size of Kovir from what I hear. I
to be accepted back onto their land in the valley, with resources evenly divided between
can’t say I know what’ll happen
humans and elves. But humans pulling out of the valley had destroyed everything, even as
in the next few years but I can’t
the Aen Seidhe had done when retreating from their cities, so elves and humans will have
imagine race relations between
to rebuild together. The sorceress Francesca Findabair, known in Elder Speech as Enid an
the humans and the elves are
Gleanna (Daisy of the Fields) and also held to be the most beautiful woman in the world,
gonna get any better.
was made queen of the new nation of Dol Blathanna. She is advised by Filavandrel of the
–Rodolf Kazmer
World’s Edge, leader of the Blue Mountain elves. It is said that Dana Meadbh, the elvish
nature goddess has been seen in the valley from time to time, taking different forms. If she is there, we have no word of her taking action for the elves or against the humans beyond
her care and maintenance of the valley itself. She most often appears in her radiant god-
dess form in the summer, accompanied by a young stag and a large hedgehog. Despite the
comparative peace of Dol Blathanna, only a handful of elven children have been born there
since the Peace of Cintra.
192
Slavery
Slavery is legal in Nilfgaard,
Nilfgaard
though indentured servitude
Emyr var Emreis owns two thirds of the
Then there are the provincial ar-
is more prevalent, especialy in
known world. It behooves our citizens to mies. If Nilfgaardian troops are burning,
the heart of the Empire. Peo-
learn a little about his nation and culture, raping, and looting randomly, you can be
ple convicted of minor crimes,
because if things go badly it could be your sure they are provincial troops: less trained,
debtors, and provincials taken
culture too.
less disciplined, with a thinly stretched of-
prisoner may become inden-
The Nilfgaardian Emperor Fer- ficer corps to control them. It is important
tured to a well-to-do family.
gus var Emreis was the first to make con- to remember that these troops may be from
They can be indentured for
tact with the North and the one to expand a province only recently conquered and dec-
anything from two to ten years.
the Kingdom of Nilfgaard into an empire. imated by the Nilfgaardian army to which
The penalty for a servant who
He believed deeply in expansion and add- they now belong. You will want to stay away
tries to escape is severe, so as to
ed three provinces to Nilfgaard during his from Gemmerian troops at all cost. They are
discourage rebellion.
reign: Etolia, Vicovaro, and Gemmera.
known to be mad dogs and sadists.
–Brandon of Oxenfurt
Nilfgaard has made it very clear: ac-
During the Usurpator’s reign—just
cept Nilfgaard and respect the Emperor, and before Emperor Emyr and just after his fa-
all can be wel . A cooperative country gains ther—Ebbing, Maecht, Mettina, Gheso,
culture, education, protection, trade from Mag Turga, and Nazair were all conquered
Life in Nilfgaard
far and wide—you may even be able to keep by Nilfgaard. The Mettinese are probably
Anyone born in Nilfgaard is a
your royals. Oppose Nilfgaard and pay the the most like Nilfgaard. The Mettinese pro-
Nilfgaardian citizen. Citizens
penalty. Temeria and Southern Aedirn are vincial army has its own officer corps. There
can vote and be in the Senate
examples. They are laid waste, and anything are a lot of people from Gheso in the army,
(although a senator is usualy
of value has been destroyed or hauled away. because enlisting gets one out of Gheso.
a noble or a scholar). There
The very land itself is burned and scarred.
Nazair is the biggest problem for Nilfgaard.
are elven and dwarven citi-
I digress here to speak of the Nilf- Their underground anti-Nilfgaard faction is
zens that have busines es in
gaardian military. The young men of noble always planning something, and while inef-
Nilfgaard. Non-human races
family who come out of the Braibant Mil- fective, they are persistent.
are treated better in Nilfgaard
itary Academy after four difficult years are
Magic users in Nilfgaard are a dif-
than here and are rarely kiled
always perfectly dressed and snap to atten- ferent question. Anyone who shows signs of
in pogroms. Women may hold
tion at the drop of a pin. They will go on to ability are sent to Gweision Haul, the Magic
land or busines es in their own
commands of their own, and the very best Academy. While there, they are overseen by
name. In the upper classes,
will be selected for the Impera Brigade, the the staff, and when they graduate they are
marriages are stil arranged
Emperor’s personal guard and the special watched by the Secret Service. Nilfgaard
and the nobility keeps its ranks
forces of the Empire. Then there are the keeps mages on a very short leash.
closed. Some young women
Nilfgaardian regulars. They are trained to
The Emperor learned from his fa-
have attended the Academy
fight, and they do so without question. If a ther’s overthrow, and to this day keeps a
(not the military academy but
young man shows terrific potential he may close eye on his nobles through his secret
a scholarly academy of learn-
be moved up to the top flight. He will be police. He is a gifted strategist and a great
ing).
adopted by a military family and cut off all manipulator. He is a stern man. He dresses
–Brandon of Oxenfurt
association with old friends. He is now of only in black, and always more plainly that
the military noble class and must learn all of anyone at court. At this time he holds most
its etiquette and politics.
of Temeria as well as Aedirn, Verden, and
Lyria and Rivia. We don’t know will happen
next.
