New Sacrifices

What’s in store for us in the Living World Story? The community has clearly expressed it’s desire to see the rich lore of GW1, become more prominent in GW2. Does this mean a return of the White Mantle is imminent? Or perhaps a comeback of fan-favorite Livia?

What follows tries to adress all these questions. FULL CREDITS go to maidenswhisper.net, who’s the author of the article below.

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“New sacrifices would be made.” Whoever is not familiar with this quote, Ogden Stonehealer made this “Benediction”regarding Livia and her acquiring the Scepter of Orr in Guild Wars 1. Her current whereabouts are unknown. How could this mystery become more relevant? Let’s explore the options together.

As you probably heard many people guess already, we could be going to the west soon. What indicators are there, and what is my Theory that binds them together? Well let’s consider some base facts.

1. Modremoth awoke and the cutscene places him around Magus Falls.
2. There are 2 non-functional map-crossing portals to the North and West in Brisban. One of them is in Fort Vandal, protected by humanoid enemies.
3. EotM introduced new designs and assets for Jungle and Desert areas, both are areas expected in the Maguuma Wastes and Magus Falls.
4. Belinda Delaqua, Seraph and sister of Marjory, went to the west to investigate “Bandits” in the area.
5. Shady individuals roam around in Lion’s Arch, at the old Durmand Priory dig site that was not on the beach – near the new Mystic Plaza.
6. The new “hints” that Delaqua Investigations will check out the “Roar” they heard after defeating Scarlet.
7. Billets are sold to free prisoners into service, a seemingly noble woman is interested in purchasing Canach’s Billet.
8. Lion’s Arch is more vulnerable then ever.

From those facts I would deduct that the shady people are planning to take over Lion’s Arch in order to rebuild it as their own. For that, they would have to be an organisation with a lot of influence, possibly a large presence in the West – considered as “Bandits”. Assuming this is the case, those people could easily be influenced by the Bloodstone in Maguuma Wastes. It is likely then that this is a new form of the Original White Mantle. We know from the human personal story that the White Mantle is still active, alive and kicking. If they plan to retake Kryta, taking over Lion’s Arch at it’s weakest state in history would make sense. Not only that, but it matches with another Theory I had for a while: the missing Bloodstone that is the key to reunite the others could be in Lion’s Arch Ruins, forgotten by Salmas Bloodline when LA was destroyed originally.

Assuming the White Mantle could reunite the Bloodstones at some point, it would also make sense to be in LA, considering how several Leylines also intersect there, they could turn into THE world power. Or at least that’s what they might think. But they have troubles of their own now too. Modremoth awoke, and it starting to stir up Magus Falls.

If all I assume is correct, I actually expect them to succeed in taking over Lion’s Arch under a new banner of racism towards Sylvari. They might appear as liberators, finally ending the “stupid and corrupt” reign of Magnus and the Captain’s Council. If the writers do a good job, the players might even welcome them. With their funds, Lion’s Arch is rebuilt rather easily and we start to attack Magus Falls and Modremoth. But then we find something unexpected. A Mastermind determined to end the White Mantle had bought Canach’s Billet and they fight us with Guerrilla tactics: Livia.

She likes Canach. He will stop at nothing to do the “right” thing, just like her. She might even use him to sacrifice another Pale Tree to achieve her goal of defeating the White Mantle. Between the fronts, it would be our job to be just, all in the shadow of Modremoth. Do we manage to make Lion’s Arch sovereign again, end the White Mantle and Modremoth both and redeem Canach? Maybe by the very end, it is upon us to decide what to sacrifice, even if it is Livia herself.

 So what can we expect?

I would guess several new maps, 2-3 brought out at a time going west for 2-3 updates; Rebuilding of Lion’s Arch. 1-2 new dungeons maybe, dealing with the Bloodstone and Modremoth. Who really knows? We will see…