axe-trio-commanders

[axe-trio-commanders]

Hm. You know what, it's time for various, disconnected rambling about Zori, bc I've been thinking about her a lot lately

One of the vew things Zori actively despises is the Consortium. She wasn't around for LWS1 events, so it isn't for those reasons- no, the "Burden of Choice" achievement line (the one with the leyline anomaly visions and the shadowstone) is cannon here

Which makes her first real interaction with the consortium getting a message saying "listen, clearly the priory is understaffed and doesn't know what they're doing here, why don't you use our services instead :)"

Which. As a member of the priory, specifically a member of the priory very often tasked with the retrieval, collection and study of highly magical artifacts, Zori took that very personally.

She has found out where a majority of consortium operations are and has since been intentionally poaching their recruits and employees by loudly daydreaming about how cool the priory is, how well they pay, how diverse their job opportunities are, how humane the working conditions are... either they'll join the priory or demand better working conditions, it's a win-win in Zori's book. She's never mentioned this to anyone else tho, so as far as most of Dragon's Watch is concerned, she'll just occaionally start talking about the priory a lot more for no apparent reason.

(Icebrood saga spoilers)

Speaking of things Zori loathes, kudos for the return to icebrood event for reminding me how much she absolutely loathes every aspect of Bangar's existence. It's the 'invited aurene's champions to the ralley but never once asked about the dragons he wanted to tame', it's the outdated paranoia, it's the causing a civil war on purpose, it's the 'oh so that's why Rytlock is Like That'-

But most importantly it puts in very very sharp focus the fact that they have a similar amount of influence, and that all this is what happens when that influence is used poorly. They've both rallied armies together, pulled different people into a common cause... this is what could happen if she does it wrong. Raise an elder dragon early, close friends, family at each other's throats, blood of thousands upon thousands on her hands, in her throat, drowning her, and Bangar doesn't even seem to care. How do you manage to be the kind of person that doesn't drown in this?

(Bangar is the reason Willow Tree March is on her playlist)

(Janthir Wilds spoilers)

The most recent development as of JW is that, since I've gone and developed them into their own characters, I figure it'd be a fun time to introduce her to Amiaza (her aunt, soulbeast ranger that bonded w/ a sand lioness for so long her skills look more like a Scourge's) and Strea (her dame, elementalist with a knack for fire that caused enough friction at her home among the Olmakhan that she decided to venture away to see the rest of the world, met Vallus, died in the brand, brought back from the dead via brand/dragon shenanigans i might elaborate on in later fic), because having them all interact, especially in the expansion that gives her access to a homestead to decorate and maybe kind of settle down in...

Strea and Amiaza recognize and care about her, are protective of her, and... at this point, Zori just. Doesn't know how to process that anymore. It's been so, so long since anyone has wanted to protect her and care about her as anyone other than a means to an end or an equal (and she's... not really certain there's a difference. There is, in actual reality, but that doesn't stop her from wondering...) She's just. Really not sure how to... have parents, and she doesn't really know either of them, and she's pretty sure this should be a relief or fulfilled dream but it just... isn't setting in right, like the charging port's just a little too crooked... (until in some moment it suddenly isn't as it hits her all at once that it's been years since she's been able to fully believe that someone cares about her and doesn't expect anything from her, because she can't find a single reason either Amiaza or Strea would. They don't need her, they're just.... there. She knows other people have claimed the same thing, somewhere she knows it might be true (it is). But when they're in tbe guild you're supposed to be leading... but this? This, she can't find an alternative explination for. Maybe... maybe it's true elsewhere, too. Maybe it's okay to want that.)

(More Janthir Wilds spoilers,msome SoTo spoilers)

Since Enkkioh became the newest Official Commander(tm) as of EoD into SoTo, Zori comes along to the big meeting in JW primarilynas an advisor and emotional support- in Priory wear rather than full commander regalia, so most of those present outright don't recognize her. (Gixx does, of course, and it feels extensively off to both of them to only trade pleasantries. Zori hasn't visited the Priory at all in years at this point. Neither mention it. Trying to reclaim that comfort feels like a betrayal to her, somehow.)

