Drakkar
This article is about the world boss. For the event schedule, see Champion of the Ice Dragon. For the achievement category, see Drakkar (achievements). Drakkar
| Image(s) |
|
Drakkar's shadow in the ice. 
Portrait |
“Jormag speaks. But Drakkar is its mouthpiece. The whispers radiate from it, like heat from the sun.
Drakkar is one of the Elder Dragon Jormag's oldest champions, originally seen frozen beneath the surface of Drakkar Lake. Despite being immobile and frozen, Drakkar was able to channel Jormag's power and abilities to whisper into the minds of those nearby. Since the most recent dragonrise, Drakkar has acted as Jormag's mouthpiece as it spreads the Ice Dragon's whispers throughout the Far Shiverpeaks.
Biography[edit]
Early years[edit]
Before dragonrise[edit]
Drakkar's early history is mostly unknown. It is believed to have served the Elder Dragon Jormag loyally during the previous dragonrise in a similar manner to recent years, acting as the Ice Dragon's mouthpiece and champion until it eventually ended up beneath the surface of the frozen Drakkar Lake in the Far Shiverpeaks.
While the norn siblings Svanir and Jora were hunting wolves in 1078 AE, their prey ran across Drakkar Lake. As they crossed the lake, the siblings paused, feeling an ancient, and bitter cold, power in the area. Svanir performed a simple spell to reveal the nature of the power they felt, which drew Drakkar's attention, and sent Jormag's power into the siblings. Jora resisted the power, and was in turn cursed, incapable of Becoming the Bear, while Svanir accepted the power and was transformed into the Nornbear who became a new champion of Jormag.[1][2][3]
It is unclear if Drakkar was conscious before Svanir's spell, but in the weeks following Svanir's corruption, the lake turned from a empty, barren place[1] to being full of Frozen Elementals and Chilling Wisps, and Myish, Lady of the Lake who patrolled directly over Drakkar's head.[4]
Dragonrise[edit]
In the century after Svanir's death, other norn were drawn to Drakkar through promises of strength and power, over time forming the Sons of Svanir who viewed Svanir as their hero and martyr.[5] Drakkar used these norn to draw power and help Jormag awaken, allowing the Elder Ice Dragon to rise from its hibernation in 1165 AE.[2][6][7]
When Jormag woke from its slumber, it scattered the kodan Sanctuaries of the arctic seas and forced the norn to head south for survival. When this happened, Jormag had altered the landscape of the Far Shiverpeaks, flooding Drakkar Lake and sinking its surroundings. As the norn traveled south, four Spirits of the Wild remained to combat Jormag. Of these, Ox, Eagle, and Wolverine fell to Jormag's temptations over time, and began to empower Drakkar with their infinite magic. The spiritual protection from the Lost Spirits and the rejuvenating magic from the Sons of Svanir's profane idols of Jormag resulted in Drakkar effectively becoming immortal, too strong for anyone who tried to fight it.[8][9]
The new in-land sea created by Jormag's actions when it woke was then used by the kodan to escape Jormag's ravages in the north and flee towards Frostgorge Sound.[10] Not all kodan made it so far south, however, as the sea began to freeze around them,[11] stranding them in the Far Shiverpeaks. Among these kodan, one tribe was forced to make a new home around Drakkar's lair. While in the unfrozen waters, Drakkar's body was exposed to the elements and its body began to break down, exposing its bone and decomposing fat.[12] Drakkar remained in its re-frozen lake, spreading whispers through the ice. When the tribe of kodan came to naming their new village, they decided to call it Still Waters Speaking after the phenomena they had noticed about the lake.[11]
In the century since, Drakkar was slowly shifted by Jormag's power, twisting into a form the Ice Dragon desired.[13] In 1325 AE, the Elder Dragon Zhaitan was slain by the Pact, and Jormag received a part of its powers over death. This power influenced Drakkar as well, further altering its form,[14] with many of its bones and ribcage exposed, and growing ice spikes along its body. Later, the Pact Commander and their allies slew two more Elder Dragons, Mordremoth and Kralkatorrik, and with every Elder Dragon's death, Drakkar's power grew, and the whispers that were a murmur on the lake became loud and unbearable.[11] With Drakkar's increase in power, it began to slowly turn the stranded kodan of Still Waters Speaking against each other and into servitude of Jormag through its whispers.
