index

In thi s i ssue: The Na :o n of Orr W eh No S u Bar Jok es with Ar ghor e Title Hun t er s: K urzick s In t erview with GWGuru And mo

And mo r e.. ..

T ender W olf’s

The Wing e d Goddess

The Mallcramp 1.0

Win a White Mantle or Shining Blade costume!

On The Tube with Dael in Dwin

Celes tial Hor osc ope

This is

sue’s

them

e:

By the community,

for

the comm

unity

JuLY - Issu

e #2

© 2003-2010 Ar enaNet, Inc. All rights r eserv ed. NCsoft, the in t erlocking NC log o, Ar enaNet, Ar ena.ne t, Guild W ar s, Guild W ar s 2, and all associa t ed log os and designs ar e tr ademarks or r egis t er ed tr ademarks of NCsoft Corpor a tion. All other tr ademarks ar e the pr operty of their r espectiv e owner s.

GuildMag, the unofficial Guild Wars magazine

This issu e:

→ Meet the Team A small introduction to the team behind GuildMag. → Orr An insightful article on the nation of Orr. → Guild Wars 2 Acrostic A poetic rundown of what the world of Tyria is becoming.

becoming. → On The Tube With Daelin Dwi n A partial sum-up of the best or funniest Guild Wars vide os found on YouTube . → Gamers Giving Ba ck An interview with Malibu Barbi e on Game rs Giv ing Back. → History of Weh no Su

What does it take to become closer to the stars? → Celestial Horoscope Find out what the stars have in store for you. → Dragon Festival It's best for dragons to eat a Crème Brûlée and drink many Flasks of Firewater to keep their fire burning inside. → Dwayna, the winged goddess The lore behind the goddess of light and air.

The lore behind the godde ss of light and air. → Summer Fashion What are play ers we aring this summ er? → The Mallcramp 1.0 What happens when a bot tries to play the game for you?

→ Costume contest! GuildMag gives you the chance to win either a White Mantle or Shining Blade costume code! → Interview with JR from the fansite GuildWars2Guru Dan Grey aka JR answers a few questions about himself and the fansite GuildWars2Guru. → Title Hunters: Savior of the Kurzicks

→ Title Hunters: Savior of the Kurzicks Interviews with players on how they managed to reach the highest tier in the Kurzick title. → The Asura Background lore on the mysterious race. → Guildmag podcast Learn more about this new feature of Guildmag → Fan-made artwork

→ Fan-made artwork Gorgeous artwork by Guild Wars fans. → Cal l of the Wolf The story continues with chapter three and fou r. End of the Line The last tidbits. Next is sue

A preview on what we’re planning for the next i ssue .

The nati on of Orr

The godde ss Dwayna

Interview with GWG JR

A Charr, a Norn and an Asura enter a bar... The Charr: "I can't believe we made it into the GuildMag !" The Norn: "Yeah unbelievable, magazines usually only feature great heroes and legends." The Asura: "Don't jump to conclusions guys. For

The Asura: "Don't jump to conclusions guys. For all we know, they turned us into some kind of joke..."

EDITOR’S WO RD:

Summer is spreading around Tyria, and while you may not directly see it outside, it certainly is out there. Last issue we had taken a look at the fie ry side of Tyria which gave us a lot of fe edback, and we've tried to reflect it in this new issue. Maybe you're reading this from our ne w web-viewer, as a result of the feedback we have gotten o ut of our last issue. You may also like the fact that our stuff is

last issue. You may also like the fact that our stuff is written a lot better in comparison with our last issue and I would like to thank the new editors for their job. Instead of having our jokes on one page, we have spread them throughout the magazine. We also tried to have a few more casual article s l ike a horoscope and a look at the latest fashion in Tyria.

We hope you enjoy this second issue with the same pleasure, and hopefully even more, as with our first issue. Also do not forget to enter the contest in order to win either a Shining Blade or White Mantle costume code! Dutch Sunshine PS: Do not forget to give us your feedback at our

PS: Do not forget to give us your feedback at our website: http://www.guildmag.com

GuildMag, the unofficial G uild Wars magazine

Nickname: Dut ch S unsh in e IGN: D ut ch Sun shine Task: Head -Edit or/F ou nder Wha t's Up?: Games ma y lie, but we don 't.

Nickname: Asur an IGN: T he W o r s t Monk Task: Edit or/Writ er Wha t's Up?: Disman tle the man tle.

Nickname: Jonn y10 IGN: Nigh tshade Special Task: Designer/W ebmas t er Wha t's Up?: Aut oma tic door s mak e me f eel lik e a Jedi.

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Wha t's Up?: Join the Shining Man tle! R e f orm!

Nickname: Magl ama IGN: Maglam a Marx Task: Writ er Wha t's Up?: Fun F act: My nickname is "amalg am" backw ar d s.

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Wha t's Up?: The mos t c ommon whisper i g e t? "Can y ou run me to Dr ok s?".

Nickname: Thalado r Doomspeak er IGN: Lord Sethir oth Task: Writ er Wha t's Up?: Kno wledg e is po w er . And: R e f orm!

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W an t to join the t eam? Check out an y open applic a tio ns on our w eb sit e!

Name: K onig IGN: K onig Des T o des Task: Writ er Wha t's up?: A simplis tic ques tion with a c ompli- cat ed ans w er .

Wha t's Up?: The f ollo wing statemen t is true. The pr e vious statemen t is f alse.

Nickname: Ar ghor e IGN: *some thing* Ar ghor e Task: Bar jok er/Writ er Wha t's Up?: With gr ea t po w er c omes gr ea t re- sponsibility

Nickname: Dr a xynnic IGN: Ga w ain Dr a xynnu s Task: Writ er Wha t's Up?: St ar s.

A short introduction to the team of G uildMag

MEET TH E TEAM

I've been haunted by my dreams ever since I sailed the waters where Orr once stood. I dream of a dark, rising shadow in the world, and fear the day when that shadow finally swallows the sun. - Dirk Shadowrise, Curse Henchman The peninsula of Orr was situated south of Kryta and west of the

The peninsula of Orr was situated south of Kryta and we st of the Crystal Desert. It stretched from the edge of the desert into the Bay of Sirens (now known as the Sea of Sorrows). We d on ’t kn ow too much about Orr’s geographical features, bu t the world map that was used 250 years ago had sh own it as a b arren an d rocky land. It is unknown whether Orr always looke d like this or it is a side-effect of the devasta.ng magical event k nown as the Cata- cly sm.

cly sm. Orr’s flora and fauna is also shrouded in mystery. The only known creatures that once lived there are (lesser) dragons. It is based on the fact that the walking dead - who invaded Kryta’s shores shortly after the peninsula’ s submergence - w ere escorted by fe arsome undead drago ns.

The lands of Orr as seen on the Tyrian map.

The History of Orr: The last thing I remember, Charr warbands were rampaging through Orr. Then a deafening explosion rocked me from my feet, and a bright light engulfed me. I awoke to find myself here. I don't know what I have done to deserve an eternity in this nightmarish realm. - Vialee, former ci.zen of Orr, tormented soul in the Realm of Tor

- Vialee, former ci.zen of Orr, tormented soul in the Realm of Tor-ment Orr’s history is scarce before it became an independent na.on. Some.me in the past, powerful beings started building an olympic city at the heart of Orr. These en..es were revered by the humans and the city they built was called Arah. This pantheon consisted of six gods in those .mes; however, we

This pantheon consisted of six gods in those .mes; however, we only know of three who actually lived there: Melandru, Goddess of Earth and Nature, Dwayna, Goddess of Life and Air and Balthazar, God of War and Fire. One year prior to the mysterious event known as the Exodus

One year prior to the mysterious event known as th e Exod us (Tyrian humans started coun.ng years from that moment) Abad - don – one of the six, God of Water and Secrets – gave the gift of magic to the sen.ent races of Tyria. Unfortunately, it was give n out too freely and thus bloody wars e rupted all over the world. Every race fought to rule the rest. On the edge of ex.nc.on, the human race had one last hope: their gods. Doric, leader of the unite d human tribes traveled to Arah and begged the al mighty beings to

human tribes traveled to Arah and begged the al mighty beings to end the destruc.ve wars once and for all.

The gods answered his ple a. They "gathered back" magic from all the races and trapped it inside a tall stone. Then they broke the stone into five parts - four equal bu t op posing sto nes of magic, an d one keystone. Without the keystone, the o ther f our co uldn ’t be re- assembled. The four schools of magic are: Destruc.on, Aggression, Denial and Preserva.on.

On top of giving out his "gift" too liberally, Abaddon marshalled his Margonite worshippers - who were "blessed" by his magic - and stormed the Gates of Heaven. The other five gods answered this act. They brought down the renegade god and imprisoned him in a special place. The menacing area called Mouth of Torment now marks his downfall. Because of these troublesome events, the gods decided to leave

Because of these troublesome events, the gods decided to leave the world of Tyria for good. After the Exodus, the Orrians seceded from the union and founded their own independent kingdom on the peninsula. The inhabitants tasked themselves with looking after the buildings and structures of the mighty city, hoping that their gods would return one day. The Orrian na.on prospered in the next eight hundred years. Al

The Orrian na.on prospered in the next eight hundred years. Al - though, two hundred years before the Searing the Orrian armies were called upon for unknown reasons (it is possible that the un- documented reason was a minor guild war that broke out in Orr). The hero who led h is battalions to th e fi rst battle of Arah was Lo rd Victo. Not much is known about this man either. Al l we know is that he was a commander and that he died in the mid ninth cen tu-

ries after the Exodus. After his death, he made it to the Hall of Heroes, although his spirit was captured by demons that we re commanded by Menzies, the Lord of D estruc.o n an d Balthazar's evil half-brother (possibly a demi-god, who was helping Abaddon in fulfilling his plot). Brave he roes freed Lord Victo's soul in 1072 AE, and the Orrian commander rewarded them with his weapon s that he had used in his lif e.

57 years before the Searing, war raged in Tyria again. Not between the races this .me; but instead, between the human kin gd oms an d guilds of the con.nent. The feud between the guilds was so large that they began figh.ng on the holy streets of Arah. This was an act that the Orrians couldn’t stand by watching idly.The na.on rose up to defend itself and the city of the gods from the warrin g guilds of the other kingdoms, but the consequences of this "interven. on" were high. The other two countries – Kryta and Ascalon – started

were high. The other two countries – Kryta and Ascalon – started mobil izing their own arm ie s.

The Nation of Orr

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GuildMag, the unofficial Guild Wars magazine

An all-out war ensued between the three empires, and during that bloody 57 years none of them was able to assert dominance over either of the other two. Since the human kingdoms were too busy fighting each other, they

Since the human kingdoms we re too busy fighting each other, they didn’t see the growing danger in the north. The charr rallied un der the banner of one warband and its respective legion, the Flame Legion. In the year of 1070 AE, the felines struck without warning. They easily captured the lands that we re north of the Great North- ern Wall’s protection. In response to the new threat the other king- doms and guilds withdre w from the war and returned home in order to protect their countries. The Wall of Ascalon was able to

order to protect their countries. The Wall of Ascalon was able to hold off the invaders for awhile. Orr used that little time to regroup and prepare for the attack. However, it didn’t last lon g. What steel and strength could not undo, the destructive side of magic could. The charr Shamans utilized the power of a mysterious and ancient artifact (the Cauldron of Cataclysm) and brought down the Wall – and with it, nearly the whole Ascalonian nation as we ll. The charr swept through the seared kingdom and continued towards Arah

swept through the seared kingdom and continued towards Arah (as their Titan "gods" had ordered them). The Orrians were hopeful and belie ved that their armies could repel the invaders, but those hopes were dashed in less than twelve hour s…

On the brink of defe at, King Reza’s personal advisor, Vizier Khil- bron, entered a warded vault deep within the forbidden catacombs and tombs that were below the marble streets of Arah. The Vizier sought a way to turn the tide of the battle by destroyin g the invad- ing charr army, no matter the cost. He unrolled one of the Lost Scrolls and read an incantation of litany that meant the end of the Kingdom of Orr …

When the sage finished the ritual, a deafening explosion shoo k th e ground, and a bright light engulfed the whole nation. The b lack cloud of dust that e nveloped the kingdom concealed the true

extent of the damage for weeks. When the smoke finally cleared, sailors found that the entire peninsula had sunk, leaving only scat-tered tiny islands in its place. It later turned out that the Vizier was tricked by a demon in human

It later turned out that the Vizier was tricked by a demon in human form. Terick (a.k.a. Razakel) used the Vizier to destroy Arah – the demon’s master, Abaddon, caused the destruction of the city in order to further his plans of vengeance against the gods. The charr were only instruments in the God of Secrets’ dark plans. The titans, his minions, ordered the charr to invade Orr and besiege Arah in order to set the kingdom’s fall in motion. The Dragon awakens:

The Dragon awakens: One hundred years ago the drowned empire of Orr rose from the sea at a dragon's command. -Unknown historian Orr rested in its underwater grave for the next 150 years. Its only

Corsairs made their lairs in the small and scatte red i sland chains

Deep below Arah, somewhere in the catacombs where the Vi zier spelled the end of his nation, an ancient power awakened: an Elder Dragon. The dragon was surprised to see that his re sting place was underwater, and to better serve his "expectations and inte rests," he raised the whole landmass from the de pths of the sea. This deathless dragon’s name was written in the legend s of th e Dwarves: the dragon kn own as Zhaitan.

The Sceptor of Orr

The emergence of the peninsula caused massive tidal waves that flooded the coastlines, decimating thousands in Lion’s Arch, D’Alessio Seaboard and Sanctum Cay. The Battle Isles suffered a similar fate, as they sank beneath the raging waters. The waves’ "constructive" power actually turned parts of northern Elona green again. Humanity didn’t wait too long to investigate the disastrous event.

