Flame and Frost: Prelude

The sky falls and the ground shakes in the lands of the north. Charr and norn refugees crawl from the wreckage of their homes in the Wayfarer Foothills and Diessa Plateau, struggling to find shelter in the south. The call goes out for volunteers to assist the victims in this time of need, when earth and sky seem to have become the enemy… — Official website

“

The sky falls and the ground shakes in the lands of the north. Charr and norn refugees crawl from the wreckage of their homes in the Wayfarer Foothills and Diessa Plateau, struggling to find shelter in the south. The call goes out for volunteers to assist the victims in this time of need, when earth and sky seem to have become the enemy…

— Official website

Flame and Frost: Prelude is a release launched on 28 January, 2013 as the first episode of Season one. That acts as the first part of the Flame and Frost narrative. It introduces the multi-stage Flame and Frost narrative and brings additional changes to Guild Wars 2 and primarily affects the charr (flame) and the norn (frost).

Features

Living World Season 1

“

A mystery presents itself in this first entry in a multipart Living Story series. What could be causing such discord in the foothills of the Shiverpeaks? All those poor homesteaders and ranchers displaced with nowhere to go calls into question if the storms could be that bad—or if there's something more sinister stirring up the flame and frost. The ground is shaking, and the sky is falling in northern Wayfarer Foothills and Diessa Plateau. Norn and charr refugees, crawling from the wreckage of their homes, are fighting their way to shelter in Hoelbrak and the Black Citadel. Many are in shock and wounded; most have only what they can carry on their backs. A call has gone out for volunteers to assist them in their time of need, when the environment itself seems to have become their enemy.

— Game update notes

Achievements

•  Daily — Daily Aquatic Slayer, Daily Crafter, Daily Dodger, Daily Events, Daily Gatherer, Daily Healer, Daily Kills, Daily Kill Variety, Daily Laurel Vendor, Daily Veteran Slayer
•  Flame and Frost — Refugee Volunteer

New Currencies

• Laurel

New Rewards

Ascended equipment

• Barradin Family Crest
• Blood of the Khan-Ur
• Bud of the Pale Tree
• Call of the Wild
• Conundrum of Maut
• Distinguished Circle of Logic
• Eye of Janthir
• Feather of the Owl
• Godrock Amulet
• Gwen's Necklace
• Hymn to the Prophets
• Jade Wind Orb
• Jalis Ironhammer's Crest
• Jewel of Ahdashim
• Mark of the Imperial Guard
• Mark of the Tethyos Houses
• Sandford's Medallion
• Speaker's Dawncord
• Star of Elona
• Symbol of the Deceiver
• Syzygy
• Thackeray Family Crest
• The Eyes of Abaddon
• The Golden Lotus
• The Heart of Mellaggan
• The Master's Special Serum
• The Shiniest Shiny
• The Sleeping Seed
• Vekk's Solidified Aether Circuit

Items

• Endless Mystery Cat Tonic
• Lost Orrian Jewelry Box
• Mystic Binding Agent
• Piece of Elementalist Gear
• Piece of Engineer Gear
• Piece of Guardian Gear
• Piece of Mesmer Gear
• Piece of Necromancer Gear
• Piece of Ranger Gear
• Piece of Thief Gear
• Piece of Warrior Gear
• Refugee Child's Drawing
• Blueprints
  • Arrow Cart Blueprint (blue)
  • Ballista Blueprint (blue)
  • Catapult Blueprint (blue)
  • Flame Ram Blueprint (blue)
  • Trebuchet Blueprint (blue)
• Starter Kits
  • Armorsmith Starter Kit
  • Artificer Starter Kit
  • Chef Starter Kit
  • Huntsman Starter Kit
  • Jeweler Starter Kit
  • Leatherworker Starter Kit
  • Tailor Starter Kit
  • Weaponsmith Starter Kit

