Squad Leader Bennett

Squad Leader Bennett

Race

Human

Location

Salvation Pass
(Forsaken Thicket)
Haunted Canyons
(Bloodstone Fen)
The Grotto
(Thunderhead Peaks)

Organization

Order of Whispers
Pact

Image(s)

Appearance as a prisoner in the Forsaken Thicket.

“

I'm either exceptionally unlucky or exceptionally lucky. Can't decide which.

— Squad Leader Bennett

Squad Leader Bennett is the leader of the Pact squad which went missing in the Forsaken Thicket. After he was rescued from his captors and recovered his strength, Bennett returned to aid the Pact against the White Mantle in Bloodstone Fen in 1329 AE. He traveled to Thunderhead Peaks to help train Pact forces for the assault on the Elder Dragon Kralkatorrik in 1332 AE.

Locations

Heart of Maguuma

• Forsaken Thicket
  • Salvation Pass
    • Temple of Salvation

• Bloodstone Fen
  • Haunted Canyons
    • Tomb of the Confessors

Shiverpeak Mountains

• Thunderhead Peaks
  • The Grotto
    • Grand Lyceum

Story involvement

Living World Season 3

• Episode 1: Out of the Shadows
  • Blood and Stone
  • A Shadow's Deeds

Dialogue

Salvation Pass

It's hard to believe the White Mantle have been operating unchecked for so long. We have to do something about it.

How do you know these people are White Mantle?

Squad Leader Bennett: Look around. Those banners, their weapons, the outfits-they all scream "religious fanatics".

Squad Leader Bennett: There's propaganda everywhere. Explore the temple and the living area. You'll see what I mean.

Squad Leader Bennett: The other prisoners might know more.

We have to stop them.

Squad Leader Bennett: Agreed. If the White Mantle has been operating out here unchecked for this long, who knows how strong they are.

Squad Leader Bennett: They're sacrificing people and harnessing their magic, but for what? The Mursaat are all dead.

Squad Leader Bennett: Unless... no, I don't even want to think about that.

Squad Leader Bennett: They could destabilize the Krytan government. The queen and the Shining Blade need to be notified.

What do you know about the Bloodstone?

Squad Leader Bennett: Their weapons are imbued with powerful magic. I'd bet my right eye it has something to do with the Bloodstone.

Squad Leader Bennett: It's a relic that can store vast amounts of magical energy, including the souls of those sacrificed.

Squad Leader Bennett: Centuries ago, the Mursaat used bloodstone magic to keep their enemies at bay.

Squad Leader Bennett: But the Mursaat were all killed off, except for one who was gravely wounded.

Tell me about the last Mursaat.

Squad Leader Bennett: Lazarus was the last surviving Mursaat, though most theorize he wandered off to die.

Squad Leader Bennett: But if the White Mantle are actively sacrificing innocents, it's not a stretch to think the Mursaat are also benefiting.

Squad Leader Bennett: Lazarus—if he's still alive—may be under their protection.

Where are these ghosts coming from?

Squad Leader Bennett: You saw them too, huh?

Squad Leader Bennett: There's lots of spirit activity in the woods. Something agitated them.

Squad Leader Bennett: The White Mantle have been sacrificing people and using bloodstone fragments to siphon the magic from them.

Squad Leader Bennett: We all felt the shock wave when Mordremoth died. That may have blasted them free.

Recap the White Mantle's origins. [Replay Cinematic]

Bloodstone Fen

Squad Leader Bennett: Glad you made it, Commander. I thought the blast took you out.

Recap the White Mantle's origins. [Replay Cinematic] (starts cinematic)

The Mursaat preyed upon the weak and impressionable, who in turn worshiped them as gods.

Calling themselves the White Mantle, these converts sacrificed innocents and toppled the Krytan monarchy.

The chaos they inflicted on Tyria was short-lived. They were eventually crushed, and their scattered remnants went into hiding.

But pockets of their fanatical followers have been operating in the shadows ever since.

