The entries below come from the glossary in Geralt’s journal in The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. Written in the voice of the story’s chronicler, they cover the peoples, factions, kingdoms, mages and past events that shape the conflicts of the game. Where the journal repeats a topic under two titles, the entries are combined here into a single summary.
Peoples & factions
Blue Stripes (Temerian Special Forces)
Special forces units were created once it became clear that regular troops could not cope with the fast-moving Scoia’tael. King Demavend formed the first of them, led by the notorious White Rayla. They were effective but also cruel, and their hostility toward nonhumans often went far beyond duty.
The elves returned that hatred, so fights between partisans and special forces were always savage. Beyond hunting the Scoia’tael, the Temerian special forces handled many other risky missions and earned a reputation as capable professionals. See Blue Stripes.
Dun Banner
The Dun Banner was a Kaedweni light cavalry regiment that first patrolled the lands around Ban Gleán. It proved itself during the push into Upper Aedirn in the last wars with Nilfgaard, and chroniclers of the Battle of Brenna made it famous.
Years later it again spearheaded King Henselt’s march into Aedirn, but this time it was crushed by the sorceress Sabrina Glevissig, nominally an ally. The unit was never rebuilt. Its distinctive cloaks and beaver-skin caps now serve only as a way for the few survivors to recognise one another.
Dwarves
Dwarves are an Elder Race: short, bearded, sturdy and deep-voiced. Their blunt manners lead some to call them surly or greedy, a view the journal’s author openly rejects. Their homeland is Mahakam, a mountain region known for its mines of gems and ore.
Many dwarves have settled in human cities and adapt well to new neighbours. Despite harassment and even pogroms, they get along with humans far better than elves do, and they prosper as traders, bankers, smiths and armourers.
Elves
Elves call themselves the Aen Seidhe and are famed for their beauty, long lives and the masterpieces of their artists and scholars. That golden age is over: wars with humans left their cities in ruins, and the survivors either withdrew east into remote mountains or accepted life under human rule.
Hoping to regain their freedom, many elves joined the Scoia’tael during the last war against Nilfgaard. The war produced the semi-independent realm of Dol Blathanna, yet some elves consider that outcome a betrayal and keep fighting humans.
Order of the Flaming Rose
This knightly order began in Temeria with noble aims. It grew out of reforms meant to root out corruption in the decaying Order of the White Rose, which was then renamed the Order of the Flaming Rose. Under Grand Master Jacques de Aldersberg, deep racist attitudes turned it into a hotbed of intolerance.
Its part in the Vizima Rebellion is still judged ambiguously. Afterwards Foltest banished the order from Temeria, and the knights relocated to Redania to rebuild their strength with the backing of young King Radovid.
Scoia’tael
Scoia’tael, meaning “squirrels” in the common tongue, are rebels fighting for nonhuman freedom. The name is said to come either from the squirrel tails on their caps or from the forest fare they lived on. Their units numbered more than twenty fighters, mostly elves, with occasional dwarves and halflings.
In the last war they sided with the Nilfgaardian Empire, sabotaging and raiding behind northern lines. Many refused to lay down arms after the Peace of Cintra, especially once Nilfgaard handed their commanders over to the Nordlings for execution.
Witchers
Witchers were once as common as the monsters they hunted, but today they are regarded as a remnant of a bygone era. The author, a longtime friend of Geralt, admits knowing little beyond what scholarly books say and keeps the rest discreet.
Their training is largely secret. It includes the Trials, which alter the body with a mix of hidden herbs and potions. Survivors gain heightened reflexes, night vision and other abilities. Witchers also learn swordsmanship and simple magic called Signs, all to defend humans from monsters.
Places & kingdoms
Aedirn
Aedirn is bounded by Kaedwen in the north and Redania in the northwest. Temeria and the Mahakam massif lie on its western side, Lyria lies south, and the Blue Mountains form its eastern edge. Its arms are a golden-red chevron on black, and its capital is Vengerberg.
The kingdom nearly ceased to exist when Nilfgaard took its south and Kaedwen, its supposed ally, seized Upper Aedirn. The invaders were driven out and Kaedwen withdrew, but peasant uprisings and a shaky central government leave Aedirn’s future uncertain.
Dol Blathanna
Dol Blathanna means “Valley of the Flowers” in the elven tongue, a fitting name for a beautiful land. Formerly the southeastern edge of Aedirn, it became the sovereign realm of the Free Elves after the last war, granted by Emperor Emhyr var Emreis in return for their service.
Its ruler is Francesca Findabair, an elven sorceress also known as Enid an Gleanna, meaning Daisy of the Valley. Neighbouring kingdoms resent it, even though its queen has had to publicly disown the Scoia’tael guerrilla campaign.
