Empress Ihn

Empress Ihn

Race

Human

Level

80

Locations

• Outreach
  (Seitung Province)
  
• Prologue: The Tyrian Alliance
  (Divinity's Reach, Lion's Arch, Black Citadel, The Grove, Hoelbrak, Rata Sum)
  
• Strangers among Lands
  (Postern Ward, Harvest Den, Harvest Shore)

Organization

Tyrian Alliance

“

Please afford me the respect my throne merits. I do know sarcasm when I hear it.

— Empress Ihn

Her Imperial Majesty Ihn, Empress regnant of the Empire of the Dragon, is a direct descendant of the Canthan imperial family founded by the first Canthan emperor Kaineng Tah. She is also the half-sister of Yu Joon and aunt of Yu Sung. Ihn cares a lot about the Canthan people and wants the best for them.

After the forming of the Tyrian Alliance, she sanctions ritualists to spread their teachings beyond Cantha in the spirit of global collaboration.

Biography

Early years

Ihn was born to the Imperial Family of the Empire of the Dragon as the daughter of Emperor Taejeong. Following her father's passing, she became the second empress regnant of Cantha after her great-grandmother Empress Haebaragi. Ihn would soften some of her father's policies, choosing a more openminded and diplomatic approach to solving conflicts as she understood that change was inevitable to ensure Cantha's progress and welfare in the future.

Ihn also learned that the innovator and head of Xunlai Jade, Yu Joon, was her half-sister from the emperor's extramarital affair with the potter and jade trader Yu Dal-Rae. Despite some tension between the half-sisters as Joon's influence and power began growing due to her company's amassed wealth, Ihn and Joon appeared to get along thanks to the innovations Joon had provided to Canthans with her jade tech. However, Ihn would sometimes remind Joon to show her proper courtly respect as empress. In 1330 CC (1320 AE), the empress certified Joon's Xunlai Jade acquiring exclusive dragonjade mining rights at the Jade Sea as well as assets and land rights from the Silver Dawn Mining Group and that the rights would be held for a period of no less than ninety-nine years.

Just like her father and grandfather before her, Ihn learned the secret that the imperial court advisor Navan was actually the legendary saltspray dragon Kuunavang in disguise. When the construction of Xunlai Jade's Yong Reactor was complete and the inspection was scheduled, Joon revealed its true purpose to Ihn and the highest ranking ministers in the Canthan government: the reactor was being retrofitted to house the Elder Dragon Soo-Won, who had once saved Cantha from the Great Tsunami, to siphon magic off of her into Joon's dragonjade tech with the Elder Dragon's consent. This knowledge was quickly compartmentalized and classified by the Ministry of Security, in coordination with the Ministry of Intelligence and select members of the government and the Imperial Family.

End of Dragons

Act 1

Ihn on her throne with Navan about to receive the Krytan delegation.

In 1845 CC (1335 AE), pirates calling themselves the Aetherblades suddenly appeared over Seitung Province to spread chaos with their air raids, followed by the arrival of the Elder Dragon Aurene and two Tyrian trespassers—the asura Gorrik and the Pact Commander—who had washed ashore amidst Aetherblade airship wreckage. While the pair were detained for questioning in Seitung Prison, the Imperial Court began considering how to respond to the incident. Realizing the opportunity as a pivotal time for the empire, Joon argued in favor of opening Cantha's borders to foreign visitors, eventually persuading Ihn and the court to her side.

Ihn sent a message to Kryta informing the northern kingdom about Cantha reopening its borders and inviting Kryta to reestablish diplomatic relations. The empress also used the opportunity to inquire the Krytan throne about foreign airships appearing in Canthan skies as well as the arrival of a dragon and two foreigners on Seitung's shores. Queen Jennah sent a delegation headed by Ambassador Kasmeer Meade to enter negotiations with the Imperial Court and assure them that Kryta had nothing to do with the Aetherblade invasion. The delegation flew an airship to Cantha, getting past the Unchained Risen armada patrolling the Sea of Sorrows by cloaking themselves with Kasmeer's mesmer spell.

Kasmeer was eventually invited to meet Ihn in the Royal Court and was accompanied by the asuran researcher Taimi and the Commander. The trio witnessed a heated exchange between Joon and Minister Li Ha-Eung about Xunlai Jade's latest jade mechs and if they were safe to use in front of the imperial throne. Ihn took her half-sister's side in the argument, reminding Li that Joon had been pivotal for Cantha's progress and had earned the empress's trust. However, she also made sure to remind Joon of her place in the hierarchy.

