/www.reddit.com/r/Guildwars2/comments/71jhw3/story_speculation_will_our_commander_die/
While everybody was surprised that the commander died, I freaking knew it and was not surprised at all, although I hoped it would be a way we would meet the gods and they would bring is back to life.
Turned out we had to kill the Eater of Souls.
Comments
People were surprised because it was such a cheap and awful twist. It conveniently got us out of the scarab plague instead of providing some element of risk and danger to us.
Whilst it provided some nice lore and was mostly used as a plot device to find Joko, our actual death and pretty easy resurrection cheapens the danger we are supposed to be facing.
It was a sour point in the story and marked what became a major downturn in pofs narrative after that for me
As for what I've predicted? Hmm, I'll have a think. I usually guess the opposite since I'm not a fan of how our story pans out and I usually guess on what I hope.
Here's some of my predictions which I guarantee are wrong
What sleep is here? What dreams there are in the unctuous coiling of the snakes mortal shuffling. weapon in my hand. My hand the arcing deathblow at the end of all things. The horror. The horror. I embrace it. . .
In my case I will go a tiiiiny bit off topic since it wasn't really a speculation and not about the story itself, but rather something I imagined as a side story and that was later added as a game feature. I wanted to share it here because I always thought the coincidence was funny. (Btw sadly I never had the time to actually write the story even though the detailed scenario is ready since years)
Basically at the beginning of gw2 I wrote some roleplay texts about my characters. In september 2014 I wrote the scenario of the next one, where my characters meet a powerful fighter (so powerful he can use the Mists to fight, like summoning weapons / creatures from the Mists or teleport in it to do a shadowstep-like movement).
This fighter was an ancient Zephyrite, pretending to a Protector of Glint's legacy, but he actually was a servant of Shiro Tagachi and could use a small version of the Jade winds during fights. Also, some fighters were so skilled in their respective arts that they were able to transcend it by finding new applications of their power, new spells, new ways to use it (the most obvious thing being a Mesmer using chronomancy).
On a side note, I thought that nobody would see any problem in the fact that Queen Jennah used the "Flameseeker Prophecies" shield, even though this weapon couldn't be used by Mesmers in game.
Finally, an Order called "the Shadow Watch" was created in Ebonhawke as a subsection of the Order of Whispers to deal (mainly) with the Awakened, which I assumed were still here after GW1. This Order was also able to go deeper into Elona.
4 months later (january 2015 if I'm not mistaken), ANet announces HoT and the following features:
And then in PoF, we see a new faction: the Order of Shadows, protecting Elona against Awakened.
So well... I've never tried to speculate about the actual story, because it seems I'm much more successful when I'm not actually trying!
Prior to HoT being released, I had predicted that after we beat Mordremoth, we would have to fight Primordus and Jormag at the same time and use them against each other. After that we would go to fight Kraalkatorik, and the gods would return, kill the dragon for us, and introduce the next big threat -- they had been off fighting it in the Mists, were defeated, and retreated to Tyria for a last stand. Of course, that was all before it was well-established that killing dragons would blow up the planet.
I mean, it isn't exactly what happened. But it isn't way off the mark either.
In all honesty, us dying in PoF is no big surprise. They killed the PC off in Factions too, only to immediately revive them for the sake of showing Shiro was far too powerful for mortals to deal with (by literally oneshoting 16 players/henchmen (as opposed to the standard 8) along with Mhenlo and Togo); the Commander's death here (as well as Vlast's) was done for the same reason, to show that Balthazar's just too kitten powerful for normal mortals to take on unassisted. Only for the final battle to be... a mortal taking them on practically unassisted. Anywho...
Correct theories:
Some things I got wrong:
Ongoing theories:
Not necessarily story-tied, but I'd been feeling nostalgic for the Festival of the Four Winds this summer, and thought it'd be a great time to bring it back, since we didn't have a summer festival, players enjoyed that one, and it had a lot of story precedence to return. (Aurene, extended period of time since the crash, recent victory with Long Live the Lich, ect). Was happily surprised when ANet suddenly announced the return about a month later.
"You know what they say: Curiosity pruned the Sylvari."
My speculation that didn't come true: Joko has not become a Minion of Kralkatorrik. Since his body has been destroyed, that will not happen.
My ongoing theories
Balthazar's divinity was stripped between the two games. Aurene took no godly power, what she and Kralkatorrik took was power form the Maguuma Bloodstone, Primordus, and Jormag which Balthazar had seemingly converted into "his own flavor" of magic (which was dimension-traveling fire magic).
Sorry to burst more bubbles (heh) but this is confirmed wrong - the location bit at least. The DSD woke up in the Unending Ocean, and forced the krait, karka, and quaggans out of their homes there. The DSD is 100% not in or near Cantha, but by all indication, is northwest of Cantha.
Also, not much water or tentacle related about Kuunavang and Saltspray Dragons, who were tied more to the stars and fire (plus there are other dragons in Cantha too - the Rockhide dragons and dragon mosses, for example, though they're a bit closer to drakes; then again, Saltsprays are more closer to wyverns than dragons too, being four-limbed elemental reptiles).
