on saving throws against being frightened. You
also gain 5 temporary hit points for each creature that
accepts the benefit. You can use this feature a number of
times equal to your Constitution modifier (a minimum of
once). You regain all expended uses when you finish a
long rest.
Bards

Clerics
"HE WHO INTENDS TO WALK THE VALLEY OF
darkness ought to bring a lantern with him. For he who
sprains his ankle in the darkness will not walk far."
–The Good Book; or, The Teachings of the Prophet
Lebioda
The gods are most active through their chosen clerics, who
carry out the gods' work on the Material Plane. A typical
cleric in the world of the witcher serves a single divine
patron, but some individuals might feel called to serve a
group.
Some clerics in the Continent belong to an established
religious hierarchy, but many do not. The gods choose
whomever they will, and sometimes a devoted worshiper is
blessed with all the abilities of a cleric, despite not being a
priest of any kind. That cleric might be a contemplative
hermit, a wandering prophet, or simply a devout peasant.
Religious orders often try to recruit such clerics and bring
them into the fold, but not all of those clerics wish to be
bound to a hierarchy.
Conversely, not everyone who pursues a religious vocation
is a true cleric. Some acolytes discover a different path for
their lives than the path of the cleric. They serve their faiths
in other roles, such as priests, scholars, or artisans, while
some go on to vocations that have nothing to do with religion.
A few souls who are denied the path of the cleric become
embittered and seek favor with sinister or forbidden gods or
forge pacts with other powerful entities. Religious scholars in
the North debate whether divine rejection led such a person
to embrace a dark path or whether the person was rejected
because the gods foresaw the potential for darkness in the
person's future. The gods remain silent on the matter.
Some clerics are homebodies who serve a particular
community of the faithful, but adventuring clerics tend to
have a certain crusading zeal to do their deity's work in the
wider world. This work may include ministering to far-flung
communities, as well as seeking out and defeating threats to
the civilized world.
Divine Domains
Clerics in the Continent have the following Divine Domain
options, in addition to those in the Player's Handbook.
Dragon Domain
The Dragon domain represents the terrifying presence of
dragons, as well as their destructive power. While all true
dragons are worthy of worship, the greatest of these is the
golden dragon. This domain is favored by clerics of far-off
Zerrikania, where dragons are worshipped as the only divine
entities, from whom they draw magical power, just as the
dragons draw magical power from the world. Gods who grant
access to this domain include Zerrikanterment, Tiamat,
Bahamut, Baal-Zebuth, and Takhisis, among others.
Dragon Domain Spells
Cleric Level Spells
1st Absorb Elements, Burning Hands
3rd Aganazzar's Scorcher, Alter Self
5th Fear, Fireball
7th Fire Shield (warm only), Wall of Fire
9th Flame Strike, Immolation
Bonus Proficiency
At 1st level, you gain proficiency with martial weapons and
heavy armor.
Worshipper of Dragons
When you choose this domain at 1st level, you learn to speak,
read, and write Draconic if you don’t know it already.
Additionally, whenever you make a Charisma check when
interacting with dragons, you can add your wisdom modifier
to the check.
Channel Divinity: Frightful Presence
Starting at 2nd level, you can use your Channel Divinity to
exert the intimidating presence of a dragon over others. As an
action, you present your holy symbol, and each creature of
your choice that can see or hear you within 30 feet of you
must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or be frightened by
you until the end of your next turn.
Blessing of Zerrikanterment
Starting at 6th level, you gain the ability to channel the fire of
a golden dragon. Fire damage dealt by your cleric spells and
features ignores resistance to fire damage.
Divine Strike
At 8th level, you gain the ability to infuse your weapon strikes
with divine energy. Once on each of your turns when you hit a
creature with a weapon attack, you can cause the attack to
deal an extra 1d8 fire damage to the target. When you reach
14th level, the extra damage increases to 2d8.
Scorch
Starting at 17th level, when you cast a spell of 1st through
5th level that deals fire damage, the spell deals max damage.
Pseudodragon Familiar
While not granted by any class feature, a cleric of
the dragon domain who encounters, or seeks out, a
pseudodragon is not unlikely to acquire the
creature as a loyal familiar, assuming their
alignments are similar and/or goals aligned.
Lovecraft Domain
Unknowable horrors lurk beyond the bounds of the world,
inhabiting another plane known only as the Far Realm, which
crossed with the Material Plane during the Conjunction of
Spheres. Gods of the Lovecraft domain drive men mad and
have goals and ambitions beyond comprehension, regarding
the opposition of adventurers as the adventurers regard the
opposition of ants at their feet. Why a cleric serves such a
deity varies, and could be due to a lack of knowledge, but, in
the Continent, it may merely be deemed the lesser of two
evils.
The gods of this domain are often associated with
madness, as learning of these deities and their ways goes
hand-in-hand with insanity. In the North, deities of this
domain number but one - Dagon.
Lovecraft Domain Spells
Cleric
Level Spells
1st Dissonant Whispers, Tasha's Hideous
Laughter
3rd Crown of Madness, Phantasmal Force
5th Enemies Abound, Hunger of Hadar
7th Confusion, Phantasmal Killer
