Located east of the Thaumanova Reactor facility is the C.L.E.A.N. station. There you will meet Rooba and her C.L.E.A.N. 5000. The C.L.E.A.N. 5000 is remarkable because, as Rooba’s Assistant states, “It’s power core is restructured with inverse pyro-negatronics”. The Assistant goes on to explain that this allows the C.L.E.A.N. 5000 to recycle thermal energy, of which there is an abundance within the Thaumanova Reactor facility.
No doubt you know the fate of the C.L.E.A.N. 5000: It cannot process the heat energy of the facility and explodes, releasing a Fire Elemental. What intrigues me about this is the possible insights it provides us with regarding the origins of another kind of mechanical (or rather cybernetic) being associated with Thaumanova: The steam creature.
From the C.L.E.A.N. 5000 we learn that containment efforts are faltering. The C.L.E.A.N. 5000 is not the only casualty so far; traveling through the facility, you will note sick Asura krewe researchers; questioning refugees, you will learn that several krewes have been wiped out. Indeed, the fear is that the meltdown at Thaumanova represents a danger for all life in Tyria and even if the Asura do find a way to contain the chaos magic, they expect to be cleaning up for years, perhaps even generations.
Now let us turn our attention to the steam creatures. In my opinion, the Thaumanova Reactor meltdown may be the catalyst for the creation of the steam creatures. At this time in Tyria – that is, the present – it is clear that the technology to effectively contain the contaminant has not been developed. Rooba has come up with an idea – thermal energy recycling, or more specifically, what is the equivalent of a change from heat energy to energy. For all intents and purposes her C.L.E.A.N. 5000 seems to be a giant thermal battery. But Rooba doesn’t have the answer – yet. Indeed, she may never have the answer. Furthermore, the nature of the catastrophe demands the development of technology capable of not only containing the contaminant, but also surviving it. Biological lifeforms are quickly poisoned, predicted to mutate, and will probably eventually die when exposed to the chaos contaminant. The golems are not poisoned, but then again they can’t handle the thermal energy of the facility anyway. Rooba’s assistant states that “most golem functions generate heat” and the nature of golems suggests that they may rely on air cooling. But in the harsh conditions of the facility, regardless of how you cool your golem, it will eventually explode. What is needed is some way of directly counteracting the thermal energy of the facility.
As it stands, the thermal dynamics of the facility are intriguing. For as much as one area of the complex is exothermic, another is endothermic. Theoretically, therefore, right now the golems could comfortably venture into the arctic zone of the facility and proceed with some kind of clean-up. But the arctic region doesn’t seem to be the focus of the Asura krewe’s efforts. This exertion is directed at the “fire” zone. Focusing on the nature of these zones should be the (at least passing) passion of every lore-enthusiast considering what the Thaumanova Reactor meltdown means for Tyria’s future. Consider, for example, the nature of the creatures that you find in the facility itself: They loosely fall into one of three categories relating to the ambient temperature of their environment:
C.L.E.A.N. 5000
Hot
Fire Imp
Fire Elemental
Earth Elemental
Tar Elemental
Temperate
Minotaur
Wolf
Rock dog
Drakes
Earth Elemental
Hawkeye Griffon
Freshwater Crab
Hermit Crab
Breeze Rider
Jungle Skelk
Reef Skelk
Cold
Ice Imp
Alpine Minotaur
Wolf
Polar Bear
Ice Elemental
Earth Elemental
Arctic Crab
This is very important, because the creatures presented in the table above may be the best suited to surviving the effects of the reactor explosion. In particular, note that many of the creatures falling into the temperate climate category have access to water, which allows them to more effectively regulate their body temperature (think of the most obvious examples: Drakes and Crabs).