She is legitimately excited to explore a new place and culture (she's purposefully ignoring the implications of the Ward existing. Just a whole organization that really probably could have helped with the dragon situation. Maybe prevented some deaths. A lot of deaths.It's fine. This is fine. She is not going to start a political incident today this is fine. (Enkkioh has been lowkey bullying Isgarren about this pretty much since she learned the ward existed. She figures whacking him over the head with a newspaper every time he does something stupid is basically the rest of the wizards' job, so it's her job now too. It's not too different from her experience as third commander so far in some ways))

She absolutely adores the journeykin, though, and immediately takes charge of taming the first one they encounter- she perfectly understands the need to wrastle, and has plenty enough experience with different cats (Kiori (jaguar), Claw (tiger), Snowflame (Canthan white tiger), herself, Amiaza,,,) to recognize the attitude of 'wants to play and forgot other creatures are not immune to Giant Claws', she's incredibly releaved at how graciously the lowland kodan take them in. It is. Such a relief to interact with a leader that makes thoughtful, informed decisions..... (she still has a near heart-attack every time Poised Arrow does basically anything. What do you mean interacting consistently with Ryland who's nearly the same age as her and had very similar traumas had a lasting impact she's fine nothing is wrong these are normal reactions.) So mostly things are initially going fine, but once she and Enkkioh begin to figure out what's going on, once it very... very quickly becomes less a 'cool adventure learning vacation' trip and more a responsibility she needs to fix or people will die (of course it's literally the titans! Of course it's literally the titans and the white mantle and Caudecus is involved too! Great no great this is fine. History sure is a flat circle huh.) And like, out of the people there... Caithemprobably starts to notice it's getting to her, but isn't really close enough to her to drag any sort of confession out of her, Enkkioh doesn't know her well enough to really notice at all... but Malice is perspective enough to notice, and still technically being her imperator, isn't near intimidated enough not to drag information from Zori if she wants to. (She's also smart enough to have recognized who Zori is early into her appointment as commander, and to have kept trackmof her since.) Which... Zori hasn't really considered herself a part of the legions, or charr culture in general, for a long while now... even just Malice still considering her as part of Ash as a base assumption would throw her for a loop...

[axe-trio-commanders]

I have been. so eepy this week,,, i took this pic like a week ago with the specific intention of using it for this...

BUT! TIS HALLOWEEN!!!

And as my dedicated Mad King's Eve Enjoyer, Seremnis has decided she is done entertaining polite society and will now become a Creechur.

for the foreseeable holiday, she will be stalking the rooftops, traveling between shadows, sneaking sweet cookies and other treats into the baskets of kids and random other people she thinks are cool

(the wings are mesmer-enchanted to move like her ears... were, but she swears she definitely won't accidentally make them real and functional through enough time and returning-to-a-solid-form-from-shroud. again. mhm.) (...anyways my favorite fashion trick is that if you have funky boots like the rabbit stompers that change how your feet look and then find pants that hide most of the upper part you can get funky bug/bird feet. tis nice.)

Share your ocs Halloween costume!

It's another lovely halloween, and I know this community has some fantastic costume ideas! From characters/celebrities to classic sexy/spooky costumes, the creativity is through the roof!

Share and show off your lovely costumes here gw2 community, and perhaps you will earn a little treat :3 (in which a piece of candy/sweet will be chosen to give to any characters who ring the doorbell of this thread)

[axe-trio-commanders]

guild wars 2 players please interact i want to be your pal

[axe-trio-commanders]

Technically, Enkkioh is both wayfinder and current commander, but for the sake of the prompt we'll say Enkkioh, the wayfinder, against Seremnis and Zori, the first two commanders...

.....Honestly the hardest part would be getting Zori to participate at all, she hates fighting unless it's necessary and she's honestly terrified of hurting the people she cares about- at best, it's a two-against-one enkkioh and seremnis slowly trying to get her into it, and even then she's absolutely going to be losing on purpose.

Enkkioh and Seremnis, however, once they're in more consistent contact (around and after icebrood saga) spar regularly, with Enkkioh genuinely enjoying having a sparring partner, and also decideing that dear alchemy Seremnis needs to learn how to actually dodge already, you did not need to take half of those hits- no she doesn't care that you can self resurrect, that's cheating. Come on, let's see how long you can go without taking a hit, you are fast, you can do this...

...in some sort of weird all-out brawl scenario, though... honestly, it's sorta batman rules. If enkkioh has enough prep time, she can take both of them; if not, she's kinda screwed.

GW2 COMMANDER PROMPT:

For anyone who is using separate characters for their 'Commander' and 'Wayfinder';

Which of the two would win in a fight?

