Prologue: Uncertain Times

Prologue: Uncertain Times

Year

1336 AE

Storyline

Secrets of the Obscure

Chapter

Prologue: Uncertain Times

Location

The Grove
(Maguuma Jungle)
Divinity's Reach
(Kryta)
Hoelbrak
(Shiverpeak Mountains)
Rata Sum
(Maguuma Jungle)
Black Citadel
(Ascalon)

Level

80

Preceded by

Interlude: Forward

Followed by

Commander without a Cause

API

695

“

The commander finds themselves with no shortage of things they could do, but at the same time, they are not feeling a pull toward any distinct purpose.

— Story journal

Prologue: Uncertain Times is the prologue of the Secrets of the Obscure story.

Objectives

If asura:

Check into the situation at Applied Development Lab.

• Read the mail from Taimi.
• Enter the Applied Development Lab.
• Look for Taimi in the lab.
• Speak to the stranger.
• Participate in the interview.

If charr:

Check into the situation at Hero's Canton.

• Read the mail from Rytlock.
• Enter Hero's Canton.
• Find out about the urgent matter mentioned in the mail.
• Speak to the stranger.
• Participate in the interview.

If human:

Check into the situation in the Salma District.

• Read the mail from Faren.
• Enter the Salma District.
• Look for Faren at the meeting spot.
• Speak to the stranger.
• Participate in the interview.

If norn:

Check into the situation in Hunter's Hearth.

• Read the mail from Braham.
• Enter Hunter's Hearth.
• Assess the overcrowding situation mentioned in the mail.
• Speak to the stranger.
• Participate in the interview.

If sylvari:

Check into the situation in Dreamer's Terrace.

• Read the mail from Caithe.
• Enter Dreamer's Terrace.
• Investigate the urgent problem mentioned in the mail.
• Speak to the stranger.
• Participate in the interview.

Walkthrough

When you start the chapter, you will get a letter. The sender will depend on your character's race:

• Asura - Taimi
• Charr - Rytlock Brimstone
• Human - Lord Faren
• Norn - Braham
• Sylvari - Caithe

After reading the letter, head to your racial home instance. A Canthan woman will meet you there. Her name is Mi-Rae, she's a reporter, and she forged that letter to get an interview with you. Go through the interview; eventually you will get a message from Taimi (and this message is real) giving you an excuse to break off the conversation.

Achievements

Uncertain Times	Secrets of the Obscure: Act 1	1
Deal with questions from a new source.Journal: Uncertain Times.	Completed Uncertain Times	1

• Complete the story mission.

NPCs

Allies

• Mi-Rae

Dialogue

Mail

If Sylvari:

Caithe Unrest in Dreamer's Terrace Commander, I'd rather not involve the wardens of the Grove in this matter, but I could use your assistance. Tensions are rising, drama is stirring... Please, with the utmost urgency, please return to our home at once. I look forward to catching up. —Caithe

Upon reading the letter

<Character name>: That certainly sounds scary. I hope Caithe is doing all right after Aurene left.

Upon entering Dreamer's Terrace

<Character name>: The Grove. How this place has changed... Our people.

If Asura:

Taimi Needed at the Applied Development Lab! Commander, Apologies for the brusque message, but your presence is requested at the Applied Development Lab. There is a very important development that would be better conveyed in person. I was already in town and figured it would be best to meet at your home. Please come at your earliest convenience. —Taimi

Upon reading the letter

<Character name>: Taimi's not usually so...formal. I hope everything's okay.

Upon entering the Applied Development Lab

<Character name>: The one place I can count on... Everything in order. Nice and tidy.

If Norn:

Braham Hunter's Hearth Needs Your Help! Commander, Traveler's Loft in Hunter's Hearth has become overcrowded, and you are being summoned to address the situation before Knut Whitebear is forced to step in. Come to Traveler's Loft as soon as possible to avoid summary judgments that may adversely impact your lodging. —Braham

Upon reading the letter

<Character name>: Why does Braham care about overcrowding? And how is that my problem? Well, I guess it'll be good to see the homestead.

Upon entering Hunter's Hearth

<Character name>: I'm back! A party might be in order; the champion is home.

If Charr:

Rytlock Report to the Hero's Canton Commander, An urgent matter has arisen that requires your attention. Go to the parade grounds just north of the Hero's Forum. I'll meet you there. Please come at your earliest convenience. —Rytlock

Upon reading the letter

<Character name>: Crecia sure has Rytlock mellowed out. Sounds urgent, at least.

Upon entering Hero's Canton

<Character name>: Smells like rust and something... burning? Better.

If Human:

Faren Salma District Woes Commander, Urgent news from the queen, much too dire to include in this letter. Please meet me at the square in the northwest corner of the Salma District and we can discuss further.