Humanity didn’t wait too long to inve stigate the disastrous event. They quickly amassed their force s and visited the dreaded penin- sula only to find the twisted n igh tmares that h ad gained fo oth old there. The Elder Dragon of Orr had reanimated the Orrian co rpses into horrible undead minions. Zhaitan also took th e co rsairs who had hidden in the small islands before Orr rose and corrupted th em with his breath, enslaving the pirates to his will. The battle be - tween the human forces and the "tide of darkness" was already de

tween the human forces and the "tide of darkness" was already de- cided before it began. Zhaitan’s power was too great, and his twisted servants easi ly defeate d the human armi es.

Zhaitan's awakening

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GuildMag, the unofficial Guild Wars magazine

Orr Today: In the next 100 years Zhaitan strengthened his rule over the undead kingdom. The dragon created an armada of black-sailed ships from the sunken corsair vessels, filling them up with an undead crew. The fleet now stretches throughout the Strait of Mal-chor, blocking any passage to Cantha. Life still could not blossom on the peninsula’s surface despite the

Life still could not blossom on the pe ninsula’ s surface despite the fact that there was a century for the region’s regeneratio n. The dragon’s corruptive presence hindered that. Orr’s landscape s are images of decay, undeath and pe stilence. The empire’s corrupted citizens roam the barren wastelands and neglected towns, doing their master’s bidding. Anyone who might happe n upon the dis- turbing shores of the peninsula is assaulte d, killed, and reanimated to serve the primordial dragon.

to serve the primordial dragon.

Yet, there are a few living beings in Orr. The purpose of these brave men and women is to reclaim the lost kingdom and de stroy Zhai- tan.

Unfortunately, Zhaitan plans a similar fate for the races: he wants to destroy all life on Tyria. His soulless horde s are marching to- wards the civilized lands of the continent even at this moment. The five races of Tyria must stand together if they want to defeat th is menace. Until the the Elder Dragon of Orr is removed, everyone is in grave dang er…

The lands of Orr still hold many mysterie s. A great deal of lore and ancient, forgotten knowledge is stored in Arah’ s spired towers. Some mysterious prophets even claim that the origin of the drag- ons lie in the gods’ olympic city, due to a deciphered riddle that was spoken by an ephemeral spirit m ore than 250 year s ago: "Vm'Jqqteomn dj'dpjat ipj 'attw Rthjms'dpt xoada'rthj ms dpt'setvxa

Jm'soadvmd apjeta'jq v'yvms bmivwomn Vmaitea'dptet yot'om ivodomn" Translation: "An offering to those who seek Beyond the mists beyond the dreams On distant shores of a land unwaking Answers there lie in waiting" The aforementioned oracles think that the phrase "On distant

The aforementioned oracles think that th e phrase "O n distant shores of a land unwaking" refers to the re-emer ged pe ninsul a of Orr. The mighty nation has fallen from the he ights it once reached. Its lands have become a place of nightmares. An adv entur er can lea rn a lot about the history of Tyria, but is it worth risking his or he r life?

By Thalad or Doo mspeak er

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GuildMag, the unofficial Guild Wars magazine

GRAND This vast world we have treaded for Dve years is expanding further beyond the boundaries of the universe. A world known sacred to its dwellers is ever-growing and ever-changing into another. It has been our home for what seemed like an eternity, but what will become of it when change has Dnally come? When we descend into this freshly-burrowed rabbit hole, we could

When we descend into this freshly-burrowed rabbit hole, we could make new discoveries without the obstacles of fate. The shackles of the planet are shaCering, and soon we will be free to travel these altered lands, for it is the dawn of a new world... ...An open world. UNITED There is a Dme where the people of diDerent cultures, origins, and

There is a Dme where the people of diDerent cultures, origins, and creeds must come together. As our planet evolv es, the peri ls evolve as well, endangering us all and our families. Our de sDnie s have been intertwined in the past as the vine of a tree, but what becomes of the tree? A world cannot grow witho ut th e care of its inhabitan ts. Our fears and hatred for one another must be cast aside as we

Our fears and hatred for one another must be cast aside as we muster our forces to purge the looming evil that desecrates our lands. Let us rally against this evil, leaving our diDerences behind. ICONIC A band of Dve exemplars shaCered by desDny. The living legends

A band of D ve exemplars sha C ered b y des D ny. The living le ge nds s D ll walk the l ands o f Tyria to safeguard it with each o f thei r own doctri ne . Captain Logan Thackeray of the Seraph Guard holds true to th e willpower and spirit of the humans. Rytlock Brimstone of the Bl ood

Legion iterates brute force, and deems the Charr the backbone of the world's strength. Eir Stegalkin, visionary of the Norn, believes wisdom of the world will prove grandeur and nobility. Member of the College of SynergeDcs and apprenDce to renowned

Member of the College of SynergeDcs and apprenDce to renowned Asuran inventor SnaD, Zojja assents that dexterity and cunning is the foundaDon of the enDre world. Caithe is one of the Drstborn of the Sylvari. She believes that the dreams and callings of the world will lead us to purging darkness and restoring light. Their beliefs are what broke them apart, but it will be their purpose that will bind them together again. LIVELY

LIVELY An unstoppable world everYowing with the sands of Dme. The trees of the groves Yow blissfully in the zephyrs, as their leaves fall in the endless streams. The events of war are as earth-shaking as the tremors of the canyons. Flames cast on villages spread across the Delds and into the forests. In these lands, all things Yow to-gether as they are binded by the threads of fate. This world will never remain unchanged. It is the canvas of the de

This world will never remain unchanged. It is the canvas of the de- voted arDst; an everlasDng masterpiece crafted by its gods. DIRE

Tyria is a world drawn by its monumental splendor, but how so without its many dangers? In the highest peaks Yy menacing fowl. In the barren wastelands roam clambering beasts. In the deepest waters swim crypDc leviathans. Bandits and marauders tread the open Delds in hunt for the unwary as their prey. There are those who bring forth peace and those who bring forth

There are those who bring forth peace and those who b ring fo rt h only war. The thunderous sounds of the Elder Dragons trudging th e earth and ripping through the sky cannot be ignored. Will we allow these seemingly endless crises to overcome our hom e, or wi ll we Dght to sup press them?

Throughout this land, the re lies hidden treasures and mysDcal magicks waiDng to be redeemed by travelers who prove the ir worth and bravery by crossing perilous Delds, del ving into dark cav- erns, and ascending steep mountains. K ings and quee ns from all over the world seek samaritans who are willing to do heroic de eds, whether slaying a murderous beast or rescuing a damsel in di s- tress.

As these deeds are done, riches and glory will be brought to those who perform them. Now go. The people await gallant adventurers to reward and sing praises of. Heroism will not go unreckoned. ADROIT The world of Tyria holds the Dercest and most adamant Dghters

The world of Tyria holds the Dercest and most adamant Dghters one could ever gaze upon in baCle. Whether one is skilled in the art of swordsmanship or adept in the Deld of sorcery, they are a force to be reckoned with. They shall revel in the glory of baCle as the weak and the weak-hearted are felled by weapons of war and cast down by destrucDve conjuraDons. When the horn of war is blown, these masters of aDray contrive

When the horn of war is blown, these masters of aDray contrive their tacDcs against their enemies, whether the y be man, monste r, or demon. Take up the sword, take up the bow, or be dispatched to the Mists.

A poetic ru ndown of what the world of Tyria is b ecoming

Guil d Wars 2 Acro stic

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GuildMag, the unofficial Guild Wars magazine

A charr, a norn and an asura enter a bar... Where a totally drunk Logan is sitting in the corner. They walk up to the bar and ask: Charr: "Isn't that Tyria's famous Logan Thac-keray ?"

Barman: "Yes, it is.." Norn: "What's his story ?" Barman: "The Queen Ered him for hiring a bunch of noobs to defend Divinity's Reach. What's your story ?"

RESOLUTE The Elder Dragons will wait for no man or creature. Their great awakenings have already occured, and the world of Tyria is under threat. The three Orders have strategized against these absolute foes, although each hold a diEerent moEve, a diEerent method to apprehending them. The Vigil. Guardians of the light that purges the darkness. They

The Vigil. Guardians of the light that purges the darkness. They have vowed to protect the lands, to ensure the safety of the p ow- erless and the weak. The Elder Dragons are constantly brimming with power, and the Vi gil will not stand aside and allow them to reach the peak of strength. Even with the dragons' might, the d rag- ons are believed to be surmountable along with the ir minions.

The Order of Whispers. OperaEves of silence. Emmissaries of the shadows. These men and women pracEce in the art of covert tac-Ecs, percolaEng enemy bases and gathering intel to gain the upper-hand in keenness. Unlike the Vigil, the Order of Whispers believe the Elder Dragons are invulnerable to weaponry, thus, the only opEon is to bring them back to their slumber. The Durmand Priory. An order of scholars and sages who delve into

The Durmand Priory. An order of scholars and sage s who delve into Tyria for the highest wisdom. They belie ve knowledge is the only true method to keeping the world from the harm of the Elder Drag- ons. The priory is often consulted by individuals who also seek the arcane and the abstruse, although informaEon is accorded pru- dently. Revealing the world's secrets is the onl y ende avor to pro- tect i t.

SUBLIME On the highest mountains and in the lowest valleys tread pioneers who seek knowledge of the world, not to expose it, but to save it. Heroes are not born. They are sculpted from Eesh and soul into Eg-ures of both majesty and righteousness. The bards will sing ballads of the glory of these valiant men and

The bards will sing ballads of the glory of the se valiant men and women. Will we be amongst them? The feats of our ancestors shall not be forgotten, but it musn't end there. We must bu ild a stalwart foundaEon for the future of our homes. No longer will we be unsun g. A tale has yet to be told. What is your sto ry?

By Magl ama

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GuildMag, the unofficial Guild Wars magazine

GuildMag, the unofficial Guil d Wars magazine

Welcome to the second edition of ‘On the Tube with Daelin Dw in’, where I search high and low for the best Guild Wars YouTube videos and channels.

On The Tube with Daelin D win

"My channel has been servicing viewers for over three years and has been featured on Arena- Net's Official Guild Wars website seven times for my service to the Guild Wars community. My videos include new pla yer tips , builds , GvG highlights and more. Recently, I have once a

once again served the community with my new Guild Wars 2 up date videos . Thi s seri es of videos gives viewers the ability to learn the latest news and highlights about t he upcom- ing game. This saves the viewers time from strugg ling to find al l the inf o on their own; and even breaks down the info into cl ea r concise

concise format with visual exam ples when possible. All this can been view ed at my chan- nel, and is also featured exclusive ly on GuildWars2Guru.com Visit it today a nd don't forget to subscribe to get al erts when t he next update hits the air!" - Saberwolf18

Sabr ewol f18's channel features vari ou s informat ive a nd insightf ul video s in and around the Guild War s world .

Sabrewol f18

"I've got quite a mixed bag of good ies on my channel. I do a lot of Guild W ars movies whi ch people seem to enjoy, as well as s hort films and other bits and bobs. My aim is to ma k e videos that are fun, clean and appropriat e for everyone. My Guild Wars videos are most

mostly completely ridiculous stories with a group of regular characters voiced by Text-to- Speech comput erized voices. I've also done a couple of Guild Wars mus ic vide os and organized the Guild Wars Video Mak ers' Collaboration. I alw ay s lik e a technical challenge and I started ex perimenting with T

Texmod and green scr een eff ects quite early on and helped a lot of people with the eff e ct . At the end of the day I just enjoy making stuff!" - og gyche ese

Oggy cheese' s channel contains v ariou s Guil d Wars videos and s ome other stuff you might find int eresting.

Oggy ch eese

"What ho, reader! My channel is an insight into ho w I view the world of Guild Wars as a cynical , rath er mel- ancholy Brit .I started out making videos for another MMO but changed it up after I lost interest . Now, I would gladly welcome anyone who's interest ed in hearing what I have to say about this game. which happens to be a lot of people as of n

a lot of people as of now. I try to focus my attention on getting information across as best I can, using commen- tary and visu al aids as required. My videos are uploaded in 720p HD, and I lik e to k eep some kind of quality stan- dard, though that's yet to be properly defined in writing . What can y ou expect? (apar t from exceedingly long w aits between videos...). Currently I have a few farming videos, a coupl e of

videos, a couple of r ants, a colour cor rect ion tutorial an d a video high-lighting other quality Y ouTubers that I come across. My next idea is to highlight s ome tips n' tricks that I've pick ed up while playing the game; expect them to be fairly common knowledge, but still handy. Now, do be afellow and check out the fine peopl e to my left , or right , depending on where Mr. Daelin slots me in. Pip pip!" - Me

Pip pip!" - Merciless Mik e (magicalmik e2)

Magicalmik e2's chan- nel fea tures miscellaneous G ui ld Wars related videos including ran ts and farms that ma y or m

may no t be us eful.

Magicalmike2

V i deos :

Channels:

The recently r eleased sequel to last issue’s feature. This is just as cr azy as the first and even better.

Guild Wars: Captain Jack and Th e Lost Empire - by JackMcJ ac k13

I hope those videos and channels k eep you busy until the next issue. If you think there is a video or channel that should be featured her e, feel free to e-mail me at onthetube@guildmag.com or private message me on youtube at http://www .youtube.com/daelindwin.

This extremely unique vi deo is made almost entirely from stop motion, making for some very amazing scenes.

G uild Wars - Stop Moti on by Yumiya89

Going back a few years now, but this is one of my favorit e gheier machinimas. It tells the tale of tw o gentlemen as they search f or trees during the wintersday hol iday.

GuildMag, the unofficial Guild Wars magazine

Tree Hunters by gheier

By Daelin Dwi n

Given that the theme of this issue is "light" and see ing that not ev- erybody in the Guild Wars community will be familiar with this or- ganiza:on, we thought this would be a good moment to set Gamers Giving Back in the spotlight. Gamers Gi ving Back is an ini- :a:ve by two familiar people in the Guild Wars comm unity, Dj Ke lli and Malibu Barbie, who are mostly known for being regular Dj's and founde rs of the Gaming World Entertainment Network

(formerly gwevents). We had an inte rview with Malibu Barbie , to shed some light on Game rs Giving Back, what it’s about, what they do and how you can become a part of it. GuildMag: What is Gamers Giving Back ab ou t ?

