Guild Wars 2

draxynnic.3719:

Kralkatorrik, Zhaitan and Jormag all seem to have it reserved for champions (even icebrood and branded elementals seem to be based on the basic elemental form) and even then it’s still possible the champion was twisted from some other creature, while Primordus is able to create an army on its own.

Veteran Branded Lieutenants and the branded guardian shown in Ghosts of Ascalon were from the land itself., based on appearance/description.

Lokheit.7943:

Just out of curiosity, do you remember who said it and if it sounded very definitive? Any chance the FL might change their mind after 250 years and a big blow to their current target of worhip? There has been decission changes in other things before in the game.

I think it came through two interviews, one saying that the only connection with the destroyers and Flame Legion is the events of Eye of the North (with Jeff), while the other saying that they learned from their mistakes (with Ree, iirc). I only can find the first interview:

[B]Q: In regards to the Flame Legion: Do they have any kind of connection with Primordus and his “next-gen” destroyers? Also, what was the purpose of the Flame Citadel?[/B]

A: The first question is— they do not have any direct connection in Eye of the North. When the Titans were slain the members of the Flame Legion decided to try to go after a new set of gods and they settle on the destroyers. That did not work out very well either. So, that’s the connection between the two, that they were trying to crop up another set of gods. In the 250 years since Eye of the North, the Charr have had a philosophical revolution, in which they deny the existence of the gods, thinking that will help them triumph. Now the Flame Legion have lost control. They are on the outs with the other three legions the Flame Citadel is one of their main bases— it’s up in the North and we were talking about it this morning in a design seminar— that they’re got their legion and their contending against the other legions there. They are trying to learn the lessons of the past. The Flame Legion has a plan, the nature of that plan will be revealed. They want to get back on top.

Unfortunately the url’s changed, but it was a Guru2 interview with Jeff Grubb, Matthew Medina, Martin Kerstein, and Mike Zadorojny.

Lokheit.7943:

Hummm when I read that “Gaheron ritual” I figured it to be the way it calls the “process” that Gaheron (and other shamans but not so far as him) went through more than a ritual using the godly powers of Gaheron. Even if a second resurrect attemp can happen, I don’t think Gaheron current state allows him to empower anyone.

That’s not what I was saying at all. Rather, the fact that they still attribute to him is something to note, since past Imperators that failed miserably were viewed with disdain after their death.

Lokheit.7943:

If only the Sons feel attached to a Dragon, then I don’t think the Molten Alliance should have too much interest on them as they would be just (if our speculation is correct) syphoning dragon energy like the Inquest, which doesn’t makes them rival to anyone worshipping a different dragon IMO.

They’d be rivals for different reasons. I mean, simply being worshipers of an Elder Dragon makes them rivals to everyone else in of itself. Both charr and dredge want more land, and they’re no friends to the Sons of Svanir, so they’d be more inclined to fight as they are now than if both groups worshiped an Elder Dragon – given how they – irrelevant of the Elder Dragon’s wishes – may find their paths to be “in the same lines.”

They’re an asura-made device that allows transportation for a fee, but you can only use those you’ve been to before and that are functioning (basically, take the mechanics of them and that’s lore too – except maybe the specific cost). It seems to be based (lore wise) on Snaff’s invention shown at the end of Edge of Destiny and talked about during That Old College Try. That event being a ring-sized device which expands into a personal asura gate which allows you to teleport to places you’ve been before (how is never really explained, nor is it explained what the requirements to teleporting to elsewhere is other than “somewhere you’ve been” – I used to think that it teleported Destiny’s Edge to another asura gate, but I’ve not been so sure on a second reading).

The most lore we get concerning their contested function lies in Orr, where we see the Pact “fixing” them as they create camps further in. In Orr, they also hold a second part to them – a base, which uses the same design as Pact Beacons which redirect people to nearby events. These waypoint bases act similar, though only in explaining why the Waypoint isn’t functioning – usually the response is “powerful entity detected. Emergency shut down in effect.” or something along those lines.

Rizzy.8293:

Oh of course the names. Like SAUL
Yes who can forget such names like Varesh, an INDIAN name being used in their North African Themed expansion, NIGHTFALL.

Or Jora isn’t even a scandinavian name.

But since we’re talking about names.
Queen Salma, believe it or not Salma is actually a name in Southeast Asian culture, malay.

Oh and yeah theres, no such thing as buildings on waterways. /sarcasm.
http://pcmedia.gamespy.com/pc/image/article/537/537774/guild-wars-20040810032519174.jpg

And theres no Similarity between.

http://pcmedia.gamespy.com/pc/image/article/537/537774/guild-wars-20040810032519533.jpg

http://pcmedia.gamespy.com/pc/image/article/537/537774/guild-wars-20040810032520268.jpg

http://www.traveljournals.net/pictures/l/0/7456-balis-famous-terrace-padi-fields-bali-indonesia.jpg

Please don’t be ignorant, theres more than one type of Asian culture.
Theres the Oriental Chinese and Japanese and Mongolian with the Factions Expansion and theres the Southeast Asian with the Prophecies.

Just like Nightfall is culturally diversed into African, Egyptian and Arabian.

1) Not all names, no, and you pull out of the few that aren’t. Take a look at this list and you’ll see a lot – especially last names – are of Mediterranean sounding/spelling.

2) That’s a kittening dock. Not a building.

3) What Narcemus said about the terraces.

4) No kitten there’s more than one Asian culture. And yes, I’m very well aware that they’ve used terracing. But clearly you’re not aware that they aren’t the only ones. So please don’t call me ignorant when you seem to be the ignorant one. Also, fun fact but Asian cultures aren’t the only ones to have houses on waterways. Ever seen houses built along the Amazon River? To name ONE example.

Rizzy.8293:

Or the fact Lions Arch is in reference to an Italian location not unlike Singapore in Southeast Asia.

Fun fact: It’s not referencing Singapore. Wanna know how I know? In GW1, there were no merlions. It may be referencing Singapore in GW2 but it wasn’t in GW1.

Don’t get your panties in a twist when you don’t even seem to know what you’re talking about. And I don’t mean that in “you don’t know the facts” but rather “you can’t keep your argument on the same thing” – going from past Kryta to present Kryta thinking that the references used in one must be used for the other too (note: not true).

Rizzy.8293:

Like Rurik meaning the whole of ascalon was inspired by medieval russia is ludicrous.

You do realize that’s exactly what you’re doing here, right?

It’s possible, but TBH, I find it unlikely. It’d put him under a serious disadvantage to at least three other, but most likely five other, Elder Dragons. And thus far, they seem to be on par to each other, with the only thing making one worse than the other is how many minions they have and how much magic they’ve consumed.

Also, only Zhaitan – and possibly Mordremoth, arguably (in a very stretchy argument_ Kralkatorrik – aren’t pure “element.” Unless you’re arguing that ice and crystal aren’t elements.

