Guild Wars 2

I’m not familiar with Guild Wars lore. I just read in the wiki that Norn can live to be 120 and retain their health and strength for much of that time, but I was taken aback during the Norn story when Eir was called an “old lady” by an NPC enemy that appeared to be twice her age. Does anybody know the intended age of the major characters in the Guild Wars canon? Logan Thackeray is another character model from the Destiny’s Edge members that looks like he’s still in his twenties, but the back-stories of these characters reads like they should be in their middle ages with half a life of regrets.

the only one we know for sure is Caithe, who is 25yrs old

I just assumed it was the ageism that is present through all of Guild Wars 2.
Humans all look like children or young supermodels. Age isn’t an option. Same goes for the Norn females. There seems to be an “old women are ugly and socially unpopular, therefore they cannot exist” mentality going on, and it bugs me.

on the other hand male norn npcseem to be ugly most of the time

It would seem that a Norn’s outward appearance does not reflect their age in the way it does humans. In any case, Eir is very much in the latter stages of her life during Guild Wars II, having already created a sizable legend for herself.

Terazeal.1976:

It would seem that a Norn’s outward appearance does not reflect their age in the way it does humans. In any case, Eir is very much in the latter stages of her life during Guild Wars II, having already created a sizable legend for herself.

That would be a much easier explanation to swallow if several of the Norn male faces didn’t have age-lined, weathered appearances. The male enemy NPC I was referring to (Vidkun, I think) appeared to have aged well beyond Eir herself, and yet he scoffs at her challenge like she’s far too old to be a physical threat.

The Norn women are like asian women. They look great until they get around 60-70 and then the suddenly (BAM!) turn into shrunken old crones full of ancient wisdom. Fact.

:p

I’m pretty sure norn live much more than humans and charr.

bpphantom.8243:

The Norn women are like asian women. They look great until they get around 60-70 and then the suddenly (BAM!) turn into shrunken old crones full of ancient wisdom. Fact.

:p

hahahah this reply made my day. i second this.

I’ll tell you this much, she’s one hot NILF.

Its an insult. Eir probably isn’t that old, but implying that she’s beyond her use and years is a really nasty jibe for a Norn. She shrugs it off or perhaps accepts it as she’s got some big guilt trip going on, but I get the feeling that any other Norn woman would have probably challenged the accuser to prove that she’s anything but old and past her best.

Bonzoso.7014:

Terazeal.1976:

It would seem that a Norn’s outward appearance does not reflect their age in the way it does humans. In any case, Eir is very much in the latter stages of her life during Guild Wars II, having already created a sizable legend for herself.

That would be a much easier explanation to swallow if several of the Norn male faces didn’t have age-lined, weathered appearances. The male enemy NPC I was referring to (Vidkun, I think) appeared to have aged well beyond Eir herself, and yet he scoffs at her challenge like she’s far too old to be a physical threat.

Maybe it works a bit like the elves in Lord of the Rings who don’t actually age after they’ve reached adulthood but (if I remember correctly) traumatic or stressful experiences can make them look older by human standards.

Alternatively ageism is used as an insult. Whenever my husbands gran is annoyed with one of her neighbours she calls them a “stupid old lady” even though some of them are almost 20 years younger than she is! (And at the other extreme whenever someone wants to dismiss a persons opinion online they call them a teenager, because obviously you don’t gain any life experience at all until you’re 20, or rather about 3 years younger than the person insulting you.)

With Eir it was probably a particularly effective insult because she seems to be having some issues with her age, or at least feeling like she’s achieved everything she’s going to in her life.