Fringilla Vigo's History
Fringilla Vigo was a Nilfgaardian sorceress and Artorius Vigo's niece, who was a master illusionist and inspired Fringilla to follow the same path.
Ascension at Aretuza
Fringilla is one of the initiates brought into Aretuza by a sorceress named Tissaia de Vries. She is among several other girls in the greenhouse, who much like herself can tap into chaos and perform magic. Tissaia explains the dangers of magic and how each one of them showed an aptitude for controlling it. She explains that they are conduits of chaos, though magic itself is the control of chaos. She has gathered them for a trial. Before each of them sits a flower and a stone. They are to lift the stone without touching it. Fringilla is the first initiate to lift the stone, however, as demonstrated, magic comes at a price. Only seconds after Fringilla lifts the stone does her hand rapidly age and shrivel up. There is a give and take with magic, as Tissaia demonstrates by lifting the stone, but with the flowers in hand to represent what is taken as they grow old and die. The other initiates follow her lead, with the exception of Yennefer, who is unable to move the stone at all.
Several weeks have passed since their trial with the flowers and stone. The initiates are taken to Tor Lara to bottle lightning. It's the most potent place on the continent, off-limits to everyone except to the Brotherhood of Sorcerers. This latest trial is to test their ability to control the ultimate expression of chaos. Fringilla raises her bottle and captures the lightning.
Fringilla is one of several initiates to be officially initiated into the Brotherhood. During the ceremony, she telepathically tells Istredd that Yennefer decided not to come after being assigned Nilfgaard's monarch instead of Aedirn, where Fringilla has been assigned. Later, she accompanies King Virfuril at an Aretuzan ball, until Yennefer arrives completely transformed. King Virfuril quickly discards Fringilla in favor of Yennefer, and the two dance center floor. Fringilla is instead assigned to Nilfgaard.
Conquering Cintra
Several years have passed since her ascension from Aretuza. After conquering Cintra, Fringilla searches for Queen Calanthe's body. They find her on the ground, buried under snow. One of Fringilla's comrades cuts a chunk out of Calanthe's arm and eats her flesh. Fringilla then guts him and is able to determine that Ciri is in Brokilon forest.
Fringilla confronts Mousesack. He claims to know how she was schooled and shaped, which doesn't reflect her current actions. Fringilla retorts that the White Flame made her who she is. Gave her a higher purpose. Mousesack could've had that too if only he realized that Cintra had to fall. Cahir, the Black Knight, returns with a shape-shifter known as a doppler. He takes on Mousesack's appearance before killing him.
Cahir murdered everyone inside the tavern to insure they weren't the doppler, who took his form and attacked him in an attempt to gain possession of Ciri. As Fringilla cleaned his wound, he remarked that a simple test of silver would've sufficed. Fringilla stated that they could pull more soldiers and keep searching for Ciri. Fringilla reminded Cahir that it was he who rose up against the Usurper and helped free their people from their chains. She witnessed the White Flame crawl on him and anoint him. Ciri may be the key, but Cahir was the commissioner. They will find Ciri and spread the White Flame's supremacy throughout all kingdoms.
Conclave of Northern Mages
Fringilla arrived at the conclave of Northern mages and denounced any suspicion that Nilfgaard was planning to take over the continent. Under their new leader, Emperor Emhyr, Nilfgaard had strengthened trade and funded research. They tore down walls while Queen Calanthe continued to put them up. Tissaia accused Fringilla of rejecting the order and way of life that took centuries to build. Tissaia retorted that they simply modified it. They took a new path, guided by the White Flame. When Triss claimed that Nilfgaard also forced mages into servitude and practice black magic, Fringilla responded that they believed in shared sacrifice and that there was no such thing as dark or light magic. Fringilla believed that in taking Cintra, they had a chance of saving the continent. If the Northern mages won't take sides, Fringilla asked that they at least stay out her way. Stregobor and Artorius were in favor of letting Cintra fend for themselves.
Fringilla pointed out that if not for Yennefer, she never would've been assigned to Nilfgaard, and it wouldn't be the empire it is today. Artorius joked that had they sent Yennefer to Nilfgaard as planned, It would still be a "shitty backwater." Yennefer admitted this was true. Instead of Nilfgaard, she went to a prized kingdom and did "fuck all for decades." She helped murderers and rapists keep their crown. If given an option, she'd vote to burn it all down. Tissaia wagered that Cintra was scared and suggested that they lend a hand. The mages put it to a vote. Unfortunately, most side with Stregobor and Artorius to allow Cintra to fend for themselves.