9th Dream, Synaptic Static
Ph'nglui Mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh
Fhtagn
When you choose this domain at 1st level, you gain the
Vicious Mockery cantrip. It is a cleric spell for you.
Awakened Mind
Starting at 1st level, your alien knowledge gives you the
ability to touch the minds of other creatures. You can
communicate telepathically with any creature you can see
within 30 feet of you. You don't need to share a language with
the creature for it to understand your telepathic utterances,
but the creature must be able to understand at least one
language.
Channel Divinity: R’lyeh Rising
Starting at 2nd level, you can use your Channel Divinity to
exert a maddening presence over others. As an action, you
present your holy symbol, and each creature of your choice
that can see or hear you within 30 feet of you must succeed
on a Wisdom saving throw or gain a short-term form of
madness until the end of your next turn. Afterwards the
creatures report visions of non-Euclidean cities hidden
beneath the waves.
Channel Divinity: Horrific Revelation
At 6th level, you can use your Channel Divinity to modify a
creature’s memory and conceptions of what is real, and can
use your access to its mind to inflict madness upon it.
As an action, choose one creature that you can see within
60 feet of you. That creature must make a Wisdom saving
throw. If the creature succeeds on the saving throw, you can't
use this feature on it again until you finish a long rest. If the
creature fails its save, you can alter a memory of the creature,
typically adding horrific circumstances (for example,
modifying a memory of a person visiting their father to add
the revelation their father is secretly a deep one). This
memory can be no longer than 1 minute.
During that time, you can use your action to end this effect
and inflict a long-term madness on the creature.
Potent Spellcasting
Starting at 8th level, you add your Wisdom modifier to the
damage you deal with any cleric cantrip.
Robes of Yellow
Starting at 17th level, you can use your action to activate an
aura of madness that lasts for 1 minute or until you dismiss it
using another action. Your enemies within 30 feet of you have
disadvantage on saving throws against any spell that deals
psychic damage. Additionally, any enemy creature who sees
you during this time can't recall the experience or events
surrounding it.
Prophet Domain
Wherever a religion rises, prophets are required to spread its
mythologies and tenets to others. Gods of the Prophet
domain require clerics to announce them to the world or
warn belivers of punishments to come for their misdeeds.
Some of these clerics might speak of a new god, never before
heard of, who might even be themself. Other clerics of the
Prophet domain come to spread an existing religion, and
might be a saint.
The gods of this domain are often associated with
conversion and rousing speeches. In the Continent, deities of
this domain include the Prophet Lebioda, as well as,
potentially, the players themselves.
Prophet Domain Spells
Cleric Level Spells
1st Bless, Command
3rd Aid, Calm Emotions
5th Beacon of Hope, Tongues
7th Divination, Guardian of Faith
9th Hallow, Raise Dead
Bonus Cantrip
When you choose this domain at 1st level, you gain the
thaumaturgy cantrip if you don't already know it.
Divine Authority
At 1st level, you learn an additional language of your choice.
You also become proficient in the Persuasion skill. Your
proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check you make
that uses that skill.
Channel Divinity: Religious Fervor Lebioda’s Last Stand
Starting at 2nd level, you can use your Channel Divinity to Starting at 17th level, you can delay death for an instant to
bolster your allies As an action, you present your holy symbol perform a final heroic act.
and evoke rallying power that can bestow a number of When you are reduced to 0 hit points by an attacker you
temporary hit points equal to five times your cleric level. can see, even if you would be killed outright, you can use your
Choose any creatures within 30 feet of you, and divide those reaction to move up to your speed toward the attacker and
temporary hit points among them. You can't use this feature cast sacred flame with it as the target, even if you do not
on an undead or a construct. know the cantrip, as long as the movement brings it within
your reach. You make this attack with advantage. If the attack
Channel Divinity: Word of God hits, it is a critical hit. You then fall unconscious and begin
At 6th level, you can use your Channel Divinity to recruit making death saving throws as normal, or you die if the
others to your cause. As an action you present your holy damage you took would have killed you outright.
symbol and begin to speak the gospel of your religion. Each
Humanoid that can see, hear, and understand you within 60
feet must make a Wisdom saving throw. Hostile Humanoids
have advantage on the saving throw. If the Humanoid
succeeds on the saving throw, you can't use this feature on it
again until you finish a long rest.
If a Humanoid fails its save, its regards you as a messianic
figure and follows along as an apostle. They use apostle
statistics, as shown in the apostle statblock. You gain as
number apostles per use of channel divinity equal to your
Wisdom modifier.
During that time, provided they can see and hear you, you
can issue them commands on your turn, which they do their
best to carry out. If you issue your apostles truly strange or
uncharacteristic demands, your apostles might abandon you
or brand you a heretic. Apostles will always abandon clerics
who issue them suicidal commands, or whose allies harm
them.

