Guild Wars 2

“Anyone can hold a weapon and wave it around. What interests me more, is the story behind it.” ~ ???

Greetings hero. Perhaps you were looking for a story? Maybe a drink? Well you’ve come to the right place. I’ve got plenty of tales.

1329 AE

No. X [IV] “A reminder for (from the) unity (Pact).”

“Never forget the importance of setting differences aside and coming together. That is the foundation for achieving the impossible.”

Theme and Design:

• Tyria is without a doubt a treacherous and unforgiving place to live in. Yet in light of the threats the elder dragons and magical instability pose, heroes small and large came together to fight for Tyria. A central theme around Guild Wars 2 is setting aside differences and coming together to overcome impossible odds. Without accepting the different cultures and traditions of each race and order, Tyria would have been annihilated. It took a while but I finally settled on one name that represented this theme. I would like to think that this weapon is a reminder to Tyria that only by throwing away prejudices and animosity, can the unattainable be achieved.

• I really liked using the pact as a symbol of the sword. It’s the greatest symbol of unification and teamwork in Tyria. Three orders with vastly different ideals and methods amalgamating for the greater good. Managing to defeat the Undead Dragon. Defeating Scarlet Briar. But also not without flaws. When Modremoth attacked, many Sylvari turned into Mordrem. Friends and allies turned against one another. Trust and faith were put to the test, and the fate of the world seemed grim. The pact managed to pull through with the help of heroes, and Tyria was reminded that division and prejudices only lead to ruin. The pact was an example of this, and it seemed fitting to design a weapon around this.

• I numbered this sword number X [IV] because it took me 4 times to finally get the shape and length correct. The cross in the middle represents the “4” in the New Krytan alphabet. The draw animation is a bit difficult to explain. When the sword is drawn, a burst of blue energy is released along with spirit projections of pact heroes. They then fly into the model of the player creating a energized blue presence. Initially no inscriptions show on the blade of the sword when sheathed. But drawn into combat, the blade reveals the full inscription hidden on the blade of the sword. Additionally when the sword is sheathed, the sword is stowed sideways on the back of the character.

Side Thoughts:

• The goal for me was to try and make a weapon the player could form a real connection with. A sword with a story to tell was what came to my mind as a basis for creation. I did my best to write a short story in the bottom if you’re interested in reading it to get some backstory. It would be cool if the sword gave a small 10% or 15% buff to damage done to Elder Dragon archetype enemies. Similar to the buffs from the peaches in Lake Doric or the buffs from the Silverwastes based off of the story.

• I guess you could say this is a sendoff from the pact. since the player refuses the position of pact commander and decides to form Dragon’s Watch. A reminder about the importance and journey the hero had with pact as commander. The player wouldn’t be the same without the pact.

Short Story: Never Alone (In Progress)

Ruined Battlefield

“What’s this? A sword? The blade looks shattered and the hilt looks smashed. Doesn’t look like one of the standard pact issue models either. This definitely has seen better days. It doesn’t look like it will be of any use… the salvage team should take care of it. (If you examine the the remains a 4th time.) On a second thought, I”ll pick up the pieces. It seems impractical to just leave this here. I also have this strange feeling that this sword is … calling to me.

Beigarth’s Forge

Bang Clink BONK Bang Bang

Beigarth: "Ouch. I knew I should have cleaned this place up. What do you want, Hero?

“Beigarth, could you take a look this ?”

Beigarth: “Nothing special I can see here. Looks like it’s in bad condition, metal looks absolutely terrible. It isn’t even deldrimor steel. Took a hell of a beating from fighting SOMETHING from what I can see.” Beigarth examines the blade of the sword. “Wait a second… this looks like one of those experimental pact weapon models during the assault on Zhaitan. Sadly, I wasn’t part of the project so I only know what others have told me about it.”

“Prototype Sword? I haven’t heard of this. That certainly would help with the war against the Elder Dragons.”

Beigarth: “Initially the test was to harness the power of the blue orb stationed in Fort Trinity to forge a weapon with the capabilities to ward off energies of elder dragons. You can see here the small orb on the top faintly gives off the energies of the Fort Trinity orb. Almost all of those were decommissioned because the weapons never actually provided the proper functionality in battle. It’s even more peculiar that a pact soldier would have this over a standard issue weapon. Take the remains to Fort Trinity. The pact smiths there should know more about it.”

-Player Leaves-

Beigarth: (Mutters to himself) I hate to admit it . . . but that craftsmanship is something else entirely. What on Tyria did they make?

Fort Trinity Pact Base

Smith: “GET ME THE PLANS FOR THE DIFFUSION ARCHIVE CORE. Ack-WATCH WHERE YOU’RE GOING.”

