Guild Wars 2 Explorer: The Stranger Things of Tyria – Part 9

This post is by guest writer Erin Burke.

Leaves on the Wind

Continued from Part 8

30 Season of the Zephyr 1329 AE

The thundering footsteps of the Mordrem Troll’s approach echo off the cliff face, and I dart to snatch up a nearby mortar. A young man’s voice whispers through my head, “If you release that here, won’t you be killing your own people?” he asks, almost gleefully. I shout a quick warning to our warriors as the mortar hits, exploding the beast into a fiery blaze of twigs and branches. The voice from before falls into a sullen silence. Was it truly anticipating that I kill my own people? With enemy forces thus stalled, the remaining mortars quickly finish the job, leaving the giant vine a shriveled, burned mass.

Pale Reaver scout at the Stonetwist Paths camp tells me about a local tribe of hylek frog people at Itzel village who might be friendly to outsiders, as the Mordrem pose a threat to their existence as well.

Meanwhile, Ensign Wilton tells me the only member of Destiny’s Edge he’s seen was Caithe the sylvari, skulking stealthily through the camp. Another scout informs me that high ranking prisoners are being marched west into the deep jungle.

I wonder if Caithe has found anymore information and quietly curse that she didn’t both to ask for help from any of the troops before leaving. Could she be under Mordremoth’s influence? I just hope the hylek at Itzel are as friendly as I’ve heard. At a narrow ravine, I meet up with Braham Eirsson, son of Destiny’s Edge leader Eir Stegalkin. Several other prominent warriors of the Pact are there, too, including Taimi and her golem Scruffy, Rytlock Brimstone, Marjory Delaqua and her business/romantic partner Kasmeer Meade, the sylvari Canach, and the charr Rox. Braham is apprehensive of turning to the hylek for aid, but I insist it’s for the better. We need all the allies we can get if we are going to fight on foreign ground. Ahead of us on the trail, we spot a couple of hylek scouts with Mordrem troops swiftly gaining for an attack.

We quickly dispatch the enemies, and these new hylek introduce themselves as Ibli of the Itzel tribe and Tizlak of the allied Nuhoch tribe. Braham still seems a bit twitchy and we convene away from our new allies to discuss our next move.

The young Norn refuses to sit idly forging new alliances, while his mother is held prisoner by the dragon. He volunteers to move on into the jungle while we move on to Itzel village. Rytlock goes with him, and the two disappear into the green depths. I can hear their echoing small talk denying Canach his place in our group and questioning what Logan was thinking sending a photographer to do the work of a commanding officer. I want to remind them that Logan would be here to lead himself, if he weren’t also a prisoner, and that he hand picked me to be here. And deep down, worse of all, I wonder if I have not thrown away my chance to talk to Rytlock further about my newfound abilities. Will he be so willing to guide me if doesn’t trust my ability to lead?

Kaana Miatli, the chief of this village, expresses her gratitude at our offer of assistance and we quickly come up with a couple of solutions.

Ibli would like to protect the village, but, Tizlak demands we take the fight to the enemy before they can even get close to the village. As with the rescue of the Pale Reavers, Tizlak’s more proactive approach strikes a chord with me and I vouch to go with him after the Mordrem. Miatli is apprehensive at this conclusion, but the majority of our group is of the same mind as Tizlak and we decide to depart immediately.

Smashing through barriers, our group manages to secure a series of points against Mordrem scout attacks. Then we move up the ridge to remove the Blighting Pods and troops vomited forth by Mordrem Breachers.

Canach seems to be struggling, as he turns to us and nervously states that Mordremoth is in his head, commanding him to protect the Mordrem. He says he is being drawn to the Elder Dragon, slowly consumed by its will. I can see the strain in his eyes as he tries desperately to resist the dragon’s pull. We are nearly overwhelmed in our efforts, but are ultimately successful in destroying the Mordrem forces here.

Kaana Miatli’s guard meet us afterward to hold the area against more assaults, and I turn my attention to getting us caught up with Rytlock and Braham. Nuhoch scouts help in pinpointing their where abouts.

