#caledon forest

[talk-of-tyria]

Maguuma Jungle - Caledon Forest - Hamlet of Annwen Annwen Citizen #1: Have you ever met a Soundless? Annwen Citizen #2: Once. It was the strangest experience. Annwen Citizen #1: How so? Annwen Citizen #2: It was like she wasn't even there. I sensed nothing from her as she approached.

[gw2-khalni]

Sunshine My first partecipation to VS Art Party (and, given the fun i had, definitely not the last :) )

Model: F Lris @cctuan

Landscape: The Weeping Isle, Caledon Forest

This screenshot edit contains Guild Wars 2 characters, assets, or elements; all races, characters, landscapes, assets and elements are © ArenaNet and NCSOFT. No copyright infringment intended.

[brax-was-here]

The beauty of Caledon Forest

[nerdybookahs]

Caledon Forest in Maguuma Jungle

Caledorn Forest in Maguuma Jungle #GuildWars2

[graymarketblackdiamond]

ouhhhh in five days my account will be TEN YEARS OLD!!

[jupiter-crushes-the-moon]

North this week, to Caledon State Park tucked up against the Potomac in King George. It was chilly today, and although I got there around noon the temperature never got above 45 degrees.

I first set off on the evocatively named Boyd's Hole Trail, which appropriately led to a place called Boyd's Hole on the riverbank. There weren't many other people out today, which suited me fine.

Other than some neat mushrooms, I didn't see much on the way to the hole. It was taking a bit longer to get into the swing of things - I'm getting over a cold after all.

I ate a muffin at Boyd's hole, as foretold.

That's Maryland on the other side.

Bidding farewell to the hole, I went along the loop until it met up with the Belmont Trail, which connected up with most of the other trails I wanted to get to. I was finally feeling it, and plotted out the route I wanted to take.

It's December, buddies. It's all right. You can pack it in.

Through a clearing, along a spur trail where K-9 search and rescue teams were conducting off leash training, and I set off on the Caledon Marsh trail, which made a small loop through said marsh.

The clouds were dramatic, and I remembered that there *was* a nonzero rain percentage this afternoon.

Next up was the hiking-only Rookery Trail, which led into the Natural Area National Landmark area designated at the east end of the park. Caledon is home to several hundred acres of old growth forest, which is vanishingly rare on the east coast.

[leafofkudzu]

Happy Lunar New Year, everyone! Though it's not quite a snake per se, the Great Jungle Wurm sends its regards from over in Caledon Forest! It feels like it's been forever since we've been to a sylvari area, so how about we go pay it a visit, and then hang out with the Soundless over on the Weeping Isle? That's right: the first Saturday of a new month fast approaches, which mean it's time for another art party hosted by my guild, [VS] Verdant Shield!

A concept carried over from Final Fantasy XIV, art parties are in-game get-togethers for artists of all kinds to hang out, chat, and create together! For GW2 parties there’s more of an emphasis on hanging out and gathering references during the party itself, and then in the days/weeks following to work on your creations at your own pace and then post to the shared art party tag. We’ve used the same one (#VSArtParty) since the very beginning so you can go allll the way back and explore what people have made! The most important thing to keep in mind though is this: the ‘goal’ of an art party isn’t to be drawn, but to draw others, and share with the community!

Time and /squadjoin information is below the cut, but will also be posted again on the day of the party as squads go up!

Location Information:

The Weeping Isle is a nice and accessible open area, with lots of room for water activities too if anyone wants to bust out a skiff or two! Just head Southwest from Mabon Waypoint and you're there - no funny business needed! It may be in your best interest to turn down your NPC dialogue volume if you stay on land though...

Time & Squad Details:

As is customary, we’ll be having two parties - the first one on EU servers and the second on NA - with an hour break in between for those who may want to attend both!

The EU server party will begin at 9pm Central European Time (aka 3pm Eastern Standard Time or 4 hours before in-game reset). I’ll be hosting this one on my EU alt account, so please either /whisper or /squadjoin Aemryn of Noon for a taxi invite if you don’t end up on the right map!

The NA server party will begin 1 hour after the EU party’s official end, at 7pm Eastern Standard Time (aka 1am Central European Time or at in-game reset). I’ll be on my main account for this one and may switch ‘host’ characters a few times, but please /whisper or /squadjoin Brasyck for a taxi invite if you don’t see my customary white cat tag hanging around on your map!

