Soo-Won

Soo-Won

Race

Elder Dragon

Rank

Epic

Location

The Jade Whirl
(Dragon's End)
Mother's Lament
(Dragon's End)

“

Mortals are little flames—brilliant, hot, then gone. Those who face eternity easily forget what a lifetime means. What an ending means.

— End of Dragons teaser trailer

Soo-Won is the Elder Dragon of Water and Life, often referred to as the Water Dragon or the Deep Sea Dragon, and the second Elder Dragon to awaken in modern times.

Soo-Won is eventually revealed to be the mother of the other Elder Dragons and the creator of Tyria itself. She has made Kuunavang her bonded champion and saved Cantha in the aftermath of Zhaitan's Great Tsunami. Soo-Won wishes her great-granddaughter Aurene to take her magic and replace her as the one Elder Dragon to balance the All.

Biography

Early years

Soo-Won awakens in the Unending Ocean.

Before the world of Tyria existed, there was only the void, that is when Soo-Won created the world and the other Elder Dragons (her children, or scions) in Mother's Lament, so as not to feel alone. Initially the other five dragons were created as mindless tools to bring balance and harmony to the fabric of magic, by filtering the Void into six domains of magic in the All. Over time Soo-Won's children began to develop personalities and fascination, so they soon left Soo-Won for the world, becoming hostile towards their siblings and their mother.

Soo-Won, like the other Elder Dragons, is assumed to have last awakened 10,000 years ago, around the time of the disappearance of the Great Giants, and then fallen back into slumber after consuming all the world's available magic. Little information about this dragon has survived to the present day. Ancient jotun stelae mention a "sextet of swallowers" which are said to have consumed the world several times over.

The Tome of the Five True Gods, believed to have been written by the first humans to walk on the face of Tyria, has a section dedicated to the Elder Dragons albeit it has been damaged over the following centuries. In it, the Six Human Gods revealed the names of the Elder Dragons although the section detailing the deep sea dragon, including its name and spheres of influence, is illegible with portions damaged and missing. The same tome also indicated that the first letter of Soo-Won's name was "S" (which would later be corroborated by Taimi).

Interim years

Dragonrise

The effects of Soo-Won's alleged influence during the latest dragonrise were first felt when the krait suddenly and unexpectedly erupted into quaggan lands around 50 years ago, circa 1275 AE, invading their territory and destroying their civilization and seemingly killing their goddess Mellaggan. Given that Elder Dragons had been awakening at approximately 50-year intervals, and the fact that the krait did not flee by choice, scholars began speculating that the krait had been fleeing from the newly-awakened Soo-Won. Some quaggans mentioned fleeing not just because of the krait but because of the Elder Dragons as well.

Rising of Orr

In 1219 AE, the Elder Dragon Zhaitan's awakening caused the Rising of Orr, creating a tsunami that threatened Cantha. With the assistance of the saltspray dragon Kuunavang, Soo-Won shielded Cantha from destruction. Kuunavang went on to become her champion, hearing the Water Dragon's thoughts but not controlled by her.

Over a hundred years later, the Durmand Priory scholar Decimus the Historian wrote the documentary, The Movement of the World, which mentioned an Elder Dragon rising from the deepest parts of the seas and creating tentacled minions out of the water and sporadic shipwrecked sailors washing ashore. However, this document was being constantly challenged and revised, and kept from public view.

Personal story

In 1325 AE, the Inquest captured what they identified as a dragon minion and were preparing a water-themed area called "Zone Blue" in the Infinite Coil Reactor for it to be stored in before the Reactor's destruction. However, the minion proved to be so big that the Inquest had to overhaul the hub for the subject. The lab focused on Elder Dragon minions, and that zone was not attributed to any of the other five Elder Dragons.

Living World Season 1

Later that year, the aquatic karka migrated to the island of Southsun Cove in the Sea of Sorrows, having fled their home. In fleeing, they avoided Orr for similar reasons that made them leave their habitat.

Path of Fire

Dragon depicted during The Way Forward. It is later shown as a blue triangle, the color representing Soo-Won.

In 1330 AE, the Pact Commander was subjected to a vision while exploring the Forgotten city of Kesho deep in the Elon Riverlands. In this vision, which explained Glint's plan to replace the ravenous Elder Dragons with more benevolent balancers of magic, the Commander briefly saw a menacing glimpse of what may have been Soo-Won.

The Icebrood Saga

In 1332 AE, the asuran researcher Taimi wrote that Canthan and Elonian sailors had recounted tales of strange creatures heretofore unknown emerging from the oceans, possibly tied to Soo-Won's resurgence. She also speculated that the Elder Dragon might possess a degree of control over water and the oceans. The Pact Commander did not see any evidence of these creatures during their recent campaign in Elona, however.

