[Gmr Leon]

(With minor bits of concept art.)

I'm not sure how to organize this, so let's just go with it.

Blong.

Probably nothing significant here, but it looks like one can see bits of Arah in the background. With the taller piece probably being a tower peaking above the waves.

Ding.

Apparently a carved symbol of some kind. Religious symbol, perhaps? Whatever the case, it doesn't appear to be atop a boat, as far as I can tell.

Zong.

Interestingly, it would appear the Charr have decided to leave the old Ascalonian architecture alone, at least, in the outskirts.

Vling.

It is unclear where precisely this dam is supposed to be, but it seems easy to suspect it being in Elona, or perhaps even the southern reaches of the Crystal Desert, assuming Palawa Joko has built a system of dams to there.

Kling.

It is also unclear where this takes place, but, to dispel the idea that someone held elsewhere, it is not a Dwarf seen here, but what would appear to be a Norn and a Human. Perhaps in a dungeon or ruins.

Zling.

Likewise, it is unclear where this is supposed to be. It would appear that it's an island, and the ships seem reminiscent of the Istani, Elonian, or Corsair style, based on the coloration.

Jing.

The areas I've highlighted in a way, appear interesting. The Asuran gates, for instance, no longer have the rotating parts that we see in present designs, and the highlighted structure next to it, I suspect to be a new, more refined, geomystic generator, which I'll provide more support for shortly.

Koala.

This is a very impressive advancement for the Asura, in my opinion. While we can't be certain, it appears to be architecture constructed out of pure magical energy. Note not just the roof, but the bridge beneath it. Absolutely stunning.

Spotasaroo.

Sarawu.

I'm not precisely sure on what these are supposed to be. At first, I jokingly thought to myself they were Asuran portals to jump through, but it seems more likely they're energy relays. Transmitting the energy from one, to the next below it, to the next, until it reaches where it's being directed to.

Veetvon.

This seems to be similar to the first piece of architecture I noted at first, perhaps being a more refined geomystic generator. Although it's difficult to tell due to the darkness, but the little "electrical" fences that seem to be either headed to it or going away from it may support this speculation.

Zshwoop.

This is my glovehand.

Golemancers finally taking on a more hands-on approach, controlling and fighting with their golems, instead of just creating them? Interesting thought.

Don't look straight into it.

And yet again we see this little piece of architecture, which, considering what's surrounding it, and the purple blocks beneath it, it seems possible it's what I've been repeating, a geomystic generator. If it's unclear, I'm talking about the building to the far right of the screenshot.

Hard to believe they've stood the test of ti..Snow.

Now departing from the Asuran lands..We have the Northern Shiverpeaks! Note, the easily, very easily, unnoticeable feature of Dwarven architecture in the distance. I can't say with certainty where this city is supposed to be, but it can definitely be said it's in Dwarven territory. As to the functioning of the sails, I'm uncertain, but it struck me as being possible the city is on a glacier, and, since it's a Norn settlement, it would make sense for the city to be nomadic, as they are, so the sails may be to hasten the movement of the glacier. Not to mention, it does appear to be in melted water.

Really though, I can't be certain what the sails are used for, they may just be to help power flames for a furnace, or something more mundane.

I don't think there were enough subtle features, do you?

And now arriving at the Maguuma Jungle, we can see a multitude of interesting, easily unnoticed features. First off, at the top, upon one of the traversivines, we see strange looking creatures, what are they? It's hard to say, but their posture seems reminiscent of the Charr, however, we cannot be certain.

Next to them, we see an interesting new structure, probably Sylvari-made, that shares appearances with those of the assumed-to-be-Druid structures in the Maguuma, meaning it could merely be an unseen piece of Druidic architecture.

And across from that, we have what appears to be a mushroom of sorts, possibly a fountain, but the general appearance seems to suggest a mushroom.

Below that, and the traversivine, we have the silhouette of a figure walking towards the larger plant structure, ignoring the other two figures that run past. It's difficult to say what gender the figure is, but it seems to me male, but that's just going off of its gait.

