Guild Wars 2 Mysteries, The Origins of Humanity

[@darkwindwaver]

Great video WP and maybe even relevant in the wake of SotO. Love the drawing at 15:10

[@apatik279]

Thank you so much for making these videos. I love lore, but I always end up get myself confused when I try to figure it out myself. These videos make it so much easier to understand. Thanks again.

[@MiroslavKastak]

And here it is...after 4 years later form this video...we finaly gets to Elona :D

[@JoshuaH688]

And here it is... after 8 years, we finally get to go to Cantha as well! :-D

[@oliver2580]

Your insight on Guild Wars 2 lore is beyond me. Your knowledge is great, and it's amazing that you pass that on to all of us! :D

[@Hardstyleeerrr]

Man with End of Dragons so close we will soon be in Cantha. Its insane how well your videos age

[@HunnicMunn]

GW2 Mysteries = Best series on youtube. Actually making me a lot more interested in the lore, which I usually don't give a second thought to.

[@mt4tactical]

everytime i stop playing GW2 i watch one of your videos, and i instantly start playing again, great job!

[@Binidj]

It's this sort of thing that had me utterly hooked on GW2, after BWE2 I scoured the internet looking for lore stuff like this. It's nice to see the ideas you've explored in previous videos collated and expanded upon ... I very much look forward to the rest of the series.

[@ffsmax]

I hope you do more of these guild wars 2 mystery's they're very resourceful and honestly give great insight in the things that normally I might've overlooked also just so darn fun to watch and learn .

[@bemeric1]

Extremely well done. The way you weave the history is magical and kept me glued to the screen the entire time. Can't wait for further installments.

[@MichaelWeiss1991]

You did a great Job on this one. To show off Bahltek at the end of the video was awesome! I've looked up lore for about 1 hourl since. Bahltek is strange.

[@goldendragoon25]

Late but wanted to say that I love these videos. I have played the free trial of GW1 so have not experienced the full history yet but it is great to be able to get lore, the mysteries, and more information tgat you provide in these videos. Thank you WP!

[@thanatrell]

you are the reason I keep getting back to Guild Wars 2. Amazing job at these videos!

[@WoodenPotatoes]

They are! Though they are worshipped in different ways and specific beliefs about each god differ depending on continents. Each continent had different statues and portrayals of the gods, too. The same general entity, but different each time.

[@StandardActionGaming]

Really loving these lore videos. So glad that you put 'em out in the first place, it's so nice to know there are other people so fascinated by the rich mystery and history. I wish we could have lore dumps of such caliber in our videos

[@Omgitsdayton]

This man needs a medal... you possess so much knowledge... I hunger for more. If only this would help me in college....

[@JamEngulfer]

One thing I'm wondering is if the continent of Tyria is so damn tiny compared to the world map, why are all of the elder dragons chilling there? Would the humans on the other island or even Cantha be at all affected by the rise of the elder dragons? Or would they just keep on living their lives as normal whilst the fight rages on in Tyria.

[@Spinneret69]

well, Tyria may be the biggest continent, and is able to fit the dragons size? that's my theory at least.

[@goldendragoon25]

JamEngulfer Who says that they are the only dragons? Could they be more than what is known...or more than one jungle, winter, etc type of dragon? My biggest question is are there dragons that are good? Like, did they have a war where the good dragons were defeated and either killed off or put into some sort of prison like state and the gods brought humans to Tyria to set into kotion the events to set them free or balance the good and the bad? So many questions.

[@williamcooper431]

Dude your videos are awesome. great job, learning the lore makes games far more interesting and its great to get it in these concise, well thought out videos. Thanks!

[@ShadowsAmbition]

DUDE! You are the best! Every time I think to myself " o that would be a kool idea, I wonder if someone made a video like that?" Then I find it on your channel. You are awesome!

[@redoryx1872]

I've been watching lore videos all day... man... I don't usually get involved with lore when I play an mmo, just because its either too expansive (and inconclusive) or because I find it lacking or interest or depth, but watching these videos has really made me rethink that, and I can't wait to read more into the lore!

