As someone who has studied extensively on Scarlet Briar, I will choose to weigh in.
Scarlet has heard voices since she left the Dream. She went to menders who could not help her in any way, she was terrified to the point of being afraid to sleep.
There is NO confirmation that Mordremoth was the one talking to her, nor is there any indication that Scarlet knew of his presence. All she knew was that there was something in her head that wouldn’t leave her alone.
When she chose to partake in Omadd’s study and used his mind delving machine, she claimed she saw everything. She said “I saw it. I saw it all.”, claiming she saw the very heart of the Eternal Alchemy. She also saw something else in there, and it stared right back at her. Without knowing what this was, one can’t say that what she saw was Mordremoth nor herself. There are multiple theories as to what she saw extactly, but whatever it was, that was the moment she broke. The Pale Tree tried to protect Ceara from seeking the answers the thirst for, but when she chose to look past that veil, her mind literally killed Ceara. Scarlet emerged from the machine because of what she saw. She saw the Eternal Alchemy, she knew how everything worked now. She had this maddening obsession that she couldn’t explain.
Back when Scarlet was attacking Lion’s Arch and you boarded the Breachmaker, Scarlet has a dialog when she’s pacing back and forth at the control panel, “No! This is my idea! Not yours! Get out of my head! 3.14159, yes, lovely”.
As I said, there is no direct confirmation that Modremoth had anything to do with it.
Personally, crazy walks a very fine line. Ceara was an amazing prodigy for a sylvari, with the curiosity of an asura progeny. She had little interest in her connection with the Pale Tree due to the fact that she believed that she was in control of her own fate and destiny, not the Mother. She was going to do whatever it took to deter from the average life of her brothers and sisters, all she had to do was create her own rules. This, I do believe, left her vulnerable to a thing such as Mordremoth’s corruption. While she was in Omadd’s machine, the Pale Tree pleaded with Ceara not to go further. And Ceara actually hesitated, however Mother stating how dangerous the territory Ceara was in only made the young child hunger for answers all the more. Ceara was metaphorically killed inside that machine and Scarlet Briar emerged. Sadly I feel that a lot of things such as what is being discussed here will be forever left to conjecture.
For a whole review over Scarlet, please take a look http://www.dragonseason.com/author/criina/
Writer on @DragonSeasonCom|Artist|Blackgate US Creator of the Motivational Quaggan
as seen on /r/guildwars2
@criinamancer
This was a random idea that came to me at 4 in the morning about a month ago, when I haven’t slept in almost an entire day. I thought it would be awesome to put together a compilation of memories that us as players have experienced in the past few years playing Guild Wars 2. Kind of a way to celebrate the coming of Heart of Thorns. And a little some something for the ArenaNet devs as a thank you for the three awesome years of Guild Wars 2 we’ve had so far. But don’t tell them, shhhh.
This is a community wide project that will take place over the next six months until Tuesday, December 15th, 2015, 11:59PM EST. On December 31st, a special feature of the most outstanding memories will be published, along with another feature of everyone’s tales of Tyria on another separate piece.
All that’s required is for you to leave a post in the comments or email myself (Criina) your special memories and it’ll be saved to put towards the project. You can tell us whatever you want and speak of as many memories as you’d like, as long as it doesn’t cause unwanted offense to anyone or anything. Should you see this posted on Reddit, Tumblr, etc, PLEASE make sure you head here to this post, http://www.dragonseason.com/community-project-share-your-memories/, which is the only place I will be accepting submissions other than my email, which can be found on the “Staff” page, just look for Criina and you’ll see my email, mesmerbutterflies@gmail.com.
Please help get the word out about this project, guys! This is really important and let’s make this awesome!
I’m super happy to see I’m not the only one who was wanting Shatterer stuff! I LOVED the whole thing with Kralkatorric and the branded <3 Quaggan loves you for this
Writer on @DragonSeasonCom|Artist|Blackgate US Creator of the Motivational Quaggan
as seen on /r/guildwars2
@criinamancer
Alrighty, I have composed a few builds for you, mostly revolving around PvE dungeons and fractals. Those are my main specialty. I did try to piece together a nice WvW build to hold you over until Heart of Thorns comes out.
