An Empire Divided: The Guild Wars Cantha Lore Primer

[@marshal8358]

As Trahearne would say: "Well done!"

[@alexblack4048]

I miss my plant Marshall 😩

[@marshal8358]

@@alexblack4048 GW3 we must fight Trahearne with Mordremoth's remnants.

[@alexblack4048]

@@marshal8358 imagine us going back to find out that Trahearnes body grew in with Mordrems body deep in the earth that we never actually saw and somehow Trahearne and Mordremoths consciousness fused together and now we need to take them down

[@kevinwestermann1001]

May he rest in pieces. ):

[@RandomizerYevhen]

@@marshal8358 actually in Heart of Thorns you can fight Trahearne twice: 1. in final boss room if you play with lvl 80 character that did not complete core story (specifically joining the order) - he will appear instead of mentor. 2. In Caladbolg restoration secret chapter (activated after HoT completion by visiting Trahearns memorial in the Grove - you are prompted to do that with a letter you receive next day after finishing HoT story). First one kinda seems like what you are saying.

[@RadioActivePDC]

I am in the section of my memory is slipping, so I am extremely glad to have these videos as a good refresher, and share them with my partner and other friends who never got to experience the original game. So thank you WP for these!

[@MrElusive79]

I loved the part in GW1-Factions when we left the Kowloon-type Walled City and sewers into the open green landscape, just before the Kurzick/Luxon faction storyline starts.

[@Nyxnik]

yeah i loved the whole factions design, even though kaineng zone was sometimes a nightmare to navigate through xD

[@deeahCHURofWyldeWoodStudios]

Yes, please! Continue with this series! I loved Cantha from GW1: Factions and have eagerly looked forward to returning to Cantha in GW2 (hopefully playable Tengu as well, or at least tonics)!

[@orrthehunter]

Cantha is my favorite place in GW1 because of the world map. It was basically a super large city and the places outside the city always made me curious what lurks deep in them. I have always been curious about learning more about the being called Kanaxai since his origins are unknown and why he was sealed away so deep in the Jade sea is unknown as well.

[@VaningDC]

I missed this but was prompted to look for it after your most recent update video, really enjoyed this; great to leave on in the background whilst doing map completion! Would love to see more!

[@warriorofdream]

Cantha's marathon begun (planning to watch everything you made so far about it, so excited to expand my knowledge!)

[@S-CCCC]

Came here after your channel update video today! I was waiting to watch these until there were enough to binge on them, but then I unfortunately forgot about it! I’m glad you mentioned them, it’s perfect rainy early fall weather watching!

[@WoodenPotatoes]

Have fun SC!

[@nickdestruct]

Damn straight we’re interested! 😋 Gw1 Factions was my first real mmo. And I have a soft spot forever in my heart for Cantha. 😢

[@sylvnfox]

GW1 wasn't an MMO it was a CO-OP RPG

[@nickdestruct]

sylvnfox I guess by that logic Fortnite is a tactical sim? Get the fuck up outta here.

[@JerodDunnRed]

I had completely forgotten about this; pulled out my old Guild Wars Factions guide and boom there it is! Can't wait to hear you break down more of it. I remember almost nothing specific about the Factions story itself.

[@michaelpandy7229]

As a player new to the franchise who was introduced to all these places via GW2, I would love to see you review this content around Cantha. I am really interested in what the other areas of the world besides Tyria have to offer. And it'll just fuel the hype train that's already rolling.

[@brianlimmy]

Watching this for the first time now, actually nuts how on point you were with your expectations/predictions for modern Cantha

[@zerodoskun7766]

I would love to see more of this! I hope you will continue with this document, it makes me be all the more hopeful about the quality of the next dlc, the more I hear and know about Cantha!

[@yobrotom]

Keep making these, this was great!

[@Northstars0422]

This series will be an excellent way for many people who never played through factions to learn about cantha, and for people like me too who played through it but maybe missed some minor points that could become very big in the future story, either way, keep this series up!

[@matusbuci5345]

Sure!! Continue in this, interesting lore as always. 😉👍

[@Evenaardez]

I love how once you set up this new system of making videos and branching out, ONLY then Guild Wars 2 starts to go crazy with updates and news. I miss the elder scrolls series though.

[@Foghorn8]

I loved your LP of the original game. I’ve just finished rewatching it. You sound like such a baby playing that. It was a great refresher for my anyway. I may go back and play it again for myself and really try to pay attention to side quest text for some extra info. Really enjoying your GW2: Cantha coverage, of all types, even when it’s stuff I already know because it’s just great to have someone to “virtually” geek out with.