Kaedwen
Kaedwen is a cold, heavily forested kingdom framed by the Blue, Kestrel and Fiery mountains. Its arms show a black unicorn rearing on gold. From the capital Ard Carraigh ruled King Henselt, known for his fierce temper and harsh policies toward nonhumans.
Those policies grew out of repeated Scoia’tael raids, which locals answered by massacring assimilated elves and dwarves in the cities, feeding an endless cycle of revenge. Advocates of peace were branded traitors. Kaedwen also has a long-running dispute with Aedirn over Lormark, which strains relations between the two.
Lormark (Upper Aedirn)
Depending on who is speaking, the territory lying between the Dyphne and the Pontar is known as either Lormark or Upper Aedirn, and both Aedirn and Kaedwen have claimed it for centuries. In the last war, while Aedirn struggled against Nilfgaard in the south, Kaedwen assumed its neighbour would fall and occupied the region.
A few days afterwards, Ard Carraigh’s Margrave Mansfeld and Nilfgaardian commander Menno Coehoorn shook hands on a bridge over the Dyphne, sealing the partition. Kaedwen later returned Lormark, but the author calls the seizure one of history’s most shameful acts.
Nilfgaard
The Nilfgaardian Empire is the biggest state anywhere in the known world, ruling more than a dozen provinces and having united every realm south of the Amell Mountains. Its black banners with a golden sun fly over its territory, which stretches from the Yaruga down to Vicovaro and east to the Tir Tochair massif.
The Empire’s armies stand ready to fight and die at the emperor’s order. Their latest advance north was halted a few years ago by the combined Northern Kingdoms at the bloody Battle of Brenna, yet Nilfgaardian troops can still be seen across the Yaruga.
Redania
Redania lies between the Braa and Pontar rivers and is one of the leading northern kingdoms. Its arms show a crowned silver eagle on red, holding a golden sceptre and bearing a small black shield with a golden cross. The realm came through the turmoil after King Vizimir’s death intact.
Its capital is Tretogor, seat of King Radovid, but its largest city is the Free City of Novigrad, a hub of trade and culture. Oxenfurt, the author’s old university town, is also here. Redania fought Nilfgaard alongside the other northern realms, and its Royal Redanian Corps played a key role at Brenna.
Temeria
According to the journal, any educated person discussing the Northern Kingdoms should name Temeria first. Its arms show silver fleurs-de-lys on a black shield, and its capital is Vizima, home of the Royal Palace built by King Foltest. Temeria also protects nearby lands, including the dwarven mountain homeland of Mahakam.
Its neighbours are Redania, Kaedwen and Cidaris. Two Temerian places matter at the start of the story: the La Valette family’s fortified town near the White Bridge north of Vizima, and the small river port of Flotsam further up the Pontar.
Magic & mages
Ban Ard
Ban Ard is one of the notable cities of Kaedwen, known for its school that trains young students of magic. Many renowned sorcerers of the present day studied there.
The city also supplies an armoured banner, a unit held in high regard within the Kaedweni army. The journal titles one of its entries “More than Aretuza”, setting Ban Ard alongside that better-known school for mages.
Conclave of Sorcerers
Together with the Supreme Council, the Conclave was one of the two governing bodies of mages, and it seated the strongest sorcerers of the age. It set the rules for practising magic, including the edict that banned necromancy.
Before the events on Thanedd, much of the Conclave had secretly allied with Nilfgaard. Most members died in the coup, with Francesca Findabair the only survivor. The Conclave was never restored, so many mages no longer honour the restrictions it imposed.
Lodge of Sorceresses
The Lodge of Sorceresses was a secret group of ten sorceresses from both the Northern Kingdoms and Nilfgaard, and its activities came to light only late. It was meant to replace the Conclave and the Supreme Council, serving the interests of magic and preventing the disaster that would follow if magic vanished. Few outside its ranks knew it existed.
Its members also meddled in politics, trying to steer kings and whole nations, and did not shy from murder. The killing of Demavend was intended to bring order to Aedirn but instead set off a chain of events that rocked the North.
Magic
Magic is the common name for the Power that sorcerers wield. A sorceress known to the author describes it as chaos, art, science, curse, blessing and progress all at once. How it is used depends entirely on the user, but it allows feats beyond ordinary people.
Witcher Signs are also a kind of magic, though sorcerers scorn them as trivial next to their own abilities. The author concludes that the world would be duller without magic and that much beauty would be lost.
Sorcerers
“Sorcerer” is the usual term for a man able to command the Power, though over the centuries people have used many other names, from the respectful “Wise One” to crude insults. Female practitioners, sorceresses, have likewise been called anything from “archmistress” to words the author declines to repeat.