Malibu Barbie: Gamers Giving Back is mainly a fund-raising and awareness crea:ng ini:a:ve. We hope to mobilize the gaming community to basically give back to the global community. We do this by organizing fund-raising events in Guild Wars and other online games. GuildMag: What was your inspira:on for crea:ng this organiza-:on? Malibu Barbie: Gangster rap made me do it... *laughter* ... No ac

Malibu Barbie: Gangster rap made me do it... *laughte r* ... No ac- tually, I was listening to a Daughtry song called “What about N ow” on the radio and was thinking about what happene d in Hai:. Kelli and I were talking about doing a radio stream, and then I thou ght, “Hey maybe we can :e the two together.” Th e rest was e ncou r- aged by my friend Matt (Judge Ra in Guild Wars) who told me to stop being chicken and go fo r it!

GuildMag: So Dwayna had noth in g to do with it? Malibu Barbie: Well not directly, or at least ... We do draw in spira- :on from he r scripture: “..Oer protec:on to the weak. Give solace and shelter to those who need it. Be ye a salve to the wou nd ed .. ” Scriptures of Dwayna, 115 BE. Since it goes so well with our focus on raising funds and aware ness for good cau ses.

GuildMag: When was Gamers Giving Back Created? Malibu Barbie: The disaster in Hai: happened in 12 January 2010. We started Gamers Giving Back not long therea:er, so January 2010. We started with a fund-raising event for Hai : in Guild Wars. GuildMag: Was Hai: the only reason to create Gamers Givin g Back? Malibu Barbie:

Malibu Barbie: No, gangster rap made me do it ... *more laugh- ter*... It was what got the thing started though. We soon realized that we could do more and created Gamers Giving Back, so vide o gamers could have a place to organize together to show their sup- port to various chari:es. The idea behind it is that many vid eo gamers spend quite a bit of money on monthly fees and what n ot. So we :gured we could inspire gamers to step back and think

about se tting aside $1 or $2 towards a charity. If every gamer in the world did this, we would probably raise millions! It would also prove that Gamers are the BEST at fund- raising. GuildMag: What fundraisers have yo u d on e so far?

Malibu Barbie: Well we just got started. So far we have raised money for Hai: ($1,337) and for the Mul:ple Sclerosis Society (<-http://www.msif.org/en/) ($2,240). We are currently planning a fundraiser for October. This fundraiser will be connected to cancer, speci:cally breast cancer research. GuildMag: What fundraisers have you done so far? Malibu Barbie: Well we just got started. So far we have raised

Malibu Barbie: Well we just got started. So far we have raised money for Hai: ($1,337) and for the Mul:ple Sclerosis Society ($2,240). We are currently planning a fundraiser for October. This fundraiser will be connected to cancer, speci:cally breast cancer research. GuildMag: What are your future plans for Gamers Giving Back? Malibu Barbie: We are in the process of fusing Gwevents and

Malibu Barbie: We are in the process of fusing Gweve nts and Gamers Giving Back together, and will soon be releasing a brand new website. So you can look forward to seeing many events in Guild Wars and con:nu in g on in to Guild Wars 2.

Malibu Barbie: We will be look ing for people to help out with events and fundraisers in the future. So sign up on our we bsite here. We send out e-mails and reminders of when we have meet- ings about events, fundraisers, etc. Dona:ons of a variety of in- game items are always helpful if you don't have the extra cash lying around to be able to support the chari:es. You can also sho w yo ur support by becoming a fan on Facebo ok.

GuildMag: Thank you for your interview and :me, but what’s with the "Gangster Rap made me do it?" Malibu Barbie: No problem ... Gangster Rap made me do it … *even more laughter* (red. for those that missed it, Malibu Barbie actually sang this par

(red. for those that missed it, Malibu Barbie actually sang this par- :cular song "on air" during our own GuildMag Re lease Party to raise in-game funds for the event warchest. You can hear Barbi e rapping it up here. To get involved with Gamers Giving Back just to show your supp ort, or to get more informa:on, visit any or all of these si tes: http://www.gw-en.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gamers-Gi ... 4555952991 http://twitter.co m/Gamersgiveback http://www.mysp ace.com/gamersgiveback

On Gamers Giving Back

By Ar ghor e & Malchior De v enho lm

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GuildMag, the unofficial G uild Wars magazine

Weh no Su, also known as “Close r to the Stars” or “to be Cl ose r to the Stars,” is something that many believe to be special to Can tha alone, and in a way it is. But it is also not unique to Cantha. The whole situation behind Weh no Su is not dissimilar to it s Tyrian sister Ascension, and both are very much still mysterious. Weh no Su has had a drastic effect on Canthan history alre ady, and it is bound to do so ag ain.

The first recorded person to have gone through the process of Weh no Su was also the first “Kaineng Weh no Su” or “Empe ror Near the Stars.” This man was Chang Hai. A year after the Exo dus of th e Gods, Chang Hai – then kno wn as Ch anang – b ro ke away from the imperial life and chose the life of the hero, studying the wa ys of the Warrior and then spent four years in Shing Jea studying the te ach- ings of the Monk. Thanks to scribes who trave led with him, even today we know many – if not all – of his deeds as a wandering he ro

today we know many – if not all – of his deeds as a wandering he ro and that he was one of the first Canthan he roes to become Weh no Su. Though a hero all his life, when his father was on his deathbed, Chanang took the throne , refusing the title “lord emperor” that every emperor before him took, and instead took the title “ascen- dant emperor.” With the new title change, he came to be known as Chang Hai.

Since then, all emperors of Cantha have been required to become Weh no Su and practice in at least two heroic professions. The last known emperor, Usoku, would mark the 21st emperor to have become Weh no Su. It is still unknown to what extent the benefits of becoming Weh no

It is still unknown to what extent the benefits of becoming Weh no Su (or Ascended, for that matter) go. It is said that becoming As-cended grants the gift of True Sight, which is said to be the ability to see someone for who they truly are (and grants the ability to see the mursaat when they are in hiding), while becoming Weh no Su grants the ability to see the spirits of the dead even when they wish to hide. Some believe that the ability connected to Weh no Su is the same

Some believe that the ability connected to Weh no Su is the same as True Sight, though it is hard to te ll whethe r these are truth ful abilities. How would one know if their ability is due to this elusive True Sight or if they woul d be able to se e it without T ru e Si ght? It is also said by some that becoming Weh no Su or Ascended allows one to learn more in one’s li fe .

The last thing known about Weh no Su is that it is a test give n by the Celestials which are revered in the Empire of the Dragon as dei - ties – though lesser ones compared to the Six Gods. The Ce lestials are former mortals who have ascended into the heavens (which makes it all the more appropriate that the Cele stials are the te sts of becoming “Closer to the Stars”). The amount of the Celestials is still unknown but there are, at least, fifteen known Celestials. To go through this test given by the Celestials, one m ust defeat a num be r

through this test given by the Celestials, one m ust defeat a num be r of Celestials – though not the Ce lestials themselves but rather the essence of the Celestials. In a way, the test is to prove one’s might against the Celestials themselves. The test also is only admi ni stere d by the Oracle, Suun, which makes becoming Weh no Su even more difficult as he is constantly moving and few e ver know where he is.

Despite all this that we know, Weh no Su is still a massive myster y in the continent of Can tha. -Journal of Xaphan Sariel, Researcher and Lorekeepe r of Kurz ick House Sariel

The Nahpui Quarter mission where players become Weh No S u

Weh No Su

A charr, a norn and an asura enter a bar... As the real estate agent switches on the light. He asks: "So, you want to start your own bar ?" Charr: "Yeah we are pretty psyched about it !" Norn: "This place looks just perfect !" Asura: "Yeah, why did the previous owner ever

Asura: "Yeah, why did the previous owner ever stop ?" Agent: "He couldn't take the constant brawls.."

By K onig Des T od es

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GuildMag, the unofficial Guild Wars magazine

As a rat, you do not have to be afraid of never having any friends, as you’re always surrounded by them. Though with this fortune there comes a side effect: your friendships mostly do not last long enough to be enjoyed fully which some9mes also makes you lonely. In ba4le, rats do not know how to lose. They never want to face a

In ba4le, rats do not know how to lose. They never wan t to face a losing ba4le, as they will always strive to be perfect. This may, of course, work against you in the heat of the ba4le. You can easily lose track of your target by being too con9dent in yourself. My advice for a rat for the coming two months would be to con- sume a Bowl of Skale9n Soup twice a we ek to keep good health. Ox

1901, 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 As an ox, you are very smart. You do not like to make war and can be very reliable with secrets. However, there is s9ll a shadow in all of this. As an ox you can also be very stubborn and 9ercely com- pe99ve which can cause you to lose your friends if you’re not care-ful. Oxen are known as good workers. They can cra9 ingenious designs

Oxen are known as good workers. They can cra9 ingenious designs for weapons and other war-military arsenal like the cannons that o9en 9nd their place on a turtle's back. For the coming two months, an ox would be wise to drink lots of Sugar Drinks to keep his ac9vity steady. Tiger 1902, 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 As a 9ger, you're quite sympathe9c, kind, emo9onal, and sensi9ve.

As a 9ger, you're quite sympathe9c, kind, emo9o nal, an d sensi 9ve. Despite your kindness, you can be extremely short-tempered and a bit self-ce ntered. However as a 9ger, you're also a deep thinker which allows you to come up with the most ingenious ideas, some- 9mes even smarter than some of the asura. In ba4le, 9gers are o9en se en as a 9erce opponent to be reckoned

with. Be careful not to let this get in the way of friendships by making decisions that will not work out in your favor! For the coming two months, I would recommend you to drink lots of eggnogs in a pub to let your emo9ons come out every now and then. Rabbit 1903, 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 A rabbit really knows how to have fun. If they're not tricking people

A rabbit really knows how to have fun. If they're not tricking people onto a false path, then they tend to be a4racted to adventure. You have no need for any four-leaf clovers as a rabbit; you're already quite the lucky creature! It is no wonder rabbits will always try to act like a peacekeeper during a 9ght. Just do not let the power overwhelm you and cause you to misbehave. For a rabbit I suggest ea9ng a lot of Chocolate rabbits. Have no

For a rabbit I suggest ea9ng a lot of Chocolate rabbits. Have no fear, you are not ea9ng your neighbour. It's just a fake one! Dragon 1904, 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 Dragons tend to act superiour to others because of their so-called

Dragons tend to act superiour to others because of their so-called wisdom. Keep in mind that even dragons can be corrupt, or mad for that ma4er. If you ever have the feeling to raise a sunken land, know what consequences it might have! In ba4le, a dragon will o9en want to go in all alone, but keep in

In ba4le, a dragon will o9en want to go in all alone, but keep in mind you also have your teammates. There is nothing more fun than to cooperate. If you have the opportunity to work together as a team, do so! It's best for dragons to eat a Crème Brûlée and drink many Flasks of Firewater to keep their 9re burning inside. Snake 1905, 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013

1905, 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 On some occasions you try to escape your du9es. You like to party more than you like work. Even so, you're seen as a very wi se being.

more than you like work. Even so, you're seen as a very wise being. You're o9en soaked in your thoughts, but that does not prevent you from having fun. When you see a new recruit trying to 9gure out how to 9ght, you o9en lend them your help as a mentor. People appreciate you for doing that, so keep it going! During weekends, I recommend you to eat enough rats to keep up

During weekends, I recommend you to eat enough rats to keep up your body's length, as a snake will keep on growing un9l it dies. Horse 1906, 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 Although not many can be spo4ed throughout Tyria, they're o9en seen as noble and graceful beings. They are not afraid to work a li4le bit harder in order to achieve great things. As a horse, you love to explore the magni9cent beauty of Tyria and

As a horse, you love to explore the magni9cent beauty of Tyria and also are o9en found at events that happen during the year. I do recommend to o9en just go with the flow, but watch out not to overdo something you really want, as that will be bad for your health. To keep good health, you should try and eat enough carrots. If you

To keep good health, you should try and eat enough carrots. If you cannot 9nd any, search for Daniel Frozenwind as he'll be likely to have one for you! Sheep 1907, 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 A sheep is o9en seen as a rich person. They're quite charming and

A sheep is o9en seen as a rich person. They're quite charming and elegant and thus are in a good posi9on to a4ract decent jobs along the way. Though, keep in mind that there are s9ll people that are not as rich as you. While being charming and elegant, also keep in mind to share with the poor to please Dwayna. With this fortune, there are also the moments in which you're

With this fortune, there are also the moments in which you're lonely. The only way to change this is to look at yourse lf and see what you're doing wrong. Confronta9on is the cure to lone liness. There are three things that are important for a sheep to eat: grass, grass and, indeed, more grass.

Find out what do th e stars have in store for you

Celestial Horoscope

By Dut ch Su nsh in e

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GuildMag, the unofficial Guild Wars magazine

Monkeys are always striving to become famous, whether it is by getting all the atten7on after a prac7cal joke on someone else, or by really making an effort of helping others. Aside from their fun side, they also have a serious side and influence many people throughout their life. They're often found to solve the most difficult issues with ease. Look around and see if you can help anyone nearby, as it is written

Look around and see if you can help anyone nearby, as it is written in the stars that monkeys are often seen as good mentors for others. Nevertheless, don't forget to enjoy life. That's what a monkey is about: having fun while s7ll trying to be serious. A monkey cannot live without sugar. That's why they love sweets, though please, eat with cau7on. Rooster 1909, 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017

1909, 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017 Bright and cheerful, you perform a valuable func7on in he lping others to rise fresh and early for a new day. Just re member that not everyone will thank you for this. Instead let your tale nts speak for you. De vote yourself to a certain task, and it's sure to be a suc- cess. Eventually you might even re ach the top!