Upon reading the letter

<Character name>: The queen had Faren reach out to me? Faren? Okay, sure.

Upon entering the Salma District

<Character name>: Salma... Never changes. Never should.

Upon nearing the stranger

Stranger: I can't believe that actually worked!

<Character name>: Hmm, this is where the mail said to meet... Maybe I'm early?

Stranger: The Pact Commander. Champion of an Elder Dragon. The talk of Tyria. In. The. Flesh.

<Character name>: Do I know you?

Stranger: Mi-Rae of the Cantha Report. International News Desk. Seeing the sights and seeking stories from Central Tyria.

Mi-Rae: Got a minute to chat? You've got one heck of a story, and the people deserve to hear it.

<Character name>: I can probably spare a minute.

Mi-Rae: Good. Walk with me. Talk with me. Didn't have the chance while you were still in Cantha.

Mi-Rae: Big name like you probably has a thousand things to say, but let's start with this...

Mi-Rae: Killing Soo-Won, saving the world. Ending the reign of the Elder Dragons. A lot to cope with. Thoughts?

A lot of people were involved in those events. Have you talked with them?

We did what needed to be done. At great cost, too.

You say all that as though there were a lot of other choices.

Mmm. An interesting perspective. How do you respond to charges that your leadership—or lack thereof—was one of the chief reasons for the catastrophic events that negatively impacted Cantha?

You weren't there. You can't understand the complexity of the situation.

I've always acted with the best information available at the time.

I've always tried to do the best I can to help people in harm's way.

Clearly a touchy subject. Let's move on, shall we? Do you think the world is a better place without the Elder Dragons? Without the cycle we've known for countless generations?

I feel as though the lives we saved make it all worth it.

The cycle is in balance, and the Void pushed back. Says it all.

If we hadn't acted, we wouldn't be here having this conversation, so...

Good point. Let's talk about you for a moment. What's next for the legendary commander? Any future plans you'd like to divulge here, exclusively for my audience?

Truthfully, not sure yet. I get the feeling I'll end up where I'm needed.

If there were, I wouldn't be telling you. No offense.

There's still so much to do to make Tyria a better place. I'll find something.

Now that we've got the high-level questions answered, let's get to the meat of the matter. What my audience really wants to hear.

The meat of the matter? (Continued below)

That mail I got... That was you, wasn't it?

Guilty as charged, I'm afraid. Sorry for the deception, but deadlines loom, and you're hard to pin down. I didn't expect you to turn up, but now that you're here I hope you'll consider the interview?

Sure. Can you repeat the question? (Same as above)

Give me a moment to collect my thoughts.

After finishing the dialogue box (the meat of the matter)

Mi-Rae: Uh-huh. Scandal. Death. Romance. Give me the juicy details.

<Character name>: There's not much more to it. We prevented widespread disaster a few times. Lost some friends along the way.

<Character name>: But now that the dragon cycle is over, it's...peaceful.

Mi-Rae: "Pact Commander's retirement haunted by dreams of the past, the screams of war..."

<Character name>: I might not... Oh, gosh, this could be important. Do you mind...? (A mail arrives)

Mi-Rae: I think I've got what I need. Just you wait; your name will be painted on every chronicle in Tyria.

Mi-Rae: Thank you, "Commander." You can trust me to tell your story as authentically and accurately as possible.

<Character name>: Thank you, Taimi.

Notes

Anomaly:

After Through the Veil (release), the first major update to Secrets of the Obscure, this mission was placed both at the first spot and the last spot of the Secrets of the Obscure section of the Story Journal.

My story

Asura Version:

“ Taimi, in one of her more... formal letters, asked me to travel to the Applied Development Lab to help check in on a dire situation. Given that I'm not especially busy, I'm on my way. Ambushed. I was ambushed in the refuge on my own home laboratory. "Taimi" — or someone pretending to be her — sent an urgent mail beckoning me to the Applied Development Lab. My personal oasis of thought and reflection. I should've suspected something was amiss when she claimed there was a "very important development" with no additional context. (Taimi — like all asura — will brag about the smallest accomplishments. The lack of significant boasting made my ears perk up.) But the urgency could not be ignored, so I ventured back to my refuge. Shortly after my arrival, this mysterious "Taimi" was nowhere to be found. A reporter from New Kaineng named Mi-Rae — now revealed as the imposter — sprung from the shadows and ambushed me on the spot. She immediately launched an interview, but the whole thing was such a blur. She asked several very...pointed questions about the events that took place in Cantha, and — perhaps against my better judgement — I answered her as directly as I could. I got the sense she was less interested in the truth and the she was looking for something salacious. Thank goodness Taimi (the real one) just happened to send a message the moment things began to sour, allowing me to exit the encounter before thing really went awry. Mi-Rae said she got everything that she needed. We'll see how that turns out. — My story

