Return to Living World Season 1: Scarlet's War - Predictions and Analysis

[Lonami.2987]

We know Living World Season 1 will be divided in 5 episodes, first one releasing tomorrow. Here's my prediction/analysis on how the restored season could look like, together with some of the changes ArenaNet might introduce to the original story to strenghten the connection between each episode.

Enjoy the nostalgia trip, and if you never got to play this in the first place, beware spoilers :D.

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Episode 1: Flame and Frost

The first episode would combine two seemingly disconnected storylines, which wouldn't converge until the second episode.

• 2012-11-01 / - / The Lost Shores: Prelude
• 2012-11-15 / - / The Lost Shores
• 2013-01-28 / 1 / Flame and Frost: Prelude
• 2013-02-26 / 2 / Flame and Frost: The Gathering Storm
• 2013-03-26 / 3 / Flame and Frost: The Razing
• 2013-04-30 / 4 / Flame and Frost: Retribution

Episode 2: Sky Pirates of Tyria

The second episode would be pretty straightforward, since the Lionguard involvement in the Southsun Cove settler storyline was directly connected to the Dragon Bash festival organization.

• 2013-05-14 / 5 / The Secret of Southsun
• 2013-05-28 / 6 / Last Stand at Southsun
• 2013-06-11 / 7 / Dragon Bash
• 2013-06-25 / 8 / Sky Pirates of Tyria

Episode 3: Clockwork Chaos

The third episode would combine the finale of Ellen Kiel's story arc with the beginning of Scarlet's arc, following an escalation of the conflict with the Aetherblades.

• 2013-07-09 / - / Bazaar of the Four Winds
• 2013-07-23 / 9 / Cutthroat Politics
• 2013-08-06 / 10 / Queen's Jubilee
• 2013-08-20 / 11 / Clockwork Chaos

Episode 4: Tower of Nightmares

The fourth episode would focus on the Toxic Alliance and some of the side stories involving Scarlet's character.

• 2013-10-01 / 12 / Twilight Assault
• 2013-10-15 / - / Tower of Nightmares: Prelude
• 2013-10-29 / 13 / Tower of Nightmares
• 2013-11-12 / 14 / The Nightmares Within
• 2013-11-26 / 15 / Fractured
• 2013-12-10 / - / The Nightmare Is Over

Episode 5: Battle for Lion's Arch

The fifth and final episode would cover the final arc of the first season, followed by the dialogue-only Festival of the Four Winds prologue for the second season.

• 2014-01-21 / 16 / The Origins of Madness
• 2014-02-04 / 17 / The Edge of the Mists
• 2014-02-18 / 18 / Escape from Lion's Arch
• 2014-03-04 / 19 / Battle for Lion's Arch
• 2014-03-18 / 20 / Battle for Lion's Arch: Aftermath
• 2014-05-20 / - / Festival of the Four Winds

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Episode 1: Flame and Frost

Chapter 1: Karka attacks across the Sea of Sorrows

• Invasion of Lion's Arch
• Ongoing Lionguard Investigation
• Second Invasion of Lion's Arch
• Urgent Lionguard Operation

Chapter 2: Refugee crisis and the Molten Alliance invasion

• Event participation across Wayfarer Foothills.
• Refugee Camps in Farshore Ward, Might and Main, and Perimeter Loop. (dialogue only)
• Braham: Help from the Legions (dialogue only)
• Braham - Eirsson (dialogue only)
• Braham - Retake Cragstead
• Event participation across Diessa Plateau.
• Rox: Critical Mission (dialogue only)
• Rox - The Hatchery
• Molten Facility
• Braham: Avenger of the Dispossessed (dialogue only)
• Rox: Avenger of the Dispossessed (dialogue only)

Notes:

• The original Lost Shores meta event could be turned into a public instance, giving the Ancient Karka the same approach as the Twisted Marionette.
• All of the Prelude and Gathering Storm events dealing with the Molten Alliance invasion were removed once the story arc was over. These events should be restored as permanent content to reflect the ongoing storyline.
• It was later revealed Canach had participated in the war against the Molten Alliance, but we never got to see said participation ingame. Canach could be reintroduced during the events of the second half, strenghtening the connection between the two chapters.

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Episode 2: Sky Pirates of Tyria

Chapter 3: Settler conflict in Southsun Cove

• Event participation across Southsun Cove.
• Canach's Lair
• Contractually Obligated

Chapter 4: Dragon Bash and the Aetherblades

• Ceremony and Acrimony
• Hard Boiled (dialogue only)
• Every Piece Matters
• No More Secrets
• Aetherblade Retreat
• A Future in Politics (dialogue only)

Notes:

• Many of the original Secret of Southsun events dealing with the conflict between Settlers and Consortium were removed once the story arc was over. These events should be restored as permanent content to reflect the ongoing storyline.
• Kasmeer Meade made her debut in the return to Southsun Cove, as an undercover agent of some kind. She's reintroduced later together with Marjory Delaqua, right in time for the investigation around the murder of Theo Ashford. Kasmeer's role in the first half could be expanded to strenghten the connection between the two chapters, revealing details about her original mission.
• Lord Faren made his debut outside the human personal story in this episode as well, arriving on Southsun Cove as a stowaway, following the events of the unimplemented Divinity's Reach Fanciest Cat competition, which could be properly implemented this time.
• There's four refugees who play a significant role during the third chapter: Aggren Vicegrip, Henrika, Marcela Oakaxe, and Tergvi. These characters were introduced in the refugee camps of the second chapter, but we never got to see them again after the events of the third chapter. The fourth chapter could be a good opportunity to give them closure, connecting both chapters even further.

