Guild Wars 2

During the summit held at the Pale Tree in the LS episode “The Dragon’s Reach Pt 2”, you can eavesdrop on a conversation between Anise (who is disguised as a sylvari, which in itself is highly suspicious) and Canach:

Countess Anise: I think you overestimate the value of being first. A windfallen fruit has never appealed to me as much as one left on the bough to ripen.
Canach: You do keep those blades of yours keen, Countess.
Countess Anise: Forgive my meddling, petal. It’s just that I see such potential in you.
Canach: Petal? I fear you’ve only employed me in order to sharpen your wit–or work on your plant puns. Why not prove me wrong and tell me your true purpose?
Countess Anise: All in good time.
Canach: Do you treat everyone you encounter like children?
Countess Anise: (laugh) You are a delicate flower, aren’t you? So easily bruised…
Canach: I have a thick skin. I also learn from my missteps. For example, you fooled me once with your illusions, so now I wonder if you’re truly as young as–
Countess Anise: Do not finish that sentence. Not here, not ever.
Canach: At least, a substantial response.
Countess Anise: Yes, well. You would be wise to remember your place and check that tongue of yours.
Canach: When will you tell me why you brought me here?
Countess Anise: I’m trying to decide if I can trust you out in the field. I mean, after that nasty business on Southsun. Tsk.
Canach: Regardless of what you may believe, I was trying to free those refugees from the Consortium’s exploitation.
Canach: I went about it…poorly. Criminally. And I answered for my crimes.
Countess Anise: Your intentions in that affair, whether noble or not, aren’t what concern me. It’s your failure to evade capture.
Canach: I beg your pardon?
Countess Anise: Noble intentions don’t interest me. What I need is a sharp instrument. A knife that can be employed before anyone realizes it’s struck.
Canach: Show me where to cut, Countess, and I will be your blade.

and then after the fight with the Shadow of the Dragon:

Countess Anise: Very well, Canach. Playtime is over and you’ve passed your audition. You’re to go with them.
Canach: Why?
Countess Anise: I want you to learn what you can about the Pact’s plans. Follow them to their staging area.
Countess Anise: I need someone there I know can get the job done, and I believe you may be that someone.
Canach: I shall prove you correct. Until we meet again.

Any theories on what she’s up to? Any guesses at how old she really is? And if she can disguise herself as a sylvari, how can we really be certain that it was actually Caithe that stole the egg?

Generally, I don’t trust Anise. I’m willing to believe that she puts the Queen’s welfare above everything else, but ever since she pointedly left Logan out of planning the Queen’s protection while planning her jubilee celebration, I’ve wondered if she might be too paranoid to be dependable, at least for everyone who isn’t the Queen. It’s one thing to avoid leaks, but it’s another to keep relevant, proven people (Logan, the captain of the Seraph in Divinity’s Reach) in the dark. She’s good at what she does, sure, but one person can only be so good.

As for her age, I don’t think it’s anything outlandish, if possibly older than she appears. I’ve heard suggestions that she’s Livia from GW1, but I’m skeptical, mostly because the switch from powerful necromancer to powerful mesmer seems very clumsy as a narrative. It seems unlike that she’d be a focused necromancer up for ~180 years, until her last appearance in 1256AE, and then spend the next ~60 years (Jennah’s coronation was in 1316AE) learning mesmer magic and relying on that instead.

(It does fit her high position within the Shining Blade, though.)

I figure it was really Caithe who stole the egg, though. Caithe’s been on my watchlist since it became clear she wasn’t being upfront with us during the Aetherpath, and there’s little good reason for Anise to disguise herself or Canach as Caithe to steal the egg, since they’d either have to kill/capture Caithe herself, or risk her popping up again.

I agree with you that it’s more likely that it really is Caithe, since we’ve dealt with flashbacks related to her past. It would make little sense at this point for it to not be her.
As for Anise, I guess we will see in due time what she is up to with Canach and whether she is a friend or foe.

Also, maybe Anise is really Lys or Ilya in disguise! Wouldn’t THAT be a bombshell.

Anise is a spy for a higher power not related to the dragons I think.

