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What can a whore know of honor? You're a stupid little strumpet and that is how i shall treat you. You'll behave if you wnt to see any of your foolfisg comrades again.
~ The infamous quote before raping Ves.

King Henselt of Ard Carraigh is the king of Kaedwen and a major antagonist in The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. He is the last of House Unicorn after accidental death of his last son. He is known for his strong hatred of non-humans, warmongering, and short temper. For years, he fought with King Demavend for Pontar Valley.

He was voiced by Peter Egan.

Biography[]

Past[]

Henselt belonged to the unicorn dynasty of the family that ruled over Kaedwen, one of the most powerful northern kingdoms. When Henselt took over Kaedwen, he was an aggressive monarch and constantly fights with his neighboring state of Aedirn, ruled by King Demavend, over the region of the Pontar valley, which both monarchs claim land for. Henselt is also racist towards elves and dwarves and distrusts wober sorcerers.

After hearing that Nilfgaard had conquered Cintra which ended in the Cintra Massacre, Henselt joined the war against Nilfgaard and sent his troops to Upper Sodden as reinforcements. After winning the battle against Nilfgaard and making peace, Henselt continued to argue with his neighbor over the territories of the Pontar Valley.

Northern War II[]

When the Nilfgaardian empire led by Emperor Emhyr var Emreis threatens to start another war with the northern kingdoms, the rulers of all kingdoms, including Henselt, organized a secret meeting in Hagge Castle. During the meeting, King Visimir of Redania compares the location of the northern continent on the Yaruga River with the location of the elves, to which Henselt reacts with indignation because he does not want anyone to compare his country to the elves. And he mocked himself about the threat from Nilfgaard, not serious about this situation because he thinks that Nilfgaard lost the war in Sodden by pushing the empire back and he does not believe that the empire is militarily or morally ready to conquer the Yaruga river, but he changed his mind when Lyria's queen Meve revealed to the kings a huge threat from them, such as getting along with the non-humans of the Scoia'tael, so Henselt proposed the complete pacification of the Scoia'tael throughout the north.Henselt refers to the Verden king Ervyll and his fortress on the banks of the Yaruga as well as the fleets from Cidaris and Skellige that support the northern kingdoms against Nilfgaard, for example Skellige attacking Nilfgaardian ships, nevertheless the rulers of the kingdoms decided to send a signal of strength to recapture Cintra from Nilfgaard's spools and find Ciri the last member of the Dynasty in Cintra so that she could rule this country.

After a secret meeting of the rulers of the northern kingdoms, Henselt and Demavend began to implement Henselt's plan on Kaedwen and Aedirn began a joint pacification action against the Scoia'tael militias, effectively killing most of the members, so the commandos had to form smaller groups hiding in the forests.

Nilfgaard used the pretext of a fake attack on Dol Angra to provoke and deceive, successfully attacking the north being able to conquer Aedirn and Lyria leaving scorched earth behind. As a result, Henselt decides to form an alliance between Kaedwen and Nilfgaard, hoping that he will be allowed to conquer the Pontar valley and incorporate it into Kaedwen in exchange for not opposing Nilfgaard's troops passing through Aedern. Thus, Henselt is taking full advantage of the chaos in Aedirn to conquer his province of Upper Aedirn and incorporate it into the Kaedweni lands, however, for several months, Nilfgaard seemed an invincible kingdom until the Battle of Brenna, where the remnants of the forces of the northern kingdoms marched together against the Nifgaardian army without turning the tide of events.

After the Battle of Brenna, after which Nilfgaard loses and pushes further and further south. Henselt decided to make a peace deal with Demavend and together they fight against Nilfgaard, supporting Meve's Lyrian forces that they were able to push part of the army led by Ardal aep Dahy from Aldersberg back to the east and finally completely break up the Nilgaardian army group. After the surrender of Nilfgaard, negotiations take place in Cintra where Henselt participates due to the defeat in the battle of Aldersberg where Henselt himself angrily declares that he refuses to return Lormark to Aedirn.

