Living World Season 2 content

Cornered

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Cornered

Cornered is the fourth story episode of the Gates of Maguuma chapter of Living World Season 2.

Objectives[edit]

Follow the trail of the Master of Peace and his saboteur pursuer.
  • Head to the area in Dry Top where the clues end.
  • Meet your friends where the investigation has led you.
  • Speak with Taimi.
  • Investigate the last known sighting of the Master of Peace.
  • Defeat the saboteur Aerin.
  • Kill the tendrils blocking Taimi from the vine gate.
  • Catch the saboteur Aerin before he finds the Master of Peace.
  • Defeat the saboteur Aerin.
  • Use a shattered Sun crystal to break the saboteur's shield.
  • (Defeat the saboteur Aerin.)
  • Saboteur Aerin
    Event bar.jpg Event boss (tango icon).png
  • Speak with Marjory.
  • Search the saboteur's body for clues.

Rewards[edit]

Walkthrough[edit]

Talk to Taimi to open up the path. After your first encounter with Aerin, kill the tendrils so that Taimi can clear the path and the group can follow the fleeing sylvari. As Kasmeer opens up portals, pass through them to continue the pursuit. Attack Aerin until he starts protecting himself within a bubble. Pick up sun crystals and dash into him to break the protection. Aerin will then escape, and a cutscene with the Master of Peace will start.

In the final battle, ignore the tendrils at the bottom and go up on one of the platforms to attack. As you approach him, he will randomly jump away to other platforms. You can follow him by using the various crystals spread throughout the area. However, with Aerin constantly throwing out explosives, it is easier to stay at a longer distance to avoid the explosives and kill him using ranged attacks. Note that you will be in combat all the time, so you will have to equip a ranged weapon in advance. Once he is dead, talk to Marjory and inspect Aerin's body to complete the instance.

  • Note: When Aerin activates his shield and becomes invulnerable, you'll need to pick up a sun crystal. Then be sure to face Aerin and target him, and use the Light Dash skill without interrupting it. When the dash ends Aerin will become vulnerable again. The skill is finicky so if you interrupt it or just use it without targeting Aerin, you will be pushed back and he will remain invulnerable. During the final battle this may take a few tries - picking up multiple crystals can help with this.

Achievements[edit]

This achievement rewards items. Return to Cornered Return to Gates of Maguuma and Entanglement 0Achievement points
Complete the mission Cornered in Living World Season 2 Episode 1.
Reward: Burning Ember.pngPile of Silky Sand (50)
Completed Cornered 0Achievement points
This achievement rewards items. Opportune Moment Gates of Maguuma 5Achievement points
Find a way to sneak up on your enemy during the chase.Story Instance: Cornered
Reward: Story Journal chest.pngStore of Edible Cactus
Found Back Route to Aerin 5Achievement points
  • This achievement can be completed between the first and second fights against Aerin. When Taimi clears up the path so you can continue following Aerin, you first have to fight a group of vine foes. Right as you finish, a purple lightning aspect will spawn behind a rock on the right. Before Marjory creates the bone bridge to get Kasmeer across the gap, quickly grab the aspect, Lightning Pull yourself over the gap and land a hit on Aerin.
  • Achievement qualification may be tracked via the Achievement effect.png Achievement: Opportune Moment effect.
This achievement rewards items. Dashed Advantage Gates of Maguuma 5Achievement points
Find the secret passage and secure some extra crystals for the fight.Story Instance: Cornered
Reward: Story Journal chest.pngAmbrite Stash
Found Secret Passage and Secured Extra Crystals 5Achievement points
  • For this achievement, you need to access a hidden area during the final fight. Since you need sun aspects for it, you first have to bring Aerin down to 50% health so he activates his protection and the sun aspects will appear. Then, grab an air aspect and jump up the two platforms in the north-eastern corner, near the falling sand. Follow the path, pick up the sun aspect and dash through the wall. There, a golem and a few other Inquest are waiting. You have to kill the golem quickly before it reaches the safe area behind the protective wall, and then kill the rest of the Inquest (excluding the Veteran Assassin) to get the achievement.
  • Achievement qualification may be tracked via the Achievement effect.png Achievement: Dashed Advantage effect.
This achievement rewards items. Explosive Avoidance Gates of Maguuma 5Achievement points
Don't get hit by your enemy's timed blasts.Story Instance: Cornered
Reward: Story Journal chest.pngGeode Cache
Avoided Timed Blasts 5Achievement points
  • To earn this achievement, you cannot get hit by any of Aerin's large explosives. For the first two fights, just avoid the orange circles. During the final fight you'll also have to keep attacking Aerin, or the "Achievement: Player Hit Saboteur Aerin" effect will eventually disappear, making the achievement fail. This means it's very difficult to complete both "Dashed Advantage" and this achievement in the same playthrough.
  • Achievement qualification may be tracked via the Achievement effect.png Achievement: Explosive Avoidance and Achievement effect.png Achievement: Player Hit Saboteur Aerin effect. If either are lost, then the achievement cannot be earned.

