Vimme Vivaldi was a dwarven banker who resided in Novigrad, where he managed the local branch of the Vivaldi Bank.
Quick Answers
Who is Vimme Vivaldi's cousin in the Witcher series?
What role does Vimme Vivaldi play in the Novigrad banking system?
What card game is Vimme Vivaldi known to be skilled at?
What services can Geralt avail from Vimme Vivaldi at the Novigrad bank?
Who did Vimme Vivaldi once meet that was a debt collector?
History[]
Carrying the Torch[]
Born into the powerful dwarven banking family, the Vivaldis, Vimme eventually became the director of the bank's Novigrad branch. Under his leadership, the bank grew to be the largest in the city.[1] While running the bank, he befriended the Halfling merchant Dainty Biberveldt.[5]
According to rumors circulating at the time, Vimme saw the rising popularity of the Confectioners' Mutual Savings Bank as a real threat and was allegedly considering hiring arsonists to burn down their headquarters. However, nothing ultimately happened.[6]
Borsody Auction[]
At one point, Vimme attended an auction at the Borsody auction house, as he did regularly. On this occasion, he engaged in a bidding war with Reverend Prochaska over the rare book Ymago Mundi, also known as Mundus Novus. When Prochaska exclaimed that the book was heretical and that he intended to burn it, Vimme snorted while stroking his beard and bid two thousand five hundred crowns, sarcastically asking the "devout arsonist," as he called the reverend, if he could top that bid. Prochaska could not, and thus, Vimme won.[7]
Halfling Dealings[]
Vimme's friend Dainty Biberveldt arrived in Novigrad on business and visited him at the bank. Out of breath and in a rush, Dainty deposited a thousand crowns and demanded an endorsement on a bill amounting to two thousand five hundred and twenty crowns. Because Vimme liked Dainty, he granted the endorsement without requiring a guaranty.
The next day, Dainty returned and requested a letter of credit for three thousand five hundred crowns. However, Vimme's generosity had its limits—this time, he required a guaranty. Later, Dainty visited again, having made several trade deals. Vimme warned him that these deals were unwise, as the return profits wouldn't be worth the risk. Dainty, however, reassured him not to worry, promising that he would sell everything within twenty-four hours. He told Vimme not to be surprised by anything and not to ask any questions.
True to his word, Dainty returned later, having made great profits, and gave further instructions. An hour later, the halfling came back once more—this time accompanied by Geralt of Rivia and Dandelion. Inviting them into his office, Vimme remarked that he had imagined Dandelion differently based on some of his works. However, the poet quickly retorted that the works Vimme cited were not, in fact, his.
Dainty then explained that he was in trouble and asked Vimme to recount the past few days to him. As Vimme obliged, young gnomes working for him barged into the office with offers merchants were placing on Dainty's goods. When one gnome announced that "merchant Biberveldt" had instructed them to hold for a higher offer, despite the Dainty in Vimme's office just saying to sell, Vimme questioned what was going on and sarcastically asked if he should expect a third Dainty to appear. Dainty promised to explain everything once Vimme finished recounting.
Eventually, an offer came in that was so high it was accepted. Vimme calculated the profits and revealed to Dainty that he had made a great deal of coin, which was now safely deposited in his account at the bank. Vimme then noted that had the halfling insured the goods he would likely lose on, he would have sent some people to torch the warehouse where those goods were stored.
Despite the financial success, Dainty grew solemn as he revealed that Chapel had taken an interest in him. Vimme was not surprised, as the information Dainty had used for all his recent dealings was political in nature. He even suggested that the witcher and poet were working with Dainty—the first as protection, the second as a spy. Dandelion quickly refuted this.
Vimme then mentioned that Chapel had changed after his latest attack of apoplexy and was now preoccupied with the temple's plans to build more altars to the Eternal Fire. Suddenly, a gnome burst in with instructions from the other Dainty, revealing where this second Dainty was located. The halfling then asked Vimme for a big stick, explaining that the place where the other Dainty was hiding was full of thieves and cutpurses.
As he was about to leave, yet another gnome entered and asked if Sorrel should start pouring. Dainty answered "yes." Vimme, confused by all the chaos, asked Dainty what exactly was being poured and where. The halfling simply replied that he didn't know—but that the wheels of business must be oiled.
Third Northern War[]
Despite the increasing oppression of non-humans in Novigrad during the Third Northern War, Vimme managed to keep his bank profitable. Before the Nilfgaardian Empire had even crossed the Pontar, Vimme had already secured insured deliveries of wood and iron from Kovir. Although this investment yielded a great return, after taxes and overhead costs were deducted, he was left with only a dozen or so chests of profit.
Vimme was also a player of Gwent, though he was occasionally accused of cheating. When Geralt visited him after many years, Vimme offered his services, including loans and currency exchange. The two also played Gwent, and when Geralt defeated him, Vimme rewarded him with a Vesemir card. He then directed the witcher to Marquise Serenity if he wished to find more skilled opponents.[1]
Around this time, Vimme encountered Geralt once more as the witcher sought entry into the Borsody Auction House. Happily assisting him, Vimme threatened the officer on watch, ensuring Geralt's entry. Once inside, he introduced Geralt to several of his acquaintances, including Countess Mignole. At every opportunity, Vimme attempted to strike deals and earn some coin.
During the auction, he placed a bid on a painting by the artist Van Rogh, intending to store it in his vault. However, Geralt could also win this item. After the auction, Vimme introduced Geralt to Horst Borsodi. The meeting did not go well—Horst ordered Geralt escorted out and threatened to move the bank's accounts to a competitor if Vimme objected.
If both Borsody brothers died: With the deaths of both Borsody brothers and the revelation of Maximilian Borsodi's will, the auction house itself was put up for auction. Vimme purchased it and later converted it into a branch of the Vivaldi Bank in Oxenfurt.[8]
At some point, Vimme also hired a young boy who later demanded a raise, threatening to take some clients with him and start his own business if he didn't receive one. Vimme then granted the boy a 15% raise.
The Witcher[]
Golan Vivaldi says Vimme is his cousin. He also mentions that Vimme "once met a witcher, a debt collector, apparently".
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt[]
Vimme runs the Vivaldi Bank's branch situated in Novigrad's Hierarch Square. Geralt can use services to exchange currencies or borrow a loan. The dwarf is also an experienced gwent player, with an enviable deck which includes the "Vesemir" card.
Exchange rates[]
- The rate of exchange for orens to crowns is one-to-one.
- The rate of exchange for florens to crowns is one-to-three.
Journal entry[]
- The dwarves have been in the banking business since the legendary King Desmond of Temeria was just a snot-nosed brat in short trousers asking for me "yam" with his "bwed." Since then, the prominent dwarven banking families – the Giancardis, the Vivaldis and the Cianfanellis – have only expanded their services, establishing branches in all the larger cities of the North.
- Vimme Vivaldi carried the torch of this venerable tradition into modern times, growing the Novigrad branch of his family's bank until it was the largest in the city. Geralt and I met him over a dozen years before our story begins and had always appreciated his honesty and acumen.
- The latter he gave further proof of during the time in which our story takes place, for his bank remained profitable even in the face of growing nonhuman oppression.
Associated quests[]
Gallery[]
