Changes: Velen

Revision as of 00:05, 23 May 2020

This article is about the Temerian province. For The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt region, see Pontar (region). For autumnal equinox, see Velen (holiday).

	No gods nor masters watch over Velen. The land is no man's. He who wants to survive must seek his own protectors.
- Downwarren's ealdorman to Geralt, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Velen, also called No Man's Land, is a province situated in northern Temeria, north of its capital Gors Velen.^[1]

In The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, the former province has become a war-torn swampland under Nilfgaardian occupation with borders close to the cities of Novigrad and Oxenfurt. It's one of the major regions of the game, and its swamps with dense forests represent dark and mysterious elements of the plot.^[2]

In the depopulated wastes of No Man's Land one often runs across armed men of all stripes - mercenaries, soldiers from the disbanded Temerian legions, marauders, and common bandits.

Map Description

The former Temerian province of Velen has become a war-ravaged no man's land.

History

Velen is where the forces of the Empire clashed with the armies of the Northern Kingdoms, forcing the battlefront both north and south, leaving the area which lies between a desolate wasteland. Its people were killed, raped and hanged – all the worst things imaginable.^[3]All these sufferings only added to the misery the people of Velen had to live through.

Neither the armies of the Northern Kingdom of Redania nor of Nilfgaard could achieve victory in their battles here. In the wake of both sides' temporary withdrawal, a semi-autonomous state under the leadership of Phillip Strenger - a former Temerian commander better known by the Bloody Baron moniker - has been established in Velen through decisive (if ruthless and amoral) action and force of arms, consisting of the remnants of the former Temerian army.

The Baron's rule is harsh, and perhaps reflective of the land itself. His men are ill-disciplined and overly fond of brutalising the local population. Law and order are in short supply, as are food and supplies. As such, Velen has become known as No Man's Land, a war-ravaged and unforgiving place, ruled over by a man of similar temperament. The Bloody Baron rules from Crow's Perch, a rundown fortress occupied by the Baron and his forces in the aftermath of the recent battles between Redania and Nilfgaard.

The land of Velen, located in western Temeria with its capital in Gors Velen, is one of the poorest provinces in the kingdom. Its territory encompasses the isle of Thanedd, home to the famous magic academy, which, along with Gors Velen, constitutes the commercial and developmental mainspring of the entire province. Velen is a stop on the Novigrad trade route running through Cidaris, Vergen,^[4] Brugge, Cintra and other such southerly realms.

Veleners subside primarily on agriculture, crafting and animal husbandry. The province is practically deprived of all natural resources. It contains a great deal of forests, wetlands and cultivated woods, though the greatest part of it is covered in swamps and bogs (...)

Lands of the North: Velen

Notable People

Locations

Religion

Shrines to Melitele, the goddess of harvest, hearth, and fertility, are a frequently encountered element of the Temerian countryside. Simple statues carved of wood depict the goddess in one of three forms: Mother, Virgin, or Crone. Around these altars, local peasants place small offerings of food and drink in tribute, and light modest votive candles and lamps. Meanwhile, in Velen another religion has taken root, one which calls for prayers to be addressed to the Ladies of the Wood.

This cult's shrines show evidence of syncretism between the faiths: Melitele the Crone has become one of the Ladies, an old woman with sagging breasts and an open mouth full of crooked teeth. These statues are often stained with blood, both the caked residue of past sacrifices and the still-warm traces of new ones. Both religions are very old, dating back almost to the time of the first men, and so the design of the shrines conveys a somewhat archaic look. The rough-hewn wooden carvings recall ancient Slavic depictions of the gods.^[5]

In addition, priests from Novigrad and witch hunters are spreading belief of the Eternal Fire and its church while others, believing those in Velen needed to let go of their religion, sought to actively destroy the religious statues of Verna.

Trivia

The region is named after Velen, an elven holiday and Savaed. It could also be a reference to Veles, the Slavic god of earth and wetness.
In North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany there is a city named Velen.

