Zinn

Zinn

Race

Asura

Level

80

Location

Rata Novus Promenade
(Skywatch Archipelago)

Image(s)

Interactive map

“

They call me "The Zinnsational Zinn" for a reason. You may call me "sir."

— Zinn

Zinn was a renowned asuran golemancer who led a lengthy and colorful life. He assisted Krytan loyalists in the war against the White Mantle and developed Spectral Infusion to combat the mursaat. Zinn eventually founded the asuran colonies of Rata Novus and Rata Arcanum, and lost his life in a druid attack while attempting to terraform Draconis Mons.

Biography

Early years

A gifted golemancer, Zinn built several golems, including M.O.X. However, his most notable work was the creation of P.O.X.'s Reactor Blast. He had disagreements and, ultimately, a bitter rivalry with his former mentor Oola, which led to him burning her books in public. This in turn caused Oola to plot revenge by bribing the Arcane Council to her side in the dispute.

The bribed Arcane Council sentenced Zinn to 10 years of banishment from asuran lands for unintentional attempted regicide of human rulers, which had involved the assault of the golems Zinn had invented for a mysterious and sinister client. Around this time Zinn had been in contact with Palawa Joko who had tricked him, which the golemancer considered the low point of his career.

After being banished, Zinn traveled to Kryta where he was conscripted by the human necromancer Livia to assist in the war against the White Mantle alongside another asura called Blimm. He developed Spectral Infusion from the body of a Seer, allowing the Shining Blade and Lionguard to prevail over the mursaat who had relied on the use of Spectral Agony which was rendered useless thanks to Zinn's invention. Zinn also researched the power of souls.

High Councillor

Once the war for Kryta had concluded in 1079 AE, Zinn traveled west to the Heart of Maguuma. He and like-minded asura founded the underground city of Rata Novus, where Zinn ruled as High Councillor. Zinn opted to keep the city hidden from the rest of the asura, including the Arcane Council, whom he did not want to meddle in Rata Novan studies. Research in Rata Novus was more liberal than in other asuran cities and less concerned about morality as long as the work provided results.

While getting used to their new home and expanding their territory, the colonists learned about the aggressive, insectoid chak from local hylek lore. They eventually encountered the chak and had to fight them off, developing several groundbreaking defenses to keep Rata Novus safe from invasion. They also met with the Exalted and collaborated with them to exchange ideas and technology while studying the powers and weaknesses of the rising Elder Dragons, focusing mostly on Primordus who had driven the asura to the surface from the Depths of Tyria some time after its awakening in 1120 AE.

The Rata Novans explored various areas such as Bloodstone Fen and chose to leave less aggressive centaurs such as Ventari in peace when Rata Novan krewes were allowed to use Ventari's Refuge as a resting area during their scouting of the jungle. The colonists even successfully used their technology to establish remote labs in an outpost in Dragon's Stand as well as in the ruins of Fahranur, the First City on the Isle of Istan.

In 1173 AE, the chak emerged en masse and overran Rata Novus after being drawn to the ley lines there. Zinn was among the few to escape, and relocated to Rata Arcanum, which was a colony in Draconis Mons that was still in development. Attempting a new beginning after being exiled thrice, the golemancer developed a terraforming device, but its use and effects on the environment angered local druids who were trying to keep nature in balance. Zinn, however, had been hardened by his earlier hardships and resolved to succeed no matter the cost. He ignored the druids' protests and instead captured four ancient druids, placing them in newly constructed vaults for experimentation to siphon their magical essence to empower the device.

The remaining druids returned with reinforcements and slaughtered Zinn and the rest of the colonists of Rata Arcanum in 1175 AE. Following Zinn's demise, M.O.X. engaged the golemancer's funerary instructions which included cremating Zinn's body, burying the ashes in the Burial Chamber of the Golemancer's Tomb, and carving a memorial stone in his honor.

Legacy

Heart of Thorns

Zinn's work survived his demise. Tales about a legendary lost asuran city spread among the asura on the surface for centuries, and the Dragon's Watch guild discovered the fallen Rata Novus and the knowledge within it in 1328 AE. Reactivating the Rata Novan power grid and finding the asura's research helped the Pact locate and fight against the Elder Dragon Mordremoth. Further exploration and activation of the Dragon Lab allowed Dragon's Watch to learn more about the Elder Dragons' powers and weaknesses while also alerting the Arcane Council and the greatest minds of Rata Sum to study the area to advance asuran science.

Living World Season 3

The asura Taimi expanded on Zinn's research on Spectral Infusion to provide the Pact Commander with magical protection against certain types of threats such as hazardously high concentration of ambient magic and Jade Constructs.

The discovery of Rata Arcanum drew the Inquest to excavate it in search of lost knowledge and dangerous magitech, while the Order of Whispers worked to ensure that any devices Zinn had built would not fall into the Inquest's hands. The location of Zinn's tomb remained unknown to most people exploring Draconis Mons, however.

