The Jade Sea
“Hundreds of years ago, the Jade Wind petrified everything it touched—even the waters off Cantha’s coastline. Luxon nomads adapted to a world where seafaring happens on foot, and modern innovators are still finding uses for the Jade Sea’s unusual bounty.
— Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons - The Jade Sea
The Jade Sea is an inland sea within the continent of Cantha. Many years ago the Jade Sea was navigable for Luxons ships; after the Jade Wind occurred when Shiro Tagachi unleashed it, the sea became petrified in literal jade. Many years have passed, and the Jade Sea has begun to melt and return to its watery form in certain parts. The Jade Sea's original blueish turquoise color has turned more vibrant green after being hit by the magic released by the Elder Dragon Zhaitan's fall.[1]
However, much of the Jade Sea still remains petrified and is being exploited by Xunlai Jade and the Jade Brotherhood. The Xunlai Jade company uses jade in the creation of Dragonjade, a material used to power the Cantha Empire.
Locations[edit]
History[edit]
Early history[edit]
Prior to the devastating Jade Wind, the Jade Sea was a normal inland sea, so named for its color. At some point, the Luxons arrived and made their homes in the waters, choosing to become a nomadic group sailing across the clear waters. Alongside the Luxons, peaceful naga inhabited the sea, trading with humans and peacefully living along the shoreline.
The Jade Wind[edit]
In 1382 CC (872 AE), Emperor Angsiyan arrived at the Harvest Temple for an annual prayer to the goddess Dwayna. His bodyguard, Shiro Tagachi, influenced by the fallen god Abaddon, struck the emperor down to absorb his soul and the magic gifted by Dwayna, and was soon slain by the assassin Vizu and the Kurzick and Luxon champions Saint Viktor and Archemorus who had arrived to avenge the fallen emperor. However, in his last moments, Shiro let out a magically charged death wail that petrified the sea, turning everything in it to literal jade.
Leviathans froze in blocks of jade where they lay. With their habitat turned to stone, local sealife adapted to become land-dwelling. Far beneath the surface, the Deep formed, where the demon Kanaxai would spread his influence to gradually turn Luxons who breached too close to his domain mad. The naga population dwindled to the point that only twenty or so individuals remained, and they blamed all Canthan humans for the catastrophe and began viewing humans as enemies.
After the Jade Wind, the Luxons attempted to adapt to the familiar water now transformed into unfamiliar, strange crystal formations. They began mining pure Jadeite from the sea, to be sold to the people of the Empire of the Dragon.
End of Dragons[edit]
The Jade Sea has changed quite a bit in the following 250 years; much of the sea has been melting and returning to its watery form. However, there is still a large part of the sea frozen, and what is now the Xunlai Jade Quarry is completely empty of jade and houses an entire mining town, as in the Gyala Delve you can see a large mine in the Excavation Yard where previously there was jade and now it is a hole in the sea where vegetation has begun to grow and even deeper a large mine can be seen inside the Hollow where jade can be seen on top of the mine where the Jade Brotherhood extracts jade.
The jade is mined to be used in jade tech such as Jade Mechs, making modern day Cantha depend on it. Following the Elder Dragon Zhaitan's fall in 1835 CC (1325 AE), some of the released magic rippled through the land, following the ley lines, and found its way to the Harvest Temple. A magical green blush formed there and spread throughout Dragon's End, replacing the jade's original blueish turquoise color.[1]
With Soo-Won's death, Xunlai Jade is looking for a way to empower jade and continue to supply the empire. However, some Jade Brotherhood miners have been aggressive to the point of attacking their fellow miners. And some onis have started to appear
Gallery[edit]
- Screenshots
The Jade Sea still mostly petrified.
Flooded caves under the Jade Sea
Petrified fish that can still be seen.
Stored Dragonjade
A quarry where Dragonjade is mined.
One of the mines
Previously a quarry, where now there is a town.
It can be seen in certain parts how it returns to its aqueous form.
Jade infused by Ley Lines.
Jade infused by ley lines on the wall.
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- Cconcept art
Concept art from Guild Wars Factions by Daniel Dociu.
Concept of Destiny's Edge in the Jade Sea by Neal Hanson.
Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons concept art by Levi Hopkins.
Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons concept art by Levi Hopkins.
Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons concept art by Levi Hopkins.
Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons concept art by Levi Hopkins.
Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons concept art by Levi Hopkins.
Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons concept art by Levi Hopkins.
Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons concept art by Levi Hopkins.
Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons concept art by Levi Hopkins.
Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons concept art by Levi Hopkins.
Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons concept art by Levi Hopkins.
- Map
Appearance the Jade Sea in Guild Wars.
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See also[edit]
- Associated items
-
Block of the Solid Ocean -
Chunk of the Solid Ocean -
Crystal Block of the Solid Ocean -
Fragments of the Solid Ocean
External links[edit]
- Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons - The Jade Sea, YouTube.com
- Guild Chat - Jade Sea Map Tour, YouTube.com
References[edit]
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The Guild Wars Wiki has an article on The Jade Sea. |