[@0biggaj0]

WP this video in particular had the best format/narrative voice AND story you ever did. Cheers :)

[@WoodenPotatoes]

The problem is that the Canthans DO revere the five (and later, the six). The luxons had a few extra gods thrown in there, but they never stopped believing. I think Lyssa was simply helping the world forget the ED's previous rising, but its an interesting take.

[@MithranArkanere]

You can explain this distribution thanks the the mists. Time isn't linear and flowing always in one direction in the mists. And there was been always multiple points all over Tyria that have a weaker fabric of reality, so it's easier to get to the mists from there, like the spot where the Temples of the Gods where placed, or where the norn shrines are located. Knowing that, nothing stops the gods from bringing humans in batches to different locations so spreading is easier.

[@perfectlyhopeless]

I love how much story goes into Guild Wars 1 and 2. It's amazing how in depth it is and it proves that I'd love history so much more if it weren't about this planet

[@blessedthroughmisery]

Nice video :D. I like backstories and history in fictional worlds/universes. Thank you for fleshing this one out for the humans in the GW universe. I do not always get this information through the game, but having this information makes me appreciate the gameworld a lot more :)

[@Tippertot]

Excellent video. I hadn't been aware of the idea that humans had been relocated from somewhere other than the planet Tyria. With that in mind, I'm surprised you didn't mention Doern Velazquez in this video. Although he appears physically human, his dialogue suggests that he and his wife either are not human, or are not from Tyria.

[@Quantumtalesxx]

Man I love your videos!! You have great narration skills plus you really know how to approach all this in an interesting way! I know that it is something you enjoy doing but Anet should pay you for all the promotion. I honestly believe this. :P

[@brucewillis2]

this sounds like a good series to watch.. interested to see what other races you'll cover as well.

[@Disarcade]

I started paying a lot of attention to the lore when I hit Orr, and would like to add a bit. Now my memory may be foggy, but I'll try. Orr people saw themselves as the culmination of a really, really old history. That Orr itself exists was a crowning achievement of humanity that the gods came to recognize. In the texts found in guild wars 2, Orrians are old, old, very old as a culture. In their written tradition they trace their lineage to the first humans. I'd write more but I'm out of space :)

[@connormurphy683]

Large thesis-paragraph-resembling statement #1: After Nightfall, ANet was going to do another campaign, called Utopia. It was cancelled in favor of EotN and eventualy GW2, but there was concept art and lore. The art showed that while Tyria resembled Europe, Elona resembled Africa, and Cantha resembled East Asia, Utopia was going to resemble pre-Columbian Central America, specifically the Aztecs (but features of many different indigenous societies can be found: the Maya style of pyramid is heavily used, and llamas can be seen being ridden by humans. There are Inca masks alongside a sport resembling the Danza de los Voladores). One of the tidbits of hinting found in Nightfall was Prince Mehtu's comment about "some artifacts from an ancient civilization recovered at the west coast". This suggests that the new area was to the west, possibly the continent to the west of Shing Jea mentioned in this video. It seems that the civilization was long gone (my speculation was that the player had to go back to in time to live through instances), so it could have been the very first human civilization on Tyria after the gods put "us" here. There is also concept art of larger, modern cities, suggesting that the area that the ruins belonged to were still inhabited at the "present" time that coincided with other campaigns. After Utopia was scrapped, a lot of the designs and such were lumped into the Tarnished Coast (which conveniently possesses a climate similar to that of Mesoamerica), which is why one can see a strong undertone of Mesoamerican motifs in the unexplained ruins scattered throughout the zone. It probably also is to explain for the Nahuatl names of Hylek and their places. Their architecture also seems similar to that Mesoamerica, but since they mostly live in small villages of huts, it isn't really comparable to the ruins. And, of course, the "other planet" that is the original home of the human race is probably Earth, if anything. Large thesis-paragraph-resembling statement #2: In the description for Altrumm Ruins, a Kurzick challenge mission in Cantha, it says that "The vast ruins of Altrumm are thought by most historians to be all that remains of the first great Kurzick city, destroyed by some ancient and mysterious catastrophe. The Kurzicks themselves claim their ancestors did not build the structures found here. If this is true, then Altrumm certainly influenced Kurzick architectural sensibilities." This suggests that the Kurzicks didn't build the ruins. Why would the developers put that in otherwise? If the Kurzicks migrated from the south after the empire of the Dragon was established, the ruins could be an early construction of a divergent branch of the Empire or a related people, who later assimilated into Kurzick society while influencing it from within. If the Luxons and Kurzicks had a common origin to the south of Cantha, this could be what made Kurzick society so shockingly different from that of the Luxons. Keep in mind that this is just speculation.