“Whoa there, calm down. Are you okay?”

Smith: “I’ve crashed into more than one person in my day. What do you want kid, I don’t have all day.”

“A pact smith told me you could explain what this is."

Smith: “T-This is. . . I never thought I’d see this again.”

“Is it that much of a surprise to see this? Didn’t you weapon experts test this type of stuff already?”

Smith: “Yes we did. But this particular one was a special case. This is the only model that successfully integrated the protective energies of the blue orb. All other tests resulted in failures, and in many cases, explosions! We know the exact reason. Weaponsmith’s numbered it X [IV] since it was the fourth one we forged. Even though the repulsive energies were successfully integrated, the sword never displayed the same functionality we had hoped in combat. Elder Dragon type enemies don’t seem to be affected one bit. No matter what we tried, the sword remained dormant. In the end we gave up and put in storage. Preparation for the assault on Modremoth forced us to abandon the experimentation. I remember theorizing maybe -it- was waiting for a hero who shared the same ideals. It’s one of the reasons we never chose an actual name for it I can’t imagine a weapon choosing its owner though. A weapon having sentience? Silly, really.”

“Could you do me a favor? Put the pieces back together so I lay it alongside the pact soldiers who lost their lives fighting. At least this way I can have some peace of mind.”

Smith: “Impossible to restore to its original state. I can use what’s here to fuse the sheathe and the broken pieces of the sword together. But that’s all I can do. I hope you find that satisfactory.”

“I suppose that will suffice. It seems I have one last duty before leaving the pact.”

On a hill with the graves of nameless pact soldiers

“It’s never easy remembering the sacrifices you’ve all made. Sometimes I wonder if the choices I’ve made are right ones.” A mysterious breeze passes the hill. “Trahearne . . . Apatia . . .Ton . . . nameless soldiers… thank you for all you’ve done. It was an honor fighting with all of you. Reminiscing about what we’ve accomplished in this short amount of time with the pact gives me the strength to continue fighting. I hope to see you all in the beyond when my journey is done.” -Transfixes the sword into the ground- “Rest with them.” Moments pass in silence. An army of destroyers break through from the ground. They start to move towards the hero.

“Give me a break, at a time like this? There’s too many. I can’t fight through all of them alone.” A blue flame engulfs the sword and covers it in luminous mist. “What the-?”

???: “Not alone.”

Swirling blue energies blast outward from No. X [IV] “Solidarity”, forcing enemies back. The player grabs the hilt, the sword begins to change shape. Inscriptions on 4 ignite. “Never Alone” written in New Krytan is revealed. Ghostly forms of pact members manifest with weapons drawn.

Tybalt Leftpaw: Do you have any apples for me?

Forgal Kernsson: Good seeing you, kid.

Sieran: It is not your time yet.

Trahearne: Good seeing you commander.

(Imagine pact members who died here saying something. Every one of them. I can’t remember them all so it’s up to you to imagine it.)

???: “I have been waiting a long time for someone like you to appear. You have the power to bring people together, even when hope is nearly lost. Never forget what you have done with pact.”

The mist engulfing the sword dissipates and the symbol of the pact is revealing new krytan. A X is seared on shaft.

???: “Number Four, Solidarity. That is my name. A reminder for (from the) unity (Pact).”

[Together]: “Commander, you are never truly alone. We will always be with you. No matter what journey you move on to next.”

The player takes a bold stance, the pact spirits take a similar stance. The player smiles.

“Of course. How could I forget.”

Pact Spirits: “One last time?”

“Thanks for reminding me… Lets do this.”

[This is where your imagination takes over]

Fort Trinity Pact Base (Afterwards)

Smith: “Now where are those plans for the diffusion core. I could have sworn I put them over there…”

1329 AE

No. ⁷ “An archive for the future.” (In Progress)

“What the hell is it for?”

Man those are some wicked swords, very well done.

This is superb. I’d even go through the grind of PvE again to craft it!

Short Story: Fiery Spirit, Cleansing Aria

“A sword to ignite the soul, and a sheathe to calm it.”

Lion’s Arch Tavern

-Hero returns from a long day-

“Bartender, give me 3 ales and some food. I’m hungry as hero can be.”

-A suspicious old man approaches with something wrapped in cloth-

“Do you need something?”

Suspicious Old Man: “I’d like to share a story, if you’d like.”

“I have nothing else to do. My ears are yours.”

Suspicious Old Man: “Thousands of years ago, there were two twin gods born formed from the mists who lived on an island. Both of them guided and protected various humans for centuries. Moeru, the brother, was a powerful soldier with fiery spirit. Karumi, the sister, was a graceful scholar with a calm heart. Sometimes-”

The suspicious old man pauses all of a sudden and stares into the distance.