PRE-HEART OF THORNS
Simply Shattered
For when you reach level 80, I a simple build that deals a lovely amount of damage, sacrificing survivability for more output of course. Though with getting used to this, blink will be some you will heavily rely on for mobility and means of escape. I myself have used this build in the past when I came back after a year break from GW and like you, I was traumatized. I felt panicked, but I was able to remember some things. I hope you too find this relatively helpful.
This is actually a good build for dungeons, it’s kinda my go-to for my “I don’t give a f*** about my party” moments.
Under Domination, I gave you Confounding Suggestions to help you control enemies a bit more, but you can switch to Rendering Shatter, which is super nice when using a sword.
In Dueling, if you don’t like shattering your illusions, you could take up Mistrust WITH Confounding Suggestions for spreading your confusion.
When you combine Confounding Suggestions and Furious Interruption (Domination) with Blinding Dissipation and Mistrust from Dueling along with Ineptitude from Illusions, it creates a nice spread of AoE confusion as well as a control over your enemies. However, choosing this route does require attention and practice.
If you’re easy about being so squishy, you can switch out berserker gear for knight.
Majestic Mantras
The second is a PvE ranged setup of staff and scepter with focus that not only deals not only nice damage but provides outgoing healing to those nearby. It’s a full mantra build that’s very simple to use and supportive when allies are nearby.
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQNAW7dl0nhq0YRawGNQtGLrG05RCSRMLxO6Z5GKeAA-TRSBABUcRAKS5Xg7PEhSwbU/ZiDUAK6eQw8HAPRBSBonUL-e
Note: The reason you do not take up feedback is because with the focus and trait, “Warden’s Feedback” it takes care of projectiles. HOWEVER if you’re not sure about the focus projectile block, switch out Mantra of Distraction for Feedback and then under Illusions specialization, swap out the current trait for Restorative Illusions for even more healing output. This is of course if your party takes lots of damage.
Aid of the Ether
For a less medic-like dungeon build, something with a little more…ferocious, this is a combo of greatsword and staff, utilizing not only damage output, but it also focuses on survivability for not only you, but for your party members as well.
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQJARWnsICVphtqBmqBUrhlUD6cIRPJmp4HzgcAlIAA-TRSDwAMuAA9U+lf/hEKBfp+ziDUAIdMAM/J5BKQKA9kaB-e
The key to using this build is you do not shatter your illusions. Your healing that comes from the Signet of the Ether, which applies a HoT (heal over time) to you whether you have illusions up or not. The more illusions you have (3 max), the more healing it does per tick. What’s also good about this signet is that if you need a sudden surge of health, you can activate it for an overall heal, as well as recharge all of your phantasm skills. However, with using the signet, it goes on a 35 second CD (default), 28 second CD thanks to Blurred Inscriptions, you will be cut off from your top source of healing, so I advise you use it wisely.
World Wide Survivor
I am a huge fan of Prismatic Understanding in general and taking this to WvW, at least with small groups/roaming while providing enough support to keep your group alive through condition clearing as well as ripping boons from your enemies but also enough utility to make a quick escape. So here, you’ll find something should you feel brave enough to enter the borderlands with dwindling numbers.
The sword and torch is a default weapon due to the capability of inflicting vulnerability on your opponents, cleaving up to 3 of course. This will increase their incoming damage. Blurred Frenzy is pretty much your second Distortion to protect you from something like an engineer’s mine field or necro’s stack of wells when you’re immobolized and waiting for your Illusionary Leap/Blink/Null Field to come off cooldown.
