Caed Myrkvid is a mist-shrouded forest reminiscent of Brokilon situated within the borders of Toussaint. The grove became the home of a circle of druids who had fled Caed Dhu and Loch Monduirn in Angren. Alders and beeches fill the forest which is, however, dominated by an ancient oak in the heart of the grove. It is the most powerful druidic circle left on the Continent[1]
It was in Caed Myrkvid that the Nightingale gang was finally smashed with the help of some knights-errant as well as Geralt, Milva, Angoulême and Dandelion.
History[]
Beginning[]
The Circle of Caed Myrkvid was founded by a people or race unknown before recorded history began. For centuries, the Circle operated in isolation, preventing the Druids from teaching the human settlers in Toussaint how to live in harmony with nature. They were more in service to the forest than to the arriving humans.[1]
As the Toussantois consolidated their rule of the land, the Circle came into contact with them. This contact was most notable when the flow of the Sansretour River was altered. The Druids intervened to mitigate the resulting catastrophe.[1]
New Arrivals[]
The Second Northern War displaced several Druidic Circles. Two of these, the Circle of Caed Dhu in Angren and the Circle of Loc Monduirn in Sodden, fled the violence towards Caed Myrkvid. In 1267, the Circle of Caed Myrkvid accepted the refugee Druids, resulting in the majority of the Circle now being composed of new members.[1]
These new Druids brought not only the Angrenian Tree Cats but also a deep grudge against the humans who had driven them from their original lands. When one of them became the Flaminika, they strengthened the safety of their new home.[1] For years, rumors spread that the Druids would capture and burn alive any intruders who entered the forest. The new Flaminika decided to turn these rumors into reality. Thus, when the Nightingale Gang entered the forest in pursuit of Geralt and his hanza, the Druids used their Treant to capture the gang members and burn them alive in the wickerman.[2][1]
Entering Politics[]
The wines of Toussaint have always been aged in Beauclair Oak, often putting the Coopers Guild and the Caed Myrkvid Circle at odds. When the Druids started to prevent the Guild from entering their forest and cutting down their oaks, the Guild pressured the Toussaint Monarchy to either expel or destroy the Circle. Fortunately for the Druids, the royal house enjoyed the unspoiled wilderness the Druids cared for and remembered their help with the Sansretour River. As a result, they signed a treaty with the Circle. The Groves of Caed Myrkvid were established as a sanctuary autonomous in its internal affairs. The Coopers Guild was allowed to harvest oak for barrels under strict supervision of the Druids. Additionally, the Druids would cultivate and harvest useful plants for the Toussaint Monarchy.[1]
Notes[]
- The name is Elder Speech: Myrkvid Forest or Grove ("Myrkvid" itself deriving from Old Norse "myrkviðr" and meaning "dark wood", while "caed" comes from Welsh "coed" which means forest).
- In the Blood and Wine expansion, you can see the borders to Caed Myrkvid on the northeastern edge of the Toussaint map. It is even possible to explore it by exploiting a glitch, and the developers have made the environment look appropriately, but there's nothing to do there.