The Icebrood Saga[edit]
While Jormag was recovering under the ice from the damage it had sustained from magic directed from Primordus via Taimi's Machine, Drakkar remained in the frozen lake of Bjora Marches to act as the Ice Dragon's mouthpiece so Jormag could communicate with the outside world and tempt beings in the Far Shiverpeaks to join its cause. Those who sought power listened to the whispers which guided them to Drakkar, and they were turned.[8][15]
The Pact Commander, Braham Eirsson, Crecia Stoneglow, Garm and Rytlock Brimstone entered the western half of Bjora Marches in 1333 AE and were soon followed by a Vigil squad led by Jora's great-granddaughter Jhavi Jorasdottir. While there, the party discovered that the whispers that had been plaguing the Far Shiverpeaks originated from Drakkar whom Jormag was using as a conduit. Cloudseeker, Claw of Still Waters Speaking, revealed how Drakkar was protected by the power of the three corrupted Lost Spirits. Unsure how to defeat the seemingly immortal champion, the party nevertheless resolved to find its weakness while aiding the kodan who were suffering from the whispers.
While looking for clues, Braham followed visions that led him to meet with Wolf, a Great Spirit of the Wild, who revealed that Drakkar could only be defeated if a norn of prophecy, who had cracked Jormag's severed fang, communicated with the Lost Spirits of the Wild and convinced them to lend him their power for the battle ahead. While Braham and the Commander focused on cleansing the shrines and passing the Lost Spirits' tests, Jhavi led the Vigil and the kodan to assault Drakkar in order to divert its attention from Braham and the Commander's actions.[16] On the way to Drakkar, Jhavi's forces heard Jormag whispering about how Drakkar was an innocent fighting in self-defense and how it was only trying to help the kodan and the norn. Jhavi told her allies not to listen to the whispers and instead called out to Drakkar, revealing how both Jora and Svanir were of her blood, and challenged the champion to face her and finish what had begun with her family long ago.
Although Jhavi's forces succeeded in driving Drakkar back after a fierce battle, they were unable to slay the champion as it hid in the ice and continued drawing magic from both the Jormag idols and the Lost Spirits to heal itself. After Braham had gained all the three Spirits' blessings, he met with Cloudseeker who realized that the party might have a chance to defeat Drakkar as long as they proceeded carefully. To further weaken Drakkar and prevent it from retreating into the ice again, Cloudseeker instructed the party to smash the idols that were rejuvenating the champion as well as push it away from the lake to a southern cave which had more rock than ice. Following the kodan's words, Jhavi led another assault on Drakkar and successfully lured it to the cave beneath the mountains where the Commander, Braham, Crecia and Rytlock were headed to finish it off.[9]
The party tracked Drakkar into its lair where the whispers tried to turn the party members against one another. Crecia and Rytlock fell to the whispers and attacked their companions, but the Commander successfully tricked them to direct their attacks on the icy walls of the lair instead to force Drakkar into the open. As the dragon champion emerged from the ice, Braham channeled the powers of Ox, Eagle, and Wolverine who manifested in the lair. Stripped of its magical protection, the weakened Drakkar was defeated in a blinding flash, and the redeemed Spirits vanished as the dragon champion drew its last breath. Following the demise of both Drakkar and the Whisper of Jormag, a piece of the Elder Dragon which had been using the champion as a conduit, the whispers that had been plaguing the Far Shiverpeaks stopped for the time being.
Location[edit]
- Bjora Marches
- Whispering Depths (During related events only)
Story involvement[edit]
The Icebrood Saga[edit]
- Episode 2: Shadow in the Ice
Event involvement[edit]
[Group Event] Follow Jhavi into Drakkar's lair (80)
[Group Event] Defeat Drakkar (80)
Combat abilities[edit]
In Bjora Marches[edit]
- Effects
Locked in Conflict - A singular focus on overwhelming the enemy. (At 60%, 40% and 20% health)
- Skills
- Cold Front -
- Chill Wind -
- Breath of Drakkar -
- Ice Shock Wave -
During Voice in the Deep[edit]
- Breath of Drakkar -
- Falling Ice -
- Ice Shock Wave -
Gallery[edit]
- Concept art
![Earliest concept art of Drakkar Lake, as seen in The Complete Art of Guild Wars. Originally Jormag, this became used for what became Drakkar.[6]](/images/thumb/4/47/The_Complete_Art_of_Guild_Wars_5.jpg/120px-The_Complete_Art_of_Guild_Wars_5.jpg)
Earliest concept art of Drakkar Lake, as seen in The Complete Art of Guild Wars. Originally Jormag, this became used for what became Drakkar.[6]
Concept art by Zhengyi Wang.
Concept art by Zhengyi Wang.
Drakkar featured on the Shadow in the Ice banner.