Their power lifts mages above ordinary people. History records some as brave heroes and others as faithless scoundrels, and since people remember the scoundrels longer, common folk tend to view the profession with contempt.
Supreme Council of Sorcerers
The Supreme Council was made up of gifted mages, most of whom also advised the rulers of the Northern Kingdoms. Its members included Philippa Eilhart and Carduin of Lan Exeter.
During the Thanedd coup only one councillor proved to be a Nilfgaardian sympathiser, but many others stayed neutral, which split the Council. Most members survived, yet having lost prestige and royal backing, the Council was dissolved, and sorcerers lost much of their former influence in the North.
History & beliefs
Aelirenn, the White Rose of Shaerrawedd
Aelirenn, called the White Rose of Shaerrawedd, led young elves in a doomed revolt against humans more than two centuries ago. They fell fighting for freedom, for their cities and for her, dying with the honour and courage she had promised, and the elves never recovered from the defeat.
Her story is remembered as a sad one, but she remains a symbol of the struggle for freedom, and elven rebels still invoke her name as they go into battle.
Conjunction of the Spheres
The Conjunction of the Spheres was a magical catastrophe roughly 1,500 years ago and the subject of countless scholarly works. It brought previously unknown creatures into the world, beings that still have no natural place in its ecosystem. Graveirs and ghouls are among these relics.
Elven tradition holds that humans also arrived at that time. Sorcerers say that the same event gave humanity magic, which they regard as both a marvellous gift and a dreadful curse.
Emhyr var Emreis, the White Flame
Emhyr var Emreis, Emperor of Nilfgaard, bears the Elder Speech title Deithwen Addan yn Carn aep Morvudd: the White Flame, said to dance on the barrows of his enemies. Rulers from the Buina to the Yaruga feared him, and his armoured legions toppled kingdoms and kings.
Driven by ambition, he tried several times to conquer the North but each time had to agree to peace. He does not appear in person in the story, but his influence is felt throughout it.
Melitele
Melitele is a goddess of love, marriage, fertility, nature and plenty, among other things. Her cult arose from a merging of beliefs held by many races and cultures about those parts of life, and it has never lost popularity.
The author offers a down-to-earth explanation: the cult is followed mainly by women, and Melitele protects women in labour. Since women in childbirth cry out to some deity for help and Melitele is the obvious choice, she will never run short of worshippers.
The Good Book
The Good Book collects the teachings of the prophet Lebioda. The journal quotes a passage in which a disciple asks Lebioda for guidance: a neighbour wants the disciple’s beloved dog, and giving it away would break his heart, while refusing would hurt the neighbour and leave the disciple unhappy as well. The excerpt ends with the disciple asking what he should do.
The Temerian Royal Dynasty
Princess Adda, daughter of King Foltest, was cursed before birth and born a dead monster. After burial she kept growing and finally emerged from the tomb as a striga that terrorised Vizima until Geralt lifted the spell.
Years later the curse returned and the witcher had to face the striga a second time. This relapse was political: the Order of the Flaming Rose caused it to spread chaos in Vizima and bring down Foltest.
The Thanedd Coup
The coup on Thanedd Island ranks among the most important events in history. During a summit of mages, sorcerers loyal to the Northern Kingdoms planned to arrest colleagues who were working with Nilfgaard. The conspirators had prepared their own strike and secretly brought Scoia’tael and Nilfgaardian agents onto the island.
A bloody battle broke out in the palace halls and many on both sides were killed, but the traitors were eventually forced to flee. The affair badly damaged trust in mages, and many lost the favour of the kings they had served.
The Vizima Rebellion
Also known as the Viziman Uprising, these events took place shortly after Geralt’s mysterious return. Jacques de Aldersberg, head of the Order of the Flaming Rose, wanted to create a new and better world under his own rule. He inflamed the conflict with the Scoia’tael until it endangered Vizima, then marched on King Foltest with an army of mutants.
The city saw fighting between the Order, the Scoia’tael and royal troops. Historians still disagree about these events, but Foltest regained control and the rebellion was put down.
Veyopatis
Veyopatis is an almost forgotten god of the Pontar Valley, still honoured in a few forest villages by priestesses and witches, though ordinary people avoid their rites. When humans first settled the land, he was a protector linked to the rivers they relied on, giving fish, easing sailing and keeping forest dangers away.
Posts carved with his image once marked the line between tamed land and the wild. He was also seen as fierce and easily angered. Today travellers who find his gaping-jawed stone idols tend to take them for monsters rather than a once-beloved god.