Lokheit.7943:

About one particular quote by Konig many posts ago about the FL taking power from but not worshipping Primordus.

I think it’s still possible they actually “worship” him.

Sorry but, no, it’s not.

We were outright told by the developers back in 2009 (might have been 2010) that the Flame Legion “learned from their mistakes” and decided to not adopt things as gods, but to make them. This was told to us when they were asked if they’re still worshiping destroyers. That’s the whole explanation behind Gaheron being called a god and the Flame Legion trying to bring him into godhood.

It’s the result of them telling themselves “never again will we worship or bring in worship of outside creatures!”

Which of course, includes Primordus.

Lokheit.7943:

- The Flame Legion last attemp at getting a god to hold their position as leaders of fanatics is gone, including their attemp at resurecting him.

You also make a minor mistake here. At the end of the Eternal Flame path in CoF, Magg states that they could still possibly resurrect their dead, so they’ll have to keep an eye on them.

Another mistake you make is that it seems the Flame Legion still consider Gaheron their god. The LOR-### NPC found in Lion’s Arch states they worship Gaheron, and one of the dead drops mentions a “Gaheron ritual.” Though this is likely just an “omit the fact to prevent a paradox” scenario, it gives indication that the Flame Legion still revere Gaheron to some degree.

Lokheit.7943:

First of all, the FL is probably taking their power from a source that was created by Primordus influence but isn’t of any real use to him, it’s just radiation he or his destroyers leave (similar to the Brand but without corrupting people).

Problem is, all draconic energies corrupt. Primordus may be unique to a degree – though likely through choice – but nonetheless draconic energies still corrupt. The fact their bodies are altered would prove this if the Flame Legion really are siphoning from Primordus/a powerful Destroyer – the question would simply be “why are their minds not altered?” not “does the source corrupt?”

Rizzy.8293:

Really South Europe?
That look like europe to you?

Atap roofs, stilt houses ontop of water ways.

http://www.canadianarchitect.com/asf/enclosure_design_strategies/moisture_rules/images/mekong_delta_house.jpg

Skin tones, naming styles, and overal cultural influences appear to primarily be Spanish and Italian (and likely others I’m not aware of or doesn’t come to mind atm).

The houses are another matter. And I wasn’t talking about the architecture there at all. I was talking about their physical appearance and their culture.

P.S. There are no “Atap roofs, stilt houses ontop of water ways.” in Kryta. Not in GW1, at least (only ones in GW2 are those belonging to fisher families). Furthermore, Concept art != the game’s lore, so pulling those up for “how it was in GW1” is utter bullkitten.

Gandarel.5091:

In PvP however, the Battle of Khylo architectures are all renaissance-Krytan styled…

That’s probably a re-use of resources more than anything else.

Though you should take note the Ascalonian ruins are not the same style as Khylo’s map. So it seems even that got altered.

Rizzy.8293:

Back in the days, Kryta was a simple small fishing settlement themed after south east asian culture, where most people were healthy shade of tan to brown.

These days Kryta is big masonic buildings very reminiscent of medieval Europe just like Ascalon was.

Uh… when was this? Because it’s been more than a simple fishing settlement for as long as I know of, and never themed after asian culture but western/southern European (typically: Mediterranean).

And I wouldn’t say it feels medieval at all. Definitely more Renaissance like Zeefa said. But that’s just Divinity’s Reach. Going to anywhere else, and the structures still look greatly Krytan in comparison – even just going out to Shaemoor! Yes, there are some exceptions, such as the taverns usually or the Ascalon Settlement kitten , but still they’re not medieval in appearance, nor strickly Ascalonians.

Regarding skin color – do keep in mind that there were paler Krytans before, and similarly we got a LOT of Ascalonians mixing into Kryta, and at the same time, Canthans and a few Orrians who were lighter in color. Not to mention that the tidal wave or even Jormag’s continuous push south seems to have cooled the land a bit, which in turn would also lighten skin over the generations.

Keep in mind that Guild Wars is a total of 3 games, 1 expansion, and effectively 7 content update plots. Guild Wars 2 is currently 1 game, 0 expansions, and effectively 4 content update plots.

So of course when comparing modern GW2 lore to modern GW1 lore, GW2’s going to come in lacking. Because it hasn’t had the time to flourish as much. GW1 acts to GW2 much like GW1’s background lore does to the game – minimally imputted and used as just that – background.

Now, compare Prophecies with Halloween, Sorrow’s Furnace, and Wintersday to Guild Wars 2. Which is better? IMO, Guild Wars 2.

Well we already have the krait as a deep shade of gray through the blog lore for them – they’re effectively brain washed Little Red Book style from a young age by their highly corrupted priesthood theocracy. Their evil is purely a case of nurture rather than nature – change the nurture, and you’ll get good guy kraits.

Well there are still some named foes for events. They’re not all Veteran/Champion/Legendary <insert generic name here> foes.

Seed turrets, while mechanically like engineer’s turrets, are not mechanical in any sense nor are they related to engineers in anyways. It’s pure plant and magic.

Sons of Svanir aren’t all corrupted. It’s a “corrupted over time” – most are still standard, though some get a little brainwashed and it’s only the higher ups who received Jormag’s “blessing” more often which are corrupted.

I would say that the centaurs are one such “really deep shade of gray without being black” – mainly given their reasons. Mechanically, they’re pitch black, but lorewise not so. The Tamini and Harathi are mostly being forced into servitude through fear and strength of the Modniir, who themselves are led by Ulgoth towards revenge against the norn and humans. With Ulgoth taken out of the picture, the alliance of the three tribes may falter, especially if the charr ever go about providing aid to Kryta.

Not to mention that the centaurs see sylvari as a “could be our allies, could be our enemies” it seems (mechanically the response is the same, but lorewise the centaurs may be more hesitant to attack sylvari adventurers) – given the sylvari lvl 28 whispers story. They also view the Risen (and perhaps by extension, icebrood and destroyers) as a threat, unlike other groups, so they could also be redeemed through an attack by an Elder Dragon.

@drax: My knowledge on the subject isn’t that superior, given how long its been since I studied it, but wasn’t that the reason for one crusade – and there were four crusades in total?

Infamous Darkness.3284:

this is one I’ve always been a bit confused about why were the forgotten allies of the human gods did they know of them before they reached tyria, and why did they support them the war(?) between the forgotten and the charr started before humans arrival if I understand correctly.

It’s never really explained, however by piecing all the lore together, I suspect that the Forgotten were brought by the Six Gods during the ending reigns of the last Elder Dragon awakening where they then helped out the races by freeing Glint; I mainly say this because the original origin given to them – that they were brought by the gods in 1768 BE – has not been disproven yet, despite the mention of them being around during the last ED rise.

Though nothing really says the gods supported the forgotten in the war against the charr. Then again, we know very little about that war – we only know the location and that it was before 100 BE.