Not to mention the Jade Sea already had its own lovecraftian horror best.

I predicted that Rox would go native with the Olmakhan in this thread...
https://en-forum.guildwars2.com/discussion/41791/theorizing-future-plot-directions#latest
So far none of the other predictions have come true, but there's still time on most of them.
I still want Aurene to eat Phlunt. Just saying.
So far as I know, it's never been officially confirmed that Balthazar killed Menzies, but there's at least one very strong hint in the game. "The Fate of Menzies" is a weapon you can make in the Mystic Forge; it's a torch that looks like it was made from Menzies' severed head. Balthazar was the god of fire and a crafter of mighty weapons; why just drink from the skull of your enemy, when you can use it for something more practical? https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/The_Fate_of_Menzies
I've a strong feeling myself that Lyssa is still active in Tyria, based on what we know from LS3 and PoF, and maybe even still physically present. I've had a theory for a while that Anise and/or Jennah are actually Lyssa, or Ilya and Lyss. Think about it: two beautiful, inhumanly powerful female human mesmers who keep distant from romance, or in Jennah's case, manipulate their erstwhile lovers. Anise gets really upset when anyone gets too close to her secrets, and the coldness of Jennah in the Crown Pavilion sponsoring all that violence during the Jubilee shouldn't escape notice either. Before the gods withdrew from Orr, Lyssa enjoyed living among humans in disguise. And some of the art of Lyssa shows her barefoot, when it goes down that far. I know it's a reach, but it's a fun theory, anyway.
This is, and always has been, one of the worst fan theories people keep posting around here.
(shrug) ...I said it was a reach. No big deal.
In all honesty, "The Fate of Menzies" weapon holds zero real relevance to things. People instantly take it to mean "what happened to Menzies" when it's just as easily to be "what is intended for Menzies". But on top of that, nothing even says Menzies was alive or mortal during GW1, so maybe his natural appearance was to be a skull on fire. Who knows.
Add on to the fact that there was a later weapon, Menzies' Agony, introduced in all honesty just counteracts that notion that The Fate of Menzies had to be about his death.
However, Path of Fire did add subtle suggestions that the Eternal Battle was ended before Balthazar's imprisonment, hence my theory. The weapon ultimately holds zero weight.
It's pretty heavily suggested Anise is Livia's child/grandchild, and it would be nigh impossible, even for a god, to replace the sole royalty that is under constant watch. Not to mention why would Lyssa bother taking Anise's or Jennah's place, and why would they be twins when they're not even the same age (Anise, by all indication, seems to be older than she appears and thus older than Jennah).
And nothing about Anise is "inhumanely powerful". And for that matter, the same goes towards Jennah. Kitah (the Canthan chick, not the Orrian dude) and Koro both managed just as powerful events as Jennah's "illusion of an Elder Dragon while putting a disguise and freezing a bunch of wearied and worn soldiers who were caught off-guard" when they created illusions of armies that dwarfed their enemy army.
And there's no real evidence that Jennah manipulated Logan. At the same time, Jennah admitted that she loves Logan in the human PS (though this seems retconned in Season 3 because Anet can't keep their established lore straight sometimes).
And... how is Jennah being cold for sponsoring non-fatal bouts with anamatronics? No one died during the Jubilee except at Scarlet's hands, and Jennah was reactive to that.
Besides, Kormir's own personal journal stated that Lyssa left Tyria already. I doubt even the goddess of illusions could fully fool the goddess of truth and knowledge. Especially since Lyssa couldn't even make Abaddon forget the gods' and humans' past in the Mists.
Like Sajuuk said, one of the worst bandwagon theories. It just makes no sense, when you look at the wider scope of things and not just focus on the minor and brief similarities.
Yes, but events like Jennah's shield protecting the entire city of DR in LS3 season 4, Jennah one shotting traitorous guards with a dirty look, Jennah and Anise both using decoy illusions in their places, and so forth, are abilities well beyond normal mesmers in the game. Even allowing for the "They're NPCs" excuse, they're still pretty extreme.
You mean the shield that looks like it was built into the cities' defenses that she merely activated? Similar to the three barrier walls that she outright states were prepared beforehand? The shield and barriers that look like they were made by both mesmers and guardians?
You mean her, albeit stronger than the PC's, three use Mantra of Pain? That she seemingly couldn't use more than three times and could not use on those with strong magic themselves (otherwise why not use it on Estelle)? Doesn't seem god-level at all.
So do many other mesmers, incidentally. Such a low level risen (there's an entire plot about that).
Not from a lore perspective. From a "more powerful than the PC mechanically" sure, but so is Marjory, who is capable of summoning thrice as many minions at once, can create bone walls, etc. Or Kasmeer who can create dozens of phantasms and clones at one time, maintaining them simultaneously.
Is Marjory Grenth in disguise? Is Kasmeer some third aspect of Lyssa? I doubt it.
