#zephyr sylvari

[draconismoss]

Meet my Commander!

Part 1/?

Please note that my Commander's life follows canon in full! What I've chosen to write about here is either slightly different or pertains to his personal story- just because I don't mention a canon event doesn't mean it didn't happen!

I figured its time to introduce my main/canon Commander, Salvian Ris. He was born during the Cycle of Dusk, 78th of Season of the Zephyr, 1325 AE. He is a primary virtuoso and secondary chronomancer mesmer, and in character, uses both schools of magic adeptly. His Wyld Hunt was to slay an Elder Dragon.

He went through all the right steps. Joined an Order, climbed the rungs up to the top. He was named Pact Commander by his brother, Firstborn Trahearne- an incredible honor. And when they led the assault on Arah, they succeeded in felling the Elder Dragon Zhaitan.

So why did he still feel the nagging of his Wyld Hunt? As Trahearne fulfilled his own by plunging Caladbolg into the Artesian Waters, he wracked his brain searching for answers. What did he do wrong? Why was everyone celebrating but him?

He would soon find out. The cogs of war were turning, and someone was pulling the strings. A mad sylvari terrorist calling herself Scarlet Briar would step out of the shadows with an insane plan to destroy Lion's Arch and tap the ley-line beneath... and in doing so, awaken the Elder Dragon Mordremoth.

So once more, he rallied the Pact against the Jungle Dragon. Still riding high with one dragon kill under his belt, he was foolishly confident in his ability to slay this one. More sylvari brothers than ever had joined the fight against the Jungle Dragon, inspired by tales of the Dragonslayer.

'The Pale Tree would have been so proud of me.'

It was a disaster. Mordremoth knew they were coming, and infested the minds of his brothers and sisters. As they massacred the Pact on their airships, massive jungle vines entangled them and dragged the ships down into the bowels of the jungle. Several important individuals went missing shortly thereafter, including Trahearne, who he had had a one night stand with after they slayed Zhaitan together.

This started a weeks-long manhunt for the Pact Marshall, as well as the other officers Mordremoth had kidnapped. They tracked them across the entire jungle, through the gilded city of Tarir and through the tangled depths below.

'Come home to us, Brother. We need you now, more than ever.'

In the depths of the Dragon's domain, they found Trahearne. Caladbolg lied ruined and shattered at his side, and the Jungle Dragon had already begun absorbing his body. He allowed the party to enter Mordremoth's mind and conduct an assault on it from within while the surviving Pact engaged its physical body outside.

It was a gritty, terrible fight. Mordremoth send image after bloody image, whispered demands and commands and lies. His mind held steadfast throughout, never relenting, save for one brief moment. A split second, a lapse in his mental fortitude. It was enough for Mordremoth to worm its way in before being abruptly evicted. But he would not go easily.

'Damn! My eyes! I.. I can't see!'

The Dragon, in its vengeance, had withered Salvian's occipital lobe. The entire part of his brain responsible for vision shut down in an instant, plunging him into inky, infinite blindness. Pleading with the Pale Tree for guidance, he found himself seeing in other ways. The trampling hooves of Mordrem, the reek of the Jungle Dragon's neurons. With the help of his allies, he was able to co-ordinate the Dragon's downfall. While they overloaded its mind from within, the Pact had weakened its body enough to exhaust it- its ugly head flailed about and impaled itself on its own tree.

The party was violently expelled from the creature's mind, and they were left in the chamber with Trahearne once more.

'Kill me now.. I beg of you.'

Mordremoth had tied its consciousness to Trahearne- if he lived, so would the Dragon. Shakily and blindly, Salvian picked up Caladbolg and shoved the blade through Trahearne's chest, ending his lover and the Dragon for good.

artwork by @mizunosuzuka

[rosesandgarbagecans]

laurie you’re making him nervous

laurie// @nellcromancy zephyr// me

[guildfox2]

two more doodles - my first ever drawing of Zephyr (done completely from memory) and Lil Bud, DD's snow owl pet

[commander-rory]

I thought I would doodle up the current gw2 characters I have (or at least made in game thus far). I have three commanders in their own universes doing their own shenanigans. I’ll put some descriptions of these dweebs under a read more :D

Commander Rory - Asura Holosmith/Scrapper: He is by far my most played character. Rory sort of stumbled into the Commander role more by accident because he has a habit to run towards danger with the idea that he can be helpful in resolving whatever happens. He’s soft for a commander and for being an Asura, but he is definitely a workaholic. He’s the least likely to condescend because he’s excited to teach, and will always try to be anyone’s friend. Rory firmly believes ideas can come from anywhere, especially from the most unexpected places, so he enthusiastically likes to learn from others and try his own spin on things. He’s the krewe leader of Znappii, Rixxitt, Vallixx, and Quizzik. He adores Aurene, and later the Charr cub (who I’m currently developing aha) he adopts in the Charr civil war shenanigans.

Znappii - Asura Ranger: She is very dignified and reserved, but can also come across very arrogant and standoff-ish. This results from being disregarded by most Asura since she had a preference for understanding the natural world more than the technology they were developing. Rory’s earnest interest in her version of the pursuit of knowledge is what lead her to joining this krewe. She ends up cleaning up the messes that can result of her krewe’s shenanigans, especially of Rixxitt. Znappi relies on her panther, Blink, and spider, Webster. 

Rixxitt - Asura Elementalist: He’s beauty, he’s... not grace. Rixxitt is likeable, but by no means tactful. He will definitely do dangerous things for the sake of science, and will be the most likely source of trouble. He comes across as the “loveable idiot”, not because he’s actually stupid... rather just very impractical. His catchphrase could very much be “What’s the worst that could happen?”. Rixxitt is head-over-heels for Znappii. He joined this krewe upon Rory’s request after working together on some projects in their earlier days of Asuran college. 

