Tiffany.8216

Yes. The Hero Panel has a Story Journal tab that has everything chronological/release order. The green star will lead you through PS, then go to the story journal and select the next option and it'll lead you through the first episode of S2, and then go back and select the next episode, and so on. There are no levels past 80, which you reach before the end of the PS. After that it's a horizontal progression using the Mastery system and very little is required in terms of grinding. There's only Masteries, added with HoT and you continue unlocking them throughout the game. I could list on one hand the ones that are required to progress the storyline, although of course there are many more you can earn if you want. And the required ones unlock abilities that are relevant to the story progression. Aside from that, you're sometimes told 'complete this heart' or 'do events until this bar fills up' but it's really minor and it's usually because the map content has important things in it that are important for the lore. But yeah, nothing like leveling in the core game was.

Trahearne, Pact Marshal, is a necromancer and nobody has the slightest problem with him leading the charge against Zhaitan. Jhavi, a top Warmaster in the Vigil, is also a necromancer and nobody cares. The player can be a necromancer and nobody cares. Marjory Delaqua is a necromancer and nobody cares. This, I believe, is because necromancy is NOT actually a disruption of the natural order in Tyria. It is also because most necromancers don't actually reanimate dead bodies: most necromancers are normal people who respect the dead and content themselves with summoning bone minions from the Underworld or casting curses or entering death shroud or what-have-you. Most necromancers aren't trying to figure out a way to bring people back from the dead, because Tyrian necromancers have common sense and a good understanding of the natural order. There is an exception to this: in the novel Ghosts of Ascalon, a young sylvari necromancer named Killeen resurrects a human member of the Ebon Vanguard after a fight, to the horror of her human allies (who were ex-Ebon Vanguard) who, despite having known beforehand that Killeen was a necromancer, and despite one of them having spent the earlier parts of the book doing some professional grave-robbing, reacted in all the ways you might expect: disgust, revulsion, horror, etc. and even went so far as to yell at Killeen and tell her to release the magic. Killeen apologized (she was a young sylvari and didn't really understand). Raising the dead IS an unnatural act and it's abhorred just as much as it is in other fantasy worlds - so, naturally, any sensible necromancer won't do it, because they share that revulsion. Now: necromancers CAN be considered to be creepy, strange, weird, and fearsome, and etc. On the first Claw Island mission, a throwaway NPC makes a comment about "that necromancer, Trahearne. He creeps me out." In the novel Sea of Sorrows, the main character takes a respectful step away from a necromancer practicing her magic. Necromancers are just a bit strange, but they're more fearsome than horrific and they are given some level of fear and respect for their power. The exceptions to this treatment of necromancers are not typical necromancers. Exhibit A: Zhaitan, who DID raise the corpses of people and loved ones and turn them into unholy abominations. In the PS, Elder Dragons were also depicted as unnatural, a blight to the earth (see Orr and the Dragonbrand), and so on. The other exception is Joko, and he also raised corpses (although he managed to preserve their minds and personalities and whatnot), although even today he's still a bit controversial (meaning not everyone agrees about him). But most necromancers participate in daily life just the same as anyone else, and nobody really pays them much attention. They might take the form of the strange old lady down the street, or the nerdy young man who stays holed up in his apartment all day, or the murder detective who can sense death and lifeforce and solves more crimes than his colleagues, or the local priest of Grenth, or the kid who builds little bone minions to have as pets. Strange, but not otherworldly.

Good questions! I fear we won't find out until much later, though, and potentially not 'till launch.

Honestly I've always thought that's what she called the Commander back for.

Wait, Sieran? We see a memory of her in the Domain of the Lost, but that's different. The argument for sylvari going to the Mists is that the sylvari player was in the Domain of the Lost, but that could easily lead right back to the Dream. Of course nobody knows, but it's still a valid theory.

nonono! I wasn't saying it takes nine months, that was my example for why I would assume the sylvari each take the same amount of time. but I like your theories, those are good ones XD

I would assume each sylvari spends the same amount of time in the Dream(similarly to how humans are pregnant for 9 months) but of course we don't know for sure. However, if that theory IS correct, we still have no idea how long that is; given that Mordremoth's Blighting Trees started producing immediately, it's clear that the Pale Tree could have made sylvari soon after it was first planted instead of waiting 250ish years. But, given that sylvari are sentient and sapient and most Mordrem are not, it may be that sylvari just need that long in the Dream, and the Pale Tree started developing each generation of sylvari a long, LOOONG time ago. On the other hand, we know that after the Shadow of the Dragon attacked the Tree in S2 she stopped producing sylvari, but then started again in S3 - were the Dreams of the unawakened sylvari simply interrupted? Did they become traumatized or something? Or does it NOT take that long and the Pale Tree just decided not to start making sylvari until early 1300s? We don't know any of this lol. I'm just guessing. I'd take the stopping in S2 and starting sometime between HoT and S3 as the biggest clue we have, honestly.

The stuff on the wiki (and the story instances it's mentioned in) is about all we know. My personal theory is that it's a divine artifact related to one of the Six (potentially Abaddon, god of water and secrets), since we have established lore saying dragon magic and divine magic don't mix well. As others have said, cross-corruption by Elder Dragons IS possible which means 1) either the krait orb is unrelated entirely to dragons, or 2) it was modified in some way. Or both; perhaps it's not a divine artifact but it was modified with divine magic. I do REALLY hope they cover this in EoD. They probably won't but that would be amazing.

I'm not sure they do? Their towers aren't ships, just maybe parts of ships at best.