SheiyeSai.6037:

Also, maybe Anise is really Lys or Ilya in disguise! Wouldn’t THAT be a bombshell.

I think one of the gods in disguise would have drawn the dragons by now as that would be an awful lot of magic on Tyria that isn’t meant to be there naturally. The gods are gone, it isn’t safe for them here.

They aren’t gods, they’re aliens. They come from another world and the dragons and whoop them down. Not gods at all

Like Redekitten think Anise is completely loyal to Queen Jennah and Kryta.

Whether she’s a friend or foe therefore depends on how our actions align with her priorities. If we’re doing something she see’s as beneficial to Kryta and the Queen then she’ll help us, if it doesn’t have any impact then she’s indifferent and stays out of it and if we ever did something she felt endangered or otherwise threatened Jennah she’d be our enemy, or at least our opponent.

Since the game is written so that our characters are (almost) always the good guys and our goals and those of all 5 playable races usually align I think it’s unlikely she’ll be our enemy often, if at all.

But it’s definitely worth bearing in mind that whatever she does it’s for Kryta and the Queen. IMO that means we can trust her because we usually know her goals if not her methods, but we shouldn’t expect help from her unless it also helps Kryta.

I doubt Anise would ever turn out to be a foe. I’m just wondering what her angle is.

Redenaz.8631:

Generally, I don’t trust Anise. I’m willing to believe that she puts the Queen’s welfare above everything else, but ever since she pointedly left Logan out of planning the Queen’s protection while planning her jubilee celebration, I’ve wondered if she might be too paranoid to be dependable, at least for everyone who isn’t the Queen. It’s one thing to avoid leaks, but it’s another to keep relevant, proven people (Logan, the captain of the Seraph in Divinity’s Reach) in the dark. She’s good at what she does, sure, but one person can only be so good.

As for her age, I don’t think it’s anything outlandish, if possibly older than she appears. I’ve heard suggestions that she’s Livia from GW1, but I’m skeptical, mostly because the switch from powerful necromancer to powerful mesmer seems very clumsy as a narrative. It seems unlike that she’d be a focused necromancer up for ~180 years, until her last appearance in 1256AE, and then spend the next ~60 years (Jennah’s coronation was in 1316AE) learning mesmer magic and relying on that instead.

Well, Livia could probably, certainly master more than one magic in her 180 years. Not only that, but she also had the Scepter of Orr – the environmental skills attached to weapons in GW2, as we can see with several Personal Story instances, are obviously pretty expansive. We have to remember, too, that the NPCs don’t necessarily follow the same rules as our PCs do – in GW1 some enemies even had up to three professions, and NPCs like Palawa Joko and Mad King Thorn had several elite skills. So perhaps she is just a necromancer with some powerful illusions at her disposal. There’s really no telling, when it’s all said and done, what Livia and/or Anise could be capable of as NPCs.

I’m hesitant to draw any direct Livia -> Anise conclusions as well, though. I’m wondering if maybe Livia is Anise’s mother? Nobody really knows anything about Anise’s past.

Sadly though, the reaction to Canach’s question about her age just seems like a trope to me. I’m just that salty when it comes to the writing, I don’t think there’s anything there other than a jab at the social construct where it’s rude to assume anyone with two X chromosomes is older than they are.

Anise, friend or foe?

I’m going to have to go with “yes”.

I believe Anise is a friend. However, I do not believe her agenda is what we think it is.

I’d have to agree in that it’s how you affect Kryta. She takes Livia’s role in this story, utterly devoted to Kryta and Queen, but willing to do anything (kill, maim, destroy) no matter how “dirty” as long as it benefited Kryta.

I honestly want to believe that Countess Anise is secretly a Mursaat.

Thanatos.2691:

I honestly want to believe that Countess Anise is secretly a Mursaat.

She’s been Jennah’s friend since they were both children, she heads the organisation that took down the Mursaat in the first place, and to our knowledge a Mursaat has never been able to change it’s shape/disguise itself as a human. So I think that’s a no xD.

FlamingFoxx.1305:

Thanatos.2691:

I honestly want to believe that Countess Anise is secretly a Mursaat.