Apostle
Medium humanoid (any race), any alignment

Armor Class 18
Hit Points 55(1d4 + 5)
Speed 20ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

11 (+0) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 11 (+0) 10 (+0)

Skills Persuasion +2, Religion +2

Senses passive Perception 10
Languages Any One Language (Usually Common)
Challenge 1/8 (25 XP)

Divine Devotion. The apostle has advantage on

saving throws against being charmed or frightened.

Actions
Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach
5ft., one target. Hit 4 (1d6 + 1) slashing damage.

Potent Spellcasting
Starting at 8th level, you add your Wisdom modifier to the
damage you deal with any cleric cantrip.

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Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you Superb Seduction
finish a long rest. Starting at 6th level, when you cast an enchantment spell of
1st through 5th level that targets only one creature, the spell
Seduction Domain can instead target two creatures within range and within 5
The power of seduction is one wielded by many individuals to feet of each other. If the spell consumes its material
both good and evil ends. Gods of the Seduction domain know components, you must provide them for each target.
the secrets and potential of seduction intimately. For some of
these gods, the beauty which aids in an ease of seduction is a Potent Spellcasting
great responsibility that comes with a special understanding Starting at 8th level, you add your Wisdom modifier to the
of the nature of reality. Other gods of seduction see beauty as damage you deal with any cleric cantrip.
an advantage bestowed upon select few, to be used as its
wielder sees fit. Master of Seduction
The gods of this domain are often associated with beauty, Starting at 17th level, you can enchant your soft words, gaze,
love, and lust, as these are all intertwined with seduction. In and natural beauty, allowing you to seduce another creature
the Northern Realms, deities of this domain include Verna with ease.
and Huldra. As an action, you choose one creature that you can see
within 5 feet of you. If the target can see or hear you, it must
Seduction Domain Spells succeed on a Wisdom saving throw against your cleric spell
Cleric Level Spells save DC or be charmed by you for 1 minute.
1st Charm Person, Heroism On subsequent turns, you can use your action to maintain
this effect, extending its duration for another minute. You can
3rd Entrall, Suggestion meditate in this way for a number of minutes equal to your
5th Beacon of Hope, Spirit Guardians Wisdom score and must maintain concentration during that
time, as if you were casting a spell. The effect ends if you
7th Conjure Woodland Beings, Guardian of Faith move more than 15 feet away from the creature, if the
9th Dominate Person, Geas creature can neither see nor hear you, or if the creature takes
damage.
Blessings of Beauty Once the effect ends, or if the creature succeeds on its
At 1st level, you become proficient in persuasion and initial saving throw against this effect, you can't use this
deception. Your proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability feature on that creature again until you finish a long rest.
check you make that uses one of those skills, which you Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you
choose when you gain this ability. finish a short or long rest.
Divine Beauty
Also at 1st level, you can channel the beauty of your deity to
avoid blows. When a creature you can see within 30 feet of
you makes an attack roll against you, you can use your
reaction to divert the attack, provided that the creature can
see you. The attacker must make a Wisdom saving throw
against your cleric spell save DC. On a failed save, the
attacker can’t take the attack action against you. On a
successful save, you can't use this feature on the attacker
again until you finish a long rest.
You must choose to use this feature before knowing
whether the attack hits or misses. You can use this feature a
number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier (a minimum
of once). You regain all expended uses when you finish a long
rest. Creatures that can't be charmed are immune to this
effect.
Channel Divinity: Turn Heads
Starting at 2nd level, you can use your Channel Divinity to
turn heads and astonish creatures with your beauty.
As an action, you present your holy symbol, and each
creature of your choice that can see or hear you within 30
feet of you must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or be
charmed by you until the end of your next turn or until the
charmed creature takes any damage. You can also cause any
of the charmed creatures to drop what they are holding when
they fail the saving throw.

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Druids

Fighters
“KNOW WHAT DISTINGUISHES A SOLDIER FROM A
*common swashbulker? Soldiers think tactically. They know
when to strike, when to fall back, when to charge, and when
to hold.”
–Vernon Roche, Commander of the Blue Stripes
Whether doughty warriors, idealistic young soldiers, or hard-
bitten mercenaries, fighters are found everywhere in the
Continent, including renown Men at Arms such as Vernon
Roche or John Natalis. Even the most peaceful lands have
militia for protection against their enemies. There are always
opportunities for those who know how to handle themselves
in a fight.
Able-bodied folk in many parts of Skellige and the North
learn at least the rudiments of combat as part of a local
militia or raiding party, serving in times of need, while a few
go on to become professional soldiers, guards, or the like.
Officers tend to come from the nobility, although there are
opportunities for capable leaders to demonstrate their skills
and rise through the ranks like Vernon Roche.
Fighters who don't make a career of soldiering find other
ways to demonstrate their prowess. Mercenaries find
employment with those who need skilled warriors but who
lack the time or means to train them. Such employers include
adventuring companies, which are almost always in need of a
reliable fighter.
Merchants and guilds hire guards to protect caravans,
ships, and their warehouses and guildhalls. Such work
affords the opportunity for frequent travel and danger.
A good deal of danger comes from fighters who abandon
legitimate employment to become bandits- raiding caravans,
robbing travelers, and pillaging isolated homesteads, manors,
and villages. Out-of-luck fighters might also take part in
gladiatorial fights or similar blood sports to make a living off
their skills, although such matches are virtually unknown in
the North, as compared to Nilfgaard.
Starting at 3rd level, your skillful work is able to keep your
allies in the fight longer, and get them back in action when
they fall. Whenever you make a successful Medicine check to
stabilize a dying creature, you can choose to have the
creature regain a number of hit points equal to your Medicine
skill proficiency, instead of remaining at 0 hit points.
At 10th level, when you use this ability, the creature's hit
point maximum is raised to match the number of hit points
restored if it would otherwise be below it.
Diagnose
Starting at 7th level, you can quickly assess a creature’s
injuries and determine how to treat them. As a bonus action
you can examine it. The DM tells you the creature’s current
hit points, and your next Wisdom (Medicine) check made to
stabilize it within the next minute has a bonus equal to your
proficiency modifier.
Anatomist
At 10th level, your knowledge of anatomy is so advanced as to
allow you to precisely strike the major veins and arteries of
the creature you are attacking. Whenever you hit a creature
with an attack roll, it takes an amount of bonus damage equal
to your Wisdom modifier.
Master Surgeon
Starting at 15th level, you can spend a short or long rest
helping an ally to heal. The creature recovers the maximum
number of hit points per hit die rolled, plus your Wisdom
modifier per hit die expended. This can’t increase a creature’s
hit points above its maximum.

