Dwayna

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Statue of Dwayna.
“

Dwayna, goddess of air and life, beloved to me. She is the promise of salvation whispered in my ear, the silent resolve to carry on. How my heart yearns to bask in her light once again.

— Statue of Dwayna

Dwayna is the goddess of healing, air, and life.[1] Often depicted as a young, tall, and slender woman rising over the ground on huge feathered wings, she is the even-tempered leader of the Six Gods, and her known scriptures have the oldest date to them. Dwayna was the first of the Six Gods to arrive on Tyria from the Mists, bringing humanity with her with the hope of turning the world into a paradise for its inhabitants. She is the mother of Grenth, the god of death, and also often depicted weeping over pain or loss. Before The Cataclysm, Orrians worshiped Dwayna at the Cathedral of Zephyrs. In the present day the Church of Dwayna worships the Goddess of Life. The norn refer to Dwayna as a Spirit of Action.[2]

Biography[edit]

Life on Tyria[edit]

Dwayna's sigil.
Elonian mural of Dwayna in Gandara in 1075 AE.

According to the Orrian History Scrolls, Dwayna was the first god to arrive from the Mists, bringing humanity with her. Although the gods were initially drawn to the magic of the Artesian Waters in the heart of Orr, they took humanity elsewhere and eventually led some humans to Cantha in 786 BE, planting the seeds of the first widely known thriving human civilization in Tyria—although there may have been other human civilizations beforehand based on suggestions of Cantha having been colonized multiple times.[3][4][5][6] With the urging of Balthazar, the God of War, humanity began claiming Tyria for themselves at the expense of the native Tyrian races. However, the natives resisted human expansion better than the God of War had expected. Despite this, humanity proved to be resilient and spread to Orr, Elona and beyond in the following centuries. Over time, some non-human Tyrians converted to the faith of the Six; a few dwarves in particular dedicated themselves to Dwayna's teachings.[7][8]

As Orrians worked on building the great city of Arah for the gods, Abaddon, the God of Knowledge, designed a set of magically warded reliquaries where the gods could keep their priceless and powerful artifacts, relics and knowledge safe from thieves and defilers. Dwayna was given one of these reliquaries.[9] During this time the gods gathered various powerful and ancient artifacts from around the world, including the original Bloodstone and the Mystic Telescope, and brought them for safekeeping and study in Arah.[10] Members of the Church of Dwayna dedicated themselves to the Goddess of Life and worshiped her at the Cathedral of Zephyrs. Like other members of the Six, Dwayna had a dirge dedicated to her which was sung by the Sirens of Orr.[11] In the Echovald Forest of Cantha, House zu Heltzer of the Kurzicks were a family of political leaders of the Kurzicks as well as inventors and crafters who became primarily devoted to Dwayna.[3]

At some point the gods became aware of the existence of the hibernating Elder Dragons, who were tied to the magical balance of Tyria, and learned their names and spheres of influence. This information was documented in what would come to be known as the Scroll of the Five True Gods.[12]

The gods lived for a time among their followers in Arah. However, their radiance blinded mortals who gazed upon them for too long whenever the gods appeared among their followers. The gods eventually decided to retreat from public, and Dwayna commissioned the Orrian sculptor Malchor to make a statue of each god. As the statues were completed, the respective gods depicted in the statues retreated into Arah one by one.

Though he was successful at his work, Malchor was rendered blind after completing Dwayna's statue, and asked the goddess if she favored the image. Weeping, Dwayna allowed him to touch her face, that he might know the precision with which—even blind—he had carved her image. But then, as she knew she must, the goddess retreated into Arah, leaving the sculptor alone. Blind and tormented by his love for the goddess, Malchor stood upon the cliffs near Dwayna's cathedral, and, realizing he would never again see his beloved, cast himself into the sea.[13]

At some point, Dwayna gave birth to a half-god son named Grenth who had been fathered by an unnamed mortal sculptor.[14] Around 48 BE,[15] the old and tyrannical God of Death, Dhuum, was overthrown by Grenth who ascended to godhood and was welcomed by the gods as the new member of the Six.

Exodus of the Gods[edit]

King Doric prostrates himself before the gods.