She’s been Jennah’s friend since they were both children, she heads the organisation that took down the Mursaat in the first place, and to our knowledge a Mursaat has never been able to change it’s shape/disguise itself as a human. So I think that’s a no xD.

I can dream! lol I’ve also had another funny idea that she might be the leader of the White Mantle. If this were the case, then maybe she’s been working to frame Minister Caudecus for many years in case any suspicions arise regarding DR officials with ties to the bandits which in turn may have ties to the White Mantle. Of course I don’t think the writers would pull such a twist and she’ll end up as another antihero like Caithe rather than a well-hidden enemy of Tyria.

A friend of mine in game also has this interesting idea that she may be Livia from GW1, which would be pretty wild imo! Since her current whereabouts are still unknown along with her longevity and possibly abnormal powers, it’s possibly possible that she’s in the form of Countess Anise. I think he wants to believe this mainly because he was a big fan of her back in GW1 lol.

I doubt there’s any truth to any of these theories, but they’d certainly lead to some interesting plot developments within the lore of Tyria. Lots of exciting speculation!

Edit: I also just remembered there were indeed Mursaat mesmers in GW1, and it wouldn’t be impossible that any surviving Mursaat mesmers would be able to alter appearances and minds the same way other modern mesmers are able to throughout the game. If an undead mesmer from the personal story can make the main character think the pact is a bunch of zombies, who knows to what end mesmer tricky can go! Lots of time has passed and mesmers are quite different (and arguably more advanced) than they were in GW1

http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Mursaat_Mesmer

Thanatos.2691:

I think he wants to believe this mainly because he was a big fan of her back in GW1 lol.

I was a fan of Livia’s, twos!

Thanatos.2691:

I honestly want to believe that Countess Anise is secretly a Mursaat.

Seer (optimistic version :P)

http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Seer
http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Ancient_Seer

“The Seers are an ancient powerful and still mysterious RACE.…”

But if Mursaat…“They have the ability to hide themselves from those who do not have the gift of True Sight and are considered gods by the White Mantle.”

I think she is the Oracle from cantha that player and shiro met or she is defenitly Livia, since she was the last person with the staff from prophecies campaign.

I love the theory that she is either Livia or related to Livia. That would be pretty awesome. I think there’s also a chance that she’s not even human. She can disguise herself as a sylvari, so what’s to stop her disguising herself as a human?

Cuddy.6247:

I doubt Anise would ever turn out to be a foe. I’m just wondering what her angle is.

Redenaz.8631:

Generally, I don’t trust Anise. I’m willing to believe that she puts the Queen’s welfare above everything else, but ever since she pointedly left Logan out of planning the Queen’s protection while planning her jubilee celebration, I’ve wondered if she might be too paranoid to be dependable, at least for everyone who isn’t the Queen. It’s one thing to avoid leaks, but it’s another to keep relevant, proven people (Logan, the captain of the Seraph in Divinity’s Reach) in the dark. She’s good at what she does, sure, but one person can only be so good.

As for her age, I don’t think it’s anything outlandish, if possibly older than she appears. I’ve heard suggestions that she’s Livia from GW1, but I’m skeptical, mostly because the switch from powerful necromancer to powerful mesmer seems very clumsy as a narrative. It seems unlike that she’d be a focused necromancer up for ~180 years, until her last appearance in 1256AE, and then spend the next ~60 years (Jennah’s coronation was in 1316AE) learning mesmer magic and relying on that instead.

Well, Livia could probably, certainly master more than one magic in her 180 years. Not only that, but she also had the Scepter of Orr – the environmental skills attached to weapons in GW2, as we can see with several Personal Story instances, are obviously pretty expansive. We have to remember, too, that the NPCs don’t necessarily follow the same rules as our PCs do – in GW1 some enemies even had up to three professions, and NPCs like Palawa Joko and Mad King Thorn had several elite skills. So perhaps she is just a necromancer with some powerful illusions at her disposal. There’s really no telling, when it’s all said and done, what Livia and/or Anise could be capable of as NPCs.

I’m hesitant to draw any direct Livia -> Anise conclusions as well, though. I’m wondering if maybe Livia is Anise’s mother? Nobody really knows anything about Anise’s past.

