What does Emhyr want with Ciri in The Witcher season 4? White Flame’s plan explained

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*Warning: spoilers for The Witcher season 4 ahead.*

In season 4 of The Witcher, a war is tearing apart the land, and it’s being fueled by Emhyr var Emreis (played by Bart Edwards), the strong-willed emperor of Nilfgaard.

Driven by a ruthless ambition to rule, the emperor is a major danger to Ciri, Geralt, and Yennefer as he attempts to conquer the Northern Kingdoms.

It seems like everyone is after Ciri and her special Elder Blood – they all want it for their own selfish reasons, whether it’s about gaining power or trying to make some ancient prediction come true. Even Emperor Emhyr is caught up in this, and I get the feeling he has his own agenda when it comes to her.

What are Emhyr’s true intentions for his real daughter, and what is he scheming with spymaster Stefan Skellen and the powerful mage Vilgefortz?

Here’s everything you need to know about the ominous The Witcher villain, the White Flame.

Who is Emhyr in The Witcher season 4?

The season 2 finale revealed a shocking truth: the cruel emperor of Nilfgaard is actually Emhyr var Emreis, and he’s Ciri’s father, who everyone believed had died years ago.

Let me tell you about Emhyr, our Emperor! He wasn’t always the powerful figure he is today. He’s actually the son of the previous Emperor, Fergus var Emreis. When a traitor took the throne from his father, Emhyr had to escape. But a cruel sorcerer put a terrible curse on him, transforming him into a… well, a hedgehog-like creature! It’s a hard story, but he overcame that curse and reclaimed his rightful place. He’s a true survivor and a brilliant leader, and I’m proud to support him.

He later fell in love with Princess Pavetta of Cintra (Gaia Mondadori). He had originally claimed her hand in marriage using the “Law of Surprise” during a banquet in Cintra at the beginning of the first season, and their kiss ultimately broke his curse.

Geralt rescued Duny by successfully persuading Queen Calanthe (Jodhi May) to agree to a deal. This act also meant Geralt himself became bound by the same agreement regarding a potential child, a situation that would later frustrate Duny, also known as Emhyr. This linked their fates together.

After Ciri was born, Vilgefortz informed Emhyr about a prophecy foretelling a child with the Elder Blood would rule the Continent. This conveniently pointed to his own daughter, Ciri, as the one destined to fulfill it.

I was absolutely captivated learning how that single piece of information sparked everything! It drove him back to Nilfgaard, where he didn’t just reclaim what was his, but utterly seized power from the pretender. And then, fueled by that ambition, he set his sights on conquering the entire Continent, becoming known as the White Flame. It was a truly remarkable transformation.

What does Emhyr want with Ciri in The Witcher season 4?

Driven by a powerful desire to rule and believing in a grand destiny, Emhyr relentlessly searches for Ciri. He hopes to use her to ensure Nilfgaard’s dominance, bring the nation together, and fulfill an ancient prophecy.

That’s correct – he plans to marry and have a child with his own daughter. It’s a shocking idea, but he believes Ciri will continue his family line by having the child of destiny foretold in prophecy, a child with the rare Elder Blood. He sees this child as the rightful heir to the Nilfgaardian empire and potentially the one who will rule – or conquer – the world.

It turns out Vilgefortz has been manipulating the Nilfgaardian emperor. He’s done this by using Teryn, a student from Aretuza whom Geralt rescued earlier in season 3, as a decoy to appear as Ciri.

I’m really fascinated by Emhyr’s character. Apparently, once he realizes this woman isn’t who she seems, things are going to explode! Bart Edwards, who plays him, says Emhyr is incredibly stubborn and deeply troubled, but completely set on finding her, and he hasn’t given up for a single moment. It’s going to be intense to watch!

What is Emhyr’s plan in The Witcher season 4?

When Emhyr learns that Vilgefortz has been tricking him, he demands an explanation. Vilgefortz admits he wants to steal Ciri’s unique power, the Elder Blood, for his own purposes. He declares, “Ciri is more powerful than you could ever be, but she will be under my control.”

Even though this was a trick, his advisor, Skellen, urged him to publicly announce his engagement to Ciri. Skellen believed this would discourage the Cintrans who were helping the Northern armies, giving them more time to find the actual Ciri.

Emhyr is set on the prophecy coming true, so he gives Skellen a strict warning: bring Ciri back before his wedding, or suffer the consequences.

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2025-10-30 19:39