Upper Commons

Upper Commons

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Map of Upper Commons

Location within The Grove

Type

Area

Within

The Grove

Upper Commons

The Upper Commons is the central section of the Grove's highest level, containing access to the Omphalos Chamber.

Locations

Waypoints

Upper Commons Waypoint —

Points of Interest

Pale Tree's Circle —

NPCs

Allies

Sylvari

• Kandien
• Mentor Arduine
• Warden

Pets

• Juvenile Fern Hound

Ambient dialogue

Citizen: (sneeze) (sneeze) (sneeze) Ooh. There must be a cat nearby.

Citizen: (whistle)

Citizen: And to think, other races have been warring a hundred times longer than I've been alive.

Citizen: Don't let it discourage you.

Citizen: Every day, I wonder if the Wyld Hunt will call me.

Citizen: He was called on a Wyld Hunt last season. He completed his calling, and now he waits.

Mist Warrior: I've seen much, but never such amazing things as what I saw in the Mist War.

Citizen: I know you. Where have you been? I haven't seen you around in a long time.

Adventurer: I've been away, traveling across the land.

Citizen: Did you see anything interesting on your travels?

Adventurer: It was all interesting, from the centaurs of the west to the Dragonbrand in the east.

Citizen: What was your favorite of all the places you saw on your voyage?

Adventurer: Lion's Arch. It's an enormous, glorious city with a fascinating array of citizens.

Citizen: What was your least favorite place?

Adventurer: Hoelbrak, a city of norn, is covered in ice. It sapped my strength to be so cold all the time.

Citizen: Did you bring back any mementos?

Adventurer: I have gold coins from Lion's Arch. The market there is incredible.

Citizen (1): I feel the call, but the thought of leaving the Grove both thrills and terrifies me.

Citizen (2): We can learn a great deal from the Pale Tree's long roots and arching boughs.

Citizen (2): Though it stretches its limbs far overhead, it remains rooted, and it bends so as not to break.

Citizen (1): I want to go spy on them. What harm can it do?

Citizen (2): I'm willing to go, just not during the day. The hylek are most active then.

Citizen (2): We're strong in the dark, and you know it. We're both of the Cycle of Night.

Citizen (1): I know, but I'm afraid all we'll get to see are sleeping hylek. How boring!

Citizen (1): I may have to search in the darkest corners of the world, but I'm prepared.

Citizen (2): Why aren't you afraid? I sense no fear in you at all.

Citizen (1): I'm afraid. I just bury it deep, beneath the call of my purpose.

Citizen (1): I started warden training yesterday.

Citizen (2): So you won't be leaving the Grove after all? That's beautiful news.

Citizen (1): No, I changed my mind about leaving. Tomorrow, I may feel differently.

Citizen: It's so exciting to be here at the hub of it all! To see it all in one place, like Tyria's a spring blossom, opening its petals before me.

Citizen (1): Let's grab a nectar together later, okay?

Citizen (2): I'll look forward to it.

Citizen: My quest tugs at my heart.

Citizen: Only the most twisted plants grow in darkness, but grow, they do.

Citizen: No matter what, don't lose this land.

Citizen: Smell that? There's a hint of mint in the air.

Citizen: Something tells me we should work as a team.

Citizen (1): Somewhere out there, someone has more information on Ventari. I will find it if it's the last thing I do.

Citizen (2): Your quest is bold and important. I salute you.

Citizen: They say that failure makes you stronger.

Mist Warrior (human) approaches from north.

Mist Warrior (sylvari): The greatest adventure ever is under their noses. How can people just keep walking, talking, eating and sleeping?

Mist Warrior (human): Not everyone appreciates the opportunity to travel to the Mists. Others have no interest in making war.

Mist Warrior (sylvari): They haven't learned enough about the world yet to understand that it need to be defended. They'll be back.

Mist Warrior (human) heads back north.

Warden (1): It looks like rain!

Warden (2): You always say that.

Warden (1): They’ve got a fresh batch of cinnamon bread back at the meeting house.

