Born to a noble family in the North of the continent, the Viscount de Lettenhove, Julian
Alfred Pankratz, aka Dandelion, grew into one of the most famous poets and playwrights
of the 13th century.
After attending a temple school, Dandelion moved on to the prestigious University of
Oxenfurt, where he spent 4 years studying the 7 liberal arts, before completing his
education and becoming a professor.
A ladies man from a young age, the poet was loathed by many husbands, as he eagerly bedded
woman regardless of their marital status.
It was this passion for woman that first introduced him to poetry at the age of 19, finding inspiration
through an affair with a countess.
After working briefly as a professor, Dandelion set out to travel the world, earning a great
reputation as a bard.
But the height of his fame came from his stories about Geralt of Rivia, a valiant and good
hearted witcher from the wolf school of Kaer Morhen, whose actions had lasting repercussion
for the entire continent.
Having earned some minor fame for a massacre which nicknamed him the Butcher of Blaviken,
Geralt was travelling in Aedirn when he first met the poet Dandelion, finding him both annoying
and impossible to ignore.
Joining Geralt on his mission to confront a devil stealing grain, the Poet hoped to
compose ballads about their adventures together, regardless of the Witcher’s protestations.
Yet he quickly learned about the challenges associated with such a partnership, when they
were captured by the free elves of the Blue Mountains, who were working with a local non-human
creature to steal seed for planting crops.
Despite their appearance as outlaws, the Elves were the descendants of those who once ruled
these lands, and still answered to the King in exile Filevandrel as they waged a futile
war against humanity.
Although the Elf King considered killing Geralt and Dandelion, arguing with them about the
history of Elven oppression, he ultimately allowed them to leave relatively unharmed,
after learning that the Witcher spared the life of Torque, the Sylvan who was helping
them steal grain.
Seeing that Geralt showed mercy to a non-human, the king realized he was different than the
others of his kind.
Despite being an extremely private person, Geralt slowly started opening up to Dandelion
as they travelled together and became best friends.
Inevitably, the poet started integrating stories about the Witcher’s life into his writings,
most famously composing songs about his relationship with the Sorceress Yennefer of Vengerberg.
Tied together through the magic of genie, Geralt and Yennefer had an intense and tumultuous
relationship, falling deeply in love despite having little in common and very different
personalities.
Through his songs, the continent learned of the many tragedies which befell their relationship
and ultimately drove them apart for years.
Dandelion also wrote about Geralt’s relationship with Princess Ciri of Cintra, the daughter
of a queen who lost her family during the First Northern War only to be adopted by the
Witcher, as their fates were tied together through the Law of Surprise.
Having saved the life of Ciri’s father years earlier, Geralt was promised that which the
man had but was not expecting.
This turned out to be the pregnancy of his wife Princess Pavetta, meaning their daughter
Ciri was destined for the witcher.
In time, Ciri also met and lived with Yennefer, who became her mother, and so Dandelion wrote
about this unusual family, gaining more fame and recognition than ever before.
Frequently in trouble with the law, Dandelion worked as an informant and spy for the Redanian
secret service, while also reporting to Temeria and others whenever it proved necessary.
For a time he even left the Northern Kingdoms to live in Toussaint, where he had an affair
with Duchess Henrietta, wife to the ruler of the realm.
However, when the relationship was discovered, the poet fled for fear of his life.
During the Second Northern War, when his friend Geralt’s embarked upon a perilous journey
to find missing daughter Ciri, Dandelion insisted on becoming the first member of his company.
Soon enough they were joined by several others, with their journey taking them to Toussaint,
where Dandelion’s old connections served them well.
Fortunately for the poet, the former ruler was now dead, and Duchess Henrietta was in
command, allowing them to restart the romance from years earlier.
Treated as honoured guests, the Witcher and his friends remained for several months but
eventually set off to continue the journey.
Having attained a position of privilege and basking in the glow of his rekindled relationship,
Dandelion chose to stay behind and build a life for himself in Toussaint.
Departing, Geralt eventually saved both Ciri and Yennefer, before returning to visit Dandelion,
informing him of all that occurred since their parting, including the battle at Stygga Castle
where the rest of the company was lost.
Ironically, the Poet’s fate was almost the same, as he had a falling out with Henrietta,
who sentenced him to execution, only to change her mind at the last moment and send him into
exile.
Fleeing the realm with Geralt, the poet remained the Witcher’s closest friend, and was even
with him during a terrible pogrom in Rivia, where non-humans were targeted and massacred.
By the time Yennefer and Ciri arrived, Geralt was severely wounded and near death.
The Sorceress then collapsed as well, having spent all her energy in futile attempts to
save him with magic.
Refusing to let them die, Ciri planned to use her unique abilities to transport the
three of them to another world where they could be healed, and so said a final farewell
to their friends Dandelion and Triss Merigold.
Remembered as one of the greatest poets of the age, the work of Julian Alfred Pankratz
was compiled into the books “The Adversities of Loving” and “Time of the Moon”.
Yet perhaps his most well known writings were found in his memoir, Half a Century of poetry,
in which he recounted the incredible events of his life, dedicating large portions of
the text to his friend Geralt and their adventures together.