Infamous Darkness.3284:

And to flip the switch the other way (not being sarcastic want to know your real opinions), what do you believe are some of the major things humans have done to advance life in tyria not just for their race but for others as well.

Requesting magic to be reduced. Stopping Nightfall – and for that matter, stopping Abaddon’s plans to take over the world thrice in 3 years. Establishing the Durmand Priory. Stop the charr’s expansion (if the humans didn’t appear, the charr would have likely slaughtered the norn, dwarves, and jotun in the Shiverpeak Mountains (we’re outright told that the charr easily could have slaughtered the norn if they dedicated a single legion to the task, but they were per-occupied with humanity), then moved to attack centaurs as they spread west – humans taking Ascalon put a stop to the charr expansion, preventing that possibility).

That’s just to name a few that come to mind right away. And before you say that two of them were done by one person – so was the Cataclysm (influenced by an evil god) and the Foefire (influenced by insanity). So if one side counts, so does the other – and the positive side wasn’t influenced by other evil beings or by insanity.

Infamous Darkness.3284:

Inca v Pizarro -snip rest-

I’m not knowledgable of the subject so I cannot comment on it.

Infamous Darkness.3284:

while it shows other groups like the centaurs in black and white

Personally, I take this as mostly just the game’s (read: ArenaNet’s) approach to explain why they’re not consolable – why we can’t just go and talk to them into understanding. In lore, they’re unlikely to be so hostile and those we hear talking are just the extremist while those 999,999,999,999,999 other mooks are the ones who could be talked out of it.

Its something I hate, not because it means we cannot join them in-game (as that’s the purpose of it), but because it paints every villainous group/race as the same kind of backstabbing, enslaving, would-kill-his-own-child kittens and greatly reduces their uniqueness. Take a male Separatist, make him a norn, give him blue, replace “Ascalon” with “Dragon” and bam, same thing. Take a Separatist, give him a horse body, replace “Ascalon” with “our lands” and bam, centaur. Rather dull.

1) I disagree; mainly because what wiped out the Aztecs was less of the Spaniards seeking to push them off of their lands, and more of the diseases that they brought. The biological warfare (giving native americans blankets with small pox) didn’t happen until much later, when there was already conflict occurring. The Spaniards were exploring first, not colonizing.

3) Wrong. It’s the Ascalonians who were good allies, not humanity on a whole. Well, it could be humanity on a whole, but we don’t know – we only know they had an alliance with Ascalonians.

4) There’s three things to note here: 1) As Narcemus says, it was due to a resurrection spell and given the amount of time the Seers had, they could neither reproduce to re-create their race, nor resurrect them. 2) These naga were killed off by the Jade Wind; the Jade Wind did not reach Shing Jea Island or the other outer shores of Cantha, where naga still live. The manual, although not explicitly stating this, is only talking about the Jade Sea naga, who were encased in Jade. Which brings up point 3) they were killed by a very unique magic, the Jade Wind, where they were literally frozen in stone. As one can see by going through the Jade Sea in GW1, or by going through the Solid Oceanic Fractal in Fractals of the Mists, unlike the creatures killed above water by the Jade Wind, the creatures frozen in jade were not turned to stone. So they could still have been alive while stuck in that petrified water at first, allowing them to be saved (until they starved to death).

5) It (seers are genderless) only tells us to kill the leaders or else there’s trouble. That’s elementary information – kill the general, disorganize the army. It’s hardly revolutionary information. All it did was tell us where the Armageddon Lords would be… and it was wrong still.

1b) But Balthazar is physical. The Abrahamic god is not. It’s still very different and even if Balthazar isn’t all powerful or all knowing and all existing, he’s still capable of wiping an entire nation out with ease if he wanted to (upon arrival on the world, he swept all of Orr in flame, seemingly effortlessly). Narcemus’ point was that the Crusades aren’t comparable because the Abrahamic god didn’t step down from the heavens and walked among man telling them in a booming voice to go kill the Muslims.

4b) Regardless of however many seers remained, they had somewhere between 2,000 and 11,000 years to rebuild their civilization and race after the mursaat nearly caused genocide on them before fleeing to the Mists. Even if the naga returned thanks to a priestess, the seers did not and would not even if given 250 more years. Besides, as you said we don’t know how many seers lived on, even though we only knew of at least 1 in Prophecies (the one on the RoF islands was the same one in the Shiverpeak Mountains), so there could still be survivors beyond that one seer lying on the table possibly still alive.

Narcemus.1348:

Konig there had to be at least a little more time than just 2 years. There was at the very least one Krytan that we helped to get a bad landlord off of his back in Pre-Searing. For Ascalonians to allow a Krytan to live in their country says to me that the war had to stop at least 1 year beforehand, maybe 6 months, but there’s still going to be a lot of bad blood. As for the Talon thing, somehow I completely missed the word descendant.

The charr invasion began in 1070; and it was the charr invasion that ended the Third Guild Wars (with the Searing). During pre-Searing, there’s mention of guilds fighting each other still.

The person you refer to – Namar – is of Krytan DESCENT. His family has been in Ascalon for 3 generations.

“Yes my family is from Kryta originally, but we’ve been in Ascalon for three generations and my father fights for Ascalon’s Chosen.”

So it’s obvious that they moved before the Third Guild War, which lasted for 57 years (beginning in 1013 AE). That, or they moved during the Third Guild War.

So, you’re wrong there.

1. If referring to just continental Tyrian humans, then the first settlers (Orrians) met no resistence, since the land was belonging to the Six Gods before 205 BE (and before they arrived, it may have belonged to the Forgotten or just simply no one). And then, again, when they spread from Orr it was only Ascalon which we know that they created conflict with the charr. And I’m sorry, but no, it’s not comparable to either the crusades or the Europeans colonizing America – in neither case were the invading army (Crusaders/Europeans) ever taking land from a highly militaristic and expansionistic nation that has been warring with “allies” (I use the term loosely – this is in reference to the Forgotten) for who knows how long of a time. There really is no historical comparison, as far as I know, since it’s always the other way around.
2. You’re thinking of two different timeframes. Humans using magic gifted by the gods to win land is referring to the initial colonization of Ascalon – in 100 BE. Abaddon gifted magic to everyone, including charr, in 1 BE. So two different events.
3. (skipping your 3) Dwarven ships can’t go on water. They’re called “ice ships” for a reason – they’re used to “sail” on ice only, because the bottoms are flat and they wouldn’t really be good for sailing on water. They did help storm the beaches, but I fail to see how this ever really comes into play with your points, given how this was the dwarves not helping humans so much as fighting alongside against shared foes (it’d be helping humans if it didn’t matter to them, but it did).
4. The naga were never near extinction, technically. Yes, a lot of the Jade Sea naga died, but that’s far from the whole race. And even if the asura were “hired” by the Shining Blade, they were left to their own devices except for Livia’s supervising – and even then, they likely did things without the Shining Blade’s knowledge (and Livia’s not exactly the nicest gal out there anyways).
5. You do realize that you don’t even have to talk to the seer for the mission; all that seer did was give us more work since about 11 Armageddon Lords already made it through the portals (the bosses and the standard Armageddon Lords in the titan quests). We would have closed those portals leading elsewhere with or without the seer – just as you can.

