The Witchers and Yennefer try to save a possessed Ciri, while the elves seek revenge.
Tropes:
- Answer Cut: Geralt questions how Nilfgaard knew to pursue Ciri before everyone else on the continent did. The scene then cuts to the Cintran throne room where we see Emperor Emhyr for the first time...and he's Ciri's father.
- Basilisk and Cockatrice: Voleth Meir summons a pack from the portal in Kaer Morhen to kill the witchers. They're notably different looking from the one glimpsed in "Rare Species" (due to coming from Another Dimension) and while they aren't able to kill just by sight, their venom is strong enough to burn through Geralt's armour.
- Continuity Nod: When Yennefer wakes Jaskier up to help deal with Voleth Meir he refers back to the events of "Bottled Appetites".Jaskier: The last time I woke up next to you, you grabbed me by the balls and then blew up the building, so...
- Dragon-in-Chief: Invoked during the discussion between the Northern kings and the Brotherhood, as they all acknowledge that Dijkstra, rather than King Vizimir, is the true power and the real danger posed by Redania.
- Everyone Has Standards:
- Gage, who is no fan of humans, is visibly uncomfortable with Francesca's killing of Redanian babies and tries to talk her down.
- Though she doesn't object to it, Meve comments that putting a bounty on the heads of Ciri and her protectors is a bit much, even for her.
- Eye Scream: Geralt gets free of a basilisk's grip by burning out one of its eyes with Igni.
- Fake Shemp: Eist appears in Ciri's visions but is only ever seen with his back to the camera indicating that Björn Hlynur Haraldsson was unable to return.
- Foreshadowing: When Ciri's family members start turning to dust in her vision of Cintra, we never see it happening to her father, suggesting that he is still alive. The episode's ending shows that he is.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Yennefer offers herself as a vessel for Voleth Meir to save Ciri. Luckily for her, it doesn't last.
- "I Know You're in There Somewhere" Fight: While Voleth Meir possesses Ciri, puts her in a Lotus-Eater Machine, and wreaks havoc in her body, Geralt tries to get her to snap out of the vision while the other witchers protect him and hold the monsters at bay.
- Lotus-Eater Machine: Voleth Meir traps Ciri's consciousness in a vision of Cintra that was never sacked with her family alive and well, including her parents who never died. Ciri very nearly decides to stay in the vision before Yennefer steps in to draw Voleth Meir away from her.
- Mass "Oh, Crap!":
- The Witchers when the possessed Ciri summons a pack of basilisks into the great Hall at Kaer Morhen.
- Also, Geralt, Yennefer and Ciri's reaction to seeing the Wild Hunt charging towards them.
- The Power of Love: How the Witchers help save Ciri after Geralt realizes Voleth Meir was being empowered by their hatred — they all proclaim her importance to them.
- Pre Ass Kicking One Liner: Courtesy of Coen when the possessed Ciri summons basilisks to fight the witchers.Lambert: What the fuck kind of basilisk is that?!Coen: I'll tell you after I've killed it!
- Stalker without a Crush: The Wild Hunt, who want Ciri's power for their own.The Wild Hunt: Child of the Elder Blood, starry-eyed Daughter of Chaos, join our Hunt. Your place is among us. You are ours!
- Stealing the Credit: Cahir and Fringilla attempt this with Emperor Emhyr, claiming that they had the elf baby killed in order to blame the Redanians and send the elves off on their Roaring Rampage of Revenge. Unfortunately for them, Emhyr knows they're lying, because he was the one responsible. He then coldly orders them both taken away.
- Wham Line: A one-two whammy in the end of the episode regarding who the emperor is.Emperor Emhyr: I'm the one who ordered the death of that elven baby. I had to. It was the best path to helping me find. my. daughter. [turns to the camera revealing his face] Take them away.
- Wham Shot: Emperor Emhyr of Nilfgaard turning towards the camera to reveal that he's actually Duny, Ciri's father.
- Would Hurt a Child:
- Emhyr ordered the murder of Francesca and Filavandrel's baby daughter. Francesca then goes on a Roaring Rampage of Revenge and magically kills every baby in Redania in turn.
- The Northern kings and the Brotherhood put a bounty on Ciri's head, preferring to see her dead than let Vizimir marry her and gain a claim to the throne of Cintra to further Redania's territorial ambitions.
- Your Approval Fills Me with Shame: When Cahir, under the impression that Fringilla orchestrated the murder of Francesca's daughter, congratulates her on ensuring the elves will continue to fight for Nilfgaard out of a desire for revenge, Fringilla is clearly taken aback.