Closing Words:

I do feel like I'm always apologizing for being late on these posts, but here I am doing it again: sorry for the delay! Expect me to reblog this a few times before the end of the week just to compensate for my weird posting time since this is also...uhhh.....1am for me as I post this? Whoops. Anyway!

Thank you so much to everyone who came out to the anniversary party last month, it was so much fun! Even with my procrastination I still hope to keep these monthly parties happening for as long as people are interested - after all, you guys are what make them special! Take care of yourselves, and I'll see you all this Saturday! ♥

[mithosis]

Lo and behold, a new little plant guy, now sprinkled with main-plot-flavored tragedy. A Commander, Aestus, the warmest, gentlest sunshine of a sylvari who tries to be the beacon of hope for others, often to the detriment of himself. He shares the verse with a cranky not-fully-alive Marshal, Trahearne Inmorte (@lady-quen), and the Pact's own morbidly whimsical frankenstein bug Morivitae (@commanderteag), Zhaitan's Scion. Together with Aurene they provide a much-needed light to the other duo's darkness (and edginess).

The main twist on existing canon with this guy is the mortifying ordeal of not being a necromancer during PoF and resorting to... a bit unusual means of getting back up. He had to become akin to his enemy in order to defeat the rogue God running around the desert, turning himself into a construct, like the Forged and Exalted, albeit with a bonus of keeping his body.

Obligatory warning for a lot more lore under the cut! This is becoming a tradition with me at this point, apparently (the smoothest Ken doll anatomy version of the art is also at the very very end, i don't want tumblr to smite me)

Aestus is a sylvari of the Dusk Cycle whose pod formed a little ways away from the main cluster in Caledon Forest — closer to the beautiful field of tall rose flowers than anything else. Once discovered, a mender had to be stationed there to keep an eye on it. The life within the pod was weak and unlikely to ever bloom, even with menders' help — their efforts only gave it small bursts of strength to continue developing. Until one morning the once-blue fruit was discovered hanging a little lower just after a visit of a warm, kind-faced charr the day before — now tinted slightly red at the center. It was surprisingly healthy, restored almost as if by a miracle.

When the sapling finally awakened after repelling the vision of a dragon within the Dream with Caithe, the cause for such rapid healing was discovered — the newborn sylvari had a small red shard poking through the center of his chest. A piece of bloodstone that fueled the pod with its magic, his new "heart", exposed for all the world to see.

Despite — or maybe because — the circumstances of his awakening, Aestus is grateful to be alive — a cheerful, warm and driven individual, the kind of person who lights up the room with his presence. Infinitely curious, he is determined to live his life to its fullest, with no regrets — even more so as he later finds out the shard's salvation wasn't as all-powerful as it seemed. While a source of magic in and of itself, it became more unstable the more energy his body took to function — which prompted an… unusual diet of consuming anything that looked even remotely magical or weird enough (woe, toxic hog be upon ye) to balance the scales. It proved to be a valuable exercise in patience as well later in life as Aestus was attempting to gain greater control over the elements.

Nothing changes too drastically from the canon events in his story in the beginning: he dreams of the White Stag, the manifestation of hope, and saves it, and kills Gavin, the Nightmare Courtier, in a duel. He was the first person he ever adventured with as equals, only for the man to turn out the very opposite of Aestus' morals — someone with a goal that would make hundreds miserable. The first friend-turned-enemy, and the first in a row of people to die by their own weapon.

It's only a confirmation of his curiosity for the world that he joins the Durmand Priory further down the road, finding their methods to cause the least amount of casualties involved, as well as provide the most insight into what had happened. When they work, of course. Not at all because finding adventure in long-lost ruins seems to be appealing to him too, no.

Throughout all his various exploits, Aestus is a person who tries to bring the light and comfort into everyone's lives, no matter how dire the circumstances might be, whether it is by dancing his heart out during a festival to invite others to join in, or keeping someone quiet company in the darkest hours of the night. He is constantly dedicating his life to others, more and more so as the story progresses, forgetting about himself in the process more than once. He is the brightest thing on and off the battlefield, bringing all the attention on him instead of his allies — the perfect bait for any who might latch onto the Pact. He trusts his friends, and relies on them to do what they do best while he distracts and pulls focus. He's a helping hand to the family he'd find in Dragon's Watch and a living inspiration to the people fighting against the dragons. And the ticking bomb of repressed emotions, those he can't articulate without breaking the warm and grounding image of the Commander he built over the years (he really said "I'm the Commander of touching grass, i can't let them see I indulge in self-destructive thought"). He is but a humble servant to those that need it most, and it just so happens that Tyria itself needs someone who could put things back on track.