Vallixx - Asura Mesmer: Acts as the krewe’s muscle in a lot of circumstances, and will handle the “dirty business” if need be. There is some secret joy in sticking it to the inquest when he gets the chance. Vallixx likes to use his abilities of illusions to his advantage and relies on intimidation to get his way. He is soft for Rory, but struggles with the fact his krewe leader is very oblivious to this. There never seems to be a right time to tell him either as Rory is always off doing something be it helping someone get their cat out of a tree or saving Tyria from certain doom. He joined the krewe because he was interested in where this particular band of misfits might go under the leader’s very open perspective to the world. 

Quizzik - Asura Necromancer: He comes across very stern and surly, but is actually a gentle soul. Social graces are not his strong suit, so he makes better friends with corpses than the living. As a brilliant scientist and strong voice of reason, he helps keep the krewe and their experiments from getting too out of hand. Quizzik is convinced Rory only asked him to be a part of his krewe out of pity, due to the lack of invitations and struggles to form his own lab krewe. He has learned over time that Rory respects his insight, and knowledge on how life connects even through death and “undeath”.

Dis Solvidottir - Norn Engineer: A friend of Rory. She met him while he was on a mission for the priory. She very much enjoyed working with him on a variety of projects, and treats him like a little brother. To be fair she likes to act like a big sister to everyone because she always wanted to be a big sister. So far she only has an older brother. Dis is very interested in making golems, but more inspired by nature. She wants to shape golems after the spirits and the wildlife around her as her way to pay respect to these beasts of legend. While she enjoys a good hunt, she is interested in being among the first Norn to “hunt the beasts in knowledge” to find the answers to the big questions out there and make a legend for herself out of that. Dis is determined to be known for her might both in body and in mind. 

Commander Nerys - Sylvari Necromancer: This young Sylvari found herself born into this role of being the Commander, but has many questions as to why. Her wyld hunt never seems to end despite each foe she faces, but she knows of nothing else. She is committed to this role feeling like she’s too deep to leave at this point, and trying to find a way to claim it as her own rather than feeling like something she was thrusted into without choice. Nerys comes across to other as someone who grown a thick shell of withered bark etched with wisdom while somehow being utterly naïve and young deep inside. The wisdom comes from the battles she has faced, while the youth and naivety comes from the fact she is still learning so much from the world around her. There are many moments where she still comes across things she has only heard of from the dream.

Numeria Scrapshield - Charr Engineer: This young Charr relies more on her wits than her strength, and is a proud member of the Ash legion. She’s soft at heart which gets her into a lot of trouble, so she does her absolute best to put on a tough act. Numeria meets Nerys in Elona during the hunt for Balthazar, working as one of the contact agents for the Order of Whispers. She admires the Commander’s strength despite the lack of experience she has lived in the world. 

Sianiss - Sylvari Ranger: Sianiss is a bold sylvari who isn’t afraid to say what she is thinking. She is bold and won’t stand for excuses, and loves the thrill of adventure. She was one of Nerys earliest friends who followed her beyond the grove to fulfill this grand wyld hunt she has been given. Sianiss struggled to make sense of her dream, but knew Nerys would somehow lead her where she was meant to go. Eventually after the death of Mordremoth she found her place as one who finds those who have been corrupted by the dragon and lead them back to some semblance of normality after the dragon’s corruption. Sianiss helps to heal the dragon’s corruption of the jungle as well, while learning the skills of survival from the natives who dwell there already. 

Zephyr - Sylvari Mesmer: A quiet Sylvari who has great compassion for living things. Zephyr follows Nerys acting as her right hand man when all else fails, and hopes to learn through her adventures of saving the world how to reach those who have become corrupted to the nightmare court. Overtime he has broadened this perspective to be a diplomat to try and unite the many races of Tyria, and not just the Sylvari themselves. He finds more success with the more “unwelcomed races” such as Skritt, Dredge, Grawl, and Centaurs than he does those who hold more power. 

Commander Qimmog - Asura Thief: This character was made to fit the more traditional Commander we see in game. Tactical and tempered through lots of strife. He’s sharp and a bit disgruntled which makes him difficult to approach. He had spent a period of time “undercover” among the inquest in the attempts to sabotage and dismantle some of their work within. With time Qimmog realized how corrupt the Arcane Council had become and has a strong distaste for the tolerance the council has for the inquest and their unethical research practices. He then turned his efforts to become a member of the Order of Whispers in the hopes through them he could dismantle the corruption within the council, but ended up focusing his attention on the bigger issues that come along in the in-game cannon. He has taken to the feisty, but reckless Jamie and acts as a mentor to her. He offers a lot of tough love in the attempt to push her towards the potential he sees. 

Jamie Shield - Human Revenant: Jamie is a young human, who also has a particularly youthful appearance and often gets treated like a child. She is determined to make a name for herself, following in the footsteps of her deceased parents. When she learned of the efforts being made to defeat Zhaitan, she was determined to take part and prove herself a worthy fighter. Qimmog saved her from nearly getting herself killed in one of the many battles of Orr, and she has stuck close by ever since with the ambition to one day return the favor to the Commander. Despite being treated as a nuisance by Qimmog, they have developed a good relationship. Jamie still has a lot left to learn, but she is growing under the Commander’s guidance. 