Martial Archetypes
Fighters in the Forgotten Realms have the following Martial
Archetype options, in addition to those in the Player's
Handbook, but might not feature the Witch Hunter if the
campaign takes place before the events of Loc Muinne.
Field Medic
Field medics are soldiers trained in the art of healing. On the
Continent, not all of them study at academies or universities,
and there are a good number of mages, druids, and priests
talented in the ways of healing. In the countryside, most folk
do not trust educated doctors. Instead, they seek medical
advice at local quacks, charlatans, gammers, and pellars.
Field medics are often calculating men, trained in surgery,
allowing them to treat injuries with great efficiency, or cause
grievous wounds if the need arises.
Healing Hands
Starting when you choose this martial archetype at 3rd level,
you gain expertise with the Medicine skill and proficiency
with the Healer’s Kit if you don't already have them.
Patch ‘Em Up
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Crippling Wound
At 18th level, your anatomical knowledge is extensive, even of
inhuman creatures, allowing you to inflict wounds which
greatly hamper your opponents. When making an attack roll
you can choose to make the attack roll disadvantage, but if
the attack hits you decrease the target’s speeds by your
Wisdom modifier x 5 feet until it finishes a long rest. A
creature’s speeds can’t become less than 0.
Witch Hunter
Witch Hunters are harsh, cruel, and fanatical members of an
inquisitorial synod dedicated to the persecution and
eradication of magic in Novigrad, Oxenfurt, and Velen during
ongoing witch hunts. Equipped with swords, crossbows,
dimeritium bombs, and shackles they are well prepared to
fight both amateur and professional mages. They became
even more formidable when the Order of the Flaming Rose
was disbanded by Radovid V, resulting in some of the knights
joining the witch hunters.
Though officially without any allegiance, their operations
are sanctioned by the Church of the Eternal Fire and
monarchs occasionally support them with gold and firewood
for the pyres. They are known as being intimidating as well
as overzealous in their cause.
Arcane Initiate
When you choose this martial archetype at 3rd level, you gain
proficiency in the Arcana skill.
Additionally, you gain the ability to cast detect magic once
per short rest as a 1st-level spell. Intelligence is your
spellcasting ability for it.
Spell Resistance
Beginning when you choose this martial archetype at 3rd
level, when an attacker you can see hits you with a spell
attack, you can use your reaction to halve the attack’s damage
against you and gain advantage on saving throws against
magical effects until the start of your next turn.
Evasion
Beginning at 7th level, you can nimbly dodge out of the way of
certain area of effect spells, such as a fireball or an ice storm
spell. When you are subjected to an effect that allows you to
make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, you
instead take no damage if you succeed on the saving throw,
and only half damage if you fail.
Spell Stopper
Starting at 15th level, when a hostile creature within reach of
you casts a spell, you can make one weapon attack against it
as a reaction, even if you have already used your reaction.
Dimeritium Strike
At 18th level, you learn how to make your weapon strikes
undercut a creature's magic. When you hit a creature
concentrating on a spell or spell-like ability with a weapon
attack, that creature breaks its concentration.

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Monks

Paladins
"THE GOOD BOOK SAYS THE WORLD IS A GARDEN
which the gods once conferred upon man, and we man have
this garden neglected. In consequence, all manner of filth has
made its liar here - drowners, ghouls and other kobolds! I
have sworn ne'er to rest until the day when, with the gods'
help, I have rid the world of these beasts and pests. I wander
all lands, seekin' out evil and facin' it in mortal combat."
- Eyck of Denesle, Knight-Errant
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Some people are warriors of superior virtue. They exemplify
a host of traits that folk consider honorable, just, and good.
These warriors aspire to be the best people they can. When
such a warrior also has great devotion to a particular deity,
that god can reward the faithful with a measure of divine
power, making that person a paladin.
Most paladins of the Continent, like clerics, are devoted to
a particular deity. The most common paladin deities are
those that embody action, decision, watchfulness, and
wisdom. The followers of the Lady of the Lake are often
paladins, as are followers of the Eternal Fire and the Prophet
Lebioda.
Their devotion to a higher ideal makes paladins popular
folk heroes in the Continent. Many tales are woven about
noble knights and oath-sworn champions, although
pragmatists note that the tales often end with a tremendous
sacrifice on the part of said champions.
Paladin Orders
The following paladin orders can be found in various parts of
the Northern Realms.
Melitele Guard
In regions of the north where Melitele is not very popular,
such as Kaedwen, the Melitele Guard protect her temples,
relics and clergy with their own lives, wielding shields with
the emblem of Melitele. Of the options in the Sacred Oath
class feature, the Oath of the Ancients, Oath of Devotion, and
Oath of Redemption are all common among the ranks of this
order.
Order of the Flaming Rose
The Order of the Flaming Rose, sometimes simply The
Order, is a religious knightly order established in 1268 with
significant presence in the Nordling lands. At first, knights
were mostly based and organized in the kingdoms of Aedirn
and Temeria but later, after the uprising in Vizima, King
Foltest confiscated the Order's assets in his dominion to
finance repairs and they were forced to move further north to
Redania and even Kaedwen.
The primary purposes of the Order are to defend the
downtrodden from evil and spread the belief in the Eternal
Fire, but they also serve as a police force or an iron fist to
hunt down heretics. Before the death of the first Grand
Master, Jacques de Aldersberg, defending the needy extended
to killing monsters for free, but after reforms, they had less
time for that. Of the options in the Sacred Oath class feature,
the Oath of Vegeance, Oath of the Crown, and Oath of the
Knight-Errant (presented here) are all present and valid
options.
Temple Guard
The Temple Guard, also known as the Novigrad Guard, is the
armed hand of the Novigrad Security Bureau which serves to
protect the Great Temple of the Eternal Fire, ensure the
safety of the citizens and oversee the observance of the law.
From at least 1230s to the 1260s, its members were dressed Aura of Bravery
lightly in black tunics and round leather hats. Their weapon Starting at 7th level, you and friendly creatures within 10 feet
of choice during these times was a spiked lamia, a whip of you can't be frightened while you are conscious. At 18th
forbidden in most of the civilized countries for its cruelty. level, the range of this aura increases to 30 feet.
In 1272, when Caleb Menge took over the secret service,
the guard's equipment changed significantly. Members of the Multiattack Defense
Guard were now fully armed and their colors changed to red At 15th level, you learn to dodge and weave between a
and white. They also replaced lamias with steel swords and monster’s blows, striking at its underbelly. When a creature
halberds. Some also had crossbows or bows. The Oath of the hits you with an attack, any subsequent attack it makes
Crown and Oath of Devotion paladins are evenly represented against you before the start of your next turn is made with
in this group. disadvantage.
Sacred Oath Living Legend
Starting at 20th level, you can now empower yourself with the
Paladins in the world of the witcher have the following legends - whether true or exaggerated - told of your great
Sacred Oath option, in addition to those in the Player's deeds. As a bonus action, you gain the following benefits for
Handbook. 10 minutes.
• You gain advantage on all Charisma checks.
Oath of the Knight-Errant • Once on each of your turns when you make a weapon
Tenets of the Knight-Errant attack and miss, you can reroll the attack.
• If you fail a saving throw, you can use your reaction to
The tenets of the Oath of the Knight-Errant are inscribed on reroll the saving throw, with advantage.
the hearts of those who swear to rid the world of monsters Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you
before the gods. finish a long rest.
Killing Monsters. When you face a choice between
fighting a monster and a humanoid enemy, you always choose
the monster.
Generosity. When coin is offered for your services you are
gracious and accepting, but it is never a requirement.
To the Death. You never back down from a fight with a
monster, even if the outcome seems certain death.
Oath Spells
You gain oath spells at the paladin levels listed.
Oath of the Knight-Errant Spells
Paladin Level Spells
3rd Detect Magic, Hunter's Mark
5th Branding Smite, Magic Weapon
9th Beacon of Hope, Protection from Energy
13th Divination, Locate Creature
17th Commune, Dispel Evil and Good