Part 5: S1 Recap ~oOoOo~ We met Braham as a young norn, the only one willing and able enough to go for help. Perhaps he was the only one willing to back down from a fight he knew he couldn't win, while the older, more experienced warriors threw themselves at the enemy and were cut down. But he did go for help; he saw a battle he couldn't win and he did the smart thing, not the rash thing, not the reckless dumb stupid thing - he did the smart thing and went to get help even though that would have stung the pride of any norn. And first he went to the Black Citadel for help (given Cragstead's location, it might have been closer), but, denied that, he went to Hoelbrak. He faced his mother. Nobody would help him except you, the Commander, and fortunately you had connections enough to get a whole team in there to take back Cragstead and then rescue the prisoners... but I'm sure he would've gone back by himself if he had to. He later tries to tell this story of his bravery to Taimi, ranking it above his efforts to help the Commander fight the Tower of Nightmares, because it meant more to him. He was defending his people. he started the same way most players did: fighting a threat to his hometown. During that time, he also became friends with Rox, and, after he'd begun rebuilding Cragstead and Braham's crush rejected him, Rox was there to help him. But Braham and Rox also had significant disagreements; specifically relating to cultural differences. Braham didn't understand Rox's fascination with joining the Stone Warband - he saw that Rox could do better, greater things on her own than as a member of some warband she'd never met. He perceived Rytlock as holding Rox back; a grave sin among the norn. Braham didn't understand why Rox would even want to join this other warband, weren't Braham, Marjory, Kasmeer and the Commander good enough for Rox? It took meeting Taimi and learning some things about other cultures - Taimi is physically disabled and yet important people are fighting over "the right to be my teacher" (this would be completely insane in norn culture) - for him to begin to see that other cultures are different, and he started understanding that Rox might be coming from an entirely different point of view based on her people and the charr traditions and way of life. With this new perspective (along with understanding that Rox wasn't trying to replace him), Braham was able to urge Rox to fulfill her dream and take down Scarlet, even when he was injured and Rox wanted to stay to take care of him. Braham lost that argument, but it shows his heart: all he wants is the best for the people he cares about. That's his friends at Cragstead. That's Rox. That's you, the Commander. That's even Taimi, whom he resented highly when he first met her. He's a child of Wolf. He's loyal to his people, whoever they might be.

