This article contains SPOILERS for The Witcher season 3Emhyr Var Emreis, also known as The White Flame Dancing on the Barrows of his Enemies, is the Imperator of Nilfgaard in The Witcher, and his story is full of shocking twists and turns. Netflix's adaptation of The Witcher has struggled lately, in large part due to its excessive changes to the source material. Emhyr Var Emreis, however, is one character that has thus far been adapted fairly closely to his book counterpart.

Emhyr's story has undergone some minor changes/additions, such as the premature explanation of The White Flame's identity in The Witcher season 2, but he is lining up on an overall similar trajectory to that of the books. Emhyr is one of The Witcher's most layered and fascinating characters, so it will be crucial to get his story right moving forward. With that in mind, these critical moments in Emhyr's story from the books need to happen in Netflix's Witcher adaptation.

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8 Emhyr Secretly Searches For The Real Ciri

An image of Emhyr, Ciri, and Teryn in The Witcher

At the end of The Witcher season 3, Emhyr presents a fake Ciri to his court, and it's unclear if he knows she isn't the real Ciri. In the books, Emhyr knows it isn't Ciri the moment he sees the impostor, however, he feigns ignorance, deciding instead to convince the rest of the continent that he already has her. Emhyr correctly reasons that if the continent is convinced he already has Ciri, they will stop looking for her. He then sends his Secret Service out to search for the real Ciri without alerting anyone to their true intentions.

7 Emhyr Orders Cahir's Execution

An image of Emhyr holding a sword in The Witcher

Emhyr is notorious for executing servants who fail him, and Cahir finds himself on that unfortunate list after he fails to capture Ciri on Thanned. In The Witcher show, Cahir chooses not to pursue Ciri, and actually fights to help her escape. This is not exactly how it goes in the books, but it amounts to the same thing from Emhyr's perspective. Capturing Ciri on Thanned was Cahir's last chance to prove himself to Emhyr, and when he fails, Emhyr orders him to be killed. Cahir manages to escape Emhyr, however, and joins Geralt's company in their quest to save Ciri from Emhyr and Vilgefortz.

6 Emhyr Learns Vilgefortz Is Playing His Own Game

Vilgefortz standing with Emhyr in The Witcher season 3.

Emhyr Var Emreis is a difficult man to trick, and he proves this when he realizes Vilgefortz has been attempting to play him. Vilgefortz plans to use Ciri for his own ends, contrary to what he has told Emhyr all along. In the books, Emhyr figures it out as soon as the events on Thanned unfold. In The Witcher season 3 finale, however, Vilgefortz appears at Emhyr's side, showing they are still in league with each other in the show's continuity. That will almost certainly change in The Witcher season 4 though, as Emhyr is too smart not to realize Vilgefortz's true ambitions.

5 Emhyr Finally Captures Ciri At Stygga Castle

Collage of Ciri and Emhyr from The Witcher.

Emhyr eventually locates Ciri at Stygga Castle, the hideout Vilgefortz has been using. Emhyr arrives in force and finds Ciri, Geralt, and Yennefer have already defeated Vilgefortz. Ciri arrived there after she found out Vilgefortz was holding Yennefer captive, and Geralt arrives shortly after to save Ciri. Several epic duels take place in Stygga castle as Geralt has a rematch with Vilgefortz and Ciri battles Leo Bonhart. Geralt and Ciri eventually win and think themselves free and clear, but Emhyr shows up with a massive force and takes Ciri for himself, ordering Geralt and Yennefer's deaths.

4 Emhyr Unexpectedly Frees Ciri, Geralt, And Yennefer

Emhyr looking at Ciri in The Witcher

After Emhyr captures Ciri and begins to ride home with her in tow, he has a sudden change of heart. Ciri's tears shockingly change his mind, and he decides to let her live her life with Geralt and Yennefer. Ciri rushes to tell them they are free to go and finds them just before they take their own lives. This is one of the biggest twists in the entire book series, and it comes as a genuine shock when it occurs. Emhyr's change of heart is difficult to explain, but it's possible Ciri reminded him of Pavetta, and he let her go to assuage his guilt over Pavetta's death.

Related: The Witcher Season 3 Openly Admits The Show's Timeline Is Too Confusing

3 Emhyr Forgets About The Prophecy

A collage of Emhyr and Geralt in The Witcher

Following Emhyr's decision to let Ciri go free, he also evidently gives up on Ciri's Witcher prophecy, and his desire to become the ruler of the world. Ciri's Elder Blood is said to hold immense power, which is why everyone wants her. Emhyr and Vilgefortz plotted for years to obtain that power, which is why Emhyr married Pavetta in the first place. Virtually, his entire life is focused on this prophecy and the power it foretells, yet once Emhyr finally has Ciri, he gives up on it. His reasons are not totally clear, but The Witcher could clarify it if it reaches this point.

2 Emhyr Marries The False Ciri

Emhyr and Fake Ciri in The Witcher

After freeing Ciri and giving up on the prophecy, Emhyr returns to Nilfgaard and marries the fake Ciri, whom everyone still believes is real. It's also worth noting that nobody alive outside of Geralt knows Emhyr is Ciri's father, so marrying a fake Ciri presents no issues. The marriage solidifies his rule in Cintra, gaining extremely valuable territory for Nilfgaard. Emhyr ends up coming to love the false Ciri, and it seems like he actually finds a bit of happiness in the end. He also gives up on trying to conquer the Northern Realms, content to rule his already greatly expanded borders.

1 Emhyr Agrees To The Peace Of Cintra

An image of Duny looking dishevelled in The Witcher

Emhyr completes the resignation of his former ambitions by agreeing to a peace treaty (known as The Peace of Cintra). This treaty puts an end to the Second Northern War and fosters a significant period of peace on The Witcher's continent. Nilfgaard is essentially forced into reaching an agreement after losing the decisive Battle of Brenna to the Northern armies under the command of Jan Natalis.

Even so, it seems Emhyr has grown tired of war by this point anyway and is content to sign the treaty and let the fighting cease. While the Peace of Cintra requires Nilfgaard to make some concessions, the Empire remains greatly expanded compared to its pre-war borders. Emhyr manages to improve the Empire's strength and position, despite essentially losing both wars with the Northern Realms. Moreover, the North was ravaged during the war and Nilfgaard was hardly touched, so in many ways, Nilfgaard and Emhyr come out on top in The Witcher.