Given that the “fire” section of the facility is the most volatile, it follows that the most likely danger that the contaminant poses for life in Tyria is not only the possibility of the magical equivalent of “genetic mutation” but also global warming. To counter this, you need to create something capable of retaining it’s genetic integrity and also surviving Tyria’s first “nuclear winter” (I use this expression with some hesitation because we’re talking about magic here but this is probably the best way to succinctly describe what will probably come to pass.) The best way to do so is by modifying organic beings in such a way that even if they naturally existed in hot regions they can survive in cold regions too and vice versa. So comes our steam creature. Moreover, if golems do not mutate when exposed for prolonged durations to the contaminant, it follows that a robotic or even cybernetic being is better suited to withstanding the mutating effects of chaos magic.
The Infinity Ball
The story behind the infinity ball is not something that I want to examine in too greater detail. Suffice to say that the portals opened by the ball present further insights into our potential futures. A total of four (?) portals open. Through them come three kinds of creature: 1) Steam creatures, 2) Destroyers, 3) Asura. It is debatable whether they all come from the same potential future, or other potential futures, or whatever (what seems reasonably certain, however, is that in any case the Thaumanova explosion has taken place). Regardless, what is of note is that we see no “wildlife” – what I mean by this is creatures such as wolves, bears etc etc. Moreover, the creatures we observe are all associated with withstanding heat (and on a lesser note, chaos magic) – with one exception, the Asura: Destroyers, understandably, are possibly the best suited to withstanding heat, given that they dwell naturally beneath the surface in the boiling depths. Steam creatures also, with their advanced water-cooling systems, can also withstand heat and moreover can survive in the presence of chaos magic without mutation. But the Asura, it seems, cannot. However, right now, in the C.L.E.A.N. station, an engineer named Walla is developing hazmat suits for Asura krewe members which will probably allow them not only to withstand chaos magic but also increased ambient temperatures. Furthermore, the Asura were once a subterranean race and as such have one of the best chances of surviving a nuclear winter. Indeed, if we were to determine the likelihood of survival of the various races, the foremost contenders for survival would be: Asura, Skritt, skelk, Dredge, Dwarves (if there are any), Norn, Ogres – in short, subterranean, arctic and alpine dwellers, all who are capable of retreating to regions of Tyria that are cooler.
Theory: Elementals and steam
I have previously outlined that the elementals routinely seen within the Thaumanova facility may hold the key to the salvation of Tyria’s wildlife. The magic behind at least two of the elementals can counteract itself (consider the effect of merging an ice elemental with a fire elemental, for instance). If correctly combined, this magic could allow for the development of the real-life equivalent of an air-conditioning system for organics. However, it may be that tar elementals and earth elementals also play a part in the development of this “magitech”. Certainly, elementals are amongst the most primitive of life forms in Tyria with the added advantage of being exceptionally hardy. Earth elementals in particular can survive in very inhospitable climates. Providing an earth elemental with a water-based thermal regulation system would allow it not only to venture into the frozen wastes without freezing, but also the boiling depths without melting.
Can I ask where exactly you got the information that tells us “elementals are amongst the most primitive of life forms in Tyria” because I’m quite certain that is false.
Gw1 wiki: “Elementals are creatures associated with one of four elements (earth, water, air or fire) or with ether. Some manifest due to an imbalance in nature or extreme amounts of magic, whereas others are created by other creatures. The main exception to this are Djinn, which are implied to be souls bound to the elements.”
Gw2 wiki: “Elementals are creatures who are composed of various elements. Some are naturally formed over time, seemingly due to magical concentrations, while others can be animated by spellcasters. They can be found throughout Tyria.”
It is worth noting that the GW1 wiki makes reference (not quoted above) to elementals being vulnerable to elementals of the opposite element – so you would have a very difficult time fusing an ice and fire elemental together. Not to mention that this may be entirely outside the realm of possibility for an elemental – they are after all ELEMENTals. By fusing two together they would cease to be of a particular element, and given that they quite possibly responses to natural imbalances it would seem odd if they could be forced to become unnaturally occurring beings..
Hi FlamingFoxx,
I appreciate your feedback. I am merely speculating and did not consult any authoritarian source when forming my opinion that elementals are amongst the most primitive of life forms in Tyria.