According to an ancient Ascalonian legend and an Orrian scroll, the gods formulated a magical ritual and gifted three holy artifacts needed to enact and reverse it—a magical crown, Balthazar's own sword Sohothin and its twin Magdaer—to the royal human lineage as protection against invasion. The artifacts, as well as the knowledge how to use them in the ritual, would eventually pass on to the Ascalonian line of human kings.[16][17]

In 1 BE, the Six decided to gift magic to the mortal races. The gift of magic made the mortal races greedy, however, and led to devastating wars. King Doric, who had become the ruler of Tyria's united human tribes, journeyed to Arah and asked for the Six to put an end to the bloodshed. According to her scriptures, Dwayna in particular was greatly moved by the suffering the wars had caused and offered consoling words to Doric that would become the basis of teachings for the priesthood of Dwayna. In response to the king's plea, the gods shattered the original Bloodstone and divided the magic in the world into five lesser Bloodstones to prevent anyone from ever wielding power over all magic again. According to the History of Tyria, the gods sealed the stones with Doric's blood and placed his bloodline in charge of guarding the stones.[18]

Abaddon turned against his fellow gods because of a disagreement over the gifting of magic among many other escalating events that followed the sealing of the Bloodstones. The rebellious god and his army of Margonites were defeated after their failed assault; however, the gods' victory came at the cost of the Crystal Sea turning into the Crystal Desert and a once plentiful land becoming the sulfurous Desolation. Balthazar himself forged the chains that bound the fallen god in the Realm of Torment.

The Five realized the damage which the war against Abaddon and the gifting of magic from earlier had caused to the world and decided to leave humanity to stand or fall on its own merits without further meddling.[19] They departed from Tyria in 0 AE in an event known as the Exodus of the Gods. The Five entered the Mists and continued governing their respective realms from there although they did not sever their ties with Tyria completely as their power was still felt in the world for centuries to come.

Wintersday traditions, centered on the rivalries of the gods and the changing of the seasons which would symbolically determine whether darkness or light would reign following the coming of the new year, emerged among humanity at some point. Avatars of the gods appeared on Tyria and asked participants to choose which of the two teams to side with for the festive, annual competition which would decide whether Dwayna or Grenth won. Dwayna, who was supported by Melandru, fought to return spring to the land and bring joy to the hearts of humanity via renewed life, while Grenth, who was supported by Balthazar, fought to prolong winter and offered a less frivolous outlook on life and somber reflection on death as part of the circle of life.[20] These festivities also included the Great Snowball Fight of the Gods.

Around this time, Dwayna's magic created the first Brrrls,[21] or snowmen, to spread Wintersday cheer and hand out gifts from the Secret Lair of the Snowmen. Meanwhile, Grenth's magic caused unfortunate victims to transform into the mischievous Grentches who would spread misery in their wake as well as steal and hide gifts of innocent children in remote locations such as the Underworld.[22][23] These opposing goals brought the Brrrls and the Grentches into conflict, leading to many battles between the two forces.[24][25]

Despite the gods' exodus, the tale of Karei, recorded in Tahnnakai Temple, mentions that Dwayna may have visited Cantha circa 372 AE. Karei was a powerful healer who tended a small village in northern Cantha, refusing pay and accepting only food and basic supplies from the community. One day he was visited by a wealthy Canthan noble who had been injured in a bandit attack. After being healed by the monk, the noble tried to reward him three times by first offering him gold, then a lavish estate, and finally powers that would make him a god among men. Karei declined all the offers, however, and witnessed the noble transforming into Dwayna. The goddess revealed that the offers had been a test to tempt the monk's integrity, and she had chosen him as he had proven his worth to her. As a reward, Dwayna appointed Karei as Master of the Kaziin Monastery where he would train young monks and heal the sick and the injured. Upon Karei's death, Dwayna herself inducted him into Tahnnakai Temple.

In 1072 AE, an avatar of Dwayna appeared in the Shiverpeak Mountains to claim the soul of Ural Highstone, dwarven follower of the goddess. The act left Ural's brother Orozar Highstone distraught as he could not fathom why Dwayna had taken Ural from him.

Conflicts in the Mists[edit]

When Abaddon began Nightfall in order to break free from his prison, the gods chose not to intervene directly. However, the Five gave a blessing and words of encouragement to Spearmarshal Kormir's party via their avatars as the mortal heroes entered the Realm of Torment to defeat Abaddon once and for all.

Scriptures[edit]

“

And when the world rang with the clanging of swords and did fire fall from the skies, Dwayna, goddess of life and air, heard the wailings and pleas of the weak.

And when the rumblings of war did not cease, came Her charge, Doric, who did prostrate himself at Her feet.

And cast She now a glance upon the war-torn lands and wasted flesh of the fallen, and with tears upon Her cheek did lay Her gentle hands upon the prostrate man. Then saith She unto to him and all Her charges, "Lay down thy weapons, and as I have done unto ye, so ye must do for your brethren. Offer protection to the weak. Give solace and shelter to those who need it. Be ye a salve to the wounded.