Canach and the others meet me where Rytlock debriefs us quickly on what we’re in for. This camp isn’t just for holding prisoners, but also for converting dead bodies into soldiers for Mordremoth. Rytlock has also sensed the presence of a member of Destiny’s Edge. My heart jumps at this. Could Thackery be here? Would I be able to sense him, too?

The plateau is crawling with guards and while Rytlock takes a moment to caution us, I glance over at Canach. The sylvari is obviously still fighting off the influence of the dragon. His green color has faded to a dull grey, but the fierce gleam of determination still shines in his eyes. As we converge into battle with the Mordrem guards, he deftly spins through the enemy, cutting them down with ease. I set aside my fears and join the group in battle.

The way up the mountainside is covered in Mordrem vines sprouting up from the ground, but a steady supply of abandoned crates full of grenades makes quick work of them.

This is just the beginning, as a we still have to deal with yet another Overseer, this one is larger than the jailor of the Pale Reavers and he sports a massive winged helmet. Once again, our miraculous supply of grenades come in handy as I deftly try to dodge out of the way of his attacks while lobbing our payload at him.

We break into a clearing where several thorny thickets lay closely guarded by Mordrem Cavaliers and Teragriffs. We hack away at the bizarre prisons containing pack soldiers, but there is no sign of any members of Destiny’s Edge. Then we come upon a prison with a sylvari in it. Wary of a possible trap, we cut into the vines, slowly revealing the captive. She’s one of the Nightmare Court, those sylvari who have rejected the founding teachings of the centaur Ventari and pursue a completely sylvari centric philosophy. They are psychopaths willing to commit horrific crimes in order to realize their destiny.

She cowers in front of us and tells us that she doesn’t want trouble. I can sense the pensive spirit of Ventari in the back of my mind as I look on. The former captive tells us she just wants to get out here. We take pity on her since she seems genuinely frightened of the Mordrem. Ventari’s sadness flows through me, tinged with disappointment in and fear for his wayward “children.” Then another voice, a low, beastial grow rumbles through my mind. I feel eyes on me and glance over to see Rytlock staring at me, his eyes obscured by the black blindfold.

At the final cell, Braham starts forward as he recognizes the obscured form of his mother and, to the surprise of everyone, the leader of the Nightmare Court Faolin.

Before releasing them, I ask Faolin why Mordremoth would bother locking up Courtiers rather than recruiting them. The wicked sylvari makes a twisted smile at me and explains that the Court seeks true freedom, something which Mordremoth knows nothing about as its attempts to chain them to its will have proven.

We attack the vine cage, but just as I land the killing blow, the base snaps up and Eir and Faolin are catapulted to a spit of land below us. Then comes a terrible rumble. The ground shakes and rocks tumble from the jungle covered cliffs around us. Braham and Rytlock take off down one path, while Faolin passes Eir along the lower path. Both women are tripped up by jungle tendrils, and Faolin seems to get a glimpse of something above them. As I run along with Rytlock, I crane my head to see if I could catch sight of the thing in the canopy. Whatever it is, it’s large and almost reptilian. A long tail whips back and forth behind it as it lumbers through the dense foliage.

When I turn back, I see Eir crumple over in a heap clutching at something in her stomach, Faolin still hurrying up the path ahead. Eir pulls an enormous thorn the size of a dagger out of her stomach and with a quick flick of her wrist, returns Faolin’s parting gift right into the treacherous sylvari’s back. The sylvari tumbles to the ground, clutching desperately at the weapon. She’s so distracted, she fails to see the long, ropey vine burst from the jungle overhead and send its piercing tip through her torso. She screams hysterically as she is lifted high into the air and disappears into the green darkness beyond. Eir manages to stand, probing the jungle ahead as best she can for the beast. Then, it’s as if the vegetation slowly melts away into a horrible toothy visage. The thing standing right behind her. She turns slowly to stare at the four legged, giant beast and its gaping maw of of teeth.

Eir’s mouth stretches into a grimace, her own teeth gnashing at her enemy. Her faithful companion, Garm the wolf, is nowhere to be seen. She stands alone in this fight. Vinetooth gives one last snarl of disdain as its tail whips in a blur through the sun dappled vegetation.

Follow the adventure on stream here.

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