[axe-trio-commanders]

Hm. This is an old post, going through my likes for tech tips (i have got to find a better way to organize things) but. speaking of women and hinges. Uh. Zori. Like- she is desperately holding into the hinges, like her life and the fate of tyria depends on it. 90% of the time. Yeah?

however.

In general, in the events of Path of Fire, zori is having a no-good, very bad time in which she is experiencing the full effects of a relic of balthazar (from way back in that one priory mission of the personal story. I decided that should have lasting side effects uwu) while balthazar himself is there, which mostly consists of an unquenchable rage and being constantly on fire, and being vaguely directed by balthazar's forces towards places of resistance.

Eventually, zori. well. visits the domain of the lost, as it were, the curse is lifted, kind of, she comes back to the mortal realm all new and shiny.

But then, y'know, she and seremnis kill balthazar, and all that magic has to go somewhere, and there's this convenient void left where the curse was.

It doesn't really show up noticeably, though, as the story progresses, until they reach istan.

And in istan, there's this fun little event where joko's awakened arrive at the astralarium, and attempt to take and burn the books that don't agree with joko's narrative

and. well. There's very few things that will get you murdered by a bright orange dragon-slaying war-hating warcat from the priory faster than historical revisionism

gw2 community prompt:

i am starved of unhinged women, so i am looking counting on you to scratch the itch until i get my hands on an unhinged woman of my own. give me unhinged women! commanders, non commanders, altho fem!commanders are a god tier (the commander is god tier period), norn, humans, sylvari, charr or asura - i just wanna see some cool women!!

[axe-trio-commanders]

love a character that's like. i survived (<- not a brag) (<- this is a curse that weighs on me every waking hour)

[axe-trio-commanders]

Well- going off what characters i actually have ages figured out for, at current JW year 1337 AE, Seremnis (as local only sylvari in the group) is 12 years out of the pod and therefore youngest, Lasca (ex-flame airship pirate charr) is 24, Lovi and Varza (as littermates) are both 26, Zori is 27, and Enkkioh is the oldest at 29.

Which. Is fun, for several reasons, because,

a) by this timeline, at the start of personal story (ie when zori loses nearly her entire warband), Zori is 14. There are only two years between this and Zhaitan's defeat. Zori is the first commander.

b) Enkkioh, despite being a smallish asura and Lovi being a pretty tall charr, still calls Lovi her 'little sister' due to the age difference, and also because they both think it's funny

c) I have decided that Janthir Wilds will be a Zori and Enkkioh expansion, as Zori will immediately want to Explore New Place, and Enkkioh is both the new commander and the wayfinder

d) Despite having had plenty of personal interaction with seremnis and destiny's edge, Enkkioh has, up to this point, only ever really interacted with Zori during EoD, where zori was either a) in recovery from serious injury, b) in strategic Commander/Politics mode, or c) doing all that heckin wild, absurdly magical flashy stuff near the end. They have never held a casual conversation. Therefore, Enkkioh's main impression so far is from being in the Pact, and hearing stories of bravery and justice and an unconquerable will fighting the elder dragons, a long and distinguished legacy to live up to and uphold.

e) Malice keeps calling Zori 'cub'.

f) Zori, original commander, co-founder of the Pact, slayer of dragons and gods, is only 1 year older than Enkkioh's little sister.

suddenly got curious: who are your in-universe youngest and oldest characters? if you want to adjust for sylvari ages, i don't mind either way!

[axe-trio-commanders]

oh oh oh yes good I get to tell this story again

So Zori is a ranger. She was also very over-emotional as a cub and got easily attached to any number of things (i say like that ever changed), including the ruins she grew up around, any other cub that would talk to her, and the local animals.

She's eventually basically adopted, pretty late (relatively) into cubhood, into a band of other charr that hadn't really been able to find a 'band- and they get along great, and Zori's so happy to not have to worry about this anymore, but they can't figure out a good warband name.

Zori, off the top of her head, comes up with the idea for the 'Sun' warband, and everyone loves it. Bright, distracting, powerful, hotter flames than even the flame legion (who they're going to beat up)! It's perfect!

.......and Zori simply never tells them that she got her warband named after the grouchy old mousing cat she'd been slowly befriending.

...As for my other charr... Olirus Quickshot was from the Quick warband- I don't think anything dramatic ever happened to the warband, Olirus just decided to go off to the vigil and the 'band agreed she got to keep the name, since they got along well. Quick shot specifically bc one of her (earlier) feats was being able to quickly and accurately fire with dual pistols.