[@bre_me]

You don't have to "remember" Cantha... GW1 is still up and running. I play everyday and with other people

[@MrPF]

Are there many people still playing GW1? I'm thinking of playing it during GW2 content draught, just don't know if it's worth it

[@victorious_nami]

Do you need to pay for it? I mean, i want to know as much as possible about cantha, so I have the best experience when it's released in few months.

[@MrPF]

@@victorious_nami gw1 is not "free to play" like gw2

[@_Banjo_]

22:05 i like the idea that er get renown with the wardens of the forest and allow access to their above ground cable carts. The rotwallows in their hamster wheels taking us over the events below. Up high in the trees to exclusive areas. Areas ee can earn and glide down.

[@rath8028]

Honestly with you being the information staple for Guild Wars for 99% of players... this video NEEDED to happen! I am glad you decided to take it upon yourself and explain this upcoming expansion’s importance. Personally, going back to Cantha has me excited for life haha. It’s where my gaming began! Thanks for keeping it up WP.

[@Akideoni]

For maguuma, its originally part of gw1 game following one krytan civil war(with relation to bloodstone and venturi adventures and related exploits , in fact it lapse over by the later in both asura and sylvari lores) Also for elona it likely the same about 1/2 release with POF was in fact part of the original prophecy "hero ascension". While the nightfall involve itself with the end of abbadon. In both case their lore are interwine with the tyrian lore so not much was taken apart other then put together. Then comes Cantha... its isolated outta the way originally. well they even had their own ascension rite (way simpler one too) apart from getting them for elona riverlands do tells alot they might a lot more not seen in tyria continent.

[@nushmag]

I don’t think the “reading from the wiki” approach is lazy, it’s a wonderful way for us that never played GW1 to get into the setting, and prepare our expectations going into GW2 Cantha. Hope you continue this series, and keep doing the commentary as you read the document

[@gwilym1991]

I imagine Kaineng City being a mix of slums and penthouses basically. It became massively puritanical and militaristic, so there should have been a massive reformation of the city (brutally you want a healthy army you need a healthy and functioning population), but also have areas where the "undesirables" live. I can imagine Tengu ghettos (if there are any Tengu left), gangland slums and the like.

[@Ollovain1]

This is amazing. Please more! :)

[@barva1120]

I did not realize there was already a series about Cantha. I somehow was under impression that after official announcement you will start doing something like that, but it has already begun! Cool :) The line about the fact that Cantha is very "dragonish" makes me wonder if we are gonna also meet smaller dragon-like enemies on maps, maybe some new dragon-like creatures, not just the main elder dragon as our main enemy.

[@narlth]

Ooo, I love this. It's far more interesting than reading the document just by myself. Hopefully you continue!

[@TheSilael]

Yes, let's see more vids! Please more Cantha hype!

[@dantertart5118]

Yes please more! love this kind of videos

[@MisterSquirtle]

Always love your lore stuff! Really enjyoing the channel lately. Thanks for the great content WP!

[@HooverDyson]

love this video, please do more!!!

[@madmetallurgist856]

I think they could easily justify retaining a mix of regular ocean/jade and regular forest (black forest style which we haven't really seen) and stone. Doesn't necessarily even have to be that it was permanent damage, just that it'll take a long time to return to normal, just like with the brand.

[@_Banjo_]

If in doubt the reversal of the jade winds and the sea thawing out. Theres potential it solves a mount issue. With vast stretches of water er cant maintain height of griffons and Skyscales. We dont even have platforms to mount up and spring into the air

[@seinavt]

7:38 Surprised you didn't mention the Dominion of Winds, the migration of an entire Canthan race due to Zhaitan (which you mentioned) is a pretty major point

[@sarablakesmith2410]

It's always a good day when WP posts a lore video!

[@esherman4421]

I'm interested in more Cantha lore & history!

[@lukejohnson8654]

This would be awesome WP my guilds 50/50 half of use played together in GW1 the other half has never played GW1. This videos deffo getting shared in our Discord and more would be great!

[@Chickenooble]

I love your lore videos! Thanks WP!

[@gamingmarcus]

Uh this will be fun. More please! I bought and played PoF but haven't bothered with the living story since then. I'm sure Cantha will bring me back to the game.

[@gamingmarcus]

I always wondered what happened to the Jade sea and Echovald Forest. From what I remember people were arguing that it probably didn't revert back by itself. Afterall nothing had changed 200 years after Shiro had been defeated initially. And even now he's only banished and couldn't be killed so his magic should still be around. Before HoT people speculated that we could utilise the same magic that Trahearne used to cleanse Orr. But he's obviously not here anymore.

