The Echovald Forest
The Echovald Forest belongs to the region of Cantha and the Dragon Empire. The region was formerly ruled by the Kurzicks, before Emperor Usoku unified Cantha, now all that remains of them are ruins of what was once the home of the Kurzicks. Many years ago the forest suffered when the Jade Wind was unleashed by Shiro Tagachi petrifying the entire place, over the years the forest has come back to life and now the wildlife thrives.
Locations[edit]
History[edit]
Early history[edit]
Sometime in the late pre-imperial era, after the appearance of humanity in Cantha, the Kurzicks settled Echovald Forest from lands believed to be beyond Cantha. In the year 51 CC (459 BE), during the reign of Emperor Yian Zho, the forest was invaded by both Luxons, rivals of the Kurzicks, and the emperor's forces. Though the invaders failed to defeat the Kurzicks, they successfully contained them within the forest and the Kurzicks soon became a vassal state.[1]
During the Jade Wind, the forest and its inhabitants were petrified, trees transforming to lifeless columns of stone and birds crashing to the ground, petrified mid-flight. Deer turned to stone mid-leap, landing on the ground as mere lifeless statues. The Kurzicks largely escaped the petrification of the forest, so they began building their homes and cathedrals out of the giant stone trees.[1][2]
During the forest's transformation into jade, the forest spirit Urgoz was corrupted by the Jade Wind, driving him and his wardens to madness. Urgoz, suffering from Shiro's influence, became demonic and twisted, corrupting the forest's wildlife and refugee dredge and using them as pawns in his war against the Kurzicks, taking control of an amber mine to stage his attacks from, which would later be dubbed "Urgoz's Warren". Despite Urgoz's corruption, some Kurzicks carried out hope that if they slew enough wardens, Urgoz would breathe life into the forest once more.[3][4]
Guild Wars Factions[edit]
During the return of Shiro Tagachi causing chaos in the Dragon Empire the Kurzicks were very involved in their problems and their war against the Luxons, in that Urgoz the spirit of the forest that had disappeared, reappeared and used his power to corrupt the flora and forest fauna even to the Guardians, even refugee dredges driving them crazy and in this way he declared war on the Kurzicks that infested his forest and luckily he had chosen one of the most productive amber mines in Echovald as his base of operations. The Kurzicks do not believe that the tree spirit (now more demon than spirit) can really be defeated; if it were, it could mean the end of the forest itself, but they desperately need to open access to their lair and keep Urgoz's forces at bay, or their entire economy will collapse.
Interim years[edit]
During this period there was a war between the Kurzicks and the Cantha Empire, when the purge began and Emperor Usoku began to unify Cantha under the same power, for which the Kurzicks were annihilated and those who remained alive had to flee far of Cantha or join.
At one point, the Echovald Forest came to life and the vegetation began to grow and now the wildlife has returned. Years after the purge and unification of Cantha, a group of Tengu called Angchu made their home in the forest and founded the Mori Village.
End of Dragons[edit]
In more recent years the Forest has begun to be affected by the Xunlai Jade Junkyard and a war between gangs, the Jade Brotherhood, the Speakers and the Kestrels, for dominance of the forest.
Geography and climate[edit]
Echovald Forest, is a forested region, which lies southeast of New Kaineng City and has its shores east of the Jade Sea. It has gigantic tule and coniferous trees, this prevents a lot of light in the region, so the soil is generally free of dense vegetation. It has large waterfalls, lakes, basins and some rivers. The landscape of the region is mostly littered with ruins, and is inhabited by various creatures such as Wallows, kirin and some mushrooms that have been exported. Just like some humans and tengu villages are found in the region and it has a mine where amber is still extracted.
Some time ago the forest suffered from the Jade Wind for which the region and life were petrified, in recent years wildlife has begun to prosper again and come back to life.
Interactive map[edit]
Gallery[edit]
- Screenshots
Echovald Lake.
Echovald Forest
Echovald Falls.
Great Echovald waterfall.
Echovald Forest
Echovald Forest
Landscape.
Cave
Ruins
The Forever Tree.
The ruins of the House zu Heltzer.
The Fort Aspenwood.
The Mori Village of the tengu.
The Xunlai Jade Junkyard.
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- Concept art
- Maps
Map of the Echovald Forest in Guild Wars Factions.
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See also[edit]
- Associated items
References[edit]
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The Guild Wars Wiki has an article on Echovald Forest. |
- ^ a b An Empire Divided
- ^ The Guild Wars Factions Manuscripts
- When the Jade Wind swept through the branches of Echovald Forest, it turned everything to stone. Birds crashed to the forest floor in mid-flight. Deer leaped from the ground as flesh and blood, and came to earth little more than life-like statues. Now, two centuries later, life has cautiously returned. The Kurzicks were the first to venture back to the forest. There they have adapted to their petrified surroundings and have begun to carve their culture into this new landscape.
- ^ Wicked Wardens
- Dunmel Gorhopf: We've begun a campaign to eliminate the corrupted wardens, and we hope that by doing so, the ancient forest spirit, if it still lives, will awaken and breathe life into this forest once more. Unfortunately, with the war against the Luxons heating up, most of our capable fighters have been sent to the front lines. If you will eliminate any wardens you come across as you travel the forest, we'd be extremely grateful.
- ^ Factions Prima Guide, pg. 156-157
- Urgoz, the ancient, tree-like spirit of the forest, was corrupted by Shiro's death wail two hundred years ago. As Shiro's residual influence slowly transformed the tree spirit, he became more hateful and twisted, and the creatures of the Echovald fell under his sway (especially wardens and the Dredge). Now Urgoz has declared war on the Kurzicks infecting "his" forest, and as luck would have it, he has chosen one of the most productive amber mines in the Echovald as his home base. The Kurzicks do not believe the tree spirit (now more demon than spirit) can truly be defeated-if it was, it could mean the end of the forest itself-but they desperately need to open access to the amber and keep Urgoz's forces in check, or their entire economy will collapse. Only an elite group of heroes-heroes from the alliance that has the most faction with the Kurzicks-are worth sending.