Sadly though, the reaction to Canach’s question about her age just seems like a trope to me. I’m just that salty when it comes to the writing, I don’t think there’s anything there other than a jab at the social construct where it’s rude to assume anyone with two X chromosomes is older than they are.

I’d be pretty disappointed in the writers if that comment was meant as a cliched “never ask a woman her age” type reference.

SheiyeSai.6037:

I’d be pretty disappointed in the writers if that comment was meant as a cliched “never ask a woman her age” type reference.

I think it might be that, but her reaction was so strong . . . I bet it’s because she was in public and if it became known to ministry personnel she was older than she looked then there might be a deeper look taken at her. Something she can’t afford to have happen.

I kind of was thinking Livia, but at the same time I also just expect she actually is an old woman. Or maybe not human.

That could be it, actually… the concern is less about her age, and more that she doesn’t want the Ministry getting curious enough to dig something else up that she IS concerned about.

Aeolus.3615:

I think she is the Oracle from cantha that player and shiro met or she is defenitly Livia, since she was the last person with the staff from prophecies campaign.

Can’t be the Fortune Teller. You can kill the Fortune Teller in the quest Bad Fortune in the Realm of Torment.

Ive been convinced that due to the childhood friend thing and a lot of other suspicions Countess Anise “is” the “real” Queen Jennah and Jennah is actually her body double.

Her appearance and attitude are a lot more royal than Jennah’s extremely democratic and logical look on things.

Anise seems like the kind of person that wants to have fun, why? Because she has a hidden responsibility that she does not want to be tied down to.

In the personal story she constantly calls the human PC “Pet” or “kitten” or “Puppet” in an almost demeaning and manipulative way, the kind one might expect of a hidden royal.

As to her “true” age, I dunno, Livia is a possibility but I actually “dont” want her to be Livia, that would be too obvious and equally make very little sense.

The idea of her being the true queen might also be somewhat obvious but I like the idea a lot more.

Notice it was her that wanted to drag Kasmeer off for a long boring chat about… things.

Could it be that she revealed to Kasmeer who she really is, and potentially Kasmeers “role” in events as the ‘other child’.

I dunno, there’s something about Anise that seems too interesting to make her Livia or something more obvious like an evil sorceress.

I get the feeling she is on the side of the crown, and that side is herself.

Do not forget, the Shining Blade were after all, the elite lead by Queen Salma in taking the throne of Kryta in the first place.

It would be a little odd that the queen does not have direct command over her own royal guard, no?

It is also a small gripe but the new Queen Salma Model and Anise own dress have the same color code, not to mention, Anise seems to have a slightly more obvious resemblance to Salma than Jennah does.

I believe that Anise can be trusted to always do what is best for Kryta (and to an extent, Queen Jennah). In most cases, this means she is firmly on the side of our allies, but at the same time, should there ever come a time when she must choose between friends or patriotism, she will choose patriotism every time.

This is what Logan was trying to warn us about if you talk to him with a human character in Camp Resolve. She may be helping Kasmeer now, but you can bet that Anise’s gifts always come with strings attached, and that Kasmeer may one day become an expendable pawn in Kryta’s service if circumstances call for it. (Anise will do her best to avoid that happening, of course; she doesn’t waste personnel needlessly or maliciously. But if it comes to it, pawns will be sacrificed for the greater good.)

CaptainVanguard.4925:

Ive been convinced that due to the childhood friend thing and a lot of other suspicions Countess Anise “is” the “real” Queen Jennah and Jennah is actually her body double.

-snip-

No. No no no, we’re not doing Padme Amadala. We are not.

. . . and now I’m having Episode 1 flashbacks. It’s time to find the charr whiskey.

Tobias Trueflight.8350:

CaptainVanguard.4925:

Ive been convinced that due to the childhood friend thing and a lot of other suspicions Countess Anise “is” the “real” Queen Jennah and Jennah is actually her body double.

-snip-

No. No no no, we’re not doing Padme Amadala. We are not.

. . . and now I’m having Episode 1 flashbacks. It’s time to find the charr whiskey.

That would make the Caudecus = Palpatine stuff even more obvious.