[@overnightgrowth]

I have always liked how the expansion were themed and inspired like that. I am very fond of the idea for the original inspirations for Utopia. Mayan and Aztec cultures are very interesting to draw from and build a world. Not a big fan of the time travel idea, I would rather learn about the lore through travel on the continent and such but each his own. I do miss the older way for expansions I get why Anet didn't want to create new continents every time and split the player base but there is something so cool about it. Probably the different resemblance's to our world but with the unique gw history.

[@connormurphy683]

***** Yes, Utopia looks like it would have been very interesting (though, like you said, time travel doesn't really appeal to me). I might have loved the areas even more than Cantha, which, for me, is saying a lot. I hope that someday they revisit the concept of Utopia and implement it in GW2.

[@overnightgrowth]

We might see some of it in Heart of Thorns it is very much focused on jungle stuff so it seems a good fit

[@connormurphy683]

***** Maybe. It does look cool.

[@Zithith]

Gotta say I really enjoy your lore works WP. A quick suggestion, if the gods brought us from space, could this in theory be a futuristic sci-fi? Where actually we migrate from earth and end up crash landing on tyria and somehow in the process of a great trauma we revert as a civilisation to a more basic state of society and technology. Magic could be something inherent to Tyria and Humans evolved to be able to use it? Will have to respond to myself - damn comment limits!

[@Fake1904]

i swear, listening to your videos is more interesting than playing the actual game

[@SendMeOnMyWayy]

Man I love this lore stuff. Guild Wars has just got the best lore ever. I want some history related stuff to be released. I want the Durmand Priory to like discover something, and be like "OH SHIT, we dug up some sick ass info on the origins of humanity, the gargoyles AND the sixth elder dragon, what are the chances!" and then use that as a part of the living story at the same time as Southsun

[@NeeoHixx]

Another awesome video WP! I love watching these and learning about the lore of GW. Keep up the good work! Looking forward to the next one ^^

[@mattjvr6189]

This is a great video to watch before EOD.

[@alexnguyen8913]

the fact that it would take like a day to go from the heart of maguuma all the way to ascalon and how tyria is so small compared to rest of the world kind of blows my mind

[@dmgisi]

The race origins in Guild Wars could be the theme for a whole expansion set. I'd be so interested in stories exploring them!

[@MagicFeather0]

Man, I LOVE the Guild Wars Lore, it's so good :). Great video, again!

[@Parahis]

Holy Crap this was intresting, alot of stuff that i did not know even tho i played GW1 for years!

[@marinoda7ify]

Can someone give me the name of the song around 11:40? Im searching for hours now and cant find it

[@TonniFlex]

There's a lot that suggest that the Sylvari we've seen in the GW2 isn't the first sylvaris to inhabit Tyria, and that the Mother Tree from where the Sylvari we can play originate is the youngest of of many Tree from where Sylvari have been "born". It seems that there haven even been other Mother Trees on the continent Tyria years back. But none the less they are the race that is most indisputably native race/species to Tyria. Hope this helps

[@WoodenPotatoes]

The crystal desert had full on skyscraper ruins, like if it wasn't a desert and we were 1,000 years ago you would be stood in New york city or something.

[@MithranArkanere]

Once they arrive to temporary locations, some would migrate, and they'll you have those that get to Shing Jea from the west, those that get to Cantha from the east and south, and those who arrived directly to where the gods decided to put camp: Orr, and then they spread from there to the rest of the land they started to conquer, taking it from tengu, centaur and charr (Seems like naga lived mostly on water so they didn't have much problem with land and where in good terms until the Jade Wind).

