Thanedd Island
A school of magic turned battlefield during a mage coup.
Thanedd Island is the location of the Aretuza school of magic, where a conference of mages takes place. It is the site of an attempted coup organized by Dijkstra and Philippa Eilhart, who ambush several mages including Vilgefortz. During the chaos, a Scoia'tael commando working with Nilfgaard invades the compound. Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri become caught in the conflict, with Geralt fighting Vilgefortz at the Tower of Gulls and being severely wounded. Ciri escapes through an unstable magic portal, releasing a flare of energy that collapses the Tower and scars Vilgefortz's face.
- Location
- Northern Kingdoms Coast
- Affiliation
- Brotherhood of Sorcerers (Historical)
- Key Event
- The Thanedd Coup
Lore & Background
Thanedd Island houses the Aretuza school of magic, where Yennefer plans to enroll Ciri. The island becomes the stage for a power struggle when Dijkstra and Philippa Eilhart organize a coup, ambushing mages including Vilgefortz, whom they intend to accuse of conspiring with Nilfgaard. Tissaia de Vries, the most senior mage, releases the captured mages and drops the field inhibiting magic inside Aretuza, which proves disastrous when they attack Philippa and the other Northern mages while a Scoia'tael commando invades. During the fighting, Geralt disables Dijkstra and rushes to rescue Yennefer and Ciri. Ciri takes refuge at the Tower of Gulls, where Vilgefortz confronts Geralt. After Geralt refuses to join his side, a fight ensues in which Geralt is defeated and severely wounded. Ciri escapes through an unstable magic portal, releasing energy that collapses the Tower and scars Vilgefortz's face. Tissaia, realizing her mistake, takes Geralt to safety with Triss Merigold's help before committing suicide.
In Their Own Story
At an evening reception on Thanedd Island, Geralt meets several mages, including Vilgefortz, who hints that a power struggle is imminent and that Geralt will have to choose sides. Vilgefortz wants Geralt on his side, but Geralt prefers to remain neutral. Dijkstra also tries to recruit Geralt, without success. Early in the morning, Geralt stumbles on the attempted coup. Tissaia is furious that Philippa and her other mages have abandoned their role as neutral advisors. Yennefer brings Ciri, who lapses into a clairvoyant trance and reveals that the war has already begun: the King of Redania was assassinated the night before, and the King of Aedirn has launched an attack on Nilfgaard.
Reader's Guide
Aretuza is the school of magic on Thanedd Island where Yennefer plans to enroll Ciri. The island hosts a conference of mages that becomes the site of a coup. The Tower of Gulls is a location on the island where Ciri takes refuge and where Geralt fights Vilgefortz. The coup is organized by Dijkstra and Philippa Eilhart, who ambush several mages. A Scoia'tael commando working with Nilfgaard invades the compound. Tissaia de Vries and Margarita Laux-Antille are the former and current headmistresses of Aretuza. Tissaia drops the field that inhibits the use of magic inside Aretuza, leading to disastrous consequences. After the events, Tissaia takes Geralt to safety with Triss Merigold's help before committing suicide.
Did You Know?
- The coup on Thanedd Island was organized by Dijkstra and Philippa Eilhart to accuse mages of conspiring with Nilfgaard.
- Tissaia de Vries, the most senior mage, dropped the field inhibiting magic inside Aretuza, which led to disastrous attacks.
- Ciri escaped through an unstable magic portal from the Tower of Gulls, releasing energy that collapsed the tower and scarred Vilgefortz's face.
- Geralt was severely wounded in a fight with Vilgefortz at the Tower of Gulls.
- Tissaia committed suicide after realizing her mistake in releasing the captured mages.