Who’s who in the Thanedd coup? The Witcher’s epic Aretuza battle explained

The Scoi’tael and Nilfgaard

The Scoia’tael are a force of elven guerrilla fighters led by Francesca Findabair and her husband Filavandrel. They are also called Squirrels, which is what the word scoia’tael means in elven. While their goals often revolve around furthering the safety of the elven refugees, by this point in the story they have been manipulated into working for Emperor Emhyr var Emries of Nilfgaard.

Prior to the coup, Emhyr dispatched the disgraced knight Cahir to convince the elves to fight for Nilfgaard. By coordinating with Vilgefortz — another of Emhyr’s partners — and by using the intelligence they intercepted from Aplegatt, the Scoia’tael launch a surprise attack on the conclave at Aretuza.

The Scoia’tael want to find Ciri and kill as many mages as they can in the process. Destabilizing the Brotherhood of Sorcerers would leave the Northern Kingdoms much more vulnerable to conquest. Don’t forget: it was the Brotherhood of Sorcerers who defeated Nilfgaard at Sodden Hill and ended the first war back in season 1.

Emhyr wants the Scoia’tael to find Ciri because she’s his daughter and the heir to Nilfgaard, as well as a valuable political tool because of her ties to Cintra. However, the Scoia’tael have their own reasons for wanting the princess: she’s the subject of an ancient elven prophecy, called Ithlinne’s Prophecy, which tells of an ice age that will end all human life on the Continent. Following that period, a Child of the Elder Blood will lead the elves to salvation. That Child of the Elder Blood is Ciri, and Francesca hopes that the princess will lead her people to a new home.

For now, the goals of Nilfgaard and the Scoia’tael are aligned. After all, there’s no reason Ciri couldn’t help the elves build a new Dol Blathanna while also serving as the next Empress of Nilfgaard. That was the argument Cahir used to win over the elves to Nilfgaard’s cause back in Episode 5, at least.