The State of the World
It is the year 1295 IC. The Continent is once again in a precarious position.
With the defeat of Nilfgaard in the Third Northern War and the assassination of Emperor Emhyr var Emreis, and his sole heir taking the witcher's path, a succession crisis ensued within the Empire over the throne. First, it happened within the halls of power, but quickly spilled out further and further until it became a full-blown civil war. The Empire has since broken up into its constituent nations as various independence and revanchist movements reclaimed home rule. Rivalries between the Southern nations are no longer held in check by Imperial authority, and their crown heads ride the momentum of their new independence into rekindling old wars. Nilfgaard has been reduced to its heartlands, and vengeful neighbors circle like wolves around a dying bear.
In the North, King Sigismund was poised to make Temeria into the heartland of a so-called "Northern Nilfgaard." Though he rebuilt the war-torn nation and was thought to be making preparations to invade either Redania or Aedirn, the simple facts of age and years of hard living claimed his life in 1290 IC. His son, Sigifrid, has succeeded him competently enough, but is nowhere near as dynamic or ambitious as his father was. Meanwhile, it's rumored that Anais, King Foltest's illegitimate daughter, remains in the care of an aging Vernon Roche. Some say plans to put the "rightful line" back on the throne are nearing an actionable point.
The south of Kaedwen was held by the former Nilfgaardian governor of Aedirn, Lyria, and Rivia, now dubbed King Duoron. Duoron remained aloof from the Nilfgaardian Civil War, content with consolidating his current position, but his draconian rule, ironically, made him a prime target for an actual dragon. Saskia, the beloved Dragonslayer and Queen of Upper Aedirn, brought war against Duoron. Noble and commoner, human and non-human alike joined her forces to cast out the hated Black Ones. Duoron was killed, as were most of his supporters. Saskia granted independence to Lyria and Rivia, established good relations with a resurgent Dol Blathanna as well as the dwarves of Mahakam. She even relinquished the Aedirnian occupied portion of Kaedwen, though not out of altruism, but instead to create a lawless thorn in Redania's side. Neither Redania nor Temeria like where Aedirn's government has gone, and tensions grow.
Kaedwen, for now, remains a partly occupied nation. The northern half still belongs to Redania, and thus far the Redanians have managed to crush any attempts at full independence. Southern Kaedwen being freed has changed the game. Kaedwenian loyalists gather there, but so do malcontents and outlaws from all over the Continent. For the moment, it is a nearly lawless no-man's land, a buffer between Redania and Aedirn. Some say that if Redania launches a full-scale invasion of it, Aedirn will respond with full force.
Radovid V "the Stern" was assassinated in 1272 IC, and his successor, Radovid VI, was only a toddler. Queen Adda the White, her mind still ailing in the wake of the striga curse removed by Geralt of Rivia, turned to one Duke Dragomir to protect her son. Dragomir proved himself a rare man of loyalty, if not honor. His influence protected the Queen-Mother and young King, and he willingly stepped down from his place as Regent when Radovid VI came of age. Dragomir remains the king's most trusted advisor to this day, and ruthlessly deals with any threats toward the crown. Though Radovid the Stern is no longer around to galvanize the persecution of mages and non-humans, his legacy remains, and his son seems to content to leave it as it is without condemning or supporting it. Many of both targeted groups have fled the country, including the magic academy at Ban Ard. Saskia happily offered safe haven to all these refugees, or passage through to Dol Blathanna. The survivors of Ban Ard founded a new academy within Aedirn, called Ban Tal.
The elves are in an odd place. Many fled the World during the Second Conjunction, but not all, and others arrived from different worlds. These new elves, as well as surviving elves of the Wild Hunt, found their way to Dol Blathanna. Duchess Francesca Findabair proclaimed herself queen once again, dropping her human-like name and becoming Enid an Gleanna once more. With these new forces drove out all humans who would not accept the new order, as well as welcoming non-humans to her realm. Whether it is the magic of the Conjunction or the new arrivals, the problem with elven infertility seems to have abated, at least temporarily, and new elven children are once again being born. Enid has accepted Saskia's overtures of friendship for now, knowing having any ally at all among the Nordling nations is an assurance she really can't afford to pass up. This might have something to do with the rumor that Saskia has somehow bound a pair of dragons into her service, and granted one of them to Enid as a gift.
Only Skellige has remained relatively unchanged. The warriors of the Skelliger clans still raid the Continent, encouraged and sometimes even led by High King Hjalmar an Craite. His sister, Princess Cerys, is much more suited to actual politics than her brother. Together they form a formidable team that has strengthened the Isles. The island of Undvik has been resettled, and for the moment it seems Skellige is going to continue as it always has. A fractured Nilfgaard is an easier target, and thus Skelliger raids have trended toward the south, though the North must still watch its coasts warily.
A status quo of sorts has once again settled on the North, but the fracturing of Nilfgaard has allowed the Nordling nations to lower their guard toward the South for the first time in a long time. Former Nilfgaardian territories continue their own conflicts. In the background, sorceresses and wizards once again see an opportunity to begin manipulating events from behind the scenes.
Then, of course, there are the witchers. Reduced almost to extinction previously, the need for them has once again risen with the Second Conjunction of the Spheres. Monsters have returned in numbers that originally prompted the creation of the witchers, including some that have never been seen before.
To face new threats, new witchers have been carefully crafted. The possibilities created by the Second Conjunction have allowed for the creation of new mutagens, allowing alchemists and sorcerers to tweak and shift and experiment. More specialized witchers have been made, and the possibility of witchers who are not male is now a reality as well. It is said in rumors, however, that some experiments went too far, creating warped, mutated beasts. Non-human witchers appear to still be out of reach. The darkest of the aforementioned rumors speak of truly terrible abominations, elves and dwarves changed into living machines of destruction.
Destroyed witcher schools have been rebuilt and new ones founded. The first members of a new generation of witchers have just recently started taking to the Path. They go forth along with the last of the old guard; those near mythical witchers who were skilled, smart, or lucky enough to survive the darkest days of their kind. These monster hunters and curse breakers for hire once again defend the Continent from what goes bump in the night.
But, as is so often the case, the monsters of the Conjunctions are far from the only dangers these witchers will face…
(The following was rolled in the Witcher TTRPG book for inspiration. I plan to use the Life As A Witcher tables from the Core Rules to roll for both on and off screen events in the lives of our heroes.)
Riordan of Undvik
Current Age: 22
Recruitment Age: 2 (More difficult Trial of the Grasses)
School: Giant (Enhanced Strength)
Early Training: Injured on the Gauntlet (Slower movement)
Trial of the Grasses: Standard (No benefits or detriments)
Akari of Lyria
Current Age: 23
Recruitment Age: 8 (Easier Trial of the Grasses)
School: Dragon (Enhanced Igni Sign)
Early Training: Top of Your Class (Improved Swordsmanship)
Trial of the Grasses: Extra Mutations (Enhanced Empathy and Dexterity)