Hi, my name is Anatoli Ingram, and welcome to Hidden Arcana, where I'll be giving you an inside look at some of the ideas and lore behind Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns™.I'm a role-player at heart, so I love to create backstories and lives for my characters within the Guild Wars 2 setting. Professions are a huge part of a character's identity, and the more lore I know about those. Jan 17, 2019 Back then, I LOOOVED Tyria. It was my favorite world. From Tyria, to Cantha, to Elona, to the Far North and beyond, I loved the rich lore and history that you all at ArenaNet built into the game. The Fissure of Woe was one of my favorite places in all of this franchise. The gods and the interesting religion they introduced was another favorite. Set in the fantasy world of Tyria, the game follows the re-emergence of Destiny's Edge, a disbanded guild dedicated to fighting the Elder Dragons, a Lovecraftian species that has seized control of Tyria in the time since the original Guild Wars. The game takes place in a persistent world with a story that progresses in instanced environments. An Assassin from the world of Tyria, you struggle to make ends meet in a new world governed by a different set of rules. (Guild Wars) Guild Wars 2 Living World. For those of you who are worried about missing a bunch of lore and history, however, I can do a little to help with an introduction to Tyria, its history, and the events leading up to Guild Wars 2.
- The Movement Of The World - Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W)
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Human
Humans have lost their homeland, their security, and their former glory. Even their gods have withdrawn. And yet, the human spirit remains unshaken. These brave defenders of Kryta continue to fight with every ounce of their strength.
The Movement Of The World - Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W)
Featured Video
Kryta, the Last Human Homeland in Guild Wars 2
The humans of Tyria are a proud but embattled race. Over the centuries, they have lost much of their land and have even lost their gods, but the resilient humans can adapt to seemingly any circumstances. Today, the human race maintains their unshakeable spirit in the face of harrowing adversity.
Once, great human nations ruled much of Tyria, but no longer. After a protracted and bloody war, the charr conquered the powerful kingdom of Ascalon. The awakening of the Elder Dragon known as Zhaitan triggered a massive wave that reshaped coastlines and destroyed Lion's Arch, the largest human city at the time.
Human refugees settled in Kryta and founded Divinity's Reach, a fortified metropolis that shines like a beacon of hope for all humans. From here, the long reach of human power stretches out across the surrounding countryside, offering protection to farmers and townsfolk who live under constant threat from marauding centaurs and gangs of bandits. Not all threats to mankind are as obvious; inside the city walls, power struggles and intrigue between the queen and the nobility strain the fabric of human society.
One of the greatest setbacks humanity has experienced is the withdrawal of the Six Gods from their daily lives. Despite their silence, humans do not feel forsaken; they feel as if they are being tested. The gods expect them to stand on their own, and as a people, they refuse to fall.
Humanity's long and tragic history may lead other races to think of them as a dying race that belongs to another age, but humans know otherwise. Even the youngest sylvari knows about the great human figures of legend—and the time has come for a new hero to walk in their footsteps.
Your Human Character
When you create your human character, you will pick your social class. Were you raised in high society? Perhaps you come from a hardworking middle-class background. Or did you grow up poor on the mean streets of Divinity's Reach? As a human, you'll also select one of the Six Gods as your patron—from Grenth, the god of death, to Lyssa, the goddess of illusions.
When your human character increases in level, they will gain access to a range of special racial skills granted to them by the Six Gods, such as summoning fearsome Hounds of Balthazar or beseeching the healing goddess Dwayna to restore your health.
Your story begins in Queensdale, a lush district of farmlands and rolling hills that lies in the shadow of the great walls of Divinity's Reach. Here, you will answer the call to adventure and create a new legend in the history of your proud people.
Screenshots
Wallpapers
Guild Wars 2 is fast becoming one of the most anticipated MMO-type games since the release of the Guild Wars 2 trailer and follow up articles and interviews. Jeff Grubb – World Designer and Writer for Guild Wars 2 - just back from a busy time at Germany's Gamescom, and he was graciously able to answer a few questions before heading off to PAX 2009, where ArenaNet will have plenty of events. (Be sure to check out their giveaway times for their 128-page Guild Wars 2 concept art book.) On to the questions!