Gallery

References

↑ Lands of the North: Velen
↑ Interview at E3 2014
↑ El33online.com interview
↑ Likely a misspelling – given the other mentioned states, it should be Verden
↑ The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Artbook

[1] Lands of the North: Velen

[2] Interview at E3 2014

[3] El33online.com interview

[4] Likely a misspelling – given the other mentioned states, it should be Verden

[tw3_art-5] The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Artbook

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{DisambigMsg|This article is about = the Temerian province|For = {{Tw3}} region|see = Pontar (region)|For second page = autumnal equinox|see second page = Velen (holiday)}}
+{{Infobox Kingdom
-{{Infobox Kingdom|name = |other_names = No Man's Land|coa = COA Velen Tw3.png|capital1 = [[Gors Velen]]|head-of-state = |official-language = [[Common Speech]]|currency = [[Noble]] and [[Groat]] ([[Gors Velen]])<br>
+|Name =
-[[Oren]]|image-map = Velen map.jpg|status = Province of [[Temeria]] (previously)
+|Aka = No Man's Land
-Conquered by [[Nilfgaardian Empire|Nilfgaard]]|military = |ruler = [[Vserad]] (formerly)
+|COA = COA Velen Tw3.png
-[[Phillip Strenger]] (unofficially)|demonym = Velener}}{{Quote|text = No gods nor masters watch over Velen. The land is no man's. He who wants to survive must seek his own protectors.|citation = [[Downwarren]]'s [[Ealdorman (Downwarren)|ealdorman]] to Geralt, {{Tw3}}}}'''Velen''', also called '''No Man's Land''', is a province situated in northern [[Temeria]], north of its capital [[Gors Velen]].<ref>''[[Lands of the North: Velen]]'' </ref> It is first mentioned in {{Tw2}}. It's said that once, a long time ago when [[Vran|Vrans]] ruled [[Loc Muinne]], the slopes of Velen bloomed.<ref>Conversation between Iorveth and Geralt</ref>
+|Capital = [[Gors Velen]]
+|Head_of_state =
+|Official_language = [[Common Speech]]
+|Currency = [[Noble]] and [[Groat]] ([[Gors Velen]])<br>[[Oren]]
+|City_map = Tw3 map velen region.png
+|Status = Province of [[Temeria]] {{Small|text=formerly}}
+Conquered by [[Nilfgaardian Empire|Nilfgaard]]
+|Military =
+|Ruler = [[Vserad]] {{Small|text=formerly}}
+[[Phillip Strenger]] {{Small|text=unofficially}}
+|Demonym = Velener}}
+{{Quote|text = No gods nor masters watch over Velen. The land is no man's. He who wants to survive must seek his own protectors.|citation = [[Downwarren]]'s [[Ealdorman (Downwarren)|ealdorman]] to Geralt, {{Tw3}}}}
+'''Velen''', also called '''No Man's Land''', is a province situated in northern [[Temeria]], north of its capital [[Gors Velen]].<ref>''[[Lands of the North: Velen]]''</ref>
-In {{Tw3}}, however, the former province has become a war-torn swampland under [[Nilfgaardian Empire|Nilfgaardian]] occupation with borders close to the cities of [[Novigrad]] and [[Oxenfurt]]. It's one of the major regions of the game, and its swamps with dense forests represent dark and mysterious elements of the plot.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3HuAroY1Oo Interview at E3 2014]</ref>
+In {{Tw3}}, the former province has become a war-torn swampland under [[Nilfgaardian Empire|Nilfgaardian]] occupation with borders close to the cities of [[Novigrad]] and [[Oxenfurt]]. It's one of the major regions of the game, and its swamps with dense forests represent dark and mysterious elements of the plot.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3HuAroY1Oo Interview at E3 2014]</ref>
 In the depopulated wastes of No Man's Land one often runs across armed men of all stripes - mercenaries, soldiers from the disbanded Temerian legions, marauders, and common bandits.
-== Map description ==
+== Map Description ==
 :''The former Temerian province of Velen has become a war-ravaged no man's land.''
 == History ==