Torch is our first offhand choice for not only the 6 seconds of stealth, but also for the 5.5 seconds of blindness you inflict to up to 5 nearby foes. The boons you gain from the Prismatic Understanding is also nice for executing an escape or finishing off a foe with the blast finisher. Phantasmal Mage is a nice source of bouncing AoE that can ricochet up to 3 times between others that will inflict burning and grants fury to you and allies.
For times you’re traveling around the map or going to solo garry, using the focus is good for mobility.
Staff is our other weapon due to the underestimated Chaos Armour which not only protects you from incoming attacks, but also inflicts blindness/confusion/cripple when you’re struck while protected. Chaos Storm is amazing for the daze it inflicts along with the condition damage and provide combo field ethereal for another set of Chaos Armour.
If you don’t like Prismatic Understanding, you can always take up Chaotic Interruption.
To increase your survivability, you can abandon Mirror of Anguish (Chaos) for Chaotic Dampening (Chaos).
When needing to make a fast escape down a cliff side, or setting up a portal for fast supply carry, you can take up Descent into Madness (Chaos).
As for utilities, you can mix things up for what you like. Some of my favourites are purely for mobility mostly.
I’d keep Decoy for the sake of the possibility of getting swiftness while stealthed, however you can switch out Null Field and Feedback for Blink and Mimic. I’d advise taking Mimic ONLY if you think you can stand the painfully long cooldown of 72 seconds (default being 90 seconds. If not, then taking Veil would be good for staying out of enemy sight.
Other commentary:
Honestly, I do not have seperate gear sets for WvW and normal PvE, just because I don’t want to waste the gold. Hence my choices for armour and whatnot. If anything, you can always go solder or sentinel.
Regarding runes, I’d stick with Traveler’s for the moment for the sake of how slow we are….
HEART OF THORNS
Sadly, I have not really speculated TOO much for chronomancer concerning dungeons and ESPECIALLY WvW. Most of my focus is just going through the motions with the balancing, specialization combinations, so piecing together this one HoTs build for you really helped me get back into the zone of fully understanding every detail of the mesmer and helped me understand the very fine interworkings of the class.
Wonderous Wells
Like you, I am highly anticipating the chronomancer. From the gameplay I’ve experienced in both PvE and PvP, it makes me super excited. This is a simple supportive chronomancer build that focuses on support through the utilization of your wells and taking advantage of your alacrity, which will take practice of course. This build, I believe would be interesting to test out in the beta as well as during HoTs itself. I am also confident in its capability of providing the supportive edge you seek in dungeons.
http://gw2skills.net/editor/?vhAQNAW7encfC1fi9fCuqBUrhlTjiMA2gCo+Zz2uFdMejuA-TRSDgAMXAgelfs7PkoE8V9nlDUAoOGAzfSPQBA-e
Once again, for the dungeons/fractals, we’re taking up the greatsword and scepter with shield combination to take advantage of their ranged capabilities where as multiple encounters have mechanics in which mesmers just could not survive. Where this build provides condi clears for those who stand in your wells, it also helps to slow down your enemies.
For your desired support, you can use All’s Well that Ends Well (Chronomancer) to clear 2 conditions on up to 5 targets when they expire, and this is per well. If conditional damage isn’t a problem for the fight, taking up Delayed Reactions (Chronomancer) would be a nice switch up.
Improved Alacrity (Chronomancer) will make the said buff applied to you last 33% longer and henceforth will decrease your cooldowns effectively. If there is some reason you’d want to switch out of it, Danger Time (Chronomancer) is good.
Finally, taking up Lost Time (Chronomancer) will inflict slow when you critically hit 5 times, lasting for 2 seconds. If you wanted to be different, you could differenciate to Seize the Moment (Chronomancer) for a personal gain over the party support Lost Time (Chronomancer) gives. However assuming that you will be using exotic berserker gear, your chances of critically striking your foes are roughly 46%, so it’s a toss up there in all honesty with your final trait as a chronomancer.
Writer on @DragonSeasonCom|Artist|Blackgate US Creator of the Motivational Quaggan
as seen on /r/guildwars2
@criinamancer