While it may seem like a good idea at face value, leaving your child in the care of a snake will only end in disaster, and should be avoided. Don't forget to eat lots of corn to maintain healthy plumage. Dog 1910, 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018 Everyone loves dogs. Why? Because they're loyal, honest and

Everyone loves dogs. Why? Because they're loyal, honest and (some7mes) even obedient to their friends. While not good in a mass, you're often found to do best in a smaller rela7onship. For your friends, your ac7ons are very inspiring. They often admire your courage when undertaking something new. In battle, you're one of the people who recommends teamplay in

In ba tt le, you're one of the people who recommends teamplay in- stead of solo. Although at 7 mes, you also want to b e o n your own to fi nd out your own weaknesses and improve upon th em. A few slurps of water each day and some drake flesh every now and then will keep your body as health y as can be!

Some people see pigs as dirty while others adore them. Pigs are often found to have lots of people around them. Don't let the fact that people adore you get to your head, as you might act rather harsh to a comment that was meant to be nice. Though you're a magnet to others, you prefer to be quiet on your own somewhere grasping into the air. You have to search for power in yourself. Your inner

You have to search for power in yourself . Yo ur inner- strength is often one of the things you'll find yourself calling for. When you do, you're sure to reach your goal. Try some Refined Jelly and some Rock Candie s ever y week to keep yourself refreshed and fit.

By Dut ch Sunsh in e

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GuildMag, the unofficial Guild Wars magazine

Guild Wars prides itself on a variety of special events. They shape the world around them and change the game dynamically to add some brief flair and entertainment for players. The Dragon Festival is a Factions-specific series of activities, acting much in the same way as other events present in Guild Wars. It is grounded heavily in the lore of Factions itself and serves as a sort of celebration of the region’s solidarity against troubling times. The Dragon Festival is an ancient tradition in Cantha. However, its

The Dragon Festival is an ancie nt tradition in Cantha. However, its current practice stems from the infamous murder of Canth a’s 26th emperor Angsiyan by his bodyguard Sh iro Tagachi. Bu t than ks to the efforts of the assassin Vizu, the Kurzick saint Viktor, and the Luxon champion Arche morus, Shiro's life was ended for this be- trayal. However, upon the final blow, Shiro's death wail caused a cataclysmic upheaval throughout the land, petrifying the Echovald Forest and turning Cantha’ s great sea into a frozen effigy of jade.

Forest and turning Cantha’ s great sea into a frozen effigy of jade. Faced with this horrific change, the newly appointed Empe ror Hanjai took the ancient tradition and harnessed its cultural influ- ence, turning the Dragon Festival into a symb ol of Canth an u nity under great stress. The monastery on Shing Jea island and the ex- pansion of Kaineng City both act as hubs for the cele bration, as their existence symbolize the land’ s ability to surv iv e .

The Dragon Fe stival has existed since 2006, manife sting itse lf in a similar form e ach year since then. It takes place over the week end of July 4th and is characterized by a series of seven missions an d four quests. The missions are available on a schedule and the n con- cluded with a finale headed by the emperor, where col lector’s masks are rewarded to the most successful participants. Othe r than these missions and que sts, minigames are also avai lable, in-

cluding Rolle rbeetle Racing, the Dragon Arena, and a numbe r of activities on the Shing Je a Boardwal k.

Festival rewards come in a great variety and can be acquired in a number of ways. Victory tokens, awarded by comple ting Drag on Festival quests and missions (as well as Boar dwal k game s), can be collected and the n given to specialized me rchants on the Board- walk for prizes. Rewards include consumabl e s, scroll s, and fire- works. Players who manage to accumulate 250 or more toke ns over the festival’s duration are awarded a festival mask at the finale, when Emperor Kisu delivers his closing spe e ch.

finale, when Emperor Kisu de livers his closing spe ech. With the great number of opportunities to participate, an d t he wealth of rewards available, it is hard to find the Dragon Festival boring. Each year, a successful turnout of players pro ves th at this ceremony can appeal to all audience s—lore buffs, colle ctors, com- petitors, and everyone in-between. As a staple of Canth an cultu re , the Dragon Festival is not an e vent to be missed.

If you ever have the feeling to raise a sunken land, know w hat consequences it might have!

The Dragon Fest ival

By Twit ch y

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GuildMag, the unofficial Guild Wars magazine

GuildMag, the unofficial Guild Wars magazine

And when the world rang with the clanging of swords and did fire fall from the skies, Dwayna, goddess of life and air, heard the wailings and pleas of the weak. And when the rumblings of war did not cease, came Her charge, Doric, who did prostrate himself at Her feet. And cast She now a glance upon the war-torn lands and wasted

And cast She now a glance upon the war-torn lands and wasted flesh of the fallen, and with tears upon Her cheek did lay Her gentle hands upon the prostrate man. Then saith She unto to him and all Her charges, "Lay down thy weapons, and as I have done unto ye, so ye must do for your brethren. Offer protection to the weak. Give solace and shelter to those who need it. Be ye a salve to the wounded. "For I am your goddess, and I will give blessings to all who follow

"For I am your goddess, and I will give blessings to all who follow these teachings." -- Scriptures of Dwayna: 115 BE (Before Exodus) The Scriptures of Dwayna, or rather their date has been the source

The Scriptures of Dwayna, or rather their date has been the source of some controversy among historians. Either King Doric was blessed with an exceptionally long life, or the Doric who travelled to Arah was a different individual, possibly a descendant, to the one mentioned in the Scriptures. Another source of controversy arises from the Scriptures of Lyssa,

Another source of controversy arises from the Scriptures of Lyssa, Grenth and possibly Dwayna herse lf is that they all describe the granting of blessings, gifts and teachings well before the re corde d date of the gift of magic to the races of Tyria. Our une asy allies among the rebellious Fierce warband may be able to shed some light on this, however. They speak of a time before the found ing of Ascalon, when humans drove the Charr ou t of wh at is now Ascalon with the aid of magic granted by the Gods, who were then un

with the aid of magic granted by the Gods, who were then un- known to the Charr. Could the gods have gran ted magic to human - ity before the other races (with the likely exception of their ol de r servants, Glint and the Forgotten)? And why wo uld th ey do so if humanity had been responsible for disrupting the balance that the Forgotten had been ch arged with maintaining?

Whether humanity was given spe cial treatment or not, it was ce r- tainly Dwayna’s chosen, Doric (or a descendant that shared his name) who made the trek to Arah to beg for an end to th e d estru c- tion that resulted from the widespread gifts of magic by A baddon. The results are now well known among scholars – the sp li tting of the Bloodstones, the war against Abaddon that led to all traces of his existence being hidden away for more than a thousand ye ars,

and finally, the departure of the gods from Tyria. As the leader of the gods, it was likely Dwayna that made the final deci sion ag ainst the protests of Abaddon…and possibly othe rs. So why is Dwayna the le ader of the gods? After all, many othe rs, especially the followers of Grenth during the Season of the Colos- sus, challenge the primacy of Dwa yna.

One cause is in the adje ctive that is associated with he r l eadership: Even-tempered. The ability to keep your followers working to- gether is often more important in leadership than dire ct personal power, so it is possible that Dwayna’ s leadership comes from her ability to mediate disputes between the gods. Abaddon’s re volt is one obvious failure of this diplomacy, but if is possible that simi- larly destructive conflicts have been deflected by her inte rvention.

In fact, the annual Winte rsday contest may be an example of a compromise that could othe rwise have erupted into a greater con- flict.

Another sign of Dwayna’s leadership may be seen in her domains. While most commonly attributed the domains of air and l ife, she shares responsibility for life on Tyria with Me landru’s embodime nt of nature, while her control over the winds is co ntested by Grenth’s dominion over the freezing gusts sweeping down from the Shiverpeaks. Her role as the harbinger of spring adds l ight and warmth to her domain, yet both may be produced by Balthazar’s

flame, light may be manipulated through Lyssa’ s illusions, and the beauty and courtship of spring is attributed to Lyssa’s inspiration . A visit to Tahnnakai Temple will even reveal Dwayna’s use of a dis- guise in te sting Karei’s worthiness, a story reminiscent of that re - cited in the scriptures of Lyssa.

In fact, the only thing that can be said to truly be long to Dwayna is something that is often missed in he r titles as granted by mortals – while the other gods concerned themselves mostly w ith te rre strial concerns, the sky remained Dwayna’s realm. It is f ro m this sou rce, and the presence in her domain of the sun on which’s light an d warmth all life above the surface of Tyria relies, that the extensi ve nature of Dwayna’s domain may derive. From this vantage point, sharing interests with the other four well-establishe d gods and

sharing interests with the other four well-establishe d gods and looking down from above, the source of Dwayna’s leadership po si- tion may be explaine d. Tracking back to before the war preceding the Exodus, it is also possible to postulate similar connections be- tween Abaddon’s apparent dominion of the oceans and Dwayna’s likely influence over the storms that can prove such a hazard to ships.

This set of shared inte rests may place Dwayna in a sort of supe rvi- sory role over the other deities – instead of having he r own, narrow focus, she has something in common with all of the other deities. This common ground may also assist in me diating compro- mises between deities with opp osing goals.

Dw ayna, the winged goddess

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Due to her recent ascension, the exact responsibilities of K ormir have yet to be establishe d in the eyes of gods or mortals, and thus how or even if she will be absorbed into this structure is in ques- tion. One possibility may come from Dwayna’s posse ssion of a bird’s-eye view of our world from her elev ated domain, gr anting an all-seeing perspective that a deity of knowle dge woul d e a sily recognise. However, an alternative hypothesis may stem fr om the research of one of my associate s, an Asura in Tarnishe d Have n

research of one of my associate s, an Asura in Tarnishe d Have n cal led Ke rrsh.

In his investigation into the nature of the gods and how the y may connect to the “Eternal Alchemy” of the Asura, Kerrsh dispatched agents to retrieve the ciphers of each of the Six Gods, each of which took the form of a “facet” similar to th ose that screen the unworthy from those seeking an audie nce with Glint. While each of these facets represented some aspect of that deity’s portfolio, th e cipher of K ormir manifested not as a facet of knowle dge, informa- tion, or truth, b ut of sp irit.

tion, or truth, b ut of sp irit.

The full ramifications of this obse rvation are better left for a later treatise, however it is worth noting that of the Five that we kn ew before Nightfall, Dwayna was the deity most asso ciate d with spi ri - tualism, where to a greater extent the followers of other gods showed their devotion more through acts and behaviours pleasin g to their patron (fighting for followers of Balthazar, protecting and conserving nature for those of Melandru, and so on). If this d oes prove to be one of the responsibilities assumed by Kormir once she

prove to be one of the responsibilities assumed by Kormi r once she cements her control over the Redeemed Realm, this may prove to establish he r link to the leader of the Old Gods. {Time will tell if K ormir too will be absorbed into thi s structur e, but it is clear that a goddess of knowledge may have much in common with the possessor of a bird’ s-eye view of the world.} Followers a nd Temples:

Oddly enough, given her status as the leader of the gods, the re are few cultures or organisations within Tyria that solely de dicate themselves to Dwayna’s worship except possibly the prie sthood itself – a priesthood that does not show a degree of organisation to

One exception is seen in House zu Heltzer of the Kurzicks – h ow

One exception is seen in House zu Heltzer of the Kurzicks – h ow- ever, as the Kurzick social structure contains houses de dicated to each of the five gods known before Nightfall, this can be se en simply as being part of the K urzick’s way of showing respect to each of the gods. It is noteworthy that, mirroring Dwayna’s place among the gods, House zu Heltzer is seen as the preeminent house among the Kurzicks, although this position is not unchallenge d by the other Houses, especially Vasburg.

the other Houses, especially Vasburg.

Within the bounds of House zu He ltzer’s traditional holdings, it would stand to reason that the Cathedral zu Heltzer may be one of the few large temples dedicated to Dwayna. Unfortunate ly, during my visits there my hosts were more concerned with securing th e site against hostile Wardens and other marauders to explain the full history and purpose of the Cathedral. Archaeological evidence may even suggest that, like the Altrumm ruins, the Cathe dral may not have originally bee n of Kurzick construction, or that the current

not have originally bee n of Kurzick construction, or that the current Cathedral may have been built from an earlie r structure.

Certainly, there is little in the archite cture of the Cathedral i tself that suggests that it was intended as a temple to Dwayna. While the cathedral is populate d with winged statues (some of which may animate in its defence against perceived ene mie s) the hor ns and batlike wings of the se statues seem more draconic in nature then the elegant feathered wings shown in representation s of Dwayna. Additionally, while statues of women can be se en looking down on the central court from alcove s high in the walls, they lack

down on the central court from alcoves high in the walls, they lack the signature feature of the Winged Goddess. In fact, the only con- struction that could be considered a cle ar representation of Dwayna is that of a winged woman mounted on a tall plin th across the courtyard opposite the southeastern exit f ro m the cathedral. The fact that the figure is holding a sword aloft raises some doubt that even this construction is intended to be the peacefu l Godd ess

of Life, although it is possible that this represents an older, more warlike aspect of Dwayna, or simply a reflection of the r ealities of the constant conflict between Kurzick and Luxon that forces even the follower of a peaceful godde ss to be ready to fight.

Evidence for a second site dedicated to D wayna is sh own in the testing of Karei mentioned above, whose reward for p assin g th e test was to be appointed the Master of Kaziin Monaste ry. The loca- tion of this monastery, or even if it still exists, is unknown, although some have speculated that this may be another name for the Shing Jea Monastery – unfortunately, an y records that wou ld con firm or deny this have not to my knowle dge been supplied to foreigners. Furthermore, it is possible, even likely, that despite Dwayna’s role

Furthermore, it is possible, even likely, that despite Dwayna’s role in selecting one of its Masters, the Kaziin Monaste ry was another site dedicated to all of the gods instead of Dwayna specifically. Cer- tainly, if it is the site that is now known as the Shing Jea Monaste ry, there is nothing to suggest today that the monastery was eve r dedicated primarily to Dwayna.

