A Bold New Theory

A Bold New Theory

Year

1325 AE

Storyline

Personal story

Chapter

Rescue Researcher

Location

Apprentice Carrels
(Rata Sum)

Level

30

Race

Asura

Preceded by

Magnum Opus
Flash Flood
Split Second

Followed by

Forging Permission
Hazardous Environment

API

49

A Bold New Theory is part of the personal story for asura characters.

Objectives

Travel to Rata Sum.

• Go to Rata Sum.
• Read Zojja's letter.

Assess the validity of Professor Gorr's new theory.

• Meet Zojja in Rata Sum.
• Listen to Professor Gorr's presentation.
• Confer with Zojja.
• Listen to the other presenters until Gorr returns.
• Confer with Zojja and the order representatives.
• Decide on a plan to verify Gorr's death.

Rewards

Click here to edit the reward data

All professions

• Novice's Bag of Crafting Supplies
• Bag of Loot (2)
• 8 Slot Invisible Bag

Profession-specific

• One of the following: Ravaging Scale Pauldrons, Strong Scale Pauldrons, Hearty Scale Pauldrons
• One of the following: Ravaging Outlaw Shoulders, Strong Outlaw Shoulders, Hearty Outlaw Shoulders
• One of the following: Ravaging Student Mantle, Strong Student Mantle, Hearty Student Mantle

Walkthrough

This is a very straightforward mission. There is no combat, just read the letter, enter the instance, and at the end you'll have to make a choice for what to do your next mission.

NPCs

Allies

Asura

• Agent Batanga, representative of the Order of Whispers
• Arcane Eye Agent
• Cepha
• Citizen
• Crusader Slep, representative of the Vigil
• Emcee
• Krewe Researcher
• Professor Gorr
• Scholar Krasso, representative of the Durmand Priory
• Zojja

Dialogue

Mail received upon entry to Rata Sum:

Zojja A Presentation and An Opportunity Savant, How familiar are you with a professor name Gorr? I've been following his research, and he's drawing some fascinating connections between worldwide magic levels and the rise of the Elder Dragons. He's scheduled to present his latest findings at an academic conference, and I want you to help me gauge how valid they are. I also think there might be a unique opportunity for you in all this. See you there. —Zojja

Apprentice Carrels

Approaching Zojja:

Emcee: Thank you. Intriguing stuff.

Zojja waves at <Character name>.

Zojja: Good, you got my letter. Gorr's just about to start his presentation. This should be interesting.

Emcee: Now, let's welcome Professor Gorr.

Professor Gorr: The Seventh Law of Maginamics posits that magical energy cannot be destroyed. Today I will prove that magic is a limited resource like water, ore, or timber.

Professor Gorr: Using my advanced equipment, I have detected significant drops in the world's ambient magic levels. This drop, I believe, is directly attributed to the return of the Elder Dragons.

Professor Gorr: They consume magic at an alarming rate. If the dragons are not stopped soon, they will leech all of the magic from the world.

Citizen: Ah, bosh! Magic doesn't get "consumed." It changes form and concentration, but it always returns. It's part of a closed system.

Professor Gorr: I have proof! The data is...where did I leave those notes? I must have left them in my lab.

Citizen: Boo! Boooooooo!

Citizen: This is pure bunk! Get off the stage!

Professor Gorr: Please excuse me while I fetch my records. I can prove the problem exists, then we can focus on its solution.

Emcee: Professor Gorr will return shortly. Until then, please welcome Cepha from the Phrenologist Krewe.

Zojja: Thank you for coming. I see a lot of overlap in Gorr's theory and our shared goals.

Scholar Krasso: As do I. If Gorr's research aligns with the Priory's, we may be looking at a cultural revolution.

Crusader Slep: Revolutions are won militarily, not academically. Still, Gorr's theory could prove useful.

Agent Batanga: I agree, but nothing can happen until Gorr makes his case. Why don't we all settle in and listen?

Talking to the Order Representatives:

Agent Batanga: If you've got questions about the Order of Whispers, I've got all the answers. I can only give you some of them, however. And they may be in code.

I do have some questions.

I'll try to answer as directly as possible, but no promises. I've been training to be evasive for so long it's become second nature.