Concept art by Richard Anderson.
Concept art of Drakkar's shadow in the ice.
![Earliest concept art of Drakkar Lake, as seen in The Complete Art of Guild Wars. Originally Jormag, this became used for what became Drakkar.[6]](/wiki/File:The_Complete_Art_of_Guild_Wars_5.jpg)
- Screenshots
Drakkar as seen in the original Guild Wars.
Render of Drakkar's full body from the original Guild Wars.
Drakkar as seen in Bjora Marches.
Image from the Anniversary Livestream 2020.
- Size comparisons
Size comparison of Drakkar and a human.
Size comparison of Drakkar, Elder Aurene and Vlast from top view.
Size comparison of Drakkar and Claw of Jormag.
Size comparison of Drakkar and Claw of Jormag from top view.
- Renders
Render by Marcus Jackson.
Related achievements[edit]
Drakkar
Shadow in the Ice: Break Drakkar — Defeat Drakkar within its lair in Bjora Marches (10
)- Return to Shadow in the Ice: Revenge of Drakkar — Prevent Drakkar from becoming more powerful by aiding Jhavi in her attack. (0
)
Notes[edit]
- The fight requires at least one player in the group with the Raven's Flight mastery, who has to open the Raven gates in the second room.
Trivia[edit]
|
The Guild Wars Wiki has an article on Drakkar. |
- In early development of Guild Wars: Eye of the North and Guild Wars 2, the creature beneath Drakkar Lake was intended to be Jormag. This was changed mid-development as the creature was believed too small to be an Elder Dragon, and was changed to being Jormag's dragon champion instead.[6]
- After the change, the creature was referred to as "the Drakkar Beast" by Jeff Grubb,[6] while the community just called it "Drakkar".
- The first official use of the name "Drakkar" was in Whisper in the Dark.
- A drakkar is a type Viking longship, named after the Nordic term for dragon, dreki.
- An early concept art was introduced during the The Icebrood Saga announcement, with notes that the appearance presented was not final.
- By comparing model sizes, Drakkar is approximately 52.7 meters long and 17 meters tall.
See also[edit]
External links[edit]
- Drakkar: The Making of a Legend, Guildwars2.com
References[edit]
- ^ a b Jora's Curse
- ^ a b "Chapter 18: The Calm Before", Edge of Destiny by J. Robert King:
- "Two hundred fifty years ago, a hunter named Svanir and his sister Jora led a band of norn to slay the wolves that ruled Drakkar Lake. They were crossing the frozen waters when a strange presence grasped Svanir's mind. It whispered seductions to him, promised power and prey. It was a voice of infinite hunger and hate, and Svanir listened to it.
- "Jora heard the voice, too, but it terrified her. She refused its dark gifts and tried to drag her brother away, but he struck her and told her she was weak, told her he had discovered the well of power. She fled.
- "Svanir remained to commune with his newfound lord. In time, the voice began to change him. It taught him to hate all living things. It stripped him of his human form and made him a champion—half bear, half norn, encrusted with ice. Svanir wandered the wastes in madness, attacking any who came near. He became a monster that his own sister had to destroy.
- "Over the next hundred fifty years, the voice seduced more norn, and they joined the cult, becoming the Sons of Svanir. They believed they were drawing upon the ancient voice, but in fact it was drawing upon them, gaining the power to rise.
- "And it did rise. One of the Elder Dragons. Jormag was its name.
- "We fought Jormag—gladly we fought it, for norn are made for battle. But never had we fought a beast like this. It was a living blizzard. It and its minions froze us where we fought and buried our lands in snow and ice and tore apart Gunnar's Hold with a massive glacier. It took our lands. It drove us south.
- "And despite the destruction, there are still foolish norn who hear the call of Svanir and seek the power of Jormag. In the end they are reduced to icebrood themselves, flesh wrapped in ice, fed by malevolence and hatred."
- ^ Veteran Relief Crew Scout
- ^ Drakkar Lake
- ^ Blane the Insane
- ^ a b c d Stéphane Lo Presti and Jeff Grubb, Guild Wars 2 Guru; links broke - image of posts: [1] [2] [3] [4]
- ^ The Elder Dragons
- ^ a b Chasing Ghosts
- Cloudseeker: Jormag tempts those who seek power. Whispers guide them to Drakkar. Then they are turned, as Svanir was long ago.
- <Character name>: Drakkar. Jormag's champion.
- Cloudseeker: More than a champion. A mouthpiece. The Elder Dragon cannot whisper beyond its lair without it.