Wrong forum, I’d say it belongs more in general discussion, but I’ll bite.

Regarding the names that don’t match lore – so what? People make names they want to make. If you don’t like it, well, you don’t like it. Them being on the unofficial roleplay server with bad names doesn’t mean diddlysquat, since for all you know, they don’t know it was community-deemed to be the RP server; and guess what, it wasn’t unanimously agreed by the entirety of the Guild Wars 2 community. If it were the official rp server, then you’d have room to argue – but it’s not.

I don’t think it’s offending to make characters play off of NPCs – it’s just the players’ lack of creativity. Yes, it’s annoying, also annoying when people make their characters look just like their race’s DE member (that’s partially a fault of Anet not giving them all unique appearances like they have done with Braham and Rox though). It’s hardly a slap in the face to the design team, however. I don’t see it as disrespecting lore either.

What Drax said is pretty much what I’d say – that the school naming is about how you do something not what you do. However, I’d like to add a word of warning: that GW2W article has a lot of misnomers in it – there’s wrong information (although presented in-game) put up as fact, and speculation and even contradictory information put up. Those two quotes are accurate, but the rest is rather iffy.

@Narcemus: that large whirlpool was made by Abaddon, however, so that’s not a good example. A better example may be the Cataclysm, as it was fueled by magic from before the Bloodsones were split.

@Narcemus: Descendant, not Talon himself.

@Gandarel: 2 years, not 5. The Third Guild War ended in 1070; Ascalonians fled to Kryta in 1072 AE. The change that occurred was due to a change in government – the White Mantle, who were not part of the Third Guild War, allowed Ascalonians into Kryta. It’s actually openly shown that the White Mantle was just looking for more converts (and sacrifices). Plus, due to the extreme situation of Ascalon some mercy was brought.

The Elder Dragons have been around for a long time, so unless a new one rises and nearly wipes out humanity on Cantha, and/or Queen Jennah gets overthrown by Caudecus, the same won’t be happening.

They didn’t write off Elona, Orr, or Ascalon. In fact, they wrote in Orr. If you mean Orrians, they couldn’t write off something that wasn’t in the game in the first place, and you still have Ascalonians and Elonians. Elona and Cantha are in the exact same position – but Elona is more likely to return than Cantha. So I don’t know why you’re treating it as worse. Even human-controlled Ascalon may spread in the future, given the peace talks. Seriously, over-exaggeration.

@thread title: no single race is black or white (except maybe krait). There are good humans, and there are evil humans. On a whole, they’re gray-lined.

1) We still don’t know how the humans were when they arrived. Balthazar did push them to conquering others, but I wouldn’t blame humans for that as much as I would blame Balthazar – same way you’d blame Hitler before blaming all of Germany for WWII. Humans could have come to the world as refugees (my current thought), rather than as invaders. Most of their spread actually begins peaceful as far as we know (specifically, their spread into the Canthan and Elonian continents) – it’s only Kryta (possibly!) and Ascalon which were hostile colonizations – and the latter was against a militant and barbaric race that was warring with the Forgotten after conquering the land from whomever lived there beforehand.

2) It was more than just humans slaughtering each other when Abaddon gifted magic – it was other races too. Though depending on your source, some may say just humans or just non-humans.

3) As mentioned, charr were not natural inhabitants to Ascalon. Personally, given EoD and Catacombs of Kathandrax in GW1, I suspect that the dwarves lived there first – but that’s speculation. And you’re victimizing the charr, which isn’t at all accurate. The charr are just as bad as humans – if not worse – when it comes to warring activities (at least the humans have reasons, even if its just greed, to wage war – charr waged war within their own race for the sake of fighting).

4) It was actually the Ascalonians who did the assisting eachother. The Shining Blade were rescued by the Ascalonians helped by/helping the dwarves. Though the Shining Blade did help repay the dwarves when the Ascalonians did (during Thunderhead Keep mission).

5) The seers were already a nearly extinct race, and were long before humanity arrived on the world – humanity had no chance of helping them. Furthermore, we don’t know if the one seen during War in Kryta was dead, nor do we know if they’re extinct, nor do we know if the seer – should it have been dead – was killed for experimentation. Blaming humans for asuran actions or things they were incapable of doing is biased indeed.

Oh, and the seers didn’t tell anyone how to close portals – that was Prince Rurik. Stop taking away humans’ good sides!

So I had only a step away on my ranger from Battle for Claw Island, so I did it and started Claw Island. Here’s what I got:

The window after the one Narcemus posted has Talon saying this: “They saw what Orrian invasions did to Port Noble and Port Stalwart. Someone had to stand their ground.”

Also, fun fact: while the map doesn’t show area names, there are four areas in the Claw Island map. Sorrow’s Bay (where you start), Western Strait (I’ll let you guess where – hint, the entire left part of the map), Lion’s Mane (southeastern beach), and, get this, Fort Stalwart! Where the fortress of Claw Island is.

Ten bucks says that Fort Stalwart was built over Port Stalwart’s ruins. But according to Talon, Port Stalwart was attacked – and implicably majorly – during Cobiah’s lifetime, and he was alive when Zhaitan rose.

So I guess Forgal is roughly 100 years old. (edit: fixing math fail)

Now the question is: Where is Port Noble?

Also, I have a suspicion that the attacks on Port Noble and Port Stalwart would be the battle depicted in the 2009 trailer – maybe the eyepatch guy was Cobiah? Or a main character in Sea of Sorrows?

Still, same effect would be had.

I’m pretty sure it was the window after that – where he explains that they saw what happened to some places and that they needed proper defenses against such attacks on Lion’s Arch. Thought for sure that one of the places mentioned was Port Stalwart.

Other way around – the “Great Tsunami” as the tengu call it supposedly signaled them to head to Tyria. There’s NPCs in Divintiy’s Reach (near Rurikton Waypoint iirc) that says the tengu were the last contact from Cantha, and they said right through Risen; the tengu in, I think Caledon, mention that Talon Silverwing’s descendant led the tengu through Risen.

They arrived after Zhaitan’s rise.

Kyban.4031:

I wasn’t saying Zhaitan caused it or they were his minions, just that his power had some affect on it. I don’t think they really explained where the Orrian undead came from or how Khilbron became a lich. Did Khilbron use necromancy before the scroll or did Abaddon have something to do with it?

Sounds like you’re trying to imply Zhaitan’s magic helped create undead. That would make them his minions if so, so you can’t be saying that yet saying they weren’t his minions.