Moving her attention to the delegates, Ihn began with courtly etiquette wishing Queen Jennah well although she was also quick to point out the problem the Aetherblades posed to Cantha while wondering if Kryta was involved in the incident in any way. Minister Li interrupted the exchange, trying to sway the empress to see his point of view that Tyrians could not be trusted and had ulterior motives for visiting Cantha. Ihn took Joon's suggestion to have Joon and Li continue their debate in an adjacent chamber in private so the empress's conversation with the delegates could proceed without further interruptions.

Kasmeer formally introduced one of the former prisoners of Seitung in her company as the Commander, making Ihn inquire more about the title until the imperial advisor Navan informed the empress of the Commander's relation to the Pact which Ihn had heard about. Ihn accepted Kasmeer's proposal that the Tyrian delegation would repay the Imperial Court's mercy by handling the Aetherblade threat for them with the Ministry of Security's help, and told the delegates to speak to Minister Li about the details of this collaboration. Having said her piece, Ihn concluded the meeting and retired to her chamber with Navan.

Act 2

When Joon's protege Mai Trin had surrendered to the Commander's party and was revealed to have been the original leader of the Aetherblades before being ousted in a mutiny by her First Mate Ankka, Ihn's advisor Navan expressed worry if Mai Trin could be trusted given her past criminal associations. Kasmeer assured the advisor that the party would keep an eye on Mai Trin while the pirate was aiding them in the Aetherblade investigation, and countered the question by asking Navan if Joon could be trusted. Although Navan admitted that Joon's relationship with the Aetherblades was a concerning matter that Joon would have to answer for, Empress Ihn was certain that her half-sister was not a traitor to the throne.

Act 3

Upon learning of Soo-Won's sudden maddened rampage causing the destruction of Yong Reactor and that the Commander had been sighted at the reactor just before the incident, Navan and Ihn expressed concern over the Commander's actions while Minister Li and Joon advocated for arresting the Commander's party and deporting all foreigners from Canthan soil for acts of terrorism. After hearing Kasmeer steadfastly vouching for the Commander's innocence, Navan proposed a discreet meeting at Nika's Blade restaurant in New Kaineng to discuss the matter face-to-face on Ihn's behalf as the empress did not want anyone to behave rashly before assessing the diplomatically sensitive situation first and if the Commander could be trusted.

Act 5

After the Commander had proven their innocence and ended the threat posed by the Void via the death of Soo-Won, Cantha's borders reopened. To strengthen Cantha's diplomatic relations with other nations, Empress Ihn began planning her first trip abroad to visit Queen Jennah in Divinity's Reach in Kryta. According to Mi-Rae's holonews report, Ihn would be accompanied by Krytan Ambassador Kasmeer Meade and Acting Minister of Security Cho Min who had temporarily taken the position of the deposed and imprisoned Minister Li who had been found guilty of high treason. After learning how Mai Trin had sacrificed her life to save New Kaineng from a Void outbreak in the Aetherblade attack in the Yong Reactor, Ihn bestowed her the posthumous title Hero of Kaineng for her exceptional display of bravery.

What Lies Within

Despite Mi-Rae's earlier announcement suggesting otherwise, Cho Min ultimately did not accompany Ihn and Kasmeer on the overseas diplomatic trip. During an outing with Detective Rama and their friends in the Red Duck Tea House in New Kaineng months after the death of Soo-Won, Min mentioned that the empress was visiting Divinity's Reach and had apparently departed from Cantha sometime within a few weeks before the tea house date.

Lunar New Year 2024

After a successful diplomatic visit to Queen Jennah, Empress Ihn sent Navan to Divinity's Reach as the official Canthan ambassador in 1336 AE so Navan could observe Kryta's celebration of the new year in hopes of revitalizing the two nations' shared history. While participating in the Lunar New Year festival, Navan met the Commander, and the two talked about Cantha's current political climate as well as the differences between Kryta's Lunar New Year and Cantha's Dragon Festival. Navan explained that the Imperial Court had been busy as there had been a rush of diplomatic and trade matters for Ihn and the court to negotiate with Cantha's borders reopening.

