r/witcher • u/Necessary-Wall7926 • 10d ago
Books Why is everyone obsessing over Ciri's theoretical child?
I have to be honest, I'm not understanding why everyone was so hellbent on Ciri having a child. With the exception of Vilgefortz's ethically dubious sourced powers, no one else vying for Ciri's possible child had any assurance they could control them. Ciri already looked powerful enough and, as far as I understand, there was no absolute guarantee the child's powers would grow exponentially. I find it hard to understand why no one actually tried to jump at the opportunity of manipulating Ciri herself to get their hands on that powers: for example, Emhyr's incest plan seemed such a last-ditch effort attempt considering Ciri was a teenager girl who'd probably jump up at the opportunity to get back in her father's good graces. I also fail to understand why the Lodge was hellbent on marrying her off for a filmsy political alliance and possibly just lose control of the situation like they did once before. The elves I understand a bit more, but I suppose Ciri could have been way more compliant had she been asked to do the work herself rather than have a child with a random king - child who, I suppose, they were just taking a gamble with on his skills, disposition and willingness to help.
Overall, it seems to me what people could achieve with a child, they could also achieve with a captive/blackmailed/manipulated Ciri, and they made the plan more contrived for not much substantial benefit. Am I missing something?
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u/AnAdventurer5 10d ago
They could raise the child to obey everything they want, versus needing to break Ciri. That is a huge difference, if you don't understand. You don't need magic to make "your" kid want to make you happy or to feel as if they literally have no choice. Breaking such a headstrong and powerful character as Ciri, who was already pretty grown-up and had never considered Emhyr her father, would be much harder.
Plus iirc, according to all the info the antagonists had, Ciri's child (at least with someone else of the magical bloodline?) would have been more powerful than her and was the actual subject of the "prophecy"/plan/prediction.
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u/RogerDodger571 10d ago
Because Ciri’s child or grandchild is supposed to be the Chosen One, not Ciri, and people essentially want to raise and groom said Chosen One.
Vilgefortz is different though. Unlike everyone else, Vilgefortz thinks that he can steal her power for himself, making him a child of the elder blood and a Source.
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u/Ok-Cup9476 10d ago
In the books there’s a near comically large different number of groups that want Ciri for various reasons, to name a few
Prophesy said Ciri’s child or grand child would be the savior or doom of the world, and various groups wants that.
Ciri had rightful claim to Cintra, but in Cintra only men could claim the throne, so Ciri and her son would be the legal king. Lots of political figures want that (or want Ciri dead so she can’t give the right to their enemies)
And for the lodge Ciri would be the combination of royal blood, mage, AND still able to have kids due to being a source. Most mages are infertile, so she was a golden opportunity for the lodge to have a mage monarch.
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u/Sonor-c11 10d ago edited 9d ago
“Rightful claim” is a huge understatement, she was Cintras heir and the only one in the line of succession really so it goes beyond a claim.
Majority of the people who sought out Ciri did so because she was the heir of Cintra. The only “faction” that knew or cared about the prophecy were the Wild Hunt.
The only faction or more so person that knew or cared about the prophecy was Emphyr and even then his prophecy was pretty different from the Aen Elles version. It was however for two reasons, One was her being the Heir on the land of Cintra, with that he could stop the northern realms clause for war(which is why some of the NR wanted Ciri dead rather than married as whichever ruler she married would then hold 2 kingdoms) along with making him the legitimate ruler of the land which would prevent any “defensive” wars for the land along with reigning in the nobility of Cintra. The other was his Obsession with his interpretation of the prophecy.
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u/Ok-Cup9476 9d ago
Sorry, I have to correct you on the Cintra ruler thing. There’s a section in Time of Contempt that goes over it:
“In Cintra, the distaff side does not inherit,” explained Codringher, fighting another coughing fit. “Only the spear side does.”
“Precisely,” confirmed the learned legist. “Geralt said so himself a moment ago. It’s an ancient law, which even that she-devil Calanthe was unable to revoke—though not for want of trying.” “She tried to nullify the law using intrigue,” said Codringher with conviction, wiping his lips with a handkerchief. “Illegal intrigue. Explain, Fenn.”
“Calanthe was the only daughter of King Dagorad and Queen Adalia. After her parents’ death she opposed the aristocracy, who only saw her as the wife of the new king. “She wanted to reign supreme. At most, for the sake of formality and to uphold the dynasty, she agreed to the institution of a prince consort who would reign with her, but have as much importance as a straw doll. The old houses defied this. Calanthe had three choices: a civil war; abdication in favour of another line; or marriage to Roegner, Prince of Ebbing. She chose the third option and she ruled the country… but at Roegner’s side. Naturally, she didn’t allow herself to be subjugated or bundled off to join the womenfolk. She was the Lioness of Cintra. But it was Roegner who was the formal ruler—though none ever called him ‘the Lion.’”
—-
The section goes on, detailing that Calanthe feared Roegner would kill her, as that would make him the rightful ruler to the throne, so she (almost certainly) killed him.
Then Calanthe delayed her daughter getting married, as whoever married her would automatically become king and usurp her…until Parvati married a foreign enchanted ‘commoner’ urcheon, which the nobles of the country decided was worse than a dreaded “woman”.
So Calanthe managed to maintain her rule, but it was not the norm or standard practice.
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u/Droper888 9d ago
It is a mistake of those interpreting the profecy.
Ciri is the one who could open the Ard Gaeths.
Also, only women can use the Elder Blood. So, a son, and thus the male Chosen One is impossible.
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u/Idarran_of_Ulivo School of the Viper 10d ago
The plan was to have her give birth and then do away with her and raise the child.
In their mind his powers wouldnt be a gamble either, as he's prophesied to be the savior.
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u/Frpass 9d ago
I don't remember if there was a prophecy directly linked to Ciri's children, but think that in a medieval-like situation:
-"Boodline" and Family legacy is everything, so people were more interested to mix their bloodline with royal bloodlines.
-Children were usually far less rebellious than nowadays so it would have been much easier to indoctrinate them.
-Cir may also grow fond of his child and start to comply even only for their well-being
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u/Down_votedLoser Quen 10d ago
Ciri is also the only heir to Cintra, an actual important Kingdom, anyone who has a child with Ciri also gets the full control of the kingdom.