Jade Wind
This article is about the historical event. For the 
The Jade Wind was a historical event occurring within Cantha in the Harvest Temple in 872 AE (1382 CC) that devastated the Jade Sea and Echovald Forest. It happened as a result of Shiro Tagachi's death wail, empowered by the corrupted magic of Dwayna, taken from Emperor Angsiyan as he received his second blessing from the goddess.[1]
The Jade Wind spread across the Jade Sea, causing colossal waves reaching hundreds of feet up into the air to form, and be petrified seconds later.[2] Within hours, the shockwave spread throughout the Echovald and the Jade Sea, turning everything from trees to the sea to jade. Leviathans were trapped within the jade and the ancient sea spirit Zhu Hanuku gained a crust of jade on its shell. The Jade Sea's saltspray dragons were also affected and were nearly wiped out by the shockwave save for Albax.[3] The Jade Sea's inhabitants had to adapt to living on the surface of the waves, and among these were irukandji and manta rays.
In the Echovald, the plants and wildlife of the forest suffered greatly from the Jade Wind, and Urgoz and his wardens became enraged at their failure, attacking the local Kurzicks.[4] New homes had to be carved out of stone trees, and amber became a valuable commodity to the Kurzicks who escaped the devastation.[5]
The Jade Wind petrified everything it touched, devastating the southeastern coastal regions. A stone sea holds no food, but it has absorbed centuries of magic. Canthan innovators have long sought practical applications for the material known as "dragonjade", achieving solutions undreamed of in the rest of the world.
Gallery[edit]
Concept art by Daniel Dociu.
The aftereffects of the Jade Wind.
"Petrified Tree" concept art.
See also[edit]
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The Guild Wars Wiki has an article on Jade Wind. |
- Associated items
- Associated skills
References[edit]
- ^ An Empire Divided
- ^ The Guild Wars Factions Manuscripts
- For a scant few seconds the storm that followed Shiro’s death wail roiled the sea, spawning waves that reached hundreds of feet into the air. An instant later, everything was frozen in place, but not because of a sudden cold front—the sea was not turned to ice. It had become solid jade. In order to survive, the Luxons had to adapt to a literally landlocked lifestyle, unable to transport goods to market or even sail to the nearby islands for fresh water. Their merchant ships had become one with the petrified ocean, and the currents that took them to farflung lands were now still as glass.
- ^ If It Weren't For Bad Luck...
- Albax: You are bold to approach me thus, <Character name>. Most of my kin were corrupted by the Jade Wind two hundred years ago. Yet only I remain, the sole living incarnation of good fortune in all the land, and I will not harm you. I thank you for the return of this scale. Your courage inspires even my ancient heart. You may return to Infortunatos Maxeles, and tell him I have lifted my curse...but he should not risk my disfavor again.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
