Fantasy books are in every country today. True, not all of them manage to achieve popularity outside their homeland. However, the Polish fantasy cycle The Witcher by Andrzej Sapkowski (Saga o wiedźminie) was a happy exception. The books of this saga are loved by readers of many countries. And after the release of the television series of the same name and a series of games based on works, they completely acquired the status of cults. Let's find out about the fate of one of the heroines of this cycle - the sorceress Tissae de Vrieux. And also consider the most famous Russian-speaking fanfiction with her participation.
Series of books "The Witcher" by Andrzej Sapkowski
The world described by Sapkowski in his Sadze o Wiedźminie is in many ways similar to the human Middle Ages. But in it there are sorcerers, elves, gnomes, dryads and other fabulous creatures that are perceived by others as ordinary.
At the same time, the author himself raises in his books far from fabulous problems more familiar to our time. Such as genocide, racial intolerance, environmental destruction, the price of scientific progress, and the like. Also in books, the author brutally ironizes over modern ideas about knightly or noble nobility. In return, he shows the lowland motives of the "noble" estate and the unlimited variety of meanness in the ways to achieve them.
The inhabitants of the Witcher world are deprived of the romantic raid that is characteristic of most works of the fantasy genre. And from this they are closer to us readers.
As for the plot, then in the center of all events is a hunter for monsters The Witcher named Geralt. Technically, he is not exactly human. As a child, she was exposed to various magic elixirs, because of which he gained some supernatural abilities. But still inferior to sorcerers.
Although this hero throughout the saga tries not to intervene in the wars for the power of kings and wizards, he does not succeed. The fact is that his adopted daughter Tsiri is the only heiress to the throne of the kingdom of Zintra and is able to influence the outcome of sharpening wars. In addition, the girl has incredible magical powers, which is why wizards hunt her.
In addition to Geralt, her adoptive mother, the sorceress Yennifer, plays an important role in Ciri’s life, who not only teaches the baby her skills, but also introduces her to other sorceresses. In particular with Tissay de Vrieux. Which, by the way, played, albeit not a big, but important role in the fate of this trinity.
Who is Tissaia de Vries?
This name bears the great sorceress, who became a legend during her lifetime. Her mind and foresight helped her not only to take the post of rector of the female magic school in Arethusa, but eventually to become one of the heads of the Capitul (council) of sorcerers.
This heroine does not belong to the main characters and is rather an episodic character in the saga.
In which books of the Witcher series does this sorceress appear
Tissay first appears in the fourth part of the series - in "Blood of the Elves." True, in this book she practically does not particularly affect anything. But with the help of this character, Sapkovsky manages to tell readers more about the world of magicians.
But the next appearance of this heroine in the fifth part - in "Hour of Contempt" in many respects decides the fate of the main characters and the whole fairy world.
In the following three parts, de Vrieux does not appear.
The appearance of the heroine
The appearance of Tissay de Vrieux, like that of any sorceress, was very attractive. Despite her very solid age (about 500 years), she looked great, thanks to the active use of magic elixirs.
This sorceress was tall with a taut, slim figure, which many envied. She had harsh features, pale skin, and dark hair, usually combed back.
Unlike her colleagues in the workshop, Tissay de Vrieux, although she loved to dress beautifully, preferred to emphasize her own dignity rather than sexuality. Therefore, her outfits were never provocative and amazed those around them except for their grace.
The eyes of the sorceress were dark and shiny. Because of this feature, it sometimes resembled a predatory animal.
As for cosmetics, de Vrieux used it very moderately, unlike other magicians.
Sorceress character
As for the character of Tissay de Vrieux, she was widely known for her pedantry and the desire to streamline absolutely everything. Despite the fact that many made fun of this quality of her character, the enchantress herself was indifferent to the opinions of others.
Over her long life, she managed to see a lot, so she strove to maintain neutrality, or at least balance in everything. Tiszaya was also against racism and always defended representatives of other species, believing that all beings should live in peace with each other.
Also, de Vrieux had outstanding administrative skills. She was a skilled and far-sighted leader, although she never really sought power.
Another feature of the sorceress was attentiveness. She noticed and remembered a lot. I also tried to be polite towards people who really deserved it.
The intrigues were alien to her character, and therefore Tisaya tried not to let herself be drawn into them. But at the same time she managed to find out almost everything that they dreamed of hiding from her. No defensive spell could resist her.
Despite her mind and her many services to the magical community, Tissay de Vrieux was not conceited. For this reason, whenever she was offered to head the Council of Sorcerers, she refused.
The main merit of the magician was considered the leadership of Arethusa, and nothing more. Although the graduates themselves and the administration did not really like her for her strict disposition.
Another distinguishing feature of this heroine was her sobriety. She skillfully sensibly assess both those around herself and herself in the first place. Tissaya almost never succumbed to emotions, except during the Tadden riot.
