Guild Wars 2

It was Scarlet, she ordered the cultist, The Veteran Novice Alliance to chain the Colossuss to the cliff, and it’s release was what she planned all along!

Right? But on a serious note, what Aaron said. The impression I got from that interview was that there are no more details behind it, and probably never will be, like with the Wizards Tower in Kessex and many other examples. Though I hope I’m wrong, I don’t really believe it to be otherwise anymore.

Not a Kiel voter, and I’m happy.
The fractal for me is: fun mechanics, to get to the end (gun labyrinth a bit confusing to coordinate in a pug though), few minutes of closing eyes and yelling “LALALALAA” until salad disappears and then fun Anomaly.
Plus, Dessa got some light shed on her and the Lab, that was good!

Good point, Konig, thanks! I was just wandering

Umm, Konig, doesn’t Dessa refer to the deceased Inquest guys as her ex krewe mates (at least the female one for sure), thus hinting strongly towards the idea that Dessa herself was Inquest at least for some time?

Heh, I resented and still resent Scarlet, but now I just don’t really give a kitten .
I played GW1 since the start and GW2 since beta being an avid lore fan, but now it just feels too “meh” to care. So yea, +1 to OP, I hope I’ll get drawn in to the rich lore and tales of Guild Wars sometime in the future, but for now… “meh”

Of course we can’t prove it, it just proves it’s been rigged well! So probably Evon rigged it himself, for reasons known to him…

And I really supported Evon, I prefer characters with own interests in mind over knights in shining armours.

Abbadon was a big bonus though, I won’t lie, it’s much more interesting to me than Thaumanova.

TriggerSad.2597:

I still find the way they choose the new Council member was odd. We knew that lore-wise the way you got on the Council was to pay up the gold, and then have the Council itself vote on whether or not the person signing up was right for the job. Having the general populace made no sense from the start.

Either way, I’m past the final vote, and am excited to see the new Fractals being added to the game!!

General populace wasn’t voting for his seat in the council. Council decided to choose whoever the Zephyrites will sign a trade agreement with, and Zephyrites decided that they will sign with with the one who has the most devoted supporters.

Hence, by going along with the bagde activities, you showed your support to Evon/Kiel to the Zephyrites, not teh council.

Still – Evon for the Council, elections were rigged!

I loved it and will most likely watch it a few more times!

On a side note, by a complete accident I made a krait attack a nightmare courtier (or vice versa, can’t be sure), and they then proceeded to try and bash each other’s head in for a moment before I wasted them.
Don’t think there is a lore significance behind it, but perhaps such mechanic (if it was indeed a mechanic) is the marker of tensions between two groups?

Hell it would be fun if we enter the tower and see krait an NC joyfully going at slaughtering each other, right?

They just look at it and go “Oooo, nice salad” and “Foo! Quaggan taught quaggan saw a Scarlet!”

Three weeks or 1 month, but with a bigger pressure put on a CONVINCING story with more depth than a salad leaf have would be my dream.

Amen! And plus 1.

Completely don’t mind the mobs having a downed state. In a one on one situation it can give us a “finish him” fun with you pvp spike, and in fights against multiple opponents I can just keep shooting/stabbing/whatever a bit longer.

No objections from me, I think it’s kind of nice and gives me a reason to do some pvp to get a bear finisher.

Konig Des Todes.2086:

zwierz.9012:

The funny thing is, NOTIHNG so far is pointing directly to Scarlet being involved from what I saw, except that NPC.

False. Above at least one event in Kessex Hills, there is a portal just like above the Scarlet invasion meta events. The one above the caves to the SE of the tower that is about closing three Toxic Alliance portals.

Edit: I see Aaron mentioned that already.

Oh, there is a portal? Well, I haven’t seen it, ergo my statement wasn’t false, ha ha :P!
But yeah, I didn’t catch that portal, but it provides more links to Scarlet, like you say.

Well, now at least I have a bone to pick with Scarlet. If she’d WAIT and not show her face for this update I’d be richer. But no, she had to be mentioned, kitten it!

Anyway, logging in to pay up.

ps. And I would’ave gotten away with it if it wasn’t for that pesky salad!

lordkrall.7241:

Actually the NPC don’t confirm it.
It is only said that it SEEMS to be Scarlet (which is of course very likely, but it is not actually confirmed).