[hawkepockets]

27, 40 and G for Prem AND Peppa:3

for prem:

27.  What causes them to feel dread?

prem doesn't experience dread a whole lot. but definitely when he heard that the zephyr fleet had crashed in dry top, not knowing if his mothers or their family airship were in the wreck and having no way to contact them, even if he was ready to face them and apologize for the way they left each other, which he wasn't.

when kas was talking to kormir in path of fire and said "you already know this, don't you?" and they both felt the dawning certainty that the gods were about to disappoint them totally.

and in gyala delve. bc. well.

40. How sensitive are they to their own flaws?

he used to not be self-aware at all, but since having all of his memories restored and put into context in the domain of the lost, much more so. it's been a long, slow process of finding and loosening the roots of his problems instead of just being like "i used to be a piece of shit," though.

G) What trait of theirs bothers you the most?

it might sound silly & conceited, but the fact that i know he'd be a fan favorite if he appeared in an original work and would get mischaracterized and privileged over women in the same story... like sorry but i can see it.

for pepa:

27. What causes them to feel dread?

by contrast, pepa is often FULL of dread. her enemies tend to be forces of nature, and she feels absolutely certain that tyria will crumble apart if she loosens her clawed grip on it for a second or allows anyone, friends included, to deviate too much from her plans for them.

highlights: realizing she'd fired on pact troops in "shell shock" and would have to explain it to trahearne. watching the All destabilize in omadd's machine. the pact fleet crash. aurene's death. the first appearance of void in arborstone. fighting ankka.

40. how sensitive are they to their own flaws?

not very. pepa doesn't think of himself as a control freak, and prefers to project a more laidback, funny, paternal image of the commander. if anything, he thinks he should let less slip through the cracks.

G) What trait of theirs bothers you the most?

before the maguuma campaign, pepa used to be VERY patronizing to sylvari, thanks to the guilt about malomedies she inherited from her father. she didn't trust sylvari allies to make their own risk assessments, and would oscillate between hyper-apologetic and over-protective, and shying away from interacting with sylvari at all for fear of offending, exploiting, or endangering them by accident. pepa's asura guilt complex is an important element of her early character, but the secondhand embarrassment... 🫢

[safewarmbubbly]

The ~Aesthetics~ of some of my gw2 characters

Cynthia Everett - Human Ranger - Commoner - Order of Whispers Lightbringer - Commander of the Pact - 20 during 1325 AE - Birthday: Phoenix 38 1305 AE

----------

Theseus Eupatridae - Human Thief - Adopted Noble - Priory Magister - 23 during 1325 AE - Birthday: Scion 46 1302 AE

 ----------

Warren Zelos - Sylvari Ranger - Cycle of Noon - Priory Magister - About 3 months old during the Battle for Claw Island in 1325 AE - Birthday: Zephyr 16 1325 AE

[abyss-stalker]

[The following is written in an ancient language, known only to few:]

70 Zephyr 1335

Scions take this damnable, vexing woman! Have I truly lost my prize to happenstance? Were all my words for naught, let alone my skills? To be bested by this creature, who had so effectively strung me along for days without my knowledge... I have well and truly fallen from grace.

If this is so... [a blot of ink.]

I am uncertain how to proceed. I cannot go back without the krait witch's head, and yet that which is available to me was not cut down by my own hands. I will not take another's prize- that is not how I will be known to the Houses, slow and honorless.

Not after all my bluster.

And yet I have no desire to remain. Human politics, witless norn, hot-headed charr, needlessly complicated asura, and self-righteous sylvari are all that this surface world has to offer. There is no place for me here- I know this because they stare, treat me as some oddity, raise their guard around me, or stick their noses where they do not belong...

I am weary and at the end of my line. All I can do now is stick by this human and hope she does not fail me. I do not have any other choice.

[cycleof-dusk]

updating my pinned! i want people to have better access to my characters and their basics, along with a small introduction

i’m Jax! 23, located in the EST timezone, and use they/she pronouns! follows come from @darkxyzdragon​ as this is a sideblog - but my main is predominantly FFXIV and chronic illness/disability awareness, for those interested! you can find me on the NA servers at darkxyzdragon.4792 !

Characters are under the cut for length reasons, ofc! (Hikari is all the way at the end to keep everyone in one post)

Name: Sionedda

Birthday: 69 Scion 1325 AE (almost 9 years old! also yes i did change this)

Orientation: Bisexual

Partner: Aym Riverwolf (found at @/riverwoofs)

Gender & Pronouns: Feminine, she/her

Race: Sylvari

Cycle: Dusk

Role: Pact Commander, Leader of the Crystal Bloom

Profession: Elementalist (Tempest)

Alternate Professions: Thief (Deadeye), Revenant

Titles: Commander, Lightbringer, Voice of Aurene, Champion of Aurene

Likes: Cocoa, cold temperatures, light refracting through crystals

Dislikes: Desert, humidity, chak, fire, early morning

Originally a bright violet dusk bloom, reminiscent of a succulent with her hair pattern, Sionedda is bubbly and affectionate with everyone she meets. She predominantly focuses herself on Air magic, but is also known to fall back into a more supportive role with Water. After The Departing, she has never attuned to Fire again.

Her appearance changes twice throughout the story: First, after The Departing, she awakes from the Realm of the Lost with the fern hair instead of her succulent leaves. Then, during the scene in which Caithe is Branded, in Sionedda’s story, she takes her place, and her colors shift more to richer indigos and teals.

