Awakened Koss Dejarin

Spoiler alert: The following text contains spoilers relating to Living World Season 4 and The Icebrood Saga.

“

Koss was no patsy in life, and he will not be in death.

— Awakened Koss Dejarin

Awakened Koss Dejarin is an Awakened Sunspear "guarding" a cave known as the Grotto of the Defeated. In life, he was a noble from Kourna, son of Zudash Dejarin and husband of Melonni. Boastful and narcissistic, Koss makes a show of his fights to prove his abilities.

Biography[edit]

Early years[edit]

In his youth as a noble in Kourna, Koss Dejarin frequently got into trouble with his friends and often dragged his sister, Ailonseh Dejarin, into his problems. During this time, he had garnered many corsair contacts to his father Zudash Dejarin's shame. Koss eventually left his home to join the Order of the Sunspears, though this act resulted in his father disowning him under the belief that Koss had joined simply to find more brawls.

During his time as a Sunspear, Koss openly garnered more criminal contracts which prevented his own promotions to becoming an officer. He took tutelage underneath Spearmarshal Kormir alongside the hero of Nightfall. When Nightfall was beginning in 1075 AE, Koss aided in rallying the Sunspears to lay siege to Gandara, the Moon Fortress, but was captured when Warmarshal Varesh Ossa unleashed demons onto the Sunspears.

After being freed and securing passage for the injured back to Istan with the corsair Margrid the Sly, Koss continued on with the other Sunspears to stop Varesh, ultimately being part of the lich Palawa Joko's release and Abaddon's defeat. During this time Koss mentored Tahlkora who developed feelings for him. Tahlkora ultimately stood aside, however, to let Koss and their adventuring partner Melonni pursue a relationship.

After Abaddon's demise and Kormir's ascension, Koss married Melonni and wrote an autobiography named Koss on Koss as well as an extended edition of it. He was one of the few Sunspears who knew the threat that Palawa Joko would eventually become, and rallied a group, which included Lonai, to end the threat the lich posed early. However, the assault on Joko failed, and Koss was reanimated as an Awakened by Joko, forced to serve his enemy. Though Koss believed he had died a glorious and honorable death, he had also died not knowing the fate of his wife and children. The Dejarin Estate, Koss's ancestral home, was eventually sacked and destroyed as Joko asserted his dominance over Kourna and the rest of Elona.

Eventually, Koss was sent to Istan and the Mordant Crescent Great Hall. He tricked the Awakened there into persuading him to "guard" a sealed cave. In the decades that passed since, he had been challenged by many corsairs seeking to curry favor from the infamous Sly family of corsairs by taking back a coin that Koss had won off of Margrid the Sly. The villagers of Champion's Dawn learned of Koss's presence, though not his identity, and took to enjoying the bouts between him and the corsair challengers.

Living World Season 4[edit]

While searching for the lost coin to persuade the Sly family to release the captive Spearmarshal Zaeim, the Pact Commander ventured into Koss's lair in 1330 AE and discovered the Awakened champion's identity. After learning more about Koss, the Commander asked him to hand over the coin so it could be used to liberate Zaeim from the Sly Crew, but the ever boastful champion challenged the Commander to a duel for the right to earn the coin. After a brief clash, the Commander emerged victorious much to Koss's disbelief; however, the champion kept his end of the bargain and gave up the coin.

Despite learning of the Sunspears' struggles against Joko and the lich king's absence, Koss was reluctant to join the fight on the side of the Sunspears out of worry that one of Joko's lieutenants might force him to fight against the organization he had once been a member of. Instead, Koss asked the Commander to hurt Joko enough so that no one else would have to suffer the fate of Awakening and being tied to Joko's will ever again.

If Redeemer Kossan had been encountered in the Desolation, the Commander had an option to let Koss know that one of the champion's descendants was still fighting for Elona. Koss was happy to hear that his line had survived and that his descendants could live their lives as they chose.

