Thanedd Island
The island of the Aretuza school of magic, where the mages' coup broke the Brotherhood of Sorcerers.
Thanedd Island is the site of the Aretuza school of magic in The Witcher. In Time of Contempt, Yennefer plans to enroll Ciri at Aretuza while attending a conference of mages there.
Quick Facts
- Key event
- The Coup on Thanedd
Lore & Background
Early in the morning after an evening reception, Geralt stumbles on an attempted coup organized by Dijkstra and Philippa Eilhart, who ambush several mages, including Vilgefortz, intending to accuse them of conspiring with Nilfgaard. Tissaia de Vries releases the captured mages and drops the field that inhibits the use of magic inside Aretuza, which proves disastrous when they attack the Northern mages while a Scoia'tael commando working with Nilfgaard invades the compound. Ciri takes refuge at the Tower of Gulls, where Vilgefortz defeats and severely wounds Geralt; Ciri escapes through an unstable magic portal, releasing a flare of energy that collapses the Tower and leaves Vilgefortz's face scarred.
Reader's Guide
After the coup, Ciri finds herself in the Korath desert, and the Brotherhood of Sorcerers collapses. Tissaia, realizing her mistake, takes Geralt to safety with Triss Merigold's help before committing suicide.
More in World & Geography
Elsewhere in The Witcher
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