The Witcher Season 3: Unveiling the Hunt for Ciri - Discover the 5 Unstoppable Forces!

Attention: spoilers ahead for season 3 Part 1 of The Witcher.

The highly anticipated third season of The Witcher has arrived, introducing new factions in the quest for Ciri, each with their own unique motivations. Following the controversial events of season 2, this season promises to delve into crucial book moments while also marking Henry Cavill's last performance as Geralt of Rivia. With the season being split into two parts and the aftermath of season 2 still fresh, viewers can expect an action-packed, thrilling ride filled with unexpected turns.

Nilfgaard & The White Flame

In The Witcher season 3 Part 1, Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer find themselves in a precarious situation, constantly evading danger as they are pursued by various factions across the Continent. Their top priority is to ensure Ciri's safety, as she has become the primary target for different individuals with diverse motives. As the season unfolds, the true intentions of their adversaries become clear, revealing a shocking revelation: one of these enemies is much closer to them than anticipated. Here, we explore the five groups relentlessly hunting Ciri in The Witcher season 3.

The true motives behind Nilfgaard's pursuit of Ciri remained shrouded in mystery until the final episode of The Witcher season 2. It was then revealed that the enigmatic ruler known as The White Flame was none other than Emhyr van Emries, also recognized as Lord Urcheon "Duny" of Erlenwald. Duny, who had previously formed a bond with princess Pavetta through the Law of Surprise, was not only the father of Ciri but also her mother's husband.

In a remarkable twist of fate, Geralt also found himself linked to Ciri through the same law after saving Duny's life. As time went on, Emhyr became aware of the prophecy of Ithlinne through Vilgefortz and determined to reclaim his throne in Nilfgaard. He intended to accomplish this feat alongside Ciri as his ally. However, with Queen Calanthe closely monitoring his every move, Emhyr and Vilgefortz devised a plan to stage the deaths of Emhyr, Pavetta, and Ciri.

Pavetta discovered the plan and managed to rescue Ciri by sneaking her off the ship before it departed, ensuring her safety. Following a heated argument between Emhyr and Pavetta, Emhyr pushed Pavetta overboard and proceeded with his scheme to fake his own death as Duny, thus enabling his return to Nilfgaard. This allowed him to overthrow the Usurper and earn the moniker "The White Flame Dancing on the Barrows of his Enemies." As part of his ruthless pursuits, Emhyr even had the gravestones of his deceased political adversaries exhumed and repurposed as flooring for his ballroom.

The reasons behind The White Flame's pursuit of Ciri in the books spark controversy. Emhyr subscribes to a prophecy that foretells his son inheriting the Elder Blood and ruling the Continent. Ciri possesses the Elder Blood, which gifts her with extraordinary powers and establishes a connection to the elves. Emhyr's ultimate aim is to capture Ciri in order for her to bear his child, as the prophecy suggests that this offspring will become the ruler of the world. Netflix's adaptation of The Witcher has not yet clarified whether this aspect of Emhyr and Ciri's story will be incorporated. However, what has been revealed thus far is Emhyr's desire for Ciri to rule alongside him, prompting him to go to great lengths to find his daughter.

Francesca Findabair & The Elves

During The Witcher season 2, the elves were rebuilding their community and seeking a permanent home. Francesca Findabair, their leader, made a tragic deal with Fringilla and the Voleth Meir. Though Francesca successfully bore the first elven baby in ages, The White Flame ordered its murder, prompting her to sever ties with Nilfgaard. In the season's finale, Francesca discovered from Istredd about Ciri and her Elder Blood, leading her to believe that Ciri would save the elves. Consequently, Francesca and her people now search for Ciri.

Francesca's quest created tensions with Gallatin, the leader of the Scoia'tael, who deemed her mission futile and focused on other battles. The White Flame and Cahir exploited Gallatin's demise to manipulate Francesca, persuading her to aid the Emperor in finding Ciri. While the specifics of their agreement remain undisclosed, Francesca agreed, and Cahir assigned their first joint mission.

Dijkstra & Redania

In his role as King Vizimir's advisor and spy, Dijkstra strategized with the King about Redania's next steps, ultimately deciding that their target should be Ciri. Dijkstra's objective was for Ciri to marry Vizimir, enabling the King to claim the throne of Cintra and solidify Redania as the dominant kingdom on the Continent. However, Dijkstra's carefully devised plans encountered a major hurdle when Vizimir, acting without Dijkstra's counsel, struck a deal with Nilfgaard that involved handing over Ciri if Redania captured her first. To regain the King's trust and nullify the agreement, Dijkstra and Philippa orchestrated the assassination of Vizimir's wife, Queen Hedwig, a move that proved to be remarkably successful.

Vilgefortz & Rience

Lydia van Bredevoort has been employed by a mysterious entity to locate Ciri, and to expedite her search, she enlisted the aid of Rience, a rogue sorcerer who dabbles in the forbidden arts of fire magic. Despite his efforts, Rience was unsuccessful in apprehending Ciri during the events of The Witcher season 2. Undeterred, he persevered in season 3, armed with a vial containing Ciri's blood that he had stolen from Kaer Morhen. However, season 3 proved to be yet another series of failures for Rience. After enduring a brutal confrontation with Geralt that left him with shattered hands and no progress made, Rience (along with the viewers) discovered that Lydia's employer is affiliated with Nilfgaard.

At the conclusion of Part 1 of The Witcher season 3, Yennefer and Geralt come to the realization that the mage supporting Rience is not Stregobor, but instead Vilgefortz. Vilgefortz, in an effort to perfect his manipulation techniques, has abducted half-elf novices from Aretuza and is using them to deceive and confuse them into believing they are Ciri. His ultimate objective is to locate the real Ciri and he has enlisted the aid of Lydia and Rience to carry out his plans clandestinely.

The Wild Hunt

The Wild Hunt, a band of ethereal beings mounted on undead horses, soar through the sky and are regarded as a harbinger of war. Originating from Tir ná Lia, these otherworldly creatures were Aen Elle elves. Under the command of elven King Auberon Muircetach, they formed a formidable cavalry unit with the sole purpose of infiltrating foreign realms and enslaving young humanoids. Their method of entry was the Gate of the Worlds. To strike fear into the hearts of their enemies, the Wild Hunt donned skeletal armor and employed illusions to appear more ghostlike. Following a temporary loss of their ability to traverse space-time via the Gate, the elves adapted their strategies, honing their spectral projections and gaining the moniker of the "Wild Hunt".

Upon discovering Ciri and her Elder Blood, their intentions shifted to capturing her for the purpose of mating her with their king. By doing so, they hoped to restore the presence of Elder Blood among the elves, regain their power, and reaccess the Gate. However, their plans took a different turn when their king proved incapable and was subsequently killed. The new ruler made the decision to harness Ciri's power instead, aiming to reopen the Gate. Despite a brief appearance in The Witcher season 3 Part 1, the motives behind the Wild Hunt's pursuit of Ciri remain unclear. Eredin informed Ciri that they are corpses while she is alive, suggesting that their reasons for hunting her may differ from those portrayed in the books.