Lore Information From Interview with Anet

[ShadowedSin]

Inde the admin found another one that has a bit more Lore from Ree.

http://www.guildwars2guru.com/forum/...sbee-t981.html

[Konig Des Todes]

Added to OP with the (very minor) lore points it brings up.

[Eliz Genevieve]

http://guildwars.incgamers.com/showthread.php?t=491152

Konig, get some of those bits up in the main post.

1. Those big armored polar bears seem to be called the "kodan," and look like a new race in the Norn areas as far as I can tell. There's a few killer concepts of them in the book. Nevermind the Norn, I wanna play one of these guys!

3. There's a note that the Sylvari are divided into groups, one for each season based on the hour of their birth. Theres a few artworks that show presumably a Spring and a Fall Sylvari.

6. Glint. There's definitely some story to what happens to her, although I'm not sure if it will be in the book. Its in the game for sure, though.

11. Ascalon is under the rule of the Iron Legion of the Charr. Grubb mentioned that there are still pockets of human resistance (sounded like multiple, besides Ebonhawke, though that is the main one). Ascalon is still at war, though mostly controlled by the Charr.

15. The second dragon to awaken seems to be Drakkar in the Northern Shiverpeaks. They mention that (like the Nornbear), the creatures and some of the Norn have been corrupted by this dragon. The rest of the Norn were driven south. Looks like we'll be fighting more Nornbears...

-> We already expected this.

17. There is a Sylvari necromancer named "Trahearne." Explaining the Sylvari take on necromancy, death is just part of the life cycle, so its not considered dark or evil, just a special part of life.

18. Ironic given the above line, there is apparently an evil Sylvari faction known as the Nightmare Court. Their artwork is much more harsh, and kind of evokes the wardens to me, though it is not stated anywhere

.

The artbook DOES talk about the Tengu, and they are active in the Maguuma jungle.

Centaurs in Kryta are fighting back against human occupation from Divinity's Reach. Since I'm here, there is also mention of the Hylek's evolution. They've advanced a bit as well, though are still primitive compared to the other races.

-> Centaur motivation, RAWR.

There is one reference that says the Shining Blade "is now the queen of Kryta's right hand," but doesn't elaborate beyond that.

->whomever said that the Shining Blade were the 'Royal Guard' , kudos.

Jeff mentioned that there are still some (like Ogden) who didn't change, but they are very few and far between, it seems.
EDIT: Doh! Was just proofreading and saw the "non-deldrimor" part. Jeff talked about the Stone Summit like they are still there, although given Drakkar's rise, I'm wondering if they have become corrupted as well (or rather, MORE corrupted).

->Konig, draxynnic, Thalador, Leon (dunno who else am I forgetting from the original Guru) guess we were wrong..

The book suggests they both live in Maguuma, though they may be rolling the two areas under one umbrella. They don't really talk about the Tarnished Coast, aside from a casual mention of "the coast" in reference to Ventari's Tree as the place of the origin of the Sylvari (only 25 years prior to the beginning of GW2, apparently).

Just re-read it and yes, they seem to be their own culture. I'm guessing they are allies of the Norn, as there is that one picture of the Norn ranger with a big Kodan guy backing her up. Unless he's a rebel like Pyre was. As for the sailing iceberg, the book says that the artists came up with the idea, even though there wasn't a place for it in the game. They all loved it so much that they MADE a space for it.

-> No Polar Bears for us.

Hum, I think I got the lore-related ones. You might take a look at it and see it for yourself, though.

[Thalador Doomspeaker]

Am I the only one who's not satisfied with the amount of lore information? Of course, I'm very happy to know more, but I expected more. And you?

Also, I can't wait to lay my hands on one of the art books. I really hope it's between 20-30 dollars (I know, that it was said that it's 30, but I still hope it will be a little bit less).

[Shew]

Eric Flannum, Colin Johansen, and Linsey Murdock were interviewed by the press at PAX the other day (not including UFragtv's live interview that didn't offer much new information). I'm sure articles will be popping up today or in the next few days.

[Free Runner]

We've gained quite abit of lore info in the 2 weeks since the GW2 trailer. We have four or so months for them to provide more before they start moving into the gameplay side of things early next year. The reason it doesnt seem like much is because we've yet to gather it all up, we've just been talking about it in many different threads.

So far we've learned:

• A few of the locations names and residents of those locations aswell as old locations returning(Kodan Iceberg, possibly a Sylvari capital/home known as The Grove and the old classic Sorrows Furnace)
• Some more of the Sylvari (Seasons and the Nightmare Court, living in the Magumma, views on the gods)
• 3 of the dragons names, Zhiatan, Jormag and Kralkatorrik. We already knew Primordus.
• Races that are still around and new ones that have moved into Tyria (Centaurs, Hylek, Tengu, the new Kodan and possibly the old Fleashreavers)
• Some vague background and hints towards the mystery of the gods and the humans homeland aswell as the possiblity of Glints return.
• That the Mursaat and possibly the Seers will appear at some point in the GW2 future.
• Some Dwarves possibly still being around as well as those Stone Summit who refuse to just die.

I'd say its a good haul for just two weeks. I'm sure much more is to come.

Anyway on the topic of the Fall of Ascalon book - how do you reckon its going to work being set 1 year before Guild Wars 2 present day? flashbacks to Ascalon? i had hoped the book would of been set at the time of Ascalons fall rather than it being someone retelling the story.

