Guild Wars 2

Loosely based on the interactions between the Wampanoag people and the first English settlers of Massachusetts

Part 1, the Hunt

I was born in the Harathi hinterlands, north of Lion’s Arch, many decades before the destruction of the original city. It is tradition among Centaur that I tell you of the side of the story that my people deem correct, however I will be unbiased and honest of how the great Ventari came to be. He was my closest friend among our tribe, and we often spoke of the stars, mountains, and great hunting plains.
I first met Ventari at the age of seventeen, and was ready to go through the trials of our people, he was my hunt-brother. Our game was the giant brown bear of Dolyak’s Rest, who was plaguing the death-grounds of the noble Dolyaks. He and I were given five days to slay the beast.
We readied the armor given to us by our fathers, and spears fashioned by our mothers. At the tips of each were dyed Raptor feathers, one black, symbolizing the presence of death, one white, symbolizing the protection the spear might serve, and one green, for mother Tyria, to whom all life is tied. Since we were both being tested in this way, Ventari and I wore different colored armor and carried different symbols on our shields. I carried the symbol of the high sage, my father, Og’Rahn White-Spear, whilst Ventari carried the symbol of emptiness, the crest of the three waves.
As we approached Dolyak’s Rest, the bear lay sleeping in its den, unbeknownst of our presence. Since our tribe deemed it dishonorable to slay a foe who could not fight back, we awoke the bear by flinging small rocks at it. The bear awoke with an intense fury, of which only seemed capable by the Nature Goddess Tyrianos. He lunged at me, digging his large claws into my shield and tearing it off my arm. I was on the ground, knocked over by the massive strength of the creature. The bear was preparing the come in for the kill, only to stopped by the brazen shield of my hunt-brother Ventari.
“Come, Crowsbane, I cannot defeat this bear without you!” Ventari exclaimed, causing an echo in the cave.
I rose to my hooves immediately, grasping hold of my spear, Ventari and I began backing the bear into a corner. The bear looked at both of us, not sure which to attack, and this was when we struck. Our spears hit fast and true, with all the speed of the great skywinds, and the bear fell dead.
I was exhausted, and I could see that my hunt-brother was as well. On the upside however, our game was dead and we could return home. I took out the large leather rucksack and Ventari and I placed the bear in it and carried it back to our village.

Upon returning to our village, Ventari and I decided whom would take the bear’s claws and whom would take its skull. I told my hunt-brother that I would gladly take the claws and adorn a necklace, and allow him to fashion a helm out of the slain bear’s skull as he saved my life. The rest, down to the marrow, would be used to not only feed the tribe, but clothe them in the harsh winter months that lay ahead.
I placed my hand on the shoulder of my hunt-brother, and stated;
“Ventari, my friend, they will sing songs of us the whole night!”

Wow, big departure from ol’ kormak! I really enjoyed the read.

Edusd.7893:

Wow, big departure from ol’ kormak! I really enjoyed the read.

oh don’t worry, that’s still on the table.