Part 4: Culture Clash and Friendship ~oOoOo~ We left off after Braham helped a bit with the Tower of Nightmares, and afterwards the fight against the Twisted Marionette (which, for those who don't know, is now replayable in-game through the Scrying Pool in the Eye of the North!) wherein Braham led one of the lanes. After that exhilarating fight, everyone returns to Lion's Arch to rest and recover. Braham: Rox, your devourer - Rox: Chewed on your axe handle. I know. Sorry. Listen. You won't believe what Rytlock just said. If I kill Scarlet, I'm in the warband. Definitely. Braham: Oh. I see. Rox: What's the matter? I thought you'd be happy for me. Braham: I just... don't understand why you need some warband you don't even know. I mean, you've got me. And we've got a team of our own. Look around. They're all here, with you. This is a child of Wolf speaking - family and togetherness. That's a norn thing. But also, Braham lost all his friends when Cragstead was destroyed. Rox was the one who got him through breaking up with Ottilia. And they've both been through a lot with you, Jory, and Kas. Rox is part of the team. Rox: It's a charr thing. You wouldn't understand. Braham: A charr thing? You'd rather be in your fancy warband than with people who've been beside you all this time? Rox: That's not what I said. It's a big deal to get into the Stone Warband. Braham: Why? Because it'll make you special? You're already special. At least, to me. Braham has a good heart. That's all I can say about this argument. He just doesn't understand the culture of charr. And I think, just a bit, he might feel as if Rox is replacing him. Rox: (sigh) You'll still see me after I get in. Braham: Uh huh. Rox: You will. Sometimes. Braham: -walks away- Rox: Braham? Braham! We have to talk about it sooner or later. Braham, over his shoulder: I have to go clean my gear. Rox: Braham! (growl) Remember earlier, after the Tower of Nightmares in the Dead End bar, when Braham was annoyed at Rytlock because he perceived that Rytlock was holding Rox back from her true potential? Braham and Rox in S1 are a very well-done example of a culture clash. Braham doesn't understand warbands and Rox doesn't really understand the worldview that Braham is coming from, especially with his background as an adherent of Wolf. But also, I want to point out that Braham, quite aside from seeing Rox as his friend and not wanting to lose her, is also concerned for Rox herself. For a norn, it's a life well lived to rise to one's full potential, to break all chains and become a legend. Braham perceives Rytlock to be one of those chains, and Rox isn't willing to break them. What would this mean in the context of norn culture? It's no wonder Braham is mad. He's upset at Rox, but he's also upset for Rox because he knows she's missing the point of living. To make the most of life on one's own terms. To be immortalized in legend. Braham's feeling frustrated already when he hears his name called by an unfamiliar voice - Asura on a Golem: Braham! There you are. Human in Armor: Somebody care to tell me why this child was on the battlefield? Braham: Hey! I'm not a child! Human in Armor: Not you. This asuran girl. I found her out there, trying to get to Scarlet's twisted marionette. Who does she belong to? Braham: Oh. Her. Asura on a Golem: Help! Help! Save me from this creepy human! Human in Armor: It's okay. I'm a Krytan Seraph. The kid's in no danger. Asura on a Golem: Braham! Don't let him take me away! Please! Human in Armor Seraph Human: Are you her guardian? Braham (very annoyed now by these strangers): Who me? Wolf's teeth, no! I've never seen her before in my life. Asura on a Golem: Braham, you're so mean. Can't we just go home now? Seraph Human: Listen, buddy. I don't know what your game is, but you better get this kid to safety. She's got no business on a battlefield. Braham: What? I swear I've never seen her before in my life. Seraph Human: -leaves- Braham: Hey! Where's he going? You're not my responsibility! Remember that line! She's not his responsibility. Asura on a Golem: It's okay, Braham. You can take me home now. I live in Rata Sum. Braham, in disbelief: Huh? What? Asura on a Golem: Where do you live? Maybe we could go there instead. Braham: No. You found your way here. You can find your way back. Asura on a Golem: Fine! Here I go. By myself. Off into the big city. You'll probably never see me again, Braham. Braham, wearily: Good luck, kid. So, on the one hand, Braham just left a random asuran child in Lion's Arch, city of pirates. On the other hand, Braham just left a complete stranger (who was maybe stalking him??) - don't forget she's an asura, so pretty smart too - in Lion's Arch, literally the best place to be lost in because you're only one asura gate from home. And she said she lived in Rata Sum. Either way, the Commander speaks to Braham about this! Commander: So, what's going on with you and your little friend? Braham: My little... oh, the asuran ragamuffin? I've never seen her before. She must have heard Rox say my name. She tricked that Seraph into thinking I was her guardian. Commander: You're not? Braham: No. I've never seen her before. She's not my... Braham: Aw, crud. Not you too. All right. I'll make sure she gets home safe. But just this once. Commander: You're a good friend. Braham: She's not my friend. Commander: Uh-huh. I mean, look at that! Braham just agreed to be responsible for someone he literally just met. He doesn't even know her name! And it wasn't because of the Commander - it was because he felt convicted and responsible. "She's not my... aw crud" was supposed to be "she's not my responsibility." This random asura had given him no reason to care about her. There is no room for undocumented dialogue - Braham up and walked away from her and ignored her the rest of the time. This is pure virtue on Braham's part. The following is an attempt to string together the events discussed in ambient dialogues from Edge of the Mists. After speaking to the Commander, Braham goes back and tells her he'll bring her home, but only if she tells him her name, since she already knows his. She cheerfully agrees and introduces herself as Tiny, of the College of Synergetics. But before they can go anywhere, Braham sees Aetherblades going toward the jail where Captain Mai Trin is being held. Braham, attacking: Kuh-bam! I'm not sure how long the fight was or who else was involved, but the Aetherblades broke Mai Trin out of jail and then escaped. They run, and Braham follows them until he rounds a corner to see them disappearing through a portal that leads who-knows-where. Braham would have turned back then, but he sees Tiny in her golem, running toward the portal. Toward the Aetherblades. Braham: Tiny, stop! It's dangerous! Tiny doesn't stop, but Braham had given his word to look after her, so he sighs and follows all of them. By the time he gets there, the Aetherblades and Mai Trin have vanished, and Tiny's golem is sitting in a few pieces on the floor, with the asura herself tinkering with them. Braham has no clue why the golem is broken (Aetherblades??) but he rushes, panting, to catch up with her. The Aetherblades are gone, and Tiny doesn't seem to be hurt or injured, so, after a moment to recover, he manages to ask: Braham: What's your story anyway, Tiny? How does a little thing like you get into such big trouble? Tiny, without looking up from her tinkering: It's Taimi. And I'm a progeny prodigy. I've got important people fighting for the right to be my teacher. Braham: Important people, huh? Are they real people, or just big-eared figments of your overactive imagination? Tiny Taimi: They're real, but they all want to tell me what to learn. I'd rather be like Scarlet and pick my own courses. Braham: Wolf's tail, girl! Don't be too much like Scarlet, okay? One's way too many. Taimi ignores him and continues tinkering with Scruffy, and Braham begins fishing for information. Braham: Surprised to find you sitting still, short-pants. The way you took off, I figured you'd be halfway to Mount Maelstrom by now. Taimi: Scruffy - my golem - broke down. And I still learned more in the short time I've been here than you have in your whole life. Braham: What happened? Why did your silly magical machine man stop working? Taimi: I was studying that strange device -points to a ley energy probe- but every time I got too close, it zapped me and knocked me back. For those who may be confused (as I was): she was not just trying to touch it over and over. She was being careful and trying to observe from a distance, but careful doesn't always work. Taimi: Eventually, Scruffy's power cells shorted out and pieces of him fell off. That activated his emergency mode. So he followed protocol like he's supposed to: he carried me here, spit me out, and then powered down. And you've got a lot of nerve calling Scruffy "silly" - with those clothes and that haircut. Braham (irritated at her and grouchy he has to stay here and watch her): So your golem's dead. Why don't you just walk out of here? Taimi (annoyed): Same reason you don't fly out: because I can't. My ears, how thick are you? See these legs? They don't work right. I can't walk very far unassisted. Braham: Uh... I uh... sorry. I didn't know! Awkward silence ensues as Taimi goes back to tinkering with Scruffy. Braham is still irritated at her and perhaps even thinks of just leaving her; but he'd given his word that he'd look after her, so he has to stay. Especially since she'd just told him she can't even walk. Eventually, Taimi announces that she is missing some parts she needs to repair Scruffy, and asks Braham if he can go get them. Braham would love to go get the parts and get the both of them out of there so he can get back to kuh-bamming baddies with the Commander, but he still can't just walk away and leave Taimi defenseless. Especially since the Aetherblades could come back at any time. He explains this to Taimi, and they both proceed to have a lot of time on their hands until they can tell somebody else to get the lost pieces of Scruffy. Braham: What'd you learn about those... um... things you were studying before your golem broke? Taimi: As if you'd understand. All right, I've got nothing but time, so let's give it a go. They appear to be survey probes for the purpose of identifying high-energy thaumic channels and matrices. Braham: So it's like magical energy is a swirling storm and these things are mapping it. Taimi: A trifle simplistic, but yes, that's exactly the case. Overlook this 'trifle simplistic' bit and focus on the 'yes, that's exactly the case.' From an asura. From Taimi. To Braham. Tell me, do YOU understand what in Tyria a "high-energy thaumic channel and matrice" is?! Braham does! Braham: So, will... what was your golem's name again? Taimi: Scruffy. Braham: Will Scruffy work again if you get the stuff you need? I'd get it for you, but I can't leave you unprotected. Taimi: You're sweet. And absolutely. I built him for maximum ease of maintenance. All he needs are some replacements parts. He may be rough around the edges, but when he's whole, Scruffy is as reliable as an entropic crystal regulator. Braham: Ah. That's good, then. Right? There's no documented dialogue that shows Taimi answering, so I'm going to assume (since they got this chunk) that she doesn't answer (typical of ambient dialogue, not finishing the conversation - ) but Braham maybe gets a little grouchy about this. Braham: Okay, truth time: Why did you run away from me? Why did you come here in the first place? Taimi: It's not personal. I just wanted to see Scarlet's handiwork up close. Her marionette