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In 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Guild Wars 2, there's a new race that wasn't playable in the original Guild Wars. This race is the Sylvari, plant people who are all born from the same mother - an ancient tree. , in no small part due to their unique aesthetics - including leafy or flowery hairstyles and glowing in the dark - and their fascinating background.
Sylvari can sense one anothers' emotions through a hive mind, understand plants and animals so well that other races see it as talking to them, and can regrow parts of their own anatomy (given enough time). However, it's not all sunshine and rainbows in Sylvari-land. One organization, The Nightmare Court, feels that their mother, the Pale Tree, has been unduly influenced by Human and Centaur teachings and wishes to free all Sylvari from their mother's "brainwashing." Here are some interesting facts and secrets about The Nightmare Court.
10 The Nightmare Court Draws Influence From The Unseelie Court 🦂
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The "Unseelie Court" originated in Scottish folklore. "Seelie" and the "Seelie Court" were positively aliไgned fae, whereas "Unseelie" a♊nd the "Unseelie Court" were malaligned. This has inspired tons of fiction over the years, so a search for the "Seelie/Unseelie Court" will turn up articles from D&D, Shadow Hunters, and more.
While the Nightmare Court wasn't as obviously linked to the Unseelie, it did take inspiration from it. For one thing, the Courtiers are broken into a hierarchy, just like the Unseelie. Another example is the Unseelie preference for tho🍌rns, twiꦿsted roots and tree branches, dark gemstones, and poisonous plants.
9 Their🌳 Ultimate Goal Is Incredibly Lofty𓃲
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You may have known that the Nightmare Court wishes to turn Sylvari (especially young, impressionable Sylvari) away from the Pale Tree's influence, but do you know what their ultimate goal is? Courtiers have lofty aspirations of one day corrupting the Pale Tree herself.
If achieved, this would make the Court practically unstoppable🅠. New Sylvari born of the Pale Tree (which is the only place where we know for sure Sylvari are born) would be exposed to the Nightmare, not the Dream, and would follow their set of morals.
While Sylvari are all born as unique individuals, the Pale Tree encourages them to be chivalrous, respectful, and considerate. The Nightmare Court cuts out any sym🔜pathy or compassion from their members.
8 They Perform♚ Dark Vigils
Different Courtiers take different approaches to recruiting new Sylvari to join them. Some only resort to violence when absolutely necessary, believing that if they recruit Sylvari out of their own free will, their loyalty will be stronger. Others suggest that forceful conversion is the only way to undo the Pale Tree's brainwashing.
However a Sylvari is recruited into the Court, they must go through something called a Dark Vigil. In these, recruits are forced to perform horrible acts to prove that they are committed to the Court's cause.
The Dark Vigils serve two purposes. First, they bring more darkness into Tyria, helping the Nightmare to spread. Second, they allow the recruit to destroy any sense ofꦛ chivalry or compassion they might have leftover from their life as a Sylvari under the Pale Tree. While Courtiers would insist that this ritual dissolves brainwashing from the Pale Tree, it is actually twisting the mind of the Sylvari recruit to be eternally connected to the Nightmare in the same way they used to be connected to the Dream.
7 𝕴 Faolain Is Their Leader But Not Their Founder
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Players are probably familiar with Faolain, the leader of the Nightmare Court. She goes by the highest title in the Court's hierarchy: Grand Duchess Faolain. Despite having this honor, she didn't actually found the Court. That was done by a Secondborn named Cadeyrn who was frustrated by the special bond that Firstborn Sylvari seemed to have with the Pale Tree. He also had several other views which contrasted with conventional Sylvari belief that went on to be central to the Nightmare Court's doctrine, such as despising the Ventari Tablet.
It was Cadeyrn who recruited Faolain (a Firstborn and Caithe's lover) into the Nightmare Court. Being an incredibly manipulative and intelligent woman, she eventually overcame Cadeyn and became the leader herself, inventing the title of "Grand Duchess."