The Prophecies manual actually does give an small explanation for the Orrian undead:

Many believe that they are the remnants of Orr, those lost souls who were so disturbed by the destruction of their home in the Cataclysm that they refuse to pass into the next life. Others believe there is a more sinister force motivating these creatures, a malevolent being who has raised the resting dead to do his bidding. Some even say this mysterious leader is a powerful lich lord who rules them all from behind the front lines.

It’s a rumors vs. rumors vs. rumors thing, but the rumors turned true (two of them, at least).

BuddhaKeks.4857:

There are other hints that draconic energy was used in Tyria’s history, like the Charr may used Kralkatorrik’s energy for the searing, or the Flame Legion may used Primodrus’ power for their rituals. And of course the Inquest uses it frequently. None of them are minions of the dragons though.

@OP: I think it’s possible that Zhaitan being the main antagonist of the game is a reference to the Lich of Prophecies, but that doesn’t mean they will always go that route.

At the first part: With the Searing, there are signs of Kralkatorrik’s influence though – earth elementals around the Searing crystals are uncontrollable, the Searing Effigy (charr Effigy infused with Searing magic) is also uncontrollable. Just because the casters of the Searing weren’t minions doesn’t mean the magic doesn’t twist.

As for the Flame Legion tapping into Primordus; if that’s the case, there’s actually a bit of possible influence, seen most with the Molten Alliance “dredge shamans.”

Finally, with the Inquest – they themselves don’t get in contact with the magic. But those who do certainly become dragon minions. There are oddities with Kudu, Kudu’s Monster, and Subject Alpha (they don’t seem tied to fanatic devotion of a dragon), but they’re certainly corrupted.

At the second part – I think it’s less of being a reference, and more of them wanting to bring up Orr, came up with an Elder Dragon being underneath, and worked on explaining it while realizing that an Elder Dragon so flipping close to everyone would obviously be the first major threat.

Windu The Forbidden One.6045:

I wonder why we don’t know anything about Cantha in it’s current state. The Order of Whispers is known to travel there still, yet they never talk about it.

You’re thinking of Elona. The Order of Whispers is known to travel to Elona.

They’re suspected of traveling elsewhere – possibly Cantha included (I think it’d be weird if they didn’t know the happenings of Cantha, TBH).

But we don’t hear anything about it because it’s not part of the plot – or either the personal story or the world story.

Gandarel.5091:

Since when is Cantha a threat not and ally?

And a very strong ally.

Since the Ministry of Purity’s influence took hold in 1079/80 AE, Cantha has become increasingly xenophobic. In late GW1 (Winds of Change), we see Canthans beginning to both hate non-humans, but non-Canthans (and by Canthan, I mean non-Empire-proper citizens; vassal citizens don’t count as native in the MoP’s view). We see the Ministry of Purity’s ideals hardened with Usoku, but no clue after that.

Gandarel.5091:

The isolation happened 200 years ago, maybe after that emperor’s death they wouldn’t do that again. 250 years ago the most advanced technology in war was black powder not Gigamegalasers. Many things have changed.

While it’s true Canthans could lose that xenophobia – and we have a long history of 1,700 years where emperors like to act the complete opposite of their father to back it up – we have no evidence to support it. In fact, we have – albeit little – evidence to support the claim that they did not lose the xenophobia.

Usoku’s reign took prominent note in 1127 AE – Zhaitan’s rise is what cut off all lasting contact with Cantha, not Usoku’s isolationism (that just stopped trade and them making contact with us). Zhaitan’s rise was in 1219 AE. That’s about 90 years after Usoku’s reign took big turns. I somehow doubt that Usoku reigned for 90 years, given that would put him well over 100 years old (probably around 110-130 years old) if he were to have taken reign at a young age – which is not only unlikely, but even if so, he’d have to get rid of the Celestial Ministry (sans Ministry of Purity) to get things done without constant hassles that they create given how what Usoku did would infringe on nearly the entirety of the Ministry of Winds’ and delve fully into the Ministry of Fire’s domains.

wouw.5837:

Sorry for the late response, but A artist said Cantha will never release, still looking were I heard it, tho

Unless you can provide a source, I’m going to call utter bull because ArenaNet would NOT definitively close large story opportunities. It’d go against almost everything they have done. They brought back the mursaat in order to keep story possibilities open. They won’t ever outright state “Cantha will not happen. Ever.” They may say “Cantha won’t happen anytime soon” (in fact, Jeff Grubb said this back in 2009 – that there was absolutely no lore written for Cantha at the time beyond what’s been given, and they’re not looking into telling the story for a while (iirc)), but to never happen? I can’t see it. It’d go against how they always act.

During The Battle for Claw Island, when asking Watch Commander Talon about the fort’s history he says that Claw Island was established by Cobiah and the Captain’s Council after Port Stalwart fell. Unless I’m misremembering, though I don’t think I am. Sadly, wiki doesn’t have it up for my to double check.

Eh, other than there being Orrian undead in both, the plots are vastly different.

Prophecies introduced a war between Ascalonian and charr, where Ascalonians then retreated to Kryta where the White Mantle were introduced to later be shown as an oppressive theocratic government and you join the rebels, then having to seek out ancient powers related to the gods and ancient races/creatures in order to fight against the White Mantle’s false gods. All the meanwhile since arriving at Kryta you’re dealing with an undead army off and on who’s led by someone who’s after the fulfillment of prophecies that deal with the extinction of the White Mantle’s false gods.

GW2’s story introduces with five races’ individual problems that merge into three large multi-racial orders working to combat world-ending forces known as Elder Dragons, and while you’re working on improving your standing within your Order and, simultaneously, helping to both increase the Order’s standings and aid other races against the Elder Dragons, the Undeath Elder Dragon decides he’s waited long enough and launches attacks on Lion’s Arch, escalating in a full-out war of the united Orders against Zhaitan’s forces.

Again, the only similarity is that there are Orrians who are “undead” (I’m hesitant to call Risen “undead” because, despite appearances, they don’t function like standard undead in the least).

Given this, no, I don’t think that we could expect the next expansion to deal with plague-made mutants or the one after that to deal with demons and the Mists. In fact, most likely, the next expansion will deal with one or more of the other Elder Dragons – and if not, Joko’s the most likely target, which means more undead (with possible sides of Kralkatorrik and Branded), followed by the Sinister Triad in the west (with possible sides of Mordremoth). Or they go a completely new route. Depending on how they want expansions to occur compared to the Living Story.

This belongs more in the living story or suggestion forum than the lore forum, but I kind of agree and disagree with differing points.

The first two months would have been better off merged together into one, and unless the fourth update is much larger than the third, the third and fourth could have been merged together into one as well.

However, I disagree with the second part. I don’t see how the lore has drifted too far from GW1 – maybe you feel that way because GW1 was human-centric while this isn’t? Because that’s all that is really differing from GW1 in terms of lore.