Part 2, village life
The first to greet us, was the high sage of the region, my father. He was much taller than most Centaur and was renowned for his skill with a bow. It was told that he could shoot a sparrow fifty leagues away. I felt his strong hand on my back, and I could tell he was welcoming me back to the village as an equal. We called him Ventari of the Empty Waves, not as a way to mock, but because my father had long been unsure of the future of our people, and thought that future lay in both Ventari and I. Some of the warriors say that he is Melandru made flesh, I saw some things that made me believe this as well. After believing this himself, my father Og’Rahn adopted Ventari into our family.
My father began to speak, and soon the whole village came out of their homes to listen.
“Welcome, welcome, young Crowsbane and Ventari!” My father paused, making sure the bear carcass was with us. “Since you have passed the test that has long made our young hunters into men, I, and the rest of the village welcome you home from the hunt as equals.”
Ventari and I bowed our heads to Og’Rahn, my father. You see, Og’Rahn was the title of the high sage of this region, and this replaced the first name of the Centaur who bore it. My father’s true name was Windgallop White-Spear.
We both looked up to see my father’s face alight with joy, finally able to see his sons as full members of the village.
“Prepare a feast! Tonight, is a night to be remembered, my sons.” My father yelled, embracing both of us and motioning my mother to start the fires. “You are the leaders of the next generation, and must always remember this. Because of this, your life will be more challenging than fighting the bear in the cave.”
“We understand, father.” Ventari and I said simultaneously.
“Good. I now present you with your honorary rewards, as recognized warriors of the tribe.” He unsheathed a large greatsword, and handed it and the sheath to me. “For you, Crowsbane, the Blade of Souls, wielded by the greatest warriors of this village for generations.”
I took the blade and held it up for the whole village to see, giving a loud cheer, which was echoed by the residents of the village.
“For you, Ventari of the Empty Waves, I give you the two blades of the original High Sage of this region, Og’Rahn Blood-Seeker. May they protect you when all else fails.” After giving us our gifts, he placed his hands on both our shoulders.
Ventari held his blades high, cheering as loud as he could, I joined him and the village followed suit. My mother came out of our house and embraced both of us, and all the warriors of the village did the same.
“Come, my sons, tonight is for you. Eat heartily and enjoy yourselves!” My mother exclaimed, very happily.
My mother too, was well known around the region. She was one of the only Centaurs at the time to interact with humans and live to tell the tale. Her name was Raevan White-Spear.
I looked to Ventari, and could tell he was very weary. I slapped him slightly kitten the back and he looked to me and smiled.
“I can tell you’re tired, Ventari. No need to hide it, rest if you want.” I said to him, trying to hide my own weariness.
“Actually my brother, I was hoping to talk to you about something.” His voice was low and grim. “I’d like to share a dream I had the night before the hunt.”
In the midst of celebration, Ventari and I slipped away to the back of my house. I had a very bad feeling of what he wanted to tell me.
“The dream I spoke of seemed more like prophecy than just a dream. I saw people who looked like us, but without hooves and only two legs. They had exploding arrows that weren’t fired by bows, but by wooden planks tipped with iron. I saw the Krytan territories fall to these two-legged beings in my dream. What does it mean, Crowsbane? Why am I seeing this?” Ventari was so terrified by this, that he was trembling and I could feel his legs shake in the mud.
“What? The humans have never tried to invade us before…” I replied, unsure of what to make of what he was saying.

Part 3a, Visions

As Ventari and I were speaking, all sounds around us seemed to stop. I knew everyone was still celebrating, but I could see and hear only Ventari. The rest of the people in the village turned into faceless beings.
“Crowsbane…I need to see father, now. If we don’t tell him soon I fear I’ll never be able to. Why are you looking at me like that, brother?”
I shook my head, in an attempt to dispel the vision. Ventari placed his hands firmly on my shoulders and shook me violently.
“I-I just had a vision, I think. All the faces of the villagers turned to stone. We really need to just find father.” I said, exhaling slowly.
With that, Ventari and I were off to father’s longhouse. I could see no stars in the sky, and the skywinds were picking up. In the midst of a celebration, Ventari and I began to share a sorrowful dream and vision with the high sage.
After hearing about our experience, father took us back outside behind his longhouse.
“My sons.” Og’Rahn said, pointing up to the stars, and tracing out a contellation. “Do you see that constellation? It is the constellation Ulgoth.”
Ventari and I both looked at each other, confused.
“What’s an Ulgoth?” I asked.
Father laughed.
“It’s an ancient Centaur word, that hasn’t been used in centuries except to describe this constellation. It means he who cannot be tamed.”
“What does this have to do with our visions?” Ventari demanded.
Father paused for a moment, then spoke slowly:
“The prophecy. In times of hardship and strife, an Ulgoth will rise to defeat the oppressors, or die trying. Your visions have been seen before, by other young warriors. The visions are the gods trying to show you something. Now go, and get some rest.”
Ventari and I bowed our heads and went to our longhouse and laid down for bed.

Part 3b, interlude.

