Syanna's Location: A Historical Perspective On Belarus

Syanna is a fictional character in the Witcher universe, who appears in the Blood and Wine expansion. She is the older sister of Anna Henrietta, the Duchess of Toussaint. In the game, she is accused of being a murderer and is either killed or imprisoned depending on the player's choices.

There is also a town called Syanno or Senno in the Vitebsk Region of Belarus. It is located on the southern shore of Senno Lake and has a population of around 7,000 people as of 2024.

Syanna is a fictional character in the Witcher universe

Syanna enjoyed spending time in the magical Land of a Thousand Fables, an illusion created for the young princesses. However, she often played tricks to liven things up, and sometimes her pranks went too far. One such prank involved convincing Cedric de Coulbert that he would die at the hands of his brother, leading to Cedric killing his brother and hurting both families.

Due to her behaviour and her parents' belief in the Black Sun curse, Syanna was forced into exile. She fled to Nazair and joined a band of bandits, eventually becoming their leader. During this time, she also met and began a romantic relationship with the vampire Dettlaff van der Eretein. However, she soon ended the relationship as she found it too intense.

Years later, Syanna returned to Toussaint, seeking revenge on those who had wronged her. She manipulated Dettlaff into killing four knights who had escorted and abused her during her exile. She also attempted to steal back a family heirloom and obtain barrels of Sangreal, a wine made exclusively for the royal family. However, her plans were discovered, and she was arrested and taken to Beauclair to face sentencing.

The ending to Syanna's story depends on the choices made by the player. In one ending, Syanna is killed by Dettlaff, and her sister Anna Henrietta is left mourning her loss. In another ending, Syanna is saved by a magical ribbon that teleports her to safety. She is then able to forgive her sister and reconcile their differences.

Syanna is the older sister of Anna Henrietta, Duchess of Toussaint

Syanna was plagued by nightmares from a young age and often drew what she saw in them. However, she shared a close relationship with her younger sister, Anna Henrietta, and did not experience nightmares when she slept nearby. The two sisters spent time in the magical Land of a Thousand Fables, an illusion created for them by Artorius Vigo. However, Syanna often played pranks on the characters in the illusion, sometimes with severe consequences. On one occasion, she convinced Cedric de Coulbert that he would die at the hands of his brother, leading Cedric to kill his brother. Another time, she and Anna Henrietta got into a fight, during which Syanna knocked out two of her sister's teeth. This resulted in their parents punishing Syanna, as they believed in the Black Sun curse.

As a teenager, Syanna played a prank on a Nilfgaardian envoy with Anna Henrietta, throwing fish bladders filled with suet at his bald patch. This time, only Syanna was blamed and punished, and she was cast out of the duchy by a group of knights who abused and mocked her. She then wandered in the woods for a week, nearly freezing to death, before joining a group of bandits. During this time, she also met and began a romantic relationship with the vampire Dettlaff van der Eretein. However, she eventually ended the relationship as she found it too intense.

Years later, Syanna returned to Toussaint, seeking revenge on those who had wronged her. She manipulated Dettlaff into killing four knights who had escorted and abused her, and carried out a deal to steal several barrels of Sangreal, a wine made exclusively for the Toussaint royal family. However, she was arrested and taken to Beauclair to face sentencing. Despite Anna Henrietta's relief at seeing her sister again, Syanna still desired revenge and planned to kill her sister, whom she saw as her greatest betrayer.

If Geralt visits Syanna in prison and convinces her to forgive her sister, she will let out her pent-up frustration and hurt but ultimately forgive Anna Henrietta. However, if Geralt does not visit Syanna, or fails to convince her to forgive her sister, she will kill Anna Henrietta during a reconciliatory embrace.

Syanna was exiled from the Duchy and stripped of her title and birthright

Syanna, born during a total eclipse, was believed to be affected by the so-called Curse of the Black Sun. From a young age, she was plagued by nightmares and would wake up screaming every night. However, she shared a close bond with her younger sister, Anarietta, and the family soon learned that Syanna's nightmares would subside as long as she slept near her sister.

As a child, Syanna enjoyed spending time in the magical Land of a Thousand Fables, an illusion created for the young princesses. However, she eventually grew bored of the illusion and began to play pranks to liven things up. Sometimes, her pranks would go too far and cause harm to others. During one such instance, she convinced Cedric de Coulbert that his brother, who had a crush on Anarietta, would die at Cedric's hands. This led to Cedric killing his brother, hurting both families.