Furthermore, “new continents” isn’t something that should be covered in the Living Story, but expansions.

And just want to note: “We know almost nothing about most of the bosses in this game.” Same can be said for GW1, actually. Only a fraction of those bosses actually mattered, lore-wise. And those are the ones we remember. We remember Galrath, Verata, Shiro, Dhuum, and Mallyx; in GW2, we remember Gaheron, King Adelbern, Faolain, Kudu, and Zhaitan. But who here knows of checks wiki Garbok Handsmasher or Glug Klugg from GW1? I bet without looking it up, you’d think Glug Klugg was a troll. Same kind of thing for the bosses in GW2 that don’t have story behind them.

The only problem bosses have in GW2 is that they’re not exposed enough before conflict – unlike Dagnar Stonepate, or Justiciar Halbion. We only hear of GW2 bosses through their minions, where until we meet them they’re just a face behind a shadowy veil 1970’s world villain style. But they still have backstory and lore, moreso than the GW1 bosses except the really major ones.

Given the description, I think that it’d be closer to Orr than Claw Island – as Claw Island was made after the fall of Port Stalwart, so unless it fell then the Risen got pushed back (which I doubt, personally), it couldn’t be closer to Orr than that.

I had thought that it was where Fort Trinity was built upon, given this line by Trahearne: "I know a ruined fort on the coast of Orr. It will take work to make it defensible, but from there we can strike directly at the heart of Zhaitan’s forces. " at the end of Retribution. Description fits, but in Forging the Pact he calls the place “the Terzetto site.”

@drax: I wouldn’t label out the Dominion of Winds. Keep in mind that Fort Stalwart fell shortly after Orr rose – and the tengu had to fight through Zhaitan’s forces. Meaning that Fort Stalwart might have fell before the tengu made the Dominion of Winds.

Edit: As just shown to me by Thalador:
http://www.amazon.com/Guild-Wars-Sorrows-Ree-Soesbee/dp/1416589627

The lost kingdom of Orr lies beneath the ocean waves, an entire civilization swallowed by an ancient cataclysm. For centuries, the depths have lain dormant, those ancient secrets lost. Until now. The Elder Dragon Zhaitan has risen. In its wake, the drowned kingdom of Orr is reborn—and another destroyed. The city of Lion’s Arch, for generations a cornerstone of civilization in Tyria, is brutally swept beneath the waves, leaving nothing but ruins. Among the survivors is Cobiah Marriner, a human sailor shipwrecked by the tsunami and stranded at sea. When he is rescued by a ferocious charr, Cobiah knows that he’s been plunged into a world forever changed. Now, Zhaitan’s undead servants dominate the sea, destroying port after port and slaughtering anything in their path. In the midst of ruin, Cobiah vows to see Lion’s Arch rebuilt. Amid the storm of the dragon’s rising, Cobiah must become a hero to his crew and an admiral to the pirate fleet, and face the ghosts of his past. Only then will he master the Sea of Sorrows and crush the armada of Orr.

I suspect we’ll find out about Port Stalwart in the third novel, may even be a main focus.

Kyban.4031:

Narcemus.1348:

Elementalists still use magic bound to the bloodstones (Destruction).

Generally, but they aren’t restricted to it like the other professions. They existed before Abaddon gave the ability to use bloodstone magic.

All magic existed before Abaddon gave the ability to use bloodstone magic, technically. But it wasn’t known to humans (or at least in large numbers) and was generally very restricted. Only Ritualists had such.

Kyban.4031:

There was a piece of lore that stated human mages existed before but were only elementalists, I shall attempt to find the source.

EDIT: It’s stated here http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Magic I’m not sure where the wiki writer got it from though.

That bit was written – incorrectly might I add – based on Thruln the Lost’s dialogue (who’s not a credible source, and the editor of the article misunderstood that bit fully).

What Thruln ACTUALLY said was that jotun considers elementalist magic to be the most primitive of magic. But that’s subjective, first and foremost, and no timeframe – let alone before the gift of magic Abaddon gave – was given. That editor (Santax) has an issue with differentiating subjective truths that NPCs like Thruln give from the objective truth, and mix-matches them up, rather than the more appropriate form of showing all versions of the same story.

Hell, most of that article is downright wrong or unproven speculation – or the information is outright irrelevant (like most of the sylvari bit). If I were able to, I’d clean that up greatly – but thanks to constantly fixing wrong information that very editor put up, and getting reverted by him too, caused us both to get banned temporarily for “disrupting the wiki with edit wars.”

Mikhail.4961:

previously established lore, regarding Abaddon and the release of magic.

Well the original version of that has been redacted, more or less, with GW2. Instead of Abaddon giving magic and magic not existing beforehand, rather Abaddon released magic from the Bloodstones but too freely and gave unique forms of magic to different groups.

This may also be of aid.

Gandarel.5091:

I know, but the one who asked stated that, and also that they are arriving atm roo.

Gandarel.5091:

However, Ebonhawke has some Canthan meals.

The OP’s wording’s weird, if you couldn’t tell. And those meals are explicitly stated to be imported – and only so thanks to the cease-fire allowing a better trade. It’s also why they have Krytan, norn, and Elonian meals.

wouw.5837:

A dev did tell that How many of them wanted to recreate Cantha, they just weren’t allowed to make it by NCSoft West

Source please, because I’ve seen no dev mention on Cantha other than a statement of how one particular dev (forgot who though) wish they could have GW2’s engine for Factions, as that would have made the maze city of Kaineng much more friendlier.

Lokheit.7943:

What exactly do you mean with “what word”?

If you mean if we will go there, apparently not soon as for what I know the publisher prefers to get rid of it for now (something about not wanting asian typical representations or stereotypes, not sure of the details), I think it was even the reason behind the Canthan District in Divinity’s Reach being replaced by a big giant hole.

Nothing was ever said about Cantha. Just the Canthan District – and the reason was that it got too much negative feedback from the asian markets. It’s not the publishers wanting to get rid of it – it’s them wanting to ensure it’s not viewed negatively.

As Erukk said, the Great Collapse gave them time to redesign it. I’m expecting the Great Collapse to be “repaired” in the foreseeable future as probably Togo District or some such (it’s hard to imagine memorable leaders in Canthan history, since 90% of those we know are only mentioned in An Empire Divided – and of those we see mentioned in game, it’s just Angsiyan who was killed by Shiro, Kisu, and Usoku – Kisu became a lamo after Togo’s death and Usoku is hated by every Canthan who went to Tyria, while Angsiyan… good luck with that as a district name lol).

Erukk.1408:

After the Jade Wind, the city had to expand basically overnight to take in the refugees. It expanded so much, it takes up a very good portion of Cantha itself. After awhile, I can see portions of that city falling into disrepair and possibly collapsing like the district did. It seemed to be starting already judging by some of the areas in Factions.