Warden (2): I thought I sensed contentment.

Warden (1): Shhhh. Listen. Feel.

Warden (2): What?

Warden (1): Ah, there it is. The moment when night gives up its dominion, and day opens its eyes upon the world.

Warden (1): Day turns into night, Mister Morning Glory. Time to close your petals and sleep.

Warden (2): And you, Sir Jasmine, bloom at night, don’t you? So, you must be here to relieve me.

Warden (1): (laughter) That I am. The light of the moon is my illumination on the Dream.

Warden (2): Dream well, then.

Warden: We rarely see humans here. What brings you to the Grove?

Human Traveler: Truth is, I... took a jig when I should've taken a jag. I was heading toward Lion's Arch.

Warden: You're way off track. I bet you can't even find your mouth when you're hungry!

Warden: Just joking.

Human Traveler: (laugh)

Warden: (laugh)

Mentor Arduine: Good morning, class.

Sapling (1): Greetings, Mentor.

Sapling (2): Good morning.

Sapling (3): Let the learning begin!

Mentor Arduine: We've reached the proper moment in your training to discuss the Ventari Tablet.

Mentor Arduine: Nothing is more central to our culture and our virtue.

Mentor Arduine: Who would like to describe their thoughts on the first tenet of Ventari's Tablet?

Sapling (1): It says, "Live life well and fully, and waste nothing."

Sapling (1): Ventari loved us, and so we should love ourselves. He's telling us we're worthy of life.

Sapling (1): We shouldn't waste our lives or ourselves. We should give our all.

Mentor Arduine: I cannot argue with that. Well done.

Mentor Arduine: Who will interpret the second of Ventari's tenets for us?

Sapling (2): The second tenet says, "Do not fear difficulty. Hard ground makes stronger roots."

Sapling (2): In other words, that which is gained through difficulty is a better prize than that which is gained easily.

Sapling (2): With opposition, we discover strengths we didn't know we had. The prize thus doubles in value.

Mentor Arduine: Excellent answer.

Mentor Arduine: The third of Ventari's tenets says, "The only lasting peace is the peace within your own soul."

Sapling (1): I know this one. It means that nobody else can make you happy. Only you can make you happy.

Sapling (3): It also means that, no matter how far you travel, you can never get away from yourself.

Mentor Arduine: (laugh)

Mentor Arduine: The fourth of Ventari's tenets states, "All things have a right to grow. The blossom is brother to the weed."

Sapling (1): They can grow, but what about when the weeds start choking out the flowers?

Sapling (3): The right to grow isn't the right to kill. Brothers are not parasites. They grow side by side.

Sapling (2): And, if the weeds start choking flowers, you pluck them.

Mentor Arduine: Uh, that'll do, thank you.

Mentor Arduine: "Never leave a wrong to ripen into evil or sorrow." What does the fifth of Ventari's tenets mean?

Sapling (1): If you've wronged someone or they've wronged you, don't leave it there.

Sapling (1): Extend your hand in either apology or forgiveness, and keep extending until the wrong is made right.

Mentor Arduine: "Act with wisdom, but act." What's the meaning behind the sixth tenet?

Sapling (3): That's obvious. The fastest route to failure is to do nothing at all.

Sapling (1): It's more than that. When you choose not to act, it's still and action. The choice is the action.

Sapling (1): Therefore, I think what it's saying is to think about what you're doing and choose wisely.

Mentor Arduine: The last of Ventari's tenets is often misunderstood. Who would care to discuss it?

Sapling (3): It says, " From the smallest blade of grass to the largest mountain, where life goes- so, too, should you."

Sapling (3): It means that there's a big, wide world out there, just waiting for us to come and explore it.

Sapling (1): But it's also referring to the magical world, which is more internal, yet no less big.

Sapling (2): There is no greater mystery worth exploring than the self.

Mentor Arduine: Excellent, novices. You have performed beyond my expectations today. Go now. You've earned your rest.

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The Grove