Name: Tiernanne

Birthday: 42 Zephyr 1333 AE

Orientation: Homosexual

Partner: Pact Marshal Trahearne

Gender & Pronouns: Trans, he/him

Race: Sylvari

Cycle: Dawn

Role: Pale Reaver

Profession: Mesmer (Mirage)

Alternate Professions: n/a

Titles: Warmaster

Likes: arid desert climate, soft textures, cold drinks

Dislikes: humidity, unfamiliar areas

A blind sapling, adopted by Sionedda during the events of the Icebrood Saga. His vision allows him to see enough to fight, but he prefers not to, in the off chance he hurt someone he cared about because of it. He never has, but he would rather not take the risk. He still ascended to Pale Reaver within the Vigil, as he’s hard-working and a damn good swordsman.

Name: Destiny Sonnen

Birthday: 85 Colossus 1313 AE (20 years old)

Orientation: Homosexual

Partner: n/a

Gender & Pronouns: Cis, she/her

Race: Human

Ethnicity: Canthan/Krytan

Role: Shining Blade Associate, Double Agent

Profession: Necromancer (Reaper)

Alternate Professions: Revenant

Titles: Magister, Lightbringer

Likes: food, her minions, research

Dislikes: dead ends, the ministry guard

A street rat of Divinity’s Reach, Destiny learned that her unknown family were Shining Blade - in addition, a whole line of them, on one side, going back 250 years. In being given a family heirloom - a curved dagger, pointed at both ends - she became determined to find out more about them. She managed to become both a Whispers Lightbringer and a Priory Magister in her efforts to uncover more. She has a feeling there are a few people who know, but possibly don’t realize they do.

In seeing the Pact Commanders in Divinity’s Reach one day, she had glanced at the norn and realized at his side was the twin to her own dagger, and immediately jumped to him and interrogated the two, only to learn the Aym Riverwolf had about as much idea as she did about the daggers. Currently, she’s still searching for her answers.

Name: Eir Aymsdottir

Birthday: - (currently undecided)

Orientation: -

Partner: n/a

Gender & Pronouns: Cis, she/her

Race: Norn/Sylvari

Spirit: Wolf

Role: baby

Profession: Ranger (Druid)

Alternate Professions: n/a

Titles: Little One, Dreamer

Likes: plants, fluffy animals, sugar

Dislikes: sour foods, slipping on ice, when her pets won’t come back to her side

A bubbly Norn-Sylvari child, short for a norn but massive for a sylvari, with a bioluminescent patterning in her skin easily mistaken for traditional tattoos. These markings, along with her freckles, the roots of her hair, and her eyes glow in the dark.

She’s quite sweet, and very empathetic, with a faint connection to the Dream.

[Note: This was me looking at ArenaNet giving Sylvari a FULLY FUNCTIONING digestive system but saying “nah they absolutely cannot reproduce”; I find it cowardly that none of the main races can reproduce among each other but that’s a conversation for a different day. MY POINT BEING, no one is under any obligation to agree with my headcanons and can choose to not ask/interact with her! <3]

Name: Hikari Poole

Birthday: 58 Scion 1051 AE

Orientation: Homosexual

Partner: Zhi Yawen (@/riverwoofs), Jora

Gender & Pronouns: Trans, she/her

Race: Human

Ethnicity: Canthan

Role: Hero of Tyria, Cantha, Elona

Profession: Elementalist/Necromancer

Titles: Priestess of Grenth

Likes: girls, opulent clothing & jewelry, street food, Echovald

Dislikes: the desolation, watching her loved ones in pain

A young elementalist and necromancer, originally from a small village on Shing Jea Isle, she’s attended Shing Jea monastery from a young age, honing her magical abilities and expanding on her knack for blood magic and sacrificial arts, as opposed to minions.

She and her partner - both romantically and in crime - Yawen have traveled across Tyria, Elona, and their Canthan homeland, and helped save lives (and the world, a few times).

In death, they both haunted the Echovald forest happily, as well as traveled through the Mists; when Glint arrived, they mourned, but greeted her warmly, having loved the dragon when they met her; it was during one of their forays back into the Mists that they were directed by Glint to assist the current Tyrian heroes in their fight against Joko - seeing as the two of them are the ones who freed him in the first place, two and a half centuries prior.

[the-three-idiots]

Proflie: Luna Role: Commander, Dragons Watch

Born: 1325AE, Season of Zephyr Species: Sylvari, Secondborn Bio:

Luna is a second generation sylvari, twin sister to Ashal and adoptive sister to Tomomi.

Luna is quite different from her sister, not only in personality but also in terms of her leadership style. Luna focuses on Dragons watch in a very professional manner, feeling somewhat burdened due the guilds ultimate goal of defeating the elder dragons.

She often believes she can cope on her own which often damages her mental health, the death tolls between various wars and the elder dragons campaigns weigh heavily on her, though it does not stop her fight against the dragons.

Luna is capable of killing elder dragons but not capable of looking after herself.

Despite this, Luna can be a caring and loving person, often keeping tabs on her soldiers. To make sure that their ok when off duty, doing this give’s Luna a sense of ease to know her men are safe.

When Luna and Ashal meet, Luna almost turns into a different person, the two sylvari get as excited as most human children on a sugar rush. The two are practically inseparable when together and are a force of nature, able to take down any foe and laugh about it afterwards.

Those two are a team for life.

[Profile archived By] [The book keeper]

[akurathereaper]

how eiladhur and akura met

Hooooo boy!

Now... this is still a first draft of the meeting, so I can’t vouch that this stays canon sooo

First some timeline background:

I’ve stretched the peace time just a bit. This bit happens between Kralkatorrik’s death and the Icebrood saga, the aprox. time stretch is 1 year. The Commanders have a tiny breathe room, Akura is catching up to his other side projects along with his work as an Archon in the Priory, Chaton is catching up on much needed time with her children and human noble related bs.

