Revision 1

Overview

Pont Vanis is the summer capital of Kovir and Poviss. While Lan Exeter sits on the coast, Pont Vanis is inland. King Tankred Thyssen moves his court between the two cities with the seasons.

In Sapkowski's novels, Pont Vanis is described as a center of commerce and culture. It has a reputation for wealth and learning, fitting Kovir's status as the richest kingdom in the Northern Realms. However, the novels spend relatively little time there, and physical descriptions of the city are sparse.

Possible role in the game

CDPR has not confirmed Pont Vanis by name. The game's open world covers Kovir and Poviss, bounded by the Dragon Mountains, the sea, Redania, and Creyden. If the developers are building out the full kingdom, both capitals are natural candidates for inclusion.

Less is known about how Pont Vanis might look compared to Lan Exeter. No tech demo footage or concept art has shown an inland city that matches its description. It is possible the city will appear but has not been shown yet, or that CDPR will focus on Lan Exeter as the primary urban hub.

Kovir's dual-capital system

The two-capital arrangement is a defining feature of Kovir. Lan Exeter handles winter governance, trade through the port, and naval matters. Pont Vanis handles summer court life. The split mirrors real historical kingdoms that moved their courts seasonally (the French court moved between Paris and Versailles, for instance).

For gameplay, the dual-capital system could create interesting dynamics. Different questlines or factions might be concentrated in each city. The season or point in the story might determine which capital is more active. This is speculation, though; CDPR has not discussed seasonal systems in The Witcher IV.