Now that the gates have opened on Guild Wars 2 information, will any secrets to Guild Wars 1 be further explained, such as Bahltek, the undeciphered Asuran banner, or the giganticus lupicus?
Short answer – yes. It is the same world, so we will be using the lore and history of the world. What pieces get revealed and explained will develop as the story evolves. And just to drive you mad, at least one of the items listed will be addressed.
The focus of the story in the trailer seemed to be on the unification of the races and one elder dragon, Zhaitan. The other awakening dragons are only mentioned in passing. Will the first Guild Wars 2 story (campaign, story arc, etc.) deal primarily with Zhaitan and Orr, or will we encounter the other elder dragons as well?
The ultimate foe of Guild Wars 2 is Zhaitan, but the influences of the other dragons run deep through Tyria – Jormag's worshippers are active among the Norn, Kralkatorrik's brand is carved across the charr lands in Ascalon, and the minions of Primordus continue to surface across the land. But the story of GW2 leads to Orr, and the City of the Gods which is Zhaitan's lair.
Why did the elder dragons awaken now, and nearly all at once?
By 'nearly' you mean 'once every fifty years or so over the past 250 years'. This is a lifetime in human terms, but an eyeblink in the history of the world. They are primordial powers that now are growing restive and unleashing their power on the world.
Why exactly are they waking up now? Unrevealed, but they are waking up hungry.
Humans are an interesting wild card in the Guild Wars world. What we know is they first appeared in Cantha, the Empire of the Dragon, and the now-called human gods were very relevant to all the lore built up in Guild Wars 1. Now, with the awakening of the elder dragons and waning of the human race, the human gods are less involved in the world of Tyria. Who or what created the human race and what is their point of origin? Why do the other races seem to hold so little value in the human gods, who allegedly 'created' Tyria as we know it?
The full story of the origin of the humans has yet to be revealed. They arrived in the Tyria (the continent) sometime after they first appeared on Tyria (the world). It seems, from their previous appearances, that they have come up from the south, so the 'human homeland' may be further south than Elona and Cantha. The idea of human gods 'creating' Tyria is viewed by other races with mixed reactions. The charr think of it as theological propaganda (and that the human gods are not true gods, only more powerful, once-mortal, beings). The asura are perfectly willing to accept the idea of gods as (rather large) gears in the Eternal Alchemy. Norn are perfectly willing to allow the idea of gods, but think of them as a different type of their own animal spirits. The sylvari consider them unproven, since the gods have not shown their presence directly to the sylvari.
Which came first to the world of Tyria, the elder dragons or the human gods (current pantheon or predecessor pantheons)? Do they have any prior relationship, especially since the human gods created Glint, a dragon, to shepherd their creations?
The Dragons, as we said, have always been here. The gods predate the humans, but not by much. Much of what we know about Glint comes from Glint herself. The truth of the matter may be very different, and she has her own reasons for saying what she has said.
Lore — Guild Wars 2 Forums
Kerrsh's quest line in Eye of the North (ending with the quest The Path to Revelations) is a hotly debated topic on the lore forums. Why are the facets of the human gods depicted as dragons? Can the gods' cryptic message be explained in terms of Guild Wars 2?
Dragons are power, and the facets reflect the nature of the power that the human gods have harnessed. Both the Asuran Central Transfer Chamber and the City of Arah were built on places of power, which turned out to be directly over Elder Dragons.
See All Results For This Question
It is possible that the cryptic message refers to the Dragons – 'a land unwaking' could be the risen kingdom of Orr, and answers to the origin of the dragons do lie there.
Dwarves are also an interesting race in that, according to the trailer, they actually had legends about Zhaitan. Given that they also had legends about the Great Destroyer, the dwarves seem to have much more knowledge about the elder dragons than the other races. What year were the dwarves created, and what legends did they have about Zhaitan?