193
194
The Great Sun
There is only one faith in Nilf-
The Heart of
gaard, that of The Great Sun.
It is a very old faith and many
ancient sites tell us about the
early history. The Emperor is
Nilfgaard
the head of the Church, leading
The Landing of the Exiles brought to our lands the humans
great rituals at the solstices and
who later became the Nordlings. At that time, the Nilf-
equinoxes. Few Nilfgaardians
gaardians were already established in their country to the
still believe that he is the Sun in
south. The capital (also called Nilfgaard) is lavish, larger
human form, but the rituals,
than Vizima, and lies along the river Alba. It is built entire-
the priests, and the services are
ly of marble and gold and is nicknamed the City of Golden
part of the traditions that shape
&nb
sp; Towers. Only those who are born within this country (or
Nilfgaard.
better yet, this city) are true Nilfgaardians. Nilfgaardians
–Brandon of Oxenfurt
have their own language derived from Elder Speech and re-
quire the populace of the provinces to learn it.
The politics of Nilfgaard are treacherous, dom-
inated by a handful of noble houses constantly vying for
power. The Emperor is all-powerful, supported by his allied houses. There is a senate, but it The Secret Guard
rarely has much effect on the Empire. The family of the current Emperor, Emyr var Emreis,
The Emperor’s Secret Guard
has ruled for most of Nilfgaardian recent history. Emyr’s grandfather, Emperor Torres var
are not very visible, but they
Emreis, founded the kingdom of Nilfgaard on the banks of the Alba and made it a force to
are loyal and effective. Anyone
be reckoned with, repulsing attacks from Gemmeria, its feral neighbor. Torres’ son Fergus
caught sowing dis ent within
var Emreis was the first Emperor to contact the North and shape the Empire we know now.
the Empire can expect a very
Emperor Fergus was overthrown by the Usurpator in 1233, however. The Usurpator con-
unpleasant visit.
tinued the expansion of Nilfgaard under his own banner until Fergus’ son Emyr returned
–Brandon of Oxenfurt
from exile and overthrew him in 1257.
The young men (and some young women) of the city compete seriously for places
at the Academy of Nilfgaard. Successful students will form many connections that will be
valuable later in life. After two of their four years, the Academy students may challenge to transfer to the Nilfgaardian Military Academy where they will be trained rigorously for the
army. They learn strategy and tactics as well as weapons mastery, horsemanship, sailing,
survival off the land, and methods of interrogation. Corporal punishment is common, as it
is felt that young officers should know something about the punishment they dispense. The
best of the best will be chosen for the Impera Brigade, the Emperor’s personal guard.
Not all of Nilfgaardian culture is military. The Imperial Library at the Academy is
most renowned, on a par with Oxenfurt and Lan Exeter. The Academy summons outstand-
ing writers, musicians, scholars, philosophers, and scientists. It supports their work and
keeps them where they can be watched. Those magical few among the rank and file are sent
to the magic academy of Gweision Haul, located just outside the capital of Nilfgaard. Gwei-
sion Haul is a tremendous and foreboding complex large enough to house several hundred
students but sparse in its furnishings. Students are under guard at all times by Mage Hunt-
ers and wardens. They learn not only control of their power, but obedience to the Emperor
and the Empire. Punishments are harsh, but a student can gather a great deal of knowledge
and stature as long as they remember their place and don’t cause trouble.
195
Etolia
Vicovaro
Gemmera
Etolia lies on the north bank of the Vicovaro lies on the northern border
By the middle of 1262, Fergus had
Alba, which also flows through the of Nilfgaard and the south-eastern
incorporated Etolia and Vicovaro. It
Nilfgaardian capital, allowing easy border of Etolia. Many of the no-
is no mistake that he chose these two
access. It has many favorable fea-
bles have large, defensible castles in
first. Western Gemmera is steppeland,
tures including access to two major the mountains of eastern Vicovaro.
but Eastern Gemmera fades into arid,
river systems and a sea coast. Life Nilfgaardian nobles took over some
rocky hil s. These harsh surroundings
in pre-imperial Etolia was simple. of these in their occupation. It also
breed harsh warriors, miners, and
People lived wel . The king primar-
borders the Alba, but unlike Etolia,
bandits. It was only after Fergus had
ily wanted to live comfortably, and Vicovaro has a strong, intelligent no-
the resources and staging areas of Eto-
his people were the same. Trading, bility. When Emperor Fergus started
lia and Vicovaro that he was ready to
farming, fishing, and hand embroi-
to move and they saw what had hap-
take on Gemmera. All Nilfgaard was
dery were their primary industries.