Beyond that figure, we have the silhouette of two figures within the larger plant structure the figure is approaching. One of the figures appears greener, obviously taller, perhaps female, and beside that figure is a shorter, grayer figure, that might be an Asura. It may be an "elder" Sylvari speaking with an Asura, perhaps the Sylvari being a leader of some sort, or merely a friend. Very unclear on that.

See, no one would take it seriously if it was the "Boing" Citadel.

Now, suddenly, entering the technological madhouse of the Charr, we have what is most likely the Iron Citadel. As highlighted in the upper right corner, one can see what appears to be the remnants of ruins, most likely of Rin, if this is the Iron Citadel. The other highlighted piece is just an interesting new adornment, depicting, one can assume, a Charr face.

Guess they were nostalgic for that burnt Ascalon flair.

And we have more Charr, apparently in some unknown burnt land that we may have yet to encounter. Oddly, there is a hand grasping a torch dominating the scene, but whether the Charr carved it, or some other beings carved it, is completely unknown and unclear.

Who's a good dragon? A dragon that dies to become a home for some wanderer, that's who!

After that, we have the sudden introduction of a dragon, that is almost certainly dead. It doesn't shown any sign of life, if it were alive, one would think its breath would blow the banners in front of it, or blow down the tents that appear to be in front of it that I have enlarged. Interestingly, this dragon has a nose-ring, suggesting either it was placed there while it was alive, or after its death, with the former seeming to imply it was controlled, or attempted to be controlled, by some other entity. Whatever the case, it is almost certainly dead now, and is most likely not Zhaitan, as Zhaitan has yet to die, and it appears to be in a barren wasteland, which Arah is most definitely not, from all descriptions provided of it in in the Manuscripts and in the Movement of the World.

They look better in water.

See how graceful, and uneasily noticed they are emerging from ruins, they are in the water?

And..Surprise! It would appear Naga have somehow found their way into Ascalon. It is unclear as to how this happened, but the why is easily explained by Emperor Usoku of Cantha's ejection of all other races, with those that would not being killed. As to the how of how they got there, it's possible that there are in fact underground water channels the Naga knew of that led to Ascalon; although this is based only on the evidence of the water channels in Shing Jea Island, that supplied water to mainland Cantha.

Ever get the feeling you're being watched?

Unknown figures in the background, attired in red..Order of Whispers, perhaps? Interesting detail that some may have overlooked in the watching of the trailer.

And..Alright, that's it for all the in-game stuff I found interesting. Hope you've enjoyed my analysis.

[Whisper]

The dwarven arhcitecture looks like the entrance to grotto ^^. And it would seam that asura use magic as we do electricity O_o... just look at the surges of power that runs down the roofs of Ratasum (i guess thats what the great city was supposed to be)

[Rivenheart]

Gmr Leon said:

Hard to believe they've stood the test of ti..Snow.

Now departing from the Asuran lands..We have the Northern Shiverpeaks! Note, the easily, very easily, unnoticeable feature of Dwarven architecture in the distance. I can't say with certainty where this city is supposed to be, but it can definitely be said in its Dwarven territory. As to the functioning of the sails, I'm uncertain, but it struck me as being possible the city is on a glacier, and, since it's a Norn settlement, it would make sense for the city to be nomadic, as they are, so the sails may be to hasten the movement of the glacier. Not to mention, it does appear to be in melted water.

Really though, I can't be certain what the sails are used for, they may just be to help power flames for a furnace, or something more mundane.

The sail design here is odd, the foresails look Chinese (or Canthan) while the main masts in the corner look more western. Also it might not be an iceberg, but a ship covered with ice. On the right side there seem to be windows (or something) sticking out of the ice, which means that it might just be a barge of some sort caked with ice. This wouldn't explain why there's no ice on the front part though.

Gmr Leon said:

Guess they were nostalgic for that burnt Ascalon flair.

And we have more Charr, apparently in some unknown burnt land that we may have yet to encounter. Oddly, there is a hand grasping a torch dominating the scene, but whether the Charr carved it, or some other beings carved it, is completely unknown and unclear.