As one of the elder races, dwarves know more about the Primordus, his minion the Great Destroyer, and their dragon kindred. Only a portion of that was written down in books such as the Tome of Rubicon, but the knowledge still survives elsewhere.
The Mursaat was one of the favorite races of the players, even though their demise was caused by players' hands. What can you tell us about the few Mursaat that were left after Eye of the North? What have they been up to for 250 years? Will they make an appearance in Guild Wars 2 or will more Mursaat Rallies have to be held?
The Mursaat are a favorite race here at ArenaNet as well, and we have a number of creatives that are big Mursaat fans (which is why they showed up in the Bonus Mission Packs). Their ultimate fate has yet to be revealed, so keep holding the rallies.
Thank you for your time!
The Movement Of The World - Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W)
Featured Video
Kryta, the Last Human Homeland in Guild Wars 2
The humans of Tyria are a proud but embattled race. Over the centuries, they have lost much of their land and have even lost their gods, but the resilient humans can adapt to seemingly any circumstances. Today, the human race maintains their unshakeable spirit in the face of harrowing adversity.
Once, great human nations ruled much of Tyria, but no longer. After a protracted and bloody war, the charr conquered the powerful kingdom of Ascalon. The awakening of the Elder Dragon known as Zhaitan triggered a massive wave that reshaped coastlines and destroyed Lion's Arch, the largest human city at the time.
Human refugees settled in Kryta and founded Divinity's Reach, a fortified metropolis that shines like a beacon of hope for all humans. From here, the long reach of human power stretches out across the surrounding countryside, offering protection to farmers and townsfolk who live under constant threat from marauding centaurs and gangs of bandits. Not all threats to mankind are as obvious; inside the city walls, power struggles and intrigue between the queen and the nobility strain the fabric of human society.
One of the greatest setbacks humanity has experienced is the withdrawal of the Six Gods from their daily lives. Despite their silence, humans do not feel forsaken; they feel as if they are being tested. The gods expect them to stand on their own, and as a people, they refuse to fall.
Humanity's long and tragic history may lead other races to think of them as a dying race that belongs to another age, but humans know otherwise. Even the youngest sylvari knows about the great human figures of legend—and the time has come for a new hero to walk in their footsteps.
Your Human Character
When you create your human character, you will pick your social class. Were you raised in high society? Perhaps you come from a hardworking middle-class background. Or did you grow up poor on the mean streets of Divinity's Reach? As a human, you'll also select one of the Six Gods as your patron—from Grenth, the god of death, to Lyssa, the goddess of illusions.
When your human character increases in level, they will gain access to a range of special racial skills granted to them by the Six Gods, such as summoning fearsome Hounds of Balthazar or beseeching the healing goddess Dwayna to restore your health.
Your story begins in Queensdale, a lush district of farmlands and rolling hills that lies in the shadow of the great walls of Divinity's Reach. Here, you will answer the call to adventure and create a new legend in the history of your proud people.
Screenshots
Wallpapers
Guild Wars 2 is fast becoming one of the most anticipated MMO-type games since the release of the Guild Wars 2 trailer and follow up articles and interviews. Jeff Grubb – World Designer and Writer for Guild Wars 2 - just back from a busy time at Germany's Gamescom, and he was graciously able to answer a few questions before heading off to PAX 2009, where ArenaNet will have plenty of events. (Be sure to check out their giveaway times for their 128-page Guild Wars 2 concept art book.) On to the questions!
Now that the gates have opened on Guild Wars 2 information, will any secrets to Guild Wars 1 be further explained, such as Bahltek, the undeciphered Asuran banner, or the giganticus lupicus?
Short answer – yes. It is the same world, so we will be using the lore and history of the world. What pieces get revealed and explained will develop as the story evolves. And just to drive you mad, at least one of the items listed will be addressed.
The focus of the story in the trailer seemed to be on the unification of the races and one elder dragon, Zhaitan. The other awakening dragons are only mentioned in passing. Will the first Guild Wars 2 story (campaign, story arc, etc.) deal primarily with Zhaitan and Orr, or will we encounter the other elder dragons as well?