was amazing. Inspiring. I intended to examine Scarlet's probes, which would allow me to explore two subjects at once. What is Scarlet up to, and how does she create such fantastic equipment? When I saw her minions running through a portal, I followed them. Braham: You were supposed to stay with me. I told you to stop. Taimi: Zojja tells me to do stuff all the time. So does Vorpp. I don't listen to them, either. Braham, thoughtfully: Tell me more about the probes you examined. Taimi: They're well designed. They emit pulsed eldritch waves that register the relative strength of all local ambient magic. Braham: Like the way bats hunt? They let out a chirp and react to what that chirp bounces off of. Taimi: Right again. I am clearly a good influence on you. Braham: What do you think those probes of Scarlet's are looking for? Taimi: Best guess? Um... The transcendent magic channels that span the globe. Old-fashioned Synergetics texts call them ley lines. Normally you can't see them or touch them, but they're real. Magic finds its own path, like rivers running to the sea. The probes are trying to identify the biggest and strongest of those ley lines, but I'm not sure why. Not yet. They are stuck here with literally nothing to do to fill the time but talk. (Until someone the Commander comes along and collects Taimi's golem parts.) They're both bored. Taimi: I hate sitting still. I need to be studying those probes. There's so much I can learn from them. Their conversations tend to go like this: Braham: Listen, Taimi, if I see Scarlet, I'm going to scoop you up with one hand and beat her bloody with the other, okay? Taimi: Did you know Scarlet attended each of the three colleges? And that she worked with the Inquest? Ooh, and that she - Braham: If you believe the rumors. I talked with an asura named Vorpp, and he says it was all bunk. I'm inclined to agree. Taimi: I know what Vorpp says, but her twisted creatures weren't bunk. The holo-pirates either. Some asura are just jealous. Braham: That's enough about Scarlet for now. Jormag's tooth, you really need a new hero. Taimi: Well, do something heroic enough and I might change my mind. It's also hard to have a conversation when the one thing you have in common is that you're trying to figure out what Scarlet is up to, but whenever Braham mentions Scarlet, Taimi goes off and won't stop talking about her. Remember that until now, Braham was helping the Commander solve the mystery of Scarlet, but now he's promised to look after Taimi and he's honor-bound to that. I can see him being incredibly frustrated. Taimi: Braham, will you tell me a story while we wait? Braham: After you ran off on me? And all the abuse you heaped on me since we got here? I get plenty of that back in Cragstead. Taimi: You don't spent much time around asura, do you? We only abuse people we like. Or those we're trying to improve. Braham: Fine. I'll assume you like me. Ahem! "Once upon a time, there was a brave and handsome norn named Braham..." Taimi: Aww, I've heard this one already. ...From you. ...Twice. They've been sitting here a long time if Braham tried to tell the same story thrice. (I bet that story is about the time Cragstead was attacked by Molten Alliance and Braham heroically saved the town. But I'd like to hear Braham's rendition.) But notice the line "you don't spend much time around asura, do you?" And also remember the culture-clash between Braham and Rox? This is a minor-scale, low-stakes version of that. Also notice that Taimi said she'd stop hero-worshipping Scarlet if Braham did something heroic enough; but apparently his feats at Cragstead aren't enough. This conversation has probably fired up Braham's desire to prove himself - the motivation behind why he's been helping us with things like the Tower of Nightmares, and he's itching to get back into the fight. But he gave his word to look after Taimi. Taimi: Braham? Are we still going to be friends when we get back? Braham: Wait - are we friends now? Taimi: I think so. You don't boss me around as much as other adults. And when you ask a question, you let me answer it. Braham: Well, I'm friends with Frostbite and he can't even talk. So yes, Tiny. We'll still be friends. Taimi: Not if you keep calling me "Tiny." But these two interactions show Braham how different cultures - and even different individuals - relate differently to each other. He might not be thinking about this in connection to Rox yet, but he will. Eventually, the Commander wanders into the Mists investigating the probes and the Aetherblades, and Taimi and Braham make you go get the spare parts. Braham: Good to see a friendly face, <Character name>. I'm stuck here minding this asura kid, so I appreciate the company. If you want to go exploring, though, I'd understand. Commander: I've got news from Lion's Arch. Scarlet's probe has changed color. Braham: I don't like the sound of that. It means Scarlet's machines are doing something, and that something is never good. Taimi was investigating the probes around here. She might have info you can use. This is more than you simply dropping in and exchanging news - this is the two of you conferring and trying to figure out a difficult problem. But there isn't much more to be done and you want Braham back, so you go get Taimi's golem parts. Braham: I'm dying to get back into the action with Rox and the others, but I'm stuck minding Taimi here until she fixes her golem. She'll tell you all about it if you let her. Commander: Where are your friends? Braham: Not sure, but I'm looking forward to finding them at the Dead End bar when this is all over. I need a drink and I like the stories Jory tells. She's got a voice some skaalds would kill for. (This concludes my - rather successful, I'd say - attempt to string together the ambient dialogues into a coherent chronological narrative. Some points were only referred to but didn't have any dialogue for them, and the lines I did have were all out-of-order, which made everything more difficult.) I'd also like to throw in this piece of dialogue, the Commander possibly wanting to hear the latest about their old friend: Commander: How is your mom? Braham: What? Listen, friend, the less you talk about Eir Stegalkin, the better we'll get along. That was fast. Like, given the relationship we know Braham has with the Commander, he shouldn't have gotten that angry, that fast, to threaten how well the two of you get along as friends. More likely, though, he's just really good at setting boundaries, at least in this area. He probably has people asking him this question all the time, and he's had to learn to be firm that this topic is not allowed. He's not angry, he's just setting expectations. He still calls you 'friend.' Anyway, Commander returns to the Dead End bar to confer with Kas and Jory about the probe changing color, and then, using all the intel they've collected so far, they figure out Scarlet is planning an attack on Lion's Arch. Meanwhile, Taimi finally repairs Scruffy, and she and Braham presumably leave the Mists, on the way to Rata Sum (finally). Whether they got there or not, I don't know, but then Scarlet attacks Lion's Arch. Taimi heads to the Vigil Keep, and Braham and Rox meet up and head to Lion's Arch ahead of the Commander to help the Lionguard evacuate civilians. After at least one skirmish with Scarlet's forces in Lion's Arch: Rox: Aaargh! Could that have been any worse? Braham: We saved some, but how many people are still in there? (huff) I'm going to break Scarlet in half. Rox: Hold that thought. It won't be long before we get another chance to go back in. Braham: Next time, we save as many as we can. I'm not stopping until they have to carry me out. When the Commander arrives in LA, they explain the situation: Braham: Just taking the time to rest before diving back in. Lion's Arch can use all the help it can get. Rox: This could've been much worse if you hadn't figured out that her target was Lion's Arch. Commander: I'm glad I could help. Rox: Braham and I were ready because you warned us. We evacuated a lot of citizens who'd be dead now. Between Scarlet's thugs' murdering and the miasma choking them to death, it's ugly in there. Commander rarely arrives late to a battle, but when they does... it's really, really bad. XD. Rox: Rawr! Braham: Why are you so jumpy? Rox: Can't you hear those explosions? Rox was genuinely traumatized by the deaths of her warband. It's obvious all throughout S1 (she hates explosions, esp. in caves, and even years later, on Dragonfall, she's jumpy just because she's in a cave) but here, it makes Braham realize that his friends are vulnerable, as oppose to his usual perspective: Braham: Well, if we don't get blown up, then the miasma will probably kill us. Rox: Or the clockworks. Braham: Or those thrice-damned Aetherblades. Rox: And don't forget the krait. Braham: I'm already hearing the song they'll sing about us. Braham says this, of course, because that's his attitude at things that can kill him (like a traditional norn), but I think it got Braham thinking about Rox's perspective. She's genuinely afraid of the explosions, and Braham knows her backstory. He starts wondering about the others, too: Braham: I wonder if Marjory and Kasmeer are still in one piece. They aren't as battle hardened as we are. Rox: They'll be fine. Marjory's got a keen eye for trouble, and Kasmeer can hold her own with illusions, surprisingly. Braham: That won't help them if they're too busy making lovey eyes at each other. Rox, teasing: Hey, I remember not so long ago when you were in love too. Braham, grouchily: Yeah, and I regret every minute of it. Maybe that bit there also reminds Braham that they've been through a lot together, and that won't change. Braham can be sure that, no matter what happens, he and Rox will always be friends. Braham: Is it time yet? Rox: No, Braham. Be patient. We can't go in too soon. The miasma has to dissipate first. Braham: How come Marjory's antidote isn't working anymore? Rox: Seems Scarlet improved her recipe. She's an impressive alchemist. Braham: Is there anything she doesn't do well? Rox: Make friends? Braham: Good point. And now, Braham can't help but think of Rox's desire to be in the Stone Warband. Rox lost all her friends, too - she needs a group. But Braham might believe her, now, when she says they'll still see each other. I think he didn't really, before - he felt as if she was trying to replace him - but at this point he realizes she does care about him and she will make an effort to see him. And, also thinking about different cultures and all, Braham might realize that she thinks breaking the chains that bind her isn't as important as having somewhere to belong. Eventually, your allies and the Lionguard start working on breaking the attackers' morale and pressing into the city from all three accessible directions in order to keep evacuating civilians. Braham and Rox come in from the north, at Trader's Forum - and Braham is secretly hoping to see the Commander. I don't think he quite knows how to handle the whole 'different culture, different values' thing, but the Commander is an expert at this. He finds the Commander successfully, but he doesn't really want to talk about his troubles, and thinks maybe watching the Commander interact with others will help. Braham, to Commander: I figured I'd see you up here fighting these Aether-dregs. This situation is so serious, though. I'm almost not having any fun taking them down. Commander: She's been working toward this for over a year. Braham: That's a long time. I wish we could have predicted this back when we were fighting the Molten