Following the deaths of the Elder Dragons Jormag and Primordus in a clash at Anvil Rock in 1334 AE, the norn celebrated Dragon Bash with the belief that the Elder Dragon threat to Tyria had finally come to an end. However, some norn speculated about the existence of Soo-Won which they believed would be more powerful than all the other Elder Dragons and was surrounded by tentacled beasts of terrible ferocity.

End of Dragons

Act I

The massive Jade Monument of New Kaineng City built in honor of Soo-Won, celebrating the prosperity and technological advances she provided to Cantha.

While the latest ascendant Elder Dragon Aurene was recovering from the Aetherblades' attack at Seitung Province in 1335 AE, she was contacted by the deep sea dragon. Aurene had heard the voice in earlier brief conversations but had not recognized the voice as belonging to an Elder Dragon until she had arrived in Cantha.

Caithe and the Pact Commander, the people who had bonded with Aurene, were pulled into a strange underwater vision and witnessed the latter half of the two remaining Elder Dragons' conversations during which Aurene identified the deep sea dragon as Soo-Won. To Aurene's surprise, the deep sea dragon revealed that she was the mother of the other Elder Dragons and thus Aurene's great-grandmother. Having learned of the deaths of her scions and the damage they had wrought to the world, Soo-Won wished Aurene to take her place as the One Elder Dragon to balance the All, just like Soo-Won herself had once been the only Elder Dragon before the birth of her scions.

However, the Commander and the rest of the Dragon's Watch guild remained skeptical after the exchange had ended. They reminded Aurene of her earlier interactions with the manipulative Elder Dragon Jormag, and that Soo-Won could also have ulterior motives. Aurene assured them that Soo-Won was different from Jormag although she would need time to think about her great-grandmother's proposal. Listening to the exchange, the guild's latest ally Joon informed them that Soo-Won was well known in Cantha as the legendary dragon who had saved the nation from the aftermath of the Great Tsunami and how Soo-Won had formed a pact with the saltspray dragon Kuunavang to protect Cantha since. Despite their role as protectors, however, the two dragons had hardly been seen in public since those days.

Act II

In the Future in Jade, it is discovered that the jade power used throughout Cantha contains dragon magic, specifically Soo-Won's. Aurene reveals that the creation of jade power was not solely Joon's idea, and that Soo-Won has contributed to this idea. Joon then volunteers that Soo-Won resides within a top secret reactor facility. The underwater Yong Reactor facility is explored during Deepest Secrets. It is noted that Soo-Won has volunteered to be at the facility, and that she is not being held captive in the reactor chamber. The flow of magic between Soo-Won and the ley-lines is managed/filtered, and magic shed by Soo-Won is harnessed into dragonjade. Soo-Won states that unfiltered magic has slowly become more corrupted.

An Atherblade incursion into the facility by Ankka with her extraction device causes loss of reactor control. Soo-Won however escapes the facility, and begins to lose her mind due to the void magic.

Act III

During Fallout, Navan is revealed to be Soo-Won's champion Kuunavang in mortal form. Dialogue with Kuunavang provides further background information on the void corruption and the now-failed reactor agreement with Joon. In To Catch a Spider, Aurene and Caithe catch up with Soo-Won in the Jade Sea, and ally with local forces - confrontations with the void are occurring more regularly following the destruction of the reactor facility. The intention was to Ankka's extractor to extract the void magic from Soo-Won, but the subsequent events in Empty prevent the commander from using it.

Act IV

Aurene, Caithe, Joon, Navan, and the Pact Commander giving their goodbyes to Soo-Won.

Due to their bond with Aurene, the Commander and Caithe were pulled into Soo-Won's mindscape again when the Commander was about to visit Joon. The pair witnessed how the Water Dragon's mind had been growing more and more corrupted from the Void's influence. Upon sensing the Commander's presence, Soo-Won asked them why they had not killed her yet to prevent the Void from overwhelming her. The Commander urged Soo-Won to hold on a little longer until Dragon's Watch and the Canthans could come up with a solution to purify her. However, the Water Dragon revealed herself to be too far gone when the Void began speaking through her tormented mind, culminating with Void creatures attacking the Commander and Caithe in the mindscape.

Aurene suggested that killing Soo-Won without first draining the magic within her could unleash the Void onto Tyria. An agreement was eventually reached between Joon and the Commander in order to create new extraction devices to drain the Void from Soo-Won.

