Fractal (lore)
This article is about the phenomenon that occurs in the Mists. For the dungeon, see Fractals of the Mists. 
Fractals are a phenomenon that can form naturally in the Mists, recreating distorted versions of events from Tyria and other worlds.[1]
Nature[edit]
Fractals are a phenomenon naturally forming in the Mists. These fractals can only be visited via specialized gates, which are all under the Consortium's control.[2]
The fractal state has two chief characteristics. The first characteristic is its impermanence: events eventually reset to a default origin state regardless of actions taken therein. The second characteristic is that subjects of a fractal cannot be removed from their environment by natural events just as a reflection cannot be removed from a mirror.[3] This is why e.g. Dessa of Mistlock Observatory and other fractal and borderland Mist copies of beings reset to their default state with some of their memories of recent conversations erased if anyone tries to lead them from the Mists to Tyria.[4] The only known instance of fractals being brought into reality happened due to the instability brought upon by the end of the Elder Dragon cycle.[5]
History[edit]
Living World Season 1[edit]
Ellen Kiel, who had earned a seat on the Captain's Council of Lion's Arch in 1326 AE, had made good on her promises to her supporters by sponsoring research in the Fractals of the Mists, focused on investigating the reason behind the Thaumanova Reactor meltdown.[6]
Chaos Fractal[edit]
Shattered Observatory Fractal[edit]
Secrets of the Obscure[edit]
After the death of the Mother Elder Dragon Soo-Won, the Mists had destabilized which lead to multiple fractals with their inhabitants, studied by the mysterious Astral Ward, to materialize within the world of Tyria, raising both academic and moral issues for the Ward to how to deal with this situation.
List of known fractals[edit]
- Aetherblade Fractal — Recreation of the Aetherblade Retreat
- Aquatic Ruins Fractal
- Captain Mai Trin Boss Fractal — Recreation of the Aetherblade Retreat
- Chaos Fractal — Composite of the Captain Mai Trin Boss, Cliffside, Snowblind, Solid Ocean, Thaumanova Reactor, Uncategorized, and Urban Battleground Fractals
- Cliffside Fractal — Recreation of early Tyria, near the beginning of history.[7]
- Deepstone Fractal — Recreation of the dwarven city of Deepstone
- Lonely Tower Fractal — Recreation of Eparch's attack on the Wizard's Tower
- Mistlock Observatory
- Molten Boss Fractal — Recreation of the Molten Facility
- Molten Furnace Fractal — Recreation of the Molten Facility
- Nightmare Fractal — Recreation of the Tower of Nightmares with various other fractals bleeding into it
- Shattered Observatory Fractal
- Silent Surf Fractal — Recreation of the Jade Sea in the aftermath of the Jade Wind
- Siren's Reef Fractal
- Snowblind Fractal
- Solid Ocean Fractal — Recreation of the Jade Sea
- Sunqua Peak Fractal — Recreation of Sunqua Vale distorted by elemental magic
- Swampland Fractal
- Thaumanova Reactor Fractal — Recreation of the Thaumanova Reactor disaster
- Twilight Oasis Fractal
- Uncategorized Fractal — Recreation of a past asuran disaster[8]
- Underground Facility Fractal
- Urban Battleground Fractal — Recreation of an Ascalonian city from shortly before the Searing[9]
- Volcanic Fractal
- Devastated Garenhoff — Recreation of a version of Garenhoff where the Wizard's Tower disappeared
- Droknar's Light — Recreation of Droknar's Forge
- Jade Mech Habitation Zone 03 — Recreation of a version of New Kaineng City that was taken over by jade mechs
- Primal Maguuma — Recreation of a version of the Maguuma Jungle that grew out of control due to an abundance of ley magic
- Rata Novus Promenade — Recreation of a version of Rata Novus that was not abandoned by its residents
- Skyward Marches — Recreation of a version of Elona where the Pact Commander fled Balthazar
- Unknown
- REDACTED — Recreation of an unknown place and time, where an unknown mutation has occured, resulting in an extreme-level threat. Recommended to be expunged and all data censored[10]
References[edit]
- ^ Dialogue with Peitha at Vass's Compassion
- Peitha: Mm. These "fractals," as you call them... Curious things.
- Peitha: I've seen them form before in the Mists. Ones that form on their own. They don't only tell stories of your world.
- Peitha: I feel the fear—the beings brought into your world. I feel...sympathy for them.
- ^ Fractals of the Mists (story)
- ^ The Warclaw
- ^ Fractals of the Mists
- Captain Ellen Kiel: At least we've got some good info to take back to the people of Lion's Arch. And that's not the only thing we're taking back.
- Captain Ellen Kiel: Dessa, you're coming with me. I've got a lot more questions that need answers.
- Dessa: I don't—I can't—
- Captain Ellen Kiel: You're not under arrest, but I can't leave this machinery in Consortium hands. Now do us all a favor and come quietly.
- (Dessa walks into the asura gate. The screen flashes, and she re-appears in front of Kiel.)
- Captain Ellen Kiel: Nice try. Dessa. I don't know what kind of mecha-magical gizmo you're using, but you can't get away from us that easily.
- Dessa: I'm sorry, have we met? Welcome to the Mistlock Observatory. So, are you interested in exploring the Fractals?
- Captain Ellen Kiel: You really don't recognize me, do you? You don't remember sending a team into the Thaumanova Reactor?
- Dessa: Thaumanova? I've got friends on that krewe, and from what I understand, it's not a safe place to visit. Or work.
- Captain Ellen Kiel: Never mind. This is going to take some time to figure out. I'll be back, Dessa. Be here when I come for you.
- Dessa: Not a problem. My life's work is here, and I couldn't leave it even if I wanted to.
- Captain Ellen Kiel: I understand. At least, I think I'm starting to. My sincere apologies, citizen. Carry on.
- ^ Mother of Stars
- Zojja: We're up and running! Good.
- Frode: This'll help. Navigating the islands might be a bit...
- <Character name>: Confusing.
- Frode: Right. Over time Isgarren and the wizards created various "reflections."
- Zojja: For the scientific-minded, you can think of them like simulations.
- Mabon: They were kept on an astral plane, separated from our physical reality.
- <Character name>: So they're like fractals.
- Zojja: Exactly!
- Zojja: But unlike fractals, these are HERE. These "copies" are now physical and susceptible to Kryptis influence.
- Mabon: When the dragon cycle ended and the spire's magic was fractured, some of those reflections spilled out.
- Mabon: They fell into multiple planes of existence. Some of them solified here.
- Frode: Kaineng, Elona... So often the world was only inches away from a completely different reality.
- <Character name>: So they are real, not just...illusions? Living beings, trapped in "simulations"?
- Frode: Real as you and I. They're shaken and in need of someone's help.
- ^ Fractured, Guildwars2.com
- ^ TowerTalk LoreSpecial: Closeup Flame&Frost and Fractals, TowerTalk
- ^ Post by Scott McGough, Official Guild Wars 2 Forums
- ^ TowerTalk LoreSpecial: Closeup Flame&Frost and Fractals, TowerTalk
- ^ REDACTED Fractal Research