Following this lack of de dicated cultures, organisations, and temples, it is unsurprising that there are also no profe ssions dedi- cated to Dwayna as strongly as Warriors, Rangers, Mesmer s and Necromancers are to their patron deities. The profession most as- sociated with Dwayna, the Monk, is in fact a responsibili ty shar e d with Balthazar, as is the Paragon. Members of which profession look to Dwayna for guidance in leadership and in healing the ir

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allies, but each looks to Balthazar for the more martial aspects of their disciplines. Othe rwise, Dwayna only lays claim to those as- pects of the professions shared between all the gods – name ly, the Elementalist and De rvish – that relate to her eleme ntal dominion over wind and lightnin g.

Despite this, however, Dwayna is one of the gods that is most co m- monly revered by nonhuman races that are not known servants of the gods such as the Forgotten. One such example is sh own in an incident in the closing stage s of the Dwarven civil war, whe re a Stone Summit defector turned to the worship of Dwayn a and was claimed by her avatar when the Stone Summit came seeking ven- geance .

Another, stranger example is shown in reports of a Naga leader on the Jade Sea who claims special favour from Dwayna. While history shows that the Naga once had a peaceful culture that coexisted with humanity and thus may well have had a strong relationship with Dwayna in the past, this claim is at odds with the aggressive, warlike behaviour they currently display. If any explorer has ever ventured into Dwayna’s domain (possibly

If any explorer has ever ventured into Dwayna’s domain (po ssib ly the Eternal Paradise referenced in Canthan ideas of the afte rlife) and returned to tell the tale, that tale has yet to reach my ears. However, some hints can be seen in a Vabbian lege nd that explains the origin of harpies as be ing former followers of Dwayna that were cast out of the heavens. While they have cer tainly fal len a long way if it is true, it does suggest some things about the natu re of Dwayna’s domain – first, that it is locate d, metaphorically if not

of Dwayna’s domain – first, that it is locate d, metaphorically if not literally, within the celestial regions, and second that Dwayna’ s fol- lowers within her domain are much like herself – wi ng ed, beautiful beings. A third conclusion could be made from the association be- tween harpies and the Elonian griffons, possibly made before the harpies were banished to Tyria, implying that griffons may be sacred to Dwayna as well as Balthazar.

Artwork by our ve ry own Izar i

By Dr a xynnic

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July is upon us and with it come the blue skies, warm breeze, and boundless energy of summer. What this means for all of Tryia's sun-seeking fun lovers and activists is a time to shake up the ward-robe for all the events coming to the various lands. Whether it's vacation time at the shores of Kryta, a summer safari in the Elonian wilds, or date-night at the Shing Jea boardwalk, we've got all your style needs covered. Regional Palettes:

Regional Palettes: Gone are the soft, dreamy pastels of spring. With the War in Kryta influencing the social scene, this means it's a time to be daring: vi-brant, loud, and bold colors are in order. Don't be afraid to use pure dye this season, especially red, purple, and green. Political uprising is the talk of the towns of late, and it's not surpris

Political uprising is the talk of the towns of late, and it's not surpris-ing that many Tyrians are showing their support for either side by purchasing some official attire from their favored faction. Those without the means to do so, however, don't have to be left in the dark. To mimic the White Mantle style, we suggest armor with a regal

To mimic the White Mantle style, we suggest armor with a regal and/or military air supplemented by the colors white, silver, gold, and subdued red. Favorites include the male Elementalist asuran, templar sets for Warriors, and sacred armor for Monks. Alternatively, those going for a more Shining Blade appeal will

Alternatively, those going for a more Shining Blade appeal will want to lean towards edgier looks with masks, leather accents, and a rugged attitude. Nature inspired palettes like deep brown, rich green, and the ever stylish black work nicely. Mesmer rogue attire, Rangers' rawhide, and ancient sets for Dervishes all fit the theme well. Canthans are getting ready to celebrate the Dragon Festival, and as

Canthans are getting ready to celebrate the Dragon Festival, and as always, are ready to dress to impress at the popular bo ardw alk. Wearing your best silks adorned wi th jewelry and embroidery is recommended. Reflect the theme of the festival with golds, reds, and yellows, or jade and silver for a more daring l ook.

Absolute Accesso ri es:

Ladies shouldn't be afraid of showing a little skin. Styles from warmer regions, like Elona, Kryta, and the Jade Sea will be popular at big events across the globe. Chaos gloves remain in style and we suggest dying them yellow /

Chaos gloves remain in style and we suggest dying them yellow / orange to mimic the warm glow of the sun. Man's best friend is also man's best accessory! Pets and companions are ever pop ular, whether out hunting in the wilds or partying it up in Lion 's Arch. For all those rangers out there, sea-faring creatures like crab s, crocodiles, and flamingos fe el at home on the beaches.

For minis, siege turtles and the Eye of Janthir keep with the Krytan Summer theme, while anything that glows bright or spits fire for fun keep things hot (Djinn and Flowstone Elementals come to mind). Those attending the Dragon Festival may opt to bring out their ce-lestial pets, Kuunavang, and bone dragons to compliment the party. Attire Around the World

Next issue's Around the World will feature mixed armor that look s great together. Think you've got a winning combination? Let's se e it! Submit your screenshots to izzie@g uil dm ag.com

Su mmer Fashio n

By Iz ari

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Sure, I love Guild Wars, the massively mul:playe r RPG. But I'm past that point whe re I can dedicate my life to a single game. I'm a busy student in the blossom of my life, and next to that I need to main- tain my reputa:on as rockstar!

But, I s:ll want to keep playing. And I want to WIN. I know, I know, the hardcore among you are saying, "But dude, you can't 'win' an online RPG. That defeats the purpose." To which I respond: I LIVE to defeat purposes. And besides, like it or not, people do try to "win" MMO’s. The rules of engagement are something like this: • If there is a status bar, make it grow bigger • If there is a number, make it higher

Which got me to thinking: What if I were to unload the boring parts of an MMO off to someone else? For instance, I love running a business in Guild Wars, you know… buying stuff in Ascalon and sell-ing it for twice as much in Kamadan, but it's hard to find the :me or the pa:ence to do that. What if someone ELSE did that part of the game for me? My first impulse -- to use a room full of small Korean children --

My first impulse -- to use a room full of small K orean children -- turned out to be a real nightmare. They kept whining and crying and poin:ng to their mouths or empty be llies. Who knows what they wanted? I don't speak Korean. Similarly, they didn't und er- stand me when I pointed to the comp uter monitor an d said "LEWT! ECTOS!" no ma:er how loud I shoute d it. Clearly I ne eded a new plan.

Introducing the Mal lCramp 1.0 And so I turned my a:en:on toward robo ts! Yes rh ob awts! T hat reminds me of the :me when I had a robot make my homework while I camped in a mall wai:ng for Unreal Tourname nt to come out. A similar proce ss could e asily play online game s for me. Aft er all, I’m an IT student looking for a challe nge. The hardest part of

any project such as this is figuring out the algorithm, but here it is, in its en:rety: The MallCramp 1.0 Plays Guild Wars with the following rules: 1. Join any party that invites you. 2. When in a party, follow behind the leader. 3. A:ack any mobs you see. 4. Accept all trade requests from other players, then give them a

Well, that takes care of 90% of online play. All I would need to do is s:ck my character Xan Mark II, in Ascalon with a backpack full of Pumpkin Cookies (ah, sweet raptor farming!). When I checked on him a week later he'd be what they call "über." But before I got started I had to tackle the tricky part: interac:on with other play-ers. If my automated MallCramp didn't respond to players who talked to him in a meaningful way, I’d be screwed ^^. One op:on was to have my robot randomly wisp at people in Ka

One op:on was to have my robot randomly wisp at people in Ka-madan. But that would just get me reported. So I went for a much more graceful algorithm: The MallCramp 1.0 talks to other players with following rules: 1. If someone says something ending in a ques:on mark, respond by saying "Dude?" 2. If someone says something ending in an exclama:on point, re

2. If someone says something ending in an exclama:on point, re- spond by saying "Dud e!" 3. If someone says something ending with a period, respond by randomly saying one of thre e things: "Okie," "Sure," or "Right on." 4. EXCEPTION: If someone says something directly to you by men- :oning your name, respond by saying "L ag."

5. (And remember to accept all trade requests from other players by giving the m a Cookie.) My robot was programmed and ready to go. Heck, if I programmed it to randomly shout "Gimmie buffs!" it would probab ly p ass the n00b test.

Sa:sfied, I sat it in front of the keyboard, made sure my character had at least 5 stacks of Pumpkin cookies in his backpack, and then trudged off to leave it alone for the night. MallCramp 1.0 in action! My character, Xan Mark II, waited around in the Can:na for some adventurers. The following is a log of what transpired: Grentchs Minion:

Grentchs Minion: [Local Chat] Does anyone want to join our h un t- ing party? Xan: [Powered by the MallCramp 1.0] Du de? [Grentchs Minion invites Xan to join the party.] [Xan joins the party] Grentchs Minion: We're gonna go hu nt C harr. Xan: Right on.

[The party of players runs out of Ascalon, Xan following close behind. Xan a:acks every li:le monster they pass.] Grentchs Minion: Why are you a:acking the Moa’s? Xan: Dude? Grentchs Minion: The Moa’s, the bird things -- why do you keep a:acking them? Xan: Dude? Shoot Teh Woop:

Shoot Teh Woop: [A ranger in the party] My salvage kit broke, I need a new one. Xan: Sure. [Shoot Teh Woop opens a trade with Xan.] [Xan hands him a Pumpkin Cookie.] Shoot Teh Woop: ...what's this? Xan: Dude? Shoot Teh Woop:

Shoot Teh Woop: You handed me a Pumpkin C oo kie!

I am bot, ding d ong!

The Mallcramp 1.0

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Xan: Dude! Grentchs Minion: Knock it off guys, I see some Charr up ahead. Let's do this. Xan: Right on. [The party encounters a bunch of dangerous Charr, but they gang up and shoot every one of them.] Grentchs Minion:

Grentchs Minion: We rock! Xan: Dude! Shoot Teh Woop: We so OWNED them! Xan: Dude! Grentchs Minion: Uh oh, hang on. Up ahead are some Flame Guardians. We can't handle them, so don't attack. Xan: Okie. [Xan shoots one of the Flame Guardians.]

[Xan shoots one of the Flame Guardians.] [The mob attacks; Shoot The Woop and several other party mem-bers are killed before they beat it.] Grentchs Minion: You IDIOT! Xan why did you shoot at them? Xan: Lag. Grentchs Minion: Well don't do it again. Xan: Sure. [Xan shoots at another Flame Guardian.]

[Xan shoots at another Flame Guardian.] [The entire party is slaughtered except for Xan.] Xan and the MallCramp 1.0 negotiate a tricky deal » ... Xan stands there, alone, for several hours ... ] [ ... finally, a merchant runs up to him.] Stingrie: [An Ascalon merchant.] Hey man! Would you like to buy a Birthday Cupcakes? Xan:

Xa n: Dude? Stingrie: A Cupcake. It boosts your energy by 10 points. I'll sell it to you for 200 gold. Xa n: Okie .

[Stingrie opens a trade session.] [Xan hands him a Pumpkin Cookie.] Stingrie: What the heck is this? Xan: Dude? Stingrie: You handed me a Pumpkin Cookie. Xan: Right on. Stingrie:

Stingrie: I told you 200 gold! Xan: Dude! Stingrie: If it's too expensive, just say so. Xan: Sure. [Stingrie runs away, angry.] [ ... several more hours pass ...] [A small hunting party led by Master Rifleman comes over the ridge

[A small hunting party led by Maste r Rifleman comes over the rid ge and spo ts Xan. ] Master Rifleman: Xan, what's up? What are you do in g way o ut here ? Xa n: Lag. Master Rifleman: We're rooting Whiptails out of a cave. You should join our p arty. Xa n:

Xan: Okie. [Master Rifleman invites Xan to join the party.] [Xan joins the party and starts following Master Rifleman around.] Soop Healing Dude: [The party's Monk]. Here, Xan, let me hand you some Cupcakes. Xan: Lag. Soop Healing Dude: I know, it's pretty bad tonight. Here you go. Xan: Right on.

Xan: Right on . [Soop Healing Dude opens up a trade window and hands Xan a Birthday Cupcake .] [Xan hands Soop Healing Dude a Pumpkin Cookie .] Soop Healing Dude: Uh ... than ks! Xan : Dude!

Soop Healing Dude: Xan why didn't you come with us? Xan: Lag. Soop Healing Dude: Well catch up when you can. Xan: Okie. [Xan stands motionless in the cave and eventually the party leaves. Half an hour passes.] [Suddenly, one of the game developers, controlling Prince Rurik,

[Suddenly, one of the game developers, controlling Prince Rurik, enters the cave.] Prince Rurik: Well, my young warrior, we've been watching your progress for quite some time. Xan: Sure. Prince Rurik: You have done well. We have decided to bestow upon you: Developer Skills! Xan:

Xa n: Okie . Prince Rurik: You will be the most powerful wa rrior in all of Tyria ! Xan: Dude!

One of the many expressions of the Mall Cramp 1.0

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[Prince Rurik gives Xan developer skills.] Prince Rurik: Would you like my über rare r7 Obsidian Edge? Xan: Dude? Prince Rurik: My sword. I bestow it onto you. Xan: Right on! [Prince Rurik opens up a trade and gives Xan the sword.] [Xan hands Prince Rurik a Pumpkin Cookie.]