Please keep in mind the areas are a lot bigger in my story, so do not be confused if all the stuff can fit into them.

Time is noon, Eiladhur’s farm in a somewhat isolated part of Caledon Forest.

     A mysterious and grievously injured sylvari passes out on the outskirts of his field that he was just preparing for Zephyr. From his past as a Warden and his experience as a guardian, he recognizes the wounds to be that of a vicious battle full of flame and blades. The scars were too grown in to be fresh.

     The sylvari’s physique and wounds first made Eiladhur doubt if this was someone he should even try to help, but even though the connection to the Dream was faint as the sylvari wasn’t conscious, it was there. This man was still a Dreamer, and as such, couldn’t be that bad of a person. He hoped.

     Taking in the risk, he -through very rigorous cursing and heaving- managed to get the sylvari inside, to the spare bedroom Eiladhur used as a stash for things he couldn’t bear to throw out. He could heal him, guardians had plenty of healing abilities up their sleeves, but he still wasn’t sure if that would be the right choice. So he decided to try and see if anything on this person could help him identify him. 

     The armour the sylvari was wearing was that of a fabric and metal he’s never seen before, ones that oozed magic from it. He couldn’t have been just some random soldier. 

     There were no weapons on him, although the burnt remnants of straps used to keep weapons told him they were most likely lost to the woods, now.

     No journal that conveniently contained his full name and occupation, no mark that could associate him with any known party, or a tattoo that had his first time lover’s name embedded in his bark, nothing. 

     Yet Eiladhur’s gut wouldn’t let him rest if he just let a fellow sylvari die in his home. If even a little, he treated the most serious wounds, then using most of his salves on remedying the rest of the burns.

     All Eiladhur could do now is to wait for him to wake up. If he wakes up.

     And he has.

     It was not a peaceful awakening, but a thrust to a painful reality, panic and the sudden movement making the awoken sylvari flinch as he sat up on the bed. He couldn’t well guess what time of day it was, like his eyes were draped over with cotton that blurred his vision into an unusable mess of colours and shapes.

     And the pain.

     Why was he in pain?

     He couldn’t understand. Was he injured? Ambushed and beaten? What has happened to him?

     What... who was he?

     “Up’n’about finally, I see.” A voice sounded from the right, and as the sylvari turned his head to look, he tried to focus his eyes, yet he couldn’t clearly see the person by the doors. By the colouring, though, it was a sylvari, and the nudge in his mind proved it. Yes. A sylvari, like him.

     “Hello.” The injured meekly whispered. “Who are you?”

     “That’s what I’d like to know about you. ‘M Eiladhur. You?” 

     “I’m... I don’t know.”

And ye, basically, Akura was effed up in a lost artifact search (priory quest) and the artifact had used a spell that temporarily messed up Akura’s memories, having him woke up with no knowledge of who he was, what he was doing, or why he’s so injured. Which is good, because if Eiladhur knew Akura was... well, Akura, he’d kick his ass out, because Eiladhur hates him.But this gives a way better character drama later where he finally realizes he was shifting blame and got over it. oops spoiler... eh, not like I’ll ever write it so. And this might all get scrapped in the future so who knows *shrug*

This was the reason why the timeline was a tad stretched, I needed time for these to to get to know each other, so Akura spent the almost whole year on Eiladhur’s farm. Fantastically, nobody recognized Akura, because he’s a celebrity basically and nobody recognizes celebrities in the countryside.

He gradually got his memories back, like a few months into his stay there, and got to know how Eiladhur feels about the Commander, so he kept the fact that HE was the Commander a secret. Because living there with Eiladhur was something Akura wanted for some time now. Peace, not worrying about the state of the world, or if he has to go and save it, sacrificing more of people precious to him in the process. (an fyi, they did not really even catch feelings that much this year, although Eiladhur was confused by the HUGE mancrush he got on Akura because... it’s Akura. And Akura was like “oh no I’ve felt this before imma just ignore it it will go away” and is firmly decided he doesn’t want to love anyone anymore, something that Chaton, his bestie, talks him out of, stating that Trahearne would want him to find someone new to love if he wasn’t there anymore. Because Akura’s happiness is the most important thing Trahearne could wish for. It helped Akura get over the feeling he was “cheating” on Trahearne, whenever he gazed at Eiladhur for a bit too long, or lingered with a touch, or smth)

Y’all can guess how that whole thing turned out.

bitey

[rosesandgarbagecans]

Draw the boy, you know the one.

which boy, nell? which boy

[gw2-rambles]

Sylvari: Children of the Pale Tree

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     Following the second Awakening event, a dangerous flaw in Sylvari governing structure came to light. The Firstborn received highest honor in Sylvari culture, responsible for most decisions as their bond to the Pale Mother seemed closest, while every Sylvari to awaken in later years felt lesser in worth. Although this was never the intention of the Firstborn who believed their authority protected Sylvari as a community, it was enough disparity to cause dissent. A Secondborn by the name of Cadeyrn clashed with the Firstborn on several occasions, including their refusal to kill youngling Krait before they could grow into savage enemies, as well as the lack of outrage and retaliation against the asura after their treatment of Malomedies and droves of captured Secondborn, and he finally voiced his dissent in action, leading away of group of equally disgruntled Sylvari to form the Nightmare Court. Nightmare itself referred to the unsavory truths in life, such as death and suffering, and embraced these realities. Its name mocked what the Sylvari refer to as the Dream, through which experiences are passed on from generation to generation. 

