Searing Cauldron
Searing Cauldron
- Location
- Ironhead Lake
(Iron Marches) - Type
- Hero challenge
- Interact
- Yes
- Destructible
- No
| Other images |
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Interactive map |
The Searing Cauldrons were the tools used by the charr led by Flame Legion to bring forth the Searing in 1070 AE.
History[edit]
Early history[edit]
Approximately two hundred years before the Searing, the Burnt warband of the Flame Legion ventured to the lands surrounding the Hrangmer volcano. Upon their return, the warband claimed to have found gods for the charr at long last to help the High Legions defeat the humans occupying Ascalon in the human-charr conflict. They convinced the shaman caste to swear allegiance to the titans and converted or destroyed any charr who tried to object to the worship of the titans.
The titans gifted the charr with magic artifacts that would be known as Searing Cauldrons or Cauldrons of Cataclysm with which the shaman caste could perform the ritual of the Searing to weaken human defenses. It is said that the cauldrons' magic was older than the charr and presumably older than even recorded history, and forged by ancient entities fallen into sleep and quiescence.[1]
Guild Wars Prophecies[edit]
The Cauldron of Cataclysm was used by shaman Bonfaaz Burntfur to bring forth the Searing, breaching the Great Northern Wall and decimating the Kingdom of Ascalon in 1070 AE. The High Legions brought another cauldron with them when they invaded Orr in 1071 AE although they were unable to use unleash its power when Vizier Khilbron invoked a dark incantation from the Lost Scrolls to cause the Cataclysm which sunk Orr and led to the demise of both the Orrians and the invading charr force, including Flame Imperator Ventus.[2] After these defeats, the charr began to lose ground. Even their victories in Ascalon lost ground and became an ongoing conflict that would last generations.[3]
Personal story[edit]
During the Pact's invasion of Orr to take the fight to the Elder Dragon Zhaitan in 1325 AE, a squad led by Ferghen the Tracker learned that Zhaitan's Risen forces had secured one of the Searing Cauldrons in Orr. However, the Risen took out Ferghen and corrupted him into a minion, after which the Risen Ferghen hunted down his former squad mates one by one. The Pact Commander and Kekt searched for the missing squad only to be ambushed by the Risen and the turned Ferghen. Kekt lost his life, but the Pact Commander managed to best the ambushers and learn about the Searing Cauldron, informing Pact Marshal Trahearne about it.[4]
The Durmand Priory came up with the idea of using the Searing Cauldron against the Risen guarding Orr's strategic locations although the Pact would have to secure the cauldron first before the Risen managed to use it against the Pact. Assisted by Arda Gyreshriek and piloting a special Golem Battle Suit Prototype built for the assault, the Commander located the Searing Cauldron at the Cathedral of Zephyrs and cleared out the Risen so the Pact could claim the cauldron for the next stage of the offensive.[5]
After acquiring the cauldron and transporting it near the Cathedral of Verdance which acted as a staging ground for Risen forces, the Priory got to work. With help from the Commander, Laranthir of the Wild, and Researcher Fero, Researcher Barron activated the cauldron and unleashed the Searing to weaken the Risen forces enough so that the Commander and Laranthir could enter the cathedral to slay the Risen commander, Prince Nekandezzar.[6]
Location[edit]
Events[edit]
Text[edit]
- Before completion
Over two centuries ago, this massive iron cauldron was used by the charr to ignite the Searing—a destructive wave that decimated their human foe. Though cold and silent, the relic's power still abides.
Commune with this place of power.- With Skyscale Egg Infusions active.
Place Egg.
- After completion
Over two centuries ago, this massive iron cauldron was used by the charr to ignite the Searing—a destructive wave that decimated their human foe. Though cold and silent, the relic's power still abides.- (if you have all the ingredients in your inventory)
- Combine heat to make an Ultra Hot Sphere.
- With Skyscale Egg Infusions active.
- Place Egg.
You've gained all you can from this place of power.
Ritual invocation[edit]
- We seek the purity that fire brings. Unquestionable, eternal.
- We breathe our lives into the smoke. We give birth to the ember.
- We prod and coax the ember. We nurture it into flame. We make it speak.
- We coax the flame with our rage. We give it a hunger, eyes, teeth!