“Old man. You alright?”

Suspicious Old Man: “Oh! Apologies, I said something I shouldn’t have. Let me continue with the story.”

Suspicious Old Man: “For a time, there was peace. Humans and god lived in harmony with each other. It did not last. A vengeful 7- headed creature suddenly appeared that cracked the sky and split the earth. With it came many evils and plagues that spread through the island killing anything in its path. The two gods intervened. Both confronted the creature before any harm could be done. Moeru fought with the creature up front with his blazing spirit, while Karumi shielded his brother using her purifying aria.”

“What type of creature is more powerful than gods? Just thinking about it gives me shivers down my spine. Interesting. I’m intrigued.”

Suspicious Old Man: "In the end, the 7-heads of the creature were too much for the twin gods to handle. Exhausted, Moeru collapsed from the corruption the creature spewed over the six long days. Just as Moeru was about to killed, Karumi sacrificed herself to transform into a watery sheath that shielded and cleansed her brother. Renewed, Moeru once again ignited his burning spirit to incinerate the 7 heads of the creature. Even that was not enough. The flames could not burn through the endless sin the creature discharged. The creature once against weakened Moeru and prepared for the killing blow. At the last moment, Karumi’s Sheath once again shielded Moeru from death. Even in death, his sister would protect him. Moeru was corrupted and cleansed 6 times before incinerating the 7-headed creature and himself nothingness. All that was left behind by the twin gods after the battle were a sword and a sheath. The sword ignite the spirit, and a sheath to purify and cleanse the fire. "

“Hm… So the 7-headed creature was a manifestation of conflict and sin left behind from conflict.”

Suspicious Old Man: “A good observation. Destruction and malice always has consequences. The sword and sheathe Moeru and Karumi left behind serves as a reminder to that. The 7-headed creature always returned every few centuries to terrorise the world. It will always exist as long as there is strife and immorality.”

“…”

Suspicious Old Man: “I know what you’re thinking. If the creature always returns, why isn’t it constantly terrorising the world? The reason is because a hero would always appear to wield Moeru and Karumi. One who had both a fiery spirit and a cleansing aria. Each time the 7-headed creature appears, without fail, so did someone who could burn and cleanse it away. Sometimes I wonder why they sacrificed themselves to save us. They could have just left off to the mists.”

“They probably saw something in us, what we can become. Even with all the conflict and destruction, I believe there is light at the end of the tunnel. Perhaps that’s why I’m still fighting. I’d like to believe that. Perhaps their sacrifice is lesson for everyone.”

Suspicious Old Man: “(Quietly)You have it. I see it in your burning spirit and cleansing aria.”

“Did you say something?”

Suspicious Old Man:“Thank you for listening to an old man ramble. I’d like you to have this. Something that has been passed down for generations.”

“Old man, you don’t have to give me anything. The story was enough for me. I’ve learned much.”

Suspicious Old Man: “I insist.”

The old man hands over a ceremonial cloth with something wrapped inside.

“Old man thank you but-”

The old man is nowhere to be seen.

“Where the heck did he go? What is this?”

The hero unwraps the cloth to reveal a sword and sheathe

“Is this?”

1329 AE

No. 6 [VI] “Fiery Spirit, Calming Aria”

“A flame to kindle the heart, and water to calm it.”

Theme and Design:

• This is primarily influenced by Canthan cultures and traditions. I tried my best to create a interesting duality incorporated with the great sword. In the end I decided to use Fire and Water because I could use it as a interesting theme. Fire to go out and fight (war), and water while doing nothing (peace.).

• Again, I wrote a short story providing a little bit of backstory if you’d like to read it. Just imagine that the hero is your character.

Side Thoughts:

• Initially when I was trying to think of an idee, I only drew Karumi’s water style blade. It hit me that I should include her brother to make a dual effect. So I added Moeru to the blade on the bottom to make “Twin”. I had to change the story from the start, but it was worth it.

• It would be really interesting if when sheathed, the player gets a watery and calm [flowing] effect with Karumi. When drawn, a fiery and “White Flame” type effect with Moeru. Adding buffs (“Cosmetic Buffs”) when sheathed “Calming Aria”, and “Fiery Spirit” respectively. Maybe a little description such as “Karumi’s Sheathe soothes your Spirit.” and “Moeru Sword ignites your fiery Spirit.”

• [spoiler] – Moeru means “fiery”, Karumi means “calming/soothing”. In old canthan, the words are “fire brother” and “water sister”. [spoiler]

Draft

Short Story: Solace