This mentality, as well as the constant feeling of running out of time as the shard grows more unstable the more he uses his magic, aside from the very obvious pull of the Wyld Hunt, is what inevitably dooms him to die at the hands of Balthazar. The God of War and Fire, the embodiment of one of Aestus' greatest fears — becoming a dictator obsessed with power, hellbent on waging endless wars against any and all that he deems fit, the polar opposite of the virtues that the sylvari holds dear to his core — that "all things have a right to grow". And to top it all off, the mage's most trusted element is useless against the God that governs it.

This is the moment where that exposed heart of his breaks, the bloodstone shattering. It will heal, or, rather, "grow" in a different form, no longer a piece of magic, but living metal, as Aestus will take the "humble servant" part of his mentality even further to come back from the dead. Using an ancient Forgotten ritual he'd been studying in his spare time all the way since the assault on the jungle, he turns his own corpse into a construct, not unlike the Forged and Exalted, made of plant matter, metal and colorful glass as his armor and the desert's sands melted and fused together with the sylvari from the sheer heat of his battle against the rogue God. The new "heart" would now tie his soul to the body in absence of anything else holding the two together. It functions similarly to the masks the Exalted are wearing — it is his tether, and if violently removed or damaged beyond repair, the Commander would die a final death.

Similar to the world's view of constructs, he arrives at the same assessment of his own situation — the image of the Commander he is supposed to be — a servant, like an asuran golem, that can either be discarded or recalibrated to fit any need, any task. This "realization" accumulates over time, but despite it Aestus would still try to do what he likes best — making people he loves smile and thrive, even as he is burning from inside out to accommodate. Becoming the kindling this world needs just so everyone makes it out alive.

Killing Trahearne with his own hands, without knowing he would come back in this verse, was probably one of the worst things to happen to him — his own death doesn't compare to the anguish he feels every time a person close to him gets hurt. And despite not ever truly knowing what it's like to lose the Marshal completely, Aestus still feels guilty for being even a little happy he is still there. After all, it wasn't his choice to stay.

The woes of the Commander wouldn't end there. He would emerge victorious over Balthazar and end him for good — or so he thought. He partially absorbed his magic, and just like Aurene, became a new "representation", a new "version" of the God against his will for those, who believed in the tyrant before — the Zaishen Order in particular. The quiet whispers in his head came after. They grew in power until Aestus recognized them for what they were — the dead God's thoughts, his essence or even his soul that latched onto him from the Mists. And it wanted out.

The experience appeared similar to revenants who are able to communicate with the fragments of the Legends long passed at first, but quickly turned dire as Balthazar would try to possess the Commander on more than one occasion, making the gentle sylvari forget himself even for a moment to gain the upper hand. The warmest sunshine of Aestus, now tainted, threatening to become the same hellfire he fought against in Elona. He has his allies to help manage this new "condition", but it does interfere with his life unlike anything else, forcing the sylvari to remain on edge so as not to give up the life he built to someone who would see it brought to ruin.

So he goes on as the beacon, the guiding light for others, tryng to navigate his own problems as smoothly as possible. Colored like the hope of the ever-present butterflies that surround Caladbolg at all times, Aestus is trudging through the greatest challenges the world has to offer. He just has to believe his loved ones would make it to the other side, even if it means he won't live to see it.

The promised smooth sylvari

[skydrifter]

realised I've never properly introduced her so decided to make a little edit to do so!! this is leuca, a warden in caledon forest with a secret. originally assigned to oversee @mistborn-bastard's ghil, she soon developed a rapport with the cannibalistic sylvari, feeling sorry for his painful hunger. but as a warden, she could help; who would notice if a few nightmare court prisoners disappeared here and there...and maybe some regular troublemakers, too?

[draconismoss]

New Salad Alert!