Now add a couple of centuries of that, possibly angry assimilated Luxons and Kurzicks, a nation of xenophobia, the Ministry of Purity, some political intrigue by way of the Emperor, and a dash of Elder Dragons, you can get a really good expansion.

Plus, we could possibly see some Ministry of Purity vs. Elder Dragon and their corruption.

Kaineng City was having construction issues well before Factions. It’s background lore that the city was basically a series of shacks built upon shacks when it was greatly expanded – and now the lower shacks are being crushed. Outside Kaineng Center there’s a part where a whole plaza is tilting over – that’s such a situation – and the slums exist because of this. And the typical response of the Celestial Ministry is “just build MORE houses on top!” (brilliant, right?). They even had a small ministry (probably part of the Ministry of Earth, as housing was in their department iirc), which focused on structural integrity – you can guess how efficient they are with their job.

As for Elder Dragons in Cantha – no please. Unless it’s singular, we got enough Elder Dragons. The only Elder Dragon I can see dealing with Cantha will be some unknown seventh dragon related to Kuunavang. Even the deep sea dragon unlikely has much influence on them, given how it’s in the deepest portions of the ocean where the krait once lived (or that’s where it woke at least – and its only recently that the karka are moving out, and they’re also from the ocean depths so its likely still down there) – and we never heard of Krait between travels of Tyria and Cantha (so it’s likely northeast of Cantha/southeast of Tyria/Elona, or northwest/southwest respectively).

And I would expect, unless the emperor succeeding Usoku revokes his actions like most historical Canthan emperors do (it seems to be a trend in Canthan history for emperors to revoke their father’s actions as emperor), that the Celestial Ministry will be removed and replaced with the Ministry of Purity – which would thus simply be called “the Ministry”. That’s my hope at least, since I’m tired of dealing with the uselessly corrupt Celestial Ministry that prevents anything from being done except filling their own coffers.

Gandarel.5091:

Survivors making their way to Ascalon and Kryta? When? Where?

Ascalon, no; Kryta – after Usoku exiled folks.

Yes. Though some believe that it’s waking up due to the Arah explorable jotun path – the point is telling us that a new star is born when Elder Dragons rise, and we can see a cinematic where a new star is made, indicating that in 1325 AE/1326 AE, an Elder Dragon rises.

I think that’s where the Sieran one is (a Risen Captain, iirc). It’s probably just changing based on what your personal order is – heck, even the dialogue and event title may change per character for a single event.

No, you didn’t read that right. Remember that old blog post from ~2009 by Matthew Medina talking about the languages? He mentioned that in GW history there’s 4 translatable languages (the four I mentioned), and there’ll be a fifth introduced in GW2.

I don’t think Canthan is in GW2.

draxynnic.3719:

@kokocabana: Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be anything equivalent for the Priory or the Vigil. ArenaNet really does seem to have given Whispers the most love out of the orders – AFAIK it’s also the only order that has open world events that get triggered by personal story as well.

It’s the Priory who had personal story triggered events, not Whispers – that I knew of. The one of taking revenge on Sieran.

Assuming Narcemus’ interpretation (which is mine):

1) It’s not really said how the Flame Legion make their portals.

2) Similarly, we’re given no details on the ritual of the Searing – I think. There is a personal story mission where we defend someone performing a centralized Searing on the Temple of Melandru in Orr, but I don’t recall any chanting or the like.

Most magical spells aren’t really described for how they’re done. We just see the effects of the spell, and sometimes the animation of the spellcasting.

Narcemus.1348:

That we know of, I haven’t heard anything about an Orrian Alphabet. I believe there would have been, since there was Ascalonian and Krytan, but we just don’t have anything to reference on this.

There is an Orrian Alphabet. It’s seen in only three places in the entire game.

Or at least, they’re Orrian runes.

Temple of the Forgotten Shrine, The Ruined City of Arah (story mode), and in Sparkfly Fen (in Stone of Hazaan – at the PoI) are the locations. The runes are on small human-height black obelisks that have a blue glow to them.

There’s also a norn in Raven Lodge, Hoelbrak, which talks about the Orrian script.

Fun fact: Matthew Medina said there’d be five translatable languages with the release of GW2 – Ascalonian, Canthan, New Krytan, Asuran, and an unknown one. I bet Orrian is the unknown one, since through all my experience it and a one-spot writing in a dwarven tomb is all I could find of unique writing.

Ratphink.4751:

Well considering there are ancient Orrian texts we can read, it should be safe to assume the language is some dialect related to Old Krytan, and one that’s close enough that all of our characters are able to piece it together and read it on the fly. That or we all have our own Personal ‘universal translator’ that was likely injected into us by an Asuran when we weren’t looking.

Hardly.

Firstly, we’re not reading any Orrian texts. You mean the Orrian History Scrolls? Those were made by the Durmand Priory, of actual Orrian texts. The only direct Orrian reading done in the game is by Sayeh in the Temple of the Forgotten God – when interacting with the obelisks mentioned above.

Secondly, Old Krytan is said to be so complex that even the most learned individuals have issues reading it.

Though we do manage to read Old Krytan with the Unfinished Dwayna Statues. (the wiki is missing 3 or 4 statue dialogues, one stating that Malchor wrote in Old Krytan). But it was a miniscule amount of reading.

You also visit it in the Vigil’s plan – as an asura, you visit it no matter what.

Well it seems to be what human legends currently claim and would certainly explain why Dhuum was unable to be killed (Grenth did imprison Dhuum and probably could have killed him after; but it’s stated that when Grenth usurped Dhuum, he couldn’t kill the now-former god of death – for all we know, Dhuum is still a legit god and Grenth is still only a half-god (would explain why he had to “earn” his right to live in Arah with his dear ol’ mum)).

The Maguuma Jungle is very big – it contains the Magus Falls, Maguuma Wastes (which is speculated in lore (though not in-game) to be caused by ED), and the Tarnished Coast. Basically, take everything that is east of Kryta and north of the Ring of Fire – that’s the Maguuma Jungle (all the way to the off-the-map western coastline, and including the northern coastline that goes into Janthir Bay). Malyck’s tree is likely in the area that was The Falls in GW1 – which is within Magus Falls now – as that’s where the river on the map ends (it goes south into Metrica Province then east into Magus Falls, ending either within The Falls or between The Falls and Tangle Root).

We see, perhaps, the most influence coming in Caledon Forest, with next to nothing evil-plant related in Metrica Province and little in Brisban Wildlands.

Malyck holds nothing similar to the Nightmare Court or the Nightmare – and in fact, lacks any Dream of Dreams tie.