That really made me think of this:

[Havoc of PhoeniX]

We can assume the first picture is Orr and the circled parts are the tops of spires or buildings on the sunken peninsula? The ship must be one of the corsair vessels that hung around there.

[Konig Des Todes]

Gmr Leon said:

Zling.

Likewise, it is unclear where this is supposed to be. It would appear that it's an island, and the ships seem reminiscent of the Istani, Elonian, or Corsair style, based on the coloration.

Based on the plants, I think that is in Kryta. Which is why I believe that it is Lion's Arch. In many fantasy stories dealing with pirates, a "pirate haven" is usually either a giant boat, system of boats, or a dark island.

Gmr Leon said:

Zshwoop.

This is my glovehand.

Golemancers finally taking on a more hands-on approach, controlling and fighting with their golems, instead of just creating them? Interesting thought.

It also seems at least the concept art of the Chronomancer is going into the Asura.

Gmr Leon said:

I don't think there were enough subtle features, do you?

And now arriving at the Maguuma Jungle, we can see a multitude of interesting, easily unnoticed features. First off, at the top, upon one of the traversivines, we see strange looking creatures, what are they? It's hard to say, but their posture seems reminiscent of the Charr, however, we cannot be certain.

Next to them, we see an interesting new structure, probably Sylvari-made, that shares appearances with those of the assumed-to-be-Druid structures in the Maguuma, meaning it could merely be an unseen piece of Druidic architecture.

The being on top could also be a Troll (they do have a tall hunched over posture) as well. As for the structure, it could be a hint that those older structures are not Druidic, but instead could be created from the nightmare's origin in the Dream of Dream (i.e., I'm bringing up the possibility that the Sylvari as a full race may not be as young as we are told).

Gmr Leon said:

Zling.

Likewise, it is unclear where this is supposed to be. It would appear that it's an island, and the ships seem reminiscent of the Istani, Elonian, or Corsair style, based on the coloration.

Based on the plants, I think that is in Kryta. Which is why I believe that it is Lion's Arch. In many fantasy stories dealing with pirates, a "pirate haven" is usually either a giant boat, system of boats, or a dark island.

Gmr Leon said:

Who's a good dragon? A dragon that dies to become a home for some wanderer, that's who!

...Whatever the case, it is almost certainly dead now, and is most likely not Zhaitan, as Zhaitan has yet to die, and it appears to be in a barren wasteland, which Arah is most definitely not, from all descriptions provided of it in in the Manuscripts and in the Movement of the World.

But one cannot deny the similarities. Meaning that the dragons are not one-of-a-kind in looks. Suggesting even more, possibly extinct, dragons.

Gmr Leon said:

Ever get the feeling you're being watched?

Unknown figures in the background, attired in red..Order of Whispers, perhaps? Interesting detail that some may have overlooked in the watching of the trailer.

If those are the Order of Whispers, looks like they gave up the 100% no identity shown idea.

Rivenheart said:

Also it might not be an iceberg, but a ship covered with ice. On the right side there seem to be windows (or something) sticking out of the ice, which means that it might just be a barge of some sort caked with ice. This wouldn't explain why there's no ice on the front part though.

Looking at it, it does kind of look like a ship covered in snow (and ice?).

[Gmr Leon]

Konig Des Todes said:

The being on top could also be a Troll (they do have a tall hunched over posture) as well. As for the structure, it could be a hint that those older structures are not Druidic, but instead could be created from the nightmare's origin in the Dream of Dream (i.e., I'm bringing up the possibility that the Sylvari as a full race may not be as young as we are told).

I thought the same thing about the Sylvari possibly being older, but with no solid support, I kept it to myself. As to those creatures being trolls, if you look at the one farther to the right, it appears as though it has a shield on its back, so it seems to support the Charr possibility a bit more.

Konig Des Todes said:

If those are the Order of Whispers, looks like they gave up the 100% no identity shown idea.

That, or they're just archivists/maintainers of Durmand Priory, meaning not actual operatives.

Edited by Gmr Leon, 23 August 2009 - 06:06 AM.

[Macabre]

Gmr Leon said:

Ever get the feeling you're being watched?