This is Firstborn Llewellyn, my newest Ranger. He was born in the Cycle of Noon, making him a natural leader, warrior, and friend to his fern-hound, Cairdeas. He enjoyed exploring beyond the Pale Tree's roots and around Caledon Forest, eventually coming to found the village of Astorea. Llewellyn honors his fallen sister by wielding the bow Kudzu to smite evil and lead his people towards the light. (As soon as I get enough mystic clovers to craft Kudzu, that is)

Aesthetically, I was inspired by river spirits, reeds, babbling brooks, and the whole works. I wanted him to look and feel like a summer day by the stream out in the country but with the power of the greatest of rivers.

I'll post more photos once I get that bow XD

[i-mybrunettelady]

oc tag game

tagged by @mt07131!

tagging: @sekaiouja, @violentnornography, @moonlit-grove, @ratasum, @baronvonscrufflebutt & @manasurge :>

General

Name: Elandrin Aien

Alias: Knight of the Thorn, Elandrin Fireheart (in norn stories)

Gender: male (he/him)

Age: 33

Place of Birth: Grove, Caledon Forest

Spoken Languages: New Krytan. Written comprehension: ancient Ascalonian, ancient Orrian, old Krytan

Sexual Orientation: Gay

Occupation: Archon of Durmand Priory

Favorites

Color: Red

Entertainment: Arson Research & sex

Pastime: Working out, watching his boyfriend work

Food: Fruit salad with honey

Drink: Sangria-type fruit wine

Books: Snargle Goldclaw books

Have They…

Passed University: Yes, he's the Tyrian equivalent of a professor with a PhD

Had Sex: oh hell yeah

Had Sex in Public: yes

Gotten Tattoos: nah not his vibe

Gotten Piercings: considered it, but never really did it

Gotten Scars: yes

Had a Broken Heart: yes

Been in Love: yes

Are They…

A cuddler: yes (romantically)

Scared easily: no

Jealous easily: yes

Trustworthy: In a partnership yes. Elsewhere is dependable

Family

Siblings: (AU) Warden Captain Siona of Noon, podtwin

Parents: Pale Tree

Children: None

Pets: None

blank below the cut

General

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Passed University:

Had Sex:

Had Sex in Public:

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Gotten Piercings:

Gotten Scars:

Had a Broken Heart:

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Are They���

A cuddler:

Scared easily:

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[nurllius]

SAPLING AAHRTUR + Callahan

LORE TIME. So Aahrtur is actually not from the Pale Tree but from a tree based somewhere deep in the Shiverpeaks. However when he was to wake, Sons of Svanir that found the tree attacked it, killing everyone there without mercy. Some Norn that knew about the Tree and swore to protect it in alliance with it came to aid in the battle however they werent enough. Amidst the fight the svanir would destroy pods killing the sylvari inside. When one got to Aahrtur’s pod they striked once, stabbing him near his heart, however a norn that fought alongside the tree stopped him before he could completely destroy the pod. Aahrtur fell out of the pod, still asleep as he was heavily bleeding. The norn saw the fight was unable to be won and swore to save anyone that he could. With that he grabbed Aahrtur and ran to see the nearest mender. Many menders of many races tried to wake Aahrtur up even after the wound was tended to but he remained asleep, his breathing shallow. That’s when the Norn decided he would visit his dear friend that he knew to be the best mender he knew, based in the Caledon Forest. Once there. After a few days of trying different things, a white fern hound came in, one of the fern hounds that Callahan, the mender, took care of, and it licked the sleeping sylvari. To everyone’s surprise that woke him up as he slowly stirred awake.

Aahrtur however woke up feeling confused and…empty. He didnt know but the tree that he awoke from, had fallen in battle. Oblivious to the fact and absent of any connection with the Dream he over time learns from the ones around him, mainly Callahan as she agreed to keeping Aahrtur with her to see his recovery process.

This is why Aahrtur’s main goal was to find who he really was and to find his place where he’d feel like he belonged.

He did eventually, but at what cost.

ALSO IN THE LAST PIC the black on his body is suppose to represent his scars, the middle across his chest is from Balthazar’s sword, the one along his arm and face is burns from the fight, and the one above his heart is from Bangar. I mainly wanted to represent his significant scars.

[mystery-salad]

Firstborn Falke, who tried to be so much for so many...

Pulled themself in too many directions, gifted child syndrome they had too much pressure on them, and it caused them to overexert their powers as a mesmer in turn. Sending out clones and illusions to help while they helped elsewhere, giving too much power and agency to those other selves, until it all spiraled out of control and the illusions were appearing second-natue without Falke even trying. Even when they wouldn't be necessary.