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Episode 3: Clockwork Chaos

Chapter 5: Bazaar of the Four Winds and the Captain's Council Election

• Strangers from the Sky (dialogue only)
• Event participation across Labyrinthine Cliffs.
• Audience with the Master (dialogue only)
• Candidate Trials

Chapter 6: Queen's Jubilee and the Twisted Watchworks

• Opening Ceremony
• Event participation involving Hot Air Balloons across the world.
• Event participation across The Crown Pavilion.
• Closing Ceremony
• Event participation involving Scarlet's Minions across the world.
• Scarlet's Playhouse

Notes:

• The Master of Lightning, Master of Sun, and Master of Wind characters introduced during the second season could be retroactively introduced during the Bazaar of the Four Winds.
• The Zephyr Sanctum would be restored through a flashback Labyrinthine Cliffs zone or instance.
• The scrapped Captain's Council Election winner instance would be properly implemented this time.
• The ogre quarter would be restored through a flashback The Crown Pavilion zone or instance.
• Members of the Toxic Alliance could be retroactively introduced together with other Scarlet's Minions during the invasions, foreshadowing the events of the next episode.

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Episode 4: Tower of Nightmares

Chapter 7: The Tower of Nightmares and the Toxic Alliance

• Thunder Ridge Camp, before the tower is revealed. (dialogue only)
• Holopirate Factory
• The Nightmare Unveiled
• Event participation across Kessex Hills, Tower of Nightmares, and Nightmare Chambers.
• The Nightmare Incarnate
• Thaumanova Reactor
• The Nightmare Ends
• The Dead End (The Nightmare is Over) (dialogue only)

Notes:

• Tower of Nightmares: Prelude would be moved back in time to happen before Twilight Assault, just to solve the pacing issues.
• Antitoxin Spray would be reintroduced as either a mastery or as an object skill.
• The original Tower of Nightmares zone could be turned into a public instance, following the same approach as the Twisted Marionette.
• Players would be able to revisit the original Mistlock Observatory during the Thaumanova Reactor story mode.

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Episode 5: Battle for Lion's Arch

Chapter 8: Scarlet's Alliance and the Battle for Lion's Arch

• Event participation involving either The Twisted Marionette or Energy Probes across the world.
• The Origins of Madness: A Moment's Peace (dialogue only)
• Scarlet's Secret Lair
• The Edge of the Mists (multiple instances, dialogue only)
• Refugee Camps in Bouldermouth Vale, Stormbluff Isle, Vigil Keep, and Vigilant Hills. (dialogue only)
• Event participation across Lion's Arch (Under Attack!).
• Event participation across Lion's Arch (Enemy Controlled)
• Scarlet's End
• The Dead End (Aftermath) (dialogue only)
• Lion's Arch: Honored Guests (dialogue only)
• Song of the Zephyrites (dialogue only)

Notes:

• The original Lion's Arch (Under Attack!) and Lion's Arch (Enemy Controlled) zones could be turned into public instances, following the same approach as the Twisted Marionette.
• Aerin had background roles during Bazaar of the Four Winds and the first Festival of the Four Winds. His role could be expanded further, guaranteeing players recognize him during the second season.

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Thanks for reading!

Edited April 18, 2022 by Lonami.2987

[SunRoamer.5103]

An interview from yesterday confirms that Lost Shores/Southsun will not return in the LS1 re-release.

Relevant quotes:

Quote

Obviously, the Guild Wars 2 holiday events, such as Wintersday or the Super Adventure Box, were easy cuts from Scarlet's War, but other story arcs are being culled from the story as well. The Southsun Cove arc is one such casualty, as ArenaNet decided to focus on Scarlet Briar and her schemes first and foremost with the rerun of Living World Season 1. Unfortunately, this means characters introduced in that chapter, like Ellen Kiel and Canach, will have to be introduced elsewhere in the narrative.

Quote

Luckily, these old checkpoints also mean characters whose first introductions were the victims story cuts, like Kiel and Canach, can simply use later intro points.

 

[Tyson.5160]

Yeah, played through the whole thing,  it felt like a proper LS episode and was bookended quite nicely. I enjoyed the additional notes and exposition of previous unnamed characters.

Edited April 19, 2022 by Tyson.5160

[Cynder.2509]

Is it just me or is there too many spaces in this post? It looks very messy. There's the red stuff and then the blue stuff. 
Otherwise I'm looking forward to redo this entire thing as I missed quite a half of it originally. 

[Amanda Whitemoon.6173]

i was thinking the email you get forgot to mention where the molten alliance came from, but its only the human letter than is mission that, 

sylvari:

The dredge in Wayfarer Foothills and the Flame Legion in Diessa Plateau have joined forces to create the "Molten Alliance." Together, they're assaulting the lands north of Hoelbrak and the Black Citadel.

norn:

Our scouts have confirmed that dredge in Wayfarer Foothills and Flame legion in Diessa Plateau have allied; they're calling themselves the "Molten Alliance." Such a partnership cannot be ignored.

Charr: Rumor's now a fact. Dredge in Wayfarer Foothills and Flame Legion in Diessa Plateau have allied, forming the "Molten Alliance." Together they're attacking our people up north and norn to the west

asura: Masterful sleuthing in Wayfarer Foothills and Diessa Plateau has led us to new insights. A dredge and Flame Legion alliance?

 

And then Human is like this:

Refugees are pouring into the cities from the north, where a dredge-Flame Legion alliance is tearing through Wayfarer Foothills and Diessa Plateau. Our comrades are struggling to repel the Molten Alliance invaders.

 

why doesnt human say ' struggling to repel this "molten alliance" 

 

why doesnt the human letter doesnt put the  word "Molten Alliance" in quotation marks, making it look like something new, the human letter acts like its already been established thats they are named Molten Alliance