Because he claims that Lormark used to belong to Kaedwen for centuries, and then he finds out that Niedermark has been there since the year when his army took over the lands of Aedirn. Henselt, unable to agree, furiously says that his men have been accepted as liberators, to which Demavend dismisses this as a lie and angrily calls his troops bandits. Henselt is furious that thanks to Niedermark, Demavend still has the king's causeway. In the following years, Niedermark was reabsorbed into Aedirn by this event. Henselt could not reconcile, therefore he decides to attack Aedirn in order to have military influence in the Pontar valley, thus causing a conflict.

Armed conflict with Aedirn[]

A year later, Henselt's army of over four thousand men, led by General Vandergrift, crossed the Pontar during battle. Henselt and his aide Sabrina Glevising watch from above the actions of their troops against the defenders of Seltkirk. The battle benefits Henselt until her advisor interned, as the conflict with Aedirn through the conquest of the Pontar Valley has upset the peace and balance of power between the northern kingdoms. so Sabrina summons a rain of fire and flaming boulders from her magic to cover the entire battlefield, causing the deaths of three thousand knights as well as Kaedweni and Aedirn forces including Vandergrift.

After Sabrina summons fire rain, Henselt is shocked that he has to watch his army burn, and confronts his advisor for not allowing him to use magic, then accuses her of betraying him, slandering his honor, and mass murdering his soldiers. Betrayed, Henselt sentences Sabrina to death by setting fire to the pyre and then orders his remaining soldiers from the fiery rain to withdraw from the battle. After his troops have withdrawn from Pontar, Henselt tells Sabrina to hit a wheel on the coast and then set it on fire. However, the young knight wants to show mercy by shouting at Sabrina and then stabs her with his spear, allowing Sabrina to utter a blood curse at the moment of her death where she curses Henselt and his lineage.

After his defeat in the war in Aedirn, his only son and heir to his line dies in a hunting accident and his dynasty is threatened with extinction if so. One of the members of Sheala de Tancarville's lodge of sorceresses is aware of this and wants to take advantage of it to gain Henselt's trust even though he had no confidence in sorceresses. Henselt, despite the fact that he had a dislike for sorcerers, decided to take over Sheala and Dethmold as his court advisers, replacing Sabrina at the same time, both advisors have a poor relationship because, for example, Sheala called Dethmold an overgrown child.

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings[]

After King Foltest's death, his advisor Dethmold partnered with Bernard Loredo to expand the Kaedweni kingdom by selling Flotsam, believing Loredo to be highly corrupt. However, there is one problem, because on the Pontar River there is a sea monster called Kayran, created by an unknown magician, and thus hindering not only Henselt's plans but also water transport in ports, so Henselt decides to send his advisor Sheala de Tancarville to eliminate it. After Kayran was destroyed, Henselt secretly sent a spy to negotiate with Loredo for control of the trade route where Flotsam was located

When King Demawend of Aedirn was beheaded by Letho of Guleta, the Aedirn kingdom was weakened and Demawend's son, Stennis, is considered a weak successor by Aedirn's subordinates due to his cowardice. All this means that Henselt can attack Aedirn again, but with this attack he bribes one corrupt noble from Aedirn so that he can enter the country in the areas of Upper Aedirn, conquer it and then administer it in these areas.

And when Henselt arrived in Aedirn the Aedirn armies, led by Saskia and Stennis, opposed his arrival in their state wanting to push him behind the pontar. And Henselt himself reacts contemptuously by calling the Aedirn soldiers and their leaders a 'peasant uprising'. However, Henselt has a huge advantage because his country is more stable than Aedirn, who wants to defend Vergen from him, and Sheala de Tancarville, the most intelligent sorceress whose plans often succeed, supports Henselt and his kingdom.