[@R0r7va5tor]

Awesome! I'm totally looking forward to it! Never knew you had an engineer until today

[@KnightofArcadia]

Regarding that island to the west of Cantha and how you are saying that it was the place where humans may have come from. A part of me is thinking it was where Utopia was going to be set, as looking at the concept art work for the game, everything looks alot more advanced then the other games civilisations. The Cronomancer's especially. This is all conjecture though, and the GW2 info about Orr being the home of the gods does throw the wrench in there. Just my two cents :)

[@MithranArkanere]

Heres my theory: - Humans come from Earth, evolved from apes. - Earth was going to go "boom" for some reason. - Space travel was not developed enough to evacuate that way. - Somehow they found a way into the mists. Portal research? Accidental portal opening? Caused by the same disaster? - A team of explorers got in, and became the gods once in the mists. By defeating previous gods? Taking power from dragons? Who knows? - Then, they went back to Earth and evacuated surviving humans.

[@mippuuninja]

Perhaps the nod towards having Orr being the original home to humans was influenced from Arenanet's inability to solidify having an expansion or opportunity to take us to Cantha. The inability to go to Cantha would eliminate both Shing Jea and whatever land may be to the west of it as being an explorable option. With the new lore option it would make sense that the land of Orr would sink and rise up as it was potentially plucked from another planet and dropped on top of a dragon (GG Gods).

[@WoodenPotatoes]

He seems a bit far removed from this topic, where do you get the 'inhumane' bit from? Most I'd venture to guess was that he's a djinn (who can appear as humans if they wish)

[@Angeldustification]

A Dervish with a flamingo pet? Interesting. Thanks for yet another interesting video, man!

[@Penguin_Tree]

This this game could get so big

[@Erkelify]

Hey WP! I know you may be busy in your own life, but when will you continue this series? This, along with the rest of your series, is one of my favorite things to watch on youtube and I think you should come back to it. I'm especially interested in the origins of the other races.

[@imokaye]

Everytime I watch a WP video i fall in love with Tyria and the gw2 universe again!

[@polteran]

Awesome movie! I love those lore movies. Your such an blessing for the Guild Wars community *thumbs up*

[@DiMacky24]

Looking forward to this series! Very interesting thoughts!

[@Saycille]

GW2 is one of the only games where my character is smarter than I am because I missed the first game... Gotta study up.

[@JeHamel87]

I believe WP actually talked about how he believes the sylvari show up whenever the dragons rise, in one of his GW2 Daily videos. He theorized that some of the plant creatures we see in GW are Sylvari that have essentially "gone native." And it's only this time around that they appear as human.

[@IsraTheBlack]

There are also those modern looking buildings in some loading screens like the Hoelbrak one and the one where the pact headquarters is.

[@sanguis_aeternus-x]

In the Exodus of the Gods and some scrolls I read in Orr, there seems to be a reoccurring theme that the place humans came from is a world full of misery and destruction. It was so bad that the Gods and humans abandoned wherever they originally came from, shepherded them through the mists. Dwayna also made a promise to some unknown character to bring humanity to paradise. The memories of humanity's original world were horrible enough that Lyssa took it upon herself to distract everyone from their thoughts, and focus on the future, rather than the unknown past we never knew of. In fact, there are no records of what had happened before the time of Tyria, furthering the notion that it was a piece of history humanity would rather forget then to keep track of.

[@belovabsintheov7173]

makes sense that Cantha is the oldest bit, Kaineng City is huge and just have been building for a long time

[@OhZordan]

Coming to think of it, none of the five playable races are particularly old. The Sylvari are definitely the youngest, as they were created by a human. The Asura build their empire on the ruins of Mursaat, so they can't be incredibly old, finally the Norn have somewhat devolved from Kodan and haven't been around at the same time, the Dwarfs have, so they can't be super old either. I am hoping for Charr or Asura next!

[@bigyin109]

reminds me of the titan creation storyline in WoW, my next big question though is how the norn and humans look so much alike. if you say that humans were seeded on tyria (the world) by the gods from another planet, then i would assume that norns and humans evolved seperatly, but they just look too much alike for that to be true, plus the norns came south while the humans travelled north, would love to be able to dive deeper into the GW lore. it was the lore that kept me interested in WoW for so long

[@lucascerviniable]

at you said 8:35 WP, do you think there's a possibility that we are going to have Cantha? Oh I do hope so :). like some 'going back to were it started... to learn about the dragons' theme in the expansion for GW2? that would be truly EPIC :3

[@ReasonablyOptimistic]

The artwork from GW1 is still phenomenal. I also miss some of the class types. Could have sworn Cantha was north of Kryta.