When you look at the next update’s image, it’s pretty much a “Scarlet did it” right there.

The funny thing is, NOTIHNG so far is pointing directly to Scarlet being involved from what I saw, except that NPC.

And it comes to my mind to ask, how exactly did Scarlet get those obelisk shards from (logical assumption here) the depths of the ocean, where (another assumption) Bubbles is partying and chased away the Krait in the first place?

Oh, right, she’s Scarlet, why do I bother asking “how”?

Heh, sending gold today I will. And then i’ll log out and stay logged out untill Slayer of Lores is gone.

The historian NPC with the shard icon (forgot the name) already confirmed it’s Scarlet’s doing, also look at the preview picture of the next release. See you after it’s over in game!

Yes, I was bows and tip’s a headwear that is not changing into a baby cat.

I did say to double check me because I wrote without checking sources, which I won’t omit in the future.

Krytan’s didn’t even know they are slaves. It’s at best arguable if slavery with a master that wants NOTHING from you, and takes care of you is better than freedom where your life expectancy is similar to mayflies. Just saying.

EDIT
Also, big thank you for correcting me, Thalador, I did mention I write from memory, and I have clearly been mistaken about the ammount of sacrifices!

My point is rendered mute then, expect for the current Krytan government preffering to spend bayon sums on festivals and shows of strength rather than spending them on actually solving the problem. After all, it wasn’t Caudecus who ordered the Queen’s Festival, was it?

I guess Scarlet is like that one terrible episode of every show, that authors had no good ideas about and just filmed it because they had to film something, and in the end it’s just a mess of plots making little to no sense, and attempting to be funny without success.

Compared to any other villain in GW, she just look like a red headed stepchild, figuratively.
Hell, even HoboTron has better backstory (Read: Appeared as a Job O Tron, and there are other similar golems in game…), motivation (After the Southsun fiasco, his “carrier” ended and he had to get by), and interactions (with the mistrell for example) than Scarlet.

Hell, Hobo Tron’s story motivation and conflicts are better simply because THEY EXIST, while Scarlet’s don’t.

At least I can’t think of any in game data telling me the character triad – past/motivation/conflict, which are essential for any character to exist within a book, game, or a movie. I don’t count the hastily written story placed on the website post factum, of course.

Come to think of it, Kryta without the Mantle and Mursaat was (and IS now since they’re gone) a boiling cauldron of war, banditry and so on. Hundreds, or even thousands die on daily basis while Jenna and royalty feast and spend giant sums of gold on festivals and idle gestures of power (Queens Festival, anyone? Royalty and “heroes” fighting made up enemies while soldiers and common folks die out there to their real foes)…

On the other hand, theocratic Kryta under the Mantle was a peaceful, orderly land where people were generally safe, only a handful (7 a month ((or even a year)), in the WHOLE kingdom of Kryta, if I remember right, but double check me, writing this without checking sources) died as a price.

Seems like a fair deal to me, from the perspective of the average citicen of Kryta.

PLUS the Mursaat, still being alive, could be a powerful force against Abaddon’s plans, they might not be our allies, but they are certainly Abaddon’s enemies.

And in fact, the whole Factions/NIghtfall stories might go really different, or not happen at all if the door of Komalie was still closed, we can’t know that.

But no! kitten EVIL Mursaat, sacrificing the few, so that many (including themselves) may live, and otherwise letting things unfold without imposing their rule on the populace. Those kittenS, right?

Can you blame them? I found that a very realistic and free of propaganda outlook on things on the side of Mursaat.

Every sane creature would care about survival of their species fist, and saying otherwise is pure bull kittenery. Mursaat simply chose pragmatism and over ideology, so would most of people.

And then, minions of evil Lichlord (that means US, players) killed them all to release untold evil on the world, and probably waking up Elder Dragons ages before the due time.

It’s what I loved about Guild Wars Prophecies, actually. In the end, running away from the charr, Ascalonians settled in Kryta, thanks to kindness of the White Mantle, but then afraid of them and the Mursaat, heroes joined forces with Khilbron, who pretended to be on their side, lead them to destroy the Mursaat, and used the players to release Titans.