     Initially, the Nightmare Court’s goal centered around freedom from Ventari’s Teachings, which they perceived as limiting Sylvari to another being’s ethical code, as well as the Firstborn’s control. The Court established locations throughout Caledon Forest, and developed a hierarchical structure of governance where members could rise in rank and influence, rather than be born into status, and over time, different locations became independent from each other. Cadeyrn remained the leader of all Nightmare Courts, and they shared ideology, but they could function and expand independently. Despite their rejection of Ventari’s pacifism, the original Nightmare Courtiers were no more destructive than other inhabitants of Maguuma, interested in growing their influence at whatever expense, and unafraid of violence as a tool. Most Dreamers, followers of Ventari’s Tablet, distrusted Courtiers, and the Firstborn viewed them as a threat, but war did not break out among the opposing Sylvari groups until Faolain uspured Cadeyrn’s position as Grand Duchess of the Nightmare Court.

     Faolain awoke as one of the twelve Firstborn. In her youth, she became infatuated with fellow Firstborn, Caithe, with whom she shared many adventures, including the rescue of Secondborn captives from an asuran testing facility. Her methods were uncharacteristically harsh for a Dreamer, and eventually others began to suspect her of Nightmare, just as she suspected the Pale Mother from withholding secrets from her children. Faolain’s suspicions led her to chase after Wynne, another Firstborn tasked by the Pale Tree with keeping the forbidden knowledge of Sylvari nature a secret, into the Maguuma Wastes, where Wynne had fled to reside among Ventari’s people. There, in the Wastes, Faolain and Caithe both encountered a dark entity. While Caithe rejected the power it offered, Faolain embraced it. This entity, unbeknownst to any but Wynne, whom Faolain killed once her motives were corrupted, turned out to be the slumbering Mordremoth.

     With Mordremoth’s corruption, Faolain returned to Caledon Forest to begin a new era for the Nightmare Court, and for all of Sylvari. Nightmare no longer stood for defiance; instead, it was corruptive, unleashing the truth of Sylvari as creatures predisposed to violence. Faolain murdered Cadeyrn and his original Court which would not submit to her, converting them to her form of Nightmare. They lived again, reborn from a recreation of Blighting Pods, and served as champions to her growing army of Courtiers. Under Faolain’s leadership, Nightmare grew, and Courtiers attempted to spread its influence into the Dream by committing heinous, depraved acts, sometimes performed during an event called a Dark Vigil, intended to teach newborn Sylvari before they awoke that this was their purpose in life. The Nightmare Courts which joined Scarlet’s Toxic Alliance were all indirectly following Mordremoth’s will.

     The Nightmare Court changed once again after Scarlet’s Ley-Line Machine woke Mordremoth, who had been instructing her after her mind became susceptible to greater madness, for although the Court was predominantly populated by those touched with Mordremoth’s corruption, some resisted its call, and Mordremoth became a common enemy to Nightmare Courtiers and Dreamers alike. Even Faolain, with her morals warped more by ambition and pride than any Dragon could completely corrupt, feared to join Mordremoth until her dying moments, when her body was taken and changed into a deadly Vinetooth. In Faolain’s stead, Duchess Chrysanthea led the remnants of the Nightmare Court who had not turned to Mordrem against Mordremoth’s forces, joining with the Pact to aid the final assault into Dragon’s Stand. Chrysanthea reestablished the original Court’s value of freedom over all else, and to protect that freedom, Mordremoth needed to die. Her Court, referred to by some as the Free Nightmare Court, would never be able to see entirely eye-to-eye with Dreamers, but following Mordremoth’s death, she was able to form a fragile coalition with Wardens of the Grove, and her Court would be allowed some land in Maguuma. 

     However, although Chrysanthea leads the organized Free Nightmare Court, renamed to the Zephyr Court after the season's connotation of rebirth, there remain followers of Nightmare that do not bend to her, and prefer to wage war and manipulate new recruits as they historically have. Nightmare Courtiers, when identified, face hostility in public spaces, such as the Grove, as well as other human and Sylvari cities, but gradually, handfuls of Guilds have been permitted registry under Courtier leadership due to Chysanthea’s actions resurrecting a good name for the Court.

     Many believe that Nightmare corruption is inescapable, a theory supported by its draconic properties, but over time, that belief wanes in validity. Sylvari as a race prove that through strong, restorative magic, draconic corruption can be overcome, and so scholars now theorize that all remaining Mordrem and Nightmare individuals could be purified as the Pale Tree once was. A more difficult, but far more realistic, approach to overcoming corruption is by sheer force of will. This is how the jungle-dwelling Sylvari relatives freed themselves from Mordrem corruption, how Sylvari across Tyria resisted Mordremoth’s call, and how a Courtier could theoretically recover from the madness. Most who practice this approach struggle to rid themselves of Nightmare’s influence, but find that Soundless incantations that quell the Dream can also sate the beckon of Nightmare. Its difficulty arises in the fact that corruption corrodes will, and so these individuals find themselves in an exhausting battle for peace. 

[commander-passiflora]

Dianach for the oc questions please!

Full Name: Dianach 

Gender and Sexuality: Gay man (but honestly like the only person he’s ever loved/ever will love is Trahearne so I mean?)

Pronouns: He/him

Ethnicity/Species: Sylvari

Birthplace and Birthdate: Zephyr 1325, Cycle of Night, the Grove

Guilty Pleasures:  Plushies. He just likes soft cuddly things, how is it fair that something so nice be reserved for children? (He’s not necessarily ashamed that he likes them, but he is a little ashamed about the sheer quantity he owns. People absolutely Are Not allowed into his room in Dreamer’s Terrace.)

