Guild Wars 2: Biggest Mysteries

Like any good fantasy universe, Guild Wars 2 has presented some excellent mysteries over the years, as well as answers to burning questions. Case in point: the Wizard’s Tower in “Secrets of the Obscure,” the true origins of the Sylvari and the Pale Tree, and the fate of the dwarves and Glint’s first Scion.

However, there are still some big question marks over much of the series’ lore that keep many fans up at night thinking about. Some of these mysteries might be answered in the near future with the arrival of ArenaNet’s new “mini-expansion” model. The answers to others, however, may be lost down the dangling story threads of time.

Malyck & The Other Tree

The Blossom From Another Bosom

It’s been quite some time since “Heart of Thorns” and the revelation that the Pale Tree was, in fact, supposed to be a champion of the dragon Mordemoth. The expansion would have been the best time to address Malyck, a sylvari who purportedly came from another tree. Bobby Stein, one of the writers at ArenaNet, stated that Malyck’s involvement in the expansion was cut for time.

This is unsurprising, given the content packed into GW2‘s first expansion. While this may mean that Malyck will never be revisited and that his time has passed, there is always a possibility that sylvari lore may be revisited and expanded once again, perhaps in a nearby unexplored jungle area, and his mysterious backstory resolved.

The Asura & Mursaat

Examining The Rata Sum Connection

When the asura first arrived from the surface, they emerged amongst ruins, which are visitable in “Eye of the North,” where they founded their city, Rata Sum. Some have speculated that these are the ruins of a lost Mursaat city. However, Mursaat architecture found elsewhere is crystalline, obsidian-like, and quite distinct from the asura’s Mesoamerican-like designs. It is possible that the asura simply found the ruins of some lost surface pioneer group and continued to build on top where they left off.

However, there are many eyebrow-raising similarities between the asura and the mursaat, including their penchant for using constructs (golems and jade armor), their mastery of magic and soul manipulation, and their superiority complexes. Way back in 2007, ArenaNet hinted that the asura and mursaat connection would be elaborated on in Guild Wars 2, but this has yet to come to pass, and fans still speculate as to why “mursaat” and “Rata Sum” share the same letters.

Preceptor Doern Velazquez

The Infiltrator From Another Place, Time, Or Reality

The Order of Whispers thrives on secrecy, but few members are as enigmatic as Doern Velazquez. When players first encounter him, they can ask about his origins. His initial response is, “Kyrta? No. I mean, yes. The human nation, right?” He then uncomfortably admits that his true origins are “classified.” His Hispanic-based name is unusual in Tyria, but his unfamiliarity with Kryta is very surprising, given that he lives there.

Does Doern hail from an unseen part of Tyria or even another world? It is equally possible that “Doern Velazquez” is a cover name, part of an elaborate mind game to confuse and disarm new recruits to the shadowy spy network. It could also have been a way for the developers to immerse players into mysterious worldbuilding, hinting at a greater, unseen world. One way or another, even with “Pact Commander” level access, players still haven’t been debriefed on the matter.

The Identity Of “E”

The Anonymous Correspondent With Insider Info

During the first three Living World Seasons, players began finding cryptic letters signed off as “E.” This enigmatic figure seemed to possess significant insider knowledge about local political intrigue and happenings. With so many characters in Guild Wars 2 with names beginning with E, fans jumped into speculation mode, theorizing that it might be Ellen Kiel, Evon Gnashblade, or even an entirely new character.

A popular theory maintains that “E” was Evennia, a prominent character who went missing at the end of Guild Wars Prophecies, and given the precedent set by the long-lived Livia, this is certainly possible. Despite their involvement in key events, “E’s” true identity was never revealed, leaving the mystery to persist for years. GW2‘s White Mantle story moved on after Season 3, and the story of “E” has seemingly been abandoned, forever relegated to the “it’s probably just a pun” opinion bin.

Bahltek & Utopia

A Visitor From The Continent That Never Was

Before jumping ship to the sequel, ArenaNet had planned to set their next Guild Wars campaign, “Utopia,” in the mists. Utopia would have featured time travel, forgotten gods, and entities of incomprehensible knowledge and magic. One hint of this was Bahltek, who could be encountered during the Nightfall campaign across the islands of Istan.

Bahltek alludes to magic mirrors, spirit ships, stars, and his search for artifacts with a certain “archemetrical infusion” from a mage with the power to transcend time and even planes of existence but refuses to elaborate further. Once spoken to, he will refuse to converse with the player again. Even after “Utopia” was canceled, the staff at ArenaNet continued to hint that players might catch him later in Guild Wars 2. However, “Secrets of the Obscure,” the expansion that would most likely pick up this thread point, has come and gone, making his reappearance unlikely.

The Ash Legion Homelands

Ashen Shadows On The Eastern Front

The Ash Legion is known for its stealth and secrecy, but the complete lack of lore surrounding the fourth High Legion after more than a decade of stories in Guild Wars 2 is impressive. Not even an Ash Legion player character is privy to any of the details a charr might expect to know for being practically born into its ranks.

In the prelude chapter to “The Icebrood Saga,” players returned to the Charr Homelands and saw a portion of the land the Blood Legion calls home. Ash Legion territory is thought to be out east of Ascalon in the desert, but besides that, not a word has been uttered about Ash’s geography, culture, or history. Hopefully, this will be something that Guild Wars 2 can correct in the near future.

Behind The Tengu Wall (& Other Blocked Paths)

Filling In The Dominion Of The Four Winds

There are a handful of gateways in GW2 that have been around since launch and have not been turned into usable zone portals, unlike the one in Vandal’s Claim that now leads to the Silverwastes. Two of the most tantalizing gateways in the entire game are the ones that lead inside the Domain of Winds, home of the tengu. The Domain is split into two squares on the map, one next to Lion’s Arch and the other bordering Caladon Forest.

Extremely little news about Krytan tengu has come out over the years, but fans still speculate what could lie behind the massive stone walls. Of all the candidates in Tyria, the tengu are the most likely to become a playable race, and this would be their starting zone. Although they would make a great addition to the already-interesting cast of fantasy races, at this point, a new addition like this seems unlikely.

The Gods & The Origins Of Humanity

Looking In On The Opaque Pantheon

For those out of the loop, the humans of Tyria are not native to the world. Rather, they were brought to the world by their gods long ago. Where humans originally came from has never been answered or even speculated about. The gods, while they originally went “silent,” have made plenty of in-person appearances in Guild Wars 2, especially in “Path of Fire.” However, they were cagey about answering any burning questions while on screen, to say the least.

Besides their origins, there are plenty of pending questions about the pantheon. Before his destruction, the fallen god of war, Balthazar, curses all the other gods but Lyssa, the twin goddess of chaos. Why did Lyssa lend Balthazar her mirror, which he used to deceive the world upon his return? What happened to Balthazar’s half-brother, Menzies? And with the dragon threat over, will the gods consider a return? With the god of war’s demise, it is unlikely there will be any answers soon.