Northern Kingdoms

Lore & Background

The history of the Northern Kingdoms is rooted in conflict and displacement. Centuries before the main narrative, elves arrived on the Continent via magical portals, settling the plains and forests after driving the dwarves—who are native to the Continent—into the mountains. Human colonists arrived roughly 1,500 years prior to the story's timeline, sparking wars that resulted in human victory and dominance. The non-human populations, including halflings and dwarves—both native to the Continent, unlike certain monsters and vampires that appeared after the magical Conjunction of the Spheres—were reduced to second-class citizens confined to ghettos or forced into unexplored wilderness. Geographically, the North is characterized by its fragmentation; while the southern regions have only recently faced Nilfgaardian expansion within the last few decades, the north remained a collection of divided states. This division created a power vacuum and constant tension, as the Northern Kingdoms struggled to present a united front against the imperial threat from the south.

In Their Own Story

The political landscape of the North is defined by its inability to maintain lasting peace. During the events of The Witcher Saga, the region exists in the tense aftermath of the first major war between the Northern Kingdoms and the Nilfgaard Empire. While these states occasionally unite against such existential threats, internal dynamics often prioritize individual power over collective survival. The narrative arc includes the beginning of a second war between the North and Nilfgaard in the middle of the series, highlighting the fragility of their alliances. Unlike the centralized rule found elsewhere on the Continent, the North operates through a complex web of competing monarchies. This fragmentation allows monsters to thrive in the unexplored regions humans have not yet settled, while within the civilized areas, non-human races face systemic discrimination and segregation.

Reader's Guide

Travelers or scholars studying the Northern Kingdoms must understand that this region is not a single entity but a collection of sovereign states often locked in conflict. The political structure is best described as fragmented feudal monarchies, where kings and queens frequently prioritize their own borders and succession rights over regional stability. The human presence here is dominant but precarious; they live alongside a suppressed population of non-humans who are either confined to ghettos or pushed into the wilds. For those seeking contracts or political intrigue, the North offers a dangerous environment where the line between ally and enemy shifts rapidly. The region's history of war with Nilfgaard serves as the central backdrop for the saga, illustrating how external pressure fails to fully unify a people prone to internal strife.

Did You Know?

• The Northern Kingdoms are located on an unnamed continent settled thousands of years prior by elves who arrived via magical portals, not by sea.
• Human colonists arrived on the Continent approximately 1,500 years before the events of the series, winning wars that made them the dominant race.
• Non-human races in the North often live in small ghettos within human settlements or in wilderness regions humans have not yet explored.
• The Northern Kingdoms fought a major war against the Nilfgaard Empire, with a second war beginning in the middle of The Witcher Saga.
• Werewolves and vampires are monsters or cursed beings that appeared on the Continent after a magical event known as the Conjunction of the Spheres.