At the beginning of act 2 of the game he meets with Prince Stennis to negotiate conditions of the end of their war. However the negotiations fail due to a curse that unleashed a demonic fog. It also postponded his invasion. Geralt of Rivia helps to break the curse him or his opponents by killing Draug. Depending on player's choice King Henselt can conquer Pontar Valley or lose the war. In the former scenario player can also allow Vernon Roche to kill him, in revenge for the massacre of the Blue Stripes.

In Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, if Henselt survives the previous game, then is killed by King Radovid during conquer of Kaedwen.

Journal entries[]

The Price of Neutrality[]

Known to be excessively greedy and hot-headed, Henselt is the king of Kaedwen, a powerful and expansive land in the North. He in no way resembles the classic image of a king. He is bearded as a robber and has small, penetrating, wandering eyes. Henselt feuds with his neighbors over borders, titles and protectorates. He is also known for his intense hatred of nonhumans.

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings[]

The witcher once said that in his life he had met thieves who resembled city councilors, councilors who were like begging louts, harlots who behaved like princesses, princesses who smelled like pregnant cows and kings who looked like thieves. King Henselt did not look exactly like a thief, but, with all due respect, he was not far off. He owed this resemblance only partly to his bearded countenance, beady eyes and wandering, yet penetrating gaze. His annexation of Lormark, called Upper Aedirn by its natives, at a time when Aedirn was fighting off the Nilfgaardian hoard at its southern border, was also considered a theft. The now dead King Demavend judged this deed severely and communicated this in curt yet resonant words. Yet that was not the sole reason for King Henselt's reputation as an unpleasant person, much bolstered by the monarch's ambitions and quarrels with his neighbors, and by his ruthless policies towards nonhumans, whom he persecuted with a passion, squandering his realm's strength and funds.

The aging Henselt did not have a living heir, and the rumor was that he had found producing another son somewhat troublesome.

Henselt's virility may have lessened with age, but his ambition certainly had not. The king wanted to wage a war and reclaim Lormark, a province he had already given up once, no matter the cost.

If Geralt chooses Roche's path during the end of Chapter I:

The king reaped that which his deeds had sown years earlier, when he and Nilfgaard jointly partitioned Aedirn. Though he returned the stolen lands, there were many among the Kaedweni who considered Henselt's assault on an ally to have been dishonorable. These men created a conspiracy against their corrupt ruler, adding a new cause for concern to his pile of worries.

Kaedwen's king had been terribly cursed by the sorceress Sabrina Glevissig, whom he had condemned to death.

Thanks to the witcher, the curse plaguing Henselt was lifted. The king breathed a sigh of relief and returned to realizing his plans with redoubled energy. Apart from invading Aedirn, these probably included killing Stennis, hanging all nonhumans and ploughing Saskia, not necessarily in that order.

Henselt revealed the entirety of his rotten character when he had Roche's men murdered and personally defiled Ves. In this way he gained a mortal enemy in the form of Vernon Roche.

The king of Kaedwen satiated his ambitions. He led a victorious assault on Vergen and strengthened his kingdom.

If Geralt chooses to let Roche kill Henselt in Chapter II:

Henselt made a mistake in underestimating the determination of the Blue Stripes' captain to avenge his men. Thus ended the line of Kaedweni rulers bearing the Unicorn on their seal.

If Geralt chooses to stop Roche from killing Henselt in chapter II:

Henselt should consider himself lucky that Geralt was content with simply bruising his grizzled face, for Vernon would not have treated him as leniently. Thus grew the debt of gratitude which Henselt owed the witcher, though I don't think the Kaedweni ruler saw it that way.

If Geralt chooses Iorveth's path during the end of Chapter I:

Henselt accepted the unthinkable. He shed some of his royal blood for a stranger – anything was acceptable if it furthered the pursuit of his longed-desired war.