NPCs[edit]

Allies[edit]

Asura
Charr
Devourers
Humans
Norn

Foes[edit]

Asura (Inquest)
Golems (Inquest)
Mordrem
Sylvari

Objects[edit]

Dialogue[edit]

Until meeting the group, Frostbite is chirping and chittering playfully (the chat notes this as Devourer plays.).

Frostbite: (chirp)
Frostbite: (chitter)

Approaching the group:

Rox waves at <Character name>.

Speaking with Taimi:

Taimi: Nice timing. I was just about to have Scruffy punch us a way through this vine gate.
Talk quest option tango.png I won't stand in your way.
Talk end option tango.png Hold that thought for a moment.

When going through the vine gate:

(cutscene in which Aerin appears)
Aerin: (mumble) Is it here? It must be here. Somewhere. No...
Braham Eirsson: There he is! Stop!
Marjory Delaqua: Where's the Master of Peace?
Aerin: Go away! Go away, go away, go away! He's mine!

After the battle (when Aerin reaches 50% health):

Aerin: Enough, enough!
Aerin: Unhappy times. Unhappy. Must find the master. Yes, you're right. Must not let them stop me.
Taimi: Hm. Is he talking to himself?
Rox: He definitely sounds delusional. Point is that we're stuck here until we can break down those vines.
Taimi: I have an idea. If you can keep those vines from snagging Scruffy, I can probably bash through them.
Braham Eirsson: Let's go! This fella is starting to put chills up my spine.

While killing the tendrils:

Taimi: Watch my back while I smash these vines.

After clearing the area after the vines:

Kasmeer Meade: Oh! There he is!
Aerin: You said it would be here!
Aerin: Somewhere, somewhere... Yes, you're right—getting close!
Kasmeer Meade: That gap is too large. I can't get us across from here.
Taimi: Have no fear. The option to have Scruffy toss us over is still—
Rox: No.
Kasmeer Meade: Thank you for the offer, Taimi, but I'm inclined to agree with Rox.
Marjory Delaqua: I could conjure up a bone bridge, but it wouldn't cross the whole distance. It won't last forever, but it might last long enough for one of you to get across.
Kasmeer Meade: I'll go. Once I'm on the other side, I can weave a portal between here and there. I'll just need you to watch my back.
Kasmeer Meade waves at <Character name>.
(repeating until you enter the portal)
Marjory Delaqua beckons to <Character name>.
Marjory Delaqua: We'll follow your lead.

Upon reaching Aerin on the intermediary platform:

Aerin: No no no. Not right. Perhaps...

Once Kasmeer opens the next portal:

Kasmeer Meade waves at <Character name>.
(repeating until you enter the portal)
Marjory Delaqua beckons to <Character name>.
Marjory Delaqua: We can't let him get away again.

Reaching Aerin:

Braham Eirsson: Hey! Stop what you're doing—right this minute!
Aerin: Not on your life, though perhaps on your death. I will continue, and I will be victorious.

Aerin enters the protective bubble (at 20% health):

Aerin: Enough, enough!
(whenever Kasmeer throws out Sun aspects)
Kasmeer Meade: Hey! Perhaps this will help!
Kasmeer Meade: Try one of these!

After hitting Aerin with the Sun aspect:

Aerin: Pfah. He's taking it farther away. You waste my time!
Kasmeer Meade: Don't let him escape!
(cutscene with the Master of Peace)
Master of Peace: Aerin!
Aerin: What? Huh? You're here!
Master of Peace: Aerin, you have broken your Zephyrite vows.
Aerin: Trivial vows. Trivial people. I've seen the bigger picture. You are in my way.
Master of Peace: You've lost your mind and your true heart. I'm sorry. You will not prevail.

