For a while I actually thought that I had a cohesive theory about Scarlet’s intentions for people who like to read my posts. I’m a lore novice and the recent content update (10/12/2013: The Nightmare Ends) has reminded me of just that. Even now, I have doubts about some of my theories and I appreciate anyone who responds intelligently to my posts, providing me with feedback about the quality of any work I submit.
It is with this in mind that I want to submit something – an observation, nothing more. It’s about (you guessed it) the nature of portals. I’m struck by the abundance of them – they’re everywhere Scarlet is. Then I started thinking about how portals are formed. Apparently, the most infamous portals of Tyria lead into the Mists. Where exactly, I couldn’t tell you. However, I stumbled across something in my exploration of this topic. I have taken this directly from the GW1 Wiki for everyone to consider:
Using a spell of his own devising and the sacrifice of many souls, Lord Odran, a powerful arcanist who specialized in the study of temporal distortions, opened a portal that offered him access to the Mists and eventually into the Rift itself. The spirits who had given their lives to earn access to the hallowed afterlife were outraged. They turned their fury upon the intruder, attacking Lord Odran with all of their legendary, collective might. But it had been hundreds of years since most of the spirits had interacted with the physical world, and none of them had ever done so in their shadow form. As powerful as they had been in life, they could not harm the physical manifestation of the wizard lord—not yet. He was untouchable here in the land of the dead, and he traveled freely through the Hall of Heroes.
What if Scarlet has been attempting to open a portal that leads to a specific part of the Mists, in order to let something through, into Tyria. This isn’t as far fetched as it sounds. Remember that in the case of the Steam Portal, the Frost Portal, the Frozen Portal and the Eternal Portal you challenge forces to enter from wherever they come “within the Mists” to fight you. Now consider that Lord Odran did just that: He opened portals to the Mists by killing things – and not just anything, but those who “collectively” were “legendary”. Now think about the event’s surrounding Queen Jennah’s jubilee: What did you see? Legendary creatures, probably the very ones who gave their lives for Lord Odran. Moreover, you’re treated to a history lesson of Tyria’s past. Have any of you ever fought these beings outside of the Crown Pavilion? Of course not!
Now imagine that in order to open the kind of portal that Scarlet wants to open, she needs “legendary” people. So she makes a list of “legendary” individuals, including Queen Jennah, the numerous captives of the Molten Aliance, the Aetherblade targets and the sacrifices of the krait. Imagine if, by spreading “Nightmare” you are instigating a kind of sacrifice otherwise known as war. Remember that the krait are the best choice for this because they sacrifice on a regular basis. It should come as no surprise that their prophets have ascended – once the right souls are sacrificed by the krait they can open a portal and send a “prophet” through.
Now what would happen if you could bring something back?