The ruler could not have felt worse if he had been kicked in the crotch. Defeated by the Vergenian irregulars, comprising peasants, local gentry, dwarves and elves and led by a female, he was forced to renounce his territorial claims to Aedirn and to officially confirm this at the Loc Muinne summit. I will remember the look on his grizzled mug for the rest of my life.

If Geralt chooses to rescue Triss in Chapter III:

Henselt eagerly engaged in another partition – Kaedwen and Redania divided their weakened neighbor, the chaos-riddled Temeria.

If Geralt chooses to rescue Anaïs La Valette in Chapter III:

Despite his appetite for new land, Henselt was forced to do without. The chance to snatch a part of Temeria passed right under his nose.

appearance[]

Henselt is a tall middle-aged man with a broad face and shoulders. On his face he has a large nose, small dark eyes, a thick dark brown beard and short hair. As king, Henselt wears rich robes of red and maroon with gold embroidery trimmed with fur and wears jewelry with crests of the unicorn symbol. In wars, he wears some parts of iron armor like gauntlets and boots, and even wears a crown in battle.

Quotes[]

You're wrong Dethmold, mould this country lives, i can feel it. Like an old wound in their common scarles hounds all round it but still strong, still Deadly. This will be a good war.
~ Henselt denies Dethmold that Aedirn is dead.
How much do you want?
~ Henselt asks the nobles of Aedirn how much money they want.
I coulnd't be more serious. How much for your signatures?
~ Henselt asks the nobles of Aedirn how much money they want.
I shall give you naught for you worthless signatures. I have no need of them.
~ Henselt does not pay the nobles of Aedirn.
Good! For me and for you. Butt all the worse for Aedirn.
~ Henselt expresses his satisfaction in removing Sabrina's curse to himself and to Geralt.
Dethmold, leave us.
~ Henselt silences Dethmold during Ves interaction.
Geralt:You're late, king.
Henselt: Where are they?
Geralt: No Idea.
Henselt: Tell me or i'll..
Geralt: Don't make me laugh. You woulnd't let me out of here alive anyway.
Henselt: A soothsayer, now!
~ Henselt demands from Geralt where his prostitutes are.
Henselt: Vernom Roche-Temerian cockerel of the Blue Stripes? What will do you with me?
Vernom: You kwon perfectly well.
Henselt: You won't kill me. You would't dare. I'm the king Kaedwen and Soon of Lormark. The North won't survive without me. I've won! Do you kwow why rushed into battle? Do you? I had to resolved ir before Loc Muine...
Vernom: He's playing for time... Let's kill him.
Geralt: Wait. Tells us, king. What's going to happen in Loc Muine?
Henselt: A new order, new border... Evrything will Change. All the kings and princess of the North will be there. Do you kwow the old saying? He who control the Pontar valley controls the North.
Geralt: Have the mages been invited?
Henselt: It's their idea. They want to revive the Council and Conclave. They want to regain their rights and privileges, their place in soviety... What tripes! I've outsmartered them all! I'll be the one to dictate treaties. I'll show them who's ruler!
Vernom: You had my men killed...
Henselt: Of course i had them killed. Wtat do you do with spies in Temeria, give them awards?
Vernom: None of those hanged where part of the plot, only me.
Henselt: You kwow the saving-where there's smoke, there's fire.
Vernom: Your villainy knows no bounds.
Henselt: What do you call villainy? The fact that I've made Kaedwen stronger that ever? You foll! I'm the last ruler in the North, whom Nilfgaard must respect. And it will! Witcher, reason with me.
~ Henselt talks with Geralt and Roche about being the most powerful ruler in the North.
Geralt: Are murdered and rapes royal virtues of the new order, too?
Henselt: Every wench dreams of being ploughed by a king.
Vernom: And Ves?
Henselt: Dis she complain to you? I thought she liked it. She squeaked like an un-oiled hinge...
~ Henselt reveals that he shows no remorse for raping Ves.

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