[Thalador Doomspeaker]

You're right Free. My thirst for informations makes me impatient.

I think the book will be good. I imagine that the Charr (for example) starts speaking about the story, then it turns into the past. For awhile, the storyteller still talks about the events, but after some time, you'll have the feeling that the book is being written at the same time.

[ShadowedSin]

With the revelation of the Sylvari it is making me really wonder! I keep seeing everything I know of Fairie myth appear among the Sylvari lore. Which really makes me want to make a Gaelic named one later on!

[Ravious]

Yeah, Sylvari are appalingly based on Faerie lore. They were originally concepted as the Sidhe for Kralky's sake. They have splats based on the seasons too. Every new bit of lore I hear seems like it comes straight from Gaelic lore or White Wolf's Changeling games.

[draxynnic]

Originally Posted by Free Runner

Anyway on the topic of the Fall of Ascalon book - how do you reckon its going to work being set 1 year before Guild Wars 2 present day? flashbacks to Ascalon? i had hoped the book would of been set at the time of Ascalons fall rather than it being someone retelling the story.

Same. Plus, as I commented in another thread, I would have preferred the forming of an entente between humans and Charr - apparently happening in the book - to be something we can do in-game. Especially since it only happened a year before the game's start...

[Lord Bazaah]

Great thread Konig! I like when all known (important) information is in one post.

[Evangelionfan]

Originally Posted by garethporlest22

So the dragons are elemental forces. We can guess that Jormag will be the ice element. Sea dragon most likely a water element. Primordus either earth or fire, maybe both. Grothmar?? and Zhaitan?? Dark element maybe.

IF they are elemental
-Jormag water/ice
-Primordius Fire
-Grothmar posibly earth
-Zhaitan Maybe Air there are concepts with lightning and i belive there are references to him and lightning, but if not Its most likely life and death or something similar

[Free Runner]

We now have the Q&A from Gamescom which talks about the dragons and the races.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyD_y...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjQRC...eature=related

Originally Posted by Jeff Grubb

Dragons are the heart of Guild Wars 2. Dragons in Tyria, these are the elder dragons, these are the dragons of power. The dragons that you know, you've met, Kuunavang, Glint they are the mere shadows, the echos of these great elder dragons. One of which has basicly brought up the city of Orr and now resides in the holy city of Arah, city of the gods.

*Carried over to part 2 in a question on if total peace has been attained between the races*

The Humans and Charr for example have been at war for 250 years. They are trying for a tenious truce right now against the dragons that could fall apart at any time. There are those who dont want peace between the Humans and the Charr. The Norn, our half giant race, have been driven south from their homelands and they are trying, the Sylvari are newcomers to the area and the Asura, well the Asura are up to their normal tricks

*Question regarding the Charr with the gun*

We have firearms in Guild Wars 2, and the Charr are the most technoloicly advanced as far as martial weaponry but all the races have firearms, all the races have weapons built based upon the nature of their race. The Sylvari grow their weapons, the Norn forge out of ice and steel, each one takes a different approch to equipment but all will have firearms.

• Charr and Humans are trying for a truce but some dont want to see it happen
• Each race has its own way to build weaponry

[Whisper]

Originally Posted by Free Runner

We now have the Q&A from Gamescom which talks about the dragons and the races.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyD_y...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjQRC...eature=related

• Charr and Humans are trying for a truce but some dont want to see it happen
• Each race has its own way to build weaponry

Supports the racial armor diffrences . The sylvari grows weapons and armor. Awsome

[ShadowedSin]

Originally Posted by Ravious

Yeah, Sylvari are appalingly based on Faerie lore. They were originally concepted as the Sidhe for Kralky's sake. They have splats based on the seasons too. Every new bit of lore I hear seems like it comes straight from Gaelic lore or White Wolf's Changeling games.

I know about the Fairie lore part since I was the one along with Whisper who contrived the connect.

I'm also a linguist minor who speaks gaelic XP

[ShadowedSin]

There is a new translated german interview that gives a lot of info:

http://www.onlinewelten.com/games/ar...view-teil-1/4/

-Char are affiliated in game via Legion
-Asura are organized into colleges (Evolution of the Krewe?)
-The Kodan have one singular form, scholars theorize they have have a common lineage with the Norn. But that is only theory.
-Nightmare Sylvari believe they are right in their goals and believe they must convert everyone else.
-The Nightmare court is a philosophy base, not a political one
-Kodan live on mobile sanctuary cities, that have been pushed out of the ice seas because of Jormag
-Norn do not take full raven form, Flannum mentions a sort of hybrid raven form.
-Humans and Charr still argue over old grievances, the Sylvari mistrust and are not sure about everything. The Asura feel they need to prove their intellectual superiority
-Lion's Arch apparently is a sort of racial neutral ground, Flannum mentions that it acts as a sort of area of peace or unity.
-Sylvari season (game mechanic apparently) does not effect Class it seems that their affiliation ideas effect the story outcome. Sounds a bit like Biowares Origins idea.

[Konig Des Todes]

Once I have time to read the new interview fully, I'll update the OP.

[Gmr Leon]

I've already updated it with the information from page 4 onward.

[Whisper]

Oh oh and Sylvari confirmed to be based on Irish faerie myths .

[ShadowedSin]

Originally Posted by Whisper

Oh oh and Sylvari confirmed to be based on Irish faerie myths .

Totally feckin awesome!