[@brinkiTOgo]

Definitely interested! Never played GW 1 but I'm super hyped about Cantha. I could imagine that Cantha, rather than become a wealthy and technologically advanced civilization during the last centuries, had the same fate as Japan when they opened their country. Because of the lack of exchange of knowledge with other nations, Japan was technologically inferior to others (for example weapons or means of transportation and so on).

[@Blackcivicsi1]

This is fascinating.as someone who didn't play gw1 much, can someone point me in the direction of what videos might have the "recovering" forest and sea in it? Would it just be at the end of a factions playthrough?

[@Zeivusgaming]

I have a feeling that we will get a Lovecraftian fish people situation with Cantha and Bubbles. I remember watching a horror movie over a decade ago where a sea demon tempted people with gold that washed up from the sea and corrupted the people who accepted the wealth into fish people. I think it was called 'Dagon'?

[@mosye]

More videos like this please.

[@darckenergy4998]

Always a good source of lore. Thanks for the video WP.

[@bobbo8u]

i had no idea this existed, and want to hear more

[@mcvashbay9704]

One thing I figured be a big reason for change in the area the rise of Orr they had issues selling the game in Asia because of mixing cultural buildings. Also an issue with making the main human city in GW2. My thoughts are we'll find stuff that reflects one Asian culture and GW2 has told us all non-humans were forced but maybe some are there fighting we just don't know about it because they're so cut off. We haven't seen another place like the Grove yet aside from stuff like the Corpse Grove that be kind of interesting to find something like that with different attitudes and ideas how sylvari came to be there. Last part added to Icebrood Saga I noticed the mention of Cantha that's a thought that's kinda out there for reason we might head to Cantha. What if we go there to help fight a Charr Icebrood invasion? I think what to expect is a hard question when we don't know yet why we're going and what we will be doing.

[@_Banjo_]

TatoHype keeps me busy for isolation. I re read all my gw1 manuscripts recently and glossed over the artbooks in excitement. Also The (Krytan) Herald has been doing some lore videos recently which have been fun for remembering

[@Teraphas]

I'm curious if arenanet will have a good chunk of Cantha has given itself over to the DSD freely. that it has become a true Dragon empire

[@Kossage]

Nice series. An Empire Divided is a treasure trove for lore, so I imagine it can be a source for lots of videos with all the juicy commentary about specific details. :) Interestingly the Zephyrites, who had visited Cantha between LW Seasons 1 and 2, had their founding members from both Elona and Cantha. Presumably some of the Exalted also originated as Canthans as we've already seen Exalted with Elonian and Central Tyrian names. What's also fascinating that a particular Zephyrite implied that modern day Cantha may indeed be both prosperous and culturally colorful (despite the Ministry of Purity's unification efforts) if we take this [historical dialogue with Fade](wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Fade) at face value: > Player: I like the decorations very much. > Fade: Thank you! We're constantly adding to and expanding the look of our sanctum to reflect the people and cultures we encounter and with whom we trade. > Player: Well, the latest additions are truly spectacular. > Fade: I agree. We just returned from one of our most culturally colorful ports of call. Sadly, it's a long and arduous journey, so I don't expect we'll be heading back anytime soon. What I find intriguing is that the Zephyrites visited Cantha before heading for the Crystal Desert to fetch the egg that contained Aurene from someone (presumably Vlast although this has never been verified). Was the Canthan trip just motivated by trading, or did the Master of Peace try to seek out Kuunavang, Albax or the like if they had a part to play in Glint's plan as well? Fun things to think about. :)

[@thewimp9630]

I remember pickpocketing that book from a friends back because I was in awe with shiro xD

[@thewimp9630]

Sorry Philippe

[@_Banjo_]

My brother found me a factions guide book from somewhere when i was younger. He knew i liked guild wars and it was so strange to give me get a hold of a guide for a game. Where thibgs were alreadg out of date

[@alphaxneo]

I actually went on amazon to look for this and there's a version you can actually look inside most of the thing xD (the quality is not real good, but hey, you get an idea of what it looks like!). I'm really curious how Cantha will have evolved once we'll get it in GW2. It's always interesting to imagine changes to the environment and how those than impact the people living there. I'm really looking forward to the rest of this series :D

[@rudytjhia8199]

so will we have samurai as expansion for warrior ?

[@Scigeraptor]

A lore video? *sits down with a bowl of peanuts* YES PLS.