Janthir Wilds

Act 1

Empress Ihn at the Tyrian Alliance meeting.

Sometime within the past four years prior to the Tyrian Alliance's founding, the cat criminal mastermind Ms. Jeeves had supposedly left a hairball on Empress Ihn's throne as a sign of her prowess as a cat burglar.

In 1337 AE after multiple hostile incursions from the Mists had taken place across the world and caused chaos in their wake, Queen Jennah sent invitations to multiple nations and organizations to attend a meeting in Lion's Arch with the intention of forming a Tyrian Alliance so the members of this alliance could combat future threats together. Although Ihn had been advised to send a liaison in her stead, she wanted to attend the meeting personally to show the face of the empire. She was accompanied by the tengu Ayumi, now acting as the leader of the Kestrels who represented Canthans living outside of New Kaineng. Upon being reunited with the Pact Commander, Ihn remarked how Jennah had been instrumental in Cantha's integration into the wider world and had managed to attract an impressive number of delegates to the gathering. According to Ayumi, the empress had made it her priority to unite the empire despite the thick line between developed Cantha and the rural communities and lingering anxiety surrounding jade tech.

As the representatives of the major powers each had a floor to inform their fellow delegates about the issues in their respective nations, Councillor Ludo of Rata Sum admitted that Cantha's advancements on asuran designs had ignited the asura's competitive spirit to outdo Xunlai's tech. She motioned to eliminate any restrictions on admittance into the asuran colleges and a focus on global information exchange, while Ihn approved of the motion and encouraged friendly competitive spirit between nations for the betterment of all. During her speech Ihn admitted that she wanted to better integrate Cantha into international politics as well as use the opportunity to enlist archivists to update Cantha's out-of-date records on historical events abroad.

When Jennah revealed that the unknown assailants from the Mists had been demons called the Kryptis, the delegates demanded to know how the queen had discerned this information that had eluded the rest of them. The escalating arguments stopped abruptly when a being whom Jennah's advisor, Countess Anise, identified as the Seer Isgarren of the Astral Ward made a grand entrance followed by his norn assistant Frode. The pair quickly summarized the purpose of the Astral Ward as the secret protectors of the world of Tyria and that the Kryptis threat had already been dealt with thanks to the assistance of the Commander whom they referred to as the Wayfinder. The reason for the ward finally revealing themselves in public was due to them suffering major losses in the war against the Kryptis and because they needed help from the other factions. According to Isgarren, the Kryptis were just one of many threats now turning their attention to Tyria as the end of the old dragon cycle had exposed the world and its riches to many interested and hostile beings dwelling in the Mists.

Once the meeting had calmed down enough, the Astral Ward representatives suggested sending members of the Tyrian Alliance, including the Commander, Caithe, and Imperator Malice Swordshadow of the Ash Legion to recruit the isolationist Lowland Kodan of Janthir to bolster the alliance's numbers and better prepare for the dangerous days ahead. Empress Ihn and Councillor Ludo used the break to have a conversation about future collaboration between their nations and agreed to mutual consultation.

Some time later, the alliance council was summoned to another meeting in Lion's Arch when the Commander's party had returned from Janthir with the Lowland Kodan's leader Stoic Alder in tow. The party and Alder explained how titans, an old foe from the Mists who had once spread chaos across Tyria, had appeared in Janthir to terrorize the lowlanders and spread corruption even though titans had supposedly been destroyed centuries ago. When the delegates tried to figure out the reason for the titans' sudden return, the necromancer Livia, who was sworn to the throne of Kryta, crashed the meeting. She called for utilization of the Scepter of Orr, an ancient Seer weapon designed to control or manipulate creatures from the Mists, which she had once wielded and which the Astral Ward had locked in their vaults since. No one had a straight answer about whether or not the scepter might actually work, but a few of the council were willing to risk it to calm the looming threat as quickly as possible. However, the room could not come to an agreement on what to do, so the Commander called for a vote. The majority, including Ihn, ultimately voted on not using the scepter due to its potential risks. As a result, Anise ordered Caithe, Malice, and the Commander to return to Janthir with Stoic Alder to do more research and determine the scope of the titan threat before deciding on whether to send reinforcements to Janthir to aid the lowlanders and the Astral Ward stationed there.