Battle of Sodden Hill
After discovering that the Brotherhood was fortifying the keep, Fringilla reported back to Cahir to alert him of their arrival. The field Marshall recommended that they fall back, but Fringilla desired to move forward with the plan. This was their chance to honor the White Flame. Cahir refused to lose Princess Cirilla and ordered Fringilla to tests the Brotherhood's defenses.
Just up the mountain, Fringilla led the assault on Sodden Hill. She ordered her mages to keep attacking, but with each attack, the Brotherhood deflected. Fringilla then conjured up a small box to hand to a mage, who she ordered to draw the mages out.
Fringilla and Cahir watched from the top of the hill as their men were taken out by the brotherhood. They were forced to move to the other front. Fringilla guided eight of her own archers into a clearing in the woods, where she opened a portal that they fired arrows through, killing Vanielle and several others.
Tissaia confronted Fringilla in the woods. She offered her a way out if she would willingly returned to Aretuza. Fringilla laughed. She then explained that Nilfgaard was able to take Cintra after a horrible storm, where fifty Skelligen ships sunk to the bottom of the sea. Wrecked in a horrible fog caused by her. She then incapacitated Tissaia by throwing dimeritium in her face.
After breaking down the front line and taking out almost all of the Northern mages, Fringilla intercepted Yennefer's telepathic message. She told Yennefer to stop fighting and join Nilfgaard. However, Yennefer stayed true to her belief.
Fleeing Sodden
After losing the Battle of Sodden Hill to Yennefer and the Brotherhood, Fringilla and what remained of her comrades, fled the area, but not before taking a depleted Yennefer with them as a prisoner of war, with the intent of offering her to the White Flame in hopes that he'd pardon her for the failure at Sodden.
Yennefer attempted to convince Fringilla to release her, even offering her a chance to join them and redeem herself. However, Fringilla insisted that what she was doing was in the name of liberation, which was the opposite of what they were taught at Aretuza. There, they were just sent out as pawns to guild kingdoms, nothing more.
As Fringilla and Nilfgaard prepared to pack up camp, her men were attacked by spears until only Yennefer and Fringilla remained standing.
Captured by Elves
Fringilla and Yennefer were taken prisoner by Filavandrel and his elven army, and introduced to their new leader, Francesca, who was often visited in her dreams by the "White Robed One" and put Fringilla to sleep after she failed to heed Filavandrel's warning to keep quiet. Francesca wasn't convinced they could be of any use to her and intended to have them killed and have their heads shipped back to Aretuza.
Yennefer noticed earlier that Fringilla was having a nightmare and asked what it was about, possibly someone hidden in a robe. A black robe, Fringilla confirmed, whereas Yennefer has dreamt of one in red while Francesca dreamed of one in white, which they shared with Filavandrel before being taken to a temple where runes of the Conjunction of the Spheres had been inscribed along the walls. There, Francesca revealed that the guide in her dream was Ithlinne, whereas Fringilla's was Emhyr. Yennefer then brushed away the dust on the altar to discover Elder speech. "Behold the mother of forests, the deathless mother, nesting in dreams." What remained was an incantation about a hut with no doors. Suddenly, the altar slid open and revealed a passageway, which Yennefer, Fringilla, and Francesca followed.
If Fringilla dreamt of Emhyr, Yennefer wondered why she was so terrified when she woke. Fringilla revealed that she was in the dark and there were people touching her. She couldn't see or touch them, so she laid there and let them. After the Usurper executed Fergus, he had all of the mages moved to prison. Fringilla was there for years when Emhyr found her and set her free.
Fringilla, Yennefer, and Francesca found the doorless hut in the woods and recited the incantation, causing the hut to turn in their direction and summon them inside, where Fringilla was approached by the Deathless Mother disguised as Emhyr, who offered her power and the means to achieve it -- by forging an alliance with Francesca and the elves.
Forging an Alliance with Francesca
Through her alliance with Francesca, Fringilla had turned Nilfgaard into a place of refuge for elves. However, some of her comrades weren't happy about it, especially General Hake, who disgruntledly revealed that they were harboring 4,000 elves, with more on the way. He feared they would interfere with Nilfgaard's mission, but Fringilla, who had taken control of Nilfgaard, claimed that the White Flame always found a way.
Fringilla arranged a meeting with Francesca to discuss the terms of their alliance. The elves were comfortable, but Francesca wanted to know what it would cost her, realizing that Nilfgaard needed a new army. Fringilla explained that they had no intentions of destroying the world, rather simply feed, house, and liberate those in need, and the elves just so happened to know the Continent better than any man. Francesca wanted a place for her people's future to begin and needed Fringilla to promise her that first.
