Lion's Arch

From Guild Wars 2 Wiki

The Free City of Lion's Arch is a pirating city in Kryta where the architecture has been described as mostly overturned boats and other old re-purposed nautical equipment. Once the seat of power and the main trading city of Kryta, Lion's Arch was destroyed by flood when Orr rose from the ocean. After the flood water receded, it was rebuilt by mercenaries and corsairs, where it still exists today as a melting pot to fighters of all races. Along with being a place where all races gather, Lion's Arch is best known for salvage and uncovering ancient artifacts of the past.^[1]

Lion's Arch also contains a portal to the Mists that all races can use. There are currently only a few known portals. One is in Tomb of the Primeval Kings, which was corrupted by Abaddon, and it is located seemingly near where the Dragonbrand ends. Another portal is in the Tomb of Drascir, deep in charr territory, and yet another portal can be found on the Battle Isles, which was sunk by the flood caused by Zhaitan's rise.

Player versus Player will likely operate out of this city^[2] and may be tied to the Lion's Arch arena where criminals choose to fight and possibly gain their freedom than to waste away in prison.

[edit] History

Lion's Arch was once the human capital, a storehouse of knowledge and the seat of the Krytan monarchy. In 1219 AE Zhaitan awoke, raising Orr and causing cataclysmic flooding which forced the humans to abandon their capital and later found Divinity's Reach. The documents housed in Lion's Arch went to the Durmand Priory.

As the flood waters receded, Lion's Arch was rebuilt at its original site. The vast numbers of undead made the coastline completely uninhabitable and many gathered in the ruins for what little shelter the remnant walls provided. The rubble and remains of wrecked ships became the building materials for a new city. Over time as ships were decommissioned they were incorporated into the city which spread over land and water. It became one of the few towns which could hold out against the undead. Ignored by Kryta, which was troubled by its own problems, it accepted all races into its safety. Ruled by the Captain's Council and Commodore Lawson Marriner, Lion's Arch is defended by the Lionguard, and became a place where all residents could work together without being beholden to any particular race.^[3]

Lion's Arch has defended itself against the unceasing stream of Zhaitan's undead for years, and it has become the center of the efforts to combat Zhaitan himself.