-[[File:Geralt&Vesemir.jpg|thumb|270x270px]]
+[[File:Geralt and Vesemir.jpg|thumb|270x270px]]
-Velen is where the forces of the Empire clashed with the armies of the [[Northern Kingdoms]], forcing the battlefront both north and south, leaving the area which lies between a desolate wasteland. Its people were killed, raped and hanged – all the worst things imaginable.<ref>[http://www.el33tonline.com/feature/2013/09/02/gamescom-2013-exclusive-the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-interview-discusses-setting-combat-refinements/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gamescom-2013-exclusive-the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-interview-discusses-setting-combat-refinements El33online.com interview]</ref>
+Velen is where the forces of the Empire clashed with the armies of the [[Northern Kingdoms]], forcing the battlefront both north and south, leaving the area which lies between a desolate wasteland. Its people were killed, raped and hanged – all the worst things imaginable.<ref>[http://www.el33tonline.com/feature/2013/09/02/gamescom-2013-exclusive-the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-interview-discusses-setting-combat-refinements/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gamescom-2013-exclusive-the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-interview-discusses-setting-combat-refinements El33online.com interview]</ref>All these sufferings only added to the misery the people of Velen had to live through.
 Neither the armies of the Northern Kingdom of Redania nor of Nilfgaard could achieve victory in their battles here. In the wake of both sides' temporary withdrawal, a semi-autonomous state under the leadership of [[Phillip Strenger]] - a former [[Temeria]]n commander better known by the Bloody Baron moniker - has been established in Velen through decisive (if ruthless and amoral) action and force of arms, consisting of the remnants of the former Temerian army.
-The Baron's rule is harsh, and perhaps reflective of the land itself. His men are ill-disciplined and overly fond of brutalising the local population. Law and order are in short supply, as are food and supplies. As such, Velen has become known as No Man's Land, a war-ravaged and unforgiving place, ruled over by a man of similar temperament.''' '''The Bloody Baron rules from [[Crow's Perch]], a rundown fortress occupied by the Baron and his forces in the aftermath of the recent battles between Redania and Nilfgaard.{{Block Quote|text = The land of Velen, located in western Temeria with its capital in Gors Velen, is one of the poorest provinces in the kingdom. Its territory encompasses the isle of Thanedd, home to the famous magic academy, which, along with Gors Velen, constitutes the commercial and developmental mainspring of the entire province. Velen is a stop on the Novigrad trade route running through Cidaris, Vergen, Brugge, Cintra and other such southerly realms.<br><br>
+The Baron's rule is harsh, and perhaps reflective of the land itself. His men are ill-disciplined and overly fond of brutalising the local population. Law and order are in short supply, as are food and supplies. As such, Velen has become known as No Man's Land, a war-ravaged and unforgiving place, ruled over by a man of similar temperament. The Bloody Baron rules from [[Crow's Perch]], a rundown fortress occupied by the Baron and his forces in the aftermath of the recent battles between Redania and Nilfgaard.
-Veleners subside primarily on agriculture, crafting and animal husbandry. The province is practically deprived of all natural resources. It contains a great deal of forests, wetlands and cultivated woods, though the greatest part of it is covered in swamps and bogs (…)|citation = [[Lands of the North: Velen]]}}