"For I am your goddess, and I will give blessings to all who follow these teachings."

— Scriptures of Dwayna, 115 BE

“

Karei was a powerful healer who lived seven hundred years ago. For most of his life, he tended a small village in northern Cantha, curing ills and setting broken bones, refusing pay and accepting only food and basic supplies from the community. One day a wealthy Canthan noble and his small entourage passed by Karei's village and were attacked by bandits in the nearby woods. The noble suffered a grievous wound, and after killing the bandits, his guards brought him to Karei, who healed him easily. When the wealthy man attempted to pay him in gold, the Monk refused. Next the noble offered Karei employment on his lavish estate; again the Monk refused. Finally, the noble offered to give the Monk great powers that would make him a god among men, but Karei would not be moved. Smiling, the noble stood and let his cloak fall away, and as he did, he was transformed into a beautiful woman. The goddess Dwayna herself stood before Karei and placed a hand upon his head. "Thrice I have tempted you and thrice you have resisted. I choose you." Called by his goddess, Karei could not refuse his new appointment as Master of the Kaziin Monastery, where he lived out his days training young Monks and healing any sick or broken who came his way. Upon his death, Dwayna herself inducted him into Tahnnakai.

— Tahnnakai Temple plaque

“

The first of the gods to step forth from the mists was Dwayna, goddess of air and life. She placed her pale foot on the stones of Arah, opened the gates, and brought humanity to the world.

She chose Tyria and brought with her those who would make this world a paradise. As she had promised, Dwayna led her people to peace.

— Orrian History Scrolls, The Six, Volume 1—Dwayna: Goddess of Life.

“

Upon a cold, moonless night, there came a man to a farm. The night was so dark, he carried a lit candle to find the path.

The farmer heard him and called out. "What business have you here?" The farm was dark as pitch.

"I seek shelter from the coming storm," said the traveler. "Would you invite me to your hearth?"

The farmer feared riding out the storm in the dark, but more than that, he feared strangers. The farmer replied, "No, I cannot."

Saddened, the traveler wished the farmer well and forged onward. Farther down the hill, he found a family who gave him hospitality.

The farmer suffered the darkest night of his life. A tree fell on his house, crushing his leg. He did not call to Dwayna for help as he knew he didn't deserve it. For him, the morning never came.

— Parable of Dwayna

Gallery[edit]

Concept art
Miscellaneous

Related achievements[edit]

Trivia[edit]

  • The planned Utopia campaign for Guild Wars would have been set in a place in the Mists called Xotecha which was framed as somewhat of a home or playground of the gods, and would have featured an expanded pantheon of the gods, including Dwayna's father. As the campaign was cancelled, the information about Dwayna's father is considered noncanonical.[29]
  • Dwayna's name is uttered by humans in common sayings such as "By Dwayna's hand",[30] "(May) Dwayna bless/preserve/protect/watch over [one]",[31][32][33] "Dwayna save me",[34] "Dwayna's mercy",[35], "Dwayna's starry sky",[36] "Dwayna's tears",[37] "If Dwayna smiles/is smiling on [one]",[38] "May Dwayna keep [one] in her arms",[39] "May Dwayna guide [one's] path",[40] "May Dwayna have mercy on [one]",[41] and "(Oh) sweet Dwayna".[42] Priests invoke Dwayna to bless escorts guarding the brew and keep it from falling into the wrong hands,[43] restore the vitality of the righteous,[44] and plead her to remove the agony of losing a loved one from one's heart and to provide love and mercy to the souls of the departed.[45]
  • Dwayna is also referred to as the Goddess Mother.[46]

See also[edit]

Gwwlogo.png The Guild Wars Wiki has an article on Dwayna.
Associated items

References[edit]