The four ancient druids, imprisoned in Zinn's vaults for centuries, were eventually freed by the Pact Commander who both earned the druids' blessing to enter the volcano in pursuit of the rogue god Balthazar and gained M.O.X. as an ally. Thanks to the information provided by M.O.X. and recorders which had been scattered throughout Draconis Mons, details of Zinn's later life became known to scholars.

Living World Season 4

The Inquest had found and taken over the abandoned Rata Novan lab in Fahranur and used its gate hub as one of their staging grounds hidden from the rest of Elona. The lab was later taken over by Palawa Joko who used Zinn's advanced asura gate network to send Awakened squads to invade Central Tyria.

Despite being thwarted at Rata Arcanum, the Inquest had managed to secure some of Zinn's deactivated golems and accessed their databanks for useful information. They repurposed some of the golems to defend key Inquest strongholds such as Rata Primus on Sandswept Isles in 1331 AE.

Secrets of the Obscure

Sometime after Zinn's death and the collapse of Rata Novus, the Wizard's Court created a fractal clone of Rata Novus under the theory of what if Rata Novus had not been destroyed by the chak. This fractal showed great promise as the Novans continued to develop new technology and lead to a utopian society within their city. In 1336 AE, the end of the dragon cycle shifted the balance of magic, allowing incursions from the Mists by the Kryptis to occur. This, along with the shattering of the World Spire, in turn warped several fractals, including the Rata Novus fractal, into reality in the Horn of Maguuma. There, the fractal copy of Zinn and his city became potential victims to the Kryptis incursions, and the Astral Ward were forced to assist the inhabitants instead of merely observing them.

Location

Horn of Maguuma

• Skywatch Archipelago
  • Rata Novus Promenade

Combat abiltities

Abilities

• Buffs Golems
• Stuns

Dialogue

I suppose you've got a lot of questions, since you'll no doubt want to emulate our success here.

How did you deal with the chak?

Zinn: Ah, the secret was recognizing their potential. While others saw the chak purely as a threat, I saw opportunity.

Zinn: The chak naturally gather and purify ley-line energy. Rather than exterminate them, we just needed a way to harness them.

Zinn: So now the nergy we extract from them powers not only the city, but also the defenses that keep them contained.

Is the city going to be safe?

Zinn: Ha! Look around! Do you see the wonders we've built? The strength of our defenses? The brilliance of our technology?

Zinn: Rata Novus is built to last! If Tyria was vaporized tomorrow, we would float out in the void, humming along as always.

Zinn: That may be a slight exaggeration, but rest assured: we are prepared for anything these invaders might throw at us.

How does the city run so smoothly?

Zinn: In a word: automation! The chak gave us functionally limitless energy, removing the barrier to mass automation.

Zinn: With our integrated systems and advanced golems, the labors that beguile lesser cities are reduced to triviality here.

Zinn: And so the great minds of Rata Novus are free to explore new innovations instead. Soon, we'll surpass even the ancients.

Is is true that you're developing advanced portal technology?

Zinn: We're engaged in many research projects at all times, but I can't say that I know what you're referring to.

Zinn: Of course, if we were, such technology would likely be in early stages of development, and also strictly confidential.

Zinn: But if you could give me the name of whoever mentioned that to you, I'd love to chat with them about it.

No questions right now.

Notes

• Zinn is one of the longest living known asura, having lived almost a century after the events of Guild Wars, which puts him near the age of exceptionally long lived asura (120 years).
• The remains of Zinn's secret lab can be found at the base of the Falls in Auric Basin.

Trivia

• Zinn was also known as:
  • Intruder Zinn
  • Mister Zinncompetent
  • Supergenius Zinn
  • The Zinnsational Zinn
  • Zinn the Amazing
• The name "Zinn," along with the nickname "Intruder Zinn," is a reference to Zim from Invader Zim.

Related achievements

• Flashpoint: Crypt Keeper — Find the golemancer's tomb. (3)
• Flashpoint: Golemancer's Treasure — Find the hidden chest in the golemancer's tomb. (5)
• Flashpoint: Lessons Learned — Find all 14 of the golemancer's lost recordings in Draconis Mons. (6)
• Basic Collections: Zinn's Prize Student — Collect all 13 books to compile Zinn's Study Guide. (3)

Trivia

• Zinn in Skywatch Archipelago is voiced by Liam O'Brien.

See also

The Guild Wars Wiki has an article on Zinn.

• Golemancer's Tomb
• M.O.X.
• L.O.X.
• Zinn's Print-o-Matic
• Zinn's Recorder
• Zinn's Research Supplies
• Zinn's Stash

Associated items

• Mini Holographic Zinn
• Zinn Vault Key
• Zinn's Data Crystal
• Zinn's Study Guide