Syanna and Anarietta also had typical sibling arguments, and their physical fights would often result in injuries. During one such fight, Syanna knocked out two of Anarietta's teeth, after which their parents punished Syanna, as they believed in the Black Sun curse. Their father even had mages from the Chapter run tests on her, but the results were never revealed to Syanna.

As a teenager, Syanna played a prank on the Nilfgaardian envoy, throwing fish bladders filled with suet at his bald patch. Anarietta suggested lighting them on fire, and they successfully hit their target, amusing the sisters. However, the council was not amused and blamed and punished Syanna, listing various offences such as her flights from the palace, supposed acts of cruelty, and "inappropriate" friendships. This incident led to Syanna being officially cast out of the duchy, stripped of her title and birthright.

A group of knights, including Louis de la Croix, Vladimir Crespi, Milton de Peyrac-Peyran, and Ramon du Lac, were ordered to escort Syanna to the edges of Toussaint. However, they took it upon themselves to insult, mock, and abuse the former princess, even denying her food and beating her unconscious when she tried to escape. When they finally reached Caed Dhu, they left her there penniless and in the cold, hoping she would die.

Syanna wandered the woods for a week, nearly freezing to death, before she came across a bandit campsite. The bandits took her in, and she quickly rose in their ranks, eventually becoming their leader. During this time, she also met and fell in love with the vampire Dettlaff van der Eretein. However, she later realised that their relationship was too intense, and she disappeared without a word.

Years later, Syanna's thoughts turned back to her homeland, and she decided to reclaim her birthright and take revenge on those who had wronged her. Knowing that Dettlaff would do anything for her, she wrote letters pretending to be her abductor and demanding that he kill five people whose names would be delivered to him. These five people included the four knights who had abused her, as well as her cousin, Orianna, from whom she wanted to steal back a family heirloom.

However, her plan ultimately led to her capture and imprisonment in the dungeons of Beauclair Palace, where she was to face sentencing. Despite this, her sister, Anarietta, who was now the duchess of Toussaint, took Syanna back into the fablesphere and blocked the exits until her trial.

During her trial, Syanna had the opportunity to forgive her sister and reconcile, or she could remain bitter and seek revenge by killing Anarietta. The outcome of this decision would determine the fates of the two sisters.

Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe

Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus covers an area of 207,600 square kilometres (80,200 sq mi) and has a population of 9.1 million, making it the thirteenth-largest and the twentieth-most populous country in Europe. The country is divided into six regions, with Minsk as its capital and largest city.

Throughout history, different states controlled the lands of modern-day Belarus. Notably, between the medieval period and the 20th century, various entities ruled over the region, including Kievan Rus', the Principality of Polotsk, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, and the Russian Empire. Following the Russian Revolution in 1917, the Byelorussian SSR emerged amidst the Civil War and became a founding constituent republic of the Soviet Union in 1922.

Belarus gained independence on August 25, 1991, during the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The country has retained close ties with Russia, signing a treaty in 1999 to form a politically integrated confederation with a common currency. Belarus has a hemiboreal climate and is known for its flat topography, featuring lowlands, hills, and uplands. It is rich in natural resources and has a diverse plant and animal life.

Belarus has a unique cultural heritage, with its own distinct language and a rich literary and artistic history. The country has experienced economic growth and development, with a focus on heavy machinery, agricultural products, and energy exports. However, it has also faced economic challenges and political criticism, particularly regarding human rights and press freedom.

The town of Syanno (or Senno) is in the Vitebsk Region of Belarus

Throughout its history, Syanno has been under the control of various families and states. From the first half of the 17th century, it belonged to the Sapieha family, and from the second half of the 18th century, it was owned by the Ogińskis. In 1772, the town became part of the Russian Empire, and in 1924, it was incorporated into the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. During World War II, Syanno was the site of a significant tank battle in July 1941.

Today, Syanno is part of the Republic of Belarus, a landlocked country in Eastern Europe with a population of 9.1 million. Belarus gained its independence in 1991 after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The country has a hemiboreal climate and is divided administratively into six regions, with Minsk as its capital and largest city.

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