Alliance - back in those early days. I'd have hunted her down and pulled her out like the weed she is. Commander: We all wish that. She's gotten extremely powerful. Braham: I understand how burgled and bluffed these alliances together, but I don't get why. What could she possibly want? Commander: The answer to that lies with the green probe. Braham: Yeah, Taimi thinks she's mapping ley lines so she can tap them for their energy. Commander: Where is your little buddy? Braham: She's not MY buddy. But she was heading toward the camp outside the Vigil fort to annoy the refugees there. If we're lucky, they'll toss her off a mountain. Commander: You don't mean that. Braham: (laugh) No. I don't guess I do. Commander, smiling: Uh-huh. That's what I thought. Later, after the fighting starts again, Braham and Rox are back to their usual banter. And then you join them to help take down some Aetherblades. Rox, to Commander: Now that you're here, the enemy's in trouble. Braham: Hey, friend. I've got your back. Braham is officially one of the Commander's best friends. There's only one other person who takes the time to say brief but genuinely nice and meaningful things to the Commander, and meanwhile everyone else just takes them for granted. No, really, Braham does this all the time. In every fight it's some form of "it's you and me, friend" or "we're in it together!" or "I've got your back." Maybe Braham also recognizes that Rox isn't his only friend. He won't be alone if - when - she leaves. Braham admits that he can't stop her, and he also can't, in good conscience, hold Rox back from the Stone Warband when this is what she needs - people like her, a place to belong, friends to fight with. And so, after pushing back Scarlet's forces in Lion's Arch and taking down her deployed champions, Braham is with you, the Commander, in the second-to-last phase of the battle, which is one of Scarlet's giant holograms. It took a ton of clicking obscure links for me to find this, but I'd always wondered what it was that injured Scarlet just before you enter the instance to kill her, and it turns out that it's the Prime Hologram: you fight it on top of the Breachmaker, and Scarlet participates in the fight a little, and killing it apparently injures her somehow (maybe it explodes). Anyway, Scarlet retreats and the whole team chases after her, all with their different goals but the same way of getting there: Marjory is insanely interested in this mystery; Kasmeer, aside from sticking with Marjory, is aghast at the devastation and wants to help any way she can; Rox wants to get in Rytlock's warband, and Braham is trying to build his legend. Braham: You're about to get your wish, Rox. Looks like the Stone Warband's within your grasp. Rox: As is glory for you, Braham. We'll do this together. Braham demonstrates here that he's finally accepted that Rox's desire to join the Stone Warband doesn't mean that she won't be his friend, and she isn't trying to replace him, and he should be happy for her. Meanwhile, Scarlet, lying injured on the floor, is threatening them all with death and destruction, but they all take it for bluffing. Braham and Marjory step forward to finish her (with the others warning caution), but Scarlet throws them both back somehow, hurting Braham and knocking Marjory unconscious. Rox: Braham! Talk to me! Your leg... Braham: ...is broken. I know. (groan) I'll be okay. Go get her. Rox: What? Go? No. I can't leave you here like this. It's too dangerous. We have to get you out of here. Braham: Go, Rox. It's your chance to get in the warband. You have to. Rox: I don't have to do anything. I'm not leaving you alone in such a vulnerable position. Unable to convince Rox, Braham turns to you: Braham: Urgh. Don't worry about me. Finish her! Commander: Hold on there, buddy, I've got this. Meanwhile, Kas has flipped out in an impressive display of anger at Scarlet for supposedly killing Marjory. With her aid, you defeat Scarlet, Rox stays behind and acts as medic to Braham and also tends to Marjory, who isn't quite dead. After the battle: Kasmeer: Jory! Oh, Jory, I thought you were... I thought... (sob) Marjory: Hush, love. I'm okay. Rox worked some battlefield magic on me. It's okay, honey. I'm going to be okay. Braham: Guess it's a good thing you stayed behind, huh? Rox, thinking about how upset Rytlock is going to be: Definitely a good thing, my friend. Definitely a good thing. Scarlet has been defeated, but the fight isn't over yet: Scarlet's forces are still all over Lion's Arch, so you get back on out there to help the Lionguard mop them up. Rox: I'm not sure what has me snarling loudest: This attack on Lion's Arch or Braham's bullheadedness. Commander: What do you mean? Rox: He's insisting on fighting, even though his leg is broken. I'm not leaving his side for one second. Commander: Good for you. Talking to Braham about it: Braham: You look better than I feel. Commander: What are you doing? Braham: I'm building my legend! And helping the folks who live here. Commander, skeptical: On a broken leg? Braham: Look, I can't slink away like some injured animal. I was no help in the Scarlet fight. I can do some good here. My leg will heal, eventually. Right now, it's the least of our worries. Commander: Just be careful or you'll end up lame. And, sure enough, back at the Dead End bar: Braham: Ngg. Ow. Rox: Will you relax, Braham? Sit down. If you keep standing on that leg... Marjory: Better ease up on that leg, B, or it won't heal right. Braham: It doesn't hurt anymore. Kasmeer: Is that why you make that bear noise every time you sit down? Braham: That's just... the Spirit, moving in me. No it's not. This is a serious thing: in IBS, it's revealed that Braham can't Become the Wolf. And probably not any other Spirits, either. I've been thinking that this is perhaps a sore point with him, and this is one of the few dialogues pre-IBS that touch on the topic. Food for thought. Also, the nickname "B" that Marjory uses here should have stuck. That's an amazing nickname. Taimi arrives at this point, and brings up the subject of the dragon's roar that was heard after Scarlet's death. Braham: I'm not afraid of no dragon. Rox: Braham. (sigh) I'll have to take you to the Brand sometime. No single warrior can stand alone against a dragon. Braham's still a young, overconfident norn at this stage. He hasn't ever faced a dragon and doesn't understand their power. This is also probably why he still has no respect for Eir, and also a part of why his attitude toward Eir changes so drastically in S2. But also, look at this: Braham (to Taimi): Did you get in trouble for roaming the camp? Taimi: No. Yes. Zojja gave me extra calculations as a punishment, and I never got to see Scarlet. Braham: Sounds like Zojja cares about you. Braham clearly understands what care looks like. Not many teens his age would have the perspective that punishment equates to care and concern. He clearly has an understanding of how parents operate. (Or perhaps he just takes any kind of attention as a good thing, but Braham doesn't strike me as someone who had that kind of upbringing.) His father, Borje, must have taken good care of him, and his friends/foster parents, too, after Borje's death. Taimi: No, she doesn't. She cares about her record. If I do well, it reflects positively on her as my college mentor. (pause) Taimi, now - she's closer to a typical teen than Braham in this regard. And Braham doesn't want to get into it (and he also has experience with her stubbornness, so he probably doesn't bother to try to convince her). Braham: So you don't like Zojja's college? Taimi: I was not designed to be in Synergetics. I was designed for Statics. Braham: I don't know what that means. He's a good fighter and he can admit when he doesn't know things. Get you a man who can do both, why don't you? Also, here's a tactic he learned in the Mists: Taimi: Hey, Braham. Braham: Uh-huh. Taimi: You wanna hear about the new aetherphaser I invented for my golem? I modeled it after Scarlet's tech. Braham: Uh-huh. Taimi: It works just fine, but I have to keep adjusting the gorometer. Braham: Uh-huh. Taimi: I had to shave down the minious array wheel in order to get it to fit on Scruffy, but I got it. Braham: Uh-huh. Taimi: Next, I'm gonna make him a panmetric listening device so he can warn me in advance if someone's sneaking up on me. Braham: Uh-huh. Taimi: Hey, Braham. Braham: Uh-huh. Taimi: I like you because you're big... and dumb. Braham: Uh-huh. ... (laugh) Shut up! Taimi: (giggle) She was sharing her progress! And he was ignoring her! They really are friends! (or maybe annoying siblings XD) And, for the record, that bit at the end was just her baiting him. She didn't mean it - not after she called him smart for understanding some of her technobabble earlier. Braham (to Commander): You really believe that stuff about Scarlet poking the dragon? Commander: Yeah, I do. I think she was more practical than she let on. Braham: Or more crazy. I'm gonna guess she was hoping to make a dragon or two mad so they would attack. Don't matter. All that matters is she's dead now. Another example of Braham underestimating the dragons: he just casually tosses out "a dragon or two" and then follows up with "don't matter." Commander: How's your leg? Braham: It's okay. Better. I'm ignoring it. My legend is in the bog, and I can't believe I have to wait for this leg to get better. It's making me as crazy as Scarlet. Commander: Your legend isn't in the bog. Braham: Sure it is. I might as well be starting from scratch. I'll go down in history as the guy who couldn't hold his own in the fight against Scarlet. Commander: Not true. One fight doesn't make or break a legend. Braham isn't young? This conversation typifies teenagers: angsting about something that isn't even a problem. But I guess if you're a norn, you have to take every threat to your legend seriously. But anyway, after Scarlet is defeated, the Zephyrites return to offer support for the struggling city of Lion's Arch and set up the Festival of the Four Winds. Rox: Well, our mission is to enjoy ourselves and be seen doing it. How's the leg? Braham: It's fine. And before you ask again, no, I don't want one of your good luck charms. Rox: You know one of mine won't work. It has to be personal. I wish you'd let me help you pick one out. Otherwise, you're going to get injured again. Once misfortune finds you, it doesn't just go away. You have to counter it. Braham: Wolf's tail, is this what they mean by being mothered? I'm suddenly glad mine was never around. Rox: Somebody's in a sour mood. But I know a cure for crankiness: bashing things to benefit Lion's Arch! Taimi: So, do I get to come along this time, or are you going to sideline me in some camp again? Braham, sighing: Nobody sidelined you. With all the miasma and Aetherblades and whatnot, we were trying to get people out, not bring them in. Taimi: You should have known better. I followed Scarlet's progress for months. Did you really think I'd miss her big finish? Braham, sourly: Be glad you did. Some of us were there and still didn't get to see it through. Taimi leaves with Kas and Jory (and Rox wanders off, as well). Commander: How's the leg? Braham: Did Rox tell you to say that? Nevermind - my leg is fine. Scarlet broke my bones, but I'm still on my feet. And I'm getting stronger every day. ~oOoOo~ Again, thanks to the Guild Wars 2 Wiki for all the dialogues, especially Braham's and Taimi's time in the Edge of the Mists and the second-to-last phase of the Battle of Lion's Arch, the Prime Hologram, which is hard to find if you're just navigating internal wiki links.