One day Falke looks over and just sees...themself. In another room of their home. They hear friends bring up conversations they don't remember having because the real them wasn't there. They try to reel it in but it's too late, their magic is out of their control and has a life of its own, they made this too second-nature to stop it now.

And it starts really making them wonder at times if they're the real Falke or one of the illusions, how much realism did they give those clones to act independently...? Do they all have memories? True agency? Which one becomes the real Falke then?

It starts affecting Falke and their illusions physically, magic as strong as ever but their sense of self shattering like illusions when they vanish...their illusions all start looking a little fragmented, like they're starting to shatter and vanish already, but they still go off to find ways to help before actually vanishing. Falke themself is growing in new ways, cracks in their bark mimicking the shattered effect and their glow shining through...

They've become somewhat of a cautionary tale in the Grove and surrounding Caledon forest, where you can see their clones out and about still finding people to help, as their main body stays within the Grove among concerned siblings trying to help them recover.

[prismatica-the-strange]

Out of this selection of my fictional daughters...

Basic info on each under the cut!

*for 3-6 hours

Maggie - 11/12-years-olds, Bradey's younger cousin who they adopted. She plays soccer, has a dog named Perdita, and loves space! Her favorite weekend activities include: Going to Disney or playing on the beach!

Walker - 3/4-years-old and a hybrid human/android of the ai Kronos and the clone Cleon xiii. They live on a planet far from Empire's purview and a good distance from the locals. Walker loves exploring the nearby forests and quarries of their home and listening to her mother tell the stories of the long-lost homeworld of humanity, Earth.

Rowan - 14-years old, Rowan is Adeline's youngest sister who She and Hector have taken custody of. She likes video games, spending time with her friends after school, playing with her dog, and hanging out with her sister and Hector. She looks forward to joining the drama club in high school, and trying out for the Cheersquad in her sophomore year.

Evelyn - 5-years-old. After losing her family in the tragic sinking of the Titanic, she was taken in by the man who saved her, Caledon Hockley. She now lives in a lavish with her father and nanny-turned-mother, Miranda. She likes horse riding, playing with her mother, going for car rides, and eating chocolates cake.

Vivian - 4-years-old. So much like her parents, Eddie and Mika, Vivy loves using her imagination and playing knights on the playground with her best friend Ethan. When the two aren't there or at pre-school, they're at ballet class together. She loves playing with Eddie's old dnd minis and watching Mika's old theater club recordings, her favorite is Beauty and the Beast because both her parents play the lead. And she's very excited for her little brother to be born.

Amelia - 10/11-years-old. Shenandoah her brother Michael were infected with the Zombie virus during the vaccination scandal and abandoned by their parents. They were taken in by Cori and Blaine when Cor found them outside the Scratching Post, going through the dumpster for brains. Amy doesn't talk much, and once she gets comfortable with someone she gets clingy, so she can usually be found being carried around by Blaine or coloring near her brother. She likes playgrounds, especially swings.

[tabswrites]

WIP Intro: The Forest’s Embrace (Guardians of Eternity, Book Two)

Synopsis: One year after the events of The Tomb’s Whisper, magic is stronger than ever before, but its guardians are divided. Mara must find a way to unite them and decide the fate of magic once and for all.

Eternity has awakened. Mara would have rejoiced over that years ago, before she lost everything.

The Ancestral Forest is haunted by a spirit of her own making, a spirit that calls for blood. Only by dismantling the Veritas Council can she restore peace and hope to Caledon—but her allies are scattered…

One lost to grief, one lost to love, and the other driven into the forest’s embrace.

She must correct her mistakes and decide once and for all if magic is worth the bloodshed.

Genre: NA fantasy

CW: Violent imagery, mild gore (will continue to update these as needed)

Features:

✨Found family

✨Magical creatures

✨Soft magic system

✨Slow burn f/f romance (sloooow burn)

✨Antihero MC

✨Multiple POV

Characters

Tag list: @cilly-the-writer @writernopal @writingrosesonneptune (please ask to be +/-)

[nocte-argentea]

I'm doing map completion for a third time and it got me thinking.

What is your least favorite map when it comes to map completion?

Mine are Caledon Forest and Lornar's Pass