Vilgefortz

**Vilgefortz of Roggeveen** was a mage and a member of the Brotherhood of Sorcerers.

## Biography

### Early life

Vilgefortz was born to a prostitute who quickly abandoned him as a baby in the sewers. However, he was discovered by druids who taught him about magic. Despite never attending one of the magical schools, like Ban Ard Academy, he became a force to reckon with among other educated mages and quickly rose among their ranks.

### Tracking Down Yennefer

Vilgefortz tracked Yennefer of Vengerberg to Nazair as he was in need of her help. Nilfgaard had been conscripting mages into their service. And since neither of them possessed a letter of safe conduct, they both needed to leave as fast as possible. He needed Yennefer to accompany him back to Aretuza. He and Tissaia needed her help. Tissaia even said herself that Yennefer was the best student she'd ever taught.

Vilgefortz brought Yennefer back to Aretuza with him, where he and Vanielle of Brugge informed her that Nilfgaard was planning to attack Cintra. Not that Yennefer cared. She only cared for finding Tissaia. To her surprise, Tissaia had no idea Yennefer was in Aretuza. Vilgefortz lied to Yennefer in hopes of convincing her to join their cause.

Vilgefortz was one of many mages who attended the conclave of Northern mages in Aretuza. Artorius, Stregobor, and Tissaia led the conclave. Artorius and Stregobor had no desire to go to war with Nilfgaard, especially not on behalf of Cintra, who had rejected their mages for decades. However, Vilgefortz worried that more kingdoms would fall after Cintra as Nilfgaard wanted the entire Continent. Rather than watching them fall, Tissaia wanted to help Cintra defeat Nilfgaard. Vilgefortz, Sabrina, and Vanielle sided with Tissaia, wanting to convince the kings to send their armies and arguing that if they didn't stop Nilfgaard now, more kingdoms would fall.

Fringilla arrived at the conclave and denounced any suspicion that Nilfgaard was planning to take over the Continent. She stated that under their new leader, Emperor Emhyr, Nilfgaard had strengthened trade and funded research. Tissaia accused Fringilla of rejecting the order and way of life that took centuries to build. Fringilla retorted that they had simply modified it, and had taken a new path, guided by the White Flame. She claimed that Nilfgaard believed in shared sacrifice, and that there was no such thing as dark or light magic. Fringilla argued that in taking Cintra, they had a chance of saving the Continent. The mages put it to a vote. Unfortunately, most sided with Stregobor and Artorius in allowing Cintra to fend for themselves.

### Battle of Sodden Hill

Approximately 60 mages, Vilgefortz, Triss, Yennefer, Tissaia, Vanielle, Coral, and Sabrina included, board a ship headed for Sodden Hill. They must get to the Elven keep that guarded it before Nilfgaard did. They had already sent word to the Northern kingdoms. Temeria and Kaedwen agreed to join them in defending the land. The plan was to protect the keep. Once on land, Yennefer questioned Nilfgaard's strategy of sacking Cintra and exposing themselves. Vilgefortz explained that the bigger picture was often left for history. Their task was much clearer: hold Sodden and save the continent.

Vilgefortz, Triss, Yennefer, Tissaia, Vanielle, Coral, and Sabrina arrived at the keep, the only thing separating Nilfgaard from the North. They were greeted by a man. Yennefer advised him to take the children and hide, but as he explained, there was no more hiding from Nilfgaard. Their only chance was to fight.

The keep was attacked by Fringilla and Nilfgaard in the late hours of the night. The sun had risen and the Northern mages made it through the night. Unfortunately, Nilfgaard arrived much sooner than they anticipated and the Northern armies were still a ways out. There were only 22 of them left, Vilgefortz, Triss, Yennefer, Tissaia, Vanielle, Coral, Atlan Kerk, and Sabrina included. They witnessed as a thick fog consumed the mountains around them, signaling Nilfgaard's encroachment.

On Yennefer's command, Vilgefortz portalled to Cahir's destination, taking out half a dozen soldiers before getting to Cahir. During the fight, Vilgefortz was disarmed multiple times, each time using magic to return his sword, despite Yennefer's warnings to reserve his chaos. Vilgefortz was eventually bested by Cahir and with his chaos depleted, Cahir kicked him off the hill. Vilgefortz rolled down the hill and hit his head on a tree stump. Vilgefortz, once awakened, found dozens of dead Nilfgaardians in the woods and a wounded comrade. Instead of saving him, Vilgefortz bashed his head in with a mace.

### Aftermath of Sodden Hill

Vilgefortz and Tissaia were among the few left standing at the Battle of Sodden Hill. While Vilgefortz took count of the fallen, Tissaia searched for Yennefer, but Vilgefortz advised her to accept that Yennefer was gone.

The mages returned to Aretuza from Sodden Hill, where they healed and tended to their wounded, Triss among them, who suffered bad burns and was experiencing seizures, which they managed to get under control before deciding to step up their methods of persuasion with Cahir, who they had taken prisoner.

### Taking Leadership of the Brotherhood

The Brotherhood called forward Istredd to determine if they were justified for not acting sooner against Nilfgaard despite Vilgefortz' hunch, which Artorius and Stregobor ignored. With the Northern Kings coming for the memorial, they'd need answers, and their prisoner hadn't spoken a word. It was then that Yennefer returned, alive and well after a month away.

With Vilgefortz and Tissaia making a play for Stregobor and Artorius' seats, Tissaia explained to Yennefer that they needed to allow Vilgefortz to carry the mantle of victory, despite it actually being Yennefer who saved them. And when he crossed paths with Yennefer, she explained that per Tissaia's request, she was staying out from underfoot. He wished it was different, but politics required calculative measures.

After Stregobor accused Yennefer of potentially being a spy, the Brotherhood decided to put her loyalty to the test and have her execute Cahir before the Northern Kingdoms. However, when the time came, Yennefer freed Cahir and helped him escape.

Vilgefortz lied in bed, waiting for Tissaia to return, as she stared out the window. Something was clearly bothering her, but she didn't wish to burden Vilgefortz, who insisted they were partners. And so, she reluctantly revealed they had an unexpected visit from Dijkstra, who revealed to the Brotherhood that an elven baby had been born of a mage, which Artorius and Stregobor saw as a potential threat. However, Tissaia and Vilgefortz didn't intend to act on unfounded prejudice and rumor, to which Dijkstra replied that today's gossip is next month's news. For instance, he heard that Triss had returned, which the Brotherhood was not aware of, but Tissaia claimed she simply came back to recover after falling ill.

After learning the truth about Ciri and Triss' return from Tissaia, Vilgefortz demanded to speak with Triss, who had made Tissaia promise that this would remain between the two of them. She saw this as a betrayal and exited without another word. Tissaia blamed Vilgefortz for not heading her warning and waiting until the time was right, but Vilgefortz saw this as a potential to end all war, because if Ciri fell into the wrong hand, she could destroy the world. Vilgefortz always considered Tissaia his equal partner. He wished he could prove to her that he's equal of the same.

## References

1. ↑ Twitter: Deleted scene between Vilgefortz and Stregobor
2. ↑ Season 1, Episode 07: Before a Fall
3. ↑ Season 1, Episode 08: Much More
4. ↑ Season 2, Episode 01: A Grain of Truth
5. ↑ Season 2, Episode 03: What Is Lost
6. ↑ Season 2, Episode 07: Voleth Meir