Channel Divinity
When you take this oath at 3rd level, you gain the following
two Channel Divinity options.
Noble Challenge. As a bonus action, you issue a challenge
that compels a monster to do battle with you. One creature of
your choice that you can see within 30 feet of you, excluding
beasts and humanoids, must make a Wisdom saving throw at
disadvantage. On a failed save, the creature can't willingly
move more than 30 feet away from you. This effect ends on
the creature if you are incapacitated or die or if the creature
is more than 30 feet away from you.
Monster’s Match. You can use your Channel Divinity to
strike monsters with added fervor. You gain advantage on
attack rolls against creatures excluding beasts and
humanoids for 1 minute or until you drop to 0 hit points or
fall unconscious.
Rangers

Rogues
Roguish Archetype
Troubadour
Bardic Inspiration
You can inspire others through stirring words or music. To do
so, you use a Bonus Action on Your Turn to choose one
creature other than yourself within 60 feet of you who can
hear you. That creature gains one Bardic Inspiration die, a
d6.
Once within the next 10 minutes, the creature can roll the
die and add the number rolled to one ability check, Attack
roll, or saving throw it makes. The creature can wait until
after it rolls The D20 before deciding to use the Bardic
Inspiration die, but must decide before the DM says whether
the roll succeeds or fails. Once the Bardic Inspiration die is
rolled, it is lost. A creature can have only one Bardic
Inspiration die at a time.
Alternatively, you can expend one Bardic Inspiration die to
impose a penalty equal to the amount rolled on the Charisma
skill checks of one creature within 60 feet for the next
minute, or to grant a bonus to your own Charisma skill
checks for the next minute.
You can use this feature a number of times equal to your
Charisma modifier (a minimum of once). You regain any
expended uses when you finish a Long Rest. Your Bardic
Inspiration die changes when you reach certain levels in this
archetype. The die becomes a d8 at 9th Level, a d10 at 13th
level, and a d12 at 17th level.
Jack of All Trades
Starting at 3rd Level, you can add half your Proficiency
Bonus, rounded down, to any ability check you make that
doesn't already include your Proficiency Bonus.
Good Friend
Starting at 9th level, you are capable of quickly finding a
friend among a crowd of people. Make a persuasion check
against one humanoid you can see within 30 feet of you, at a
DC determined by the sidebar table. The DM might raise or
lower this DC depending on the individual you are attempting
to befriend (for example, a witcher is a rare individual, and
therefore less likely to be your friend). On a successful check,
the individual becomes friendly to you, and will perform one
reasonable task for you, for old times’ sake, and then cannot
be called on again for free.
Raise a Crowd
Starting at 13th level, you gain the ability to give a
performance for at least 1 minute, and inspires wonder in
your audience by singing, reciting a poem, or dancing. Every
humanoid within 60 feet of you becomes incapacitated and
has a speed of 0 for the duration. At the end of the
performance, choose a number of humanoids within 60 feet
of you who watched and listened to all of it, up to a number
equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of one). Each
target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw against your
Troubadour DC or be charmed by you. While charmed in this
way, the target idolizes you, it speaks glowingly of you to
anyone who speaks to it, and it hinders anyone who opposes
you, avoiding violence unless it was already inclined to fight
on your behalf. This effect ends on a target after 1 hour, if it
takes any damage, if you attack it, or if it witnesses you
attacking or damaging any of its allies.
If a target succeeds on its saving throw, the target has no
hint that you tried to charm it.
Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you
finish a short or long rest.
Troubadour DC = 8 + your Proficiency Bonus + your
Charisma modifier
Et Tu Brute
At 17th level, your honeyed words, lies, and half-truths have
the ability to turn a friend against its allies. Make a Charisma
(Deception) check against one humanoid you can see within
30 feet of you. If successful, the humanoid becomes hostile to
one its allies of your choice for a number of days equal to
your Charisma modifier. Whether or not the creature attacks
its former ally depends on the humanoid affected.
Syndicate Boss Marked Man
Starting at 13th level, you make a Charisma (Intimidation)
Go to Ground check to mark a target by carving a mark on their door, or the
Starting when you choose this archetype at 3rd level, once like. Whenever the target make a Charisma, Persuasion, or
per long rest, you can make an Intelligence (Investigation) Intimidation check to get any help or service from anyone in
check to find a hideout where you and your allies can lie low their settlement, they must roll higher than your Intimidation
for a while. You may then divide the amount rolled on the check.
table in the green sidebar, detailing the safehouse. This
hideout remains until destroyed, and you can always return to Rally
it. At 17th level, once per long rest, you can spend an hour to
recruit a number of bandit allies equal to your Charisma
Go to Ground modifier. Your Charisma modifier also serves to limit the
number of bandit allies you can have from this feature at any
Name Cost given time.
Area
A Week's Ride 5
A Day's Ride 10
A Day's Walk 15
In the Area 20
Security (Multiple)
A Trap of the DM's Choice 1
Locks on Doors and Windows 2
Hidden 5
Two Bandit Guards 10
Perks (Multiple)
Food and Water 2
Healer's Kit 4
A Forge 5
Alchemist's Supplies 5