Part 3: Tower of Nightmares ~oOoOo~ After the Queen's Jubilee ends, you track down some of Scarlet's portals and eventually discover the Tower of Nightmares in Kessex Hills. Braham (and Rox) presumably follow the Commander to the area, and there they meet Marjory and Kasmeer, who are developing an antitoxin for the Tower. I can't find the link as to why they begin going the Tower of Nightmares itself before shutting down the toxin, but Braham and Rox assist with this, going through the tower's Nightmare Chambers, which are still filled to the brim with hallucination-inducing toxins. Braham keeps seeing Eir out of the corner of his eye, and it has him on guard. Rox is jumpy about being a cave (presumably). Marjory is panicking over having lost Kasmeer and is also being forcibly reminded about her as-yet unsolved backstory hook, the ghost-boy named Mendel, whom she failed to protect. Kasmeer seems to think she's back to being a child and her father is going to come for her. And you... well. Scarlet knows you. Every single character-creation variation has a dialogue line from her. And she even calls up memories of your Order mentor and taunts you with their deaths. And you're still somehow able to tell the others that they're just illusions, which is sometimes relieving, sometimes emotionally painful (since this doesn't help the illusion go away, no, that would be too easy). So, hey, panicked bonding time between you and whichever two allies you picked that time through the instance. There aren't many documented dialogues, but Braham mistakes Marjory for a weak human and gets shut down quite professionally, Braham learns that Rox has fears (!! surprise !!), and has unanimous agreement with Kasmeer that this tower is not pleasant. It would be easy enough to believe that here, he's doing just what he started during the Opening Ceremony - attempting to "bury my pain in the joy of combat" (because of Ottilia). But I think he got over his lovesickness quickly enough (although, as far as we know, he has never loved again). He was spurred by something else Ottilia said: "He's a fur trader. What do you do? [...] Exactly. Nothing." Braham decided to find a way to build his legend, possibly from a desire to win back Ottilia (although I doubt it), but also to spite her. Perhaps he also had another woman on his mind: Eir. He was fighting beside the mighty Dragonslayer, after all. Whether he wanted to best and surpass his mother, or whether some small corner of himself, feeling alone and abandoned, thought this was how to win his mother's attention, we'll probably never know. But I want to emphasize that he did decide to fight alongside the Commander. Unlike Ottilia, we've proven that he and us are likeminded, similar people - we work well together. We're passionate in our defense of Tyria (unlike Ottilia), and also good friends and loyal ones - also unlike Ottilia (or Eir). Because of this, he's decided to fight beside us. That's no small honor. Braham's greatest desire when we met him was to take care of his people and mourn the ones who died. But now, he's chosen us to be his friend and ally, because we've proven we're worth it. So he fights with us against the Tower of Nightmares. After the tower's destruction, Braham and Rox decide to explore Divinity's Reach while Rox is on leave over Wintersday. They stop by in the Dead End Bar and make conversation with Kas and Jory, who are still worried about Scarlet. But they manage to make small talk with Braham and Rox. You get to speak to Rox, who is worried about Rytlock and the Stone Warband. But more significant is talking to Braham afterward: Commander: Rox seems cranky. Braham: Yeah. She's itchy to get back to her papa bear Brimstone. Hmph. Commander: You don't like Brimstone? Braham: I don't like that she's got chains holding her back. This is Braham: always looking out for his friends. He's far more insightful than anyone nowadays gives him credit for. He doesn't particularly care that this is the way the charr legions work: he's just concerned for Rox, as a person. He wants her to grow to her full potential, without the interference of 'superior officers.' These chains Braham speaks of? He can see them clear as day, even though Rox can't. And it pains him. He wants her to be free. ~oOoOo~ Credit to the Guild Wars 2 Wiki for the dialogues! It's incredibly well-documented, I didn't expect to find this much information on temporary S1 content.

