Help me Lore Buffs: Shining Blade
I would think Anise being Shining Blade is public knowledge, as the Shining Blade would publicly be known as the queen’s guard. While its true that they protect the queen still, I think they also use that as a convenient cover for their covert operations which are more secretive. The general populace has no reason to question them being close to the queen, since they are the queen’s guard, and no reason to pay much attention since its the Seraph the commoner usually deals with. This gives them not only a cover, but also a bit more anonymity for some members.
As to how far their covert operations extend, I would say as far as they need to. Most operations undoubtedly happen within human held lands, but I would think that’s more of a result of where the queen’s interests lie. If she needed someone in Lion’s Arch, I’ve no doubt a Shining Blade operative would be used. If she needed someone in the Black Citadel? Well, a human face might not be the best covert choice there.
I think the White Mantle is still in hiding in Meguuma somewhere, though I can’t say for sure. With Asura and Sylvari around these days its probably harder to keep hidden in the jungle, but when fleeing Kryta, it seems all splinter human factions retreat into Meguuma. They set up secretive camps in the jungle to use as a base of operations and from there strike out into Kryta. The White Mantle don’t seem too terribly active at the moment though, do they?
Of course, when the White Mantle come up, the question of Mursaat always does too, and you might find it interesting to read the thread speculating about the possible current whereabouts of the few survivors from that race: https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/lore/Mursaat-in-Guild-Wars-2
Leaves and Embers - a fan written GW2 novel (complete!)
Servants of Fortuna [SoF] - We serve fortuna; may she grant us a smile.
Servants of Fortuna [SoF] - We serve fortuna; may she grant us a smile.
When it’s come to the shining blade I see them just like the way the order of whisper use to be. The whisper were established by Turai Ossa as his elite bodyguards at the same time secret organization. Since their establishment, they have been working behind the scenes of the governments of Elona, much like the way the shining blade are doing now.
The Shining Blade will investigate threats to the Queen and carry out her will beyond Kryta?
The public only know that they are the Queen Elite bodyguards but not what they do.
They are very secretive just like the order of whisper are. The public knows the names of both the order of whisper and the shining blade but do not no what they do.
The Shining Blade acts as an inteligence service as well as a bodyguard to the Queen. They appear to be the equivilant to the CIA where as the Seraph are a mix of a police force and a standing army.
Note that the Seraph seem to deal alot more with hidden threats. I would expect there members to go where ever they are needed to protect Kryta and the queen. From interacting with the Exemplars in the personal story the Shining Blade also seems to have alot of secret knowledge and information.
The Shining Blade is public knowledge as is Anise. However the Shining Blade are probably seen more as primarily bodyguards for the queen rather than a secret agency.
As for the White Mantle…
There is a very real possiblity that the White Mantle is behind the bandit problem that Kryta is currently suffering. If you visit a few of the bandit caves you might notice symbols painted on the wall. Start with the cave at the back of the graveyard outside Divinity’s Reach.
Now compare it to the White Mantle symbol on this page:
http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/White_Mantle
Interesting no? Note that although they are different they have alot of similar characteristics and a similar style. Also this symbol appears on alot of bandit camps across Kryta and even at one in the Brisbane Wildlands.
This means there is a very real possiblity that not only is the White Mantle behind the bandits but have also infiltrated the Ministry. Perhaps even the leader of the Ministry.
Apart from the White Mantle presence in Kryta there are some Seraph in the Brisbane Wildland who were sent there to search for signs of a white mantle presense.
(edited by Lutinz.6915)
As for the White Mantle…
There is a very real possiblity that the White Mantle is behind the bandit problem that Kryta is currently suffering. If you visit a few of the bandit caves you might notice symbols painted on the wall. Start with the cave at the back of the graveyard outside Divinity’s Reach.
Now compare it to the White Mantle symbol on this page:
http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/White_MantleInteresting no? Note that although they are different they have alot of similar characteristics and a similar style. Also this symbol appears on alot of bandit camps across Kryta and even at one in the Brisbane Wildlands.
This means there is a very real possiblity that not only is the White Mantle behind the bandits but have also infiltrated the Ministry. Perhaps even the leader of the Ministry.
Apart from the White Mantle presence in Kryta there are some Seraph in the Brisbane Wildland who were sent there to search for signs of a white mantle presense.
Well, in Brisban Wildlands there is
A Dynamic Event involving the ghosts of Shining Blade and White Mantle members, including GW1 Demagogue (event boss). When I found it I was like crazy because of the memories from GW1, i was a pity I was alone and the demagogue was too powerful for me alone hehe. It is in the west side, a bit hidden, but easy to find.
For the record, Shining Blade “adventure” classes use a white (with gold stripes) version of the Order of Whispers hood, probably as a placeholder.
The White Mantle fell from power 250 years ago during the War in Kryta, and were effectively wiped out along with their Mursaat masters. They are a shadow of their former selves, and while they may exist in some small manner in the present, their effectiveness is negligible.
Who the Shining Blade are and their general duty is well known. They’re known to be the royal guards as well as their personal mini-army (that is, they don’t only protect the queen). They’re like the Order of Whispers, in a way, but restricted to Kryta and in the open. What they do and why they’re in certain places may not always be what they claim though (for instance, they seemed to have perfect timing in evacuating the Great Collapse; and there are three stories about the night of it, all contradicting).
SB members are seen outside Divinity’s Reach – especially if the Queen is elsewhere. They are, for instance, in Caudecus’s Manor exploration mode.
Yes, public knows of Anise’s role.
White Mantle are behind bandit attacks. They exist in seemingly large numbers, and I personally suspect a vast majority of all bandit foes are White Mantle operatives. My suspicions is fivefold:
1) Unknown Parents storyline states the White Mantle still exist and are trying to bring down the crown, and that they are “behind” bandit attacks (though the extent is never specified).
2) All bandits seem to be trying to do the same. Some groups, such as the street rat storyline group, seem to be disillusioned (with the government) gangsters. Other groups, such as in the Noble, Commoner, and Dead Sister storylines, are being backed by powerful ministers (2 known – one having been suspected of being WM since his introduction by players).
3) Many bandits hold a shared symbol regardless of where they are ( http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/File:Bandit_emblem.jpg ) which seems to be a modified WM emblem – I’ve only seen this in Harathi Hinterlands and Queensdale atm, but didn’t get a good look at all bandit camps in Kessex or Brisban yet. Those in Harathi Hinterlands are centralized around Demetra, a holy place for HM, and furthermore there’s a blocked off path that leads straight into Caudecus’ mansion (the above suspected WM minister claimed by a bandit to be backed by – the other minister is being backed by Caudecus, or so Anise and Logan suspect).
4) On top of this, in Brisban Wildlands there’s Fort Vandal – a fort of lvl 80 champions lying near where White Mantle were last seen.
5) Queen Jennah suspects the White Mantle are in the Maguuma, specifically where… bandits are “unusually” at. She likely got this information from the Shining Blade who have been hunting them down for the past 250 years.
All this, to me, points to all organized bandits being White Mantle operatives – just less flashy.
Regardless of whether I’m right or not, DarthAcerbus is wrong. They are not wiped out. They are now a secret organization working behind the shadows. And not in a small manner nor negligible manner.
Dear ANet writers,
Stop treating GW2 as a single story. Each Season and expansion should be their own story.
Stop treating GW2 as a single story. Each Season and expansion should be their own story.
(edited by Konig Des Todes.2086)