Guild Wars 2

So, as the story starts, we get to see Rytlock being his old self, though he’s still in his new armor and wearing the blindfold. He’s mouring for Eir in his own way, and just as growly as ever.

In Rata Novus, though, we see him get a message (delivered by the leader of the Vigil herself, no less) from the Black Citadel. He simply crumples it up and tosses it away, stating that he’s already done that with the others he’s gotten. And that, in my mind, set off some alarms.

It was a moment of downtime, and the Rytlock we’ve seen in the story before now wouldn’t just ignore a call to come home. Even if it’s just to explain what happened, he would go back and report in. And yet, he’s ignoring it. Why? What happened?

Thinking about this, I realized that while he’s not the kind to just ignore orders, he is the kind to hide an injury. Especially if it’s one that would get him stripped of rank and active duty. Why does he not read the message? Because he can’t.

He’s blind.

While that is certainly valid for his personality, you have to remember hes been stripped of his rank and duty before. when he was with Destiny’s Edge he wasn’t even technically part of the blood legion any more. his reaction to the letter(s) set of alarms for me too, but in a bit of a different way. i believe its about how he became a revenant. i stated this theory back in season 2 when he disappeared and it bares repeating.

When he leaped into the rift after sohothin, he most likely came face to face with Balthazar in the Fissure of Woe. reasons for this;

• Sohothin and Magdaer where forged by Balthazar himself.
• The fire from the rift is blue, blue fire is associated with ghosts in GW.
• We know that just seeing the gods, a mortal can be stricken blind(Malchor was blinded by the gods while sculpting them.)
• The revenant class channels “legends”, not strictly heroes. Balthazar is more in line with Lawful Neutral then he is a “good” or “evil” alignment.

When Rytlock chased his sword, he met with Balthazar. the Charr(excluding of the flame legion) do not see the human gods as deities but as challenges. Rytlock would stair down Balthazar and demand his sword back, which would cause him to be stricken with blindness. adding to this is the bloodstone lore which states; “In 1 BE, Abaddon used the Bloodstone to gift magic to all the races of Tyria.” meaning that both the races of Tyria did not inherently have magic and that the gods can grant magical abilities to anyone they want.

Rytlock is avoiding the Black Citadel summons because he would have to explain how a human god gave him new magic to an army of anti religious soldiers, most likely to aid in killing a bunch of elder dragons that feed on the same magic those gods are comprised of. it would look like he surrendered to the enemy and the better solution is to just not deal with it. but thats just my theory.

For me, I have been thinking they’re really angry that his plan, the one to rid Ascalon of Adelburn’s curse, had failed.

I’m pretty sure gears are turning in the Black Citadel, and Rytlock doesn’t want to be involved in whatever plot is going on. If Rytlock couldn’t read, someone would’ve informed him of the facts verbally, and he’s strong-willed enough to spit at that invitation as well.

Rognik.2579:

I’m pretty sure gears are turning in the Black Citadel, and Rytlock doesn’t want to be involved in whatever plot is going on. If Rytlock couldn’t read, someone would’ve informed him of the facts verbally, and he’s strong-willed enough to spit at that invitation as well.

I have a sneaking suspicion he’s being paged by one Imperator Bangar Ruinbringer of the Blood Legion. From what we know about the guy, he’s somewhat of a “wild card”, and has only allied with the other Legions to avoid fighting them. It’s possible Rytlock can’t stand the guy due to this and doesn’t want anything to do with him.

Paperwork. Paperwork is always worse than exile, dishonor or death.

(But what Nightbringer Tenchi said also sounds plausible.)