  1. ^ Biography: Human
  2. ^ GuildMag Issue 5: Frigid Times, Issuu.com
    Jeff Grubb: The whole question of gods is based upon culture. The humans have tangible, powerful beings that they can interact with—hence, gods. The spirits of the norn also fit that description, so humans would call these beings "gods" as well. Norn would disagree. And describe the human gods as being "Spirits of Action" of the humans—Balthazar is obviously War, and should be spoken of as such. Kormir is Knowledge and calling her Kormir is a quaint human thing.
  3. ^ a b An Empire Divided: A Selected History of Mysterious Cantha for the Traveling Scholar
  4. ^ Cathedral of Silence
    The Seventh Reaper: So shall it be. You seek the heart of Orr? Then you must go to the very beginning. The rock where the gods first set foot upon this world.
    The Seventh Reaper: There is an artesian well hidden in the mountains behind the temple of Melandru. There, you will find the place where Orr began.
  5. ^ Orrian History Scrolls Volume 1—Dwayna: Goddess of Life
  6. ^ Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire—Road to the Desert
  7. ^ Acolyte Rockhammer
  8. ^ Abbot Silverbeard
  9. ^ A Parable of Abaddon
  10. ^ The Ruined City of Arah (explorable) Jotun path
    Varra Skylark: There are ancient jotun legends of a sky-sweeper, a great magical observatory. I believe that the human gods brought that magic telescope here and rebuilt it. [...]
    Varra Skylark: My study of those stones in the Shiverpeaks leads me to believe [the jotun] knew when the dragons would awaken.
    Varra Skylark: That knowledge was found by the human gods and brought here to Arah.
  11. ^ Siren Master
  12. ^ Hidden Arcana
    Ogden Stonehealer: Much of what we know about them comes from a document written by the first humans to walk the face of Tyria: the Scroll of the Five True Gods. [...]
    Ogden Stonehealer: In it, the gods revealed the names of the Elder Dragons: Mordremoth, Kralkatorrik, Jormag, Zhaitan, and Primordus. [...]
    Ogden Stonehealer: The gods expound on how Tyria's health is tied directly to them. This portion is somewhat abstract, however.
  13. ^ Orrian History Scrolls Arah: City of the Gods and The Tragedy of Malchor
  14. ^ Cathedral of Silence
    Priestess Rhie: Grenth is Dwayna's son, but only half-god. His father was a mortal sculptor, but that is one of the greatest secrets of our church.
  15. ^ The exact date of Grenth's ascension is unknown. The Scriptures of Grenth from 48 BE is the oldest known text about Grenth.
  16. ^ Comment by Connie Griffith, Reddit.com
  17. ^ Plan of Attack
    Rytlock Brimstone: I've researched the ritual, and I learned a lot about Ascalonian history. This story began a thousand years ago, when this ritual was first formulated by the humans' gods—the Six.
    <Character name>: Please, go on.
    Rytlock Brimstone: The Six gave them magic. At the same time, they also gave one of them a magical crown and two magical swords to protect the kingdom.
    <Character name>: Sohothin and Magdaer. And King Adelbern had inherited the crown?
    Rytlock Brimstone: Exactly. The crown was designed to break into four parts. When the fragments are separated, they're hard to see. This was a safeguard to keep this powerful item from falling into the wrong hands.
    <Character name>: And the crown is required for the ritual?
    Rytlock Brimstone: It is. When Adelbern enacted the ritual with Magdaer, he became a ghost. But the crown was preserved and found by charr who entered the area later. They toyed with it, and the fragments were lost. [...]
    Rytlock Brimstone: It all hinges on Sohothin, my sword. There were originally two of them—Sohothin and another called Magdaer. They were given to the Ascalonians as protection against invasion. [...]
    Rytlock Brimstone: Irrelevant. Point is that its partner, Magdaer, is the sword Adelbern used to curse the Ascalonians. I've long suspected that Sohothin is the blade that can break the curse.
    <Character name>: Okay. So, how?
    Rytlock Brimstone: I've had my snout buried in scrolls and books at the Priory. One of the scholars there has been helping me tack together the history. I finally found a reference to the ritual.
    <Character name>: And you trust the source?
    Rytlock Brimstone: It's got an Orrian stamp on it, which makes it so old, it's got to be legitimate. In any case, I have to try. If it works, we'll be free.
  18. ^ Bloodstones
  19. ^ Dolyak Express Jan 10, 2014, Old Guild Wars 2 Forums (Archived)