[Xan hands Prince Rurik a Pumpkin Cookie.] Prince Rurik: Thanks, uh, for the ... Pumpkin Cookie. Xan: Sure. Prince Rurik: Well? Aren't you going to try out your new powers? Xan: Dude? Prince Rurik: Your D3vh@x! The powers I just gave you! Xan: Dude! Prince Rurik:

Prince Rurik: BAMPH! Xan! Use it! Xan: Lag. Prince Rurik: Okay, you know what. Just forget the dev hax. I'm taking them back. Xan: Okie. Prince Rurik: And give me back my sword! Xan: Sure. [Xan hands Prince Rurik a Pumpkin Cookie.]

[Xan hands Prince Rurik a Pumpkin Cookie.] [Prince Rurik kil ls Xan.] [Xan respawns in Ascalon city.] Grentchs Minion: [In the Ascalon] Whoa! Loo k who j ust pop ped in. What happened to you, Xan? Xan: La g. Grentchs Minion: Want to come h un:n g with us? Xan :

Xa n: Okie . [Xan and the MallCramp 1.0 join the hunt and gain experience for several more hours...] I'd call the experiment an unquali ed success.. . {De dicated to Fargo’s awesomeness.)

One of the many responses of the MallCramp 1.0

By Mr . F ar g o & Jonn y10

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Courtesy to GuildWars2Gu ru

'We are the Shining Blade, we bring Peace to Kryta and Peace we shall follow. Who shall we follow?'

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My earliest vivid memory took place in one of the ori ginal be ta weekend events. I was playing through a Maguuma Ju ngle missio n in a PuG, having a tough time with the large mobs of Jungl e T rol ls. Long story short, the group leader (Nash from [CrNr], if anyone re- members them) gave me a verbal lashing over V entril o for wasting a Resurrection Signet on a deceased team member instead of wait- ing for the 'hard res'.

After my initial shock at the shouting wore off it struck me how tac-tical and team oriented the game had become, even at that incred-ibly early stage. It opened my eyes to a lot of potential, and ditched the prior perception that Guild Wars was just another hack n' slash adventure game. What other games do you enjoy when not saving Tyria from utter destruction? I have a pretty mixed gaming history. In the past I've moved be

I have a pretty mixed gaming history. In the past I've moved be-tween competitive play in FPS titles like Unreal Tournament, and powergaming old-school RPGs like Baldur's Gate or Planescape: Torment. Whatever I pick up I tend to give it 110%, or drop it fairly quickly. Right now I play Left4Dead 2 with colleagues regularly, but outside of that I have an unfortunate lack of time for gaming. What profession do you play at the moment and do you know

Monk is probably what I play best, as I filled that role exclusively in various guilds ove r nearly four years. More recently I've been play- ing warrior, though only dabbling. The re's more intensive micro in- volved in playing a mele e class well (quarte r -k no cki ng, quarte r- stepping, target switching, etc) and while it's de finitely enjoyable quite frankly I'm not that good yet .

As for what I'll play in Guild Wars 2, I think my first character is probably going to be a female charr warrior - though that may change depending on factors yet to be revealed. The female charr character looks utterly vicious, and I'd definitely like to build on the melee class skills I've learned in Guild Wars to give me an edge at the start. Did you have any prior experience of web design/management

Did you have any prior experience of web design/management before Guildwars Guru? I have a shocking lack of actual web design knowledge, in terms of programming. Last night was actually the first time I really had to wade through CSS and HTML to fix a problem with social groups on Guru, it was scary stuff. I'm picking up as I go along, and so far I've managed not to break anything too serious. The bulk of my relevant experience lies in community manage

The bulk of my relevant experience lies in community ma nag e - ment. I've been supervising gaming communitie s since an Unreal Tournament mod project I worked on between 2002 an d 2005. After Guild Wars was released in 2005 I got invol ve d with fansi te s, eventually revamping and running the PvP section on Guru. In 2007 I started work as a professional community manager on the MMO 'Fury', and was there until the bitter end. After that I came back to Guru, and right now administrate GuildWarsGur u and

Guru, and right now administrate GuildWarsGur u and GuildWar s2Gur u. I imagine the forum can be quite time consuming, how do you balance running the forum and real life ? Wha t do you do when not running them?

Multitasking is key. The ability to hold a d ozen IM conversatio ns at once, respond to forum posts, all while watching a few episodes of whatever TV series I'm into at the time to stay sane. The biggest challenge is balancing it with my day job. It's tricky to be si tting in the office balancing my work load with monitoring Guru and co m- municating with site staff.

It sounds corny, but the other staff make it worthwhile. There's a definite sense of camaraderie that comes from all being volun- teers, and a shared commitment to provide a great service to the community. Of course the community itself is also a reason. Every now and then a thread or post will crop up that h onestly makes me proud of what we have collectively achieved. The recent 'War in Kryta' events have spurred a lot of that, particularly the incredibly creative 'Poster Vandalism War' thread .

creative 'Poster Vandalism War' thread . What sort of changes for GW2G.com did you make b ased on ex- periences from GW1?

We're definitely getting heavily into social ne twork ing, and figuring out how best to use the various channels to supplemen t ou r co m- munity. I can't stress that last point e nough, actually making the effort to use it appropriate ly and actually provide a valuable servi ce is the number one goal. A lot of organizations or companie s have a T witter account because they feel they should, or a Facebook page because 'it's the done thing'. It's a waste of time if you treat it lik e a fashion trend without unde rstanding what it is capable of or de

fashion trend without unde rstanding what it is capable of or de- signed to do.

A good example of where we're taking it beyond convention is our official Steam group. There's a lot of potential in Steam as a com-munity platform, but it's overlooked by many because of the mis-conception of it being primarily a distribution and launcher tool. To illustrate that, the number of people who use the Steam group to follow news, chat with other members or game together is now almost as big as our Facebook and Twitter followers combined. (Since writing my original reply I see that Aion has announced an

(Since writing my original reply I see that Aion has announced an official Steam group too, good for th em!)

On Guild Wars Gur u

Interview with JR

“It's tricky to be sat in the office balancing my work load with monitoring Guru and communi-cating with site staff.”

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Both GWG and GW2G have a bar at the top mention ing MMO- guru network. What is MMOguru and how is Guild Wars Guru re- lated to it?

MMOGuru is really just a network switch, if you like. Whe n you have multiple fansite s (and we do actually cover quite a few title s) it makes sense to tie them together in a way that makes it easy for members to move from one to another, and th at's wh at the top bar does. If someone on GuildWarsGuru has an interest in F in al Fantasy XIV (for example), it's in both of our interests to direct them to FF14Guru. They like how Guru runs fansites, and we like retaining our community. It's also about cre ating a fansite brand

retaining our community. It's also about cre ating a fansite brand that people can trust and recognize, no matter how they come across our various site s. You mentioned on the forums that you are thinking of ma king a GW2G related guild, can you tell us more ab ou t that?

When Guild Wars 2 hits be ta there is inevitably going to be utter chaos. Hundreds if not thousands of guilds will fo rmed an d d is- banded in the first few weeks with the flux of new players, and therein lies the benefit of extending Guru's community into the game. By that time many of us will have spent probably a ye ar or so together on the forum, some even longer. The re is a coll ective tone and attitude that makes our community a pleasure to inte ra ct with, and there's no reason that shouldn't transl ate into the game

with, and there's no reason that shouldn't transl ate into the game itse lf.

It's not like we're going to put an iron-curtain aroun d t he guild/alliance e ither. It would also be a great envi ronme nt for en- tirely new players who may not be as familiar with the Guil d War s franchise or the Guru network. Giving them a stabl e and mature environment from the start might be the encouragement the y need to figure the game out an d p ro gress.

And finally, do you have any tips you have learned along the way for aspiring "community managers"? Tough one. The community manager role is pretty nebulous, being notoriously hard to define. I guess the core focus is on communica-tion, so I'll focus on that: First point would probably be the importance of refining messages.

First point would probably be the importance of refining messages. There is so much weight in what words you choose or how you phrase a message, and it can make the difference between a blind-ingly positive and a screamingly negative reception. There is no such thing as a casual remark when you are a community manager on the job. Another important attribute of communication is audience percep

Another important attribute of communication is audience percep-tion. Learn to put yourself in their shoes and gauge what you are doing with their biases and preconceptions. It sounds trivial, but when issues drag on it can be increasingly difficult to get yourself back into that mindset, and that's usually when you need it most. Other than that, always think about tomorrow. What can you do

Other than that, always think about to mo rro w. What can you do proactively to improve the environment? Stagnation is as much a risk to communities as anything else . Thank you for your time Thanks for the opportunity to contribute to GuildMag, and keep up the fantastic work!

By San Darkw o od

Visit the web site s at: http://www.guildwarsgur u.com http://www.guildwar s2guru.com

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For any completionist aiming to make an impressive Hall of Monu-ments, the quest to max out as many titles as possible can be a daunting one. But as Guild Wars veterans have proven time and time again, the players will always come up with creative, effective, and sometimes controversial solutions to circumvent these road blocks. Few solutions were as hotly debated as the notorious Drazach

Few solutions were as hotly debated as the no torio us D razach Thicket Speed Clear of 2009, more commonly known as D TSC or DSC. The team build consiste d of eight monk primaries (or in some cases, secondaries) split into four teams of two: a 600hp tank and a smite monk with 16/16 smiting / protection. The smite would cast and maintain four enchantments on the tank while the tank would cast several other enchants on his/h erself. It was the 600's jo b to aggro and kill groups of mobs while the smite stood far away from

aggro and kill groups of mobs while the smite stood far away from danger. During down time, the smite was also in charge of usin g Blood is Powe r to renew the tank's energy and purging any linger- ing conditions on their charge.

The roles were straightforward and easy to teach and le arn. A well coordinated group could cle ar the Thicket in an average of fifteen minutes, earning up to 17,000 Kurzick faction per run. A few groups were known to sometimes clear it in as fast as nine minutes. The true record is unknown, but it was becoming clear that running DTSC was the fastest and most efficient way to earn factio n. This benefited both players who were seeking to max their Savior title s and Alliances who were competing to control o utp osts across

and Alliances who were competing to control o utpo sts across inland Canth a.

These runs, while popular amongst title hunters, were sometimes looked down upon by the general player base who felt it was un- justly simple. There was a lot of back and forth between those who practice the 'hardcore farming' and the ones who prefer to run the game traditionally. Pl ayers against DTSC and other spe ed clearing methods complained that it was game-breaking and unfair.

Supporters, on the other hand, argued the inefficiency of waiting 30 minutes for PvP missions that could result in a lo ss. Regard less of player opinion, however, ArenaNet made a hard call in late Fe- burary 2010 with an update that aimed to break d own the 600/ smite te am.

It's been almost half a year since that update and, true to form, the farmers have found their ways around the 'nerf' to keep the speed clear spirit alive. While it woul d seem the popularity of these runs has wavered slightly , it is far from de ad. Here I talk with two title hunters from both ends of the spectrum: One whose entire Alliance ran DTSC often and the othe r who maxed his title without ever completing a DTSC.

Elizabeth Gen evie ve was part of a competitive faction farming Alliance ove r the summ er of 2009. During that time she strived to complete her own title goals while he lpi ng her All i-ance gain and ho ld ou tpo sts.

Q. About how long did it take you to get your title? Was it e asier or tougher than you originally anticipated? A. I took 3 months to get from 1 million to 10 million Kurzick fac- tion and then stopped (that was like, in 2007 or so). Aro und August 2009, I started DTSC'ing and finishe d the title late October. So, more or less 3 months of non stop farming. It wasn't 'tough', but as

the weeks came by it just started to get more and more boring. That's one of the downsides. Q. What was it like when you finally hit max rank? Was there any point where you felt like you wanted to give up? A. What was it like? I felt a HUGE relief. I swore I would never ever DTSC again. There was one week that I had enough and started doing some other stuff, but I eventually came back. Q. When you first learned how to do the DTSC, what was that

Q. When you first learned how to do the DTSC, what was that like? Which role did you play / enjoy most? A. I first started as a Smiter and I really liked sitting there doing nothing... Then I realized some 600's got a little too pissed off when I didn't remove their cripple condition. After a few weeks, I tried running as a 600 and then I was the one yelling at Smiters for not removing my cripple. Q: What sort of motivation did leaders use to get guildies and

Q: What sort of motivation did leaders use to get guildies and allies to run DTSC, PvP, and the like for donating faction? A. The one and only motivation was people's own desires of achieving the title. At least on the guild I was in. Q: Faction farm guilds sometimes have strict rules regarding do

Q: Faction farm guilds sometimes have strict rules regarding do-nations; inactive or slacking members sometimes get demoted or kicked. Was yours like that? Do you think this sort of discipline is helpful or detrimental to overall morale and progress? A. Yes, and no. Mine didn't have a strict rule regarding donation,

A. Yes, and no. Mine didn't have a strict rul e regarding donation, but it was unforgivable about inactivity. It he lped on keeping the town we owned and on raising the alliance factions, but one didn't really create a sense of companionship because of that. There were always people coming and leaving and su ch.

Savior of the Kurzicks | To DTSC or Not To DTSC?

Title Hu nters

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A. I think nerfing speed clears should be done more often, really. The game is practically stale because of letting people abuse skills and areas. If ANet had the time and manpower to really shake up the game's balance, it would force people to find another 'gold mine', and that, in my opinion, would keep things interesting. Q: So many guilds and alliances burn out of the control race rather quickly. Why do you think that is? A. That's a simple question. Getting to 100 millions of faction is

A. That's a simple question. Getting to 100 millions of faction is easy, maintaining that is a lot harder. Pe ople are inconsistent re- garding the number of times they donate faction. Some times they'll donate a lot, sometimes they'll donate le ss, some times they'll not even donate. Q: Would you recommend joining a faction farm guil d/alliance to Kurzick title hunter s?

A. Definitely. If I had not joined a DTSC'ing alliance , I would have never completed my title so quickly . Q: What other advice would you give to aspiri ng Saviors? A. Uhm, the usual; don't give up. It will get boring and annoying, but with patience and time, you'll eventually achie ve i t.