pened to Etolia, Vicovaro graciously
real y interested in were warriors and
In 1261, Emperor Fergus var asked to join the Empire. All this al-
Gemmera’s mines, whose large seams
Emreis decided to expand Nilfgaard. lows the people to live plentiful, sta-
of dimeritium are the only known
Etolia might not have been his first ble lives as long as they pay due re-
Southern source. Nilfgaardian troops
choice, but it fit his purposes. Nilf-
spect to the nobles and to Nilfgaard.
rooted out the population in Eastern
gaard attacked Etolia, overwhelmed They educate their children and send
Gemmera, in some areas leaving lit-
it, and made it an example. The Em-
the smartest and most social y adept
tle more than a few wandering goat
peror left no doubt about his goals to the Nilfgaardian Academy. It is no
herders. The fiercest of the Gemmeri-
and what he was willing to do to ac-
mistake that these young people re-
ans joined the Nilfgaardian army for
complish them. The structures that turn home with a solid knowledge of
loot and mayhem. They wield a sword
defined Etolian life were decimated Nilfgaardian etiquette and contacts
called the torrwr that stands almost
and the spirit of the Etolian people in the Nilfgaardian nobility. This 2 meters at the guard, appropriate was broken. In forty years there has strategy allows Vicovaro to place for the towering Gemmerians them-not been one organized popular up-
many Vicovarians in not only the selves. Gemmerian units have twice
rising. Nilfgaard has created a new provincial government but the Nilf-
as many Nilfgaardian officers as other
provincial government, but it is the gaardian government. The Emperor’s
provincial units, and it is not a desired
government of an overlord. The Eto-
seneschal is Vicovarian. Vicovaro posting. There are no large cities in
lians are unique in their farming of has managed their own absorption
Gemmera, only well-established dirt
white bel y fish, a 5-7 kilogram fresh-
and are still proud to say “I am Vi-
roads that take you to a chain of vil-
water fish from the Alba.
covarian.”
lages.
196
Ebbing
Maecht
Mettina
In his initial advance, the Usurpator Most people in Maecht live in the
Two thirds of Mettina is the Mag Dei-
bypassed Maecht to attack Ebbing. western forests and along the rivers.
ra Plain. Mettinese children are prac-
Ebbing is an attractive target. It is a Despite the rocky and forbidding Tir
tical y born in the saddle. Expansive
large, sparsely populated area, and Tochair mountains
in the east, some
ranches raising cattle and Mettinese
richer than Maecht. The net of rivers traders established lucrative relations
ponies are common. The Mettinese
in Ebbing creates marshy soil similar there with one of the last gnomish
pony is usual y white and is extreme-
to Temeria’s. Land reclaimed from cities, deep in the Tir Tochair moun-
ly hardy, sure-footed, and intelligent.
the swamp is rich and fertile. Nilf-
tains, for exquisite artistic and me-
It is believed that the original stock
gaard took advantage of a succession chanical crafts. Two years after the
came from the Velda River Delta be-
crisis between Ebbing’s quadruplet absorption of Ebbing, the Usurpator
tween Mettina and Gheso. Here the
heirs, where negotiations changed realized that he could not press fur-
Markee, or Velda Delta horsemen,
daily depending on what faction was ther north with Maecht at his back.
live rough all year round minding
in power. Final y the Usurpator lost The battle was short. The Usurpator
the herds of horses that roam the
patience and sent in the army. The settled a puppet king on Maecht’s delta. This life also makes the Markee Ebbing military was based on social throne. The gnomes withdrew into
proud and tough cavalrymen. That
status, not competence. They took their mountain holds to avoid being
delta is also the site of many wineries.
horrible losses, except the nobles—
captured by Nilfgaard and forced The best known is Mettina Rose. It is
who fled the field. The people were to churn out Nilfgaardian weapons
approachable—some might say “ta-
so tired of the continuing political and armor. When the Usurpator ble wine.” It is drunk throughout the chaos that they adapted to the situ-was overthrown, the king was sum-
provinces. Mettinese people are ex-
ation. Ebbing hasn’t caused problems moned to Nilfgaard for a private talk
tremely proud of their wine; should
for Nilfgaard, so they are left large-
with Emyr var Emreis. He has been
wine-lovers from Touissant pass
ly alone. There is still a lot of cor-
very careful to toe the Nilfgaardian
through it is likely their wine discus-
The Witcher Pen & Paper RPG Page 43