"More powerful than the player's skills" is just because we're limited by gameplay balance. "More powerful than the average individual" just points out that there are some people who have capabilities greater than others. But Jennah's feats are no more greater than the other great mesmers of history.
God level capabilities is transforming entire nations. Jennah's abilities may be capable of covering cities when prepared in advanced and activated by her magic, but that's far from god-like, and as said, the most powerful mesmers in history have done similar.
Well, I found this whole Jennah and Anise are Lyssa thing quite intriguing, because it's quite an interesting speculation, and there are some signs the duo that rules the whole kingdom may not be what they seem to be.
But to me it's just a nice play, in 2030 some will still believe that they are Lyssa.
But knowing that Lyssa's mirrors can hide the true selves from the gods and "putting those two together makes me VERY suspicious".
Who knows why Balthazar curse her while he was dying? Either he forgot her name, because she didn't matter to him at all, or she actually wanted to lend him a hand, pitied him when he was alone in the dark dungeon among some filthy ghosts.
It's about as interesting and as likely as the old "Anise is Livia" theory. Neither really makes sense.
And in all honesty, there's nothing about Jennah that's ever been suggested to be "not what she seems to be", and for Anise, it's just the age and nothing more - and that's really just vanity.
But a bandwagon theory is a bandwagon theory and no amount of contradicting statements, examples of similar other bandwagon theories that were wrong, or outright proof will ever stop or even slow down the bandwagon theories. Even now, we still get "Elder Dragons and gods are related" posts, despite seeing Balthazar and Primordus as different magic and beings, and despite developer statements saying "that's very wrong".
Anyways, I think we detracted from the thread's purpose long enough. Time to re-rail.
To get back on track: Rytlock is one of Bangar's cubs. The avoidance of the Blood Legion, the constant "Later, cub!", he's hiding something from the party. Something that goes beyond unleashing random ghosts in the Mists. He hates paperwork and killing that one superior would mean he'll be stuck with paperwork in the Red Citadel for the rest of his life.
Only one I can remember right now is agreeing that the sylvari could be dragon minions. Which wasn't my idea originally (my first guess was that they're seeds and under the right conditions one will become a new tree) but if made the most sense to me.
It always bothered me that the sylvari can't have children. That makes them biologically a dead end and it would be unusual for a creature to be able to make so many offspring that can't reproduce themselves. I know games often aren't scientifically accurate, either deliberately or because something was missed or misunderstood but this seemed more like a deliberate choice, especially since Anet repeatedly confirmed they can't have children.
The nearest real-life parallel are eusocial insects like ants and bees where 1 queen produces dozens of infertile workers and just a few fertile offspring. And the nearest example of that among sentient beings in Tyria is the dragons and their minions.
It also explained why nothing like the sylvari was seen until the dragon champions started to awaken and prepare for the rise of their dragons.
I hope one day we get more of that story. Where is Malycks tree and is it like the Pale Tree? How did he end up so far from it? We're the seeds cleansed in some way (and if so how and by who?) or is it "just" growing up with other sentient races that influenced them? Where do the seeds come from - from the trees or from the dragon itself?
"You can run like a river, Till you end up in the sea,
And you run till night is black, And keep on going in your dreams,
And you know all the long while, It's the journey that you seek,
It's the miles of moving forward, With the wind beneath your wings."
well regarding we are talking about plants here:
-how about the sylvari are the seeds of the pale tree spreading out in the world until they enter a dormant state when they grow 50 years old. in that state they slumber until certain conditions are met and grow into another pale tree
Well yeah, that was my first guess. Sentient seeds which look like people would be pretty weird, but so is a gigantic tree with white leaves which can talk to people through a psychic projection. And it did help explain why so many of the sylvari seem driven to travel and seek out different places - so they spread out and increase the chances that some will end up in a good spot to grow a new tree.
As I said in my last post the question of Pale Tree seeds is still unresolved. We know she grew from a seed, but we don't know where that seed came from. Maybe one day she will produce seeds of her own, or maybe only Mordremoth is able to do that. This is all making me realise how little we still know about the dragons. Hopefully one day we'll find out more about their history and biology.
"You can run like a river, Till you end up in the sea,
And you run till night is black, And keep on going in your dreams,
And you know all the long while, It's the journey that you seek,
It's the miles of moving forward, With the wind beneath your wings."
I guess it's probably premature to say I was right about...
Well, I'll give it another episode.
Rytlock has several secrets, how he got Sohothin merely being the most obvious. Personally, I've always wondered if Rytlock was REALLY a Warrior. ANet portrays him as such before he became a Revenant. But...well, I'll just leave that where it is. Don't want to distract the thread further.
It's heavily established in certain charr ps chapters that Rytlock openly researches human history, religion, and magic. His reasoning is "know your enemy" on top of "I was subjected to hours of lectures by Logan" though Logan doesn't seem to be the history-lecturing type. In Season 2, the reasoning for this is somewhat changed to him wanting to end the Foefire curse, and is willing to become a magic caster if that were the price.