It took me about six months to max using a combination of hero fast faction farming [HFFF] and Alliance Battles. At about halfway through r11I stopped and was going to wait for the next double weekend but wound up coming back to it before the bonus! The money I was getting out of it kept me going and I ending up buying multiple sets of FoW armor and chaos gloves. Q: What sort of methods did you find most efficient and / or en

Q: What sort of methods did you find most efficient and / or en-joyable? Forming my party in ID1 of Heroes Ascent and my 2 alt accounts which I would micro. The only reason I did this run after run was because of the 750g/run=18,750g in 32 mins which was great. Q: You mentioned that you ran a lot of PvP and other farming

Having found a good group of players to PvP with, as well as a group that enjoys late night dungeons and missions, has really added to my playing experience. This is most likely why I am still playing. Even if we aren't doing the same things in game, talking on vent is always fun while playing! Q. Why did you choose not to do the DTSC? DTSC was "created/invented" literally two days after I maxed

DTSC was "created/invented" literally two days after I maxed Kurzick! Q: Speed clear farming is sometimes the target of as much heat and 'nerfs' as botting and loot/gold farming. Do you feel this treatment is undeserved? As much as Anet tries to nerf speed clears or other area clears, the

As much as Anet tries to nerf speed clears or other area clears, th e player base always comes out with a new way to farm. But bo tting has hit a ne w level since GW first came out, such as the simple bergen bots, now compared to [more complicated] bots. Th ere are many other bots to farm anythi ng you want; Titles, ecto, Gl ad points, VQ, you name it, there's a bot f or that. With the dro p rate varying if there are 8 party members or just 1, it is necessar y to have these nerfs.

have these nerfs.

Late for Lun ch, a.k.a. Seth, maxed his Kurzick Title wi thout taking part of DTS C or j oining a high-stakes faction farming al li - ance. Here's a take on a di ffer- ent side of the coin.

Q: What was it like when you finally got that title after all that time? It was pretty good. It bumped me up to R5 KoaBD which was pretty prestige at the time, I think. I was glad to leave Cantha after a long time there and move to Heroes Ascent where I currently reside all day, everyday! Q. What sort of competitive PvP are you hoping for in GW2?

Q. What sort of competitive PvP are you hoping for in G W2? Would you be for or against another title such as this o ne? I would l ike to see a low end AB/FA style of play, relaxed easy to form a team. I'd also like a higher end GvG/HA style of play requir - ing skill and tactical game play. GW really has the best PvP of any MMO, just the botting kills it which re ally sucks! Q: What other advice would you give to aspiri ng Saviors?

Get into a guild that does speed clears a lot and just power th rough it. These days it can be obtained easily, even if you're just starting put a good dent in it when the double wee kends comes! Thanks a bunch to these wonderful players for thei r time and, of course, congratulations to both on your progre ss! Something to say? Se nd any questions, comments, complaints, or love notes regarding this article to izzie@gu ildmag.com

By Iz ari

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The asura is a very known race in the community of Guild Wars, either loved or haterd everyone knows them. They were first introduced as a promotion minipet, to promote the press article of PCgamer about Guild Wars: Eye of the North and Guild Wars 2 Their status in 1078 AE Not much is known about the mysterious asura. They were Erst discovered by humans when several conEnents

They were Erst discovered by humans when several conEnents were struck by powerfull earthquakes, these powerful forces of nature created openings big enough for heroes to explore. The Erst asura seen by a human is called Vekk, who is helping the dwarves with a new problem that threatens the world of Tyria. With the combined help of humans, norn, charr and the asura they managed to defeat the Great Destroyer. Due that the asura weren’t seen for centuries the humans thought

Due that the asura weren’t seen for centuries the humans thought they were just a myth. At this moment we don’t know much about them, since they lived underground for centuries and only came to the surface due that the destroyers pushed them out of there underground homes. They quickly adapted to live on the surface and used the old ruins in the tarnished coast as their new home. The asura are also very intelligent, and despite being on the surface

The asura are also very intelligent, and despite being on the surface now they conEnued exploring and invenEng stuff like they always have done. Being on the surface however made their advanced technology

Being on the surface however made their advanced technology being noEced by others, such as the heroes who were trying to get the asura to work together with the other races to destroy the great destroyer and the Shining Blade also took an interest in the asura, hoping they would become their allies with their struggle against the White Mantle. Most noEceable was Gadd, who used the Shining Blade for his ex

Most noEceable was Gadd, who used the Shining Blade for his ex- periments in the promise he would help them, though in fact Gadd didn’t really cared about them, and just saw them as test subjects

that can be replaced. Despite being intelligent and te chnology ad- vanced, they also brought prob lems to t he surface. Most famous are the Gole ms of Zinn, which attacked several major ciEes and locaEons.

What we do know is that they decided to stay on th e surface. During their Eme on the surface their skin has become smoothe r. Also they kept increasing the ir technology, as we can easil y see

The asura as we’ll see them in Gui ld Wars 2

with their capital city: Rata Sum, a huge floaEng cube and their famous network of gates, which is being used by all races. However they sEll protect their jealousy guard the gates to prevent the other races to steal their technology and to make sure the use of the gates is only peacefully. Another thing the asura is famous about is their golems. Huge magical automatons that the asura are able to control. Their way of living doesn’t involve a government but their divided

Their way of living doesn’t involve a government but their divided in krewes, krewes are small individual groups who work together on certain things(like building golems) and are being led by the most experienced asuran. The asura despite working in krewes, are all part of one of the major colleges: • Dynamics • StaEcs

• StaEcs • SynergeEcs They strongly believe in the principles of the Eternal Alchemy. That the idea is that all beings and the magic is part for a greater purpose or machines. Mainly the group called the Inquest strongly believes more in this then most asuran. They view the world as 1 big machine which can be controlled.

They view the world as 1 big machine which can be controlle d. Due to their intelligence the y feel they are supe rior towards al l lesser intellige nt r aces who they someEme s seeing them as simply tools for their e xperiments. The other races know of this and ho ld th em in great distrust de- spite the asura to remain ne utral .

Whatever the odds are, from the distrust from th e oth er races to the threat of the dragons the y will always keep their head up for the eternal Alchemy

Background lore on the mysterious race .

The As ur a

By Asur an

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GuildMag, the unofficial Gui ld Wars magazine

Thanks to a new partnership with GuildMag, we have relaunched and re- branded the PodCast “TyriaCast” as “The GuildMag PodCast“. This will be a separate outlet as part of the GuildMag network to not only bring the news of both Guild Wars 1 and Guild Wars 2, but to express our personal specu- lation on various topics. Listen to Sabre Wolf and Malchior Devenholm on The GuildMag Podcast! hmp://www.guildmag.com

GuildMag, the unofficial Guild Wars magazine

GuildMag, the unofficial Guild Wars magazine

“Because I’d like to see her again, but I don’t know what to do or how to approach her. Yesterday, I went there looking for recruits. I can’t use that line again. And I’m sure she’ll remain adamant to staying at home with her family she’s taking care of, and I don’t want to force her. What should I do?” “I think the best thing for you to do is go back and see her if you so

“I think the best thing for you to do is go back and see her if you so desire to. Just tell her you were in the area and thought you’d say hello.” “But why would I have been in the area? I won’t lie to her and say that I was recruiting more people.” “Of course you shouldn’t lie to her. You mentioned that you saved her

“Of course you shouldn’t lie to her. You mentioned that you saved her from a skale yesterday. Go see that no more show up, and tell her you were doing as such.” “I suppose that could work. But she was outside yesterday, right there. What if she’s inside?” “It’s called a door, my friend. All you’d have to do is knock on it to see

“It’s called a door, my friend. All you’d have to do is knock on it to see if there have been any more skale problems. Find the courage to be a man.” “You’re right. Thanks for the talk!” Roston waved and hurried toward Wizard’s Folly, with Adelbern chuckling behind him. Connivia grabbed her basket and approached the door to go outside

Connivia grabbed her basket and approached the door to go o utside to gather more berries. As soon as she opened the door, she was sur- prised to see Roston there. She was so surprised that sh e let ou t a little gasp and dropped her basket. “Oh, I’m sorry!” Roston said, bending over to pick up the b asket. “I didn’t mean to frigh ten you.” “Oh, it’s all right. I just wasn’t expecting you, th at’s all.”

“Ah, well I was just patrolling to make sure that no more skal e we re around and thought I’d check up on you.” “That’ s very considerate of you.”Connivia blushed and trie d to hide it, but she was sure that Roston could see her crimson face. But Roston was smiling back at her, and it made her h eart race.

Roston had a difficult time getting Connivia off his mind. He’d man-aged to get two more recruits the day before, which had pleased Adelbern. But as he drifted off to sleep that night, his mind was filled with several things. He thought about his future, the guild wars, but mostly he thought

He thought about his future, the guild wars, but mostly he thought about Connivia Nightingale. She was a beautiful young mesmer, and so kind. Who else would stay at home with their parents and take care of them as they’d done for them their entire life? Certainly no one that Roston knew. And she was funny as well. Roston had been afraid of telling a bad joke or something, but if he

Roston had been afraid of telling a bad joke or something, but if he had, Connivia hadn’t let on. He was sure she’d seen his face fall whe n she first mentioned taking care of her “famil y”. He thought she was married and had her own children already. Why wouldn’t sh e be , as lovely as she was? But instead, the famil y she was referri ng to was the one that gave her life and took care of her. And she was now re - paying the favor. Truly a lovely quality .

Roston felt different than he ever had before. He tossed and turned and had a difficult time falling asle ep. When he awoke the next morn- ing, he could hardly contain himse lf and his happiness. He wanted to tell someone what had transpired. And he also wan ted to go back and see Connivia again. But before, he’d had a purpose. He’d been recruiting potential members for Ascalon’s Chosen. If he went back, what would his reasoning be? Would Connivia think he was be ing persistent? Or did she want to see him again as well? He not only

persistent? Or did she want to see him again as well? He not only wanted to see her again, but needed advice. Finally, Adelbern noticed the different behavior of Roston and pulle d him aside. “What’s going on?” he aske d. “Oh my dear friend, yesterday while I was recruiting, I met the most amazing woman. You were right; yesterday, I was looking for recrui ts, not love, and I found what could be the woman of my d reams.”

“Well, that’s very good to hear. But why the long face? You look more confused than thrilled .”

Tender Wolf’s biography, chapter 3 & 4

Call of the Wo lf

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The two looked up at the stars for a while longer before Roston said, “I was wondering, would you like to have dinner with me sometime? As in, with me alone?” “Yes, I would like that very much.” “Great!” The two smiled at each other and agreed to have dinner the

The two smiled at each other and agreed to have din ner the following evening at Foible ’s Fair. Then, Roston kisse d Connivia’s hand before going off into th e nigh t.

“It was my pleasure, sir,” Roston said. Connivia’ s parents visibly smiled now, and her mother offered Roston a seat at the dinn er tab le. Connivia and her mother served the skale soup while her father and Roston engaged in conversation. She was cheering inwardly that things were going so well. The foursome had a civil and casual tal k during the meal, but alas, the meal ended too soon fo r Ro ston and Connivia. Connivia walke d her guest to the door while her parents cleaned up the kitchen. She was surprised they excused her to escort

cleaned up the kitchen. She was surprised they excused her to escort her guest to the door, but she assumed that was the more polite thing to do. “Thanks for the soup,” Roston said when they were both alo ne ou t- side. “It was delicious. ”

“Those skale are good for something at least,” Connivia said with a grin. Roston laughed and agreed. Connivia looked up into the sky. “So many stars,” she said. “They’re so beautiful.” Before thinking, Roston blurted out, “You are too.” Connivia turned to look at Roston and she felt her face heating up. “Thank you.” After a few more moments of looking at the stars, Roston said, “I’m

After a few more moments of looking at the stars, Roston said, “I’m sorry. I hope I’m not coming on too strong. It’s just that I’ve never met anyone like you, and I’ve never felt this way before.” “It’s all right. But how are you feeling, exactly?” “Happy, calm, relaxed…things I haven’t felt since I joined Ascalon’s Chosen.” “I see. I must say that I feel the same way. Though I’ve never been in a

“I see. I must say that I feel the same way. Though I’ve never been in a guild, I still sometimes feel trapped.” “I’m sorry to hear that. But I understand how you feel. I can’t relate, but I still understand. But I must say that I like your parents.” “I was so nervous tonight. They’re very overprotective of me. They

“I was so nervous tonight. They’re very overprotective of me. T hey were married when they were…older than most people are whe n they get married. But I still love them. Some times I just wish that I could have had what some may call a ‘normal’ life.” “Perhaps someday you will.” “Perhaps. I just need to be patient. I’ve been tau gh t that goo d th ings come to those th at wait. ”

Roston bit his lip before finally saying, “I don’t know how you’ll feel about this, but I didn’t only come here to be sure that you were safe from the skale.” “Oh?” Connivia’s heart sped up more. “Yes, I actually came by to just see you.” He said it all in a rush, as though he was afraid that if he didn’t say it

He said it all in a rush, as though he was afraid that if he didn’t say it now he never would. Connivia felt as though she’d faint. It was as if her dream from the previous night had come true. “I really don’t know what to say,” she said at last, “except thank you.” “I’ll be honest, I had a difficult time falling asleep last night. My mind just couldn’t get off of you.” “Do you speak the truth? I actually had the same problem.” “Truly? I am not lying. I would never lie to someone as lovely as your

“Truly? I am not lying. I would neve r lie to someone as lovely as y our- self.” A part of Connivia was worried that Roston was movin g to o fast, but a larger part of her was so flattered that it was all she could do to refrain from jumping for joy. Instead, she replied shyly with, “Would you like to stay for d inner ton ight ?”