Blackmail
At 3rd level, you can spend an hour observing or talking to a
person and make an Intelligence (Investigation) check against
a Charisma (Deception) check in order to learn the target’s
bond, flaw, or a carefully concealed secret (perhaps the
individual is a higher vampire in disguise).
You can then leverage what you know of the target to gain a
bonus to Intimidation checks against them equal to the
difference between their check and yours. This bonus lasts
until their bond or flaw changes to something else, or until
their secret becomes publicly revealed.
Case the Area
At 9th level, you can take an hour observing a castle,
residence, place of business, or similar location. At the end of
this hour, you have memorized guard patterns, street layouts,
and hiding spots, gaining advantage on stealth checks made
in and around the location for the next number of days equal
to your Intelligence (Investigation) modifier.
If you have access to the interior of the location, you
memorize the layout of any rooms and areas you would have
access to.
Sorcerers
Warlocks
Witchers
Wizards
Chapter 5: Personality and Background

C
HARACTERS ARE DEFINED BY MUCH MORE Standard Languages
than their race and class. They're individuals Language Typical Speakers Script
Ci
with their own stories, interests, connections,
and capabilities beyond those that class and race Common Nordlings Modern Alphabet Ci
define. This chapter expounds on the details that Elder Speech Aen Seidhe Elder Runes
distinguish characters from one another, Dryad Dryads Elder Runes
Cr
including the basics of name and physical
description, the rules of backgrounds and languages, and the Mermaid Merpeoples Elder Runes Fie
finer points of personality and alignment. Dwarven Older Dwarves Dwarven Ideograms
Nilfgaardian Nilfgaardians Elder Runes
Character Details Ofiri Tongue Ofiri Elder Runes
Your character's name and physical description might be the Scholar Human Scholars First Runes
first things that the other players at the table learn about you.
It's worth thinking about how these characteristics reflect the Skellige Jargon Skelligers Modern Alphabet
character you have in mind. Zerrikanian Dialect Zerrikanians Elder Runes

Name Exotic Languages

Your character's race description includes sample names for Language Typical Speakers Script
members of that race. Put some thought into your name even Ellylon Aen Elle Elder Runes
if you're just picking one from a list. Gnomish Gnomes Gnomish Alphabet
Height and Weight One Speech Ancient Elves Elder Runes
You can decide your character's height and weight, using the Vampire Vampires Vampire Alphabet
information provided in your race description or on the Vodyan Vodyanoy R'lyehian Alphabet
Random Height and Weight table. Think about what your Vran Vran Vran Alphabet
character's ability scores might say about his or her height
and weight. A weak but agile character might be thin. A
strong and tough character might be tall or just heavy. Aretuza Adept
If you want to, you can roll randomly for your character's
height and weight using the Random Height and Weight Skill Proficiencies History, Persuasion
table. The dice roll given in the Height Modifier column Tool Proficiencies One type of gaming set
determines the character's extra height (in inches) beyond Languages One of your choice
the base height. That same number multiplied by the dice roll Equipment A set of fine clothes, a makeup kit, a scroll
or quantity given in the Weight Modifier column determines certifying your enrollment, and a purse containing 25 gp
the character's extra weight (in pounds) beyond the base
weight. These tables may differ from those in the Player's Feature: Kept in Style
Handbook, and also include homebrew races. While you are in Gors Velen or elsewhere in the North the
school sees to your everyday needs. Your name and scroll are
Languages sufficient to cover most of your expenses; the inns, taverns,
and feasthalls you frequent are glad to record your debt and
Your race indicates the languages your character can speak send an accounting to the school in Gors Velen to settle what
by default, and your background might give you access to one you owe.
or more additional languages of your choice. Note these This advantage enables you to live a comfortable lifestyle
languages on your character sheet. without having to pay 2 gp a day for it, or reduces the cost of
Choose your languages from the Standard Languages a wealthy or aristocratic lifestyle by that amount. You may not
table, or choose one that is common in your campaign. With maintain a less affluent lifestyle and use the difference as
your DM's permission, you can instead choose a language income – the benefit is a line of credit, not an actual monetary
from the Exotic Languages table or a secret language, such reward.
as thieves' cant or druidic.
Some of these languages are actually families of languages
with many dialects. For example, the Elder Speech language Ban Ard Tutor
includes the Mermaid and Dryad dialects. Creatures that
speak different dialects of the same language can Cinfrid Reaver
communicate with one another, as well as those utilising the
same script. Cintrian Artificer
Cintrian Enchantress