Phobias: Losing more people that he cares about is a big one, and he’s been surrounded by death for so long that he’s afraid he’s just sort of cursed, that everyone he cares about will die and it’ll be his fault. After Trahearne’s death, he also starts to worry that he’ll somehow turn evil without meaning/wanting to, bc after all, if he was able to kill the man he loves, then what does that say about him? 

What They Would Be Famous For: Being the Commander is the obvious one, but aside from that, honestly a lot of sylvari tend to just look at him like Trahearne’s trophy husband for a while there lmao

What They Would Get Arrested For: Yknow like weapons checks at big events? He’d probably get arrested for accidentally bringing in a dagger (or several). He didn’t realize it was there, he didn’t mean to, he promises! He just...has so many of them....sometimes he misses one......or five..........

OC You Ship Them With: Not an OC, but Trahearne

OC Most Likely To Murder Them: Morgan would probably threaten to bc she loves him but he’s an absolute idiot sometimes, but other than that idk really

Favorite Movie/Book Genre: He’s a big fan of sappy poetry, although he’d never say so. 

Least Favorite Movie/Book Cliche: Any time there’s a character who’s sneaky/good at doing things on the down low, it’s assumed that they’re shady/bad news/not to be trusted. My boy did not spend his entire life fighting dragons and saving the world to be treated like an inherent threat just bc of the way he chooses to get things done, and his sneakiness comes in part from a sense of compassion to begin with (if you don’t have to kill something, then why would you?)

Talents and/or Powers: As a thief and also as someone who tries to avoid fighting when possible, he puts a lot of work into his stealth skills. Anyone who’s trained with him would also say that he has a particular knack for finding and exploiting an enemy’s blind spots. Also how on Tyria does he hide all those daggers???

Why Someone Might Love Them: He just really really cares about other people and wants to make the world a better place. Even after all the things that have happened to him and all he’s lost, he hasn’t let go of that or turned bitter. As much pain as he’s in, he still tries to help others as much as he can.

Why Someone Might Hate Them: He can be a bit hesitant/indecisive, bc he’s so concerned with what consequences his actions might have and wanting to do what’s right. (This is particularly an issue with Balthazar, bc of the weight of killing someone else’s god.) If it weren’t for his friends pushing him, he’d probably never get anything done. Some have also said he’s too much of a pushover.

How They Change: He gets sadder :’( No but really, he just becomes increasingly hesitant with every bad outcome. The flipside of that is, though, that every time something goes wrong, he becomes more determined to make sure no one else has to watch people they care about die if he can help it. (It creates a lot of internal conflict, bc he thinks it’s the right move to do this thing now, but what if that causes more problems later, but then what if someone dies and he could’ve done something, but then-- etc etc etc)

Why You Love Them: He’s just. So small. And so sad. Someone please give this boy a hug.

[tricksterpale]

Name: Mianach (MEE-ah-nock), “Mia” from close friends

Affiliation: The Pale Tree, Dragon’s Watch Year of Birth: Zephyr 2, 1302 AE (Dawn Bloom) Age: Firstborn, 30 years Occupation: Traveler and Explorer on behalf of The Pale Tree Class: Warrior/Revenant

Mianach was the first to awaken during Dawn on the first day of the Sylvari’s awakening into the world. He awoke with the Wyld Hunt to explore the world and bring back his findings to his brothers and sisters, and in particular, to the Pale Mother. As such, he wasn’t in the Grove long before he set out into Tyria to adventure and experience it firsthand. He was the first of the Firstborn to do so. Mianach was also the first Sylvari to encounter each of the other races of Tyria. He’s naturally inquisitive with an insatiable curiosity, always seeking new ideas, places, peoples, and theories. When observing the world in exploration, he always questions why things happen the way they do. In fact, he’s so insatiably curious that he’ll often rapid-fire questions regardless of manners or etiquette and can be rather point blank when there’s something he wants to know. In any case, he’s very childlike and harbors a deep well of emotion that comes out easily when impassioned. He can be quite emphatic and ardent. He can write and speak multiple languages, including a few dead ones, just so he can learn more unhindered. He hungers for ever more knowledge and new insight.

[stormdancer]

Zephyr 41, 1330

Volimnu’s gun continues to have minor problems, this morning’s load and unload remained slightly sticky, despite them having just machined it smooth the day before, and clean&lubed it last night. Suspect some kind of blowback or metal issue very slightly deformed something, but lack proper tools here to determine what. Will continue watch, but since it works fine during actual use not considering it worth withdrawing over yet. Sn Gnarlmace wants them tested to failure if they can fail, so we will.

Shawrun paused, looking up from his writing. The late risers were starting in on their breakfasts, primarily people who had been on the later watch shifts. Returning his attention to his journal he made a few more notes about the previous day’s conflict, observations about interacting with the Pact, and then made a couple of sketches of the area, and the people at work. Putting the notebook away, he hefted his pack onto his back, picked up his shotgun, and made his way to the Pact commander, who sat in quiet conversation with one of her soldiers.

“We’re moving out,” he said. “As much fun as it’s been, I’ve got mail to deliver.”

The Sylvari got to her feet, grinning. “Well, we’ll see you in week, maybe ten days or so then, probably,” she said, and offered her hand.

He shook it firmly. “Maybe a little longer, we’ll see how busy it is out there. If yesterday is any indication...”

“Ah, actually, I was just talking with analyst ***name here about that,” she said, gesturing to the human, who simply nodded in greetings. “That group was definitely an aberration, but we’ve seen a shift in aggression and organization over the last couple of weeks. If the pattern repeats what we’ve seen over the last year, Pact indexes suggest we’ll see an increase in spotty but intense action scattered across the map, culminating in a major aggression somewhere South or Southwest probably.”