Charr Version:

“ Rytlock - as blunt as always - wrote and asked me to meet him at the Hero's Canton to check in on an urgent situation. Given that I'm not especially busy, I'm on my way. Ambushed. Burn me. I was ambushed in my home. "Rytlock" - or rather, an impostor - sent an urgent mail calling me to Hero's Canton. I should've suspected subterfuge. Something felt off. But when a tribune calls, you answer. I showed up, but this mysterious "Rytlock" was nowhere to be found. Instead, a reporter from Kaineng named Mi-Rae pounced. She launched into an interview, but the whole thing was a flaming wreck. She probed about the events in Cantha, and - against my better judgment - I answered. Got the sense she was digging for dirt. Before the situation went tail up, Taimi gave me an out by sending a perfectly timed message that I had to check. Mi-Rae took the hint, said she got everything she needed, and bailed. I don't like where this is going. — My story

Human Version:

“ Faren, writing on behalf of Queen Jennah (many questions to be answered), summoned me back to Salma. Given that I'm not especially busy, I'm on my way. Ambushed in my hometown. "Faren" — or someone pretending to be "Kryta's playboy" — sent an urgent mail calling me to the Salma District. I should've suspected something was amiss based on the phrasing — since when does Faren report to Jennah? (Not to mention the lack of the cologne that his letters are usually drenched in.) But the urgency could not be ignored, so I heeded the call. Shortly after my arrival, this mysterious "Faren" was nowhere to be found. Instead, a reporter from New Kaineng named Mi-Rae — now revealed as the impostor — ambushed me on the spot. She went straight to an interview, but the whole thing was a blur. She asked very... pointed questions about the events in Cantha, and — against my better judgment — I answered. Unfortunately, I got the sense that she was less interested in the truth and that she was looking for spectacle or sensationalism. Thank goodness Taimi just happened to send a message right when things began to sour, giving me the chance to make a quick but polite exit. Mi-Rae said she got everything that she needed. We'll see how that turns out, but I'm not optimistic. — My story

Norn Version:

“ Braham—apparently fixated on overcrowding issues in Hoelbrak—asked me to come aid him in Hunter's Hearth. Given that I'm not especially busy, I'm on my way—although I'm questioning my helpfulness in managing overpopulation. Ambushed in my home. "Braham"—or someone masquerading as Eir's son—sent me an urgent mail calling me back to Hunter's Hearth. I should've suspected deception when he wrote something about "overcrowding." (Since when does Braham meddle in Knut Whitebear's civic affairs?) But I could not ignore the urgency, so I ventured forth. This mysterious "Braham" was nowhere to be found. Instead, I was met by a reporter from New Kaineng named Mi-Rae was his impostor. She pounced on the spot and went straight into an interview. The whole thing was such a blur. She asked several very...pointed questions about the events in Cantha, and—against my better judgement— I shared my story. I got the sense she has some sort of agenda. Thank the Spirits Taimi sent a message right when things got bad, giving me a timely exit. Mi-Rae said she got everything that she needed. This doesn't fill me with confidence. — My story

Sylvari Version:

“ Caithe has beckoned me back to the Grove to help soothe rising tensions in my very home, Dreamer's Terrace. Given that I'm not especially busy, I'm on my way. Ambushed. In my garden oasis. "Caithe"—or rather, an impostor— sent an urgent mail beckoning me to Dreamer's Terrace. My sanctuary. I should've suspected ill intent when the author spoke of "rising tensions" in the Grove. (Since when does Caithe bother herself with homegrown politics?) But I could not ignore the urgency, so I ventured forth. This mysterious "Caithe" was nowhere to be found. Instead, I was met by a reporter from New Kaineng named Mi-Rae—now revealed as the Caithe impostor— who pounced. She went straight into an interview, but the whole thing was such a blur. She asked several very...pointed questions about the events in Cantha, and—perhaps against my better judgement— I answered her as honestly as I could. Unfortunately, I got the sense she was less interested in the truth and more that she was looking for something salacious. Thank goodness Taimi just happened to send a message right when things began to sour, allowing me to take my leave to find out what she needed. Mi-Rae said she got everything that she needed. We'll see how that turns out. — My story

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Secrets of the Obscure storyline

Act 1	Prologue: Uncertain Times → Commander without a Cause → Hell Breaks Loose → Mother of Stars
Act 2	Voices beyond the Veil → The Missing Facet → Tower of Secrets → Mabon's Fate
Act 3	Into the Obscure → The World Spire → Treachery
Through the Veil	Duress → The Survivors → Heitor's Gate
The Realm of Dreams	The War Council → Forced Hand → Eventide's March
← Previous: End of Dragons