Absolution

In the months following the Tyrian Alliance's founding, Ihn continued corresponding with Councillor Ludo to strengthen their partnership and sharing of knowledge. Ihn's niece, Yu Sung, drew a simple illustration of the empress and the councillor which she gifted to Ludo who viewed the gesture as an auspicious omen of Ihn and Ludo's lucrative partnership.

By 1338 AE, the empress had learned of the Tyrian Alliance expedition's breakthrough into the ruins of the fallen mursaat city of Bava Nisos which contained the source of the titan invasion. Upon learning of the many mursaat ghosts haunting Bava Nisos and its outskirts, she sent the ritualist Kyung to help the restless spirits pass on to the Mists and thus make the alliance's campaign easier in the region.

As Ludo traveled to Bava Nisos to aid the alliance's push deeper into the ruined city, she managed to convince Ihn to lend several siege turtles for the assault. The turtles' heavy firepower came in handy to break through the magical barriers protecting the membrane which Saevus Saxum, the massive titan who had merged with Bava Nisos to turn it into his extended body, had grown around himself to shield his exposed organs.

Some time later, Ihn was present in another Tyrian Alliance meeting where Countess Anise and the Pact Commander had returned to inform the delegates about the details of their successful mission to end the titan threat in the ruins of Bava Nisos. The empress attended a subsequent victory celebration held in Lion's Arch, congratulating the Commander on a job well done. During the ensuing conversation, Ihn revealed how Kuunavang and Soo-Won had believed in the Commander's quality to have a positive impact on the world, and that she knew better than to question the two dragons' wisdom in this matter. The empress and Ayumi had also been in talks with the Dominion of Winds's tengu such as the royal messenger Kalidris Sparrowhawk about the Dominion possibly opening up to the rest of the world one day. Kalidris expressed hope that the talks between the two nations' leaders would bear fruit and that the Dominion's elders would agree to open the gates within their lifetimes.

Visions of Eternity

As collaboration between the members of the Tyrian Alliance deepened, Canthan, Elonian, and Krytan delegates traveled to each other's nations to teach their respective cultures to one another in 1338 AE. Empress Ihn contributed to the initiative by sending Kyung's sister Sang-Mi to Divinity's Reach to teach locals the ways of ritualists. She also potentially sent a personal letter to the Pact Commander to seek Sang-Mi out for further discussions about the craft that could be of use to necromancers.

Story involvement

End of Dragons story

• Act 1
  • Outreach

Janthir Wilds story

• Act 1
  • Prologue: The Tyrian Alliance
  • Strangers among Lands
• Absolution
  • Salvation's Cost

Gallery

Screenshots

• 

  Imperial court with Kasmeer Meade, the Pact Commander, Navan, Ihn, Joon, and Minister Li in the Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons Gameplay Features trailer.

• 

  Joon looking at a painting of her half-sister Ihn in the Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons Gameplay Features trailer.

• 

  Image from Guild Chat - Episode 116.

Concept art and other

• 

  Outreach loading screen with Navan, Ihn, the Pact Commander, Taimi, and Kasmeer Meade.

• 

  A render of a painting of Ihn.

• 

  Empress Ihn's banner, as displayed around the Royal Court.

Related achievements

• End of Dragons: Act 1: All Due Respect — Follow Kasmeer's lead to be a model of court decorum. (1)
• Janthir Wilds: Act 1: Everyone Loves Democracy — Listen to every delegate's thoughts on the vote. (1)
• Janthir Wilds: Act 1: Global Goings On — Listen to all of the delegates' updates during the Tyrian Alliance meeting. (1)
• Absolution: Master Mingler — Speak with all of the partygoers during the Tyrian Alliance's celebration. (1)

Trivia

• Ihn is voiced by Tina Huang.
• In development, Ihn was named Empress Yin.
• Ihn, alternatively spelled In and Yin (인), has various meanings in Korean Hanja.
  • 印 means "mark" or "seal".
  • 仁 means "benevolence" which may be a virtue required for a ruler.
• Ihn does not wear shoes, just like Queen Jennah, which has drawn the scholarly attention of Steward Gixx.
• Ihn is referred to as The Most Radiant Empress Ihn in legal documentation.
• In the time of Guild Wars Factions, the title of "empress" was bestowed only through marriage and had little real power in the patriarchal Canthan society.
  • The only other Canthan empress whose name was originally known until the release of Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons was Tahmu.

See also

• Canthan imperial family tree