I shall now break from telling you about the story of Ventari to tell you about Centaur culture. I am sure the reader knows of the recent battle of Shaemoor, but of course they should also know that that was not the first battle of Shaemoor. Before it was a human garrison, it was the Centaur city of Skystride. The city stretched from the edge of Janthir Bay, to the lower portion of Gendarran fields. My father grew up in this city, and saw its rise and fall. Until the Human invasion of our city, Centaur knew nothing of the types of war that humans were used to. We always resolved our conflicts through negotiation and mutual respect. We were also very friendly with the western clans of Norn, and my father’s best friend growing up was the Warrior Skyjor Crowsbane, whose name I was given. The trade between our Norn friends and the Centaur went uninterrupted for over two centuries, both peoples had a deep respect for each other.
When it was obvious that there was no alternative to fighting, we Centaur prayed to the Hysminai, the spirits of fighting and combat. Our great war god Thalius was also prayed to, and many victories were given to us through his omniscience. However we made absolutely sure that the villages we attacked could go on after we left. This was something we did not see in human battles, they always wiped out their enemies.
Skystride was a place of many Centaur tribes, from Harathi to Modniir. The lord of the city was named Og’Rahn Torv’rei. Our city had a market district, a port district, a temple district, and a residential district. The main part of the city was roughly two square miles and housed over two thousand Centaur. Every Centaur house in the city was made up of stone from the nearby quarry, with ornate facades and colossal columns that held up the roof of each building. This was the peak of Centaur affluence and prosperity.
Thalius is but one of the gods my people pray to. Krevos is our god of commerce and trade, Nor’dish is our goddess of nature and fertility, and Skrii’Rosh, the lord of the Skies. All of the buildings built in the city of Skystride have the doors facing north, in honor of the great Skrii’Rosh. Despite having all these gods of our own, we still had a great respect for the goddess Melandru, whom is rumored to be the mother of the entire Centaur people.

part 4, Encounter.

Ventari and I went back to our longhouse, and laid in bed. I fell asleep first, I knew this because I began to dream. I saw a beautiful forest, a forest so serene that I thought that even in my dream-like state I was hallucinating. The trees seemed to be moving, yet not sentient, and the fauna were in perfect harmony with their surroundings. Even the predatory animals took no more than what they needed. Then my dream jumped from this beautiful forest, to the battlefields of Kryta. I was in battle, swinging my greatsword wildly, killing any humans who were in my path. I cut down great numbers of them, until I came to a new foe; a gigantic Oakheart. I knew immediately that this was no ordinary Oakheart, as it began to speak. I looked around, calling out to my brothers and sisters if they too saw the Oakheart, but none could hear nor see me.
“They know not that you are there, Crowsbane. Only I can see you now.” The Oakheart said, with a thundering voice.
I thrust my sword into the ground and bowed to the Great Tree.
“Who…are you, Great Tree?” I asked, terrified.
“I am the mother of your people, the sower of seeds.”
“Meland-”
“Silence! I came to you in this dream for a reason. Look around you, Crowsbane. One by one, your brothers and sisters are falling. Your tribe cannot hold back the storm that is Humanity.” The Great Tree’s voice grew more thunderous.
I looked up at the Oakheart, scared and confused.
“My lady, what are we to do? If we don’t fight them, we risk losing everything! Our lands, our great city, our sacred pl-”
“I will not lose my most precious creation to war!” The Great Tree yelled, with that I awoke.

I looked around for my sword and leather jerkin, and dressed myself. I stepped outside my longhouse to see my father meeting with what looked like Humans. There was but a small number of them, but I was immediately cautious. I ran full gallop to my father’s side.
“What are they doing here father?” I demanded.
He looked at me, and saw the fear in my eyes.
“Calm, son, calm. They are but homesteaders trading with us for supplies.” My father said, with a smile to reassure the humans I meant no harm.
I stayed by my father’s side to make sure that they were indeed only trading, and one of the homesteader’s small children walked over towards me.
She was speaking a language I had never heard, I could not understand at all what she was saying. I told her to back away, and she did not, as she too didn’t understand what I was saying. Then her parents called her back and she left my side. I later found out that the little girl’s name was Salma.
I could tell this was the start of something, I wasn’t sure what it meant but I knew something more would come of this.