6 🍎 Their Dark Huꦚnts Come From The Nightmare
The Dark Hunt is a perverted version of something that Sylvari from the Pale Tree experience. When a Sylvari is born, they have been living as an ethereal being inside "The Dream" (the Sylvari hivemind, so to speak) for some time. While inside the Dream, the Sylvari experiences key moments to come in their life. In some cases, they experience a big goal that they are destined to accomplish - this challenge is called a "Wyld Hunt," regardless of whether it's actually a "hunt." If the player character is a Sylvari, their Wyld Hunt is to defeat an Elder Dragon.
The Dark Hunt is something that Courtiers claim they receive from the Nightmare, instead of the Dream. The tasks that Courtiers dedicate themselves to are destructive and cruel, meant to cause chaos in the world. One specific example we know of is during the Sylvari player's personal story when the Knight of Embers says her Dark Hunt is to convert a Sylvari named Malyck to the Nightmare Court.
5 The Retinue's Expect Respect
The Nightmare Court takes its internal hierarchy very seriously. It's a little ironic that their ranks use human titles like "Knight," considering the fact that they loath human influence in Sylvari life. Regardless, low-ranking members are unwaveringly loyal to anyone of a higher rank and, while there may be infighting among Courtiers of the same rank, there is seldom conflict between superiors and inferiors.
Any Courtier with the title "Duke/Duchess," "Baron," or "Count/Countess" before their name is a member of Faolain's inner circle. These Courtiers are the highest-ranking members and trusted with secrets of the organization. You may not have known that there's a name for Sylvari with these titles: Retinues.
4 🅷 They Created A Toxic Alliance
Guild Wars 2 introduced a "Living World" mechanic into the game in which events in history take place in-game, with players able to explore new maps and slay new enemies by regularly downloading free updates. While subsequent Living World "seasons" are replayable, the very first season is not. That's because ArenaNet decided to make all interactions happen in the open world, rather than instances (a problem which has now been fixed, hence the ability to replay any season after Living World Season 1).
If you joined the game after Living World's first season was done (or just missed it), you may not be very familiar with the story; it actually centered heavily around the Nightmare Court. In it, a Sylvari named Scarlet Briar convinced a splinter faction of the Court to ally with the Krait. This union came to be known as the "Toxic Alliance" and was supported by a significant number of high-ranking Courtiers. They established called the "Tower of Nightmares," around which much of ღthe gameplay in Living World season 1 took place. The Tower of Nightmares was meant to be their own version of the Pale Tree but it was destroyed by the player during the story.
3 They Created Twisted Versions Of Ventari's Tenets
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One of the things that Courtiers despise about the Pale Tree is how devoted she and most Sylvari are to Ventaꦯri, a centaur who first planted the Pale Tree years ago. Ventari died long ago, not having a lifespan as long as the Pale Tree's, but he did leave behind a tablet full of his advice which is now referred to as "Ventari's Teachings." They include things like "live well and fully" and "act with wisdom, but act" - if you play as a Sylvari, you'll hear these all the time.
It seems that the Nightmare Court has created their own version of these teachings; though we don't have a defined list as we do for Ventari's, we have heard a few in passive dialogue from courtiers. They say things like "hard ground makes for broken roots" and "the only lasting peace is in the grave."
2 🎉 How Many Sylvari Are Courtiers? ಞ
In the game, there's no reference point to understand exactly how many Sylvari are even born, let alone how many of them convert over to the Nightmare Court. However, interviews with people behind the game have cleared up this missing detail.
One interview with Jeff Grubb and Ree Soesbee by indicated that between 12% and 17% of Sylvari belong to the Court. Another interview, this time with Ree Soesbee and Kristen Perry by , indicated it was between 10% and 15%. Though these accounts differ slightly, it gives us a pretty good idea of how pervasive the Court's influence is among Sylvari.
1 ജ They Have A Theme Song
The Nightmare Court, like many other groups in Guild Wars 2, has its own theme song. Most players would remember it from Living World Season 2 events when it was played during a climactic story moment. It's not uncommon for musicians to create theme songs for groups of even individual characters; consider Luke's theme from Star Wars.
However, the Nightmare Court's theme song, simply entitled "The Nightmare Court," is especially beloved by fans. It can be found on and is actually (at the time of this writing)🍸 the most played song on their account.