[@DanielAPSama]

Ever played fractals, because the Jade maw has tentacles. It also has one eye and spikey teeth, which the sclerite weapon skins all seem to have as well.

[@Smartmouthgamer23rd]

In guild wars 1, there was this human in the fissure of woe, with no explanation of how he got there, or from where he was from. Could he be one of the descendants from the ancient human home world?

[@GeddieImages]

TOA Temple of the Ages was a strong center point of Guild Wars 1. The Gods were all centered within the temple and served as endgame for prophecies. I have always wondered about TOA since I started playing Guild Wars 2 and that was why TOA is missing The Balthazar Statue and the Lyssa Statue. The others are present though no clues of where the others have gone. If you have some info please base one of your mysteries on TOA between Guild Wars 1 & 2. Thanks!

[@afgeaj1]

Brilliant, as always. Can't wait for the next one. Keep up the good work!

[@guy4t4f]

EotN, if Potatoes doesn't do a video on that I think we're all going to be pissed. That place is fascinating in regards to so many aspects of lore, origins included.

[@t0m0san]

I got a question! In the timeline ANet has given us, it states that the Humans bestowed magic to Tyria. Does that mean the races of Tyria, and all the subsequent humans, never used magic before this?

[@xSarathielx]

I bet if utopia had come out that would have been the origin, I think this kinda goes along with your On distant shores video, they had been building all this lore up for the 4th campaign but it never got launched.

[@Ubasrawr]

could the gods place a small test sample on the smaller Shin Jea Island before moving on to Orr with the main group? That would allow 2 separate groups of human to evolve

[@TheCooderix]

Its all about opinions, and this one I gotta agree with you. I have been a huge fan of the elderscroll universe since.. morrowind.

[@MG_]

I got a question for you though in regards to future videos like this. I was wonder if you were going to talk about the histories of not just the races, but professions as well. If you are going to go through all of them that would be great, but one profession i am very confused about is the Guardian. Good luck. :)

[@JoshSweetvale]

They were gated in from Earth.

[@deaday]

Anyone know where the piece of music at the end is from?

[@swordsman1600]

You think the character Doern Velazquez from the Whispers might be in a similar situation to Bahltek from the first game? Granted, I get the impression they've abandoned the Utopia plot (at least for now?), but his dialogue when you talk to him about where he came from is certainly suspicious. Plus, it isn't like a player who joins the whispers gets to know everything.

[@shadavenger]

and Lyssa was trying to make them forget. The gods built and city (Arah) in Orr where they can live in could be viewed as them wanting to show a more "physical" prove of their existence so that humans don't forsake them in the future? Abdadon gifted humans with magic to show how powerful the gods are so humans don't seek out other "deity"? The island west of Shin Jea, could it be "Utopia"?

[@Justin9740]

Wooden Potatoes, if I'm not mistaken, the humans were left with snake-like protectors that would later be known as The Forgotten. If left in Cantha, do you think these could perhaps be related to the Naga in Cantha? On another note, what do you think are the chances that, upon arrival to Tyria (the continent), the Gods told the humans of their location in or future establishment in Orr. What if the migration constantly north was the humans desperate attempts to find their "Gods"?

[@BlueWoWTaylan]

The personal story tells that Gods entered to this world in that special place on Orr as you fight to Cleanse Orr. I don't know if they brought humans at that time or later but it is heavily implied that Gods were first step foot on Orr before Cantha and anyother place.

[@Erwiniee]

I do play sometimes fractals, and it could be the same, (i believe) Jade maw has 8 tentacles, as well as the backpack. But are the jade maw and karka related to one and other?

[@BlimeyGames]

Awesome video - can't wait to learn more about the ROOTS of the Sylvari....PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFTT *backflips out of room*

[@AtlantyzFTW]

Can you imagine... All those things that Tyria has gone through... Gw and Gw2 events... And what would be outside...