- Braham Eirsson: So: Take out Drakkar, stop the whispers. Maybe Bangar and Ryland come to their senses, too.
- Cloudseeker: Drakkar is protected, and not by any ordinary magic.
- Braham Eirsson: Impossible... Ox, Eagle, Wolverine?
- Braham Eirsson: The lost Spirits of the Wild! I thought Jormag killed them. We all did.
- Cloudseeker: Not killed. Taken. Now Drakkar feeds on them—an infinite well of power.
- ^ a b The Hunt Begins
- Cloudseeker: Drakkar draws strength from its master. These mountains are filled with Jormag's profane idols.
- Braham Eirsson: So even if I hit it with the Spirits' power, Drakkar will just heal again when it gets near one.
- Cloudseeker: Yes. And it moves through solid ice like water. You must cut it off from the idols and lure it into the open.
- Braham Eirsson: I'm no expert on magic or anything, but couldn't we just smash the Jormag idols?
- Cloudseeker: Smash them. Yes. Yes! While Jhavi leads another attack. Pushes Drakkar away from the lake.
- Cloudseeker: There is a cavern to the south I can recommend. Less ice. More rock. You could trap it there.
- <Character name>: Understood. We'll go after the idols and keep the pressure on Drakkar.
- <Character name>: When it's weak enough, we corner it under the mountains and finish the job.
- ^ The Wisdom and Power of the Kodan
- ^ a b c A History of Still Waters Speaking: Part Two
- ^ Drakkar: The Making of a Legend, GuildWars2.com
- ^ Spirits' Refuge ambient dialogue
- Vigil Crusader: The stories made it seem like Drakkar was trapped in the ice. And that it looked...different then.
- Kodan Guard: That was hundreds of years ago. The whole time, Jormag's power seeped into the beast. Molding. Changing.
- Vigil Crusader: So you're saying those pictures the old explorers drew...they're still accurate?
- Kodan Guard: Were accurate. Ice fills any shape. Becomes any form. The dragon's magic changed Drakkar to suit its purposes.
- ^ Guild Chat - Episode 97
- ^ Spirits' Refuge ambient dialogue
- Vigil Crusader: Have you been in contact with the other kodan tribes? Anyone beyond the valley at all?
- Kodan Guard: When Drakkar rose from the ice, we sent an emissary to the Vigil Keep for aid. He never returned.
- Vigil Crusader: What was his name? I can inquire at the keep when I return.
- Kodan Guard: Bright Shore. Led a small group east many weeks ago, then disappeared. Now we remain here.
- Kodan Guard: What's happening cannot be allowed to spread beyond this lake. Nobody can know. Nobody can be tempted.
- Vigil Crusader: So you just cut yourselves off?
- Kodan Guard: We suffer. But at least now we are the only ones to suffer.
- Vigil Crusader: The whispers have already crossed the eastern pass. The kodan do not have to shoulder this alone.
- ^ Still Waters Speaking
- Wolf Spirit: The kodan ignore our voices. They cannot speak to Ox, Eagle, or Wolverine. But Braham can.
- Braham Eirsson: Why me?
- Wolf Spirit: You cracked the Fang of the Serpent. Fate now decrees you will either slay Jormag or fall to Jormag.
- Wolf Spirit: All Spirits know this. Even when taken and corrupted. You must go to their shrines. Demand their power.
- Braham Eirsson: Demand? Will they even listen to me?
- Jhavi Jorasdottir: No. You'll have to make them. [...]
- Wolf Spirit: Take the lost Spirits' power. Use it against Drakkar. Only then will you find a place for my spirit within your own. [...]
- Braham Eirsson: Yeah. Okay. Commander, I'll meet you at those shrines. And I'll be ready.
- <Character name>: I know you will. Jhavi, can you and the kodan put the pressure on Drakkar? Keep its eyes off us?
- Jhavi Jorasdottir: It would be my pleasure.
![[1]](http://web.archive.org/web/20160304181626/http://www.guildwars2guru.com/uploads/gallery/album_163/gallery_3318_163_39486.png){kind=link}
![[2]](http://web.archive.org/web/20131105224246/http://www.guildwars2guru.com/uploads/gallery/album_163/gallery_3318_163_60398.png){kind=link}
![[3]](http://web.archive.org/web/20160306130059/http://www.guildwars2guru.com/uploads/gallery/album_163/gallery_3318_163_19649.png){kind=link}
![[4]](http://web.archive.org/web/20131105223642/http://www.guildwars2guru.com/uploads/gallery/album_163/gallery_3318_163_3412.png){kind=link}