verdumbra

In the shadow of the Pale Tree • My art • My characters • My screens

[astralarias]

Desert Highlands, Crystal Desert

[commander-placeholder]

Guild Wars 2 — The Dark Library (The Sanctum)

[commander-scaea]

What We Found in the Echoes

She was past this, she was sure of it, she was past this. It wasn’t supposed to hurt anymore, she had moved on from that dark night shrouded in vines. She had accepted what happened and she was living her life in his memory, as he had asked. So how, how, did one stone tablet leave her crumbling as if only seconds had passed since she had been forced to slide Caladbolg between his ribs? It hadn’t stung like this in a very long time, not even since reliving her life and all of those wretched memories in The Domain of The Lost.

And yet, ten simple lines have sent her crashing to her knees in the middle of a battle long since passed with sobs wracking her small frame. She remembers this poem. She remembers countless moments shared before sunrise agonizing over the missing line, the scholar in both of them craving the final piece. She remembers poring over possibilities and lying next to him while they camped on cliffsides after the Cleansing and after ridding the world of Zhaitan. The moments they had shared as they explored the treasures and secrets of Arah, finding troves of knowledge and scores of poems and songs and epics, but never finding the last piece of his favorite.

Until now. And now the wound in her heart has been torn open again, by something so small, yet so powerful. She had never wished he was here more than she did now, if only to see this. Within seconds she berates herself for the thought, Trahearne wouldn’t want to be thrown again onto the claws of an Elder Dragon, especially after it was her mistakes and her failures that empowered it enough to seemingly rend reality asunder. She shouldn’t want him here at the epicenter of yet another war, yet another calamity. But, but if he were here, maybe she could breathe again, as she did before, maybe she wouldn’t feel so alone, maybe ....... maybe she could lay her staff down, for only a moment, and be held in a way she hasn’t been in what feels like a lifetime.

She hears the crackle of her communicator, a concerned Taimi at the other end, and rises. In her pack she manages to find enough parchment and charcoal to take a rubbing of the tablet. After tucking it safely away, she climbs down from that tower and leaves the battlefield echoes behind. When this is over, when she finally has the time, she will take the finished poem to the Grove, read it to him and pretend that he can hear her.

“Darkness pays Orr a visit.

With billowing robes of blackened silk,

She beckons us, arms outstretched.

I see my brothers walk forward, greet her as a friend.

So many fold themselves into her embrace.

And even over their cries, and the roars of the beasts.

I hear Darkness call to me with a promise.

But I close myself. I will not join her yet.

Another call is more beautiful,

And I will chase it back to you.”

[mystery-salad]

Let’s Have A Talk About Canach

Canach is a character you can’t possibly not know about in the gw2 fandom and game, he shows up everywhere and regardless of how good or bad the opinion is, everyone has some sort of thoughts on the guy. He does not fade into the background. And he is, at his core, the best handled and nuanced antagonist-turned-friend I’ve seen in a game.

And that is because he cares deeply. He cares so deeply and intensely about everything and everyone he can find room for, no matter how much he’s been hurt or ridiculed or insulted or talked down to. And through that caring he stumbles a lot, but he learns over time to handle it better, to the point that he becomes a valued and trusted friend.

Let’s start at the beginning.

Keep reading

[bioluminescent-obscurity]

“When we first met, did you ever imagine we’d find ourselves here? Me, wealthy beyond imagining. You, still alive.”

imo this is one of the funniest interactions in the game, and it’s a shame it’s so easily missed???

the way this casual conversation is taking place deep in some ancient haunted ruins that canach has already managed to gentrify beyond recognition

the way he’s coolly slouching to the side, comparatively tiny in his norn-sized chair that was undoubtedly custom-ordered 

the way there is Absolutely Nothing on his massive desk

but most of all, the IMPLICATIONS of what he’s saying?

when we first met back in living world season 1, canach was working for the consortium, and the commander was already a renowned hero. so he was already working to become rich, and they were already fighting to make life worthwhile. so initially, this statement doesn’t seem contentious. but… the vast majority lws1 is inaccessible now. 

so the earliest version of canach that MOST players have met is during the vision of Canach’s Lair, through the scrying pool in the eye of the north. 

at this point in the plot, canach is no longer a smug, levelheaded capitalist. he’s been on the run from the authorities for months. he’s high on painkillers that he’s been using to drive the local megafauna to maul people. he’s been decapitating his old business partners and carrying their heads around in a sack. his home is a cave that he’s personally rigged with landmines and toxic gas. the commander has cornered him in that cave, and canach is trying his best to Stab Them To Death. he’s FERAL. 

and back in the present, as if to reinforce this, your eyes are drawn to the ornately framed poster hanging boldly above his fireplace. “WANTED FOR QUESTIONING” and an unflattering police sketch. canach has painted over the printing of his name, and written his personal signature over it with a flourish. you can tell he’s proud of it, because he’s got a couple more hanging by the clubhouse entrance for good measure. 

so if THAT’S the standard for our first meeting? yeah, no! i don’t think either of us imagined it ending like this! godspeed, you beautiful bastard.

[guild-snail]

aaand some sylvari headshots also from my patreon~ Characters belong to their respective owners~

[kadawars2]

I recently did a 6 fan arts post and got to draw a familiar face :)

[simichangaaa]

Brisban Wildlands, Maguuma Jungle [ 2 ]

[simichangaaa]

Random places, random gifs [ 2 ]

[kurzick]

GUILD WARS 2 : POINTS OF INTEREST ↳ The Grove » Ventari’s Tablet

Live life well and fully, and waste nothing. // Do not fear difficulty. Hard ground makes stronger roots. // The only lasting peace is the peace within your own soul. // All things have a right to grow. The blossom is brother to the weed. // Never leave a wrong to ripen into evil or sorrow. // From the smallest blade of grass to the largest mountain, where life goes—so, too, should you.

[kurzick]

GUILD WARS 2 : POINTS OF INTEREST ↳ Caledon Forest » Solitaire Island

[canthan-valiant]

Pre-Scarlet Lion’s Arch - Canal Ward & Trader’s Forum

[desert-shroud]

Desert Skies pt.2

part 1 

[verdumbra]

You know who I miss seeing in these last episodes???

CANACH

[adventures-in-tyria-withminty]

I’ve been so excited for the Aurene’s Crystalline Diadem to hit the store, so naturally I had to do a fancy photo shoot with my favourite once I got it. 

[shavirafeathermoon]

Crystal Oasis (Night)

[pale-form]

Lilith Rävenswood

Drawn for “Lilith of the Mists” of the Guild Wars 2 community. This is his awesome GW2 character, Lilith Rävenswood. 

Damn I loved this outfit and that sword!

[verdumbra]

Reblog from my art tumblr.