In the end, it was THE PLAYERS who were the evil ones, unintentionally bringing destructive forces down on Tyria.

Or not, depending on one’s point of view, and how one likes to read the events, after all, we did save Tyria from Abaddon. But would he even POSE a threat if we didn’t help Khilbron in the first place?

It’s what was best – story could be told in many ways, always retaining the awesomeness.

I wish we would see similarly epic stories in Guild Wars 2, really.

I’d take the Prophet and his minions any day.

I’m not glazing above the krait slaves, I just don’t think NC slaves would warrant a mention of “new allies”, that’s all.

Still, all in all, if the alliance is made without overwriting the lore, I’d be the first to say “Huzzah!” and consider the lore enriched. I simply fear that it will be done by going completely against krait worldview, by a deus ex machina, devil out of a box move.

Still, don’t get me wrong I am looking forward to the update, it is most promising indeed. I simply rather not get my hopes up too much.

Except centaurs are at least known to make alliances, and change strategies every now and again (For example in GW1, when tribe chiefs were talking about ending the war against each other and focusing on humans), while krait are simply (in their own mind) above such petty opportunism, and simply don’t believe other races even HAVE anything they could have use of, regardless of objectivity.

Judging from what ore of them we have, I’d lean towards opinion that even considering an alliance for mutual, or krait exclusive gain would be a blesphamy and a world shattering event for krait leadership.

The only way I would see krait being manipulated into cooperation is blatant mind control, corruption or deus ex machina.

Amen, and +1 to that!

Nah, it seems that she shows her face every 2nd, or every 3rd update. I can just not play gw2, or focus on roleplaying and other things during updates with her included. I think I will actually, and stop whining about it, futile actions aren’t my thing anyway.

Ahh, why the kitten not. Signed.

Heh, I recall actually looking forward to find out about the mysterious figure who leads all those different groups, someone with charisma, potential and so on.

Aaand by the end of Pavillion I felt disappointed, and the first cut scene of Queen’s Speech just caused an alt+f4 and two weeks of playing Civilization in free time.

Okay, MAYBE I went to see an invasion or two.

Just adding my little brick, for the cause. I also find her to be an uninteresting, poor character.

No motivation to fight her/ join her, very little interest in doing content presented under her banner, AND the first time a beginning of a LS update actually made me log out of the game for 2 weeks was Queen’s Speech.

Yes, he is tired of suffering NC attacks, and took control of the Court, and is now leading them to die by our hands, brilliant!

Or skritt and Jotun! I bet on skritt and jotun!

Just a little notion – Norn have no army, (which is just a small notion, not changing or demeaning your idea whatsoever) they live a semi-nomadic life without governments, armies and so on. Your thinking makes sense, I hope the in game reality of it will make as well.

CHIPS.6018:

The story have to be darker and more serious to capture the correct target audience. There are murders. There are slaughters. There are kitten s.

You had me at kittens, sir! I love kittens!

Also, you are right. Example of my own experience, strictly subjective, and is most likely not a fact, rather an opinion, most players I happen to interact with is above 20, and acts like it. Hearing someone is below 18 while in game is actually a rarity to me. Kittens are just icing on the cake.

That would be interesting.

And come to think of it, my theory about krait deciding to take an offensive against Fort Salma, Dominion of Winds, and other populated areas in Kessex has fallen even before release.

Well, at least it was fun imagining them actually taking an active role in the world rather than electing another static danger zone, but while a little disappointing, it can still be quite fun, unless Scarlet will be involved, then I myself won’t touch it, but that’s just me.

Now that would be interesting! Krait shaped sylvari with their everpresent pets and guards, fernsharks!

Aaand since Viathan Lake is in the same location as the castle, it means we won’t see any update on the castle situation for a long while.

kitten you Drarnor Kunoram.5180, you made me drool now! Now I’ll be dreaming of Mursaat returning, and instead I’ll get “Lettuce destroy you!”… If you get my drift.

EDIT. Not really kitten, but you know. Meow.

I think it may be Bubbles, krait being water creatures and all. Or maybe some Underworld/Mists influence, they remind me a little of Shadow Behemoth. Of course, it is just an opinion.