Unknown figures in the background, attired in red..Order of Whispers, perhaps? Interesting detail that some may have overlooked in the watching of the trailer.

Yes, it was stated that the Order was fighting back against Palawa Joko's undead hordes of undead and dead Sunspears, and were delivering messages from Elona to Tyria, past the desert dragon and the hordes. How epic.

[raminus]

Gmr Leon said:

(With minor bits of concept art.)

Vling.

It is unclear where precisely this dam is supposed to be, but it seems easy to suspect it being in Elona, or perhaps even the southern reaches of the Crystal Desert, assuming Palawa Joko has built a system of dams to there.

My exact thoughts were that this was palawa joko's damming of the Elon, although there's no environment aspects to suggest that we're looking at the crystal desert. Northern Vabbi perhaps, but since we're concentrating on orr, I would say that area is for the moment irrelevant?

Gmr Leon said:

Zling.

Likewise, it is unclear where this is supposed to be. It would appear that it's an island, and the ships seem reminiscent of the Istani, Elonian, or Corsair style, based on the coloration.

I initially though that the ships were canthan, and were possibly some kind of refuge built by xunlai representatives and other canthans stranded in tyria.

Gmr Leon said:

Guess they were nostalgic for that burnt Ascalon flair.

And we have more Charr, apparently in some unknown burnt land that we may have yet to encounter. Oddly, there is a hand grasping a torch dominating the scene, but whether the Charr carved it, or some other beings carved it, is completely unknown and unclear.

From what little is seen, this statue reminds me of the ones found throughout the crystal desert, in the fashion of the arid sea 'crossborder' statue. Of course though, none of the desert statues were holding a torch like that. The question remains: why would something like that be in ascalon though? It also doesn't resemble ascalonian architecture of the typical pre-searing housing and post-searing ruins we find, suggesting that it's not of ascalonian origin...

Anyway, great analysis :)

[Shew]

I'm 99.9...% sure that the creatures atop the branch are Charr. Their tails are what swayed my opinion from their being Ettins to their being Charr.

The floral arch looks like an entry to me.

Raminus said:

Anyway, great analysis :)

Agreed.

[Whisper]

Macabre said:

Yes, it was stated that the Order was fighting back against Palawa Joko's undead hordes of undead and dead Sunspears, and were delivering messages from Elona to Tyria, past the desert dragon and the hordes. How epic.

What i think about when i see them is their clothing style and their posture... The lady looks like a mesmer doesen't she?

Weren't the order traped outside Elona? i think as i remember that the order had moved to Tyria in order to secure the secrets and lore that elona had, when pawla joko and the dessert dragon first appered?

Edited by Whisper, 23 August 2009 - 12:28 AM.

[Konig Des Todes]

The Order is the only group able to bypass Joko and the Desert Dragon.

[Roy]

Konig Des Todes said:

The Order is the only group able to bypass Joko and the Desert Dragon.

This is of course... that we know of.

[Hyper Cutter]

Quote

And..Surprise! It would appear Naga have somehow found their way into Ascalon. It is unclear as to how this happened, but the why is easily explained by Emperor Usoku of Cantha's ejection of all other races, with those that would not being killed. As to the how of how they got there, it's possible that there are in fact underground water channels the Naga knew of that led to Ascalon; although this is based only on the evidence of the water channels in Shing Jea Island, that supplied water to mainland Cantha.

Naga are also quite at home in salt water (which the sea around Shing Jea is and the Jade Sea was). The Naga are intelligent, and it's likely that some leader of theirs decided to flee Cantha entirely rather than fight an unwinnable war against the Empire.

I also noticed that in the brief glimpse we got of the norn city, at least one Norn appeared to be walking around in that polar bear form we see elsewhere in the trailer...

Edited by Hyper Cutter, 23 August 2009 - 01:05 AM.

[Konig Des Todes]

We don't know if the main bodies of water are saltwater or not. I think the only reference to salt water we have is Giant's Basin. Though I wouldn't doubt the Unending Ocean (and other Oceans) being salt water.

Then there is the question: Was the Jade Sea saltwater? If not, then the Naga would be fine in both salt and fresh water.