Act V

The extractors were replicated by Joon, and the Commander helped install the perimeter devices throughout Dragon's End. During the Battle for the Jade Sea, the Void-corrupted Soo-Won lured additional Void magic into the Harvest Temple, however this battle only delays the onset of the void. Aurene shared her power with the Commander to enable deployment of further extraction devices during The Only One, resulting in the cleansing of aspects of the six domains of magic, ending with the extracted Dragonvoid being defeated. After Soo-Won's graceful death, Aurene takes Soo-Won's place as the one remaining Elder Dragon to balance the All.

Locations

Cantha

• Dragon's End
  • The Jade Whirl (During related events only)
  • Mother's Lament (after successfully completing Defeat Soo-Won)

Story involvement

End of Dragons story

• Act I
  • Your Kind of People (voice only)
• Act II
  • Deepest Secrets
• Act IV
  • Weight of the World (voice only)
• Act V
  • The Only One

Event involvement

The Battle for the Jade Sea

[Group Event] Quell the Branded Void corruption (80) (voice only)

[Group Event] Defeat Soo-Won (80)

Combat abilities

Open world

Primary article: Defeat Soo-Won#Walkthrough

Effects

•  Enraged - Increases damage dealt by 100% (at 20% HP)

Skills

• Bite - Charges to the other side of the platform and deals massive, unavoidable damage to all enemies caught in her path. Invulnerability can mitigate this attack.
• Claw Slap - Swipes the area in front, dealing heavy unavoidable damage,  knocking down enemies, and applying 10 stacks of  Bleeding and a stack of  Crippled. Invulnerability and stability can mitigate this attack.
• Nightmare Devastation - Channels a massive tsunami with her tail that deals lethal, unavoidable damage. Invulnerability can mitigate this attack.
• Severed from Body - Failed to return to your body after wisp phase, deals 99,999 damage.
• Tail Slam - Slams its tail for massive, unavoidable damage and knocks back enemies. Invulnerability can mitigate this attack.
• Tsunami Slam - Slams an area and deals lethal, unavoidable damage, unleashing a watery shockwave that deals heavy damage, knocksback enemies, and applies 5 stacks of  Vulnerability and a stack of  Weakness. Invulnerability can mitigate this attack.
• Void Cataclysm -
• Void Purge - Discharges void energy onto the ground that pulse low damage and the  Void Corruption effect.

Dialogue

Primary article: Mother's Lament#Ambient dialogue

Gallery

Screenshots

Soo-Won going berserk during Deepest Secrets. Corrupted Soo-Won during The Only One. Aurene, Caithe, Joon, and Navan find the exhausted Soo-Won during The Only One. Aurene absorbing the last of Soo-Won's magic during The Only One

Concept art and wallpapers

• 

  Promotional art with Soo-Won at the Harvest Temple.

• 

  Promotional art with Marjory Delaqua, Kasmeer Meade, and Soo-Won at the Harvest Temple.

• 

  Promotional art with Soo-Won in the ocean.

• 

  Soo-Won's mind concept art.

• 

  Concept art by Zhengyi Wang.

• 

  Concept art by Zhengyi Wang.

• 

  Concept art by Zhengyi Wang.

• 

  Concept art by Zhengyi Wang.

• 

  Concept art by Zhengyi Wang.

• 

  Concept art by Zhengyi Wang.

• 

  Concept art by Zhengyi Wang.

• 

  Concept art by Zhengyi Wang.

Renders

• 

  Render by Kate Pfeilschiefter.

• 

  Render by Kate Pfeilschiefter.

• 

  Render by Kate Pfeilschiefter.

• 

  Render by Kate Pfeilschiefter.

• 

  Render by Kate Pfeilschiefter.

• 

  Render by Kate Pfeilschiefter.

Portraits

• 

  Portrait of Soo-Won by Casondra Logan.

• 

  Portrait of Soo-Won's Tail Casondra Logan.

• 

  Promo portrait.

• 

  Promo portrait.

Other

The following pieces of concept art are speculated to be of subjects related to Soo-Won.

• 

  Untitled concept art by Kekai Kotaki.

• 

  "Leviathan" by Jaime Jones.

• 

  "Tsunami" by Daniel Dociu.

