The Brotherhood - a name that implies a familial level of trust - is mainly characterized by the mages’ infighting and backstabbing, as Vilgefortz and Stregobor bicker over who deserves a leadership role. But in doing so, they also severed their alliance with Fringilla, weakening both Nilfgaard and the elves at a time when neither side could really afford it.Įven The Witcher’s metaphorical families are starting to fall apart. When Francesca and Filavandrel had their baby, they decided it was time for the elves to embrace isolationism after all. No fewer than two characters in “Voleth Meir” specifically cite the importance of valuing and trusting blood over anything else. This is a grim time for the Continent, and with the world in such a state of chaos, everyone is forced to retreat to their corners and rely on who they think they can trust. And Yennefer, desperate to get her power back, maneuvers Ciri into the Deathless Mother’s clutches, losing both Ciri and Geralt in the process. Fringilla snaps, paralyzes, and murders almost every other high-ranking Nilfgaardian in Cintra, consolidating her power in a Red Wedding-esque coup. Francesca’s baby, who brought so much hope and joy to the elves, suddenly dies in Filavandrel’s arms. The results are swift and horrifying, as all three women see their deepest wish flipped around with horrifying monkey’s paw-style consequences. But she did have a plan, and in “Voleth Meir,” she finally springs it. We’ve had plenty of evidence that the Deathless Mother is bad news - for starters, she’s called the “Deathless Mother” - but she’s primarily lurked on the periphery of the narrative, manipulating Francesca, Fringilla, and Yennefer without directly inserting herself into the political hornet’s nest that’s swarming across the Continent.
Is it Rience, the fire-wielding mage who keeps teleporting around the Continent and beating up people we like? Stregobor, the arrogant old mage trying to maintain the control of the Brotherhood? King Vizimir, scheming with Dijkstra to destabilize the entire Continent for his own political ends? Nilfgaard’s Emperor Emhyr, the unseen “White Flame” who inspires both fear and devotion from his generals? Or even Ciri herself, so unable to control her powers that she inadvertently releases full force of the apocalyptic magic within her?Īs it turns out, the real answer has been hanging out in her chicken-legged hut all along. There have been a lot of strong contenders for the true villain of The Witcher’s second season.