Overview
The Continent is the primary landmass in the Witcher universe and the setting for all mainline Witcher games. It is divided between the Northern Kingdoms in the upper half and the Nilfgaardian Empire in the south, separated by the Amell Mountains. The Dragon Mountains border the north, the Blue Mountains mark the eastern edge, and the Great Sea lies to the west.
The Northern Kingdoms
The four major Northern Kingdoms are Redania, Temeria, Kaedwen, and Aedirn. These kingdoms have spent centuries feuding with each other and resisting Nilfgaardian expansion from the south. Kovir, the setting of The Witcher IV, sits at the far north above Redania.
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Redania | North of the Pontar River. Home to Novigrad, one of the largest cities on the Continent. Ruled by King Radovid V in The Witcher 3 |
Temeria | South of Redania, anchored by the capital Vizima. Occupied by Nilfgaard during the events of The Witcher 3 |
Kaedwen | The largest Northern Kingdom, in the northeast. Cold and forested. Kaer Morhen, the witcher training fortress, is in its eastern mountains |
Aedirn | Capital is Vengerberg, Yennefer's home city. Frequent border disputes with Kaedwen over the Pontar Valley |
Other regions
Location | Description |
|---|---|
Kovir and Poviss | Wealthy northern kingdom, neutral by treaty. Setting of The Witcher IV. Mineral-rich territory with gold, salt, and dimeritium |
Skellige Isles | Archipelago off the western coast with seafaring Viking-like clans. Key region in The Witcher 3 |
Cintra | Southern kingdom, Ciri's homeland. Conquered by Nilfgaard in the first Northern War |
Nilfgaardian Empire | The dominant southern power, ruled by Emperor Emhyr var Emreis (Ciri's biological father). Expansionist and militaristic |
The Conjunction of the Spheres
About 1,500 years before the events of the games, a cataclysm called the Conjunction of the Spheres merged multiple dimensions. This event brought humans, monsters, and other creatures to the Continent, which had previously been inhabited primarily by elves, dwarves, and gnomes. The arrival of humans eventually led to the displacement and persecution of non-human races.
The Conjunction also brought magic to the Continent in its current form, and it is the reason monsters exist throughout the Witcher world. Witchers were created specifically to deal with this monster population.