The main feature of this sorceress was the pursuit of beauty. That is why she tried to give grace to everything that surrounded her - both things and people. Even her death was beautiful, like the sorceress herself.
What is known about the past sorceress
Since de Vrieux was considered the oldest of the female magicians, almost nobody knew anything about her childhood.
Judging by the prefix "de" in her magical name, it can be assumed that the sorceress was of noble origin. However, in The Hour of Contempt, it is mentioned that before becoming a sorceress, Tiszaya was called the Lark. So, perhaps, her parents were people of noble origin, and the girl took the name "Tissay de Vrieux" when she began to study at school in Arethusa.
This magician became one of the first graduates of this educational institution and one of the most famous. During her studies there, she proved herself to be an incredibly talented and hardworking sorceress, which later helped her become one of the most powerful of her kind. And even at the time of death, she remained so.
After graduation, a graduate of the sorcerer's school in Arethuz devoted herself to magical science and achieved significant success in this field.
As rector of Arethusa
It is not known exactly when Tissaya headed her native school, but at the time of the saga she already left this post.
During her time as rector of Arethusa, de Vrieux did much to systematize the program, which facilitated the development of magical arts. It was also she who initiated the introduction of mandatory sterilization of all students. Tiszaya explained her act by fear of the occurrence of gene mutations in sorceresses, which can have disastrous consequences.
In addition, over the years of her rectorship, the strictness of the charter and mores at school reached a maximum. And although she was not very fond of such a policy, it was she who helped to raise the prestige of the graduates of this educational institution. Thus, a certain feminization of the profession took place. Now sorceresses who graduated from Arethusa were valued higher than the sorcerers from Ban Arda (a school that trains magicians).
The Witcher does not answer why and when it was de Vrieux who left her post. It is known that at the time of the story, the rector of the school was already Margarita Lo-Antil.
Among all her students, Tissay de Vrieux singled out Philip Eilhart, whom she considered the best. Subsequently, Philippa founded a female counterpart to the Council of Sorcerers.
Tissaya and Yennifer
In addition to Philippa, de Vrieux at one time took under her wing and lover Geralt. Yennifer was a very capable girl, but for some reason at first she did not like Tissae's taste, and she refused to teach her.
This greatly influenced the girl who was a hunchback, which means that she had no other perspectives in life except to become a sorceress. In desperation, Yennifer tried to commit suicide. Her attempt was unsuccessful, but she made Tissay take pity and take the hunchback as a student.
In the future, the rector helped the girl find beauty, but otherwise she herself succeeded, becoming one of the best graduates of Arethusa.
It is worth noting that Yennifer herself probably did not really like the mentor, although she respected her. Since de Vrieux was the indirect culprit of her infertility.
Participation in the rebellion of sorcerers
Unlike Tissay, the young and very talented wizard Wilgeforts sought power by all means. That is why he intrigued against his colleagues in the shop and, together with Arthaud Terranova and Francesca Findabair, prepared a coup during the Great Meeting of the Wizards on Tanedd Island.
However, this became known and managed to stop the conspirators. At the same time, Tiszaya took them under her protection, trying to solve everything peacefully.
Unfortunately, the other wizards could not agree. Their squabbles infuriated de Vries so much that she removed the protective spells from the instigators of the rebellion, and they tried again to achieve their goal. The carnage began.
Seeing what she had done, de Vrieux tried to help the innocent victims of what was happening. In particular, she helped to save the wounded Geralt by teleporting him and Triss to the dryads in the Brokilon protected forest.
Tissai's death
After the Tanedd revolt, the war of the Northern kingdoms with the South broke out with renewed vigor. In addition, many talented wizards died in battles with each other. The council of sorcerers broke up, and all magicians lost their former prestige and respect.
De Vries understood that in many ways the reason for this was her rash act. Koria herself for what happened, the sorceress wrote a farewell letter and cut her veins.
Tissay fan fiction
Although this magician played an important role in the fate of her world, from the point of view of the saga she was only an episodic character. Therefore, Russian-speaking fans of The Witcher Tissay de Vrieux usually do not devote individual works.
She more often appears as a secondary heroine in fan fiction about Yennifer or Arethusa.
So, the heroine appears in stories such as “One Question” from Percival, “Captives of Arethusa” from MaemaGia, “Sister, I Was Too Long in the War” from Vixen Vincent and the crossover “Lark” from Knight Lautrec of Carim, which for now the moment is only in the process of writing.
It is a pity that this character has not yet seemed to fans so entertaining as to devote a separate story to it. However, let's hope that everything will change in the future. Moreover, Netflix plans to launch its own television series based on the Sapkowski saga. Perhaps in it Tissay will be given more attention.