Related achievements

• End of Dragons: Act 5: True Ending — Participate in "Defeat Soo-Won" in Dragon's End before beginning "The Only One." (1)
• Dragon's End: Shock-Wave Jumper — Jump over 10 shock waves from Soo-Won's claw slam. (1)
• Dragon's End: The Floor Is Void — Avoid reaching 10 stacks of corruption during the fight with Soo-Won. (1)
• Dragon's End: The Last of Their Kind — Listen to all of the exchanges between Aurene and Soo-Won in Dragon's End. (15)
• Dragon's End: Tsunami Dodger — Avoid getting struck by Soo-Won's full-sized tsunamis by standing behind the crystals 10 times. (1)
• Dragon's End: Untarnished Spirit — Make it back to your body without getting hit while in spirit form during the battle with Soo-Won. (3)
• Dragon's End: Weekly Dragon's End Jade Treasure Recovery — Defeat the final opponent in the Battle for the Jade Sea. (0)

Notes

• Initially unnamed, the deep sea dragon's name was teased to start with an S in the Special Collections during Living World Season 2. Her name was eventually revealed as Soo-Won during the Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons story mission Your Kind of People, along with other information, including her relations with other Elder Dragons.
• Soo-Won's awakening date is unclear based on the different sources available in-game. The timeline of her suggested actions in The Mostly Harmless Quaggan blog post and in various in-game NPC dialogue do not seem to align with the cinematic shown during The Machine, which depicts the Elder Dragons as parts of The All, with each Elder Dragon represented as an orb, awakening in order. This cinematic would suggest Soo-Won awakened at some time between 1120 (the awakening of Primordus) and 1165 AE (Jormag).
  • In City of Hope, minions of every Elder Dragon except the deep sea dragon are fought in the same sequence as in the cinematic during The Machine. Where a minion of the deep sea dragon presumably would have been fought, the player instead has to contend with springs of damaging salt water that erupt from the ground. Some players suspect this represents the order of awakening, which would mean that the deep sea dragon awakened sometime between Primordus and Jormag, much earlier than previously thought.
  • Despite this, there are several sources which explicitly state that Jormag, not Soo-Won, was the second Elder Dragon to awaken, although these sources do predate the Living World and expansions in which the above content appear.

Trivia

• Soo-Won is voiced by Kelly Hu.
• Soo-Won has her own leitmotif, called "Soo-Won's Theme", which was composed by Maclaine Diemer.
• Soo-Won has been planned to be the Mother at least since Living World Season 4.
• Soo-Won was named after the mother of one of the cinematic animators at Arenanet, Da-Hee Im.
  • Soo is a Korean name, with the most common meaning being "water" (水; 물 수).
  • Won commonly means "source" (原; 근원 원) in Korean.
  • While it's easy to imagine the name "Soo-Won" meaning "source of water," it's not confirmed that she was named after that meaning as well.
• The lack of information about Soo-Won was meant to give a sense of foreboding for the open oceans.
• While her existence and exact nature are not well-known to the average Tyrian, before appearing in the game Soo-Won was described as having "the desire to consume, corrupt, and destroy."
• Due to the lack of an official name, players tended to refer the dragon as the "deep sea dragon" (or DSD for short), a name that has now been used by characters in-game. Others, even those as powerful as Imperator Bangar Ruinbringer, know nothing about the Deep Sea Dragon. Another popular nickname was "Bubbles", but after learning the dragon's name could begin with the letter S, the nicknames "Steve" and "Selbbub" (bubbles backwards) became popularised.
• Soo-Won's model was created by Kate Pfeilschiefter.
  • "The elder dragon of the deep, mother of the elder dragon pantheon, and essentially the primary deity to the Canthan nation."
  • "Soo-Won is intended to be elegant, wise, ancient and a bit worn around the edges from her vast amount of time in existence. She was originally going to be a lot more pale and ghostly but lookdev ended up skewing her more colorful over time."
  • Various fishes were used for the inspiration for the scales and fins; koi, betta fish, fancy goldfish, arapaima, salamanders, salmon, eels, frilled sharks, baleen whales, coral, feather duster worms and others.
  • Both Soo-Won and Kuunavang use a special iridescence material ArenaNet developed with the intent to be used on all the scaled Canthan creatures.
• During the Defeat Soo-Won event and while in Mother's Lament, Soo-Won's model is the only one unaffected by the Bobbled! effected grated by the Bobblehead Laboratory.

See also

• Family trees
• Soo-Won and the Great Wave

Related items

• Gold Essence weapon skins
• Legendary Soo-Won weapon variants
• Elegant Canthan Staff Skin
• Plush Ess
• Soo-Won Dye Kit
• Water Dragon Armor Skin
• Water Dragon Backpiece
• Water Dragon Cape
• Water Dragon Crest Helm Skin
• Water Dragon Spear Skin
• Water Dragon Wings Backpack and Glider Combo

External links

• Previewable 3D model of Soo-Won by Kate Pfeilschiefter, Artstation.com

References

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Elder Dragons