Fringilla searched for an alternative after receiving word that guards had been boarding ships. She was making Francesca privy to this so that they could be instep together. This was a new experience for both of them, as they'd never had partners before. The next ship was due soon, and Francesca wanted her people to meet their liberator.
As the ship arrived, Fringilla discovered that Cahir was aboard and had made his way back to Cintra.
Cahir's Return
Fringilla and Francesca went on a walk through the garden, during which Francesca told Fringilla the story of how she and her brother killed their father, and a statue was made in her honor. At Aretuza, they were taught the art of politics and persuasion, to trick others into thinking they're in control, Fringilla revealed. Francesca suspected this of Fringilla's relationship with Cahir, as she was different when he was around. Francesca believed that it was time for her to put Cahir in his place, as he was no longer in power. Francesca then departed as Cahir joined them to explain to Fringilla that he understood that she was forced to make a difficult decision during such times, by aligning with the evles, but he knew her well enough to understand that she didn't forsake the mission given to them by the White Flame. And now it was time they returned to the reason they took Cintra in the first place, which was Ciri, who was last seen in Sodden.
Fringilla, Filavandrel, and a midwife were all at Francesca's side, coaching her through as she gave birth to her baby girl, though quiet for a moment, with some provided warmth from Fringilla, the baby was alive and well. Fringilla exited the room and informed the others waiting in the hallway that a new elf had been born.
Fringilla and Cahir watched as the elves celebrated the birth of a pure blood. Cahir could only remember one other time of such celebration: after the Usurper was overthrown and the people rose up. It took Fringilla a while to feel free, and now it was she who gave the elves hope. Cahir wondered what this would do to their alliance. What would happen when the elves decided they could repopulate on their own, without Nilfgaard's help. He then revealed that the White Flame wrote him and would be in Cintra any day now.
Seizing Control of Nilfgaard
Tension between Fringilla and Hake grew, as he didn't trust her or the elves. Not to mention, he feared that Redania had likely implanted a spy. While Cahir agreed with Fringilla that they needed to rebuild their army, he acknowledged Hake's concerns and intended to do so wisely. When he revealed that half the elves didn't even show up for training, Fringilla assured them that she would talk to them. With the White Flame's arrival tomorrow, Cahir would not have him met with chaos and insubordination. If the elves refused to serve, Cahir would like to deal with them, as the generals and White Flame would respect a strong hand.
Fringilla revealed to Francesca and Filavandrel that their fighters failed to show up for training. However, Filavandrel reveals had a change of heart. They never intended to fight for Nilfgaard. Francesca convinced him, but she'd now given him a far better reason not to fight. It was time for them to rebuild and grow strong again. While they were grateful for the home Nilfgaard provided in Xin'trea, they had no intentions of dying in someone else's war. As a friend, Francesca asked if these were Fringilla's words or Cahir's. The bargain they struck in that hut was working, Fringilla remarked. And it could remain that way so long as their bond remained strong. While she and Fringilla were friends, Francesca cherished the bond of family more.
Fringilla sought help from her uncle Artorius at Aretuza. She may need to leave Nilfgaard quickly. The White Flame was arriving tomorrow with great expectations. She brought in the elves to fight for Nilfgaard, but they'd had a change of heart. Blood being a bond stronger than all over, she pleaded with her uncle for help. He admitted that he should've stood up for her during the ball that night at Aretuza. Whatever was brewing, the Brotherhood needed reinforcement. If Fringilla were to return, she would have to plead her case, as well as apologize for believing that she could have any impact at all with Nilfgaard. Feeling belittled, Fringilla left to reconsider her options.
Fringilla poisoned Cahir and the generals with nightshade, which possessed paralytic qualities. She then killed every general seated at the table, a total of four of them. All that remained was Cahir, but she left him alive to tell Emhyr that the generals were killed for heir treachery, as he trusted no one above Cahir.
Imprisoned by the White Flame[/h]
[h]Fringilla informed Cahir that Francesca and Filavandrel were gone with some of the elves to avenge their child, who had been murdered, likely by Redania. Cahir questioned why Francesca was so important to her, realizing that she was the key to Fringilla's plan to show the White Flame that she was a valuable leader. Cahir proposed that they lie to the White Flame and inform him that they killed the elven child and blamed Redania in order to gain the elves' allegiance.
Emperor Emhyr had finally arrived in Cintra. Fringilla and Cahir explained that while the elves may not wear their colors, they were doing Nilfgaard's bidding. He questioned how they convinced the elves to fight. They did so by killing Francesca's baby and blaming Redania. However, Emhyr knew that they were lying as it was he who ordered the death of the elven baby, as it was the best path to helping him find his daughter, Ciri. He then ordered for Cahir and Fringilla to be taken away.
