Reflections On Scarlet
Quintessential Sylvari Female
Scarlet has been labeled a “lore breaker” but in at least one way she is quintessential Sylvari. She joins the ranks of the Pale Tree, Caithe and Faolin as an influential Sylvari female. Of course, Caithe and Faolin are the only female Sylvari firstborn (that we know of) and so their influence is almost assured. Just as importantly, each has played a major part in the development of Sylvari society. Both Caithe and Faolin contributed to the formation of the Nightmare Court (Caithe spurred Caedryn on to form the Court and Faolin, of course, was the first to turn to Nightmare) and Caithe was also instrumental in the reconciliation of the member’s of Destiny’s Edge (with a little help from the player-character). In a sense, Scarlet mirrors both Sylvari: Caithe in that she is able to unite parties traditionally known for their estrangement; Faolin in that she has rejected the Dream and chosen a path similar in many respects to the Nightmare. Who but a Sylvari could unite parties as effectively? So many other potential mediators are hampered by the history of their races. On a side note, Scarlet’s quest has led to the burgeoning of knowledge within the Dream Of Dreams – anything she has learned is now available for all Sylvari.
What Scarlet Saw
This short story purports to tell us about what Scarlet saw when she gazed into the Eternal Alchemy. But we read very little of the Eternal Alchemy – instead the story is dominated by an exchange between the Pale Tree and Scarlet. This may be important, as it suggests one of two things: 1) The Pale Tree can gaze into the Eternal Alchemy or 2) she was closely monitoring Scarlet. Although the first option is a possibility, it is more likely that the second option is correct: The Pale Tree was monitoring Scarlet. If this is the case, it suggests that Scarlet is destined to play an important role in the development of Sylvari society, with similar effects to those of Faolin and Caedryn. Again, the Pale Tree’s intervention seems to be unique – we have no other record of a direct address by the Pale Tree to one of her children without the aid of her avatar (i.e. that is not delivered in person); and again, this highlights just how unique Scarlet is and just how aware the Pale Tree is of this.
As much as the Pale Tree may have intervened in the course of Scarlet’s peering, we can probably safely assume that whatever Scarlet saw the Pale Tree also saw. This may be worthy of note, as the Pale Tree has taken little or no action against Scarlet, suggesting that whatever Scarlet thought she saw was not what she actually did see. However, given that Scarlet’s experiences have now entered the Dream Of Dreams it has introduced new dynamics that could lead to a repeat of her mistakes. Essentially, there will be more “Scarlets” to come as a result. Moreover, a part of the Eternal Alchemy may now have “spilled into” the Dream Of Dreams. It is unclear whether the Asura can actually peer into it themselves and so what little Scarlet may have seen could be of great value to them.