[@diamondrosette]

So, I know people are all excited with "Cantha Cantha Cantha", but I've just recently finished rereading Sea of Sorrows and I've gotta say I'd be much more interested in the journey there than the destination. I'll begin by admitting I'm not very intrigued by or interested in asian inspired settings. But with fresh vivid descriptions of grand naval battles in my mind, and the knowledge of a deep sea dragon out there somewhere, man how awesome it would be if Anet could blow everyone out of the water by introducing ships and sailing and naval combat (pun I tended). It's an impossible pipe dream, but sailing a galleon manned by your loyal guild mates against deep sea monstrosities would be amazing. Sure would have been cool to experience it against Zhaitan's army the way it was in the book...

[@TheSupernacular]

Please continue WP, I really enjoy these types of videos. Factions was my favorite expac T_T

[@vasilescuvlad1616]

How about the envoys ? What about the "ascension" in cantha, becomening Wen No Su ( Closer to the stars ) what about master Togo's death, what happened to Zei Ri ? The afflicted are still there ? Since they are abbominations and not undead ? What about the various demons like the Oni ? The regular Pheonix and Imperial Pheonix ? What about Alliance Battles ? And factions rep, chosing luxons or kurzick - will that have any impact like when u chose between the priory, the wispers order or the vigil ? What of Zunnara the kirin that protected the shrines in Shiang Jea ? What of those 2 "legendary" weapons, the Spear of Archemond for the luxons and the kurzick one ? So many questions... KEEP GOING MAN !!!

[@Vallun]

i'm ready for the first asura gate to cantha xD

[@KouriEien]

I never played GW1 but started GW2 mid LW2. I see many ppl get excited about Cantha, but for me so far it is not saying anything, apart from some distinct art elements. I would like to know more about that worlds though, and your insight filled with peculiar details would be much appreciated, thank you!

[@WaltherQ68]

WP, thanks for a great video. Hope your mum is feeling better.

[@TheNoNameHere]

6:05 well the entire region is built mainly around Mordremoth and the fleet crashing down. I don't think there's a lot of pre-HoT-events lore.

[@nv_spartan1771]

Actually, the Maguma jungle existed in GW1. it was where the shining blade was and the bloodstone. It wasn't built around Mordremoth.

[@CG-hf2cd]

Well their is Mordremoth, but also the Exalted and they're home,The Forgotten City, Tarir. As well as Rata Novus. I have been curios about Rata Novus and the history of it being created and abandoned other than the limited stuff we learned in game.

[@TheNoNameHere]

@@nv_spartan1771 I am aware of that, but it wasn't exactly super lore-rich either. It's a child's story in comparison to, say, Ascalon. "So this area is a base for Shining Blade. Also a bloodstone was here but wasn't discovered or used until White Mantle. And there are also cool druid spirits." I always liked Maguuma for secluded areas like The Falls, but I doubt you could write a book about it.

[@jelenag6112]

I am sooo curious about how they are going to continue the Cantha region in g2w with how movement of the world ended

[@alonsotoon]

Hell yeah ive been waiting for this

[@BrandonGW]

Let's keep it going.

[@byrongarcia6342]

3:55 Dupli(*phlegm*)ated

[@ycl260779]

Just wanted to say I liked this series.

[@AresErrantKnight]

We need more about this topic, I played Prophecies and NightFall but never Factions, I need to know,.

[@mull529]

I would be a returning player. Played betas of GW and GW2. All I want to know is there a date we return to Cantha?

[@TiroDvD]

HoT Story: (second verse) kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGelloWYlN5orpIm03s

[@doje8341]

cant wait for the new expansion

[@davidgustavsson4000]

Wasn't it 200 years from Jade wind to book, 50 years from book to GW1, so it's 250 - 250

[@vipero07]

Interesting how this document was written 50 years prior to the events of GW1. Particularly because the guy says no Tyrian has set food in Cantha for 200 years. Which means when you get your Tyrian to Cantha for the first time in GW2 its 250 years since Tyrians were known to have been in Cantha (not including the historian). Considering GW2 starts 250 years after GW1 and we know the Canthans have closed their doors to foreigners since the events of GW1... once again a very similar amount of time had passed.

[@tsorraught]

Is it possible that Loremaster Ermenred is the mysterious "E" from GW2 letters?

[@vukkulvar9769]

I expect Cantha to have devolved because of being so isolated. (No exhange of ideas => no development) The nobility traditions and praxis became even more complicated and strange. The forest will have regrown around the stone trees, but the stone trees will still be there, just eroded. The jade sea will have "melted" creating a sea with jade on the floor instead of sand. The population became even poorer and Kaineng is partly abandoned, people trying to find better luck in the countryback as farmers in the new available regions (stolen from tengus and other species). We may have a "La Resistance" with a remote island where non humans live.