“I’d love to, thank you. But only if you allow me to help you gather those berries.” Connivia chuckled and agree d. Roston carried the basket and she led him to whe re she picked her berries. All the while, the two chatted as though they’d known each other all their lives. Connivia felt happier than she had in a long time, and Roston felt the same. When they finished gathering the berries, Roston walked Con- nivia back to her house. “Please, come in,” Connivia said. “I’ d like you to meet my parents.” Though sligh tly n ervou s abo ut h ow her parents

to meet my parents.” Though sligh tly n ervou s abo ut h ow her parents would feel about her new friend, Connivia mostly fe lt confident. “Mother, Father?” she calle d. Her parents walked out of the ir bed- room to see their daughter. “May I introduce Roston Wolfsong,” she said as she pointed to Roston. Roston bowed and sai d, “Hello Mr. and Mrs. Nightingal e .”

Gerald and Sharla nodded at Roston. Connivia thought she saw a smile pass across each of their faces. She was secretly praying to the gods that this was true. “Roston was the warrior I told you about that killed the skale that was running toward me yesterday,” she told her parents. “Ah, you’re the warrior who saved my daughter,” Gerald said. “I can’t

“Ah, you’re the warrior who saved my d aughter,” Gerald said. “I can’t thank you enough”. In normal circumstance s, Connivia would have argued that her life wasn’t even in danger, but this time she held he r tongue.

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“Go to your room,” he said at last. “I don’t care how old yo u are, you’re still living under our roof and you will abide by our rules. And you are still our daughte r. If this is the kind of impact that boy is going to have on you, you are no longer al- lowed to se e him.” “Father, you like him! I re member the day you first me t!”

“That matters not. That was then and this is now. I forbid you to see Roston Wolfsong again.” “You can’t do that! And I don’t care what you do, I won’t stop seeing him! I love him!” Her parents looked even more shocked than before. Her

Her parents looked even more shocked than before. He r mother opened her mouth to speak, but Conn ivia didn’t wait around to hear what happened. She ran into her ro om, slammed the door, and locked it.She jumped onto her be d and buried her face in her pillow as she burst into tears. S he thought at least one of her parents would come to see if she was all right, but alas, this did not happen. So Connivia fell asleep with tears stingi ng her eyes.

asle ep with te ars stinging her eyes. Light beamed in through Connivia’ s window. She opened her eyes and they felt swollen. The n she remembered the terrible evening the night before – the fight with he r parents, their forbidding her to see Roston again…but the n she remembered that she and Roston had confessed their love to each other.

She got out of her bed and changed her clothes. Sh e wo uld later bathe in the lake, but first, she had to get out of her house without her parents knowing. She wasn’t going to stop seeing Roston. She was old enough to make her own choices, and she was going to do so. She love d Roston, and no one could stand in the way of th at. Co nnivia reached fo r the lock on her door, but she stopped when she heard strange noises coming from the other side. She put her ear to the door an d

coming from the other side. She put her ear to the door an d listened. She discovered that the noise was some one cr ying. Her mother was on the other side of the door crying to h er father, who was, from the sound of it, pacing back and forth across the fl oor.

Roston paused, as though he were catching his breath. Connivia’s heart rate sped up and her grip on Roston’s hand tightened. At last, Roston spoke. “Connivia Nightingale, I love you.” It was as though the gods were gazing down on Connivia and shed

It was as though the gods were gazing down on Connivia and shed light on a day cast into darkness. Those three words made her weak in the knees. How she’d longed to hear them one day, and from a man just like Roston.Though it seemed like an eternity before she replied, she finally said, “Roston, I love you too. And I have for so long, I was just nervous about saying so.” With that, the two smiled and embraced each other before sealing

With that, the two smiled and embraced each other before sealing their love with a kiss. When Connivia returned home, she realized that she was much later than usual. She hoped her parents were asleep, but unfortunately, they were not. They were both waiting for her sit-ting at the dinner table. “Connivia, you’re late,” Gerald said by way of greeting. “I know, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be.” “Connivia, we were worried,” Sharla scolded. “You were out with

“Connivia, we were worried,” Sharla scolded. “You were out with some boy you’ve been seeing for quite some time now, and your out-ings have gotten longer and longer each time. What could you possi-bly be doing?” “Let’s not forget that Roston is a member of Ascalon’s Chosen,” Gerald cut in. “He’s a fighter, and he’s not meant to be a man that could take care of you.” Connivia had taken lectures her whole life from her overprotective

Connivia had take n lectures her whole life from her over protectiv e parents, and she’d always just held her tongue and agreed. But to- night, her temper flared and boiled. Her fists clen ched and she screamed back at them for the first time in her life. “Stop it! I am going to be 18 next month, and I am plenty old enough to make my own decisions! Stop telling me what to do as though I were still a chi ld!”

Her parents looked very take n aback and shocked. They looked at each other and for a moment, Connivia thou gh t that sh e had d one th e right thing. But this thought vanishe d when her mother’s face fell and her father’s eyes nar row ed.

Over the course of a few more months, Roston and Con nivia con tin- ued to have dinner together, and grew closer each time. The last se v- eral times they’d even held hands whe n walking back to Connivia’s house. And the last three times, their evenings had ende d in a kiss. Their first kiss was a kiss that everyone dreams about, w ith fire works and time coming to a halt. The ir feelings toward e ach other were growing rapidly. But neither kne w when or how to bring up the ir feel- ings.

ings. But alas, one day in February, Roston worked up the courage. As he was walking Connivia home from Foible’ s Fair, he suddenly stoppe d. Connivia stopped as well and turne d to Roston looking concerned. “What is it?”

“Connivia, there is something I need to tell you. These past several months have been the most amazing of my l ife. I’ve never felt thi s way before , nor have I ever had a feeling so strong.”

Ch apter 4

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Roston and Connivia walked to the waterfalls in Lakeside County’s town of Ashford before Connivia finally explained what had transpired the night before. When she finished, Roston could only stare. “If I’m causing a problem between you and your parents,” he said, “I don’t want that to happen.” “No, that’s not it. There is no problem. My father is just afraid

“No, that’s not it. There is no problem. My father is just afraid of losing me, and he wishes I could be his little girl forever. But everyone knows that can’t be.” Roston pondered this before taking Connivia’s hand in his. “I love you so much,” he said. “I know, and I love you too.” “Will you do something for me, Connivia?” “Anything.”

“Anything. ” Roston took a deep breath and exhaled before getting do wn on one knee and asking the question he’d wanted to ask fo r so lo ng. “Will you marry me ?”

“Don’t hide your feelings,” she said to them. “I heard everything that was just said.” “Oh, dear,” her mother said, “it wasn’t meant for you to hear.” “I know, but I’m glad that I did hear it. Now I know why you don’t want me to be with Roston.” Her father stood up and walked toward her. “Daughter,” he said, “I

Her father stood up and walked toward her. “Daughter,” h e said, “ I am quite fond of Roston. You’ re right, I do like him. And I think he’s good for you. I just fear that…” “Don’t worry, Father. You’ll never lose me. I don ’t care what h appens in my life, you’re my parents and I love you both dearly. There is n oth- ing that can take me away from you.”

“Oh I’m so relieved to hear that. Your mother and I both only wish for you to be happy.” Connivia’s tears finally came as she jumped into her father’s arms and said, “Thank you.” Her mother joined in the group hug, and the three were crying a chorus. At last, the group hug dissolved and Connivia’s mother said, “Go find Roston. You two are meant for each other, I can feel it.” Connivia’s face lit up and she gave her parents one last hug before

Connivia’s face lit up and she gave her parents one last hug before dashing out her front door and sprinting to Ascalon City. Roston wiped the sweat off his brow. “That was some rigid training!” he said to Adelbern who was next to him. Adelbern chuckled and said, “Yes, but it’s always good to be fully trained. You never know when these skills may come in handy.” “And I thought Warmaster Grast was difficult!” “Oh, Devona takes after her father, so she could probably teach you a

“Oh, Devona takes after her father, so she could probably teach you a few things herself.” “Ah, I know her father. I know what you mean.” The two warriors chuckled. “Roston!” a voice suddenly shouted from behind them. The two men turned around, and there was Connivia running toward them. “Connivia!” Roston shouted back and ran down the steps to meet his

“Connivia!” Roston shouted back and ran down the steps to meet his love. He swept Connivia up into his arms in a warm embrace. Then he set her down and asked with genuine concern, “Are you all right?” Connivia was out of breath, but through her panting she said, “Yes, I’m fine. I need to talk to you. I have so much to tell you!” “I certainly hope this is good.” “Oh, it is!” “All right. Excuse me, Your Highness,” he said to Adelbern, who

“All right. Excuse me, Your Highness,” he said to Adelbe rn, who nodd ed .

“I don’t want to do this any more than you do,” her father was saying. “But if she’s going to treat us with such disrespect and take advantage of us allowing her to go to dinner with this boy by showing up later every time she goes out, then she doesn’t need to see Roston.” Through her sniffles, Sharla said, “But think of how you’d feel if you

Through her sniffles, Sharla said, “But think of how you’d feel if you were deprived of the one you love. Face it, Connivia’s taken care of us more than we’ve taken care of her for the past several years. We’re not getting any younger, and neither is she. She needs to start a life of her own.” Now it sounded like her father was crying. Through his sobs, he said, “She’s my little girl. She always will be. I don’t want to let her go.” Now the two cried in unison. Connivia began to tear up as well. So

Now the two cried in unison. Connivia began to te ar up as well. So that’s why her father didn’ t want her to see Roston – he was afraid of losing her forever. But Connivia wouldn’t let that happen . She unlocked her door, opened it, and went out into th e f amily ro om. Her parents looked up and tried to hide the ir tears.

A charr, a norn and an asura enter a bar... After drinking more than 4 and less than 6 beers. Charr: "I don't know about you guys, but I don't feel a thing." Norn: "Yeah, not even the slightest visual dis

Norn: "Yeah, not even the slightest visual dis-tortion !" Asura: "Hey barman, what kind of beer is this ?" Barman: "Sorry guys, I only serve Dwayna's D'light." The three: "D'LIGHT !?!" Barman: "Yeah, the game got rated Teen.."

By T ender W olf

GuildMag, the unofficial Guild Wars magazine

Do you think you are funny? Or maybe you just have a Guild Wars re lated bar joke? If you can make most o f our team l augh, there is a good chance your joke will make it into one o f our Issues. So, send your funny stu ff to: barjoke@guildmag.com

A charr, a norn and an asura enter a bar... Charr: "I'm so glad we finally have NON-combat activities." Norn: "Yeah, I can't wait for the Bar Fights & Target Shootout !" Asura: "And let's not forget the Shoot 'Em

A charr, a norn and an asura enter a bar... As they sit down, Dhuum rises up and ins-takills a human. The three: "What on Tyria was that ?!" Barman: "Most likely another drunkard botter.."

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CREDITS:

Editors: Dutch Sunshine Asuran Malchior Devenholm Design: Jonny10 Asu

Asuran Writers: Daelin Dwin draxynnic Asuran Konig Des Todes Free Runner I

Iz ari Magl ama

Thalador Doomspeaker San Darkwood Arghore Twitchy Submitters: Tender Wolf M

Mr . F ar g o Clouds 'n Bone s Kiwine Jon of the Plaug e

Discl aime r:

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CONTAC T:

© 2003-2010 Ar enaNe t, Inc. All rights r eserved. NCsoft, the in t erlocking NC log o, Ar enaNe t, Ar ena.ne t, Guild W ar s, Guild W ar s 2, and all associa t ed log os and designs ar e tr ademarks or r egis- t er ed tr ademarks of NCsoft Corpor a tion. All other tr ademarks ar e the pr operty of th ei r

their r espectiv e o wne r s.

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END OF THE LINE...

A War in Kryta special

A Ranger walks int o a waystation one nig ht to ind the place to- tall y desert ed, sa v e f or one Ritualist kneeling in a cir cle of candles. Intrigued, the Ranger knock s on the door fr ame... Ritualist: "Shh!" Ranger: "What ar e y ou doing?" Ritualist: "C ommuning." Ranger: "...Communing?"

Ritualist: "..." Ranger: "Communing with what?" Ritualist: "The spirit world." Ranger: "The spirit world?" Ritualist: "Yes, the spirit world. Now shut up and go away!" Miffed, the Ranger leaves the waystation and camps outside for the

Miff ed, the Ranger lea v es the wa ystation and camps outside f or the nig ht. The ne xt nig ht, aft er a da y of tr aining his Stalker, the Ranger walk s back int o the wa ystation, onl y to ind that same Ritualist still kneeling on the loor . The candles had almost burned themselv es out and mor e r esembled miniatur e v olcanoes than candles. Ex asper- at ed, the Ranger spoke up once mor e. Ranger: "You'r e still communing?"

Ritualist: "Shhh!! Yes, I'm still communing. Go awa y!" Ranger: "Just ho w long does it take to commune with dead people?" Ritualist: "Longer than y ou think. No w git!" The Ranger left in a huff and camped outside ag ain. The ne xt nig ht, aft er taking out his frustr ations on se v er al Gr aw ls, the Ranger re- turned to the wa ystation and, once ag ain, the Ritualist was kneeling on the loo r .

Ranger: "Still commun in g, huh?" Ritualist: "Yes..." Ranger: "You kno w , if it takes thr ee da ys to summon a spir it, y ou mig ht want to look int o a new line of w ork, man." Ritualist: "I'v e summoned, discussed with, and banished a f ew dozen sp irits alr ead y ." Ranger: "Then w hy ar e y ou still her e?!" Ritualist:

Ritualist: "...because I can 't see the e xit..." By Jon of the Pl au ge

Upcoming articles:* - Seer - Mursaat - White Mantle - Shining Blade - Shining Mantle [Fan-Fic] - Ghosts of Ascalon

- Ghosts of Ascalo n - War in Kr yta - Vi ral Campaign - Ingame Eve nts - Future Beyond *We reserve the ri ght to chang e this li st.

Next issu e!

GuildMag, the unofficial Guil d Wars magazine