Origin of Ozzy Thorn's powers

Origin of Ozzy Thorn's powers

in Lore

Posted by: BuddhaKeks.4857

BuddhaKeks.4857

While I would love to discuss things from the HoT storyline I think that should wait until most of us have played it, so we don’t spoiler each other. So why not talk about the other event going on right now?

Being fascinated with the Mad King, I thought a lot about his powers. They seem to be beyond anything any other ghost can do. Except one group, the Envoys. Both can kill and revive mortals with a wave of their hands. Envoys furthermore have the prominent ability to turn invisible to the naked eye, something Thorn hasn’t shown, but seeing he is a rather flashy persona, he might just hasen’t used it yet. On top of that Thorn can teleport, a skill Shiro seemed to have too during the Sunjang District mission.
So what sets Thorn apart from an Envoy? Well their job obviously. Thorn doesn’t seem to be in the business of sheperding souls. He doesn’t have any function aside from returning once a year for Mad King’s Day.
But he has one more thing in common with Envoys. Being an Envoy is a punishment for heinous crimes that a mortal comitted during his life time. And honestly compared to Thorn, Shiro’s exploits seem like a misdemeanor. So why wasn’t Thorn punished? Maybe because he isn’t Canthan? Afterall the Envoys so far have only appeared in a Canthan context and the only confirmed birthplace for one of the Envoys is Cantha. However atleast Messenger Vetaura looks decisively un-canthan. And why would such a global job of sheperding souls only be entrusted to former canthans?

So here comes my theory: After Thorn’s death he actually was enlisted into the ranks of the Envoys. However he proved to be too uncontrollable and was quickly stripped oh his position and banished to a part of the underworld which he would remodel into his Mad Realm. The question is, why would he keep his Envoy powers? Well Shiro kept his powers too, even though the other Envoys (and by that probably Grenth too) knew about his betrayal. That’s why I think that once you’ve been granted Envoy powers it’s either very hard or even impossible to get them taken away again.

This would explain Thorn’s extraordinary powers and why he seemingly wasn’t punished for his crimes in afterlife. I realize that this Halloween didn’t bring anything new to this topic, in fact the same theory could have been made several years ago and probably was. So if I just parroted someone else’s work I apologize.

You don’t win friends with salad! Sorry I just got caught up in the rhythm.

Origin of Ozzy Thorn's powers

in Lore

Posted by: smekras.8203

smekras.8203

At first glance it seems like a solid theory. Mind you, I’d normally be busy with HoT stuff like the rest, but I am stuck in my hometown for the next few days, with a six year old netbook that wouldn’t even be able to handle the launcher of the game, let alone GW2 itself.

Anyway, personal rant aside, I am sure more people will hop in onto this to either debunk or support the theory. Once they’re done trick or treating mordrem, that is…

Server: Kaineng | Guild: Blackflame Legion [BFL]
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Origin of Ozzy Thorn's powers

in Lore

Posted by: Konig Des Todes.2086

Konig Des Todes.2086

Major issue with your theory is that Envoys are purely from Cantha. Per An Empire Divided it is the Oracle of the Mists – a title given to one of (if not the) most powerful Canthan Ritualist(s) – who decides who becomes an Envoy.

Thorn never had any interaction with Cantha in his lifetime or after. I don’t see why they would want one as someone to help shepard the Canthan dead. (Note: the Envoys is why there’s next to no lost souls in Cantha but there are plenty in Tyria and Elona).

Second major issue is that, per the scavenger hunt of 2012, Thorn was very powerful in life just as much as in death. This was why they chopped his body into several pieces, sealed each piece in a different box, and scattered them across Tyria. They feared his already existent power allowing him to return to life.

Dear ANet writers,
Stop treating GW2 as a single story. Each Season and expansion should be their own story.

Origin of Ozzy Thorn's powers

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Posted by: BuddhaKeks.4857

BuddhaKeks.4857

Well my thinking was, being an Oracle of the Mists, he probably has powers that go beyond the physical limitations of his continent. In other words the Oracle could potentially be able to judge people in general not just Canthans. Now as I said before the only Envoy whose origin we know for certain is canthan, but “An Empire Divided” never explicitly says that only Canthans become Envoys. All it says is that the task is given by the Oracle, which is admittedly Canthan, but also connected to the Mists.
However I know this theory hinges on the fact that Messenger Vetaura doesn’t look canthan. This doesn’t necessarily mean he isn’t, he could be an immigrant or being an Envoy just changed his appearence, after all I doubt Courir Torivos was born with an bull head.

On the Thorn being powerful in his life point: Yes I know, but that doesn’t mean he necessarily got his powers from that. After all Shiro was powerful in life too, after absorbing Dwayna’s blessing. At the same time ghosts of other powerful people don’t show abilities of that degree (Turai Ossa, some of the heroes from the Tahnnakai temple or even his son Edrick).
I get that Thorn was powerful in life, but if his power in afterlife is any indication than it’s surprising that a mere horde of peasants could kill him.

You don’t win friends with salad! Sorry I just got caught up in the rhythm.

Origin of Ozzy Thorn's powers

in Lore

Posted by: Konig Des Todes.2086

Konig Des Todes.2086

Well my thinking was, being an Oracle of the Mists, he probably has powers that go beyond the physical limitations of his continent. In other words the Oracle could potentially be able to judge people in general not just Canthans. Now as I said before the only Envoy whose origin we know for certain is canthan, but “An Empire Divided” never explicitly says that only Canthans become Envoys. All it says is that the task is given by the Oracle, which is admittedly Canthan, but also connected to the Mists.
However I know this theory hinges on the fact that Messenger Vetaura doesn’t look canthan. This doesn’t necessarily mean he isn’t, he could be an immigrant or being an Envoy just changed his appearence, after all I doubt Courir Torivos was born with an bull head.

Two things:

Firstly, there’s also the fact that envoys are never mentioned in any form outside of Cantha.

And secondly, regarding Vetaura, we know that some Luxons and Kurzicks don’t appear Canthan, and we know that you don’t necessarily have to be of Canthan descent to perform terrible crimes in Cantha and die in Cantha.

On the Thorn being powerful in his life point: Yes I know, but that doesn’t mean he necessarily got his powers from that. After all Shiro was powerful in life too, after absorbing Dwayna’s blessing. At the same time ghosts of other powerful people don’t show abilities of that degree (Turai Ossa, some of the heroes from the Tahnnakai temple or even his son Edrick).
I get that Thorn was powerful in life, but if his power in afterlife is any indication than it’s surprising that a mere horde of peasants could kill him.

Shiro’s power in life was mostly prowess as an assassin – nothing magical or spiritual to it – until the day of the Jade Wind where he stole magic from Angsiyan which was in turn blessed to the emperor from Dwayna (as you mention). Thorn, however, was powerful throughout the latter portions of his life in magical means – unlike Shiro – and there is no indication of him getting a boost after death – unlike Shiro.

Turai was also not powerful in a magical sense, but physical and in terms of leadership/wits.

As for a “mere horde of peasants” killing him… going off of the attitude presented of Oswald in the 2013 short story (which seems to be depicted on the night of his death), it seemed that he simply didn’t care about whether or not he lived. Perhaps he did have magic that could bring him back, and simply got caught off-guard by the peasants sealing and scattering his body.

Dear ANet writers,
Stop treating GW2 as a single story. Each Season and expansion should be their own story.