[viper11025]

Did everyone miss that last tid bit abouve the characters heads?
Looks like its near drakkar lake...
maybe a bridge, cant tell...

[Gmr Leon]

Do you mean around the end, before the concept art is flashed about? Or even prior to that part? I'll take another look if you can specify.

Konig Des Todes said:

We don't know if the main bodies of water are saltwater or not. I think the only reference to salt water we have is Giant's Basin. Though I wouldn't doubt the Unending Ocean (and other Oceans) being salt water.

Then there is the question: Was the Jade Sea saltwater? If not, then the Naga would be fine in both salt and fresh water.

Actually, if the Crystal Sea was in fact connected to the Bay of Sirens, (the name it would have held then) then it would suggest the Unending Ocean being saltwater. I say this due to the Salt Flats in the northwestern section of the Crystal Desert, which implies that the Crystal Sea had to have held some level of salt content.

[Hyper Cutter]

Konig Des Todes said:

We don't know if the main bodies of water are saltwater or not. I think the only reference to salt water we have is Giant's Basin. Though I wouldn't doubt the Unending Ocean (and other Oceans) being salt water.

Then there is the question: Was the Jade Sea saltwater? If not, then the Naga would be fine in both salt and fresh water.

There are marine animals preserved in chunks of jade (like dolphins and the Lion's Arch Shark), so it's a pretty safe bet it was salt water before becoming jade...

[Macabre]

Whisper said:

What i think about when i see them is their clothing style and their posture... The lady looks like a mesmer doesen't she?

Weren't the order traped outside Elona? i think as i remember that the order had moved to Tyria in order to secure the secrets and lore that elona had, when pawla joko and the dessert dragon first appered?

Your right. I checked the trailer, and these guys were in the pic featuring all 5 races. They are obviously not the Order of Whispers, but most likely the Durmand Priory.

[Konig Des Todes]

Macabre said:

Your right. I checked the trailer, and these guys were in the pic featuring all 5 races. They are obviously not the Order of Whispers, but most likely the Durmand Priory.

The Order of Whispers runs the Durmand Priory (I think, they at least filled the place with the scrolls and tomes from Lion's Arch during the flooding).

[Gmr Leon]

They do run it. Er..Well, it seems to be suggested, I suppose would be better to say, as who else would know of its location?

Quote

The Order of Whispers also contributed to the continuation of human knowledge when Lion's Arch was flooded, threatening the great library within the city. The Order rescued thousands of ancient scrolls, books, and other historical artifacts, carrying them to a hidden monastery in the nearby Shiverpeaks. Stored far above the rising waters, these antiquities remain the only true records of the ancient age of humanity. The monks of that monastery are part historian and part warrior, studying and protecting their sacred charges.

[Renita of the Darkness]

I have been wondering something about the Durmand Priory, if we are allowed inside at somepoint, will the books and scrolls be in there just for show or will we be able to read them if we choose? And I don't mean just a few, I mean the whole library. Its possible that it will just be a bunch of models of bookcases, but wouldn't it be something if you could point to a book and it start displaying on your screen? They already have a book format within Guild Wars, they could use the same or similar technology to do the same thing.

[Archress Shayleigh]

Very observant. Heh, I hope we get to destroy that dam!

[PAUL]

I can only hope that the team primarily focuses on the more important aspects of the game such as skill balancing, and in game mechanics rather than filling the game with senseless literature in the library of insignificance.

[Gmr Leon]

While I honestly do agree..That's a bit inappropriate here.

It would be like going into a church somewhere and advocating the acceptance of the Theory of Evolution, Stem Cell research, tolerance, and scientific progress as a whole.

[Sirius]

There's a medium between Oblivion and, say, Doom 2. A little bit of story doesn't hurt, although I don't think anyone expects them to write whole tomes for you to read in-game. Some people might actually read them though...

[The Legend]

Very very nice work. Your foundings made me think :)

[Thalador]

Gmr Leon said:

Who's a good dragon? A dragon that dies to become a home for some wanderer, that's who!