Part 2: Ottilia We left off with Braham at the end of Flame and Frost: Retribution, with Rox and the Vigil, continuing to raid Molten Facilities, rescuing more 'steaders, but primarily looking for Ottilia, whom he has a crush on. At some point (presumably while Last Stand at Southsun is going on,) Braham finds Ottilia in Hoelbrak and brings her back to Cragstead. There she says she liked Hoelbrak better because it was more beautiful, "vibrant and alive" compared to Cragstead which is still damaged. We point out in some surprise that she lives here, doesn't she care about it? Ottilia acknowledges this, explaining that Braham had brought her back. She tells us that nobody had ever done that for her, and sighs over how amazing he is. Amused, we say "So it seems," and the conversation ends. Later, Braham approaches Ottilia and tries (awkwardly) to make small talk, asking if she's glad to be home. She supposes so, but is more glad that Braham is here too. Braham tries to answer, but he quickly stumbles over his words and can't find his answer. Ottilia giggles, calls him adorable, and runs off. (Teenagers having crushes! Who would have thought this would feature in GW2? XD). Presumably, Braham tries to start conversation with Ottilia a few more times, which ends in embarrassment, and nothing seems to be going anywhere for Braham until the first Dragon Bash - held in Lion's Arch - begins. Finally, Ottilia makes her own move and initiates a conversation with Braham, suggesting they go on a hunt. Braham, presumably caught off guard, is confused and trips over his words until he manages to ask what she wants to hunt, naming jotun and Svanir as possibilities. (Both active enemies of the norn.) Ottilia replies airily that she wants a new rabbit-fur vest and would rather fight rabbits (weak little creatures, and also very adorable, and who remembers the Bunny Spirit?!). Braham, confused about hunting them, repeats "Rabbits?" Ottilia ignores him and brightly informs him time and place, leaving Braham in the dust still scrambling for words. Braham, of course, still shows up the next morning and hunts rabbits with her, but rabbits aren't really his preferred enemies and he sees it as a sacrifice he has to make to win over Ottilia. I imagine they don't keep going on rabbit hunts for very long, but I'm sure similar encounters - awkward, Ottilia charging ahead and taking the lead, Braham stumbling over his words and perhaps not being super happy with where it's going - happen between them while the Commander is busy during Sky Pirates of Tyria. After that, though, during the Bazaar of the Four Winds, there is apparently some sort of Wolf Spirit Appreciation Day, and Braham gets himself a plan, gathers himself and approaches Ottilia with remarkable composure, asking if she wants to go to Wolf's shrine together. She says no (ouch), and explains that she'd already gone. Most people would take that as a rejection and just leave. Braham however, is not daunted by this and keeps his cool. His backup plan plan kicks in and he asks if they could eat together that evening. Ottilia then flat-out tells him she's going with someone else, a fur trader, and asks Braham rather nastily what he does for living, legend, or fame. He is finally at a loss for words (perfectly understandable) - he'd saved Cragstead, hadn't he? He's spent the last four episodes (several months!) taking care of it! What kind of a question is that? But he only manages to stammer out a confused "what?" Ottilia sneers that he's just "growing old in Cragstead like all the others." She leaves, calling "I'll send news of my travels. Promise!" over her shoulder. As far as rejections go, that's a pretty awful one. Braham is, of course, devastated, and during the next episode (Cutthroat Politics), Braham gets to watch Ottilia making plans with her fur trader, telling everyone who will listen that she's going to Hoelbrak with a merchant who travels the world. Rox visits Braham at some point and finds out about all this mess, and eventually drags him to the Queen's Jubilee to keep Braham's mind off of Ottilia. For a while, this works - Braham admires the set-up and the show the humans are putting on, but eventually his attitude starts getting more grouchy. Rox, casting around for something to say, suddenly exclaims "wait, Kuh-bam? This whole time I thought you were saying "Kuh-Braham!" Braham is rather affronted by this, and Rox keeps the dialogue going, eventually claiming that she'll start going around saying "Kuh-Rox" and "Kuh-Frostbite." Eventually, Rox runs out of things to say and subjects to bring up, and just grumbles, "Try concentrating on the good time we're about to have instead of the vicious harpy who broke your heart." This sets Braham off and he starts ranting about Ottiiia, saying he'll never love again. He manages to curse out rabbits before Rox takes him to the battle arena. He likes this and cools himself off, even after the end of the official Closing Ceremony, and he seems to work off his lovesickness fairly well given that we never hear about Ottilia again. But he also doesn't return to Cragstead. I'm thinking that Ottilia's comment about him doing nothing interesting to build his legend got under his skin. ~oOoOo~ Credit to the Gulid Wars 2 Wiki (and especially its editors!) for the pages on Ottilia and Braham, and also the admirably well-documented S1 story mission pages that detail all the dialogues I pulled from four episodes to know what Braham's been doing!