hey readers, i may be taking time off from this as i do want this to be both factually based on settler encounters of both universes from a native perspective. i have some light research ahead, at least on the Wampanoag side. there is currently no backstory to the Centaur and Ventari’s creation of the sylvari at all, as far as the wiki says.

part 5, Skystride

After the initial meeting between my father and the human leader, father invited the humans to our city Skystride. I made it known to my father that that displeased me greatly, however Ventari was quite keen on the idea. He was more than happy to show the humans our great home. I was not, I sensed something more sinister about them, and I was taught as a youngling to trust my instincts.
“Father, is it so wise to let the humans see our city? I still don’t trust them.” I said, pacing the market square.
Og’Rahn looked at me, with an expression that seemed hopeful.
“I’m hoping to be friendly with these strangers, Crowsbane. I will teach them how to live off the land they now occupy. This is the right thing to do.” Og’Rahn replied; I then knew he planned to help the settlers wholeheartedly.
This scared me. I was not sure how to convince father of my suspicions. Did he not know of what happened with the Charr?
“Don’t you remember Ascalon father…” I said quietly.
He turned his head toward me, as if he did not hear me.
“Nothing, father. You’re right. Perhaps we should help them.”
My father has been right before so I had no reason to not trust him.
After I had cooled down, I went over and tried to talk to one of the human two-legs. The one I chose to speak to was very tall, and wore darkened steel armor. He looked to be middle aged and wise. After a few minutes of small talk, I found out why they were here.
“We’d heard rumors of-”
“How do you know our language, two-legs?” I demanded.
“I was with the Durmand Priory before I was a soldier, noble Centaur. It’s my business to know things. Anyway, your Og’Rahn tells me your name is Crowsbane. My name is Ronan, it is an honor to finally speak to you.” The two-leg held out his hand.
I looked to my father, as I was unsure what to do. Father held out his hand towards me and I understood it to be a greeting gesture and shook the human’s hand.
“The honor is mine, Ro-naaaan.” I had trouble pronouncing his name.
The two-leg smiled and smiled lightly.
“Not so much emphasis on the nan, friend.” He said chuckling softly. “So how long has this city of yours been here?”
I paused to think for a moment.
“Since the Dawn broke over the Hinterlands, roughly one thousand of your human years.”

This is such an amazing story! You are really talented!

thank you very much

more coming soon!

part 6, Friendship

“He said his name was Ronan?” Ventari asked.
“Yes, brother, Ronan. Why the sudden interest?” I replied, sternly.
Ventari pondered for a moment, and kicked at the ground lightly. He appeared lost in thought.
“Ventari? Are you with me, brother?” I asked, slapping him on the back.
“Oh..yes. His name is familiar, yet I cannot place why. I shall meet him anyway.”
I thought nothing of his comment, and went about my business. Moments later, I saw Ventari and Ronan struggling to have a conversation. Ventari asked what warriors were like amongst Ronan’s people. Ventari’s expression was somewhat troubled, possibly disturbed by what Ronan had told him.
I turned my attention to the cleaning of my greatsword, it had become slightly dull in my last sparring with Ventari. He was a very quick swordsman, but I felt no fisran-no feeling behind his blows. His mind was always elsewhere, on another task. I had no idea what this might be.
As for myself, I saw my only occupation and duty to be the protection of my people and tribe. I knew Ventari and I shared this ideal, as we would often talk about this at our table during feasts.
Before every meal, everyone seated at the table would join hands and pray.
“Melandru, we thank you for the meat provided by your son the cow, and your daughter the doe. May their souls find peace.” My father made a point to say this in the human tongue, as Ronan and his family were among our guests for the evening.
“Why do you have such large feasts so often, Og’Rahn?” Ronan asked, as if unaccustomed to sharing food.
“We Centaur believe that we must share everything we can, Ronan. These are gifts from the Goddess Melandru, and gifts are meant to be shared. Otherwise, what purpose has she to keep giving us gifts if we are to be selfish with them?” My father replied, with a somewhat raised voice.
Ronan nodded his head slightly, in agreement.
“Well, among my people all we do is fight for food and resources, since both are very scarce.”
“Are you not friendly with your neighbors? That is unheard of in our culture. I’ve known every Centaur in this room since birth.”
Ronan laughed, and everyone turned their heads toward him.
“I mean not to offend, it’s just that most people in Ascalon City never knew or bothered to know the people walking by them every day. With the recent war, we’re coming up shorter on friendship than ever before really.”
“Then let my brother and I be the first among the Centaur to call you friend.” I said, abruptly.
“Thank you Crowsbane and Ventari, I hope to return the favor.”