After that, we have the sudden introduction of a dragon, that is almost certainly dead. It doesn't shown any sign of life, if it were alive, one would think its breath would blow the banners in front of it, or blow down the tents that appear to be in front of it that I have enlarged. Interestingly, this dragon has a nose-ring, suggesting either it was placed there while it was alive, or after its death, with the former seeming to imply it was controlled, or attempted to be controlled, by some other entity. Whatever the case, it is almost certainly dead now, and is most likely not Zhaitan, as Zhaitan has yet to die, and it appears to be in a barren wasteland, which Arah is most definitely not, from all descriptions provided of it in in the Manuscripts and in the Movement of the World.

I noticed that too: the flags don't move, but they should, even the leaves move a little when there's no wind at all, because there's always some kind of air-flow. Perhaps it's a slow-motion in-game trailer, or a picture which was designed to suggest that the camera pans over the dragon.
Although, I hope it's not dead. ArenaNet wouldn't give out such important moment from the game, after all they didn't show us anything about game mechanics, only a pretty nice trailer.

Gmr Leon said:

And..Surprise! It would appear Naga have somehow found their way into Ascalon. It is unclear as to how this happened, but the why is easily explained by Emperor Usoku of Cantha's ejection of all other races, with those that would not being killed. As to the how of how they got there, it's possible that there are in fact underground water channels the Naga knew of that led to Ascalon; although this is based only on the evidence of the water channels in Shing Jea Island, that supplied water to mainland Cantha.

Or a totally new race which came from the mysterious and unknown eastern regions (after Ascalon became green again and its ponds and streams clean of tar), or the next evolution of the Forgotten or the Naga, which also lived in those eastern lands. Again, we can't know it for sure, until we get more information.

Gmr Leon said:

Principles of Lore.

1. Never assume anything is certain.
2. Avoid stating information as fact without supporting evidence or cited sources.

Edited by Thalador, 23 August 2009 - 01:53 PM.

[draxynnic]

Gmr Leon said:

Actually, if the Crystal Sea was in fact connected to the Bay of Sirens, (the name it would have held then) then it would suggest the Unending Ocean being saltwater. I say this due to the Salt Flats in the northwestern section of the Crystal Desert, which implies that the Crystal Sea had to have held some level of salt content.

If you look closely at the Cantha map, there's a channel leading from Zos Shivros to the ocean (under the bridge that leads to the 1000 Daggers guildhall). One could suppose that the channel was a river, but it appears to transitions smoothly from jade to water - if it was a river and the flow was one-way, one would expect it to have dried up to the point at which it could be fed from the ocean. Thus, I think it's safe to conclude that water went both wayes between the Jade Sea and the ocean, which would mean it would have had to be saltwater.

Renita of the Darkness said:

I have been wondering something about the Durmand Priory, if we are allowed inside at somepoint, will the books and scrolls be in there just for show or will we be able to read them if we choose? And I don't mean just a few, I mean the whole library. Its possible that it will just be a bunch of models of bookcases, but wouldn't it be something if you could point to a book and it start displaying on your screen? They already have a book format within Guild Wars, they could use the same or similar technology to do the same thing.

I expect they may have a few books to read, but they're probably not going to fill out the entire library.

Edited by draxynnic, 23 August 2009 - 01:53 PM.

[Whisper]

draxynnic said:

If you look closely at the Cantha map, there's a channel leading from Zos Shivros to the ocean (under the bridge that leads to the 1000 Daggers guildhall). One could suppose that the channel was a river, but it appears to transitions smoothly from jade to water - if it was a river and the flow was one-way, one would expect it to have dried up to the point at which it could be fed from the ocean. Thus, I think it's safe to conclude that water went both wayes between the Jade Sea and the ocean, which would mean it would have had to be saltwater.

I expect they may have a few books to read, but they're probably not going to fill out the entire library.

If they did now ..... that would be awsome :) and enchance the lore section by a great bit.....now we are talking books ^^ can't wait to have the new novels released...

[garethporlest22]

If that really is Durmand Priory, it could make sense as those two humans standing on the ledge kind of look like monks. Where is Durmand suppose to be again?