+{{Block Quote|text = The land of Velen, located in western Temeria with its capital in Gors Velen, is one of the poorest provinces in the kingdom. Its territory encompasses the isle of Thanedd, home to the famous magic academy, which, along with Gors Velen, constitutes the commercial and developmental mainspring of the entire province. Velen is a stop on the Novigrad trade route running through Cidaris, Vergen,<ref>Likely a misspelling – given the other mentioned states, it should be [[Verden]]</ref> Brugge, Cintra and other such southerly realms.<br><br>
-== Notable people ==
+Veleners subside primarily on agriculture, crafting and animal husbandry. The province is practically deprived of all natural resources. It contains a great deal of forests, wetlands and cultivated woods, though the greatest part of it is covered in swamps and bogs (...)|citation = [[Lands of the North: Velen]]}}
+== Notable People ==
 * [[Vserad|Lord Vserad]]
 * [[Phillip Strenger]]
 * [[Anna Strenger]]
+* [[Johnny]]
+* [[Crones]]
+== Locations ==
-=== Other creatures ===
 <div class="divTable" style="width:100%;">
 <div class="divTableBody">
 <div class="divTableRow">
 <div class="divTableCell" style="width:33%;">
-* [[Alghoul]]s
+'''[[Grayrocks]]'''
-* [[Basilisk]]s
+*[[Border Post]]
-* [[Botchling]]
+*[[Calveit Watchtower]]
-* [[Cyclops]]es
+*[[Codgers' Quarry]]
-* [[Crones]]
+*[[Devil's Pit]]
-* [[Drowner]]s
+*[[Ferry Station]]
+*[[Fireburst Harbor]]
-* [[Endrega]]s</div>
+*[[Halver Isle]]
+*[[Hanged Man's Tree]]
+*[[Hindhold]]
+*[[Mulbrydale]]
+*[[Stonecutters' Settlement]]
+*[[White Eagle Fort]]
+'''[[Crow's Perch (region)|Crow's Perch]]'''
+*[[Abandoned Tower]]
+*[[Blackbough]]
+*[[Burned Ruins]]
+*[[Crow's Perch]]
+*[[Harpy Feeding Ground]]
+*[[Heatherton]]
+*[[Isolated Shack]]
+*[[Lornruk]]
+*[[Troll Bridge]]
+*[[Wolven Glade]]
+</div>
 <div class="divTableCell" style="width:34%;">
+'''[[Spitfire Bluff]]'''
-* [[Fiend]]s
-* [[Foglet]]s
+*[[Hangman's Alley]]
-* [[Ghoul]]s
+*[[Coast of Wrecks]]
+*[[Condyle]]
-* [[Griffin (creature)|Griffins]]
-* [[Godling]]s ([[Johnny]])
+*[[Forest Hut]]
-* [[Harpy|Harpies]]
+*[[Keira Metz's hut]]
-* [[Leshen]]s</div>
+*[[Midcopse]]
+*[[Refugees' Camp]]
-<div class="divTableCell" style="width:33%;">
-* [[Nekker]]s
-* [[Noonwraith]]s
-* [[Nightwraith]]s
-* [[Water hag]]s
-* [[Werewolf|Werewolves]]
-* [[Wraith]]s
-* [[Wyvern]]s</div>
-</div></div></div>
+'''[[Mudplough]]'''
-== Notable landmarks ==
+*[[Inn at the Crossroads]]
+'''[[Bald Mountain (region)|Bald Mountain]]'''
-=== Keeps and villages ===
+*[[Ancient Oak]]
-<div class="divTable" style="width:100%;">
+*[[Crossroads (Velen)|Crossroads]]
-<div class="divTableBody">
+*[[Destroyed Bastion]]
-<div class="divTableRow">
+*[[Road to Bald Mountain]]
+'''[[Crookback Bog]]'''
+*[[Downwarren]]
+*[[Dragonslayer's Grotto]]
+*[[House of Respite]]
+*[[Kimbolt Way]]
+*[[Nilfgaardian Army Group 'Center' Camp]]
+*[[Ruined Tower]]
+*[[The Orphans of Crookback Bog]]
+</div>
 <div class="divTableCell" style="width:33%;">
-* [[Crow's Perch]]
+'''[[The Mire]]'''
-* [[Benek]]
+*[[Bandits' Camp]]
-* [[Blackbough]]
+*[[Boatmakers' Hut]]
-* [[Byways]]
+*[[Byways]]
-* [[Claywich]]</div>
+*[[Claywich]]
+*[[Drudge]]
-<div class="divTableCell" style="width:34%;">
-* [[Condyle]]
+*[[Duén Hen]]
-* [[Downwarren]]
+*[[Frischlow]]
-* [[Frischlow]]
+*[[Fyke Isle]]
-* [[Heatherton]]
+*[[Honorton]]
-* [[Lindenvale]]</div>
+*[[Mire Landing]]
+*[[Olena's Grove]]
-<div class="divTableCell" style="width:33%;">
-* [[Lurtch]]
+*[[Oreton]]
-* [[Midcopse]]
+*[[Wastrel Manor]]
-* [[Mulbrydale]]
-* [[Oreton]]
-* [[Toderas]]</div>
-</div></div></div>
+'''[[The Descent]]'''
-=== Other locations ===
+*[[Benek]]
-<div class="divTable" style="width:100%;">
+*[[Bird Island]]
-<div class="divTableBody">
+*[[Grotto (Velen)|Grotto]]