Cross-posted from my Tumblr. Braham has been a major character in the Icebrood Saga, and due to the confusing ending, we're not exactly sure where Braham's at right now or how he'll be going forward. I want to take this opportunity to go back to the beginning and see how far we've come, and how our relationship has evolved over the years - we've had ups and downs, but I want to see what the core of our friendship is. Part 1: Retaking Cragstead ~oOoOo~ We meet Braham in Season 1 as a worried sixteen-year-old with an insane hairstyle (according to Taimi), who barges into Rytlock's office demanding aid for his people, citing his relationship with Eir while also being averse to talking to her. We had come in looking for a way to help, and this seems like a good place to start, so when he decides to go to Hoelbrak despite his mother being there, we decide to go with and back him up before Knut Whitebear. There - after learning the dynamics between Eir and Braham are complex - Braham shows a bit of an attitude, a bit of fire, some bitterness - but at heart he just wants to save his friends. Whitebear and Eir can't help, so you offer to go with him. He thanks you profusely. At Cragstead, he shows stunning positive character traits like loyalty to his people, determination, courage, and - to top it all off - an amazing amount of responsibility. He fights with energy and intensity, the sort you only get from a sixteen-year-old whose life is crumbling around him. His weapon is the blunt-power mace and shield and he tends to charge in recklessly. After liberating some prisoners, his love interest, Ottilia, is mentioned (who remembers Braham used to have a love interest?!?) - the dredge had taken her away somewhere, which would incite anyone's fury - and yet, we have this line: Braham: I hate this. We have to help Ottilia - and her family — but first, I have to make sure these 'steaders are okay. Braham: I've got this under control. Later, he even tempers his hotheaded teenager-ness a bit: Braham: I want to tell Brimstone and Whitebear that we managed without their help. Rub it in their faces, you know? Tell you what. You go tell Brimstone. I hear he's in the middle of a big meeting in the Imperator's Core. Player: You going to inform Whitebear? Braham: First I have to get these people to Hoelbrak. Once they're safe and healed and fed, I'll find out how I can rescue those who were taken. Everyone knows Braham is reckless! But here we see his self-control. He couldn't rush off and yell at Brimstone and Whitebear immediately, so he was able to cool off and focus on the important things. He's capable of setting aside instant personal gratification for his responsibilities. He was the only one both willing and capable to come to the rescue of his friends. And he was capable, and he was willing - that says a lot about him. Braham is a teenage norn, and yet he takes the time to write us a letter and tell us how things turned out after, even calling us legendary... and yet he also says "I hope you still want to come with me." Braham, Braham, Braham. Of course we still want to come with you. And so we do! Six Molten weapons facilities, where Braham and Rox get to know each other (and Rox shows him caution and tempers his recklessness a bit). Afterward, Braham sends us another letter containing the line "I owe him [Knut] nothing, but reporting what happened is the right thing to do." And, y'know, to rub their faces in it like he mentioned earlier. But then - when Braham gets there - he's more furious about the people who died. The people he grew up with. Braham: I thought you should know. They were almost all... by the time I got to Cragstead, a dozen of my friends... Braham: If we'd stood together... but no, it's every hunter for himself, right? Afterward, Braham thanks you again for your help when you were a complete stranger who didn't have to. He's expressed his gratitude at least thrice by this point. He's sixteen. The destruction of his whole hometown caused him to grow up fast - but he didn't grow responsibility just because of that. He had it all along. His dad trained him well. Let's have some love for Braham! Spirits know he needs it. ~oOoOo~ Credit to the Guild Wars 2 Wiki for the dialogues from these story instances! (in the tags if you want to look them up yourself!) Next (P2: Ottilia) ~oOoOo~ Credit to the Guild Wars 2 Wiki for the dialogues from these story instances!

I'd also like to note that the very end of Edge of Destiny also shows the awakening of Kralkatorrik, Logan Thackeray freeing charr prisoners of war in Ebonhawke to help fight the Branded, and Queen Jennah subsequently pardoning those who fought, declaring that there were other threats than charr. Over the next four years, peace factions emerged on both sides, and Ghosts of Ascalon shows the undercover negotiations with the Vigil acting as a third-party, iirc resulting in a more official ceasefire and the peace treaty negotiations. A year after that, in the Personal Storyline, Vigil players fight off Renegades and defend the negotiations, and soon after there is a celebration in Kryta, attended by both the Queen and a charr representative, to celebrate the Ebonhawke Treaty. Technically there's no confirmation that this celebration marked the actual time the treaty was signed or went into effect or what-have-you - in fact, now that I think about it, I don't think anything was ever mentioned about the treaty actually being finalized until the very recent "the treaty was ten years ago" comment. We're technically nine years out from the treaty, since it definitely wasn't treaty-level the year before, in Ghosts of Ascalon, so while the queen's celebration may not have marked the actual event of the treaty's signing, it happened more-or-less around that time. (Even before the "the treaty was ten years ago" comment, I'd always thought it was canon that celebration was held after and in response to the signing of the treaty.)