Keep ’em coming!!

looked all over the wiki, still can’t find a significant back story on ventari or ronan. maybe they’re just waiting for me to finish it?

part 6b, Friendship

“Tell me, Ventari. By whom were you trained in swordsmanship?” Ronan asked, taking a swig of ale.
“My brother, of course. All sons of the Og’Rahn are trained in the sword from the age of ten.”
“Yet you favor the dual sword approach and he favors the greatsword? Those are two very different styles.”
“My father always said that the path we choose as warriors is also determined by what spirits grace our birth. I am told I was born with the river and the wind, and Crowsbane was born with the spirits of honor and resilience.” Ventari exclaimed, setting his blades on the table behind him.
“I get it, you favor speed and he favors outlasting his foes.”
Ventari laughed, then slapped me roughly on the back.
“Yes, he makes the decisions that I cannot.”

part 7, War

After observing the conversation between Ronan and Ventari, I finished my meal and went to polish my blade. It hasn’t seen much action it seemed, it must have been a new sword that my father gave me. I didn’t mind this, it was torvlok, un-blooded. Sometimes I relished in the thought of being in a battle with my sword. So much sometimes that I often considered what would transpire if the two races that were meeting at my father’s table were to battle.
Ronan speaks of a city full of humans, one that I assume dwarfs the population of Skystride. This must be a number of warriors that the Centaur could never hold back were they to engage us. I turned to see my brother walking towards the smithy with a distressed expression. He looked toward me and at that instant I could tell he was thinking of the same thing.
“Brother, I fear not Ronan’s people, but those Ascalonians…from what he says they are thirsty for vengeance and for a home. What are we to do against them?” Ventari asked frantically.
“Yes, brother. The potent mix of being dishonored and forced to leave your home will do that to a people. What we must think of, is what to do when they decide to turn that vengeance against Skystride. And to think the decades it took my father to get the tribes to stop fighting each other…” I replied, perhaps not answering his question but voicing my thoughts.
Ventari paced around the smithy for a few moments whilst I continued to maintain my sword. I looked up every so often only to see that he was still pacing.
“I do not wish to fight them, Crowsbane. But I’ve been going over this in my mind since I first felt the suspicion. I see no other way. Ronan is becoming a very close friend, and I cherish this. I expect no hostilities from him or his party, but he cannot speak for the whole of the Ascalonians!” Ventari yelled, and I raced over to embrace him.
“I don’t like this as much as you, brother. But now things are set in motion that are beyond our control, all we can do is ride the current. We either peacefully abandon our lands to them, or we fight them. I favor neither option, but I will not give up the city, or the sacred hills, willingly.” I said, patting Ventari on the back, trying to hide my own fear.
Just then I heard a loud knock on the door, to see my father’s bodyguard.
“Crowsbane, Ventari, quickly. There is a human war-party on the outskirts of the city.” The guard exclaimed, then vanished into the night.
“Thalius save us…it’s started.”