[@jdoggivjc]

“What will be done with the Jade Sea?” The general assumption, one that I for the most part had subscribed to myself, is that the Jade Sea had melted by now. But has it? Blocks of the Jade Sea still exist in the Durmand Priory. Perhaps that assumption isn’t correct.

[@tavish1658]

Only explanation I'd see for a melted sea, would be if the Canthan's had actively tried to melt the jade away with rituals. Else a very solid point.

[@TriddyYT]

@@tavish1658 Why the only explanation? We have in-universe Lore that is has begun melting in GW1 times, already.

[@tavish1658]

@@TriddyYT Because I'm bad at Canthan lore, and I don't watch the entire video before commenting.

[@Techstriker1]

Maybe water has returned or been released naturally, so we'll get a mix of water and jade bergs.

[@VirtuesOfSin]

Cantha was my first taste of GW2 outside of the base game. Part of me is excited to return, yet part of me feels really old...

[@IamDraaky]

I see Cantha, I upvote!

[@Rognik]

Just to play Devil's Advocate here, but it hasn't been confirmed yet that the next expansion is going to be in Cantha. Yes, there's very Eastern-style architecture in that one teaser picture, but it could be, maybe, a Canthan colony, or some other culture altogether that just happens to have a similar style. I jus want people to go forth with tempered expectations, since everyone seems so convinced it will be a Cantha expansion.

[@tpwardy2168]

Rognik the file name for the promo picture they used mentioned Shing-Jea, so yes we are going to Cantha

[@Rognik]

@@tpwardy2168 Yes, because there's absolutely no reason for ArenaNet to name it something other than what it is.

[@TriddyYT]

@@Rognik Correct. There is absolutely no reason for Arenanet to name it something other than what it is. Especially with animation file names generally being an "internal" thing. Glad we're all in agreement now!

[@MythXRaser]

I'm a bit confused that WP is doing so many videos about cantha, even though the new expansion is probably at least a year away, but not about the visions of the past patch after more than two weeks

[@cornelis.darinck]

I agree. And there is not even a 100% official confirmation we're going to Cantha at all. Though I kind of understand his enthusiasm about an expansion. Both him as a player and a content creator.

[@FrostyFin]

Navigating the Kaineng City is going to be crazy.

[@nv_spartan1771]

Tangled Depths 2: Canthan Boogaloo!

[@Maks0zudd]

I've read this once, but your comments are interesting. Also your nose seems to be running, take care man !

[@lanceh4653]

Nah, I'm thinking it's gonna be overrun with the infected, and we'll be in the Kurzic and Luxon areas.

[@CryHeroCZ]

So jade sea is goint to melt down to water again? I hope not, it could be cool map!

If Cantha is gonna be all about water... We should get boats, rights?

[@gamer2617]

Read it all, Ill watch it all! please! hype hype!

[@TenguMonk]

I still have mine! :)

[@BlackSmithWolves]

Well this is more interesting than the stellar thing haha. Btw could you update your scrapper engineer guild? Some of the skills are different now.

[@TheThomasBarry]

Ah yeeaah baby!

[@terrytoriq]

We are interested. Go. :)

[@DuskYagami]

Gotta say, I was a bit irritated at "I'm imagining these neon lights and Blade Runner inspired cities [...] but we go there and there's a lot of slums again" since I remember most of Blade Runner to be pretty slummy :D

[@chrono3690]

Nyeeessss baby

[@TheNoNameHere]

NEXT STELLARIS VIDEO WHEN

[@WoodenPotatoes]

A FEW HOURS

[@OtherTheDave]

WoodenPotatoes WHY ARE WE ALL YELLING? 🤣

[@TheNoNameHere]

@@WoodenPotatoes THANKS

[@aaronbernath3554]

🔥🔥🔥

[@joe4ver]

Please keep going.

[@woblier]

Does this video contain spoiler for the 15 yo game i'm playing rn to prapare for new xpac?

[@ScrambledBread]

Interested!

[@microphytobenthos]

As always, thanks for the video WP, your passion for the game is great and I'm sincerely glad you're covering the upcoming expansion. That being said, I wanted to tell you that I'm a bit disappointed and sad to see you've basically gone back to doing the same things you've always done before. By this I mean that you start projects only to drop them mid-way whenever something new comes along. At the beginning of the year you posted a video in which you explained your intention to diversify, then you started releasing an awesome Arena playthough but, as usual, now that something new to GW has been announced, all those other plans seem to have disappeared. Not going to lie man, it makes it hard to support you when you meander so much.

[@AW-rp5qn]

I wish to be educated please!

[@haldir1991]

I can't see why jade would turn into water in open world. Water should come back for sure but like over the jade, not instead of it.