-<div class="divTableRow">
+*[[Lindenvale]]
-<div class="divTableCell" style="width:33%;">
-* [[Abandoned Tower]]
+*[[Lurtch]]
-* [[Ancient Oak]]
+*[[Marauders' Bridge]]
-* [[Devil's Pit]]
+*[[Mowshurst]]
-* [[Fyke Isle]]
+*[[Reardon Manor]]
+*[[Toderas]]
-* [[House of Respite]]</div>
-<div class="divTableCell" style="width:34%;">
-* [[Kimbolt Way]]
-* [[Lornruk]]
-* [[Marauders' Bridge]]
-* [[Nilfgaardian Army Group 'Center' Camp]]</div>
-<div class="divTableCell" style="width:33%;">
-* [[Olena's Grove]]
-* [[Road to Bald Mountain]]
-* [[The Orphans of Crookback Bog]]
-* [[Wastrel Manor]]</div>
 </div></div></div>
+</div>
 == Religion ==
-[[File:Crone-Melitele.png|left|thumb|403x403px]]
+[[File:Crone-Melitele.png|thumb|403x403px]]
 Shrines to [[Melitele]], the goddess of harvest, hearth, and fertility, are a frequently encountered element of the Temerian countryside. Simple statues carved of wood depict the goddess in one of three forms: Mother, Virgin, or Crone. Around these altars, local peasants place small offerings of food and drink in tribute, and light modest votive candles and lamps. Meanwhile, in Velen another religion has taken root, one which calls for prayers to be addressed to the [[Ladies of the Wood]].
-This cult's shrines show evidence of syncretism between the faiths: Melitele the Crone has become one of the Ladies, an old woman with sagging breasts and an open mouth full of crooked teeth. These statues are often stained with blood, both the caked residue of past sacrifices and the still-warm traces of new ones. Both religions are very old, dating back almost to the time of the first men, and so the design of the shrines conveys a somewhat archaic look. The rough-hewn wooden carvings recall ancient Slavic depictions of the gods.<ref name=":0">''[[The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Artbook]]''</ref>
+This cult's shrines show evidence of syncretism between the faiths: Melitele the Crone has become one of the Ladies, an old woman with sagging breasts and an open mouth full of crooked teeth. These statues are often stained with blood, both the caked residue of past sacrifices and the still-warm traces of new ones. Both religions are very old, dating back almost to the time of the first men, and so the design of the shrines conveys a somewhat archaic look. The rough-hewn wooden carvings recall ancient Slavic depictions of the gods.<ref name="tw3 art">''[[The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Artbook]]''</ref>
-In addition, priests from the [[Novigrad|Free City of Novigrad]] and [[witch hunter]]s are spreading belief of the [[Eternal Fire]] and its church.
+In addition, priests from [[Novigrad]] and [[witch hunter]]s are spreading belief of the [[Eternal Fire]] and its church while others, believing those in Velen needed to let go of their religion, sought to actively destroy the religious statues of [[Verna]].
 == Trivia ==
-* A comprehensive description on the creation of Velen by the developers can be found in ''[[The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Artbook]]''.
 * The region is named after [[Velen (holiday)|Velen]], an elven holiday and [[Savaed]]. It could also be a reference to Veles, the Slavic god of earth and wetness.
 * In North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany there is a city named Velen.
@@ Line 118: / Line 144: @@
 == Gallery ==
 <gallery>
+Tw3_geralt_velen.jpeg
 Wallpaper Week9.jpg
 Wallpaper Week6.jpg
@@ Line 131: / Line 158: @@
 <references />
+[[ar:فيلين]]
 [[de:Niemandsland]]
-[[es:Tierra de nadie]]
+[[es:Velen (provincia)]]
+[[it:Velen]]
 [[pl:Velen (ziemia niczyja)]]
 [[pt-br:Velen (Terra de ninguém)]]
 [[ru:Велен]]
 [[uk:Велен]]
-[[it:Velen]]
 [[Category:The Witcher 3 locations]]
 [[Category:Provinces]]