- And with our rage, we deliver destruction. Now! Forever![7]
Related achievements[edit]
Astralaria III: The Mechanism: 
Ultrahot Sphere — Use the Searing Cauldron near Ironhead Lake in Iron Marches to combine the Wyvern's Liquid Fire, Elemental Flames, Destroyer's Heat, a Flame Effigy Band[sic], and a Fire Imbued Heart, to create the Ultra Hot Sphere.- The Flameseeker Prophecies III: The Chosen:
History Not to Be Repeated — Bring an Anthology of Heroes to the Searing Cauldron in Iron Marches and defeat the Flame Legion before they perform their ritual. 
Skyscale Egg Infusions: 
Skyscale of Spirit — Interact with the Cauldron of Searing in the Iron Marches.
Notes[edit]
|
The Guild Wars Wiki has an article on Cauldron of Cataclysm. |
- A few non-interactive Searing Cauldrons can be seen near Broken Spit Waypoint in Straits of Devastation, half sunken in the water.
- A Searing Cauldron (unknown if the same or a different one) is also featured in the latter personal storyline in Ruins of Orr, when following the Priory's plan.
- The Searing Cauldron hero challenge in Iron Marches was temporarily disabled so that ArenaNet could address an issue. The issue was addressed in the 16 April 2024 patch.
References[edit]
- ^ The Ecology of the Charr
- ^ A Light in the Darkness
- Trahearne: Where was I? Oh, yes. The Guild Wars. Still angry over the loss of Ascalon, the charr struck hard while humanity fought with itself.
- Trahearne: The charr ravaged Ascalon with searing cauldrons and marched on Orr.
- Trahearne: As hope failed, an Orrian named Vizier Khilbron read the Lost Scrolls and unleashed an ancient curse.
- Trahearne: The curse annihilated the charr army, but it destroyed Orr as well. A cataclysm plunged the nation into the ocean. Everything was lost.
- ^ Extinguished: The Rise and Fall of the Flame Legion, Vol. 3
- ^ Hunters and Prey
- Vigil Crusader: Ferghen. The Risen took him first, made him one of them. After he turned, he started hunting us.
- Vigil Crusader: He's unstoppable...a monster. I'm the only one left. If he gets me, you have to tell Trahearne what we found. Tell him about the Searing Cauldron.
- Priory Explorer: Zhaitan's forces have a Searing Cauldron? Like the one that destroyed Ascalon?
- Vigil Crusader: That's right. Trahearne must be told, but we'll never get out of here alive with Ferghen on our trail. He won't—
- Trahearne: Welcome back, Commander. Did you find the missing squad? They were on a mission of vital importance.
- <Character name>: I did. They discovered that Zhaitan's horde has obtained a Searing Cauldron, and that discovery cost them their lives.
- <Character name>: I'm tired of burying our best and bravest but their sacrifice may be they key to victory. A weapon like that could change the course of the war.
- Trahearne: It is imperative that we claim that cauldron before Zhaitan's minions can employ it. I need you to lead a mission to get it.
- ^ Air Drop
- <Character name>: As long we have the cauldron, you've done your share. Is it secure?
- Laranthir of the Wild: Secure and ready to be deployed. Our offensive is stalled at the Cathedral of Verdance. I hope we can punch through the resistance.
- <Character name>: I was concerned at first, too. Don't be. Marshal Trahearne convinced me the risk was acceptable.
- Laranthir of the Wild: You're right, of course. Our sorcerers have more control than the Flame Legion Shamans did centuries ago. Any damage we do to Orr, we also do to Zhaitan.
- ^ Blast from the Past
- Researcher Fero: Well, braid my ears! Those ancient Flame Legion poobahs may've been evil, oppressive oiks, but they knew how to enchant a weapon.
- Researcher Barron: Too right! That's a proper bonfire, that is. Now we just need to sweep up the ashes and detectify that pilot lass of yours. [...]
- Risen Prince Nekandezzar: So, my hunters are finally revealed. You staged quite the fiery spectacle.
- Risen Prince Nekandezzar: Using the cauldron against us was a bold move, but it won't save you. [...]
- Laranthir of the Wild: Finally. Nekandezzar is gone, and the cathedral is ours. A great victory.
- Laranthir of the Wild: We've crippled the Risen war machine. For the first time, Zhaitan's army is fully on the defensive. Excellent work, Commander.
- ^ Kill the Flame Legion before they complete their ritual