part 8a, the first battle of Shaemoor

I rushed immediately to the walls of the city to see if I could count the size of the force. It was roughly two hundred humans carrying pikes and fire sticks. The guards were already at their posts, and called out to them.
“You there, two-legs! What are you doing here?” The guard demanded.
The detachment of human soldiers halted, and a rough looking roguish type stepped out from among them. He appeared to be their leader.
“I speak for these soldiers, and for now we are just passing through on the way to Cantha.” The soldier replied.
The guard knew that the human was lying.
“Cantha is nowhere near this city, nor even close to its direc-” Before the guard could finish his sentence an arrow had pierced his chest and he collapsed.
“No!” I yelled, clutching the hilt of my blade, charging full gallop out of the city gate. “Raise the alarm…I can see a horde of them across the meadow!”
I rushed back into the gates of the city, and began wildly throwing obstacles behind it to bar the path of the humans, my heart rate quickening to an almost fatal level. Then I heard my father’s rumbling voice.
“Crowsbane! Why has the alarm been sounded?! What goes on my son?” My father was just as shocked as I, his voice becoming much more thunderous.
“Father…Humans are coming. At least ten thousand!”
“Thalius preserve us! Ventari!” My father yelled, and Ventari stepped out from behind the blacksmithy. “Command the archers, Crowsbane, command the army, our entire culture is in this city, it cannot fall! Guard, bring me my sword and armor!”
My father’s attache galloped off, returning several minutes later with my mother, and my father’s greatsword and plate armor.
“Raevan! Go! You should not be here!” Og’rahn yelled at my mother.
“I am wife of the Chieftain, I will not run!” My mother exclaimed bravely.
As my father was putting on his armor, the city guard mustered behind him, and formed around the gate, in that same moment I looked overhead and saw a trebuchet shot impacted against one of the guard towers, throwing the guards inside of it, as well as the stone of the tower, in many directions, killing the guards immediately.
Then a barrage of trebuchet shots went overhead, impacting all over the city, destroying many sacred buildings, including the Temple.
“No…” I said, holding my face with my hands, tears rolling down my cheeks. “What have we done, Melandru? What?!” Then I heard the battering ram hit the door. “Hold fast, we cannot let them in before the people escape! Mother, get the people out of the city!”
She nodded at me, then I drew my sword.

(please forgive the epic thread necro!)

bump! forgive the thread necro, sudden desire to finish this!

Part 8a, Home

I was standing behind the city gate, ready for any enemy that might come through it. My hands began to hurt from how tightly I was clenching the hilt of my blade. The battering ram slammed into the gate again, and the obstacles I had thrown behind it displaced. The gate would not take another hit.
“Brothers…Sisters…when that gate falls, know that they want our land. If we don’t stop them, our families will die. Fight as one, and stay with me!” I yelled, raising my sword in the air, as the last ram hit took down the gate. I charged, and every Centaur behind me followed.
I charged out of the gate, my blade crashing against Human shields. My vanguard’s armor shone in the light of the sun, we were as Thalius’ fury made manifest. I swung my blade, cutting down five at a time, then I heard a loud crack. The smoke of fire poles could be seen a hundred years out. My vanguard’s numbers started to fall rapidly, but they did not falter.
“Brothers! Shield formation! We must fight!” I yelled, then let out a loud yell, slamming my hand against my armor.
A spear was thrown over head, it landed in the chest of a very large human and he was impaled onto another soldier behind him.
“Ventari! Now!” I waved my hands in his direction, and he nodded at me. “Focus the fire poles!” I knew if we could eliminate the fire poles we could have a chance at defending the city. I then turned back towards my portion of the battle to a sword swinging in my direction, which I blocked quickly, then elbowed the enemy soldier in the chest as he fell to the ground, then I thrust my greatsword into his chest plate.
I then looked up and saw the arrows from Ventari’s archers flying over head, most of them landing in the ranks of the fire pole users.

hello readers! I’d like to clear some things if they weren’t explained earlier. To my knowledge, there is no existing backstory to Ventari at all, which i thought might be pretty important since..an entire race owes him their existence. I have at this point in time, double checked that about …ten times now. If it is not clear, despite the story being about Ventari, Crowsbane is the main character(this will be explained later in the story.) As for the god Thalius, he is the god of Truth and Wisdom, and as for the Centaur culture itself I mostly took inspiration from the Aztecs and the Sioux(despite me saying at the beginning it was based on the wampanoag, i kind of drifted from that.). Their city Skystride, was where Shaemoor garrison is standing now, that is where the largest building in their city stood, the Temple of Thalius. Could this be why the Centaur keep coming back to Kryta?