In previous episodes… I was hunting the beast of Huerto Blanco while Vesemir got his ass full of Vodka. Things didn’t end too well: humanity once again showed that he is the true monster of The Witcher universe. My adventure ended just when I met Yennefer.
Yennefer appears in the Huerto Blanco tavern accompanied by a Nilfgaardian escort. Geralt’s (and me’s) heart melts and Vesemir asks him to explain. The sorceress refuses to give them there and asks me to accompany her to Vizima’s fortress. The emperor Emhyr was Emreis He wants to talk to me about an important topic.
I have never liked the Nilfgaardian Empire. They control and pride themselves on bringing order, but the reality is that their leaders exploit conquered peoples and their soldiers act as judges and executioners of the citizens of those territories. But… they are the lesser evil compared to the racist and sectarian rubbish in Novigrad and Oxenfurd.
I agree to go with Yennefer to Vizyma. After all, my mission was to find her. It would be foolish not to go with her. Vesemir decides not to accompany us and heads to Kaer Morhen to clean up the fortress before winter comes and the roads are blocked.
The Nilfgaardian court: protocol, bureaucracies and more fanfare
The path to Vizima was not going to be easy. The Wild Hunt assault our company. Beasts and dark riders advance at great speed bringing an icy cold. We spur our horses, but to no avail. The Nilfgaardian soldiers begin to fall one by one.
Yennefer is slow to react, but eventually destroys a small wooden bridge so The Wild Hunt can’t follow us. All the soldiers have fallen, but we managed to outrun our pursuers and reach Vizim.
I don’t know what the reception is like in the fortress, because the next thing I see is that I am in a luxurious room, immersed in a large basin of hot water and three maids rubbing my body while exchanging giggles. The scene is short. The On Chambela He enters the room and throws out the maids. I get out of the basin covered in a towel. The protocol preparations begin.
The Chamberlain sits me in a chair and asks the barber to remove my beard. He tried to deny me, but he replied that beards are not well seen in Nilfgaard. Apparently, they are typical of beggars and lousy vagabonds. I wish I could say that this has only been told to me in The Witcher 3.
While I’m being shaved, come into the room Morvran Voorhis, a Nifgardian general, and demands to ask me some questions regarding my past. Bureaucracy. The game uses it to simulate some events that occurred in The Witcher 2. Nothing important, but I am once again a victim of Nilfgaardian arrogance and condescension. My patience has a limit, but hold on.
Finally, the Chamberlain asks me to choose an outfit and show him that I know how to curtsy. Once again, pride and condescension. I go through the hoop and show that I know how to bow. It is insufficient for the imperial majesty of her. My patience is at critical levels.
The Emhyr var Emreis proposal
I follow the Chamberlain through the court, on my way to my meeting with his majesty, while he explains how and when to speak to him, that I should bow, etc… I have no patience left. The rest of the way I imagine smashing all the guards with my sword and repeatedly skewering the chamberlain. I can’t stand servility and rallying. Sorry.
Emhyr was Emreis He is meeting with several people. The chamberlain makes the introductions and takes a bow. I choose do not bow and Geralt nods a little in greeting. My knee does not touch the ground for anyone, whatever titles they have.
The emperor sends everyone out. Immediately afterwards, he reproaches me that I have not learned anything from life at court. “You can’t teach an old wolf new tricks.“, I answer. After insisting to get to the point, Emhyr orders me to seek from Cirihis biological daughter and adoptive daughter of Yennefer and Geralt, for Nilfgaard succession matters.
My patience ends when Emhyr disrespects me by offering me a reward in coins. I reply that I am not accepting the favor neither for him nor for the reward, but for Ciri. In any case, you have no right to claim it and I’m not going to bring it to you when I find it.
The reunion with Yennefer and the beginning of my mission
The meeting with Emhyr doesn’t end well, but we both agree that we need to find Ciri. Next, she turned to the Yennefer’s quarters, which reveals the true danger of the mission: The Wild Hunt is after Ciri. Her magic has failed to track her, so she needs me to track her the old-fashioned way.
I’m trying to catch up with Yennefer and explain everything that happened in The Witcher 2. Roughly speaking, I lost my memory and had a little adventure with Triss. The damage was already done when he regained his memory. yennefer not very open to talk, but she’s still in love and plants a kiss on my lips while telling me to be careful. In part, she can’t help it because of him. Last wish from Geralt al Djiin.
My role in the Nilfgaardian court is over. I take one last look at Yennefer, collect the gifts from her chambers (the armor of the Thousand Flowers and the White Tiger of the West with their respective swords), enter Vizima’s secret room, take another look at Yennefer and head out. to the Hanged Man’s Tree. My search for Ciri has begun.