Minis

• Mini Chauncey von Snuffles III
• Mini Goedulf
• Mini Risen Priest of Balthazar

Upgrades

• Experienced Infusion
• Healing Infusion
• Gilded Infusion
• Karmic Infusion
• Magical Infusion
• Malign Infusion
• Mighty Infusion
• Precise Infusion
• Resilient Infusion
• Vital Infusion

Content Updates

Gem Store

• Plush Quaggan Backpack Cover
• Riding Broom

Temporary features

• Temple of the Silent Storm: Week long event

Permanent features

• Temple of the Silent Storm: Added to regular rotation
• Improved achievement system with daily/monthly tracker UI.
• Guesting
• Tweaks to World versus World
• New Gem Store items available for purchase
• Changes to Orr to improve events, rewards, and general playability.
• Improvements to Fractals of the Mists, including new daily bonus chests.

Timeline

Steam jets erupting in Dolyak Pass, the northeast portion of Wayfarer Foothills.

28 January 2013

This update included many of the game features for the game release. Content related to Living Story can be found in Wayfarer Foothills, Diessa Plateau, the Black Citadel, and Hoelbrak. This content will change over the course of events.

29 January 2013

The Refugee Volunteer achievement track is released as part of the Flame and Frost Living Story. Content appears in Wayfarer Foothills and Diessa Plateau. Refugees begin appearing in Diessa Plateau on the evening of 29 January. Refugee camps appear in Hoelbrak and the Black Citadel. The Wolfborn Watch and Adamant Watch appear near the camps.

4 February 2013

The Refugee Blacksmith and Refugee Rancher appear in the Hoelbrak and the Black Citadel refugee camps, respectively.

11 February 2013

The Refugee Steadholder and Refugee Primus appear in the Hoelbrak and the Black Citadel refugee camps, respectively.

18 February 2013

The Wolfborn Watch and Adamant Watch change their dialogue to be more specific and note that Knut Whitebear and Rytlock Brimstone have sent scouts to the north. The refugee camps have added structures and have more refugees in them. Refugee Froya and Refugee Fiannas appear in the Hoelbrak and the Black Citadel refugee camps, respectively, mentioning the lack of room available in the camps. The Wolfborn Watch reports the dredge are suspected to be behind the attack along with magical help from the shadows. The Adamant Watch reports the Flame Legion have attacked villages.

25 February 2013

The Wolfborn Watch mentions an anonymous benefactor in Lion's Arch giving aid to the refugees. The Wolfborn Watch also reports the dredge and Flame Legion are conspiring together in a major offensive against norn and charr villages.

Flame and Frost

Primary article: Flame and Frost (achievements)

This release's living story is an expansive narrative that tracks the story of charr and norn refugees as they seek new homes after a disaster.

Refugee Sign Posts can be repaired as part of Refugee Volunteer.

Refugee Volunteer

Primary article: Refugee Volunteer

The first part tasks players with helping Norn and Charr make their way through Wayfarer Foothills and Diessa Plateau. Players can assist by building signposts, lighting campfires, helping wounded refugees and retrieving mementos from refugees who have fallen.

Gallery

• 

See also

• Flame and Frost mail, an in-game mail alerting players to story-related events.
• Herald, the in-game mechanism for informing players about the storyline.

Notes

• This update made adjustments to the dynamic leveling system, including allowing players to receive their own level of loot regardless of the area.

External links

• Flame and Frost: Prelude on official website
• Overview of the upcoming months by Game Director
• Introduction to the Living Story blog post
• Overview of new Laurel system
• Overview of Guesting system
• Dynamic Leveling adjustment blog post

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Living World Season 1 original story releases

Flame and Frost (Prelude•The Gathering Storm•The Razing•Retribution) The Secret of Southsun Last Stand at Southsun Dragon Bash Sky Pirates of Tyria Cutthroat Politics Queen's Jubilee Clockwork Chaos Twilight Assault Tower of Nightmares The Nightmares Within Fractured The Origins of Madness The Edge of the Mists Escape from Lion's Arch Battle for Lion's Arch Battle for Lion's Arch: Aftermath