The ultimate foe of Guild Wars 2 is Zhaitan, but the influences of the other dragons run deep through Tyria – Jormag's worshippers are active among the Norn, Kralkatorrik's brand is carved across the charr lands in Ascalon, and the minions of Primordus continue to surface across the land. But the story of GW2 leads to Orr, and the City of the Gods which is Zhaitan's lair.
Why did the elder dragons awaken now, and nearly all at once?
By 'nearly' you mean 'once every fifty years or so over the past 250 years'. This is a lifetime in human terms, but an eyeblink in the history of the world. They are primordial powers that now are growing restive and unleashing their power on the world.
Why exactly are they waking up now? Unrevealed, but they are waking up hungry.
Humans are an interesting wild card in the Guild Wars world. What we know is they first appeared in Cantha, the Empire of the Dragon, and the now-called human gods were very relevant to all the lore built up in Guild Wars 1. Now, with the awakening of the elder dragons and waning of the human race, the human gods are less involved in the world of Tyria. Who or what created the human race and what is their point of origin? Why do the other races seem to hold so little value in the human gods, who allegedly 'created' Tyria as we know it?
The full story of the origin of the humans has yet to be revealed. They arrived in the Tyria (the continent) sometime after they first appeared on Tyria (the world). It seems, from their previous appearances, that they have come up from the south, so the 'human homeland' may be further south than Elona and Cantha. The idea of human gods 'creating' Tyria is viewed by other races with mixed reactions. The charr think of it as theological propaganda (and that the human gods are not true gods, only more powerful, once-mortal, beings). The asura are perfectly willing to accept the idea of gods as (rather large) gears in the Eternal Alchemy. Norn are perfectly willing to allow the idea of gods, but think of them as a different type of their own animal spirits. The sylvari consider them unproven, since the gods have not shown their presence directly to the sylvari.
Which came first to the world of Tyria, the elder dragons or the human gods (current pantheon or predecessor pantheons)? Do they have any prior relationship, especially since the human gods created Glint, a dragon, to shepherd their creations?
The Dragons, as we said, have always been here. The gods predate the humans, but not by much. Much of what we know about Glint comes from Glint herself. The truth of the matter may be very different, and she has her own reasons for saying what she has said.
Lore — Guild Wars 2 Forums
Kerrsh's quest line in Eye of the North (ending with the quest The Path to Revelations) is a hotly debated topic on the lore forums. Why are the facets of the human gods depicted as dragons? Can the gods' cryptic message be explained in terms of Guild Wars 2?
Dragons are power, and the facets reflect the nature of the power that the human gods have harnessed. Both the Asuran Central Transfer Chamber and the City of Arah were built on places of power, which turned out to be directly over Elder Dragons.
See All Results For This Question
It is possible that the cryptic message refers to the Dragons – 'a land unwaking' could be the risen kingdom of Orr, and answers to the origin of the dragons do lie there.
Dwarves are also an interesting race in that, according to the trailer, they actually had legends about Zhaitan. Given that they also had legends about the Great Destroyer, the dwarves seem to have much more knowledge about the elder dragons than the other races. What year were the dwarves created, and what legends did they have about Zhaitan?
As one of the elder races, dwarves know more about the Primordus, his minion the Great Destroyer, and their dragon kindred. Only a portion of that was written down in books such as the Tome of Rubicon, but the knowledge still survives elsewhere.
The Mursaat was one of the favorite races of the players, even though their demise was caused by players' hands. What can you tell us about the few Mursaat that were left after Eye of the North? What have they been up to for 250 years? Will they make an appearance in Guild Wars 2 or will more Mursaat Rallies have to be held?
The Mursaat are a favorite race here at ArenaNet as well, and we have a number of creatives that are big Mursaat fans (which is why they showed up in the Bonus Mission Packs). Their ultimate fate has yet to be revealed, so keep holding the rallies.
Thank you for your time!
Creation Of The Steam Creatures — Guild Wars 2 Forums
Thanks for asking!
Profession Lore — Guild Wars 2 Forums
Source: www.killtenrats.com/2009/09/02/guild-wars-2-interview/