Noble (Courtly Advisor)
Skill Proficiencies History, Persuasion
Tool Proficiencies One type of gaming set
Languages One of your choice
Equipment A set of fine clothes, a signet ring, a scroll of
pedigree, and a purse containing 25 gp
Variant Feature: The Lodge
You have reliable means of magically contacting a network of
other sorcerers and/or sorceresses, appropriate to your
gender or the time period. Specifically, you can use
megascopes and other telecommunication devices to contact
almost any other mage in the world with access to those
devices.
Variant Feature: Novigradian Hospitality
You took to hiding in Novigrad after the events of Loc
Muinne, hoping to find a safe haven. Unfortunately, the
church of the Eternal Fire soon took to burning mages,
forcing you into hiding. You can find a place to hide, rest, or
recuperate among commoners in the city, unless you have
shown yourself to be a danger to them. They will shield you
from the law or anyone else searching for you, though they
will not risk their lives for you.
Oracle
Oxenfurt Scholar
Pellar
Pyrotechnician
Soldier
The soldier background is found the the Player's Handbook.
Players from the North with the soldier background might've
served as one of the following units, from the following
countries.
Aedirn
Aedirnian Cavalry. Aedirnian calvarymen are lightly
armored, mounted troops weilding longswords and
concealing their faces with hoods.
Aedirnian Mauler. Aedirnian maulers wield large axes which
they use to chop down their opponents.
Aedirnian Special Forces. The aedirnian special forces
wielded black, gold, and red bows, fighting scoia'tael instead
of Nilfgaardians.
Cintra
Cintrian Infantry. Like most other countries, Cintra has an
infanty, which wields longswords and wears heavy armor.
Cintrian Spellweaver. Some cintrians are powerful
spellcasters who can be employed in battle.
Kaedwen
Dun Banner. The Dun Banner is a light calvary unit known
for their yellow cloaks and beaver hats.
Kaedweni Calvary. The kaedweni calvary consists of heavily
armored men wielding maces and shields mounted on
warhorses.
Siege Master. The seige masters of the kaedweni army are
highly skilled in operating siege equipment.
Lyria & Rivia
Lyrian Arbalests. Lyrian arbalests are skilled and notorious
crossbowmen.
Lyrian Cavalry. The lyrian cavalry is a heavily-armored
cavalry division in the lyrian army. Lyrian horses are known
to be some of the best on the Continent.
Lyrian Landsknecht. Lyrian landsknecht units wear colorful
hats with large feathers protruding from them. They are a
king of pikemen.
Lyrian Scytheman. The lyrian army employs scytheman,
well trained peasants who reap men instead of grain.
Redania
Redanian Archer. Redanian archers are known for their skill
with the bow and on the battlefield.
Redanian Elite. Redanian elites appear as knights wearing
heavy armor, shields, and longswords.
Redanian Knight. Redanian knights serve as the calvary of
the redanian army, wielding lances on horseback.
Redanian Knight-Elect. These knights are the infantry of the
redanian army.
Tridam Infantry. Military units loyal to the old baron of
Tridam became outlaws after his exhile.
Temeria
Blue Stripes. The temerian Blue Stripes were a unit of elite
special forces which consisted of dauntless swashbucklers,
interrogation specialists, and noiseless scouts.
Poor Fucking Infantry. These were largely untrained
peasants recruited during the Second Northern War who
were sent against the Nilfgaardian calvary wielding pikes.
Temerian Infantry. The temerian infanty served in many
wars and was comprised of men wearing breastplates and
wielding halberds.
Temerian Landsknect. Temeria is famous for its landsknect
units, which are not dissimilar from pikemen. Many nobles
serve in these units.
Passiflora Peach
Skill Proficiencies Persuasion, Sleight of Hand
Tool Proficiencies One Gwent deck (any faction), makeup kit
Languages None
Equipment A makeup kit, a set of seductive common clothes
including undergarments, and a belt pouch containing 15 gp
Strumpet Type
d10 Type
1 Bathhouse Belle
2 Brothel Beauty
3 Escort
4 Fisstech Whore
5 Inn Maiden
6 Massage Mistress
7 Private Courtesan
8 Soldier's Harlot
9 Strumpet
10 Tavern Wench

Feature: Material World

You can work as a prostitute in a brothel, inn, bathhouse, or
similar location. At such a place, you receive free lodging and
food of a modest or comfortable standard (depending on the
quality of the establishment), as long as you take a client each
night. In addition, you learn local rumors and details.