[@dergrant3]

Norns are descendants of the Kodans. That is why the Norn can shape shift into their spirit animals. Since moving south, the Norn lost the ability to retain their Kodan form.

[@PanBelacqua]

Guild Wars 1 ended on a tragic note. While the heroes defeated Reiko, the Ministry of Purity had already corrupted the Canthan culture. Then, as the humans, we lose Ascalon. As a GW1 player, the world is rife with tragedy.

[@lordofgangstas]

(continuing) Magic exists as some sort of radiation or other energy that can be manipulated by the races as the Gods genetically modified all magic-using races to have a small,specialized organ(or cybernetic implant) that allows them to manipulate said energy,while limiting it to a perceived "theme" that someone thinks of(ie they can't be without limits on what they do with it,it has to be something perceivable and understandable so no non-euclidean geometry)

[@TheBirdsDen]

I guess it could be playing off the fact that the sylvari tree was found on tyria and as far as we know is native to it, so it might not be the first time the sylvari have appeared

[@WoodenPotatoes]

Could make a RL geocaching series based on Tyrian stuff.

[@johnchan3775]

Hey wooden, really love your vids! One question though, do you have any idea whether Anet said when they're other open the other regions? Like crystal dessert etc. Thanka!

[@lordofgangstas]

Here's my theory: The Gods are a group of immortal hyper-advanced humans using technology from a far apocalyptic future that brought a few human survivors to a far-off planet(Tyria)that they had terraformed(hence the Earth-esque wildlife).The human settlers are descended from Earth races(Elonians are from Ethiopia or something,etc) and the humanoid subraces(Jotun,Ogres,Norn,etc)are also descended from humans but evolved/mutated long ago(less for for the Norn than the Jotun).The charr are native.

[@WoodenPotatoes]

As are many realms. The home of Balthazars Eternals is in the mists. The home of menzies shadow army, too, is in the mists. Why couldnt we have some from a realm in the mists? The mists are a creation engine. Everything was born from them. In a way they're all of our homes.

[@GraveXQ]

I really, really, really, really hope Arenanet will consider bringing Cantha to GW2, I've never played GW1 but I've seen and read a lot about it and that regions is really interesting and I want to see play around that area >-

[@BlimeyGames]

I'd love to see what Orr looked like before it got all corrupt; it looks like it had some crazy architecture.

[@WoodenPotatoes]

I have been thinking of this lately! But It'll be a while, I'd show it when I have my full account.

[@vladimer33]

Like always , great work man. Thanks for the upload XD .

[@MegaDOC88]

I wish the Azura would make a time machine portal that we can use to go to the past and visit these places, and maybe if they do have Cantha as extent, tell their tail of the end? I wish there was more tragedy here and there, vice currently ending with the heros winning. This would be a way to add that in.

[@Silllybean]

"All the other playable races, they are native to Tyria... and they have been here a lot longer than we have." Syyylllvaarriii.

[@MG_]

Actually the youngest race is the Sylvari, since they been only 26 years before the event of GW2, at least thats what i've heard on some sources, but still a great vid. I got a question for you though in regards to future informative videos like this. I was wonder if you were going to sort the histories of not just the races, but professions as well. If you are going to go through all of them that would be great, but one of them i am very confused about, which is the Guardian. Origin of Guardian

[@kalbal93]

Have you tried to follow it? It has so much lore! And story! It's so much it's kinda overwhelming when you try to follow it. Try reading a bit on the wiki about the story and the lore. And you'll see it's alot more intriguing.

[@Skeeth_]

there is lore that suggests that Norn were much greater than they are now and that they were once like the ancient Jotun. That the Norn were a fallen race and have begun to recover with the strength that they found in the spirits of the wild.

[@GaruruMoon]

I've been to the home of the order of secrets but didn't pay attention to the world map. another interesting fact ist, that in GW2 I somewhere met a Jotun telling about how his race was supported by the 5 Gods long ago a then without any known reason left them for themselves and moved to support the humans. with the theory of humans beeing from another planet/realm, I got the idea that maybe humans fled to Tyria and where in need of help so the gods took care of them. does this make sense?^^