(( The Story So Far... ))

(( Anybody got a good name suggestion for this analyst? ))

[bespokeminutiae]

1 Phoenix 1325

1 Phoenix 1325

Feorylle,

You'll be pleased to hear that your letters are reaching me— the quartermaster was kind enough to bring them to the supply drop. I've also been writing to you as I have time, and I'm sending my letters back with the boat. I do apologize, there is no proper reply anywhere in the envelope I’ve sent you. The boat can only stop long enough to hand things off, so I don’t have enough time to read your letters and reply before Magnus leaves. I'll write more as soon as I can, I promise.

Trahearne

84 Zephyr 1325

We’ve made it to the first camp safely. You won’t receive this letter until this news is irrelevant, but I wanted to to tell you. Especially since getting here was so difficult. Are there more risen here than I remember? Or have I simply forgotten what it’s like to travel through Orr? I couldn’t tell you which it is. I hope it’s the latter.

I owe you an apology for brushing you off in my last letter. I’ve been duly reminded that I see Orr differently than most people. As soon as my companions and I crossed the strait, they put on masks, so as to not breathe the miasma. They swear it’s so that they do not contract any of Zhaitan’s many plagues, but I’ve seen sylvari explorers do the same, complaining of the smell of the land. I do not agree. The dragon’s corruption is sour and sharp, and even I don’t care for it, but there’s a salty, earthy smell underneath everything that I find pleasing, even… homey. You should still talk to Cinnia if you get the chance—she’s got valuable experience and an interesting perspective of her own. It should tide you over until I manage to gather my thoughts.

I don’t know why I feel so much more at ease in a country where everything can kill me than I do anywhere else. I try to think about what it is that welcomes me so, but everything I can think of feels insufficient. It’s more than just the landscape or the history here, or even the lack of small talk. I’ll have plenty of time to ruminate on this question during my watches, but I wish I could answer it. It bothers me almost as much as the masks my companions wear—I do not begrudge them their comfort in a land that offers little, but I’m still bothered. Similarly, I can set aside my discomfort and carry on without answers, but I’m still bothered.

A last question: will you see things the way I do, or like everyone else does? Probably neither. I look forward to finding out.

86 Zephyr 1325

It occurs to me that I should explain my purpose in Orr.

Of course, my end goal is to discover a method to cleanse Orr and complete my Wyld Hunt. That’s what I hope to find every time I come here. But this expedition, I’m specifically looking at relics or rituals related to the human gods. I did mention that this expedition is sponsored by the Krytan Ministry? They’re also very interested in the human gods, although more from a cultural and historical standpoint. I’m sure there’s more at play in the politics of this, but I’m not concerned. Travel in Orr is so unpredictable it’s likely none of us will find what we’re looking for. We plan visit several of the temples to the human gods in the Straits of Devastation and Malchor’s Leap. Hopefully there’s something useable left. I’d love to continue into the Cursed Shore, but I wouldn’t risk companions on such a journey, especially since there’s nothing in Orr they can forage for food, and thus they’re very reliant on our supply drops. In all honestly, there’s barely anything I can forage for food, but that’s less of a concern unless it’s the rainy season. I do fine as long as there’s enough sun.

We’re also trying to find a way south from the straits to an unmapped area to do some mapping work in addition to searching for relics. One of my companions, Okobii Fans, is an archeologist that has done a fair bit of research into Orr, and is certain there’s six reliquaries there, one for each of the human gods at that time. If we can make it down there, I’m confident that we’ll find something satisfying.

First, though, we’re going to try and make it to the temple of Balthazar tomorrow. It’s less than a day’s journey from tonight’s camp, even having to sneak around all the risen.

87 Zephyr 1325

Today was a complete waste. We couldn’t get within three kilometers of Balthazar’s temple, because it was so overrun with risen and thick with traps. Olio, our scout and hired muscle, accidentally tripped over a wire and into a spike pit and almost got himself impaled. Thank the Pale Tree for his reflexes, he was barely scratched. But there’s no way we’re going to get anywhere near the temple. Now we have to rewrite our entire route to avoid it.

Why would Zhaitan bother? It’s a human temple, it didn’t have any relevance in death rituals I don’t think, and it’s not even in a terribly defensible location. Miss Fans is perplexed as well. She can’t think of anything the dragon would want there, and without being able to search the temple, she can’t confirm those suspicions. Obnoxious.

When we doubled back, we at least found a mansion in the ruins of the nearby town and were able to search it for artifacts. We didn’t find anything related to the gods, or anything with a scrap of magic on it, but Miss Fans found a partial census record in a watertight box, and that helped rescue the mood. I found a fork. I’m going to take it back to minister Merula—you remember, the one who wanted me to find and carry back a whole silver set? I doubt this fork even belonged to her ancestor, but if she gives me any grief about it, I’m going to shove it up her nose. None of those coddled silken idiots understand what it’s like here.

The fork is an amusing consolation, but I was hoping to not be disappointed so early.

89 Zephyr 1325

Being unable to reach Balthazar’s temple has left us with some time before the first supply drop. We’re spending it probing the mountains on the southern edge of the Straits of Devastation, hoping to find a pass or a cave system we can use to get through to the reliquaries. Morale is low: we’re not finding much of use and we keep running afoul of risen patrols. If we kill too many we’ll attract attention to ourselves and have to pull out early, but we keep being left with no choice as we keep being surprised in areas I remembered to be safe. It’s not my imagination or my poor memory: there are far more risen than when I last came here. It raises some concerning questions: where is Zhaitan getting the bodies? And what does he plan to do with them? I don’t like to think of the answers.

I hope you’re faring better than we are.

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