Tax Collector
Temple Guard
Townsperson
Traveling Merchant
Watchman
Witch Hunter
Wretched Addict
Appendix A: NPC Statblocks
Appendix B: Matt Colville Unit Stats

A
ppendix B contains statistics for units found on
the Continent, which can be used in
conjunction with Matt Colville's content in order Cintrian Knights
to simulate battle between the Northern Human Seasoned
Realms, and their looming enemy, Nilfgaard. Super-Heavy Infantry
Cost: 320
Attack: 3 Power: 6
Defense: 7 Toughness: 2
Morale: 3 Size: 1d6
Aedirnian Maulers Traits
Human Seasoned
Courageous. Once per battle, this unit can choose
Heavy Infantry
to succeed on a Morale check it just failed.
Cost: 346
Attack: 3 Power: 4
Defense: 5 Toughness: 2
Morale: 3 Size: 1d8
Traits
Courageous. Once per battle, this unit can choose Cintrian Royal Guards
to succeed on a Morale check it just failed. Human Veteran
Super-Heavy Infantry
Cost: 252
Attack: 3 Power: 6
Defense: 7 Toughness: 2
Morale: 4 Size: 1d4
Blue Stripe Commandos Traits
Human Super-Elite Courageous. Once per battle, this unit can choose
Heavy Infantry to succeed on a Morale check it just failed.
Cost: 265
Attack: 4 Power: 4
Defense: 5 Toughness: 3
Morale: 6 Size: 1d4
Traits
Courageous. Once per battle, this unit can choose Dun Banner
to succeed on a Morale check it just failed. Human Seasoned
Light Cavalry
Cost: 350
Attack: 4 Power: 2
Defense: 1 Toughness: 1
Morale: 5 Size: 1d6
Blue Stripe Scouts Traits
Human Super-Elite Courageous. Once per battle, this unit can choose
Light Archers to succeed on a Morale check it just failed.
Cost: 346 Charge. Cannot use while engaged. A Charge is an
Attack: 4 Power: 2 attack with advantage on the Attack check. It
Defense: 1 Toughness: 2 inflicts 2 casualties on a successful Power check.
Morale: 7 Size: 1d4 The charging unit is then engaged with the
Traits defending unit and must make a DC 13 Morale
check to disengage.
Courageous. Once per battle, this unit can choose
to succeed on a Morale check it just failed.
Kaedweni Cavalry
Human Seasoned Lyrian Cavalry
Super-Heavy Cavalry Human Seasoned
Cost: 500 Medium Cavalry
Attack: 4 Power: 7 Cost: 380
Defense: 6 Toughness: 1 Attack: 4 Power: 3
Morale: 5 Size: 1d6 Defense: 2 Toughness: 1
Morale: 5 Size: 1d6
Traits
Courageous. Once per battle, this unit can choose Traits
to succeed on a Morale check it just failed. Courageous. Once per battle, this unit can choose
Charge. Cannot use while engaged. A Charge is an to succeed on a Morale check it just failed.
attack with advantage on the Attack check. It Charge. Cannot use while engaged. A Charge is an
inflicts 2 casualties on a successful Power check. attack with advantage on the Attack check. It
The charging unit is then engaged with the inflicts 2 casualties on a successful Power check.
defending unit and must make a DC 13 Morale The charging unit is then engaged with the
check to disengage. defending unit and must make a DC 13 Morale
check to disengage.

Kaedweni Knights
Human Veteran Lyrian Landsknecht
Super-Heavy Cavalry Human Seasoned
Cost: 530 Heavy Infantry
Attack: 4 Power: 7 Cost: 230
Defense: 6 Toughness: 1 Attack: 3 Power: 4
Morale: 6 Size: 1d6 Defense: 5 Toughness: 2
Morale: 3 Size: 1d6
Traits
Courageous. Once per battle, this unit can choose Traits
to succeed on a Morale check it just failed. Courageous. Once per battle, this unit can choose
Charge. Cannot use while engaged. A Charge is an to succeed on a Morale check it just failed.
attack with advantage on the Attack check. It
inflicts 2 casualties on a successful Power check.
The charging unit is then engaged with the
defending unit and must make a DC 13 Morale
check to disengage.
Lyrian Scythemen
Human Levies
Light
Cost: 110
Attack: 2 Power: 1
Lyrian Arbalests Defense: 1 Toughness: 0
Human Seasoned Morale: 0 Size: 1d6
Super-Heavy Archers
Cost: 465 Traits
Attack: 3 Power: 7 Courageous. Once per battle, this unit can choose
Defense: 6 Toughness: 2 to succeed on a Morale check it just failed.
Morale: 4 Size: 1d6 Levies. This unit is always Diminished.
Traits
Courageous. Once per battle, this unit can choose
to succeed on a Morale check it just failed.
Peasant Militia
Human Levies
Light
Cost: 110
Attack: 2 Power: 1
Defense: 1 Toughness: 0
Morale: 0 Size: 1d6
Traits
Courageous. Once per battle, this unit can choose
to succeed on a Morale check it just failed.
Levies. This unit is always Diminished.
Appendix C: The Law of Surprise

W
hen players rescue a man from otherwise
certain death, they may wish to invoke the Law
of Surpirse. To do so, a player requests as
payment "the first thing that comes to greet
you" or "what you find at home yet do not
expect." The DM then rolls on the appropriate
table to determine what is given as payment.
Humanoids won are considered to be the legal property of
the person, and, if the same race as the man saved, might be a
child. In other cases they may be an adopted child or a
neighbor's child. Some might try to resist, even violently,
handing over the new property.
The First Thing that Comes to Greet You
d10 Item
1 Dog
2 Cat
3 Parent
4 Town Guardsman
5 Spouse
6 Neighbor
7 Mistress
8 Horse
9 Mule
10 Child

What You Find at Home yet do not Expect

d10 Item
1 Wife's Lover
2 Newborn
3 Horse
4 Dog
5 Cat
6 New Plow
7 Barrel of Ale
8 New Gwent Deck (Any Faction)
9 Sack of 1d6 x 10 Crowns
10 Ox