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[Redneckerz]

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Emhyr and Radovid are the rulers of the kingdoms of Niflgaard and Redenia, two of the 4 most prominent nations in the Witcher universe and the biggest nations in the current "Nord War" that takes place during the events set up in the Witcher 3's time.

Emhyr is the aggressor in this war, the third Aggression war of the North to unite all the South(ern) territories under the Niflgaard banner and sovereignty, something he had set up in doing in all 3 previous wars.
He is also Ciri's (Geralt's trainee and protegee) father, who sets up the events of TW3 by summoning Geralt and task him with finding Ciri that is pursued by the Wild Hunt, the main antagonists of the story.

He is megalomaniac, cold, stern, unforgiving, even to his daughter, and like it had been said, he is the aggressor of this war. He wishes to expand his empire and unite all of the North and South under the Niflgaard standard and he has waged three wars so far (2 of them failed) to succeed in this endeavor.

However, if Geralt chose to help him, he becomes a despot more than a tyrant, even granting Temeria (Geralt's and co. nation and the biggest economy in the world at that time) a limited autonomy in their rulings. Plus, the non-human portion of the populous gets to enjoy the same benefits as humans. But no matter how golden a cage is, a prison is a prison.

Radovid on the other hand, you realize what kind of person he is when you enter Novigrad, a free city within Redanian's boarders, where you see various people burned at stakes for either being non-human or being accused of witchcraft.

Radovid has a deep-seated hatred for wizards ever since his father was assassinated and a witch was the mastermind behind all. And the current war that he is (currently) losing against the Nilfgaard empire has left him suspecting everyone and everything of treason and/or witchcraft inside his boarders. He is a lunatic, unhinged, suspicious of all, quick to anger, but, one of the most brilliant strategists and minds of his kingdom, even on his time.

If you decide to side with him, the war ends, no more war, but that does not mean no more suffering. He bestows an ethnic cleansing on all the nations under his influence, everyone who is either a wizard (even herbalists are accused of this title) or a non-human gets burned at the stake! However, Radovid's rule, regardless of how pogromish it may be, will be short-lived.

So that is your choice on who to help:

• Help the guy that hates and wants to subjugate anyone who is not Nilfgaardian.

or

• Help the guy that hates and wants to subjugate anyone who is not Radovid.

Info:

For more, in-depth spoilers of those two men, here are their wiki pages:

http://witcher.wikia.com/wiki/Emhyr_var_Emreis

http://witcher.wikia.com/wiki/Radovid_V

Geralt can help (directly or indirectly) each one by thwarting the other's plans and at some point, play a significant role in the assassination the other.

 

[JohnnyFootball]

Radovid is a bat shit insane monster who tried to have Geralt killed and does horrible things to Geralts friends.

Emphyr, while no saint, is stable and sane. Also the father of Ciri.

 

[Phoenix RISING]

If you've read the novels, you know that the Upper Kingdoms are more or less uncivilized peasants compared to the Niflgaardian Empire.

Radovid's hatred for magic blinds him, and he behaves like a big baby with no honor. After carrying out errands for him, he orders Geralt to be killed. He can get rekt for that.

On the other hand, Emhyr has been playing 4D chess since Geralt lifted his curse in one of the first short stories, and invades the Northern Kingdoms for multiple reasons, including seeing to the security of his daughter.

Sapkowski is a brilliant writer. This carries over to the games.

 

[TheSweeper]

Radovid is a bat shit insane monster who tried to have Geralt killed and does horrible things to Geralts friends.

Emphyr, while no saint, is stable and sane. Also the father of Ciri.

Exactly. I'd take order over insanity any day.

 

[bati]

No one, I don't even vote irl.

 

[Fuz]

Neither.

Radovid is a bat shit insane monster who tried to have Geralt killed and does horrible things to Geralts friends.

Emphyr, while no saint, is stable and sane. Also the father of Ciri.

But this, if forced. Emhyr is a brilliant man, Radovid is completely insane.

 

[zkorejo]

I sided with Emhyr. Radovid was absolutely nuts in tw3. There's no way the war would have ended under him.

Maybe the war between south and north would have, but not the war within the north. He was vengeful, short sighted and vicious.

Emhyr was a far better choice.

 

[TheDreadLord]

Well, in TW3 I have supported Dijkstra.

 

[Geki-D]

I'm surprised Radovid is even an option in the game. The guy is pretty much evil and Geralt, either being controlled by me or what I'm pretty sure would be his choice based on his personality, would never let Radovid rule.

 

[Plague Doctor]

Emhyr

While there is a ton of issues with him and his rule, there is stability and they aren't that shitty to the places they take control over. The black ominous looking armor is doing them no favors in the PR department though.

 

[Snow_Lizard]

Had to go with Emphyr. It's not as easy as it seems, though. As terrible a ruler as Radovid would be, he's the only option that would maintain the independence of the northern states. If the next emperor happens to be as mad as Radovid, no one could escape him.

 

[Denton]

Emhyr winning the war and abdicating the throne in Cirilla's favour and her becoming Empress is the best outcome, even it it of course will have its own set of problems. (still, I finished the game twice and each time with this ending, and not gonna change that on future playthroughs)

So Emhyr. Radovid may be good tactician, but his hatred and mental unhingedness makes him completely unsuitable.

Dijkstra would be cool if he didn't require Geralt's betrayal of Roche and others for his support. Therefore he gets fucked too. Although I prefer to think he sent a doppler in his place because he would never be so stupid so as to pick a lethal fight with Geralt.

 

[Graven]

Emhyr, far from perfect, but the lesser of two evils, three if you count Dijkstra.

Also, you can put Siri on the throne and if you put Ceres on Skellige, you have the land as peaceful as it can be.

 

[Do Make Say Think]

Emhyr. He is a fine ruler.

Djikstra suddenly wanting to take over at the end of the Radovid assassination mission was so, so dumb though.

 

[Dacon]

Radovid is literally insane, where is the benefit in siding with someone like that? Dude would choke the life out of the greater population if he won the war. It's easy for a people to prosper during wartime, but peace time toiling under a tyrant? Not so easy.