What happened in Forsaken Thicket?

<Character name>: Tell me what happened to your squad.

Squad Leader Bennett: Our platoon was on recon. We found something at the north edge of Verdant Brink, so we pitched camp.

Squad Leader Bennett: The plan was to scout the area at dawn, so we turned in for the night. Then everything went to Torment in a town cart.

Squad Leader Bennett: There was an explosion, then screams. I grabbed my gear and ran out of the tent.

Squad Leader Bennett: Saw one of my men lit up like a Wintersday bonfire. Sabetha and her lackeys torched everything, laughing as they went.

Squad Leader Bennett: And then...blackness. I woke up with a splitting headache, caged like a dog. Kept my mouth shut and just watched them.

Squad Leader Bennett: After a few days, I told them I was ready to talk. Said I'd cooperate in exchange for the safety of my troops.

Squad Leader Bennett: Told them they could use me for hard labor or experimentation. Didn't matter. I'd made my peace with Grenth.

Squad Leader Bennett: I was taken deeper inside and thrown in a pen with some others. They deprived us of food and water.

Squad Leader Bennett: Let their dogs snarl at our cages. At night we heard the other prisoners begging for their lives before being cut open.

Squad Leader Bennett: The sky would light up, and I would hear chanting. Over and over.

Squad Leader Bennett: Sorry, Commander. It...stuck with me.

What are you doing here?

<Character name>: What are you doing here?

If rescued Bennett at Salvation Pass:

Squad Leader Bennett: After you rescued me, I notified the queen about Salvation Pass. Then I regrouped with my squad and chased some White Mantle here.

If didn't rescue Bennett at Salvation Pass:

Squad Leader Bennett: After I was rescued, I notified the queen about Salvation Pass. Then I regrouped with my squad and chased some White Mantle here.

<Character name>: So you were here for the blast?

Squad Leader Bennett: Craziest thing. It exploded, then imploded. Like when you're a kid and you dangle spit from your mouth, then suck it back in.

<Character name>: I never did that.

Squad Leader Bennett: Sure. Me neither. But you know what I mean. When the explosion reversed, it...it was like it pulled at my soul.

How have you been since Salvation Pass?

<Character name>: How've you been since Salvation Pass?

If rescued Bennett at Salvation Pass:

Squad Leader Bennett: I've been thanking Dwayna you busted me out of that infernal place. If not for you, I'd be rotting in a ditch.

If didn't rescue Bennett at Salvation Pass:

Squad Leader Bennett: I've been thanking Dwayna that the rescue team found me in time. If not for them, I'd be rotting in a ditch.

Squad Leader Bennett: When I close my eyes at night, I can still hear the screams. Men, women. They spared no one. I lost count.

Squad Leader Bennett: Anyway, I made my way back to Falgeir's camp and rejoined the squad. Saw the field medic and got checked out.

Squad Leader Bennett: Then we sent word to Queen Jennah about everything. Gave her and the Shining Blade as much information as we could.

Squad Leader Bennett: The Pact offered to put me on leave, but I turned it down. No way I'm giving these murderers a break.

Squad Leader Bennett: So we pursued a lead on White Mantle movement and tracked the pigs up here.

Squad Leader Bennett: Look what they've done with the place! Shameful.

Good-bye.

Thunderhead Peaks

Good to see you again, Commander.

I'm glad to have a veteran of the White Mantle campaign fighting with us.

I've seen terrible things in my time, but what Kralkatorrik has done... It's unthinkable. You'll need all the help and experience you can get.

I accept yours gratefully.

The same. At ease.

Notes

• In Salvation Pass, Bennett is located at the end and can only be spoken to after Matthias Gabrel has been defeated.

Trivia

• His name is a reference to Trevor Bennett, a member of the Guild Wars 2 Raids Team.
• The expression "everything went to Torment in a town cart" is probably a Guild Wars 2 equivalent reference of the expression "everything went to hell in a handcart".