Following the defeat of Palawa Joko in the Battle of Gandara in 1331 AE, Koss felt his compulsion to obey Joko suddenly dissolve. Realizing that the Commander had somehow succeeded in killing the seemingly immortal lich king, Koss wandered out of the grotto to see the outside world for the first time in decades.

Koss eventually learned of a summit being held at the Fortress of Jahai where different Elonian factions—including the Free Awakened, the Joko Loyalists, the Mordant Crescent, the Order of Shadows, and the Sunspears—would decide on a post-Joko ruling council for Elona. He arrived at the fortress just in time to witness an attempted coup by Archon Iberu and his Mordant Crescent, and killed the archon to end the threat in a single strike. Tired of the factions' arguing, Koss intimidated most of the delegates to agree on Spearmarshal Zaeim's treaty, only to face opposition from former Grand Vizier Utumishi who initially refused to cooperate with the people who had been responsible for Joko's death.

The summit was interrupted again, however, when the Death-Branded Shatterer assaulted the fortress with its Branded minions on behalf of the Elder Dragon Kralkatorrik. It forced the Commander and the delegates to flee into the courtyard before it gave chase to the Commander's dragon ally Aurene. Kossan finally got to talk with Koss in the aftermath, revealing that they were related and asking to speak with the champion in private.

After the Sunspears decided to move survivors of the attacks and local refugees to a safer location to withstand future Branded incursions, Koss told his allies of the old Sunspear base he had once been using in the campaign against Varesh and how it could be used to shelter people in need again. Upon finding the entrance, he accompanied Kossan, the Commander and Braham Eirsson to the abandoned Sunspear base in Jahai Bluffs. The group divided into two pairs and began a friendly competition to clear the cave of the spiders and the Colossal Broodmother, which had been dwelling there, and lighting protective braziers before Koss named the reclaimed base as Sun's Refuge.

Shortly after clearing the cave, the group met with the Commander's other allies who arrived there, only to witness another Branded invasion from rifts which suddenly appeared. Koss stayed with Aurene to protect her along with other allies while the Commander took a small group to fight the Branded head-on. After the invasion had been thwarted, Koss witnessed the Commander return to Aurene with the ghosts of Eir Stegalkin and Snaff who had come with news of great urgency: Kralkatorrik was devouring magic in the Mists, and Aurene needed to confront the Elder Dragon before it would become too powerful to face.

Aurene received visions of multiple futures, however, in which she died no matter which allies she brought with her for the confrontation, and fled while leaving the Commander and the allies worried about the content of her visions. To stop panic from spreading, the Commander's ally Blish pointed out that he and the Commander already had a plan to attach a tracker to Kralkatorrik via a magical lure so they could monitor the Elder Dragon's movements and evacuate settlements before the Branded could invade populated areas.

Kossan spoke with Koss whenever he could in Sun's Refuge, only to see Koss leaving temporarily upon the latter learning that Tahlkora, an old friend from the past, had been Awakened. When Koss returned to Sun's Refuge, Kossan found himself unable to ask the champion all the questions he had been thinking of. Koss sensed Kossan's uncertainty and answered the most important question his descendant had had in mind: he was proud of Kossan but also reminded the agent that his combat stances and shouts still needed some polishing. However, the champion refused to tell anyone what his reunion with Tahlkora had been like and what they had discussed on Yahnur Plateau.^[1]

Upon his return, Koss was grateful to the Commander who had helped grow the refuge into a beacon of hope in the time of crisis. As a token of his gratitude, he gifted the Commander with the pommel of Joko's staff, which he had found during his journey back to the refuge, and hoped that the piece of the staff would be of some use to the Commander. During his stay in Sun's Refuge, Koss gained many fans such as Nadim. He instructed Sunspears to look around the refuge to find a way back into Jahai north of Argon Garrison so that the allied forces could use the passage to discreetly slip reinforcements and supplies in and out of the sanctuary.^[2]

The Icebrood Saga[edit]

Koss would eventually learn about the defeat of Kralkatorrik, and he traveled to the Eye of the North in 1333 AE. While there, he conversed with the Pact Commander and told them about a book written by Snargle Goldclaw that depicted Koss's romantic pursuits. Koss was amused by the tale; however, he noted that it was only fictional in parts. He offered the Commander a copy of the book as he was carrying around several books already.