    Jeff Grubb: The human gods still exist, and their power is still felt within Tyria. However, they have pulled back into the mists, leaving the humans to stand (or fall) on their own merits. There has been a tendency for the human gods to, um, meddle with their worshippers a bit much, and in the wake of the final battle of Abaddon, they have been trying to cut back. Also, the destruction of the big A and his replacement with Kormir in the Pantheon resolved one of their ties with physical contact with Tyria. So there are ties, but you just can’t ring them up to take on the Elder Dragons.
  20. ^ Wintersday Finale
  21. ^ The Greatest Snowman Ever Made
  22. ^ A Very Grentchie Wintersday
  23. ^ You're a Mean One, Mr. Grenth
  24. ^ Straight to the Heart
  25. ^ The Strength of Snow
  26. ^ Comments by Connor Fallon and Scott McGough, Reddit.com
  27. ^ a b Facing the Truth
    Kormir: We, the gods, saw there could be no victory in our inevitable conflict with the Elder Dragons.
    Kormir: Waging war with them could only lead to the destruction of Tyria—and we, the Six, would be the match that would start the blaze.
    Kormir: And so, we chose to withdraw from Tyria altogether, and spare this world further calamity... Or rather, most of us chose to. [...]
    Kormir: Balthazar was blinded by his pride. The dragons are beyond even the gods—a raw, primal force without equal.
    Kormir: Whether he won or lost—by his death or theirs—Balthazar's ambitions would bring about the end of Tyria.
    Kormir: The rest of the Six—Dwayna, Grenth, Melandru, even Lyssa—reached an agreement. Balthazar had to be dealt with. [...]
    Kormir: We stripped him of his power, and chained him in the Mists. There he would remain, forever—powerless to carry out his plans.
    Balthazar: Mark these words: when I'm free, I will strike you down, and claim your power for my own! [...]
    Kormir: When he returned to this world, Balthazar disguised himself as Lazarus with Lyssa's Mirror—the only magic powerful enough to hide the truth from our eyes.
    Kormir: By the time the ruse was revealed, the other gods had already departed. And soon I will join them.
  28. ^ Secret Lair of the Snowmen
    Jolly Donny: Now, that's more like it. I was on my way to find help for Freezie. A broken heart has turned his snowy joy to cruel ice. [...]
    Freezie: Who are you to judge what we became once Dwayna abandoned us? I lead the snowmen! I give them purpose!
    Freezie: The force of my dominion is greater than any joy. Not just on Wintersday, but on every day to come.
    Freezie: We waited so very long for the call... But no longer! We are made of stronger stuff than flimsy flurries.
  29. ^ Post by Linsey Murdock in "Guild Wars Utopia", Guild Wars 2 Forums
  30. ^ Drive Separatists out of Kestrel Market
  31. ^ Defending Shaemoor
    Villager: There is so much blood. Dwayna preserve us!
  32. ^ The Fall of Falcon Company
    Sergeant Bigsby: If this is for Debs, then I'd be a might poor friend to leave you here alone. I guess I'm in it too. May Dwayna protect us!
  33. ^ An Interview with Queen Jennah
  34. ^ Rending the Mantle
    Maid: Dwayna save me! I can't believe he was going to kill me just like that!
  35. ^ Speaker of the Dead
    Logan Thackeray: Dwayna's mercy! I have to protect the queen. We can't let him near her!
  36. ^ The Floating Grizwhirl
    Petra: Dwayna's starry sky! What was with that snake?
  37. ^ Opening Ceremony
    Logan Thackeray: Dwayna's tears—is this some kind of joke? If it is, I'm not laughing.
  38. ^ Liberation
    <Character name>: I want to see if these bandits have any answers, and, if Dwayna is smiling on us, find my sister. Let's go.
  39. ^ Lion's Arch (Under Attack!)
    Priest Graidy: Just go. I'll be right behind you. Until then, may Dwayna keep you in her arms.
  40. ^ The Ringmaster
    Logan Thackeray: Well said. If I see anything suspicious, I'll let you know. Until then, may Dwayna guide your path.
  41. ^ A Society Function
    Logan Thackeray: Treason against the crown and citizens of Kryta. May Kormir judge your words justly, and may Dwayna have mercy on you.
  42. ^ Scarlet's End
    Kasmeer Meade: Oh, sweet Dwayna, help her. She's not... (sob) (hiccup)
  43. ^ Protect the brew shipment
  44. ^ Help the Priory return the energy core to the Henge of Denravi
  45. ^ White Crane Terrace historical ambient dialogue
  46. ^ Priestess Rashenna
Religions of Guild Wars 2
Six Human Gods Balthazar • Dwayna • Grenth (Dhuum) • Kormir (Abaddon) • Lyssa • Melandru
Spirits of the Wild Bear • Raven • Snow Leopard • Wolf • Dragon
Eagle • Frog • Gorilla • Griffon • Hare • Mink • Minotaur • Otter • Owl • Ox • Wolverine • Wurm • Fire
Other faiths and deities Ameyalli • Celestials • Eternal Alchemy • The Great Dwarf • Koda • Mellaggan • Menzies • Spirits of Nature • Three Queens • Zintl
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