What is the Order of Whispers?

We're problem-solvers. We work behind the scenes and in the shadows. We're not soldiers—we're spies, saboteurs, and assassins. Our current top problems is the Elder Dragons.

I have another question.

That's all I needed to know.

How does the Order of Whispers operate?

As the name indicates: quietly. We eschew direct confrontation in favor of subtlety and guile. If we can avoid a war by blackmailing a general or poisoning a potentate, that's what we do.

I have another question.

That's all I needed to know.

How was the Order founded?

That's hard to say...to you. Until you officially join, let's just go with, "We came from somewhere else for the purpose of protecting innocents from dark magic and would-be conquerors.

I have another question.

That's all I needed to know.

That's all I needed to know.

I'll check in with you later.

Scholar Krasso: If you're interested in the Durmand Priory, I'd be happy to answer any questions. Let's keep it down, though. I don't want to spoil the other geniuses' presentations.

I do have a few questions.

Consider me your personal font of esoteric knowledge. Ask away.

What is the Priory?

We're an academy of researchers and explorers that finds, archives, and employs ancient wisdom. Our current focus is the defeat of the Elder Dragons, and we're pursuing multiple means to that end.

I have another question.

That's all I needed to know.

How does the Priory operate? What are your methods?

We employ academics, explorers, and combatants at facilities all across Tyria. We go where antiquities are, collect them, study them, and put them to use.

I have another question.

That's all I needed to know.

Who founded the Priory?

Durmand, of course. He was a scholar in Lion's Arch when Orr rose. His cliff-top monastery became a repository for knowledge that would have otherwise been lost in the chaos following the flood.

So other scholars came to him?

Scholars and mages of all races came to do research and share what they knew. Durmand quickly saw this as a way to combat the dragons. Knowledge is often literally power, after all.

I see.

I have another question.

That's all I needed to know.

That's all I needed to know.

Not right now, thanks.

Crusader Slep: Standing by if you have any questions about the Vigil.

I do have a few questions.

Fire when ready.

What is the Vigil?

The Vigil is a highly trained, well-disciplined army dedicated to destroying the Elder Dragons through open warfare. We also protect civilians and repair the damage the dragons do.

I have another question.

That's all I needed to know.

How does the Vigil operate?

Like a well-oiled military machine. We do reconnaissance, we identify objectives, and we strike. Our actions are always tightly coordinated and focused on getting results.

I have another question.

That's all I needed to know.

Who founded the Vigil?

General Almorra Soulkeeper. The Crystal Dragon killed her warband when it created the Brand. She dedicated her life to building a fighting force that could respond to that level of devastation.

I have another question.

That's all I needed to know.

That's all I needed to know.

None right now, thanks.

Cinematic with Zojja:

Zojja: Savant, allow me to present three of Rata Sum's finest minds: Slep of the Vigil, Batanga of the Order of Whispers, and Krasso of the Durmand Priory.

Zojja: I asked them here to listen to Professor Gorr's speech, because they all have an interest in fighting the Elder Dragons.

Scholar Krasso: Pleased to meet you, Savant. The Durmand Priory is dedicated to research and exploration that will help us combat the Elder Dragons.

Scholar Krasso: As you can imagine, we've been watching Professor Gorr's progress with keen interest. I'm glad to see you share that interest.

Agent Batanga: We all share the Priory's interest...just not their methods. In the Order of Whispers, we specialize in covert activity: information, infiltration, and assassination.

Agent Batanga: I understand, you're more of a doer than a researcher, so you'll appreciate this: if Gorr's theory gives us a clear avenue of attack, we intend to use it.

Crusader Slep: How clear does a target have to be for you sneaks? The dragons aren't exactly tiny, nor do they keep a low profile.

Crusader Slep: The Vigil's army of dedicated fighters was founded to confront the dragons through force of arms. I'm here to see if Gorr's work can help us do that.

<Character name>: Pleased to meet you all. Professor Gorr's theory is ground-breaking...and the implications are monumental. I'm interested to hear him finish his presentation.

Zojja: He should be back soon. Let's see if any of the other speakers have any insights for us while we wait.