After defeating Aerin:

Master of Peace: Thank you for your service. I'm sorry you got involved in my troubles.
Taimi: Why was he after you?
Master of Peace: He started losing his mind on the ship. He's the one who sabotaged it, you know.
Rox: Yes, we know. Did he want revenge on you for something?
Master of Peace: No. He wanted me to give him power. Great power that he couldn't handle. I refused. He could not let it go.
Kasmeer Meade: Will you come back now? We can escort you.
Master of Peace: No. My journey has only just begun. You will tell my people that I am well and that I continue onward?
Braham Eirsson: Yeah, sure. We'll tell them. Won't they ask where you're going?
Master of Peace: No. Those who don't know my destination know enough not to ask. Be well. I'm glad our paths crossed today.

Speaking with Marjory:

Marjory Delaqua: We should check his body. I want to know everything there is to know about him. We came through Prosperity. Maybe some of us should go back there, see who else saw him.
Talk quest option tango.png Great idea. Maybe he said something to someone there.
You never know. We still don't know why he was so intent on killing the Master of Peace. I have to confess, his insane ramblings reminded me uncomfortably of Scarlet.
Talk quest option tango.png Me too. Do you think he was an ally of hers?
It's possible, but he didn't mention her specifically.
Talk quest option tango.png I've got a bad feeling.
I was deeply unnerved by him. All I could think about was Scarlet and Lion's Arch. What if...
Talk quest option tango.png What if...Scarlet was the tip of the iceberg?
Talk end option tango.png Don't think about that now.
Talk quest option tango.png I'll go back.
Talk end option tango.png Just a moment.

Examining the body:

Llama hair and a few bits of straw are stuck to Aerin's clothes, as if he slept in a barn or animal pen recently.
Talk quest option tango.png Prosperity has some farm animals. I should talk to someone there.
A slip of paper is sticking out of a pocket.
Talk quest option tango.png Pull it out and look at it.
This piece of paper is torn. The lettering is frantic and only partially legible.
Talk quest option tango.png Read on.
The left half of the paper is missing, but the remaining piece says, "...leader will die. The rest will fall in line. We will not fail." The rest is unreadable.
Talk quest option tango.png Leave.

Talking to your allies:

Braham Eirsson: Look, why don't Rox and I head back to Prosperity. You can meet us there. I'm starving.
Talk end option tango.png I'm heading that way myself.
Rox: Hey, do you guys remember seeing this sylvari when you last visited the Zephyrites? I wonder when he got on board.
Talk more option tango.png I'll have to think about that.
In any case, Frostbite and I are going with Braham back to Prosperity. See you there.
Talk end option tango.png Okay.
Kasmeer Meade: Don't you find it strange that the Zephyrite leader would walk off into the wilderness when his people are lying...in ruins? What could possibly be so important?
Talk more option tango.png We may never know.
It's just that they never struck me as such caring people. Do you suppose he's in shock?
Talk more option tango.png It didn't seem like it. It seemed like he was on a mission.
I've heard some of the Zephyrites talking about certain treasures they were carrying on the ship. Perhaps...I don't know. Perhaps he's looking for them.
Talk more option tango.png Or perhaps he's safeguarding them.
(gasp) You don't suppose that's why the saboteur was after him? Trying to get his hands on the Zephyrite treasure?
Talk end option tango.png If so, it answers some of our questions.
Talk end option tango.png I have no idea.
Taimi: I know what you're thinking, but you're wrong. This criminal was nothing like Scarlet. She has—had—vision. This guy was just...pitiful. Explosives? Really? Those went out of style in the 1200s.
Talk more option tango.png Nevertheless they both killed a lot of people.
I know. And that's very sad and evil. But still, comparing him to her is like comparing a farm bull to a steam minotaur.
Talk more option tango.png I think you may be biased.
Not at all. I'm quite logical in my methodology. On a point by point basis, the nodes simply do not add up to a significant degree, and—
Talk end option tango.png Okay, okay. I get your drift.

My story[edit]

Cornered loading screen.jpg

I rejoined Marjory, Kasmeer, Braham, Rox, and Taimi to search for the Master of Peace before the saboteur, Aerin, could catch him. We found Aerin and pursued him deep into the canyon. Aerin's behavior was manic, almost like Scarlet's during her final days. He fought fiercely, but ultimately lost. The Master of Peace said that Aerin wanted great power but was refused. He didn't explain what that meant, nor did he say where he was headed next. His backpack was loaded with something—probably supplies. He may be embarking on a long journey.

I searched Aerin's corpse. He was carrying a note with frantic scrawlings that said a "leader will die" and that "the rest will fall in line." Did he mean the Master of Peace or someone else? I also found some animal hairs on Aerin's corpse that probably came from livestock back in Prosperity. We should return there and continue our investigation.

My story