Maybe one of the Prophets that ascended through the obelisk has achieved his goal, (whatever that is exactly) and wanted to return. He would send thelepathical message to Krait Witch, which decided to build the tower, a landing pad (of sorts) for Him and his ghastly minions, that will perhaps posses the krait Loa style, and start prancing around?

Just a theory from the top of my hat, go ahead and point out inconsistencies.

EDIT: On a second thought, wording used by ANet (The Nightmare GROWS) and all the spiky plantlife seems to be suggesting Nightmare Court’s Involvement. It goes against the motto of “Broader, not deeper”, but totally plausible it will be NC after all.

But then why do krait glow? Oh I know! The Prophet ascended through the Obelisk to world of F…. popular post apocaliptic game… And brought a couple of Glowing Ghouls and barrels of radioactive waste with him. Norn vs Supermutants, anyone?

Well, nightmare doesn’t mean Nightmare Court automatically, and even if, it doesn’t mean Scarlet.

And I hope the sinister lady, I think she is just a sinister voice.

The most important part, no signs of any kind of machinery and gadgets typical for Scarlet.

Hmm, no silly laughter, no ponies, no mechanical loot pinatas that just stand around looking silly and waiting to be killed… Yep, doesn’t seem like Scarlet would be involved.

Muahaha, I’m gonna be rich! Or not.

Tanith.5264:

Ooookay, thank you for that mental image. (cringe)

There’s another aspect of this I haven’t seen discussed yet. The “Great Mesmer Collective” or whatever is studying this activity which apparently is something they haven’t seen before.

Has anyone ever seen the krait use any type of mesmer abilities?

You’re welcome! I suppose my sense of humour is more than a bit twisted.

And yes I think the mesmer veil is more or less unusual, scale is impraessive, but it seems crude, completely different in both scale and making from (for example) the Queen’s trickshow not long ago, also a mesmer showdown.

I mean it’s just a physical barrier + invisibilty veil, much less complicated matter than an illusion of life, but it’s big as (or nevermind, we don’t want any more mental images, do we?)… a curtain the size of a lake. And no I can’t think of any mesmer action from krait in GW2…

I’d say it’s about as likely as for a norn woman to give birth to an asura (Which can happen if said norn woman sits on an asura first and wears no underwear).

In other words: I meant that unless for some reason unknown someone would bury an obelisk there, I’m wrong, and krait aren’t digging in search for the obelisk.

Good point, Exosferatu! Still, there can be some “obelisk buried there eons ago” factors coming in, other than that, I’m wrong.

Which makes me double back to the starting theorems, much more thought through.

Oh kitten , you are right, I went ahead of myself with this one!

Scratch the latter part of my quickly made theory then, I still think they might be digging to unearth an obelisk.

Thanks for the links, very informative indeed…

The screenshots actually gave me an idea.

The krait are digging to unearth the obelisk! We know they worship the obelisks, but there is none to be seen, right?

SO let’s say they would dig for one, to open a portal for a prophet to RETURN, instead of sending another one?

So let’s say they would unearth the obelisk (digging would take a lot of lumber, to secure the dig site etc.) and then open the passage, blowing the obelisk up in high in the sky (which would explain the first screenshot)!

We would then be traveling to some different dimension to fight the prophet and his armies, based on the second screenshot that looks sort of R’lyeh-ish. I’d say we face Chthulhu there, but that would be too much.

And it would make sense gameplay wise, since a LS update focusing on underwater combat would make many people rage, so double gain?

EDIT: The architecture on the second picture seems unknown to me, so perhaps this is how krait build, when they are not quickly putting shacks and cages together?

I’d think they lay eggs…

Can’t recall any confirmation from in-game, or young tengu anywhere in Guild Wars 1 or 2… It seems logical though.

Good point Stooperdale, krait never have used lumber in their works, and it’s not certain do they even understand the idea of siege engines of any kind.

They can still be digging, either downwards for unknown reason, or towards destroyer tunnels or under Tengu wall to islands on the other side, building some structure or simply trying something new…

@Walhalla: What screenshots? Argh, gonna look now!

EDIT: I can’t find the new screenshots so far, any link perhaps?