Waiting for Gorr to return:

Cepha: An exhaustive study of Tyrian physiognomy led me to derive what I call Cepha's Constant.

Cepha: Multiplied by the mean ratio of body mass to brain size, it yields an important racial metric.

Cepha: Namely, said race's importance as a factor in the Eternal Alchemy.

Cepha: Asura scored highest, naturally. Then, in descending order, we have sylvari, charr, human, and norn.

Emcee: Your attention, please. I have just been informed that our colleague Gorr will not be returning.

Emcee: The Arcane Eye reports that he was killed in a tragic lab accident while recovering his notes.

Emcee: It is a terrible blow to science. We should all mourn one of Rata Sum's finest minds.

Emcee: On that dolorous note, this seminar is hereby concluded. Thank you for coming.

Cinematic with the Order Representatives:

Zojja: Gorr died just as he was about to present proof of his theory. Does that strike anyone else as suspicious? Even dubious?

<Character name>: It does. I'd like to inspect Gorr's lab and review his documentation. Though if the Arcane Eye's involved, we may not get that chance.

Agent Batanga: The Order of Whispers can help. The Arcane Eye serves the Arcane Council, right? They have to do what the Council says. It's in their charter.

Agent Batanga: We simply pay a visit to High Councillor Flax's lab, find the materials to make a convincing forgery, and walk right past the Arcane Eye.

Scholar Krasso: How unnecessarily complicated. Simpler just to outwit the sentries outside Gorr's lab. The Arcane Eye can't match the Priory's brain power.

Crusader Slep: I'll leave fact-finding to the Priory and Whispers. When you lot establish a clear objective, the Vigil will be ready.

Zojja: Listen, Savant. I'm pursuing a long-term, big-picture strategy here, so I want you to take charge. Choose the most viable plan and see it through.

Zojja: We need to know what Gorr was going to show us. And if he was silenced, we need to know who did it, and why. Good luck.

Talking to NPCs before choosing your course of action:

Agent Batanga: Are you up for some intrigue, Whispers-style? Access Flax's office, forge the documents we need, and breeze past the Arcane Eye sentries into Gorr's lab. What do you say?

I say count me in.

I need more time to decide.

Scholar Krasso: The Priory plans to outsmart the Arcane Eye and access Gorr's lab. Their security detail must have a flaw, and we're the ones to identify and exploit it. Are you with me?

Yes. Let's get started.

I need more time to decide.

Crusader Slep: I'd love to have an iron in this fire, but the Vigil only commits resources when there's a clear combat objective. Good luck getting into Gorr's lab.

Thanks.

If you chose to go with the Order of Whispers:

Agent Batanga: Excellent choice. You're on your way to getting results. See you outside Councillor Flax's lab.

Agent Batanga: I knew you were Whispers material. I saw that gleam in your eye when I mentioned forgery. Meet me at Councillor Flax's office, and we'll put you to work.

See you there.

Scholar Krasso: Hmm. I thought Snaff Savants were supposed to be reasonable and perceptive. Ah, well. One outing with the Order of Whispers should show you the limitations of their approach. Good luck.

Thanks.

If you chose to go with the Durmand Priory:

Scholar Krasso: You've chosen wisely. I'll meet you outside Gorr's lab.

Agent Batanga: So, you're going with the Priory, eh? That's okay. Geniuses-in-training tend to gravitate toward academic options. When you're ready for real results, we'll still be here.

Thanks.

Scholar Krasso: So glad to have you with us for this outing. I hope this will be the beginning of a long and fruitful collaboration. I'll meet you at Gorr's lab.

See you there.

My story

“ Zojja contacted me and asked me to attend an academic presentation by a respected professor named Gorr. She's interested in Gorr's latest theory, and after hearing her describe its potential importance, so am I. I attended an advanced theoretical conference with Zojja and representatives of the three orders of Tyria. Professor Gorr presented his theory that the Elder Dragons consume magic, which was greeted with hostility. Gorr left to collect his research notes so he could convince the crowd, but he never came back. The Arcane Eye reported that Gorr had suddenly and conveniently died before he could return, but we were not convinced. I'm going to look into Gorr's disappearance personally. — My story

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Asura storyline