...Now that she's lost a good amount of function in one arm and has resorted to long-range rifle fire as her main attack, she doesn't mention her surname much. Doesn't feel like she deserves it anymore.

Lovi and Varza, siblings of all time, have the surnames Leyspark and Snapspark, respectively. They aren't actually in the same warband- Varza's technically in the Spark warband in flame, even though he's rarely ever in contact with his own warband (by choice. he hates it there. vehemently. he does not like his warband.) And even though Lovi joined the iron legion briefly after leaving rata sum, she... didn't join a ley warband or a spark warband. She just... didn't actually know how legion surnames worked, and didn't respect them enough to try and learn- that, and one of her specializations is working with leyline magic and 'leylime', that funky holey rock you see around leylines in like. maguuma and such.

...Snapspark is also rather accurate for varza.

(...it does feel right, though. In memories long repressed, they both decided as small, small cubs that they'd run away and start their own warband, their own legion...)

Heres a fun question for legion Charr Oc havers! (Feel free to respond either in comments or Rbs!)

Why did your Charr choose the surname they have? What was the reason? Was it given to them by their warband instead?

Leo was part of the Echo Warband and was given the word "Watcher" due to always being seen observing the Ascalonian ghosts, and his tendency to patiently stratageize rather than rush ahead.

[axe-trio-commanders]

Hello, gw2blr!

As you might know, Janthir Wilds is dropping soon (20th of August to be precise), so I wanted to "steal" an idea for an event that ffxiv side of things did before the release of Dawntrail, (Count) Down to Dawntrail. I did not want to do it by expac, and we haven't had a Commander Week community event in forever, so here it is! Commander Week 2024 (24th of July - 31st of July), hosted by yours truly!

Who can participate? Anyone who's ever played gw2 in their life. Bonus points if you're all caught up on the story! What kind of content is allowed? Writing, art, screenshots, edits, any creative outlet you want! Even poems are allowed. It doesn't have to be new writing either, as long as it fits the prompts :) Is it a nsfw event? Please refrain from any spicy/nsfw stuff. This is a strictly non-spicy event. Will there be spoilers? Yeah! Please tag them accordingly if they're newer content (EoD and SotO primarily) but this isn't a spoiler free event by any means. Is shipping allowed? Full speed ahead, my good Commander. Full speed ahead, if that floats your skiff. Are Wayfinders included? As long as they're the same as your Commander, sure! This event assumes that Wayfinder = Commander, so if they are separate characters for you, please focus on the Commander.

If you have any additional questions, feel free to shoot me an ask, but these are general guidelines! Go forth and create, gw2blr, and let's celebrate the Commander for being the most Protagonist of All Time!

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POLL TIME (PLEASE yap in the tags i want to see your blorbo lore)

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sometimes i feel like gw2 feels a bit narratively lacking just as a personal opinion – but sometimes following a collection you will end up in front of a tangle of rusty pipes, one of which has an opening missing its grate and overgrown with leaves, and you will walk through the tunnel until it emerges into this vast utterly hidden green grotto with sunlight streaming in through cracks from above and facilitating the growth of these little strawberry patches. and a little charr kid is tending the strawberries and shes like Aw man you found my strawberries, you can have some, please just dont tell anyone else about this, its my secret place. this serves no other plot purpose but to be a moment you experience. and its little moments like this forever. 

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i'm the world's no.1 advocate for throwing random additional traits onto sylvari. they don't have to be all humanoid through and through, they're plants made in that shape based on a human, and mind you, the pale tree's other dad was a centaur. put a tail on that thing. put some cat ears (my last message before passing away)

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You know what. I hope that as time goes on every expansion has a fun little mastery track for the housing. And I want one of the mastery tracks to be musical instruments. I want a piano. perhaps an organ. Harpsichord. 8-octave array mbira. that one glass bowl instrument i'm forgetting the name of. cello. all the instruments impractical for carrying around..... (....also slightly unrelatedly, i still want accidentals. I cannot jazz in these conditions.) Like. Join someone's house instance, immediately greeted by the rest of the party playing in-game jazz. Or, alternatively, enter someone's house instance and immediately get unwillingly rickrolled. like, yeah, sure, i could use the mastery tracks that give me better in-game bonuses, but- consider- giving me an entire church organ to become the in-game phantom of the opera.