Location[edit]

Crystal Desert

Jahai Bluffs
- Sun's Refuge (as Koss Dejarin, leaves after ambient dialogue plays, returns after Full House)
  - Koss is west of the central brazier. You might notice the book Koss on Koss: Volume Two near him

Far Shiverpeaks

Eye of the North
- Hall of Monuments (as Koss Dejarin) (after beginning Forging Steel)

Story involvement[edit]

Living World Season 4[edit]

Episode 1: Daybreak
- Champion's Dawn
Episode 4: A Star to Guide Us

Combat abilities[edit]

During Champion's Dawn[edit]

Abilities

Bleeds
Causes Fear
Steals Boons
Mocks Weakness & Heals Self

Effects

When full Koss will stand and laugh, healing for 25% of maximum health.

Skills

Section-stub. This key section of the article is incomplete. You can help the Guild Wars 2 Wiki by expanding it.
Reason: Missing what some skills do

Bull's Charge -
Galrath Slash -
Sever Artery -
(Some or all of the above sword skills causes also bleeding beside damage.)
KOSS! - Shout that casts fear and causes damage.
Necrotic Grasp -

Stolen skills

Section-stub. This key section of the article is incomplete. You can help the Guild Wars 2 Wiki by expanding it.
Reason: If no skills can be stolen, remove this part, otherwise list

During A Shattered Nation[edit]

Abilities

Kossan's Inspiration

Effects

Dialogue[edit]

Sun's Refuge[edit]

After completing Full House

Commander. You've done a lot of work sprucing this place up since I left. I haven't seen it this busy since...well since Tahlkora was around.

Did you find her?

I would...rather not talk about it.

I understand.

It wasn't easy, but it's worth giving people a little hope.

I appreciate it. Truly. I wish I could do more to thank you. Least I can do is offer you this pommel I found on my journey back here. Maybe you can find a use for it? (grants Palawa Joko's Staff Pommel)

Thank you.

Take care of yourself.

Eye of the North[edit]

Ahai, <Character name>! Surprised to see me? This isn't my first visit to the Eye, you know. In fact, there was a statue here commemorating my deeds.

You've traveled far.

I fought many battles at the side of a great hero in those days. Unbelievably, their legend matched even mine. But I'll save that story for the drinking halls.

I look forward to hearing it.

(For Searching for Inspiration achievement)

I'm looking for a certain...biography of you.

I wasn't surprised to learn that tales of my heroics have survived the years, but this latest book... Well, make no mistake, it's fictional. In parts.

You read it?

I admit, I purchased a copy or two to see how the stories of this age depict the mighty Koss. Here, take one. I don't need to be carrying it around, and I have extras.

Thanks.

I'm sure I'll hear all about it later.

Notes[edit]

Before revealing his name, Koss appears under the monicker Shadowy Figure in Champion's Dawn.
Koss will attempt to finish the player if he downs them. He uses the Phoenix Rank Finisher.

Trivia[edit]

Koss is voiced by Keston John.^[3]
Koss' combat shout, "KOSS!" is a reference to one of his idle quotes in Guild Wars Nightfall: "I think my name makes a fine battle cry. "Koss!" What do you think?"

Related achievements[edit]

Daybreak: Family Ties — Inform the Awakened Sunspear Champion that his family survived. (1)
Daybreak: Who's Laughing Now? — Defeat the Awakened Sunspear Champion without allowing him to heal. (1)
A Star to Guide Us: Dark Tools for Dark Times — Reassemble Palawa Joko's staff. (10)
Visions of the Past: Steel and Fire: Searching for Inspiration — Find a collection of Snargle Goldclaw's books across Tyria to remind him of his literary genius and free him from his writer's block. (5)