Based on observations, I think that – as stated above here in this thread – that the Nightmare is the closest ties to the sylvari that Mordremoth gets. Mordremoth’s influence doesn’t disconnect the tree from the Dream of Dreams and we know that the Dream of Dreams isn’t unique to the Pale Tree nor the sylvari race. There is absolutely nothing which implies or indicates Mordremoth holds any influence – directly or indirectly – on or with Malyck whatsoever. Nada, nothing. Not even his unknown tree. However, it should be noted that because Malyck didn’t have a Dream doesn’t mean his tree isn’t tied to the Dream of Dreams – the Firstborn only had such because the Pale Tree had learned something herself. Grown in the wilderness, without nurturing, Malyck’s tree would be without such and may not have found it worth giving Malyck a DoD experience. Or it may not hold a connection to the Dream like the Pale Tree has of natural reasons (we don’t know why the Pale Tree has a connection to the Dream).

Just because a sylvari doesn’t experience the Dream of Dream doesn’t make them “without purpose” or having “no free will” – Malyck, as you state, had no Dream of Dream but very much has a free will. If anything, those who experience the Dream of Dreams has less free will than those who don’t – because the Wyld Hunt (their “purpose”) is imposed on them by another force, and though they’re not forced to complete the Wyld Hunt, they’re constantly feeling like they should (I think of it like if we’re bored and thus gain an appetite; we don’t have to eat but our brain is telling us to eat).

So I honestly think there’s absolutely no ties between Mordremoth and the sylvari. The closest you get is the Nightmare, but that’s not sylvari-unique. The White Stag is on par to the Pale Tree in that both are creatures which exist both within the Dream and within Tyria at the same time.

As to where Mordremoth is – I’m betting he’s off the map at the moment, or he’s near/within Wychmire Swamp (which seems to hold “non-Nightmare Court Summoned Husks” according to Gamarian – the meta event there deals with a bunch of NC-related mobs, but we’re told that it’s not the NC’s doing, and it calls those mobs “Blighted”).

Fun fact: In Wychmire Swamp, there are three huge moss covered stone heads. To me, they look like mossheart faces. Related to Mordremoth?

Any “freed” risen would only be such after Arah explorable – before that, it was thought via experimentation to be impossible to free a risen from being a dragon minion – physically or otherwise.

And the Order of Whispers already has operatives in Elona and has had since the beginning of Joko’s reign which was before Zhaitan’s rise let alone defeat.

Unable to die in battle wouldn’t be the same as being unable to die. He could be poisoned while relaxing or something. Maybe. Similarly, he could be outsmarted (as proven by a mere mortal) – explaining how Abaddon would be able to defeat him and any other god (or just any other two gods and not Balth) – it’s never said Abaddon would be able to kill gods, after all.

Ludovicus.7980:

Yes, and that makes Mordremoth the biggest threat among all the dragons. If his domain is the dream he’s connected to the mists. That means that he could even try to attack the 6 human gods, create his own domain and threaten the very existence of the world. Like Abaddon did some centuries ago.

The Dragonbrand contains both the Tomb of Drascir (at least supposedly) as well as the Tomb of the Primeval Kings – two portals to the Mists there.

Zhaitan had control of the Ring of Fire – where the Door of Komalie is – and was waging war with Elona’s northern border – in the direction of the Mouth of Torment.

Jormag, through the Sons of Svanir, has been sending minions into the Mists directly.

Primordus, if he can get the old asura gates to link up to the new asura gates, would be possibly capable of getting asura gate access into the WvW areas of the Mists.

The only dragon which doesn’t have some (possible) tie to the Mists is the deep sea dragon, so if the Dream=the Mists and Nightmare=Mordremoth’s influence, that doesn’t make Mordremoth the most harmful, since Jormag has a bigger presence in the Mists atm.

Honestly, given how we haven’t heard ANYTHING about Kralkatorrik for 5 years, and his minions are heading south only, I wouldn’t doubt he went into the Tomb of the Primeval King portal and is making a nice little throne in the Hall of Heroes while in a war with the spirits (since he seems unwilling/unable/unwanting to corrupt spirits/ghosts).

Would be a nice way to explain why we don’t have access to it for our sPvP.

Narcemus.1348:

Yeah, none of Orr was explorable before. All we’ve ever kinda got was a glimpse of Livia picking up the Scepter of Orr in, what I’ve heard, was Orr, but you saw no buildings or anything, this was long after it was destroyed.

Absolutely 100% nothing says Livia found it in Orr.

She does say that she’ll be heading to Arah, but nothing says she got the Scepter of Orr from there.

mercury ranique.2170:

what puts me off tbh is that he is making money this way and constantly finds people to plug it.

I don’t think he gets money from this, nor do I think he actively gets people to spread the videos for him – most of the folks who link his videos just don’t know that the topic has already been discussed to near death when WP covers it.

Lokheit.7943:

I… I… miss Kekai Kotaki art so much… U.U

He’s probably my favorit concept artist in videogames. Happy to see some new designs of him and if those dates are right they were done while working for a-net so hopefully we can see some of his amazing dragons in game and his (already drawn for the future) concept art is still featured in future expansions

I feel ya. I feel ya.

Those dragon concept art were from 2007 and were early unused concept art for the Elder Dragons themselves.

Gregorius.1024:

Why does a spy network have a booth in every major city? Why do they freely offer aid out in the open? How come the other factions know that there’s an order that influence the politics and nations of Tyria. The Order of Whispers is not what it used to be.

Where’s their booth in Rata Sum and Hoelbrak? If you’ve found them, I’d love to know.

But basically, they’ve decided that in this day and age, where the world is beset by world-consuming forces of seemingly unkillable nature (it’s the OoW’s belief prior to GW2 that the Elder Dragons cannot be killed, only put back to sleep – sadly, we don’t see this happen in game), being more open is for the better. Their jobs and what they’re interacting with is still hidden, but they’ve recently opened their presence a bit more to the world. They’re a known force, so why not openly confirm their existence and recruit more openly? It gets more recruits and does no more harm to them than if they’re just rumors.

They’re not that much less secretive than in GW2 – the only thing is that they’ve confirmed their existence from the rumors and thought-ofs.

Besides, with the asura about, it’d be kind of hard to keep a hidden identity.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Vigil?s=t

vig·il
[vij-uhl] Show IPA
noun
1.
wakefulness maintained for any reason during the normal hours for sleeping.
2.
a watch or a period of watchful attention maintained at night or at other times: The nurse kept her vigil at the bedside of the dying man.
3.
a period of wakefulness from inability to sleep.
4.
Ecclesiastical .
a.
a devotional watching, or keeping awake, during the customary hours of sleep.
b.
Sometimes, vigils. a nocturnal devotional exercise or service, especially on the eve before a church festival.
c.
the eve, or day and night, before a church festival, especially an eve that is a fast.

This is why both are named such.

The statue was likely called such because it is the only statue in the Crystal Desert still standing – thus it’s a statue standing all alone while the others are fallen (it’s “awake” while others are “asleep” metaphorically).

The Vigil is called such because they’re always ready to act.